20 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows on Max 2026
Explore Max’s top sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, animation, and adventure series, from The Last of Us to Rick and Morty, plus newer 2026 picks.
If you’re hunting for the best sci-fi TV shows on Max, this list mixes heady ideas, sharp writing, and plenty of binge-worthy momentum. You’ll find big-name standouts like The Last of Us, Watchmen, and Station Eleven alongside newer entries such as Stuart Fails to Save the Universe and President Curtis. There’s room here for dark comedy, animated chaos, and sprawling adventure, so the lineup never feels one-note. Rick and Morty, Peacemaker, and Years and Years show how the platform blends satire, spectacle, and real-world tension in very different ways. With 20 titles on the page, this guide makes it easy to jump straight to the kind of sci-fi mood you want right now.
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01
Lanterns
action & adventure · crime · drama · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
Two intergalactic cops, new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, are drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
Directed by James Hawes, Geeta Vasant Patel, Alik Sakharov, Stephen WilliamsCast Aaron Pierre, Kyle Chandler, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna JagannathanMax -
02
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe
comedy · fantasy · sci-fi
Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom, from The Big Bang Theory (2007), returns in a new series where he attempts--and apparently fails--to save the universe, staying true to his unlucky nature.
Directed by Kyle Newacheck, Jonathan FrakesCast Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn, John Ross Bowie, Tommy WalkerMax -
03
President Curtis
animation · comedy · sci-fi
Follows President Andre Curtis and his eccentric staff as they deal with various crises that Rick Sanchez typically ignores.
Directed by Fill Marc Sagadraca, Erik Kling, Juan Jose Meza-Leon, Bryan NewtonCast Keith David, Stephanie Beatriz, Jim Rash, Nick Reczynski, Alanna UbachMax -
04
Rick and Morty
animation · adventure · comedy · sci-fi
Rick is a mentally-unbalanced but scientifically gifted old man who has recently reconnected with his family. He spends most of his time involving his young grandson Morty in dangerous, outlandish adventures throughout space and alternate universes. Compounded with Morty's already unstable family life, these events cause Morty much distress at home and school.
Directed by Wes Archer, Jacob Hair, Pete Michels, Nathan Litz, Kyoung Hee LimCast Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke, Justin Roiland, Kari WahlgrenHuluMax -
05
Ren Faire
documentary · science-fiction
When the ailing king of America's largest renaissance festival declares his retirement, an epic power struggle ensues between an actor, a former elephant trainer, and a kettle-corn kingpin to claim his throne.
Directed by Lance OppenheimCast Jeffrey Baldwin, Darla Smith, George Coulam, Louie MigliaccioMax -
06
Lazarus
animation · action · adventure · sci-fi · thriller
In 2052, a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist develops a drug called Hapna — a cure-all that has the unexpected side-effect of causing death three years later. In response to this threat, a special force of agents—nicknamed "Lazarus"— is assembled to take on the malevolent Skinner.
Directed by Shin'ichirō WatanabeCast Mamoru Miyano, Makoto Furukawa, Maaya Uchida, Yuma Uchida, Manaka IwamiMax -
07
Batman: The Animated Series
animation · action · adventure · crime · family · mystery · sci-fi
Vowing to avenge the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne devotes his life to wiping out crime in Gotham City as the masked vigilante "Batman".
Directed by Kevin Altieri, Boyd Kirkland, Frank Paur, Dan Riba, Dick SebastCast Kevin Conroy, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings, Loren Lester, Robert CostanzoAmazon Prime VideoMax -
08
The Last of Us
action · adventure · drama · horror · sci-fi · thriller
Twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed, Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the United States and depend on each other for survival.
Directed by Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann, Peter Hoar, Ali Abbasi, Jeremy WebbCast Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, Young MazinoMax -
09
Station Eleven
adventure · drama · fantasy · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
The survivors of a devastating flu attempt to rebuild and reimagine the world anew – while holding on to the best of what’s been lost.
Directed by Jeremy Podeswa, Helen Shaver, Hiro Murai, Lucy TcherniakCast Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Matilda Lawler, David Wilmot, Nabhaan RizwanMax -
10
Peacemaker
action · adventure · comedy · crime · drama · fantasy · sci-fi
The continuing story of Peacemaker, a vainglorious superhero/supervillain who believes in peace at any cost — no matter how many people he has to kill. After a miraculous recovery from his duel with Bloodsport, Peacemaker soon discovers that his freedom comes at a price.
Directed by James Gunn, Alethea Jones, Greg Mottola, Brad Anderson, Jody HillCast John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve AgeeMax -
11
Years and Years
drama · sci-fi
As Britain is rocked by unstable political, economic and technological advances, members of the Lyons family converge on one crucial night in 2019. Over the next 15 years, the twists and turns of their everyday lives are explored as we find out if this ordinary family could change the world.
