The Best Fantasy and Sci-Fi Shows on Netflix Right Now (May 2022)

In the mood to watch a genre series? Fantasy, sci-fi, superheroes, or a touch of horror? Well, we (and Netflix) have you covered. From classics like Deep Space Nine to quirky series The Magicians and Legends of Tomorrow — not to mention great Netflix originals like Stranger Things — below, you’ll find a list of shows that might make for great discoveries or are just fun to watch again and again.

And of course, for a full list of everything Netflix has to offer TV-wise that we recommend, you can head over to our master list of The Best TV Shows on Netflix.

Editor’s Note: This list was updated in May 2022 to include Locke & Key and Black Mirror.

RELATED: The Best TV Shows to Binge-Watch on Netflix

Locke & Key (2020-present)

Creator: Meredith Averill, Aron Eli Coleite, Carlton Cuse

Cast: Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Jackson Robert Scott, Laysla De Oliveira, Petrice Jones, Griffin Gluck

Despite its immense success and Eisner Award win, Locke & Key, the graphic novel series of the same name by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez, struggled to be adapted for screen. That is: until Netflix stepped in!

The long-anticipated Locke & Key series follows the Locke family — Nina (Darby Stanchfield) and her children Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) — as they move to the little town of Matheson following the murder of the Locke patriarch, Rendell. The ancestral home distracts the children before they start uncovering secret keys with magical properties. The keys unlock more than just magic, though, as an old forgotten evil arrives to torment the family and those they care about.

Locke & Key is a gripping show that balances its youthful protagonists with mysteries and shocking twists. The show manages to keep readers of the graphic novels engaged while welcoming new viewers as well. The production design is outstanding and leans heavily into the source material. The combination of genres means this show appeals to a wide audience. – Monita Mohan

Black Mirror (2011-2019)

Creator: Charlie Brooker

Cast: Rory Kinnear, Daniel Kaluuya, Jon Hamm

The anthology series that dissects our relationship to technology — and both the potential and peril that come from it — Black Mirror has managed to endure, even when some of its most recent episodes declined in quality. First created by Charlie Booker back in 2011, when it is at its best in its first four seasons, it remains particularly incisive. In covering a variety of genres and settings, it has firmly embedded itself as one of the more inventive anthology shows out there. Mixing dark humor with horrifying glimpses of our future, it is a show that often leaves a pit in your stomach even as it remains endlessly entertaining. Whether it is in the unlikely romance of “San Junipero” or the grim nightmare of “USS Callister,” it also plays around with the realities we create for ourselves with a sense of tact that continually draws you in. There is something for everyone in the many episodes that cover a range of distinct stories that really hit home. – Chase Hutchinson

Sense8 (2015-2018)

Creator: The Wachowski Sisters & J. Michael Straczynski

Cast: Tuppence Middleton, Bae Doona, Jamie Clayton, Brian J. Smith, Miguel Angel Silvestre, Tina Desai, Toby Onwumere, Max Reimelt

Most of us just have to deal with being born into a family with siblings and cousins and the messiness that comes with that. Now imagine you are born, and you share a mind and emotions with seven other people across the world. Such is the concept behind The Wachowski Sisters and J. Michael Straczynski‘s Netflix series Sense8. It will definitely be the wackiest thing you watch on this list as a group of eight “sensates” meet and band together when they end up being hunted by a mysterious and sinister corporation. With characters from all walks of life and from all over the world, Sense8 is an international story, but ultimately it’s a story about connection, acceptance, and embracing who you are and the world around you. Beneath the sci-fi premise of it all is a story about humanity. — Therese Lacson

Shadow and Bone (2021-present)

Creator: Eric Heisserer

Cast: Jessie Mei Li, Ben Barnes, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Danielle Galligan, Calahan Skogman

Based on the Grishaverse books by Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone tells the story of a girl who discovers one day that not only does she have magical powers and is a Grisha, basically a witch, but she is one of the rarest types of Grisha: a Sun Summoner, someone who can manipulate the light. In a war-torn fantastical world, she must face a foreboding and handsome general, court politics, and even tangle with a group of foreign thieves. Eric Heisserer‘s interpretation of the Grishaverse combines both of Bardugo’s early series: the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology. It blends the war epic of the former series with the heist nature of the latter to surprising success. For those looking for a new fantastical world to dive into, look no further. — Therese Lacson

