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The Best Sci-Fi Shows on Netflix Right Now

From superheroes to space, these sci-fi series are out of this world.

In the mood to watch a genre series? Sci-fi, superheroes , or a touch of horror ? Well, we (and Netflix ) have you covered. From classics like Deep Space Nine to quirky series 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.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Check out our list of the best shows on Netflix or the best sci-fi shows on Hulu or Prime Video .

Editor's note: This article was updated October 2023 to include Archive 81.

Related : The Best Sci-Fi Movies on Netflix

An archivist hired to restore a collection of tapes finds himself reconstructing the work of a filmmaker and her investigation into a dangerous cult.

After archivist Dan Turner ( Mamoudou Athie ) takes on a seemingly harmless job of restoring some old home video tapes, this sci-fi horror series kicks into gear when they reveal a blood-curdling investigation into a creepy cult. From start to finish, Archive 81 crawls under the viewers’ skin and buries into their nightmares. In its first half, the unnerving sense of mystery creates curiosity from the audience that eventually turns into a frantic and heart-pounding second half. Creator Rebecca Sonnenshine pulls no punches in the delivery of the horror, with the tense atmosphere accentuated by shocking twists. Truly chilling, Archive 81 is food for your fears. - Jake Hodges

Black Mirror

An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech multiverse where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.

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

A Girl and an Astronaut

A Girl and an Astronaut is a Polish sci-fi romance series with a nice blend of tropes from both genres, which makes it feel fresh. The story is about a love triangle that spans 30 years, taking place in both 2022 and 2052. The series flashes between main character Marta’s youthful twenties as she sees her boyfriend sent off to space and her older fifties, at which point she is married with a child. When her cryogenically frozen astronaut boyfriend returns from his journey after being presumed dead, unexpected events are set into motion. The futuristic aspects of the 2052 timeline are fascinating, and the love story is handled wonderfully as Marta sets off to get her old boyfriend back from the Russians while feeling all the conflicting emotions you would expect. – Tauri Miller

Welcome to Eden

Welcome to Eden is a thrilling Spanish-language science-fiction drama from co-creators Joaquín Górriz and Guillermo López . Welcome to Eden follows a group of young and attractive social media-obsessed young people as they’re invited to a mysterious and exclusive paradise. Over two seasons, Welcome to Eden alluringly draws audiences in to watch as perspectives shift for the guests of the remote island, unwrapping a delicious mystery at its core. Starring Amaia Aberasturi, Berta Castañé, and Begoña Vargas , Welcome to Eden is part Nine Perfect Strangers and part The Wilds . – Yael Tygiel

The Barrier

Created by Daniel Écija , The Barrier is a fascinating science-fiction drama from Spain that takes place in a dystopian future where dictators reign and major cities have been distributed into divisions in order to maintain power and manage resources. Starring Unax Ugalde , Olivia Molina , and Eleonora Wexler , The Barrier follows one family’s fight to survive the disparity in Madrid. Grounded on a uniquely plausible premise, The Barrier is not only a captivating drama but, like most quality sci-fi, serves as a warning regarding the current path society finds itself walking on. – Yael Tygiel

The I-Land (2019)

Created by Anthony Salter , The I-Land is his debut mystery science-fiction miniseries about a group of 10 people who find themselves deserted on an island. With no memories of how they got to the island or who they even are, the strangers must try to survive the treacherous reality and attempt a journey back to their normal lives. Starring Natalie Martinez and Kate Bosworth ( Superman Returns ), along with Ronald Peet and Sibylla Deen , The I-Land surprises with plot twists. Salter’s creative integration of a virtual reality aspect adds a layer of intriguing existential questions, but The I-Land may raise more philosophical ideals than satisfactory resolutions. – Yael Tygiel

Alice in Borderland (2020)

Alice in Borderland is a science-fiction thriller based on Haro Aso ’s manga of the same name. Alice in Borderland follows a couple of twenty-somethings who find themselves competing in dangerous games through an abandoned Tokyo. Similarly to beloved shows like Squid Game , as Alice in Borderland continues, the unwitting competitors discover that their lives depend on successfully completing the games and challenges they encounter. Starring Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya , Alice in Borderland showcases not only these talented actors but also an outstanding use of special effects and gorgeous cinematography. – Yael Tygiel

When Montego Air Flight 828 landed safely after a turbulent but routine flight, the crew and passengers were relieved. But in the span of those few hours, the world had aged five years -- and after mourning their loss, their friends, families and colleagues had given up hope and moved on. Now, faced with the impossible, they're all given a second chance. But as their new realities become clear, a deeper mystery unfolds, and some of the returned passengers soon realize they may be meant for something greater than they ever thought possible.

You’ve not doubt heard the buzz, now see what all the fuss is about. Manifest first premiered on NBC in 2018, and while it earned some solid praise, ratings were steady enough that the network canceled the series after three seasons. But right around that time the show hit Netflix, and has been lighting up the Top 10 ever since. Oh yeah, the story. The show begins with passengers on a flight experiencing a bit of turbulence, only to touch down and discover that for everyone else on Earth, the flight has been missing for five years. The show delves into the mystery behind this strange occurrence, and the changes these passengers have gone through during their flight. Intrigue, sci-fi, and drama coalesce into a binge-worthy show. – Adam Chitwood

The Imperfects

The Imperfects is a fast-paced, quirky action-adventure series about three young people who protect humans against monsters while trying to find the scientist who performed experimental procedures that turned them into monsters themselves. Created by the people behind Van Helsing , Shelley Eriksen and Dennis Heaton bring together a trio often overlooked in the monster genre. Starring Iñaki Godoy , Morgan Taylor Campbell ( Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist ), and Rhianna Jagpal as Juan the Chupacabra, Tilda the Banshee, and Abbi the Succubus, respectively, The Imperfects is a science fiction series that has been described as The Boys meets The Umbrella Academy . – Yael Tygiel

Maniac is a wildly innovative science fiction adventure wrapped in a dark comedy. Starring Emma Stone ( Cruella ) and Jonah Hill ( Superbad ), Maniac comes from creator Patrick Somerville ( The Leftovers ) and follows two strangers, Stone and Hill, who find themselves drawn together during a mysterious and mind-bending pharmaceutical trial. Set in a psychedelic, retro-future New York City, Maniac is a gorgeously crafted mini-series brimming with stunning visuals and exploring complex themes such as mental illness, human interactions, and reality through truly original avenues. Leaning heavily towards dry, satirical humor, Maniac is perplexingly provocative and thought-provoking to watch. – Yael Tygiel

From Brad Wright ( Stargate: SG-1 ), Travelers is a brilliantly intriguing time travel science-fiction adventure starring Will and Grace alum Eric McCormack . In this ensemble series, McCormack stars with MacKenzie Porter, Jared Abrahamson, Reilly Dolman, and Nesta Cooper ( See ) as a team of individuals from the distant future whose consciousnesses are sent to the present in order to prevent a world-ending event. As Travelers unfolds, the travelers are forced to assume the lives of the bodies they inhabit, while attempting to alter the future and save humanity. With a creative perspective on the genre and a wonderfully talented cast, Travelers is a top-notch time travel journey. – Yael Tygiel

Resident Evil (2022)

There are two main timelines in Resident Evil , each connected and equally compelling. The first takes place in 2022 and follows 14-year-old twins Billie ( Siena Agudong ) and Jade ( Tamara Smart ) as they move to New Raccoon City. There, they uncover the town’s sinister secret while their father coordinates a response to a deadly virus. The second fast-forwards to 2036. At this point, the virus has ravaged the place, and the powerful Umbrella Corporation is searching for Jade (now played by Ella Balinska ). As frightening as it is fun. Resident Evil is a blast for fans of the video game it’s based on while not alienating new fans who might not be as familiar with the franchise. – Taylor Gates

A family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town where the disappearance of two young children exposes the relationships among four families.

Germany’s breakout science-fiction drama Dark was a surprise hit for the streaming platform. Presented as a family drama, this saga includes supernatural twists and enticing mysteries. Dark follows the disappearance of a couple of young children from this small German town, unraveling a secret intertwining four families. Comparable to the beloved series Stranger Things , Dark is a fantastically suspenseful series full of heartfelt relationships as well as thrilling adventures. Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese , Dark star Louis Hofmann , Karoline Eichhorn , Lisa Vicari , and Maja Schöne . – Yael Tygiel

A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world's order.

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

Lost In Space

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

The Umbrella Academy

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

DC's Legends of Tomorrow

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

Love, Death & Robots

A collection of animated short stories that span various genres including science fiction, fantasy, horror and comedy.

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

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

After being struck by lightning, Barry Allen wakes up from his coma to discover he's been given the power of super speed, becoming the Flash, and fighting crime in Central City.

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

Black Lightning

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

When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl.

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

Netflix’s ‘Away’ shows a mission to Mars. It may be closer to reality than you think

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In the second episode of Netflix’s space drama “Away,” two astronauts head outside into space to make some emergency repairs.

Emma Green (Hilary Swank), the American commander of the international mission to Mars , and experienced Russian cosmonaut Misha Popov (Mark Ivanir) must work together to get the third solar array of their ship properly deployed.

As if a spacewalk on a moving ship wasn’t risky enough, Emma and Misha — who must stay tethered to each other to keep from floating off into space — are also at a crossroads: the latter believes the commander is unfit to lead the mission. It’s an early look at how closely the 10-episode series, now streaming, weaves its interpersonal and technical dramas together for added tension.

“We spent hours sitting in a room trying to figure out how to do that spacewalk and make it feel as epic and terrifying as it would be,” said Jessica Goldberg, executive producer and showrunner of “Away.”

