2025 has been very kind to sci-fi TV, with many amazing projects either debuting or returning with more episodes. As the year winds down, you might feel like kicking back with a new show or catching up on one you completely forgot had come back. There is, of course, a lot of TV around these days, so it's understandable if one of them slipped your mind.
While some platforms prioritize sci-fi far more than others, there's something to enjoy within the genre on most major streaming services. However, before I move on to the list proper, I'd like to give a shoutout to Netflix's Stranger Things and Fallout on Prime Video. While the former's final season is currently active, it's not the easiest show to binge due to its long episodes.
Still, it's the end of an era for Netflix's biggest show ever, so definitely keep up with the release schedule over the holidays. Conversely, Fallout season 2 is back on December 17 and will take you nicely into the new year. While neither show made this list due to existing in a sort of weird middle ground between 2025 and 2026 shows thanks to their late-year premiere dates, that doesn't mean they don't come highly recommended. There are also quite a lot of Apple TV shows on this already, so Foundation gets an honorable mention rather than a direct list entry.
1. Alien: Earth (2025-)
Streaming on: Hulu
The Alien franchise can be pretty intimidating to get into, and the minds behind the sci-fi horror saga clearly know this. Despite several attempts to make new movies as intended jumping-on points, the Alien: Earth TV series provides the most accessible opening yet.
One of the biggest reasons for this is that it's actually a prequel to the 1979 movie that started it all, so there's no homework required going in. With an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, Alien: Earth is a critics' darling that deserves your attention before season 2 drops — presumably sometime in 2027.
2. Andor (2022-2025)
Streaming on: Disney+
Andor season 1 took the Star Wars fandom by storm when it premiered in 2022. Season 2 took viewers even closer to the beginning of the original trilogy, but assumed zero knowledge of the franchise going in (other than season 1). A casual fan might take a look at Andor and assume it's not part of the Star Wars timeline at all, but that's why it's so refreshing. It lacks the flashiness of the saga's core properties, but its intense political intrigue perfectly captures what the prequels tried (and failed) to do.
After just two brilliant runs, Andor concluded with season 2, so the show as a whole is an incredibly easy binge-watch. That said, you really need to watch 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story afterward, which is the feature-length Andor series finale in all but name. Of course, then you might be tempted to watch 1977's Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope... so screw it, just keep on going from there. You've earned it.
3. Resident Alien (2021-2025)
Streaming on: Peacock, Netflix
Starting life on Syfy, Resident Alien fought an intense renewal battle between each season. Ahead of its fourth and final run, which aired this year, the show switched to USA Network so it could be given a proper farewell. Resident Alien ended with 44 episodes, but don't let its fragile relationship with cancellation fool you; it's truly spectacular.
Every moment feels like a perfect blend of drama and comedy, and there's a surprising amount of sci-fi world building, even if you have to read between the lines at times. It never found the huge audience it deserved while in active production, but it's now been immortalized as a complete series. Alan Tudyk was born to play Harry Vanderspeigle, and although he's the highlight of Resident Alien, the entire ensemble cast has the kind of chemistry other shows would kill for.
4. Pluribus (2025-)
Streaming on: Apple TV
Rhea Seehorn reunites with Better Call Saul showrunner Vince Gilligan just a few years after the Breaking Bad prequel concluded in 2022. As the miserable Carol Sturka, Seehorn is tasked with saving the world from a contentment pandemic.
The show is a hard sell due to the fact that revealing much more about the premise is basically a huge spoiler. Pluribus' teaser trailers were compellingly vague, and having watched season 1, I can confirm it's better to go in with as little knowledge as possible. Gilligan and company are currently only halfway through a two-season order from Apple TV, so more will be on the way, even after season 1 concludes on December 26.
5. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-2027)
Streaming on: Paramount+
Strange New Worlds is great for new and old Star Trek fans alike, and season 3 continued the show's quirky-edged formula when it aired in 2025. It's the perfect combination of classic-era Trek and the modernized spin on the franchise that began with 2017's Star Trek: Discovery.
It's also been greenlit through to season 5, which will be the final run of episodes. Assuming the production schedule stays on track, expect Strange New Worlds to release its finale in 2027.
6. Murderbot (2025-)
Streaming on: Apple TV
They don't make many shows like Murderbot. Adapted from a book series by Martha Wells, the Apple TV project is a rapid-fire slew of 20-minute episodes that masterfully manage to be high-concept while also somehow finding time to be emotional AND amusing.
As far as sci-fi binge-watches go, Murderbot ticks all the boxes. It's a show with a criminally low profile, and once you're done with season 1, you won't be able to wait until season 2 arrives. There's no release date for the second season yet but it could realistically be in 2026, depending on when filming starts next year.
7. Severance (2022-)
Streaming on: Apple TV
In the days of TV yesteryear, a show debuting in 2022 would often mean a season 4 premiere landing three years later. While Severance has only had two seasons in that time, the frustration of the wait is offset by how great the mind-bending show is. Behind-the-scenes drama held up production, but when Severance finally returned in 2025, the sci-fi thriller didn't disappoint.
While some mysteries were cleared up, the writers made sure to supply some new ones so that the intrigue level remained even. Season 3 is officially on the way, and the delay won't be so long this time around. Now is the time to catch up on the existing 19 episodes. A word of warning, this is absolutely not the kind of show you can watch while you're also on your phone. You'll miss far too much.