12 Best Shows Like X-Men '97 to Watch Next (2026)
Searching for more mutant action and animated sci-fi? Explore 12 picks from X-Men and Spawn to The Gifted, Buffy, and Beast Wars.
If you’re searching for shows like X-Men '97, this list keeps the focus on mutant stories, team-based action, and animated sci-fi with a comic-book edge. You’ll find other versions of the X-Men mythos alongside series that channel the same mix of heroes, danger, and big-scale genre energy. Start with X-Men from 1992 for more mutant conflict, then try The Gifted for a grounded family-on-the-run setup. If you want animated heroics with a darker or stranger angle, Beast Wars: Transformers, Spawn, and The Incredible Hulk are also strong places to begin.
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01
Spawn
Won 2 Emmys
animation · action · adventure · crime · drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · romance · sci-fi · thriller
Todd McFarlane's Spawn is an animated television series which aired on HBO from 1997 through 1999. It is also released on DVD as a film series. It is based on the Spawn comic series from Image Comics, and was nominated for and won an Emmy in 1999 for Outstanding Animation Program. An unrelated series titled Spawn: The Animation is in production since 2009, with Keith David reprising his role as the titular character. Like the comic book, the series features graphic violence, sexual scenes, and extensive use of profanity. Todd McFarlane's Spawn was ranked 5th on IGN's list of The Greatest Comic Book Cartoons Of All Time.
Why watch: If you want a darker animated comic-book series with action and sci-fi elements, Spawn is a good fit. Its crime, fantasy, horror, and thriller genres suggest a grittier tone than many superhero shows.
Directed by Eric Radomski, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, John Hays, Mike Vosburg, Thomas A. NelsonCast Keith David, Richard Dysart, Dominique Jennings, James Keane, Michael McShaneMaxMore details on IMDb → -
02
X-Men
animation · action · adventure · family · sci-fi
The X-Men are an elite team of mutants, genetically gifted human beings with superpowers, sworn to fight for mutant rights against hostile Government agencies, whilst at the same time protecting mankind from mutant supremacist Magneto who seeks to destroy the human race in return for the atrocities committed against mutant kind.
Why watch: If you like mutant teams, government conflict, and classic superhero stakes, X-Men is the most direct match. Its animation and sci-fi setup make it especially relevant for anyone drawn to the X-Men world.
Directed by Larry Houston, Fred Miller, Richard Bowman, Frank SquillaceCast Cedric Smith, George Buza, Cal Dodd, Norm Spencer, Alyson CourtDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
03
Earth: Final Conflict
2 Emmy nominations
action · drama · mystery · sci-fi
When an alien species comes to Earth bearing gifts for humanity, a few suspicious humans seek to discover and resist the newcomers' true designs.
Why watch: If you enjoy uneasy sci-fi stories about humanity reacting to outsiders, Earth: Final Conflict may appeal to you. It leans more into mystery and drama than superhero action, but the tension-driven premise fits this kind of search well.
Directed by Brenton Spencer, Ross Clyde, Andrew Potter, James Head, David WinningCast Von Flores, Leni Parker, Anita La Selva, Richard Chevolleau, David HemblenAmazon Prime VideoTubiFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
04
Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation
action · adventure · comedy · family · sci-fi
Everyone's favorite teenage mutants are back in live action to fight crime with help from a new ninja turtle -- a female named Venus De Milo.
Why watch: If you’re open to a lighter, more unusual take on mutant heroes, Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation might be worth a look. It mixes action, adventure, family appeal, and sci-fi in a live-action format.
Directed by Robert Lee, Iain Paterson, Rob Stewart, David Straiton, Clay BorrisCast Jarred Blancard, Mitchell A. Lee Yuen, Dean Choe, Richard Yee, Gabe KhouthAmazon Prime VideoTubiMore details on IMDb → -
05
Extreme Dinosaurs
animation · action · adventure · crime · family · sci-fi
In the present a team of four anthropomorphic dinosaurs, created by aliens, must stop three anthropomorphic velociraptors who want to cause a cataclysm that would speed up global warming and make Earth's climate pleasant for dinosaurs again.
Why watch: If animated action with a weird, creature-driven premise sounds fun, Extreme Dinosaurs could be a match. Its mix of adventure, crime, family, and sci-fi gives it a playful comic-book energy.
Directed by Richard TruebloodCast Scott McNeil, Cusse Mankuma, Garry Chalk, Terry Klassen, Lee TockarFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
06
The Gifted
action · fantasy · sci-fi
A suburban couple's ordinary lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive.
Why watch: If you like stories about mutants being forced to go on the run, The Gifted lines up closely with that idea. The family focus and underground network angle make it a strong option for viewers who want modern superhero drama.