Emma and Misha must make their way around the exterior of their spaceship toward a large array of solar panels whose function is critical to the success of their mission — and their survival. As expected from a high-stakes drama, the repairs are anything but simple and require Emma to take additional risks.

Based on an Esquire article by Chris Jones (who was a part of the show’s writers room), “Away” is set in a future that is near enough that all of the science and technology feels within the realm of what is actually possible. There was plenty of research and consultants involved, including former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, to help maintain the series’ realism.

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Emma and Misha’s spacewalk — like a number of other events experienced by the members of the Atlas crew — is inspired by actual events: the spacewalks at the International Space Station.

Pulling off the scene required the collaboration of multiple departments.

Production designer David Sandefur, who designed a detailed 3-D model of the Atlas even before building the actual set pieces, said that it all starts with the writing. He and the writer can then make adjustments as they figure out what things work and what don’t.

“We went back and forth until we hit this sort of perfect place where the set piece and the script and also the tenor of the scene matched up perfectly,” said Sandefur. “Some of the hardest things to shoot wind up being the most flawlessly executed, because there’s so much effort put into the complexity of it and making sure that it’s all sorted.”

Among the many specifics to consider for the spacewalk were the design and location of the solar array, the actual problems the astronauts would encounter along the way to get there, and how they would get back to safety.

“I built everything that was needed for [Emma and Misha] on their physical journey,” said Sandefur. “They travel 50 feet in one direction and 20 feet in another direction along the solar array — I basically built everything that they would make contact with and … everything that would capture their shadows.”

Everything was planned in order to create a sense of real jeopardy according to stunt coordinator Jeff Aro.

“There are some logistics that don’t necessarily translate from the page to the physical world,” said Aro. “We were tasked with making those transitions, bringing their words on the page to reality and determining what was sensible for our cast to do — and they did a large part of it.”

“Our goal was to use as much of Mark and Hillary as we could” in the scene, added Aro. “So we would use the stunt doubles to suss out the sequence, get the approval from the director, and then have our cast go through all of the elements to fill out the story beats.”

The key to the scene was making sure everything — from the design of the spaceship to the decisions the astronauts are making — don’t stray too far into the realm of science fiction. Staying tethered, for example, is something astronauts actually do for their safety during spacewalks.

“We’re trying to capture how a spacewalk feels,” said creator and executive producer Andrew Hinderaker. “Astronauts talk about it being so nerve-racking and exhausting and thrilling. And yet most spacewalks themselves, if you watch, are a little boring. A lot of just crawling along the side of the ship. So how do you capture how it feels and still keep a foot in conversation with what feels real?”

Sandefur said working on “Away” has felt a bit like “fulfilling a childhood dream.”

“I’ve always had an interest in this,” said Sandefur. “I’ve always been interested in space travel since I was a kid and I wanted to be a fighter pilot as a young boy.”

For the Atlas itself, he took inspiration from the technology used by both NASA and SpaceX (though not necessarily their actual designs). Even the crew’s quarters having artificial gravity is rooted in research and proposals that have been made for real-life space travel.

This helped balance realism and the demands of storytelling when it came to one unique facet of a TV show set in space. Almost every scene with zero gravity — such as those in the common room on the Atlas — involves stunt work with the actors being on wires.

“Because we don’t have zero gravity, we have to create that, which requires planning in every instance,” said Aro. “In that way, it was quite a challenge. Our storytelling typically is in explosions and fights … but in [‘Away’] it was of deeper emotional challenges and we were trying to make choices that reflected and complemented the story. That’s not typically what we’re solicited to do.”

It turns out the science on “Away” might be one of the most realistic aspects of the show.

Hinderaker recalled an early conversation with a source from NASA about the concept of the series and asked how soon a human mission to Mars would be possible with the adequate funds and international cooperation.

“He said, ‘Oh, we could go tomorrow,’” explained Hinderaker. “That was so powerful and that’s really part of why we chose to put the show in a very near future world that really felt like ours.”

“There are moments where it feels impossible that we’ll have the collective international will to do this,” said Hinderaker. But “the thing that feels [most] impossible, the show presupposes happened.”

Where: Netflix When: Any time Rating: TV-14 (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14)

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'Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space,' a docuseries on SpaceX's 1st all-civilian spaceflight, launches on Netflix

Time Studios and Netflix are chronicling the mission, which launches Sept. 15.

The private Inspiration4 astronauts set to fly on SpaceX's first all-civilian spaceflight this month are launching into the limelight today (Sept. 6) with a new Netflix documentary series.

In the new Netflix docuseries " Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space ," you can follow along with the four-person crew of the upcoming mission Inspiration4 as they prepare to launch to space in real time. The four-episode series co-produced with Time Studios has followed the crew throughout their journey and will show their real-time transformation from "regular" people into full-blown astronauts as they prepare to launch on a 3-day orbital journey Sept. 15. 

"I've said it really from the beginning, that the stars have always aligned with Inspiration4 every step of the way," crew commander Jared Isaacman , the billionaire Shift4 tech entrepreneur who chartered a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight for the mission, which he's used to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, told Space.com in an exclusive interview. "From the timing of even having this opportunity in the first place, to the crew selection process to this unbelievable crew that I'm fortunate enough to go fly to space with, it's all awesome."

Related: Inspiration4 -- SpaceX's historic private spaceflight in photos  

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"I think we all lost track of the fact that there was a documentary made throughout all this," Isaacman said. "But we're so thankful that they did, because we have not had an opportunity to stop and pause, even for a second, over the last five months or so to just reflect on all these important milestones. So we're happy to be doing this for us. We're so happy they're doing it for everyone." 

"Because," he added, "that's what Inspiration4 is supposed to be about: inspiring people … and I think that will be explored in pretty decent detail throughout the documentary." 

Sian Proctor, a geoscientist, professor and space artist who will be flying as part of the crew as Inspiration4's pilot, told Space.com that she appreciates "knowing that Netflix has captured not only my story, but all of our space story, and in a really thoughtful way that can be shared with the entire world." Proctor and Isaacman will launch alongside St. Jude physician assistant and childhood cancer survivor Hayley Arceneaux and data engineer Chris Sembroski.

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"It's the most complex production plan that I've ever been a part of," series director Jason Hehir (" The Last Dance ") told Space.com, adding that real-time documenting different crew members training at different times in different time zones, all-the-while working towards a launch to space, was quite a tall task. "This is a more ambitious production than anything I've ever been a part of, on several levels."

Photos: SpaceX shows off Dragon's huge dome window for Inspiration4 flight

But despite all of the challenges, Hehir's passion for capturing the Inspiration4 journey through training and, ultimately, to space and back, has only grown. 

While there have been flights with civilians on-board before, he added, and there have been fully-civilian crews that have reached suborbital space, this will be the first-ever all-civilian mission to go into orbit around Earth. 

"This is a true mission to space," Hehir said, adding that "ordinary people" will be "operating a spacecraft for three days as it orbits the Earth, higher than anyone has been since the Apollo missions … the ambition of this is inspiring." 

"And the characters are everyday people, but extraordinary in their own ways," he said. "It's been inspiring, and it's been really fun. And it's been a pleasure to grow close to them. These are now friends of mine and friends of our crews. So we're going to be excited and nervous and we'll be feeling a whole lot of emotions on launch day."

And that crew of now-astronauts is certainly feeling the excitement, both about their impending journey and about sharing their stories with the world through this docuseries. 

— Photos: The First Space Tourists — Inspiration4: SpaceX's all-civilian spaceflight explained — In photos: SpaceX's private Inspiration4 spaceflight

"That whole idea of being able to bring as many people as possible on this journey with us in near real time. To me, that's exciting, because it gets me back to the days of what it would have been like for my parents, you know, being on Guam during the Apollo mission and people tuning in and watching in real time," Proctor, who was born in Guam as her father worked for NASA at the Guam Remote Ground Terminal during the Apollo program, added. 

"Getting that whole entire story together and being able to inspire the next generation. I really hope that what happens is that we inspire the world to come along with us on this journey," she said. 

"To me, it's about opening up access to space so that more can follow and have this experience, but also bring humanity forwards to the moon, Mars and beyond," Proctor said. "And then while we're doing that, you know, while we're solving for space, we're solving for Earth. And that's really the takeaway message in the end. And we hope that that's what resonates with not only the space community, but the world at large."

Email Chelsea Gohd at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Chelsea “Foxanne” Gohd joined  Space.com in 2018 and is now a Senior Writer, writing about everything from climate change to planetary science and human spaceflight in both articles and on-camera in videos. With a degree in Public Health and biological sciences, Chelsea has written and worked for institutions including the American Museum of Natural History, Scientific American, Discover Magazine Blog, Astronomy Magazine and Live Science. When not writing, editing or filming something space-y, Chelsea "Foxanne" Gohd is writing music and performing as Foxanne, even launching a song to space in 2021 with Inspiration4. You can follow her on Twitter  @chelsea_gohd and @foxannemusic .

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‘The point is ambition’: are we ready to follow Netflix into space?

The ambitious new look at SpaceX’s first all-civilian flight, the streaming platform’s first real-time docuseries, takes reality television to space

T he rise of commercial space travel is here, and for the vast majority who cannot afford its millions-plus price tag, streaming platforms are here to capture it. Starting this week, Netflix will air the first two installments of Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space, its first docuseries to cover an event – SpaceX’s launch of its first all-civilian crew on a three-day trip circling Earth – in “near real time”. Subsequent episodes will document the four astronauts’ preparation for the 15 September launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Episodes three and four will air just two days prior; a feature-length finale film of the mission itself will air in late September.