Lost in Space (2018-2021)

Creator: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless

Cast: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins

A modern update on the cult classic TV series, Lost in Space is set 30 years in the future and follows the Robinson family as they attempt to colonize a new planet. They are thrown off course and find themselves stranded on an alien planet. While there, they discover a robotic alien creature who seems to be malevolent – until young Will Robinson bonds with it, and it becomes the family’s best ally. – Alyse Wax

Lucifer (2016-2021)

Creator: Tom Kapinos

Cast: Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Kevin Alejandro, D.B. Woodside, Lesley-Ann Brandt

Based on the comic book series of the same name, Lucifer follows the eponymous Devil as he takes a “vacation” from Hell to run a nightclub in Los Angeles. After a friend is killed outside his club, he gets involved in the police investigation, and ends up becoming a civilian consultant with the Homicide department. The show starts out as a procedural with fantasy elements, but by the end of the six-season run, the show has introduced God; had demons come up from Hell to kidnap a baby; dealt with time-travel; and introduced many of Lucifer’s angelic siblings.

The show originally began on Fox Network, where it ran for three seasons before getting canceled. Due to a tremendous fan outreach, Netflix picked it up for an additional three seasons. – Alyse Wax

Outlander (2014-present)

Creator: Ronald D. Moore.

Cast: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Duncan Lacroix, Sophie Skelton

Outlander leans more towards historical drama and romance than outright high-genre, but it hinges on one essential fantasy element – the ability to move through time. Caitriona Balfe stars as Claire, a WWII nurse who is thrown back into 1743 after visiting some mystical standing stones and finds herself falling for a rebel Highlander, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). But that’s just the start of an epic journey that sends the Frasers from continent to continent, and era to era, in a sprawling drama inspired by the beloved book series from author Diana Gabaldon. Whether you’re swooning over one of the sexiest, genuinely erotic romances on television or stressed out of your wits about the endless sociopolitical world events that threaten to tear them apart, Outlander is a heck of a binge-watch to stir the heart and mind alike. – Haleigh Foutch

Disenchantment (2018-present)

Created by: Matt Groening

Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Eric Andre, Nat Faxon, John DiMaggio, Billy West, and Noel Fielding

The Simpsons and Futurama creator Matt Groening‘s first Netflix series, and first new series in a long time, may not be perfect but it is quite, well, enchanting. Disenchantment is a medieval fantasy set in a fictional world called Dreamland, where a rebellious princess finds herself navigating a complicated world. Along for the ride is her elf companion Elfo and her “personal demon” Luci. The show takes a little bit to get going, but once it does it’s a charming affair. – Adam Chitwood

The Witcher (2019-present)

Created by: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

Cast: Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Eamon Farren, and Anya Chalotra

The Witcher is an absolute blast and a half. The fantasy series is indeed very fantasy—it’s more Lord of the Rings than Game of Thrones—but it also doesn’t take itself too seriously and whole-heartedly embraces all aspects of fantasy storytelling and gaming, including fun side-quests, POV battles, and even a bard who follows Henry Cavill’s titular human/creature hybrid around singing songs about his glories. The show’s first season follows three stories destined to converge: Cavill’s Witcher is a muscle-for-hire monster hunter who begins to question why so many princesses have been turning into creatures; Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) is a powerful sorceress in training who struggles to keep her emotions in check; and princess Ciri (Freya Allan) is on the run after the sacking of her city, but harbors secrets of her own. Steeped in lore and world building but always engaging, The Witcher is a perfect kind of binge-viewing show. – Adam Chitwood

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)

Created by: Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews

Cast: Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nathalie Emmanuel, Simon Pegg, Mark Hamill, Jason Isaacs, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw

It’s hard to overstate how amazing The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is. You don’t have to be super familiar with Jim Henson’s original movie that created a cult following back in 1982, but it certainly helps to understand what goes on in this prequel series. However, you could come into the Netflix show blind and still walk away with an appreciation for the solid fantasy story, the incredible production value, and the world’s top puppeteers plying their craft in one of the best suspensions of disbelief ever seen on TV.

