There’s a ton of great science fiction available right now, with something for every fan across all the different streaming services. While AppleTV+ currently has some of the best sci-fi shows and movies, Netflix also offers a good selection.
Many of these shows are short and sweet, perfect for watching all the way through in a weekend! We’ve gathered some of the best sci-fi series Netflix has to offer, covering a wide range of subgenres. They’re all highly rated and definitely worth checking out when you have a free weekend. Most are two seasons or less, making them ideal for a quick binge-watching session over a couple of days.
3 Body Problem (1 Season)
A Mind-Bending Alien Invasion Story
| Cast | Eiza Gonzales, Benedict Wong, Liam Cunningham |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | David Benioff, D. B. Weiss |
| No. of Episodes | 8 |
Netflix’s 3 Body Problem is based on the popular sci-fi novels by Cixin Liu. This first season adapts the story from those books and, while a second season is planned for late 2026, it feels like a complete story in itself.
The show centers around scientists and investigators who encounter an alien civilization heading towards Earth. These aliens use a virtual reality simulation to explain their reasons for traveling across space. This contact sparks global conflicts, and a single mistake leads to a frightening and unexpected turn, with the aliens becoming hostile. While 3 Body Problem explores complicated scientific ideas, it does so in a way that’s easy to follow, and the fast-paced plot will keep you hooked from one episode to the next.
Supacell (1 Season)
South London Supes
| Cast | Tosin Cole, Nadine Mills, Josh Tedeku |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | Rapman |
| No. of Episodes | 6 |
Supacell, a show based in south London, centers around a diverse group of people who unexpectedly gain superpowers. What makes the show special is how relatable these characters are as they adjust to their new abilities. Unlike typical superhero shows, Supacell isn’t focused on big action sequences. Instead, it explores how these individuals use their powers to navigate everyday challenges and improve their personal lives.
Ignore the harsh criticism you might see about Supacell – it’s a show that’s definitely worth watching. It starts with a similar vibe to Misfits, even filming in some of the same locations, but it quickly becomes its own unique story. The show moves at a great pace, has unexpected twists, and features interesting, well-developed characters. Plus, a second season is coming in 2026, making now the perfect time to start watching!
Maniac (1 Season)
Freaky Pharmaceuticals
| Cast | Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, Justin Theroux |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | Patrick Somerville, Cary Joji Fukunaga |
| No. of Episodes | 10 |
Maniac is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller created by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the director known for the first season of True Detective. The series follows two strangers – a man with schizophrenia and a woman who prefers to be alone – who join a mysterious drug trial. It promises to fix all their issues, but the treatment turns out to be deeply unsettling, causing them to experience vivid and confusing hallucinations of different realities.
Maniac is a show that can be gripping and thought-provoking, but it’s also surprisingly funny and dreamlike. Jonah Hill and Emma Stone have fantastic chemistry together, just like in Superbad, and they really bring that energy to this series. It’s a quick and easy watch, and you’ll likely enjoy it even more the second time around.
Russian Doll (2 Seasons)
One Woman’s Time Loop
| Cast | Natasha Lyonne, Charlie Barnett, Greta Lee |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, Leslye Headand |
| No. of Episodes | 15 |
The idea behind Russian Doll—a character reliving the same period of time—will remind viewers of films like Groundhog Day or the Happy Death Day movies, but the show offers some unique twists. Unlike those stories, the loop doesn’t start at the beginning of the day; it begins in the middle of Nadia’s (Natasha Lyonne) 36th birthday party. Because she dies each night, Nadia has less time to solve the mystery than characters in other time-loop stories. Another key difference is that Nadia isn’t alone—she meets Alan, who is experiencing his own, connected time loop. This allows the series to explore the concept in fresh and surprising ways.
Each episode of Russian Doll is just 30 minutes long, making it a quick and easy show to binge-watch. While the second season continues Nadia’s story, it doesn’t have the same captivating time loop plot as the first. It’s still a good season, but the first season of Russian Doll is definitely the stronger of the two.
The Eternaut (1 Season)
Post-Alien Invasion Argentina
| Cast | Ricardo Darin, Carla Peterson, Cesar Troncoso |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | Bruno Stagnaro |
| No. of Episodes | 6 |
The 2025 series, The Eternaut, takes place in a post-apocalyptic Buenos Aires. A sudden, mysterious snowfall wipes out most of the population, leaving only a few thousand survivors, including John Salvo. The story follows their fight for survival, but the snow itself holds a dangerous secret. It quickly becomes clear that the snowfall is actually the beginning of an alien invasion, and the invaders are already moving forward with their plans. The survivors must not only cope with the disaster but also find a way to fight back against the alien threat.
Despite receiving positive reviews internationally, The Eternaut hasn’t become a mainstream hit yet. It’s similar to the sci-fi series Dark in that regard – these non-English shows on Netflix often take time to find a large audience. A second season is planned, but considering how long the first season took to make, it could be a year or two before it arrives.