The series, directed by veteran sports documentarian Jason Hehir, best known for The Last Dance, promises to take audiences behind the scenes of the Inspiration4 mission, from the astronaut selection to the training and eventual takeoff. Netflix, as well as the passengers and SpaceX figures introduced in the first two episodes, are billing the trip as a paradigm shift in space exploration: an aperture in commercial space travel, a small but significant advancement toward the proliferation of rocket transportation, and a new frontier for reality television.

“Inspiration4 is just a really small step along that journey toward a Jetsons world where everyone’s going to jump in their spacecraft and journey in the worlds beyond ours,” Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old billionaire chief executive of Shift4 Payments and longtime flight enthusiast who will be the mission’s commander, told the Guardian. “I don’t think it’s just going to be a few people for a long time,” he added, comparing space travel now, executed by private companies such as Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic with exorbitant price tags, to the early days of experimental aviation. “This is starting with a few, for sure, but this going to open up to the many.”

Until then, commercial space travel remains an ultra-expensive, ultra-exclusive club predominantly spurred by the mega-rich, with live streams for everyone else. In July, Blue Origin livestreamed its launch of Jeff Bezos on a 11-minute suborbital space journey on its YouTube channel and on Amazon Prime; Virgin Galactic also streamed founder Richard Branson’s 59-minute space flight on YouTube, and recruited a popular science TikTok star for a future trip. It’s a given, as the environmentally questionable business of space tourism continues to expand, that reality TV will ride along – in April, Nasa signed a Space Act Agreement with the production company “Space Hero” to “[facilitate] initial cooperation and information sharing” for a competition show that would send the winner on an expensive trip to the International Space Station as early as 2023.

There’s a gameshow undercurrent to Countdown, the Netflix series, whose first two episodes predominantly serve to introduce viewers to the civilian astronauts, selected by a Willy Wonka-like arbitrary process tied to four core mission values.

Besides Isaacman (“Leadership”), who declined to specify the amount paid to participate in the mission (but did say proceeds raised for the pediatric cancer specialists at St Jude’s children’s research hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, would exceed the cost of the mission), the group includes Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old pediatric cancer survivor and physician assistant at St Jude’s, which nominated her to symbolize the value of “Hope”; Sian Proctor, 51, of Phoenix, Arizona, a geology professor who won a spot on Inspiration4 through a competition assessing entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to go semi-viral (“Prosperity”); and Chris Sembrowski, 42, a data engineer and air force veteran from Everett, Washington, selected off a list of donors to St Jude’s as part of Inspiration4’s Superbowl campaign (“Generosity”).

All are new to astrodynamics, ordinary figures unused to cameras and spotlight. It’s a far cry from Hehir’s mission on The Last Dance, in which his team endeavored to “de-iconize” a celebrity as ubiquitous and iconic as Michael Jordan. Though Countdown will build, in real time, the iconography of Inspiration4, Hehir assures that the project is not acting as gauzy PR for the company – “I didn’t see it as our role to aggrandize SpaceX,” he told the Guardian. “I thought it was necessary to outline what their mission is, why are we doing this – because one of the first questions is always that it’s another billionaire going to space, what’s the point? The point is ambition, seeing what else is out there, and the point in a charitable sense is raising $200m for St Jude’s.”

This is the most common criticism levied at SpaceX, and private space travel in general, one Hehir floats midway through the first episode – why send, or care about, billionaires going to space when there’s an abundance of earthbound issues that need addressing, most pressingly the climate emergency. Asked his response to such backlash, Isaacman echoed his answer in the first episode of the series: “We absolutely believe in balance here,” he said. “It’s been right from the start, from the creation of Inspiration4, that we’ve said: ‘we have to address some of the problems of today to earn the right to make progress for tomorrow,’” pointing to the fundraising effort for St Jude’s.

SpaceX’s billionaire founder, Elon Musk , appears in the first episode for brief overviews on the mission of Inspiration4 (civilian orbital space flight) and the company at large (colonization of Mars). It was “necessary to have [Musk] in it,” Hehir said, “because he is the face of that company and I felt that we owe it to our viewers for him to do two things. One, to articulate what the company’s mission is, and then two, to address the criticism that is so pervasive these days, of billionaires going into space and the privilege of wealth.” (Musk’s answer to the billionaire-critique is that “99%-plus of our economy should be dedicated to solving problems on Earth” but a multi-planet, space-bearing civilization is an “exciting, inspiring future”.)

“I had no interest in mythologizing that company or making it out that they’re saviors of the world,” Hehir said. “But I do think it’s important if you’re going to understand the ambition of the mission, to understand the ambition of the company itself.”

If all goes according to plan, the final episode, turned around on a snap days-long production timeline, will capture the Inspiration4’s crew successful return to Earth. The first two episodes find each weighing the inherent risk of space travel; Proctor, in particular, remembers watching the Challenger disaster when a shuttle exploded on live television in 1986, killing all seven crew on board (captured on camera: the shock and grief of Grace and Edward Corrigan, whose daughter Christa McAuliffe, a schoolteacher from New Hampshire, was to be the first American civilian in space).

“I understand what calculated risk is and what the reward is,” she told the Guardian, “and the reward of human space flight far exceeds the risk.”

Proctor, who was born in Guam, where her father worked for Nasa at an Apollo tracking station, will be only the fourth black American woman ever to travel to space (to date, only about 600 people have made the journey). Bubbling with a Ms Frizzle-esque enthusiasm for space exploration, Proctor is using to her spot aboard Inspiration4 to highlight black women’s long-overlooked role in American space travel. “We’re opening up the door for people who normally would have thought of being an astronaut or going to space, giving them the insight into how we’re doing it, and how times are changing,” she said of participating in the first all-civilian space flight.

“Old space was exclusive and you had to be the best of the best, you had to fit certain criteria. This is new space that’s emerging, that enables us to open up who gets to go and participate and write the narrative of human space flight,” she added, mapping out what she called a “Jedi” space — Just, Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive.

It remains to be seen if that narrative of a more democratic space will come to pass – and if Inspiration4 will push past skepticism of ultra-expensive, privately funded space flight. Regardless, the mission, and the messaging attached to it, will be televised, bringing the vast frontier to your personal screen.

Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space starts 7 September on Netflix

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TOP 10 Must-see Netflix Space Series

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services today, with a vast library of movies and shows to accommodate all tastes. That is why we decided to take a good look into its archives and new arrivals to offer you the best Netflix Space series, in our opinion. So, let’s get started.

The most popular Netflix space series

These series about space on Netflix rank so high because they combine several genres, feature excellent computer graphics, and come with exciting plots. Some are perfect for light watching with the whole family, while others will deeply immerse you in the atmosphere of space technology and alien worlds. We hope you will find something to your liking.

Lost in Space (2018-2021) IMDb 7.3

The Lost in Space Netflix series is a remake of the 1998 science fiction film of the same name. The story takes place in 2046. Earth’s resources are depleted, and humanity is looking for shelter on other planets. The Robinson family’s ship is thrown off course and crash-lands a few light-years from its intended landing site on an unknown planet. Professor John Robinson, his family and the pilot, are trying to survive in the new environment. The storyline is based on the young Will Robinson’s friendship with a robot that initially acts hostile but then saves the heroes’ lives more than once.

To be fair, the remake is even better than the original. This is a real family series that keeps the viewer hooked for all three seasons. It has everything to justify a high ranking — dynamic plot, realistic graphics, excellent cast. Unfortunately, new episodes of Lost in Space are not expected. The third season was the final one, and the history of the Robinson family is now complete. If you haven’t seen it yet, watch these exciting Netflix space series with the whole family.

NightFlyers ( 2018) IMDb 5.8

These Netflix space TV series are based on the novel of the same name by George R. R. Martin and the 1987 film adaptation. The action takes place in 2093. A group of scientists is sent on a Night Flyer spacecraft beyond the solar system in search of alien civilizations. When horrifying and violent events start happening on board, the crew begins to doubt themselves, each other, and their reclusive captain. They soon realize that the real horror is not in outer space — it is already on their ship.

Nightflyers has been critically acclaimed for its eye-catching visual style and will especially appeal to fans of the sci-fi horror genre set in the confined space of a spaceship.

Another Life (2019)  IMDb 5.2

The story of Another Life begins with an unidentified flying object in the form of a large Moebius strip that lands on Earth and forms a huge tower of crystalline structure. Scientist Eric Wallace, employed by the United States Interstellar Command (USIC), is trying to make contact with the tower.

Meanwhile, his wife, Captain Nico Breckinridge, is sent on the spaceship Salvare (Latin for Savior) to determine the artefact’s origin and find the alien civilization that sent it. The Salvare can travel faster than the speed of light, and the crew is in suspended animation (called soma in the series) for most of the flight. However, after a navigational error, Niko wakes up from hypersleep and finds that Salvara is in danger.

These Netflix space series were released in July 2019 and ranked high, so it was renewed for a second season, released in October 2021. If you love the mix of space travel and sci-fi drama, Another Life is for you.

Away (2020) IMDb 6.6

This Netflix space series is focused on Emma Green and her husband Matt Logan, American astronauts training to become a part of an international team for a three-year mission to Mars. Shortly before lift-off, Matt is taken off the flight due to illness, and Emma decides to leave her husband and daughter for a greater purpose. The three-year mission takes off from the Moon; however, several crew members distrust Emma’s ability to command due to her response to a crisis situation.

The series is essentially a melodrama in a space wrapper. Its main message is that if people want to achieve the impossible, they need each other. If you are a fan of this genre, as well as the acting of the inimitable Hilary Swank, then Away is for you.