Directed by Scott Peters, Stephen Surjik, Robert Duncan McNeill, Steven DePaul, Craig SiebelsCast Stephen Moyer, Amy Acker, Sean Teale, Natalie Alyn Lind, Percy Hynes WhiteHuluMore details on IMDb → -
07
Ultraforce
animation · action · sci-fi
Superheroes are commissioned by the U.S. government to protect the world from their terrorist counterparts, who have evil plans to take over.
Why watch: If you enjoy government-backed superhero teams and animated action, Ultraforce is a straightforward pick. Its premise centers on heroes protecting the world from their counterparts, which gives it a clear comic-book conflict.
Cast Michael Fletcher, Andrew Jackson, Alyson Court, Nicole Oliver, Catherine DisherFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
08
Toxic Crusaders
animation · action · comedy · family · sci-fi
Loosely based on the 1984 B-horror comedy film The Toxic Avenger, Toxic Crusaders is a syndicated 13-episode animated series created by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz. Like the source material, Toxie is a grotesque mutant endowed with superhuman powers, but is still a good-hearted and law-abiding citizen of the fictional town of Tromaville, New Jersey; the setting of most of Troma Entertainment's films. In a change from the films, the toxic waste mutated his mop into a sentient entity that sometimes battles enemies by itself or gives him ideas on how to solve problems. The villains include Czar Zosta, Dr. Killemoff, and Psycho, polluters from the planet Smogula who wreak ecological havoc with help from Tromaville's corrupt mayor, Grody. Bonehead, a street punk who bullied Melvin, joins them in the first episode.
Why watch: If you like offbeat animated series with mutant heroes and comedy mixed in, Toxic Crusaders may be a fun detour. Its family-friendly tone and ecological villain setup make it stand out from more serious superhero shows.
Directed by Bill Hutten, Tony LoveCast Gregg Berger, Susan Blu, Rodger Bumpass, Paul Eiding, Ed GilbertAmazon Prime VideoTubiMore details on IMDb → -
09
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Won 2 Emmys Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (2000) · 14 nominations
action · adventure · drama · fantasy · horror · romance
Into every generation a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer.
Why watch: If you want action, fantasy, and horror with a chosen-hero premise, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a strong match. It trades mutant powers for supernatural threats, but the danger-filled setup should still click with this audience.
Directed by Joss Whedon, James A. Contner, David Solomon, David Grossman, Michael GershmanCast Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head, James MarstersHuluMore details on IMDb → -
10
Beast Wars: Transformers
action & adventure · animation · science-fiction
Two spaceships, one manned by benevolent Maximals, the other by evil Predacons, crash-land on a pre-humanoid planet while en route to Earth. Their crews assume indigenous animal forms to protect themselves from an overabundance of natural energy, transforming into robots to do battle. Thus, the Beast Wars have begun...
Why watch: If animated action with robots, transformation, and a strong sci-fi identity appeals to you, Beast Wars: Transformers is worth considering. The Maximals versus Predacons setup gives it a clear battle line for genre fans.
Directed by Steve Sacks, Colin Davies, J. Falconer, Owen Hurley, John PozerCast Scott McNeil, Garry Chalk, Ian James Corlett, Richard Newman, David KayeAmazon Prime VideoTubiMore details on IMDb → -
11
The Incredible Hulk
animation · action · adventure · fantasy · sci-fi
When research scientist Bruce Banner is blasted with a gamma ray bomb during an experiment gone wrong, he develops a dangerous alter ego -- a mean, green monster known as the Incredible Hulk -- who emerges when he gets angry.
Why watch: If you like classic comic-book characters in animated form, The Incredible Hulk is a natural choice. Its action, adventure, fantasy, and sci-fi mix should work well for viewers who want more superhero energy.
Directed by Ron Myrick, Ernesto Lopez, Tom Tataranowicz, Richard Trueblood, Dan ThompsonCast Lou Ferrigno, Neal McDonough, John Vernon, Mark Hamill, Luke PerryDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
12
Iron Man
animation · action · adventure · family · sci-fi
Industrialist Tony Stark leads a private team of superheroes as Iron Man against the forces of evil.
Why watch: If you prefer animated superhero team-ups led by Tony Stark, Iron Man may be a good fit. Its action, adventure, family, and sci-fi blend makes it a clean recommendation for comic-book fans.
Directed by Bob Arkwright, Dan Thompson, Richard TruebloodCast Robert Hays, John Reilly, Jim Cummings, Dorian Harewood, Ed GilbertDisney PlusMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This page brings together animated and live-action picks that share the mutant, superhero, and sci-fi DNA readers usually want after finishing X-Men '97. Whether you prefer classic X-Men stories, government-versus-heroes tension, or more offbeat comic-book action, there’s something here worth trying next. Bookmark this guide and come back when you want another recommendation, because it’s updated regularly. That makes it easy to keep finding new matches without having to start your search over.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these shows similar to X-Men '97?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.