Pantheon (2 Seasons)
The Dead In The Cloud
| Cast | Katie Chang, Paul Dano, Aaron Eckhart |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | Craig Silverstein |
| No. of Episodes | 16 |
Pantheon, an animated sci-fi series inspired by a story from Ken Liu (author of The Dandelion Dynasty), explores a future where human minds can be uploaded into computers. The company Logorhythms pioneered this technology, but Maddie Kim discovers a surprising connection to it when she realizes the online support system helping her cope with her father’s death is actually his digital consciousness. As more and more people join this digital afterlife – some by choice, others not – a global power struggle begins over control of the technology.
With a fantastic voice cast featuring Paul Dano and Aaron Eckhart (both known for playing villains in Batman films), Pantheon is a truly original sci-fi series. It explores complex, futuristic ideas with a lot of heart, all within the framework of a suspenseful political thriller. Although AMC canceled it after two seasons in 2023 (leading to its move to Netflix), the story has a satisfying conclusion without any frustrating loose ends. Despite this, fans are still hoping for a third season as the show gains popularity, so a continuation isn’t entirely off the table.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (2 Seasons)
Absurdist Crime Solving
| Cast | Samuel Barnett, Elijah Wood, Jade Eshete |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | Max Landis |
| No. of Episodes | 18 |
If you enjoy quirky science fiction, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is a great choice, especially since it’s based on a series by Douglas Adams. The show centers around Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett), a detective who doesn’t solve crimes by finding clues, but by looking for the hidden connections between everything. He doesn’t take cases – he stumbles into them, following what he believes is the guidance of the universe. Along for the ride are Todd Brotzman (Elijah Wood), a hotel bellhop, and Farah Black (Jade Eshete), a security guard, who both eventually start to think Dirk’s unusual methods might actually work.
Elijah Wood has become really good at playing the normal guy in quirky, offbeat comedies, and he’s shown that in shows like Wilfred and Dirk Gently. While Samuel Barnett’s Dirk is the standout character, the story is told mostly through the eyes of Todd, which makes Dirk’s strange behavior believable because Todd accepts it too. The show can feel confusing at first, like a bizarre dream, but each season wraps up all the storylines in a really satisfying way. Knowing that things will eventually make sense makes it easy to get hooked and binge-watch the whole series.
Archive 81 (1 Season)
Video Restoration And Cults
| Cast | Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | Rebecca Sonnenshine |
| No. of Episodes | 8 |
As a huge fan of blending genres, I stumbled upon Archive 81 and it really delivered. It follows Dan, played by Mamoudou Athie, who takes a job restoring some old documentary footage from 1994. But as he digs deeper into the tapes, he quickly realizes they’re tied to a creepy mystery involving a cult and the filmmaker who disappeared, Melody (Dina Shihabi). It’s seriously unsettling, and I started wondering if something supernatural was at play – maybe even witchcraft!
Although revealing the sci-fi aspects of Archive 81 would spoil the show, they’re a significant and impactful surprise when they appear. The series maintains a consistently unsettling atmosphere and moves at a good pace, preventing it from feeling slow. While the show tells a complete story in its single season, it leaves possibilities for continuation. Unfortunately, despite being well-received, Netflix canceled it in 2022. You’ll likely be left wanting more, but Archive 81 remains one of the best and most overlooked horror series currently available on Netflix.
Sense8 (2 Seasons)
Eight People Connected Through Their Thoughts
| Cast | Bae Doona, Jamie Clayton, Tina Desai |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski |
| No. of Episodes | 24 |
Sense8 is a show that really divides people. While it has a dedicated and passionate fanbase – so much so that they successfully campaigned to save it after it was cancelled – not everyone loves it. It’s not for everyone, but those who connect with it often consider it one of the best shows ever made.
This show centers around eight strangers who suddenly develop a powerful psychic connection, allowing them to share thoughts and skills. But they soon discover they’re not alone – a mysterious and dangerous group is already hunting others with similar abilities. While 24 episodes might sound like a lot to watch in one weekend, Sense8 is incredibly captivating once you start. The only potential drawback is the lengthy, two-hour final episode.
Love Death + Robots (4 Seasons)
Action To Comedy To Experimental And Everything In Between
| Cast | Fred Tatasciore, Nolan North, Emily O’Brien |
|---|---|
| Creator(s) | Tim Miller |
| No. of Episodes | 45 |
You might be thinking, “No way could I watch 45 episodes in one weekend!” But Love Death + Robots isn’t like most Netflix shows. It’s a collection of short, animated science fiction stories. Each episode is unique – created by different writers, directors, and using different animation styles, and some are even live-action. The reason it’s possible to binge it all in a weekend is that the episodes are short. The longest one is only 18 minutes, and most are between 5 and 15 minutes long.
With so much content, it’s natural that not every story will appeal to everyone, but LD+R offers plenty of interesting and unforgettable moments. And it’s not just about robots – you’ll find all kinds of science fiction here. It’s ideal for dedicated sci-fi fans who enjoy the genre as a whole, and it’s a show that all sci-fi enthusiasts should give a try. You’re likely to find episodes you really enjoy, and you might even discover some new favorites.
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2025-12-18 23:43