But if you need a little plot nugget to get you going, essentially The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance sees the elf-like Gelflings overcoming their tribal differences in order to escape from under the oppressive rule of the villainous and reptilian Skeksis. The 10 currently available episodes introduce compelling characters from all walks of life on the alien planet of Thra and have already inspired a whole new generation of The Dark Crystal fans. And this is only phase one; there’s hopefully more to come, but if you can’t get enough from the series itself, be sure to seek out the behind-the-scenes documentary, also available on Netflix. – Dave Trumbore

The Umbrella Academy (2019-present)

Created by: Steve Blackman and Jeremy Slater

Cast: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Cameron Britton, Mary J. Blige, Colm Feore, and Justin H. Min

The Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy is the perfect antidote to those fatigued by the glut of superhero movies and TV shows. Based on the graphic novel series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba, the story revolves around seven children with extraordinary powers who were adopted by a strange (and very rich) man who trained them to be heroes. Their troubled upbringing drove them apart, but they reunite at the beginning of the first season when their estranged father turns up mysteriously dead. Not only that, but their brother — who’s been missing since they were children — appears via time travel and warns them the apocalypse is coming in a matter of days. This show is extremely joyful and funky and weird, giving weight each of its disparate characters while carrying on a compelling serial mystery all its own. If you want a show that’s fun and mysterious and a little spooky, check this one out. – Adam Chitwood

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)

Created by: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Miranda Otto, and Chance Perdomo

There is no trick to the treat that is Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Netflix’s adaptation of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s comic of the same name, starring Kiernan Shipka as the titular teen. The updated story is a far cry from the days of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and yet, it encompasses many of the same themes of the original Archie comics and other iterations. It’s just that this time, the story is wrapped up in a moody, dark, funny, and stylishly atmospheric package that could be not be a better herald of fall and the Halloween season.

The series picks up just before Sabrina’s sixteenth birthday, which will be marked not by a traditional celebration, but an old tradition: a Dark Baptism under a blood moon where Sabrina will sign over her soul to the Dark Lord. Except, Sabrina isn’t so sure she wants to do that. She’s only half a witch (on her father’s side), and she’s spent her entire life living at home with witches and going to school with mortals. But that baptism — and whether or not she’s ready to tether herself to the Dark Lord — is just the start of Sabrina’s adventures, not the end, as she finds a way to honor both her mortal and supernatural heritage. Ultimately, it’s a delight and an obsession, and the scariest thing about it is just how good it is. — Allison Keene

Legends of Tomorrow (2016-2022)

Creators: Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, Phil Klemmer

Cast: Victor Garber, Brandon Routh, Arthur Darvill, Caity Lotz, Franz Drameh, Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Nick Zano, Tala Ashe

Two years ago you could not have convinced me that one of the best shows on television would be The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow, but by God it is. The series has truly come into its own in its third season (after a still very good second season), finding a wonderful rhythm in both weekly adventures an overarching villains — including the rehabilitation of Damian Darhk from his time on Arrow, as well as the introduction of magical creatures where time travel isn’t always a cure-all. Plus, it’s opened the door for Constantine!

The series focuses on a group of time-traveling rogues, mostly cobbled together from elsewhere in the Arrow-verse. The first season isn’t great, but it lays the groundwork for the friendships that define the show. But if you need to skip ahead and start with Season 2 or even 3, I don’t blame you. Another thing that has made the series so successful is its willingness to change up its storylines and its cast. If something doesn’t work, or a dynamic doesn’t take, they scrap it and try something else. And meanwhile, the show also brings back what does work — like Beebo, everyone’s favorite fuzzy blue savior.

There were so many fantastic episodes and moments in Legends’ third season, which was also just fun. Grodd vs Barack Obama! Time loops! Pirates! Mick Rory’s book! Themyscira! John Noble! That’s what a superhero show about a ragtag bunch of time travelers should be about: bonkers fun. And yet, the series also has great emotional arcs that really resonate. It does it all, folks. — Allison Keene

Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)

Created by: Rick Berman, Michael Piller

Cast: Avery Brooks, Rene Aberjonois, Terry Farrell, Cirroc Lofton, Colm Meaney, Armin Shimerman, Alexander Siddig, Nana Visitor, Michael Dorn, Nicole de Boer