Space Force (2020) IMDb 6.7

Space series on Netflix can be not only full of danger and drama, but can also make viewers laugh. The plot of Space Force tells the story of US Air Force General Mark Naird, who dreams of leading the US Air Force but instead becomes the Space Force commander. Now he must begin the exploration of the moon and ensure America’s dominance in space, but all his actions are accompanied by failures. Much of the series’ success was ensured by the star cast: Steve Carell, John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Diana Silvers, and Alexei Vorobyov. Decide for yourself how good Space Force turned out by watching both seasons.

Best Korean space series on Netflix

Netflix has shows produced not only in the United States but also in other countries. In September 2021, South Korean filmmakers blew up the fans of the survival genre with the Squid Game series, and in December, they released a very solid new space series on Netflix.

The Silent Sea (2021)  IMDb 6.9

The name “Silent Sea” comes from the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon. The story is about a manned mission to retrieve samples from a lunar research base. The land of the future is suffering from desertification, which is why drinking water consumption is strictly rationed. A scientific team is sent to the abandoned Balkhe lunar station, where 117 people died as a result of an accident five years ago, to understand the causes of the tragedy and find a solution to save the Earth.

Basically, The Silent Sea is science fiction with a touch of thriller and mystery. The 8-episode series is slow-paced but has enough intrigue and danger to satisfy patient viewers.

Best sci-fi series on Netflix

Sci-Fi does not always include a space theme, but we could not ignore these two magnificent series about our hypothetical future, especially since they touch on the subject of space.

Black Mirror (2011-2019) IMDb 8.8

This British mini-series warns us that a future where we lose our humanity in technology is more than possible, and it’s not as far away as we think. The Black Mirror series is not connected by one storyline; each tells its own short story, which could well turn into a full-fledged Hollywood movie in the genre of social utopia, sometimes with a touch of satire and sometimes horror. The series will impress even a sophisticated sci-fi fan and perhaps make you think that not a single, even the most progressive, technology will make us better until we ourselves want to change.

The series consists of 5 seasons, including 22 stories. Fans of Netflix space series will be especially interested in episode 1 of season 4, telling about the USS Calister starship, which is a kind of homage to Star Trek.

Altered Carbon (2018-2020) IMDb 7.9

This is one of the best space sci-fi series on Netflix, and it takes us to the 27th century, when humanity’s dream of colonizing deep space has long become a reality. People conquered the solar system and went beyond it, but they never invented the technology of instantaneous movement in space, so flights to other planets take decades.

However, there is an alternative solution — transferring human consciousness from one body to another. Consciousness is stored in special stacks and, if necessary, loaded into the body, which acts as a carrier. This forms a special class of wealthy centenarians who copy their consciousness to a backup medium, thus moving between bodies. The body of one of them, Lawrence Bancroft, is killed, and he revives dangerous mercenary Takeshi Kovacs to find the killer.

The series is based on the book by Richard K. Morgan and is a nuclear mixture of cyberpunk, noir, detective, action, and science fiction genres, so it has found a lot of fans.

Best Netflix animated series about space

Some might think that animation and Sci-Fi are incompatible, but only until they watch these two Netflix space cartoon series.

Love, death and robots (2019-) IMDb 8.4

If you liked Black Mirror , then you will definitely like Love, Death and Robots . The series is an anthology (each episode has its own story) in the genres of science fiction, horror, thriller, and dark humour. We assure you, you have never seen cartoons like this before. The series is very diverse, both in terms of storylines and graphics. You will see both downright cartoonish episodes and those hardly distinguishable from a real movie.

The project was inspired and executive produced by Oscar-winning director David Fincher ( The Game, Fight Club, Alien 3, Panic Room, Zodiac, House of Cards ). Love, Death and Robots has been out for three seasons already, and we will surely have a fourth one. If you like thrilling science fiction flavoured with black humour, this collection is for you. Just remember to keep kids away from the screen, as Love, Death and Robots — are cartoons for adults.

Apollo 10½  (2022) IMDb 7.3

A nostalgic adult Netflix space series directed by Richard Linklater that brings childhood fantasies to life. Stan, a fourth grader from Houston, comes from a large family, is a mediocre student, and leads a wholly unremarkable life. Everything changes when, in the midst of the 1969 space race, two NASA experts turn to him for help — to become the first man on the moon before Apollo 11 with Neil Armstrong goes there. The lad accepts the offer, and the mission is called Apollo 10½ . The director leaves it up to the viewer to decide whether Stan ends up flying into space because the main message of the series is not about going to space. It sort of returns the adult audience to their own childhood and asks the question anyone would like answered: what happened to our childhood dreams?

As with Waking Life and The Blurred , Linklater rotoscoped real actors into animated counterparts. That is why fans of Zachary Levi, Jack Black, and Glen Powell can enjoy their acting in a non-trivial manner.

The bottom line

Netflix considers the ratio of viewership and cost to be key factors when deciding whether to renew the series or cancel it. That is why some of the above series were cancelled. However, this does not make these shows bad, and they still have their fans. Perhaps, after reading our list, you will join them. And we will continue to tell you about new Netflix space series worth checking out.

An amateur rocket enthusiast with a keen interest in all space-related activity. Looking forward to the day when the UK starts launching rockets into space and I'm able to watch launches (from a safe distance of course).

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Netflix's 3 Body Problem Reveals a Surprisingly Brilliant Mode of Space Travel

The idea of space travel with parachutes and nuclear explosions will sound plenty familiar to NASA alum.

In 1946, only a year after the explosive and devastating debut of the nuclear age, Polish-American mathematician and physicist Stanislaw Ulam had an idea for a rocket that was so crazy it just might work.

During the war, Ulam worked side-by-side with Robert Oppenheimer and Edward Teller on the creation of the atomic bomb at Los Alamos, and now that peace was achieved, the future of the nuclear age was only just beginning. It was during this moment of possibility while still conducting research at the famous New Mexico facility, that Ulam’s thoughts turned toward the stars: Could the explosive power of the atomic bomb be used for exploration instead of destruction?

In other words, could nuclear bombs somehow become deep-space rocket engines?

“It is a very ambitious but efficient way to undertake space explorations with a vehicle able to travel at high speeds with high payloads and an extremely good ratio of payload to total initial weight,” Ulam wrote in his 1976 memoir Adventures of a Mathematician . “The spaceship could transport hundreds or thousands of people.”

Earthlings want to send a probe light years away to spy on the San-Ti, but need an idea to get there, fast.

Fast-forward to 2024 and Ulam’s nuclear daydreaming is enjoying a renaissance of sorts as the Netflix series The Three-Body Problem , based on a novel by Chinese sci-fi author Liu Cixin, cribs the idea as a fast-and-not-so-easy way to propel a payload to incredible speeds. To achieve this, the characters devise a “radiation sail” to be propelled by a thousand consecutive nuclear explosions in space until the spacecraft reaches a velocity just a notch above 1 percent of lightspeed.

But while the Three-Body Problem uses Ulam’s nuclear rocket for decidedly sci-fi ends, the 80-year-long story of this developing technology, known today as nuclear pulse propulsion (NPP), is very real — and it may still be the future of space exploration.

An Explosive History

Every rocket humanity has ever sent skyward has been powered by chemical fuel, a combination of kerosene, oxygen, and hydrogen, or both, with enough “oomph” to escape Earth’s orbit and reach its otherworldly destination. That’s how the Apollo astronauts landed on the moon, how the Space Shuttle crews built the International Space Station, and how future space explorers will put bootprints on Mars.

But similar to how fission (and especially fusion) represent efficient energy sources of the future, the same can also be said for rocketry. And while the idea of riding the concussive explosions of a nuclear bomb may seem strange, the idea isn’t quite as strange as you might think.

“Your car is a pulsed system because the piston is compressing gas and air together, and then it explodes and pushes the piston apart,” Jason Cassibry, a professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, tells Inverse . Cassibry is affiliated with the university’s Propulsion Research Center where he recently worked on a pulsed propulsion system similar to magneto-inertial fusion technology. “So every time you explode [a bomb] according to Newton's second law, it would give it an increase in momentum and accelerate it, just like you would driving your car and stepping on the gas.”

NASA’s Project Orion involves a heavy-lift vehicle that used atomic bombs to detonate behind a pusher plate fitted with shock absorbers.

Ulam recognized the beautiful simplicity of a pulsed system, and after mulling over the idea for years, he finally put his thoughts to paper in a classified 1955 report, stating that “the scheme proposed in the present report involves the use of a series of expendable reactors (fission bombs) ejected and detonated at a considerable distance from the vehicle.” Ulam eventually presented the idea to President Eisenhower’s scientific advisor George Kistiakowsky whose “reception of it was not enthusiastic,” Ulam wrote in his memoir.

Despite initial skepticism, the idea eventually gathered steam under the infamous Project Orion , a heavy-lift vehicle concept that used atomic bombs, ranging from a few to several kilotons, to detonate behind a pusher plate fitted with shock absorbers to limit the impact of that initial, explosive acceleration. While many of the early design challenges of the spacecraft were overcome, the project shut down in 1965 due to nuclear treaties that prohibited nuclear explosions in space. Chemical rockets had also become more powerful and were clearly NASA’s preferred chariot to the stars during the Space Race.

But the idea didn't die and several projects carried the NPP flame with names like Project Daedelus , Project Longshot , and Vista . One of the most intriguing ideas was a spacecraft concept known as Medusa that altered the pulsed propulsion design using a lightweight sail (technically a spinnaker) to harness the pressure pulses of subsequent nuclear explosions, a concept that’s extremely similar to the one explored in the Three-Body Problem . Sadly, none of these concepts — including Cassibry’s own Pulsed Fission-Fusion (PuFF) system — ever made it to the launch pad, largely due to technological limitations and lingering concerns over detonating nuclear explosions in space.

