HBO Max has really come into its own as a reliable and entertaining streaming service. Featuring an array of great films, engaging series, and some solid original programming, fans usually get what they pay for when it comes to HBO Max. There are tons of genres that should appeal to almost anyone looking for something that can’t find on traditional television.
This is especially true in the Sci-Fi genre, as HBO Max has tons of awesome shows to choose from. From kids’ shows to space epics and everything in between, the streaming service gives fans access to some of the best science fiction series available online. Here’s a look at some of the better shows that viewers can watch on HBO Max.
Station Eleven
HBO Max has some seriously good original programming and Station Eleven is one of its better Sci-Fi offerings. It’s a post-apocalyptic adventure with a twist, turning from traditional “survivors versus the new world” into something more personal and engrossing.
The plot takes place in a world ravaged by a flu pandemic, causing a post-apocalyptic scenario in which groups of surviving humans try to keep civilization going. One particular group works as traveling performers and all seems well until they come in contact with a crazed cult. To make things even more intense, the leader seems to have ties to a particular person in the group. It’s a thrilling miniseries that should keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Fringe
Taking the X-Files formula and swapping aliens for parallel universes, Fringe stumbled out of the gate but eventually found its footing during season 2. At its core, this is a procedural revolving around the investigation of strange phenomena that cannot be explained through normal hypotheses, at least during its early stages. In due time, Fringe grew into an ambitious Sci-Fi epic that prioritized serial storytelling and character development, with nearly all of its main players significantly changing as the show progressed.
Intelligent, gripping, and splendidly acted, Fringe is an addictive show that lures viewers into multiple universes laced with intrigue, danger, and discovery. All five seasons are available on HBO Max, and the series makes every moment count.
Person Of Interest
What if crimes could be prevented before they are executed? This concept has intrigued Sci-Fi for decades, giving way to a number of wonderful stories like Psycho-Pass and Minority Report. Person of Interest deserves to be mentioned alongside those greats.
A billionaire named Harold Finch has created a machine that gives out a number tied to a future crime that might occur. In order to stop these incidents from happening, Finch recruits John Reese, a former CIA Operative who has seen better days. Together, they explore these cases to determine whether an intervention is necessary. Raising fascinating ethical questions while delivering fantastic action and unforgettable characters, Person of Interest is smart, accessible, and thrilling. The cast is also spot on, featuring the likes of Jim Caviezel, Michael Emerson, Kevin Chapman, Taraji P. Henson, and Amy Acker.
Robot Chicken
Strictly speaking, Robot Chicken is not exclusively sci-fi, although the animated series dips its toes into the genre frequently. Utilizing stop-motion, Robot Chicken parodies pop culture by, more often than not, dropping famous fictional characters in mundane settings. This formula has produced gold for nearly two decades, and the show has proven to be consistently funny.
Imaginative, well-written, and irreverent, Robot Chicken is simply one of the best shows on HBO Max, regardless of genre. All eleven seasons are available on the streaming service, so newcomers should be set for at least a few months.
Dr. Stone
What would happen if a brilliant scientist with up-to-date knowledge was sent to the Stone Age? That is the question Dr. Stone asks, and it achieves this scenario by triggering a global event that petrifies most of the population. Thousands of years later, Senku Ishigami breaks out of his shell to find a world ruled by mother nature; undeterred by his isolation or primitive instruments, Senku sets out to speedrun humanity’s technological development and save everyone through the power of science.
Fantastical as this anime’s premise is, Dr. Stone’s science is grounded in reality. Senku is not some deity who can create things out of thin air, but rather a normal human who knows how to make good use of the tools at his disposal. Unlike most battle shonen anime that prioritize physical strength above all else, Dr. Stone centers around a protagonist who has to think his way out of situations. It makes for a refreshing change of pace.
Babylon 5
Lasting for five seasons, Babylon 5 was an ambitious addition to the Sci-Fi sphere. The titular space station serves as a neutral hub where races from across the universe could meet in peaceful discussions. More significantly, Babylon 5 seeks to inspire harmony between these diverse groups in an attempt to build a force that can withstand the thread of The Shadows. The show tackles a wide range of themes and concepts, including order versus chaos and free will.
Along with groundbreaking CGI for its era, J. Michael Straczynski’s Babylon 5 is masterfully written, particularly during its first four seasons. The series helped pioneer multi-season story arcs, something that greatly changed and elevated TV entertainment as a whole.
Doom Patrol
HBO Max has an impressive selection of live-action DC shows, be it Superman & Lois, Watchmen, or Titans. Out of the streaming service’s comic catalog, none embrace the surreal and the bizarre quite like Doom Patrol.
A show about outcasts dealing with deep psychological scars, this series pushes superhero-style action to the side to focus on its main characters, each of which grows (or regresses) as the story progresses. Sentient streets, living robots, and meta villains are just a few of the things that populate Doom Patrol’s world, making for an unpredictable and constantly entertaining watch.
