The future is a fascinating prospect. One can imagine pretty much anything happening years, decades, or even centuries or millennia from now; and, indeed, plenty of creatives in the television industry have done just that over the years. As such,there’s a wide variety of TV shows that take place in the future, and a handful of them are among the greatest sci-fi series ever made.
From space operas to apocalyptic horror, and from animated sitcoms to animated dramas, the field of shows set in the future has something for everyone. It’s the perfect place for writers to unleash their creativity and imagine what’s going to happen to our universe many years from now. Whether that will eventually come true remains to be seen. That’s the magic of sci-fi TV.
10’Babylon 5' (1993–1998)
Created by J. Michael Straczynski
The cult classicBabylon 5was a landmark in the history of sci-fi and genre television as a whole. Set during the 23rd century, it was the first-ever genre show that promised a clearly planned overarching storyline, instead of the monster-of-the-week approach that sci-fi still loved so much at that point in time. For the most part, it delivered on all of its promises.
This uniqueness is what has enshrined it as one ofthe best sci-fi shows of the 1990s. It can be campy and hilariously amateurish, but that only adds to its distinct sci-fi charm, and it in no way diminishes the influence and impact that it had on storytelling and visual effects for genre television going forward.
9’The Last of Us' (2023–)
Created by Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin
Divisive second season notwithstanding, it’s undeniable thatThe Last of Usis precisely the kind of bold, subversive prestige television that HBO originally built its brand on. Part of the recent streak of video game adaptations that have been breaking the terrible track record that such films and shows had had for the majority of their history, it’s one ofthe best horror seriesof the 2020s so far.
Although the first game’s main narrative takes place in 2033, the first season of the show actually takes place in a parallel 2023. With the five-year time jump that the second season takes, however,the show is currently set in the future, near though that future may be. If anything, that closeness makes the show’s premise and social commentary all the more terrifying and unsettling.
The Last Of Us
8’Westworld' (2016–2022)
Created by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan
The idea forWestworldwas originally born as a 1973 sci-fi Western written and directed byMichael Crichton, author of theJurassic Parknovels. It was later transformed into HBO’sWestworld, one ofthe best cyberpunk TV shows out there, and a version of the story that’s even stronger than the source material.
Set around the year 2053, the show’s retro-futuristic aesthetic mixes creative sci-fi elements with nostalgic Western elements,making for an experience that fans of both genres are bound to love. Although most viewers tend to agree that the series' quality went somewhat in decline as it went on, it never stopped being one of the most entertaining futuristic shows on television.
7’Future Boy Conan' (1978)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazakiis, of course, best known as one of the greatest and most important filmmakers in Japanese history. Not many people know that he also dabbled in small-screen storytelling. To be more specific,Future Boy Conanwas the very first time that the anime icon directed anything. It’s set in 2028, two decades after a devastating war.
That’s not the only reason why this is one ofthe most essential animated showsof the ’70s, though. There are themes and creative elements here that all Miyazaki fans are guaranteed to recognize and appreciate, and even just by itself,Future Boy Conanis an awful lot of fun. Beautiful and highly imaginative,it’s a must-see for all fans of Miyazaki and anime television as a whole.
Future Boy Conan
6’Scavengers Reign' (2023)
Created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner
Although it was tragically canceled after just one season due to low viewership (sadly, a common occurrence in the world of sci-fi television),Scavengers Reignis sure to go down in history as one of the best animated shows of the 2020s. Ideal for fans of psychedelic and undeniably weird television, it’s a sci-fi gem that seems to know the ins and outs of the genre.
Scavengers Reignis one ofthe most underrated sci-fi showsever made, a brilliantly creative and visually stunning masterpiece of the genre that all fans should check out at least once. Set in an unspecified distant future,it’s an insightful look at hugely complex themes of human existence and existentialism, making for some of the most thought-provoking sci-fi one can find nowadays.
Scavengers Reign
5’The Expanse' (2015–2022)
Developed by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby
Typically hailed as one ofthe most realistic sci-fi showsin recent memory,The Expanseis far more than just a somewhat scientifically accurate genre show. Set during the 24th century, the series was originally canceled by Syfy after just three seasons. Thankfully, Amazon picked it up for three more, so viewers getting into it today get the whole package.
The Expanseis one of those sci-fi shows that only keep getting better and better as they go. With an amazing sense of scale, exceptional production values, and some remarkably layered and entertaining writing, it’s one of the highest-quality sci-fi shows of the 21st century so far. Clever, exciting, and undeniably epic, it’s a futuristic narrative that proves just how fun the subgenre can be.
The Expanse
4’Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' (2022)
Created by Rafal Jaki
Set during the titular year,Cyberpunk 2077earned a bad name upon release due to poor performance. Its comeback, however, is guaranteed to go down in history as one of the biggest in the history of the video game industry. Its Netflix anime prequel, the miniseriesCyberpunk: Edgerunners, is set during the year 2076, and it didn’t have any issues upon release. From day one, it was hailed as one of the best animated shows of the 2020s so far.
Edgerunnersis an absolutedelight for both fans of the game and people who haven’t picked up a video game controller in three decades. It received praise for its impressive animation, layered character writing, and excellent world-building, and each of those compliments was well-deserved. Its extreme violence may not be for everyone, but the writing is more than great enough to make up for it.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
3’Futurama' (1999–)
Created by Matt Groening
As far as animated sitcoms go, it doesn’t get much better or more popular thanFuturama, which is set at the turn of the 31st century. One ofthe longest-running animated shows of all time, it’s one of those rare sitcoms that feel like they’ve been on the air since forever, but have somehow not decreased in quality. The series is just as smart and hilarious today as it was back in 1999.
Perhaps it’s the delightfully nerdy team of writers, or the clever running gags that they’ve set up throughout the show’s history, or the endearing characters, or the timeless animation.Whatever it is, it can’t be denied:Futuramais a classic that doesn’t get old. The future has never been this hysterically funny.
2’Cowboy Bebop' (1998–1999)
Created by Sunrise
For those who love space operas but also love Westerns, and can’t decide on which of the two genres to watch on their TV screen next,Cowboy Bebopcomes in to save the day.Set during the year 2071, this noir space Western mixes genres like it’s nobody’s business, and it’s always a delight watching it do so. Fun, intelligent, and visually striking, it’s one of the best animated series in history.
As a result of its legendary voice performances (in both English and the original Japanese), its stylish tone, its sophisticated writing, and its one-of-a-kind mastery of storytelling,Cowboy Bebopis undoubtedly one ofthe most essential anime series in history. It wears its influences out in its sleeve, and has been equally influential to all sorts of artists over the years since its release.
Cowboy Bebop
1’Firefly' (2002–2003)
Created by Joss Whedon
Perhaps the most noteworthy and infamous victim of networks' obsession with cancelling sci-fi TV series before their time,Firefly—partly because of the cancellation, and partly because it’s just that good of a show—has only kept growing its cult following since its conclusion. Today, it’s still very much worth getting into this timeless space Western.
Fireflyis one of the few sci-fi shows thatcould reasonably be called masterpieces. Set in the 26th century, this modern classic has endlessly compelling storylines and a masterful sense of world-building. Witty, quirky, irresistibly fun, and with just the right amount of humor, it’s a staple of 21st-century futuristic science fiction.