“There was a resurrection of Project Orion in the 90s when Clinton was in office, and when they got to the level to talk to some of his staffers…they said ‘no way are we putting nuclear weapons in space,’” Cassibry says. “Now, they’re even more sensitive to it — even though the Cold War is over, there are still concerns.”

Space Travel Goes Nuclear

However, not all nuclear propulsion systems are the same.

While Cassibry worked on pulsed systems, ostensibly the great-grandchild of Ulam’s original vision, other systems include nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) and nuclear electric propulsion (NEP). While all three are based on nuclear technology, NTP and NEP use more traditional fission systems (i.e. heating up propellant, which turns to gas, and results in propulsion). So unlike NPP, which uses microexplosions for propulsion (much to the chagrin of international nuclear treaties), NTP and NEP systems can’t be weaponized.

While all three technologies use different methods and have various use cases, nuclear propulsion — whether through fission heating or nuclear explosion — has some pretty stark advantages over its chemical competitor.

“There are certain missions to the ice giants — Uranus and Neptune — that could not be done, given all the constraints that you put on a mission that far out, with anything other than nuclear thermal,” Cassibry says. “[NTP] is more straightforward than some of the things we could do…it’s kind of low-hanging fruit in terms of advanced propulsion concepts.”

NASA has taken notice and hopes to test its Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) NTP rocket in 2026. Being three times more efficient than chemical rockets, that means Draco could travel from the Earth to Mars in just 45 days or carry increased cargo loads in a more conventional timeframe. However, Cassibry still believes that nuclear pulse propulsion, using fission, fusion, or a combination of the two, will ultimately outperform even these nuclear-powered spacecraft decades down the road.

“There’s a joke that crushes my soul every time I hear it that fusion is the technology of the future and it always will be,” Cassibry says. “But we started with really, really, really terrible reactors and we’ve been making steady progress…we’ll see fusion propulsion being possible within about 20 to 30 years.”

Whether on a popular Netflix show or in the minds of the leading space propulsion experts, it would seem Ulam’s dream is alive and well.

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10 best space documentaries on netflix right now.

There are thousands of documentaries about space exploration, but these can be found on Netflix and offer some compelling and chilling narratives.

• Some space documentaries on Netflix delve into the formation of the universe and the role of the solar system in sustaining life on Earth.
• Netflix has plenty of space documentaries that explore the possibility of life on other planets through scientific research and theories.
• Others delve into the mysteries of black holes with mathematicians to witness groundbreaking attempts to capture the first image of a black hole.

The best space documentaries on Netflix seek out answers to humanity's most crucial questions in the vastness of space. It is a subject that has intrigued the world since people first began gazing up at the stars and there have been many fascinating documentaries that have been made about space exploration in recent years . From humankind's first small steps toward the infinite to conspiracies regarding ancient peoples and their run-ins with beings from outer spheres, various aspects of space exploration are well documented and easily accessible on the streaming giant today.

On top of the great fictional streaming series and sci-fi movies available on Netflix right now, the platform has some great options for people who want to learn more about planets, stars, and Earth's solar system from science documentaries. The amazing content Netflix offers includes a look at the work of astronauts and a dissection of possible life on other planets . Ranking among some of the best Netflix documentaries , these ambitious and fascinating projects add to humanity's endless curiosity about what is out among the stars.

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10 our universe (2022), a look at the formation of the universe and earth's survival within it, our universe.

Our Universe is a space documentary that's reminiscent of the Our Planet series and is structured as a six-part series narrated by actor Morgan Freeman . This is a historical look at the formation of the universe and what makes up the solar system itself . It also goes into the development of the millions of different life forms that have evolved on Earth over the epochs, utilizing CGI to reveal the stories of interstellar events and animals in their natural habitats.

Our Universe takes an ambitious approach to seeking to explain how the creation and persistence of life on Earth is only possible through the sun, meteors, and other objects and events in space. It looks at grand ideas like the expansion of the universe as well as comparatively small ideas like the oceans of Earth. It is all done in a way that is easy to consume, informative, and insightful.

9 Alien Worlds (2020)

A theoretical look at life on other planets, alien worlds.

Narrated by Sophie Okonedo, Alien Worlds is a four-part speculative docuseries about how life could develop on exoplanets — planets outside Earth's solar system . While that makes this a mostly fictional documentary that might sound like it is venturing into science fiction movie territory, it is wholly based on scientific research. Astronomers, astrobiologists, ecologists, and more discuss how the rules of life on Earth can be applied to other planets in the universe.

Alien Worlds explore different scenarios of planets outside our own, with totally different circumstances, and theorizes what kind of life would evolve in that sort of environment.

Alien Worlds explore different scenarios of planets outside our own, with totally different circumstances, and theorizes what kind of life would evolve in that sort of environment. This includes what life would look like if a planet had two suns, if there was a low gravity pull, and if a planet was scorching hot or permanently frozen. The documentary offers an eye-opening look at the endless possibilities of what is in the universe outside human knowledge.

8 Black Holes: The Edge Of All We Know (2021)

Scientists delve into a fascinating space concept, black holes: the edge of all we know.

There are certain concepts about space that are still difficult to understand despite years of research and black holes fall into that category. The Netflix space documentary Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know is an exciting look at the mysterious black holes , which form when a massive star collapses under its own weight at the end of its lifecycle. Almost all galaxies, including Earth's own Milky Way, formed with a massive black hole at the center.

Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know features a team of mathematicians, including Stephen Hawking , trying to solve the Information Paradox and a global team that worked to capture the first actual image of a black hole. It breaks down almost everything scientists know about the phenomenon to give insight into one of the most powerful mysteries of the universe.

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7 return to space (2022), the story of space x and the beginning of commercial space travel, return to space.

A fascinating and exciting look at the future of humanity's space exploration and its possibilities.

Space documentaries can not only examine the mysteries of space but the history of space travel and where it stands going forward. Return to Space is about Elon Musk's SpaceX company and its attempt to take humans back into space . SpaceX wants to take anyone into space who can afford it, as Musk believes that space travel is important for the future of humanity, with Return to Space showing the lead-up to the rocket launch to the International Space Station.

Indeed, the road to space is not just about governments anymore — SpaceX is a commercial company that partners with NASA to make space travel much more accessible . This documentary features some amazing footage of several failed attempts, but it is a fascinating and exciting look at the future of humanity's space exploration and its possibilities.

6 Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)

A look at one of nasa's greatest tragedies, challenger: the final flight.

Another Netflix documentary taking a look at real-life space travel, this one highlights the danger of it and the tragedies that have come out of it. Challenger: The Final Flight is a four-part docuseries about the story of the fatal crash of NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. Challenger: The Final Flight not only commemorates the lives of the seven astronauts who perished in the mission but also highlights the importance of what these brave scientists set out to do.

Decidedly one of the best space documentaries on Netflix, this series honors the mission and shows that, even though it failed, it was still an important part of humanity's history with space travel. Indeed, the disaster changed a lot about how NASA and the U.S. space program operate and forced new safety protocols on all future missions into space.

5 The Mars Generation (2017)

The next era of astronauts takes shape, the mars generation.

There are endless possibilities for how humanity can explore space and some of the most exciting space documentaries on Netflix look at those possibilities. The Mars Generation explores the potential for pursuing humanity's dream of one day living on Mars . Depicting the day-to-day struggles of a group of young scientists and engineers dedicated to a Martian future at the Space Camp in Alabama, the documentary shows how far humanity has to go before Mars can become habitable , but ultimately presents the future as bright and full of possibility.

Time Magazine sponsored this show, as it details the kids going through training under experienced mentors and the hard work they put into the program. Things are not always lighthearted, as it touches on the Challenger and Columbia explosions, but for any youngsters interested in space exploration, it is an inspiring experience.

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4 a trip to infinity (2022), a contemplation on one of the most complex ideas in the universe, a trip to infinity.

More than a science documentary, A Trip To Infinity also raises philosophical inquiries about humanity's fleeting role in infinite space and time.

While most people think about the stars and the planets out in the cosmos without much trouble, to truly ponder the idea of the unending vastness of space is a daunting idea and one that brilliant scientists are still trying to solve. A Trip To Infinity is a science documentary that uses creative animated visuals and interviews with experts to explain the mathematical concept of infinity .

It counts among the best space documentaries on Netflix for providing answers to whether infinity exists beyond the human imagination or not, as this naturally also questions the presumed infinity of ever-expanding outer space. It's an unusual perspective that is a must-see for anyone interested in exploring the cosmos. More than a science documentary, A Trip To Infinity also raises philosophical inquiries about humanity's fleeting role in infinite space and time.

3 The Future Of (2022)

A series exploring advancements of the future, including public space travel, the future of.

It is astounding to consider the technological advancements the world has made in the past century and what else is to come. The 12-episode docuseries The Future Of is a wide look into what's in store for humanity in the next decades in terms of technological advancement. In particular, the episode "The Future of Space Vacations" is one of the best space documentaries on Netflix — despite being just 17 minutes long. "Space Vacations" dissects the very real possibilities of regular suborbital flights for civilians.

This includes the company Space Perspective which is developing a balloon to allow for travel into space, which, unlike rockets, would require zero training for passengers. In addition to tackling commercial space trips and vacation pods on the Moon in "Space Vacation," The Future Of has dedicated episodes to "Gaming," "Skyscrapers," and "Life After Death."

2 Top Secret UFO Projects Declassified (2022)

Secrets and theories exploring extraterrestrial visitors, top secret ufo projects declassified.

Though claims of extraterrestrial encounters have long been dismissed, many believe the existence of  UFOs  is not just likely, but a certainty.