Fair warning: You’re going to have to tough out two seasons of this series as the show fought to find its own identity. Although it already stands apart from other Star Trek series by being based on a space station rather than exploring the cosmos, many of the episodes from the first two seasons feel like leftover scripts from Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation. It wasn’t until the show started interacting with the Dominion and moving towards war that Deep Space Nine created an absolutely captivating identity. Seasons 3 – 5 are great Star Trek, and the final two seasons are great television, period. The show gets surprisingly dark, but it’s always mature in its approach to warfare and the sacrifices that must be made during wartime. — Matt Goldberg

Love, Death and Robots (2019-present)

Created by: Tim Miller

Executive produced by Tim Miller (Deadpool) and legendary filmmaker David Fincher, the animated anthology series Love, Death & Robots is kind of the perfect catch-all for sci-fi fans. Each episode hails from a different writer and director, and the theme holding them all together is the idea of sci-fi technology. As a result you get a wide range of tone from uber-violent to romantic to hysterically funny. All in all, though, there’s just some really great sci-fi storytelling in here. – Adam Chitwood

iZombie (2015-2019)

Created by: Rob Thomas and Dianne Ruggiero

Starring: Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli, Robert Buckley, David Anders

Loosely based on the comic by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, iZombie stars Rose McIver as Liz, a medical resident with the perfect job, perfect fiancee, and perfect life, who loses it all one night when she’s transformed into a zombie. But this isn’t a Walking Dead situation. Her hair may be chalk white, and her heart may only beat twice a minute, but she can still walk, talk, act, think and feel like a human – as long as she regularly feeds on human brains. The good news is that Liz uses her medical degree to land a job at the local morgue where she has a regular supply. Bad news is she temporarily inherits the memories, personality, and skills of anybody she eats, which puts her on the scent of a series of murders enacted by some less morally-sound zombies. Working under the guise of a psychic, she uses her visions to work with a local detective (Malcolm Goodwin) in order to solve the murders and give her new life a sense of purpose.

From Rob Thomas and Dianne Ruggiero, the minds that brought us Veronica Mars, iZombie is often oversimplified as “Veronica Mars with zombies”, but that description does a disservice to the originality of both series. To be clear, there is one and only one Veronica Mars, and while there are similarities, Liz is another witty blonde sleuth, for one, they’re largely different shows. Despite dealing in death, the first season of iZombie is mostly lighter fare that leans in on the procedural element. Fortunately, the cases of the week are infinitely fun thanks to McIver’s consistently likable but wonderfully variable performance as she adopts the personality traits of the victims. –Haleigh Foutch

The Flash (2014-present)

Created by: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns

Starring: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Rick Cosnett, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh, Jesse L. Martin

If you aren’t ready for the entirely crazy, true comic book fever of The Flash, then the CW’s superhero show may not be for you. But for those willing to work with its full embrace of its comic origins — including time travel, alternate universes, and Gorilla Grodd — will be rewarded. The Flash deals with many dark and difficult themes, and yet, more often feels like a light and fun romp through Central City’s chaotic world. It follows the story of Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) as he comes to terms with his newly-bestowed super speed, and his city’s need to fight off a myriad of superpowered villains. But, he still has time for dating and unrequited love, as well as some crossover time spent with Team Arrow (the same creative team is responsible for both shows).

The Flash has an instantly lovable cast, a never-ending supply of great hooks, and a myriad of long-form arcs that help anchor its Villain of the Week plots. It’s wholly accessible to non-comic readers (or to those not typically superhero genre fans), but also has plenty of insider references to keep comic fans happy. Above all, it never loses its heart or its mirth — even in the midst of saving the world. – Allison Keene

The Magicians (2015-2020)

Created by: Sera Gamble and John McNamara

Cast: Jason Ralph, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Stella Maeve, Arjun Gupta, Hale Appleman, and Summer Bishil

Based on the terrific book trilogy by Lev Grossman, Syfy’s The Magicians could be crudely described as an R-rated Harry Potter. Jason Ralph stars as Quentin Coldwater, a melancholic late-twentysomething who discovers that not only is magic actually real, but he’s a magicians. He goes to Brakebills, a graduate school for magicians of sorts, and soon discovers there’s an even bigger twist involved. The show, like the books, tackles issues of depression, sexual assault, and mental illness in a realistic but entertaining way. Its darkly funny sense of humor keeps things from getting too dark, and the performances are great. The show really comes into its own in Season 2, but the first season is an entertaining introduction into the f*cked up world of The Magicians. – Adam Chitwood