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series might be a bit of a stretch to describe as science-fiction, but the animated series has plenty of the genre’s hallmarks. Technology is an intrinsic part of Batman’s identity as a crime fighter, and while most of his gadgets are somewhat doable in this day and age, they are certainly fiction. Villains such as Mr. Freeze and Bane are also ripped right out of sci-fi, and the former’s Heart of Ice episode represents the genre at its best.
More importantly, Batman: The Animated Series is arguably the best adaptation of DC’s Caped Crusader. The first season is particularly strong, telling some of Bruce Wayne’s most personal and memorable storylines. The subsequent seasons might not quite reach the same heights, but they are still highly enjoyable in their own right.
Batman Beyond
Batman: TAS might be a questionable sci-fi recommendation, but the same cannot be said for Batman Beyond. Predominantly set in 2039, Gotham has transformed into a sci-fi version of itself, one that even has flying cars. Effectively retired, Bruce Wayne can do little but watch from the sidelines as the city he once protected becomes a haven for gangs and crime. However, all hope is not lost as Bruce discovers a potential successor in Terry McGinnis, a high school student who learns the recluse billionaire’s secret.
Batman Beyond blends The Animated Series’ gothic architecture with futuristic iconography, and the combination works shockingly well. The cartoon has great action and memorable characters, and it maintains a stable level of quality throughout its run. While the show might not reach the dizzying heights of its predecessor, Batman Beyond is a must-watch for any fan of DC’s superhero.
The Venture Bros
This might sound like hyperbole, but The Venture Bros is a masterpiece. Starting out as something of a parody of a wide range of animated staples, especially the superhero and spy genres, this Adult Swim cartoon quickly blossoms into something beautifully unique. Boasting a contender for the best roster of characters of any Sci-Fi series on HBO Max, The Venture Bros seamlessly blends comedy, action, and character growth to craft a world that is constantly changing. In this series, henchmen can become heroes, and these evolutions are nearly always earned.
Over the course of seven seasons, The Venture Bros delivers unforgettable adventures, heartbreaking moments, quite a bit of gore, and the occasional David Bowie reference. The first few episodes can be a bit underwhelming, but when this series hits its stride, it never lets up.
DC’s Stargirl
Another superhero show, Stargirl captures a charming B-movie feel better than most of its contemporaries. A decade after the Justice Society of America’s defeat, a new generation of plucky heroes rise up to face the threat imposed by the Injustice Society of America. At the helm of this movement is Courtney Whitmore, a girl who comes to possess Starman’s Cosmic Staff.
Stargirl has not attracted the same attention as some other Arrowverse series, but it is a lighthearted and endearing adventure that blends Sci-Fi, action, and comedy quite well. HBO Max has Stargirl’s two completed seasons, allowing viewers to catch up before jumping into season 3 which is currently airing on The CW.
The Jetsons
Clearly inspired by The Flintstones, The Jetsons teleports viewers to a distant future filled with Sci-Fi goodies like sentient robots, flying cars, and overbearing bosses. The cartoon only lasted for a single season during its initial run, but it was brought back in the ’80s for another go. The original season is generally considered to be the best, although both incarnations attract quite a bit of nostalgia.
While a classic, The Jetsons is not particularly amazing. Hanna-Barbera’s low-budget animation is easier to stomach in Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones since they make up for it with atmosphere and personality, two areas that The Jetsons falls short in. Nevertheless, the cartoon has some charm, and there is a reason it is still remembered today when so many other animated shows have been lost to time.
Westworld
It’s hard to imagine a western having thick Sci-Fi elements (unless you count Wild Wild West) but that’s because Westworld isn’t a traditional western by any means. Its roots are deeply embedded in the Sci-Fi genre as the story follows the idea of a theme park wrapped in an authentic Western theme and populated by high-tech android “hosts,” which look and act as human as possible.
Their only stipulation is that they’re incapable of harming humans, which gives high-paying patrons a chance to live their wild west fantasies without fear of retaliation. The story has since opened up into a much more in-depth plot.
Samurai Jack
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Samurai Jack started life on Adult Swim, and the unique animated series was unlike anything else on TV. A Japanese samurai named Jack is sent to the far future by the demon Aku, and the former wakes up in a world that has fallen at the hands of the latter. Stuck in a universe that is beyond his comprehension, Jack travels the land as he tries to defeat Aku, an act that would hopefully send him back to his time.
Samurai Jack’s world-building is fantastic, and the show does a stellar job of constantly introducing new settings and subcultures that reflect Earth’s almost-cyberpunk aesthetic. The animation has barely aged a day, and the same extends to Samurai Jack’s storytelling and characters.
Falling Skies
Falling Skies is difficult to passionately recommend as it never quite managed to live up to its potential. The sci-fi series envisions an Earth that has been conquered by an alien race, eradicating most humans along the way. Some of humanity’s remnants band together to form a resistance group, an endeavor that gradually pieces together the reason behind the invasion. In due time, Falling Skies also introduces other alien races.
This show is a roller coaster ride, both in terms of content and quality. At its best, Falling Skies is an exciting, character-driven show that introduces enticing ideas; at its worst, Falling Skies is a mess. HBO Max has far better sci-fi stories than this 2010s release, but if someone has exhausted those options, they can fall back on this series.