While the idea of UFOs is a controversial one that some dismiss as conspiracy theories, it is still a subject that fascinates many. In 6 episodes, the docuseries Top Secret UFO Projects Declassified details all the biggest evidence of UFO sightings and extraterrestrial life . This includes a deep dive into Project Blue Book , the U.S. government's previously top-secret attempts to study UFOs in the '50s, and Code Name Aurora, the alleged government project aimed at reverse-engineering alien technology.

From global evidence of sightings to individuals who claim to have performed autopsies on aliens, what makes Top Secret UFO Projects Declassified one of the best Netflix documentaries on UFOs and the unexplained is how the existing evidence is laid out chronologically and in striking detail. This makes it a must-watch for anyone watching the skies for clues of extraterrestrial life.

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1 countdown: inspiration4 mission to space (2021), a giant leap for civilian space travel, countdown: inspiration4 mission to space.

As space travel becomes a more mainstream idea, more documentaries explore the idea of everyday people going to space. Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space is a five-part docuseries focused on the four individuals tasked with the first all-civilian orbital mission . From the recruitment process and the extensive training to the actual launch of the SpaceX Dragon mission, also known as Inspiration4, Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space is an emotional journey about people living out their wildest dreams.

In 2021, episodes of the docuseries were released as close to real-time as possible, with the final episode airing just days after the actual launch. Apart from being one of the best space documentaries on Netflix , Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission is among the greatest reality shows in recent history with a truly captivating idea at its center.

The 12 Best Space Movies You Can Watch On Netflix Right Now

If Hollywood has taught us anything, it's that humanity is destined to venture among the stars. Whether as an act of exploration or defense against global disaster, interstellar travel remains the great fantasy of both big-budget blockbusters and inexpensive science fiction films alike. So, where better to start your space travel movie marathon than Netflix, especially since the streaming giant has made our solar system — and the stars beyond — the basis of several of its original features? 

Whether your ideal space movie is a family-friendly starship adventure or a rocket trip straight to the outer layers of Hell, you can probably find something on this list to satisfy your mood on any movie night. But be warned: the crews in these movies may be small, but the body counts are disproportionately high. In space, the odds of survival are despairingly low.

Indian science fiction film Cargo finds the joy in living — and in dying

The best way to describe "Cargo," the debut feature from Indian filmmaker Arati Kadav, is "Pushing Daisies" on a spaceship. Prahastha, a demon astronaut who helps process humans for reincarnation, has spent a century alone on his spacecraft, speaking only with his handlers back on Earth. When he is assigned a new demonic assistant near the end of his campaign, Prahastha is forced to reintegrate himself into society. He must also address the loneliness that bubbles just beneath his unflappable exterior. Think a workplace comedy with a heavy layer of fantasy, and you're right there.

This premise might've ended up too cute by half in the hands of a lesser filmmaker, but Kadav quickly proves herself a masterful hand at comedy. We never tire of watching Prahastha and Yvishka process new souls — as well as the charming cutaways depicting the moments leading up to the new arrivals' deaths — but, thankfully, Kadav keeps coming back to the demons' individual growth. Space is a lonely place, and even friendly demons are not meant to spend this much time away from their loved ones.

When to Watch : You need a little brightness in your space movies, and are okay with having a movie's theme song — in this case, "Forget Me Not" by Megha Ramaswamy — stuck in your head for days.

Doom: Annihilation is an earnest attempt at recreating a blockbuster video game franchise

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who prefer Andrzej Bartkowiak's 2005 "Doom" and those who prefer Tony Giglio's 2019 "Doom: Annihilation." The former has a reputation as one of the all-time biggest video game movie disappointments, wasting a cast that included Karl Urban, Rosamund Pike, and Dwayne Johnson, the ultimate space marine. By contrast, Giglio's adaptation's limited budget may be obvious, but the movie also comes with lower expectations, delivering for audiences who prefer flawed passion projects over middling studio fare.

All of the pieces necessary for a "Doom" adaptation are in place: soldiers, monsters, and the dark void of space. In its best moments, "Doom: Annihilation" recalls some of Neil Marshall's best work , with inventive creature designs that will remind you of films like "Dog Soldiers" and "The Descent." And when Giglio goes for broke in the final minutes, dumping his main character onto a planetary hellscape that puts her in direct contact with the monsters of "Doom," we get a glimpse of what someone with real vision could bring to this franchise. 

When to Watch: You have a fridge full of beer and a Friday night to kill, and you're ready to make some questionable movie-watching decisions in the name of curiosity.

Thanks to Melanie Laurent, Oxygen is claustrophobic science fiction at its finest

French director Alexandra Aja made his name on gory horror fare like "High Tension," "The Hills Have Eyes," and "Crawl," but he doesn't need blood to tell a thrilling story. Nowhere is this more evident than in 2021's "Oxygen," a claustrophobic horror film starring Mélanie Laurent ("Inglourious Basterds") about an amnesiac trapped in a cryogenic pod that is quickly losing air.

"Oxygen" may not offer many surprises — once the puzzle pieces start coming together, it only takes a small leap of the imagination to see the film's ultimate destination — but that's part of the movie's appeal. The real intrigue comes in watching how Aja and Laurent build a cohesive story out of only a few elements, and in enjoying the craft of a simple concept executed to perfection. Laurent's performance and Aja's direction make it look deceptively easy to build narrative momentum in a set devoid of physical space. Even in 2021, there's nothing quite as satisfying as a simple idea done right.

When to Watch: You are curious to know how a simple writing prompt — "woman trapped in a box" — can succeed as 101 thrilling minutes of science fiction.

Prospect is a science fiction standout in desperate need of rediscovery

If you prefer your space movies with more of a lived-in feel, then you should consider Christopher Caldwell and Zeek Earl's "Prospect". The film stars Sophie Thatcher and Pedro Pascal as a pair of prospectors stuck on an alien planet. After a gunfight leaves each person without their crew, the two must learn to work together to secure off-world passage or risk being stranded when the orbiting transport heads home.

For most people, seeing Pedro Pascal do his best Han Solo impersonation is enough of a sales pitch. But once you dive into the worldbuilding proper, the film's production design makes "Prospect" singularly memorable. "Prospect" is the perfect example of retrofuturism on the big screen, a mode of science fiction that takes inspiration from the '50s' dated visions of what the future might look like. What seemed revolutionary then is cheekily archaic now. Thanks to production designer Matt Acosta, however, "Prospect" offers its audience a uniquely low-fi future, one that will stay on your mind long after the credits roll (or the next Netflix auto-play feature starts).

When to Watch: You are working on your Pedro Pascal backlog and are in the mood for a science fiction romp that would feel at home in the "Star Wars" universe.

Skylines proves that, against all odds, the Skyline franchise just keeps getting better

Sometimes, noteworthy franchises come from the most peculiar places. "Skyline," a 2010 film from special effects gurus The Brothers Strause, might have been a modest success, but no one could've expected that it would spawn two sequels that, incredibly, push the franchise into new and exciting directions. Surprise Netflix hit "Beyond Skyline" added action stars Frank Grillo and Iko Uwais to the series and brought an intergalactic war to the mix. 2020's "Skylines" upends the formula again, maintaining continuity with the previous two films but skipping a few years into the future, riffing more heavily on James Cameron's "Aliens" than established alien invasion tropes.

If anything, it seems like franchise co-creator Liam O'Donnell has started to use the "Skylines" films as his private sandbox, making his directorial debut with the second installment and ramping up the action in the third. And with a scrappy cast — star Lindsey Morgan is a smart piece of casting — and a knack for production design that keeps these movies punching above their weight class, the Skyline films promise to keep the good times coming for years to come.

When to Watch: You are in the mood for something action-packed and aren't afraid to spend a few minutes on Wikipedia getting up to speed on the previous films.

Space Sweepers is the South Korean answer to Star Wars

Have filmmakers forgotten that space can be funny? Many science fiction films use the crushing void of space to play up existential dread of what it means to be human, but sometimes, you just want a movie with talking robots and thrilling starship chases. South Korean filmmaker Jo Sung-hee isn't afraid to get silly, peppering "Space Sweepers" with quips and slapstick comedy, and giving his godlike Steve Jobs analogue a few fart jokes.

Equal parts "Star Wars" and "Elysium," "Space Sweepers" follows a group of destitute freelancers tasked with cleaning up the debris that orbits our dying planet. When they stumble across a young robot with a bounty on her head, their get-rich-quick scheme gets them stuck in the middle of a battle between a group of rebellious climate activists and a government that's building a new utopia for the super-rich on Mars. Goofy and more than a little broad at times, "Space Sweepers" is a grand space opera for fans of all ages. It's also an excellent introduction to international cinema for people who might be reluctant to watch a subtitled feature.

When to Watch: You want something filled with heart that the entire family can enjoy, and you absolutely, positively cannot watch "Star Wars" one more time.

Stowaway is the epitome of science fiction for grown-ups

In most space movies, humankind's trips to the stars are cautionary tales. Every once in a while, though, science fiction comes with a dash of humanism, telling stories about people coming together to solve impossible problems through collaboration and ingenuity. These days, the world may be too cynical for a film like "Apollo 13," but the success of Joe Penna's "Stowaway" shows we still have an appetite for uplifting space stories.

In that way, this 2021 feature is something of a throwback: a film centered on a deadly space catastrophe without any of the infighting or backstabbing we often see in similar movies. Anchored by a standout cast, including a much-deserved leading role for Daniel Dae Kim, "Stowaway" is more interested in humankind's tenacity than its failures. Sure, the science might be a little suspect at times, but Penna and his cast create a group of survivors you want to root for — especially during one of the most anxiety-inducing spacewalks you'll ever see on film.