Directed by Simon Cellan Jones, Lisa MulcahyCast Anne Reid, Rory Kinnear, Jessica Hynes, T'Nia Miller, Ruth MadeleyMax -
12
Superman & Lois
action · adventure · drama · sci-fi
After years of facing megalomaniacal supervillains, monsters wreaking havoc on Metropolis, and alien invaders intent on wiping out the human race, The Man of Steel aka Clark Kent and Lois Lane come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever: dealing with all the stress, pressures and complexities that come with being working parents in today's society.
Directed by Gregory Smith, Sudz Sutherland, David Ramsey, Ian Samoil, Elizabeth HenstridgeCast Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, Alex Garfin, Inde Navarrette, Erik ValdezMax -
13
Dune: Prophecy
action · adventure · drama · sci-fi
Ten thousand years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen establish the fabled sect and female order that would become known as the Bene Gesserit to control the future of humankind.
Directed by Richard J. Lewis, Anna Foerster, John Cameron, Roxann Dawson, Daniel AttiasCast Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Chloe Lea, Travis Fimmel, Jade AnoukaMax -
14
Watchmen
crime · drama · mystery · sci-fi
Set in an alternate history where “superheroes” are treated as outlaws, “Watchmen” embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel while attempting to break new ground of its own.
Directed by Nicole Kassell, Stephen Williams, Steph Green, Andrij Parekh, David SemelCast Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tom Mison, Sara Vickers, Jeremy IronsMax -
15
My Adventures with Superman
animation · action · adventure · comedy · family · fantasy · romance · sci-fi
Twenty-somethings Clark Kent, the bright and driven Lois Lane, and their best friend Jimmy Olsen begin to discover who they are and everything they can accomplish together as an investigative reporting team at the Daily Planet.
Directed by Jen Bennett, Diana Huh, Christina Manrique, Grace Liu, Chris PalmerCast Jack Quaid, Alice Lee, Ishmel Sahid, Max Mittelman, Kiana MadeiraMax -
16
Adventure Time
animation · action · adventure · comedy · family · fantasy · sci-fi
Unlikely heroes Finn and Jake are buddies who traverse the mystical Land of Ooo. The best of friends, our heroes always find themselves in the middle of escapades. Finn and Jake depend on each other through thick and thin.
Directed by Bong Hee Han, Larry Leichliter, Elizabeth Ito, Andres Salaff, Adam MutoCast John DiMaggio, Jeremy Shada, Tom Kenny, Hynden Walch, Niki YangHuluMax -
17
His Dark Materials
adventure · drama · fantasy · sci-fi
Lyra is an orphan who lives in a parallel universe in which science, theology and magic are entwined. Her search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and turns into a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. She is later joined on her journey by Will, a boy who possesses a knife that can cut windows between worlds. As she learns the truth about her parents and her prophesied destiny, the two young people are caught up in a war against celestial powers that ranges across many worlds.
Directed by Jamie Childs, William McGregor, Amit Gupta, Leanne Welham, Otto BathurstCast Dafne Keen, Kit Connor, Ruth Wilson, Amir Wilson, Will KeenMax -
18
Justice League
animation · action · adventure · family · fantasy · mystery · sci-fi
The long-awaited rebirth of the greatest superhero team of all time: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter.
Directed by Butch Lukic, Dan RibaCast Carl Lumbly, Phil LaMarr, Michael Rosenbaum, George Newbern, Maria Canals-BarreraMax -
19
Doom Patrol
action · adventure · comedy · crime · drama · fantasy · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
The Doom Patrol’s members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities — but also left them scarred and disfigured. Traumatized and downtrodden, the team found purpose through The Chief, who brought them together to investigate the weirdest phenomena in existence — and to protect Earth from what they find.
Directed by Chris Manley, Omar Madha, Kristin Windell, Dermott Downs, Harry JierjianCast Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Matt Bomer, Riley Shanahan, Brendan FraserMax -
20
FLCL
animation · action · comedy · drama · sci-fi
Naota is a normal boy who kills some time with a normal girl by a stream that flows underneath a bridge. Nothing unusual happens in this town. The fact that Haruhara Haruko crashes into the main character with her Vespa a short while later and subsequently hits him over the head with her Rickenbacker 4003 bass guitar doesn’t really make any difference to any other day here. The at first glance unconnected, bizarre events that don’t seem to follow any pattern whatsoever don’t change anything about Naota’s boring life, either – because nothing incredible ever happens in this town.
Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, Masahiko Ôtsuka, Shôji Saeki, Takeshi Ando, Ken AndôCast Jun Mizuki, Mayumi Shintani, Izumi Kasagi, Suzuki Matsuo, Hiroshi ItoMax
Wrapping Up
Whether you want blockbuster tension, clever satire, or emotional storytelling with a speculative edge, this roundup gives you a strong starting point on Max. From The Last of Us and Watchmen to Rick and Morty and Station Eleven, there’s a wide range of styles to match your next watch. Bookmark this page so you can come back whenever you want a fresh pick, because the list is updated regularly as new series arrive and favorites shift. If you’re building a watchlist, this is the easiest place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Max subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Max. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these sci-fi shows ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the sci-fi titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 10, 2026