You know that sweet spot where science fiction and horror collide? The one that makes you feel both fascinated and freaked out at the same time? That’s the magic of horror sci-fi. It’s the genre that asks, “What if?” and then hits you with an answer so unsettling, you might wish you hadn’t asked at all.
From lab-grown zombies and body-snatching parasites to tech that knows a little too much about us, horror sci-fi takes the stuff of our darkest fears and cranks it up to the max. Now, there are a ton of horror sci-fi shows out there, but not all of them manage to scare you and make you think at the same time.
Some fizzle out after a few episodes, some get lost in convoluted plots, and some are so good you’ll find yourself binge-watching all night. In this article, we've rounded up the best of horror sci-fi television and shared each show below.
1. Stranger Things
- Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin
- Where to stream: Netflix
If you're going to have a list of the best horror sci-fi shows ever, Stranger Things must absolutely be included. Creepy monsters? Check. Secret government experiments? Check. A group of kids braver than most adults? Absolutely! Throw in some '80s nostalgia, heart-pounding suspense, and a soundtrack that somehow makes every moment even more epic, and you’ve got a show that hooks you from the very first episode.
Stranger Things takes viewers to the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, where ordinary life is turned upside down by terrifying supernatural forces. It follows a group of kids, their families, and the local authorities as they encounter strange disappearances, covert government experiments, and a dark parallel dimension known as the Upside Down. Stranger Things seasons 1 through 4 are already streaming on Netflix. The fifth and final season is split into three parts, with the first batch scheduled to come out on Nov. 26, 2025.
2. The Strain
- Cast: Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mía Maestro, Kevin Durand, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Sean Astin
- Where to stream: AMC+, Hulu
If you’re into horror sci-fi that actually makes your skin crawl, The Strain is an absolute must-watch. Forget glittery vampires or brooding romantics like in Twilight. This show gives you grotesque, parasitic monsters that are genuinely terrifying. What's even better is that the show is complete. You have four full seasons to watch and enjoy.
The Strain revolves around Dr. Ephraim Goodweather and his team at the CDC, who are suddenly thrust into a terrifying nightmare when a mysterious plane lands with all its passengers dead. What starts as a strange viral outbreak quickly turns into a full-blown crisis as they discover a parasitic infection that transforms humans into horrifying, vampire-like creatures.
3. Alice in Borderland
- Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Nijirō Murakami, Ayaka Miyoshi, Aya Asahina, Dori Sakurada
- Where to stream: Netflix
Stop sleeping on Alice in Borderland, seriously. The show throws you straight into a twisted, dystopian Tokyo where nothing is what it seems, and survival isn’t just about luck. It’s about brains, guts, and nerves of steel.
In the horror sci-fi series, the story centers around a bunch of characters who are forced to participate in deadly, mind-bending games where one wrong move can cost them their lives. The games are insane, inventive, and horrifying in ways you cannot predict, and as a viewer, you’ll find yourself wishing and hoping the characters make it through each round. There are two seasons already available to stream. Alice in Borderland season 3 is set to be released on Netflix on Sept. 25, 2025.
4. The Expanse
- Cast: Thomas Jane, Steven Strait, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper, Wes Chatham, Paulo Costanzo
- Where to stream: Prime Video
If you haven’t jumped on The Expanse yet, you are seriously missing out on one of the most epic, intelligent, and thrilling horror sci-fi shows of the last decade. This show is for the people who get a thrill from solving mysteries, debating who’s “right” or “wrong,” or imagining what life beyond Earth could really be like. I mean, even if you’re not usually a space sci-fi fan, this series will pull you in. Just give it a try, and you might be surprised.
The Expanse takes place in a future where humans have spread across the solar system, with tensions rising between Earth, Mars, and the Belt. Meanwhile, an unknown alien substance called the protomolecule suddenly appears and threatens to upend everything. There are six seasons of this horror sci-fi series in total.
5. From
- Cast: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Shaun Majumder
- Where to stream: MGM+
Last but surely not least is From. Like Alice in Borderland, this show is way too underrated. The premise alone should grab your attention. You have a seemingly ordinary town in the middle of nowhere, trapping anyone who enters with no way out, while mysterious, terrifying creatures emerge after dark.
Just imagine trying to navigate daily life while knowing the night could bring unimaginable horrors. Could you see yourself surviving each day with your nerves constantly on edge? Then, there are the other residents of the town and their secrets and hidden agendas. Who can you really trust? If From isn’t on your watchlist yet, now’s the time to fix that. There are three seasons out already, with a fourth season currently in the works.