Black Lightning (2017-2021)

Developed by: Salim Akil

Cast: Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Damon Gupton, James Remar

Just when I was starting to think we had reached peak superhero fatigue, Black Lightning hit the scene and shook things up. The CW’s dynamic series is laudable for a number of reasons, the most obvious one being that it focuses on a black family, and the second most obvious one being that its lead character isn’t a teenager. But the series also might be the superhero genre’s most intelligent; it knows what it wants to say about race and politics without ever being preachy. The first season also made a lot of smart choices about when to introduce the powers of characters other than Jefferson Pierce (a charming Cress Williams), and also didn’t feel the need to dispatch of its Big Bad by the season’s end (though it did take care of a host of more minor villains throughout). The story of a vigilante-turned-principal looking to get back into the game because of drug violence on his streets is a refreshing one, and helped keep Black Lightning grounded and relevant throughout its run. This is a hero to unequivocally root for. — Allison Keene

Stranger Things (2016-present)

Created by: The Duffer Brothers

Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono, and Matthew Modine

You’ve no doubt heard the hype, so let us set you straight: believe it. Stranger Things popped up almost out of nowhere as a new Netflix original series that had little buzz surrounding its pre-release. But the 80s-set mystery thriller is equal parts It, Stand by Me, and The Goonies as it mashes up the creepy atmosphere of a Stephen King novel with compelling characters and a strong narrative drive. The true test of Stranger Things is whether the show works without the nostalgia-inducing 80s setting, and the answer is yes. There’s a government mystery, impressive effects, and most of all memorable characters that are a joy to watch, and creators/writers/directors Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer craft each season like one long movie divided into chapters. Indeed, one could easily watch an entire season in one day without feeling like it’s dragging or hitting upon an easy “stopping point,” as this is more television as novel than episodic TV. Which makes it a delightful binge. So have at it! – Adam Chitwood

Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016-2018)

Created by: Guillermo del Toro

Cast: Anton Yelchin, Charlie Saxton, Jonathan Hyde, Kelsey Grammer, Ron Perlman, Amy Landecker, Steven Yeun, Clancy Brown, Mark Hamill, Emile Hirsch, and Angelica Huston

Guillermo del Toro’s original animated series Trollhunters is an absolute delight. The DreamWorks Animation production takes place in the quiet town of Arcadia, where a young boy named Jim not only stumbled upon an amulet that makes him a “Trollhunter,” but who also discovers that there’s an entire world full of trolls living in secret underground. The show combines the classic Saturday morning cartoon vibe with the serialized narrative drive of something like Breaking Bad, resulting in a series that’s as delightful as it is addicting. – Adam Chitwood

The 100 (2014-2020)

Developed By: Jason Rothenberg, based on the novel by Kass Morgan).

Starring: Eliza Taylor, Paige Turco, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos

The CW’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi series takes a few episodes to find its footing, but once it does, The 100 ratchets up the stakes and tension to the maximum and never lets up again. The series ostensibly follows a group of 100 juvenile delinquents, sent down from a dying spaceship to the surface of a post-nuclear earth to determine if the land has become habitable again. But the show’s title quickly becomes a misnomer when a huge chunk of the kids are quickly dispatched and the scope of the series expands breathlessly, introducing a host of new settings and characters, each bringing with them a different microcosmic world and culture. Indeed, what makes The 100 one of the best genre series on TV is the way it careens through sci-fi subgenres, pulling them together in a single narrative that has infinite room to grow and explore.

The series also sets itself apart by never giving its characters an easy out. As the stakes continue to escalate, the young survivors are wrapped up in politics and warfare far beyond their realm of knowledge and experience. They are consistently presented with horrifying life or death choices, and they are made to suffer the consequences of their actions. At the center of this is Clarke, the purported hero of the show, who is one of the most ruthless, strategically-minded characters on television, capable of handling morally bleak survival scenarios with a self-assuredness that puts Jack Bauer to shame. There is no other character like Clarke on television — a pragmatic, unyielding, bisexual warrior woman who wields her power unapologetically without becoming an unfeeling “tough chick.” That unique quality expands to the show as a whole in its resolute exploration of the moral contradictions of governing, warfare, and survival. — Haleigh Foutch

Read Next

About The Author