Fantasy stories are a great way to escape from everyday life, opening a whole new world to explore. Netflix offers a wide range of sci-fi and fantasy series that are sure to please viewers who need an escape from reality.
Below, we've gathered several sci-fi and fantasy recommendations to fill that need for escapism, including several dramatic stories and a sci-fi comedy.
Shadow & Bone
Shadow and Bone premiered on Netflix in 2021 and is based on Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse fantasy books. The story follows mapmaker Alina Starkov, who lives in the war-torn Grishaverse. When she unleashes an extraordinary power, dark forces conspire against her.
The series received mixed reviews but was praised for world-building and the performances of the cast members, which include Jessie Mei Li, Ben Barnes, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, and Kit Young.
This series does an incredible job of spotlighting a complex fantasy world and interesting characters that viewers long to learn more about. Sadly, despite a rise in support for the series, Shadow and Bone was cancelled after two seasons.
The Witcher
This Henry Cavill-led series is an adaptation of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher books. The story begins by chronicling formative events in the lives of Geralt of Rivia, Crown Princess Cirilla of Cintra, and the quarter-elf sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg, portrayed by Cavill, Freya Allan, and Anya Chalotra, respectively. The series has three seasons out so far and two left; starting with the fourth season, which drops later this year, Geralt will be played by Liam Hemsworth.
The Witcher has been praised for originality, and for cleverly adding horror elements to a fantasy storyline sprinkled with dark humor.
Warrior Nun
Warrior Nun is a Netflix original based on Ben Dunn's character, Warrior Nun Areala, who first appeared in the comic Ninja High School #37. The story follows 19-year-old Ava Silva (Ava Baptista), who, after awakening in a morgue with a divine artifact embedded in her back and a new lease on life, discovers she is now part of the ancient Order of the Cruciform Sword. The order is responsible for battling demons and other powerful forces on Earth. The series also stars Toya Turner, Sylvia De Fanti, Lorena Andrea, Kristina Tonteri-Young, and Olivia Delcan.
The series received favorable reviews, with critics and fans praising the outstanding fight choreography and cast performances. Warrior Nun aired for two seasons, both of which are available on Netflix.
3 Body Problem
The sci-fi series 3 Body Problem is the third adaptation of the Chinese novel series Remembrance of Earth's Past, written by former computer engineer Liu Cixin. The series opens in the 1960s and shows us how one woman's decision affects space and time in the present day. This results in a group of brilliant scientists partnering with a detective to stop the most significant threat to humanity in its history.
The series stars Benedict Wong, Jess Hong, Jovan Adepo, Eiza González, John Bradley, Alex Sharp, Rosalind Chao, Zine Tseng, Sir Jonathan Pryce, and Ben Schnetzer. The showrunners are David Benioff and Dan Weiss, who previously created Game of Thrones.
The series, with its multi-layered mysteries and human connections, is said to redefine sci-fi drama. 3 Body Problems has released one season so far and was renewed for seasons 2 and 3. By the end, the whole of the book trilogy will be adapted.
Resident Alien
The sci-fi comedy Resident Alien stars Alan Tudyk in the title role of a story based on Peter Hogan's comic book. Tudyk is an extraterrestrial sent to Earth to wipe out humanity. Upon his arrival, he kills the vacationing Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle and takes over his identity. When the local doctor mysteriously dies, Harry is recruited to do the autopsy, leading to him taking over as the community physician. The series also stars Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Judah Prehn, and Elizabeth Bowen.
Many critics have stated that it takes a bit of time to warm up to the series, but eventually you come to appreciate its humor, and Tudyk has been praised for his performance. Netflix currently offers three seasons of the Syfy series to watch; it's been renewed for a fourth that will air on the USA Network.
Black Mirror
The dark, satirical anthology series Black Mirror covers a wide range of stories, most of which are set in near-future dystopias. The series draws inspiration from The Twilight Zone and features standalone stories which highlight modern technology's effect on individuals and society as a whole.
Throughout the series' six-season run, many talented cast members have been featured, including Bryce Dallas Howard, Cristin Miloti, Jon Hamm, Jesse Plemons, Anthony Mackie, Wyatt Russell, Aaron Paul, Allen Leech, Annie Murphy, Josh Harnett, and many more.
Overall, the series has received critical praise and been widely watched around the world. Netflix offers all six seasons, and the seventh will premiere on the streamer on April 10, 2025.
Dark
The sci-fi thriller Dark is Netflix's first German-language original series. It aired for three seasons. The story follows a dysfunctional group of characters who reside in the fictional town of Winden, Germany. The disappearance of two children expose the community's sinful past, which centers around the double lives of four estranged families.
The series is full of twists and supernatural elements. It stars Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, Jördis Triebel, Maja Schöne, Sebastian Rudolph, Anatole Taubman, Mark Waschke, Karoline Eichhorn, Stephan Kampwirth, Anne Ratte-Polle, Andreas Pietschmann, Lisa Vicari, Angela Winkler, Michael Mendl, and more.
Dark has been compared to the likes of Twin Peaks and Stranger Things and described as sci-fi noir. It's been named on many lists as one of the best TV series ever.
The Rain
The Danish sci-fi post-apocalyptic series The Rain premiered on Netflix in 2018. The story follows siblings Simone and Rasmus, who, six years prior, were left in a bunker by their father due to the rain-carried virus that wiped out most people in Scandinavia. Now, the siblings, with a group of survivors, scour the danger-filled country looking for any signs of life. The series stars Alba August, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Mikkel Følsgaard, Lukas Løkken, Jessica Dinnage, and more.
Netflix hosts all three seasons of The Rain, which has been described as one of the best survivalist dramas in years.
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