Main video has the sci-fi shows I want to watch, and I bet you do too. The Amazon-owned streamer is packed with pages and pages of content, and when it comes to its genre offerings, the platform doesn’t skimp. The same could probably be said of competitors like Netflix And Apple TVbut science fiction on Prime Video is different with the independent film vibe it gives off.
Thought-provoking narratives and unique plots propel these titles. It is a genre which regularly constitutes a mirror of our society. As in-depth as some of these stories are, they still manage to give you food for thought. Take a look at shows like The Boys, Generation VOutdoor beach, To fall and The Man in the High Castle, and you’ll see what I mean.
Whether you’re looking for something dark and dystopian or a lighter show with lower stakes, you’ll find something here worth watching. Below you’ll find the best sci-fi shows on Prime Video right now. Please check back each month as I will be updating this article regularly.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab reviews. Add CNET as your preferred Google source.
Learn more: Prime Video: The 30 Absolute Best Shows to Watch
The Twilight Zone
I really don’t know what new can be said about The Twilight Zone that hasn’t already been said. It is the granddaddy of all anthology series and remains a benchmark of the genre after all these years. Rod Serling created the sci-fi classic in 1959 and it only lasted five seasons. But it was enough to leave its cultural impact. Some notable episodes to explore include Time Enough at Last, Eye of the Beholder, To Serve Man, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, and Living Doll.
12 monkeys
12 Monkeys is inspired by the Terry Gilliam classic, which posits the idea that a criminal from the future must travel back in time to stop a plague from destroying the human race. The series uses the same theme as a starting point, but it expands the story universe and takes things in new and exciting directions. Its four-season series remains one of the best, underrated sci-fi shows of the last decade.
Person of interest
Person of Interest follows a former CIA agent and a closeted billionaire who fight a crime that hasn’t yet happened, thanks to an AI program that predicts the future. Of course, this sounds like a minority report. I assure you this is not the case. Beneath the network’s procedural veneer lives a surprising depth in this series. This should come as no surprise, given that it features JJ Abrams and Bryan Burk – yes, the same Bad Robot duo behind Lost – as executive producers.
American Gods
Bryan Fuller’s American Gods feels like a dream in that it was there and then gone in a flash. Over its three seasons, the program has immersed itself in the ethereal universe created by Neil Gaiman in his iconic novel. The story follows an ex-con named Shadow Moon who begins working with a man named Mr. Nobody, only to discover a world where the old gods (I’m talking about characters like Odin, Anansi, and Jesus) and the new gods (Media, Technical Boy, and Mr. World, among others) are on the brink of war. You can watch the entire first season on Prime Video.
Generation V
As powerful, violent and confusing as its parent series The Boys, Gen V spotlights the next generation of genetically engineered superheroes. The usual social and political tropes are on display here. Additionally, Generation V is addressing topics such as social media influence, body image, classism, and race in higher education.
To fall
Fallout is a fun, kinetic, action-packed video game adaptation that maintains the feel of Bethesda’s iconic franchise while charting a new path, story-wise. You don’t need to be familiar with gaming to enjoy this show. Of course, there are plenty of cool Easter eggs for fans to enjoy. But Fallout was designed for a broader audience. And with stunning performances from the cast – Walton Goggins and Ella Purnell are perfect – and detailed world-building, you won’t want to miss this wild adventure in the Wasteland.
The second best hospital in the galaxy
If you’re looking for a hospital drama with a supernatural twist, may I suggest you give Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy a spin? It’s like Grey’s Anatomy if every patient came from another planet — which, of course, means all sorts of strange conditions and neuroses to deal with. It’s funny, heartfelt and original, which ticks all the boxes for me.
Secret level
Secret Level comes from the creators of the hit animated anthology Love, Death and Robots. Each episode is inspired by a different video game, expanding the story world to give newbies and hardcore gamers new adventures to enjoy. Dungeons & Dragons, Pac-Man, Warhammer 40,000, and Mega Man are just a few of the games featured in the series.
The peripheral
Cyberpunk icon William Gibson wrote the novel that inspired The Peripheral. Created by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy – the duo who brought Westworld and Fallout to the small screen – the series stars Chloë Grace Moretz as Flynne Fisher, a woman who becomes involved in a reality-altering virtual reality video game. A trip to future London and an unexpected mission to save the world turn his life and that of this series upside down.
Download
From The Office to Parks and Recreation to The Good Place, Greg Daniels has extensive experience bringing groundbreaking comedies to the small screen. In Upload, he takes his offbeat sensibility into the afterlife with a program that posits that, in the near future, tech companies will offer virtual resorts where the consciousnesses of the recently deceased can enjoy a heavenly vacation forever. Of course, if they can afford it.
The extent
The Expanse is the mighty little powerhouse of sci-fi TV shows. The series explores a future reality where humanity has successfully colonized the solar system. It began as an original scripted series on SyFy, but after three seasons the network dropped the program. Luckily, Amazon stepped in to save it from cancellation. Over the course of its six seasons, the series found its feet and its audience, becoming a smart and gripping sci-fi drama.