Dexter’s Laboratory
A Cartoon Network classic, Dexter’s Laboratory is a hilarious comedy about a boy genius and his sister who constantly (and generally unintentionally) torments him. Hidden within Dexter’s room is an extraordinary laboratory filled with all sorts of imaginative inventions the likes of which the world has never seen, most of which are used to clever effect by the series.
Debuting in 1996, this cartoon helped put Genndy Tartakovsky on the map. While some of the creator’s subsequent projects are more ambitious, Dexter’s Laboratory holds up well alongside the likes of Samurai Jack and Primal. Although still producing the occasional great episode, the cartoon’s final two seasons are notably worse than their predecessors as they featured a change in the production team along with a different and more polarizing art style. Nevertheless, Dexter’s Laboratory is overall a great show.
Rick And Morty
Another animated show, but this one is definitely not for kids. Rick and Morty is the brainchild of Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon and is easily one of the most polarizing television series to hit the small screen in the last decade. It’s crude, incredibly imaginative, and downright hilarious. Its no-holds-barred approach to Comedy features some heavy Sci-Fi elements, which should appeal to those looking for something Sci-Fi that never takes itself too seriously.
But that doesn’t mean it’s all wacky comedy. Rick and Morty still manages to explore some incredibly heavy themes and packs plenty of depth in each episode. Conversely, if someone is only looking for a laugh, then this show more than delivers on that front. At its peak, Rick and Morty is one of the best Sci-Fi series of all time.
Regular Show
HBO Max has a solid selection of modern animated shows, and quite a few could theoretically slot into the Sci-Fi genre. However, while Adventure Time and Steven Universe are primarily fantasy with splashes of science fiction, Regular Show pulls from the latter far more consistently. Revolving around the employees of a park, the cartoon’s episodes typically start as relatively mundane before they veer into absurdist territory. The show is filled with references to movies and games.
In its final season, Regular Show fully embraces its Sci-Fi roots by trading the park for space. This change of pace proves to be a good match for the show’s personalities and comedic style, and it even climaxes in an epic three-part finale that stands toe-to-toe with most other series.
Avenue 5
Sci-Fi doesn’t have to be all seriousness, danger, and thrilling adventure. Although it’s not as prominent in the main Sci-Fi genre as many other sub-genres, Comedy can be an incredibly elevating tool that carries science fiction themes to great heights while simultaneously providing gut-busting laughs. Avenue 5 is a great example of this, showcasing itself as a smart adventure with some great intellectual humor and fantastic acting by Hugh Laurie and Josh Gad.
The series follows the two actors as leads on an interplanetary cruise ship, a concept that works well as center stage for some truly imaginative (and funny) scenarios.
Years And Years
Russell T Davies’s Years and Years cannot be classified as a traditional sci-fi series as the show is very much grounded in reality, or at least an interpretation of Earth’s immediate future. Covering the span of 15 years starting from 2019, the mini-series revolves around a close-knit family’s members who live through personal and societal changes.
Naturally, these modifications include technological developments such as the ability to upload one’s consciousness into the cloud. While relatively farfetched, the show’s sci-fi ideas are not that far removed from the present day, and they could become a reality in the not-so-distant future. Years and Years is among the best shows on HBO Max of any genre, which includes sci-fi.
Peacemaker
Tempting as it might be to dismiss superhero shows as their own things, Peacemaker undoubtedly has a Sci-Fi edge to it, although it seems to be inspired by the B-movies of yesteryear rather than more cerebral properties. To be clear, that is not a criticism. James Gunn’s series is simply entertaining and brilliantly written, successfully redeeming a funny but murderous villain without undermining the elements that make Peacemaker such a memorable character to begin with.
The muscular vigilante unenthusiastically joins A.R.G.U.S’s Project Butterfly, an operation revolving around the discovery and elimination of parasites that have taken over human bodies. The mission proves to be anything but straightforward, but it produces plenty of laughs, great action, and tears along the way.
Doctor Who
Although there is a lot of great original programming featured on HBO Max, there is also plenty of established series that are waiting for new viewers to dive into their many, many episodes. One such example is Doctor Who, a Sci-Fi juggernaut that has been entertaining fans for decades. Approximately 869 episodes of this engaging and imaginative series have aired (although some are missing) and there are many of seasons for new-and-returning fans to jump into.
Doctor Who has withstood the test of time as one of the most beloved Sci-Fi series out there, with an in-depth world that has allowed creators to craft an array of episodes that tackle multiple genres, from action to comedy to horror and everything in between.
The Sarah Jane Adventures
Doctor Who targets the whole family, although some of the darker or more complicated episodes might be too much for children. In that case, they should try out The Sarah Jane Adventures, a spin-off that redefines its parent show’s style of writing for a younger audience. Focusing on a former companion of the doctor, this BBC series has likable characters, charming sets, and a ton of heart.
Live-action sci-fi shows specifically designed for children are not all that common, and that holds true for HBO Max’s library. However, The Sarah Jane Adventures proves this sort of series can easily work. While a good entry point into the genre for youngsters, this show could also hit the spot for die-hard Doctor Who fans.
