7 Perfect Netflix Sci-Fi Shows Worth Watching Over and Over

Published Sep 30, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT Ben is a Senior Writer on the New TV team at Screen Rant. He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class B.A. Degree in English Literature and History. Born and raised in Ireland, Ben has always had a love for storytelling in all forms of media and operates multiple projects under the name Benjamin Blogs. Ben is a comic book writer and podcast host, in addition to his work as an entertainment journalist. He has worked as both a writer and editor for Screen Rant, Collider, and other media outlets across various departments, including features, news, reviews, and interviews. Netflix's impressive library has some of the best sci-fi providing audiences with endless rewatchability. Netflix has established itself as a powerhouse of production with the platform releasing a tidal wave of new original content every month, but that also means there is a growing backlog that is well worth revisiting. And specifically, Netflix has released some truly gripping sci-fi dramas, thrilling anthology shows, and dark neo-noir style cyberpunk stories, all giving fans of science fiction an incredible selection of shows to dive into. Sci-fi remains one of the most complex and varied genres, as it taps into incredibly creative and unique concepts that are often only present in this style of narrative. While this means that these shows are often expensive to create and deliver varied results in terms of overall quality, the shows that break through are truly spectacular, and well worth going back for more. In fact, many of these shows reward rewatching more than the initial experience, as audiences begin to see the extent of the attention to detail and innovation present. Dark Image via MovieStillsDB Starting off strong, Dark is one of the most underrated shows on Netflix. As an original series, and filmed in the German language, the global audience tends to sleep on this series, but it's one of the best explorations of time travel on screen, and delivers a gripping psychological thriller that leaves you thinking about the story long after the show ends. Across three seasons, the show does a remarkable job of connecting the past, present, and future, while also crafting expert character arcs, and making every episode deliver to the standard of the show as a whole. For that very reason, this is a series that is so rewarding to revisit, deciphering the mystery as the story unfolds, and enjoying the careful craft that went into making it work. With all of that in mind, it's so worth picking up this series even for the first time, opening the door to a deeply engaged rewatch after the first binge. Black Mirror Image via MovieStillsDB Next up is a series that needs no introduction because of how insanely viral it has gone ever since the series premiere. Black Mirror is a thrilling anthology series with each episode depicting a dark side to technology, or just of the future as a whole. Charlie Brooker is the creative genius behind the series, and with each new episode pulling in incredible actors to help bring these nightmarish futures to life, the show is a standout entry that everyone should watch at least once. That being said, with so many topics, themes, messages, and narratives throughout the series, it's also worth going back and watching the series again. And thanks to the anthology aspect, viewers can dip in and out with their favorite episodes, revisiting some of the most compelling and brilliant episodes within the sci-fi space as a whole. This is also one of the rare entries on this list that is still ongoing, with Black Mirror being renewed for an eighth season. So, a rewatch may well be worth it just to get back into the groove, and find more of what audiences loved the first time around. Love, Death & Robots Image courtesy of Everett Collection Also in the anthology space, though granted this one is considerably different, Love, Death & Robots is an anthology series that not only jumps around on the theme, which establishes that every episode needs to include at least one of the three elements from the title, though many stories decide to touch on all three, but it also changes up the animation style with entirely different studios and creative teams tackling each new episode. This is a fascinating series that is more made up of a series of short films than it is a connected broader narrative, which means not every episode will land with every viewer. However, on the flip side, there are also plenty of episodes that will land with different audiences, and become absolute cherished gems. With that in mind, it's certainly worth watching back the series and finding the episodes that resonate, and deliver more of the aspects of great sci-fi that any specific viewer may be seeking within the genre. Stranger Things Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Moving away from anthology shows all together, this next entry is almost certain to be a controversial pick judging by how audiences reacted to the show's ending, but, when considering the best sci-fi shows available on Netflix, Stranger Things completely deserves to be mentioned. As one of the flagship original shows from the streamer, this show had incredible traction, with the series quickly becoming the streaming equivalent of water cooler conversation as people everywhere began to discuss the mysteries contained in the series, and argue about which kid in The Loser's Club was the most fun. Stranger Things is a stunning sci-fi series that combines elements of nostalgia, horror, fantasy, and thriller, all while focusing on a phenomenal cast of captivating characters who fight a massive corporate entity and try to unravel the secrets of the Upside Down. Whatever your feelings are regarding how the show ends, the rest of the series is absolutely worth going back again and again, and finding out why this series became so popular in the first place. Maniac The next couple of entries are all hidden gem sci-fi shows that deserve more love and attention, but for one reason or another, they didn't take off to the same degree as the entries listed above. Starting with Maniac, a series starring major Hollywood movie stars Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. When two strangers are offered a place on a pharmaceutical trial for a new drug that will solve all of their problems without any side effects, they jump at the opportunity. However, as was likely evidenced by the fact that this was a drug trial, things didn't go as planned, and unforeseen complications led to some serious consequences. This limited series tells a complete story over the course of 10 episodes, and it manages to brilliantly build a narrative that brings the audience on a non-stop adventure from start to finish. This is also one of the most polished shows on the list, which adds to the overall rewatchability. Sense8 In 2015, Netflix debuted one of their most innovative sci-fi shows of all time with Sense8. The show follows a group of people from all around the world who suddenly find themselves mentally linked. These eight strangers from around the world are defined by their unique cultures, identities, and the experiences that shaped them into the people they are. However, through their new connection, they also learn the parts of themselves that unite them, across language barriers, physical distance, and a completely different lived experience. The series is full of gripping twists and turns, and stands out as one of the most exciting and thought-provoking sci-fi shows around. That being said, the show clearly didn't get the love it deserved the first time around. Consequently, this series is so worthy of a rewatch, and stands out as one of the best Netflix projects from an era before they became well known for their own original content. The OA Finally, The OA is a series that follows a young woman, Prairie Johnson, who disappeared seven years before the series begins. When Prairie mysteriously returns, with no recollection of who anyone is, including herself, the town is concerned. But add to that the fact that Prairie was previously blind and now has her sight restored, and strange scars on her back that she appears to have no idea how she acquired, some people think her return may be more ominous. The series is built around a dark mystery, and leans heavily into sci-fi in a way that pays off across two compelling seasons of TV in 16 episodes. But there is no doubt that the mystery necessitates revisiting the show and discovering new details along the way. All of the above shows stand out for various reasons as some of the best sci-fi Netflix has to offer. And thanks to their exceptional quality, the twists and turns as the series goes on, or the innovative storytelling, they can even improve on a rewatch.