The boys
A few years after Garth Ennis’ Preacher enjoyed mild success on AMC, the writer’s popular superhero comic The Boys landed on Prime Video and blew the doors off. In the series, a group of corrupt superheroes fight for power and glory while a gang of outlaws (aka The Boys) hunt them down individually. It’s a violent spectacle that hits the audience in the face with a multitude of social and political commentary. And it’s pretty good too.
Read our review of The Boys.
Tales from the Loop
Inspired by the narrative art book by Swedish retro-futurist artist Simon Stålenhag, the series balances the elegant aesthetic of a tech-heavy future world with the quaint calm of rural America. Jonathan Pryce and Rebecca Hall deliver standout performances in this quirky, slow-burn sci-fi series.
Outdoor beach
If Yellowstone and The X-Files had a baby, it would probably be Outer Range. The sci-fi western follows Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin), the patriarch and ranch owner of the Abbott family. Her family lives in the aftermath of the unexplained disappearance of her daughter-in-law. When a stranger comes to stay with the family, Royal must consider their past, present, and potential future. This would be it if you’re looking for a trippy series built on its stellar writing and performances.
Read our review of the outdoor range.
The Man in the High Castle
What if America didn’t win World War II? This is the central question that The Man in the High Castle aims to answer. Based on the novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick, the series is set in the 1960s and presents an alternate reality in which Nazi Germany and Japan share control of the United States. When news footage from an alternate timeline where Germany and Japan lost the war surface, the seeds of rebellion are sown. Ridley Scott produced this poignant and thought-provoking series.
The Electric Dreams of Philip K. Dick
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) and Michael Dinner (Justified) come together to bring the electric dreams of Philip K. Dick to life. The futuristic anthology series explores how technology can impact humanity in a variety of fantastical and horrifying ways. The narrative similarities between Electric Dreams and Black Mirror certainly abound. However, each episode of the Prime Video program draws inspiration from the work of the titular science fiction author.
Night sky
Thematically, Night Sky is reminiscent of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Cocoon. The slow-burn series, which only lasted one season, stars JK Simmons and Sissy Spacek as an aging married couple dealing with the trials and tribulations of their golden years. Additionally, a mysterious portal to a strange planet exists beneath their hangar. This sentimental mystery box set series explores aging and mortality in a surprisingly heartfelt way – thanks to engaging performances from both leads.
Invincible
Inspired by Robert Kirkman’s comic book series of the same name, Invincible follows Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), an ordinary high school student who happens to be the son of Omni-Man (JK Simmons) – the most powerful superhero on the planet. When Mark demonstrates special abilities, he discovers the unfortunate truth about who his father is and the insidious things he has done. This anime series is beautifully designed, well-written, and wonderfully acted. It is considered by many to be the best superhero show on television, and for good reason.
The power
In The Power, Prime Video’s series based on Naomi Alderman’s 2016 novel of the same name, teenage girls around the world suddenly develop the ability to shoot electricity from their hands. How exactly is this superpower changing the female experience in America and beyond? Toni Collette and Jon Leguizamo star alongside a cast of talented young women in a series that aims to subvert gender tropes and dynamics.
Paper girls
It’s easy to compare Paper Girls to Stranger Things. Parts of the story are set in the 1980s and follow a group of kids struggling to make sense of a supernatural event in town while they are riding their bikes. But the similarities end there. Based on Brian K. Vaughn’s comic strips of the same name, the season-long show begins as our 12-year-old paper delivery girls face their futures and fight for survival amid a time travel war unfolding around them.
Dead ringtones
Prime Video took a big turn with Dead Ringers. This updated version of David Cronenberg’s cult horror classic finds Rachel Weisz in the dual roles of Doctors Elliott and Beverly Mantle. Their desire to push the boundaries of health care throws medical ethics into oblivion. The result is a show that never shies away from exploring topics like big pharma’s control over women’s health, antiquated reproductive practices, bodily autonomy and much more.
Defeated
The rotoscoping animation used in Undone provides the audience with a dreamlike tapestry. One could easily view the show as an ethereal work of art, but there’s deep substance here too. The series follows Alma (Rosa Salazar), a young woman in difficulty whose life is turned upside down after an accident. As her reality shatters into something else, she must fight to make sense of her trauma. Part mystery, part thriller, and part family drama: it’s safe to say that Undone is unlike any TV show you’ve ever seen.
The tick
Not to be confused with the short-lived sitcom starring Patrick Warburton, this live-action version of the blue superhero with the wavy antennae is more expansive, more action-packed, and takes a little more seriously the comic book genre it parodies. Ben Edlund, the creator of the original comic strip and the 2001 television series, produced this iteration of the character, ensuring that the show’s sense of humor and vibe remained true to his original vision. Peter Serafinowicz and Griffin Newman have wonderful chemistry together. Jackie Earle Haley’s villainous portrayal of The Terror is an absolute delight. This makes the three-season series a must-watch for every comic book fan.