When to Watch: It's been a few years since you watched "Gravity," and you've deluded yourself into thinking that you don't stress cry during space dramas anymore.

The Cloverfield Paradox is so much more than just its Super Bowl release date

Most of the time, it's hard to identify cult classics when they first arrive, but every now and then, the future seems obvious. Such is the case with "The Cloverfield Paradox," a movie that might have generated a more positive fandom if not for Netflix's gimmicky launch strategy.

"The Cloverfield Paradox" will always be remembered as the film dumped on Netflix as part of a wild Super Bowl LII promotional campaign . But given the film's talented cast and outrageous premise — a series of fusion particle tests accidentally knock an international space station into a parallel universe — there is also plenty of time for the next generation of horror and science fiction fans to rediscover Julius Onah's bizarre little movie. By accident or intent, "The Cloverfield Paradox" operates entirely on its own goofy wavelength; give it a few years, and those scenes with sentient arms and oddball quantum physics will feel right at home within the broader "Cloverfield" cinematic universe .

When to Watch: To recreate the authentic experience, you can only watch "The Cloverfield Paradox" immediately following a major sporting event.

The Midnight Sky finds grace in humanity's final hours

In the hands of anyone else, "The Midnight Sky" might be tossed aside as an expensive mess. In the hands of star director (and star-director) George Clooney, "The Midnight Sky" is, well, still a mess, but one that refuses to be forgotten. When an ecological disaster wipes out humanity, a dying scientist races against time to warn an interstellar survey team not to return home from their mission. Meanwhile, the crew of the ship must survive an increasingly dangerous route back to Earth in order to have a chance to learn the truth.

Not everything in "The Midnight Sky" lands, but when it works it's an effective elegy for both humankind and the planet we have thus far failed to protect, and as a director, Clooney manages to tap into some of our biggest existential fears . In addition, "The Midnight Sky" finds a tiny shred of hope as it honors both those the characters lost and those who go on, adding a welcome note of optimism to an otherwise heavy feature.

When to Watch : You want a space movie with some Oscar vibes ("The Midnight Sky" was nominated for Best Visual Effects, and was projected to be competitive in several categories, although that didn't exactly pan out).

The Wandering Earth is Chinese blockbuster filmmaking at its finest

In the future, the sun has begun to expand. So, the world's governments come together to build giant rockets inside the Earth's crust in order to fly the planet to another solar system. Still with us? Then you might be the target audience for Frant Gwo's "The Wandering Earth," a 2019 Chinese blockbuster that thrives by building a series of escalating disasters for humanity to escape. Light on plot but long on spectacle, "The Wandering Earth" feels like a love letter to Hollywood of the '90s , when producers like Jerry Bruckheimer ushered in an era of big-screen splendor that would set the standard for event movies for years to come.

If you've developed a healthy skepticism of second-tier Chinese blockbusters and worry that the visual effects in "The Wandering Earth" won't carry the monumental story, you have nothing to fear. Even on his best day, Michael Bay would need to work hard to top something like this. If you are the sort of person who likes to bring up that "Armageddon" is in the Criterion Collection, then you would do well to seek "The Wandering Earth" out immediately, ideally on the biggest screen available to you.

When to Watch: Your life has taken on a little too much stress, and you need to retreat to the organized chaos that only a big-budget space spectacle can offer.

Total Recall is a timeless treatise on corporate greed and chest people

At this point, what is there to say about Paul Verhoeven's science fiction masterpiece that hasn't already been said? With "Total Recall," "RoboCop," and "Starship Troopers" on his filmography, Verhoeven's reputation as one of our great sci-fi satirists is forever secure. Besides, you know the broad points by now: memory wipes, armed revolution, and more Arnold Schwarzenegger one-liners than any single film can hope to contain. Even those with only a passing knowledge of "Total Recall" could probably pick Kuato out of a lineup, thanks to three decades' worth of pop culture references and loving spoofs.

Unsurprisingly, time has been kind to "Total Recall" — maybe a little  too kind. With water futures now being actively traded on Wall Street, it seems like Verhoeven's only mistake was to pretend that the conservation of natural resources would be overtly evil instead of just blandly capitalist. At any rate, "Total Recall" remains a highlight in a career of highlights for both its star and its director. And the 2012 remake (which, sadly, isn't on Netflix) has its moments too, if we're being perfectly honest with each other.

When to Watch : You are ready to get your ass to Mars.

Zathura is the kid-friendly science fiction you've been looking for

From the original film to its two surprisingly successful video game-inspired sequels, no franchise continues to surprise as much as "Jumanji." And although "Zathura" is more overtly a children's movie than its predecessor — Robin Williams had a habit of aging up his projects — it comes packing a pretty heartfelt message of brotherly love. We never split the party, no matter how frustrating its members might be.

Those who appreciate director Jon Favreau's place as the next Robert Zemeckis — they're both directors with an eye for family entertainment and an appetite for technology — will find a lot of value in "Zathura." In terms of Favreau's career, the film serves as the pivot point between "Elf" and "Iron Man," and similarities to both movies can be seen throughout. For everyone else, the film is a solid entry in the loosely-defined "Jumanji" universe, with admirable pre-fame roles performances from both Josh Hutcherson and Kirsten Stewart. Just shrug off some of the weird reveals regarding Dax Shepard's character (you know the ones).

When to Watch: You need something for the entire family but still want a little bit of space adventure on your Thursday evening.

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A young woman's murder causes the subjects of a century-long mission to populate a new world to question the true nature of the project as they approach the point of no return. A young woman's murder causes the subjects of a century-long mission to populate a new world to question the true nature of the project as they approach the point of no return. A young woman's murder causes the subjects of a century-long mission to populate a new world to question the true nature of the project as they approach the point of no return.

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• Trivia Christa's last name is Valis. Valis is the name of one of Philip K. Dick's last novels, the first of an unfinished trilogy, and stands for Vast Active Living Intelligence System, Dick's gnostic vision of one aspect of God.
• Goofs Throughout the series we see the occupants of Ascension apparently experiencing normal Earth gravity. In deep space there are only two ways to simulate the effects of gravity; either you build a ship that rotates around a central axis, where centrifugal force gives the appearance of gravity at the rim, or you rely upon thrust from the engines. Since Ascension is clearly not cylindrical (all through the series we see flat floors and a deck layout along the axis), the apparent force of gravity must therefore be provided by thrust from the engines. To approximate the gravity of Earth, the engines would need to provide a constant acceleration of 9.81m/s2. At this acceleration, the ship would reach 97% of the speed of light in just 2 years and the journey to Proxima Centauri (Ascension's quoted destination) would take roughly 5.2 years. In the show, the ship has apparently been en route for over 50 years, almost 10 times as long as the journey should take. Such a speed would not be possible for a ship of this type in any case, as it would need a huge shield against interstellar material and an impossibly large fuel load. All of this is simple math and physics and could be questioned by any reasonably well-educated person in the 1960s; it's inconceivable that none of the crew or other people on board would not have questioned this inconsistency.
• Alternate versions Syfy Channel originally aired the show as three 2-hour episodes (with commercials). But Netflix has divided the series into six 43-minute episodes.
• Connections Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Sci-Fi Shows That Deserve a Second Chance (2017)

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• December 15, 2014 (United States)
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8 of the Best Space Sci-Fi Movies on Netflix You Will Want to Watch

S pace has long been a fascination for humanity, a canvas upon which we project our dreams, fears, and desires. Fortunately, Netflix offers a stellar selection of space-themed science fiction films to satisfy our cosmic cravings. Whether you’re in the mood for heart-pounding action, thought-provoking drama, or awe-inspiring visuals, there’s something for every space enthusiast on this list. So buckle up, stargazers, as we embark on a journey through some of the best space sci-fi movies currently available on Netflix.

Passengers (2016)

In this gripping tale of love and morality set against the backdrop of deep space, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt star as passengers on an interplanetary journey who awaken from hibernation decades ahead of schedule. As they grapple with their unexpected awakening and the ethical dilemmas it presents, they must confront the existential loneliness of their voyage. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions as you navigate the complexities of human connection in the vast expanse of space.

Gravity (2013)

Experience the heart-pounding intensity of survival in the unforgiving void of space in this Academy Award-winning thriller. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star as astronauts stranded in orbit after a catastrophic accident, fighting for their lives against the merciless forces of nature. With breathtaking visuals and pulse-pounding suspense, this film will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

Join space cops Valerian and Laureline on an epic adventure across the cosmos as they embark on a mission to save the galaxy. With stunning visual effects and exhilarating action sequences, this film offers a thrilling ride from start to finish. Get ready for a wild journey filled with alien encounters, futuristic technology, and breathtaking landscapes as our heroes race against time to protect the universe from impending doom.

Orbiter 9 (2017)

Experience a tale of mystery and romance aboard the titular spacecraft as Helena, a young woman raised in isolation, encounters a handsome engineer who disrupts her solitary existence. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, Helena must navigate a web of deception and intrigue to uncover the truth about her past and the true nature of her reality. Prepare for twists and turns in this gripping Spanish sci-fi thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Return to Space (2022)

Relive the historic achievements of SpaceX and Elon Musk as they revolutionize space exploration in this captivating documentary. From the pioneering Falcon 1 launch to the groundbreaking Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission, witness the incredible advancements that have propelled humanity into a new era of space travel. With unprecedented access and exclusive footage, this film offers a behind-the-scenes look at the triumphs and challenges of pushing the boundaries of what is possible beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

The Mars Generation (2017)

Join a group of aspiring young astronauts as they embark on a journey to NASA’s Space Camp in this inspiring documentary. Follow their dreams of reaching the Red Planet as they undergo rigorous training and immerse themselves in the wonders of space exploration. With insights from industry experts and real-life astronauts, this film offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of space travel and the next generation of space pioneers.

Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood (2022)

Experience the wonder of the Apollo missions through the eyes of a young boy in this charming animated film by Richard Linklater. Follow his imaginative adventures as he becomes the first person to land on the moon, accompanied by an all-star cast of voices. With its nostalgic charm and playful spirit, this film captures the magic of the space age and reminds us of the power of imagination to reach for the stars.

Delve into the untold story of the women who dared to defy gender norms and reach for the stars in this eye-opening documentary. Despite facing discrimination and obstacles at every turn, these trailblazing women proved that they had the right stuff to become astronauts. Through archival footage and interviews, this film sheds light on their extraordinary journey and celebrates their contributions to space exploration.

From heartwarming tales of human connection to pulse-pounding thrillers of survival, the space sci-fi movies on Netflix offer a diverse array of experiences for fans of the final frontier. Whether you’re exploring distant galaxies or delving into the mysteries of the cosmos, these films are sure to ignite your imagination and leave you dreaming of the stars. So grab some popcorn, settle into your favorite spot on the couch, and prepare for an unforgettable journey through the wonders of space.

The post 8 of the Best Space Sci-Fi Movies on Netflix You Will Want to Watch appeared first on New York Tech Media .

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Is ‘Spy X Family Code: White’ Streaming On Netflix, HBO Max, Or Crunchyroll?

Stream it or skip it: ‘the grimm variations’ on netflix, an anime that turns the classic grimms’ fairy tales on their head, everything we know about ‘aang: the last airbender,’ the animated sequel to the original show, stream it or skip it: ‘mission: yozakura family’ on hulu, a fun entry in the anime subgenre of spy fiction, stream it or skip it: ‘the fable’ on hulu, a bloody, sneaky funny anime adaptation of a popular manga title.

Spy x Family Code: White marks the first film adaptation of the hit TV series Spy x Family, which first came out in April 2022. Luckily, we have you covered on all the ways you can watch this new anime flick!

Spy x Family Code: White follows the double lives of Loid, a spy, and his wife Yor, an assassin. When their daughter Anya discovers who they really are, she accidentally triggers a series of events that could threaten world peace.

So, where can you watch Spy x Family Code: White ? Is it on Netflix? What about Max?

Here’s everything we know about the upcoming movie:

WHERE TO WATCH SPY X FAMILY CODE: WHITE :

As of now, the only way to watch Spy x Family Code: White is to head out to a movie theater when it releases on Friday, April 19. You can find a local showing on Fandango . Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait until it becomes available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Vudu, Apple , YouTube and Amazon .

WILL  SPY X FAMILY CODE: WHITE BE ON CRUNCHYROLL?

It is possible that  Spy x Family Code: White will stream on Crunchyroll at some point in the future seeing as the company is assisting in its North American distribution. Plus, the streaming platform is already home to the first two seasons of Spy x Family.

Demon Slayer: To The Hashira Training was released in theaters on Feb. 23 and is set to join Crunchyroll on May 12 — about three months after its debut. If Spy x Family Code: White follows the same trajectory, it could come to the platform by late July 2024.

WILL  SPY X FAMILY CODE: WHITE   BE ON HBO MAX?

No, Spy x Family Code: White will not be on Max — previously known as HBO Max — since it’s not a Warner Bros. Discovery movie.

WILL SPY X FAMILY CODE: WHITE BE ON NETFLIX?

No, Spy x Family Code: White will not be on Netflix — at least not any time soon. While it’s possible the film may come to the streamer at some point in the future, you’ll just have to head out to a movie theater to see it for now.

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If Looks Could Kill: How Ripley Recreated Midcentury Italian Glamour

Secrets from the set of the new series, streaming now on Netflix.

For anyone who’s seen the Steven Zallian-directed series, that’s not likely a surprise. After all, the entire thing is shot in black-and-white and leans into sinister beauty, from unsettling Caravaggio paintings and crumbling churches to grand train stations, rambling seaside villas, and prime palazzos. The locations and sets do more than work as a background to the story of a striver who befriends and brutally betrays an ex-pat shipping heir, they help express the things that the characters themselves can’t ever quite say.” The amazing thing about the script is that a lot of the storytelling is not necessarily verbal,” Gropman explains. “It's about what Tom's thinking and the mood and the details, which for a designer is an incredible roadmap to be able to follow.”

The series begins in a 20 th -century New York City, where Ripley—getting by on quick scams, living in dumps—is tracked down by a private detective working for the Greenleaf family, whose son Dickie has run off to Italy and who, they’re hoping, Tom can convince to come home. Dickie wasn’t the only one stuck in Europe, however. “The interior of Tom’s SRO was built on a stage in Rome,” Gropman explains. “The series begins in New York in 1960, and there’s so much incredible photography from that period, all of which can be transferred into what you’re putting in front of the camera. We looked at a lot of photography by Vivan Mayer, Leonard Freed, Bert Hardy, and David Seymour.” Exteriors that echo the work of those photographers were shot in Manhattan, but the interiors from Ripley ’s New York City scenes were often filmed in Rome; “we looked long and hard to find something that wasn't corrupted,” Gropman says of locating Lower East Side blocks that retained a 1960s feel, “to the point of how are we going to shoot there?”

Those weren’t the only period landmarks that needed a bit of on-screen magic. As the story expands from New York City to Atrani, Rome, Naples, Venice, and beyond, travel—and the anxiety that comes with it—become central to Ripley , and therefore so do modes of transportation. “I'm proud of all of the train stations,” Gropman tells T& C. “We did both the stations themselves as well as the platforms for Roma Termini and Napoli Centrale, which was a real challenge, as well as ferry stops in Palermo and Naples. I'm a strong believer, even though we're telling a fictional story, in being honest to things that are referred to—like the train stations, the ferry stops, the banks, and the American Express office from that period in Italy. But the train stations and the ferry stops are probably the biggest dupes.”

Roma Termini is still in use today, so shooting there was impossible. Instead, the production used Esposizione Universale Roma—a site designed to host a World’s Fair that never occurred—and a convention center there to recreate the station. To stand in for Napoli Centrale, Gropman and his team used a hospital in Rome built for tuberculosis patients, and the exterior of Naples’s existing station stood in for Venice. “For all of the train platforms, which includes those three stations as well as Sanremo, we built 300 feet of platform on a train yard in Rome where they do maintenance,” Gropman explains. “We brought in five lengths of a period train and then had alternating columns depending upon what station we were shooting—the rest is all visual effects.”

Effects would also play a part in building the Atrani homes of Tom, Dickie, and his sometimes girlfriend, Marge Sherwood. “Tom's apartment was built on stage and Marge's interior was also, Gropman says, “but Dickie's villa was actually one that Steve had spotted in Capri. It was built in 1902, and is today broken into three different spaces, so the challenge was to put them together in a way that felt like one.” Another challenge? Decorating the places so that they told the right story about the characters who call them home—especially Tom’s desire to be accepte and Dickie’s money and thoughtlessness about what it does. “The allure of Dickie to Tom is not just his great wealth, but the fact that it apparently means nothing to him,” Gropman says.

Adam Rathe is Town & Country 's Deputy Features Director, covering arts and culture and a range of other subjects. 

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The top show on Max right now isn’t the last season of Curb Your Enthusiasm , The Jinx − Part Two , or The Sympathizer . No, the most popular original series on Max this week is a new travel show from Conan O’Brien. In Conan O’Brien Must Go , the talk show host travels the world and meets up with fans he connected with on his podcast to experience their culture.

An Idiot Abroad

• Where to watch : YouTube , Prime Video , iTunes

Over a decade ago, The Office creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant sent their friend Karl Pilkington on a global excursion, and he fully hated every minute of it. It remains one of the funniest TV shows I’ve ever seen, scripted or not. Sadly, An Idiot Abroad is no longer streaming anywhere, but it’s worth the price of admission to watch Karl explore the Seven Wonders of the World, go whale watching in Alaska, and climb Mount Fuji in Japan.

Conan Without Borders

• Where to watch : Max

Conan O’Brien Must Go isn’t the comedian’s first travel TV show. If you want to see even more of Conan’s international antics, check out his series of specials from 2015-2019, Conan Without Borders . He visits a cigar factory in Cuba, takes his assistant Sona to her ancestral homeland of Armenia, and tries to expose Jordan Schlansky as a fraud in Italy.

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The Reluctant Traveler

• Where to watch : Apple TV+

• Where to watch : Prime Video , Peacock

If you enjoyed Richard Ayoade in The Mighty Boosh , The IT Crowd , or even Paddington 2 , you should give his long-running travel series Travel Man a shot. In each episode, Ayoade travels to a popular city with a celebrity guest and provides viewers with a two-day itinerary for a quick trip. Some of his guests over the year have included Noel Fielding, Rob Delaney, Paul Rudd, Rebel Wilson, Jon Hamm, and his IT Crowd co-star Chris O’Dowd.

This article talks about:

Jacob Siegal is Associate Editor at BGR, having joined the news team in 2013. He has over a decade of professional writing and editing experience, and helps to lead our technology and entertainment product launch and movie release coverage.

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This Disturbing British Miniseries Is The Top Show On Netflix Right Now

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

“Baby Reindeer” is currently the most popular show on Netflix , according to the streaming service’s public ranking system.

The new British miniseries is an adaptation of comedian Richard Gadd’s autobiographical one-man show. A dramatic thriller, the series presents a fictionalized version of his real-life experience with a stalker.

“Baby Reindeer” premiered on Netflix on April 11 and features seven episodes, each ranging from 27 to 45 minutes long.

Read on for more trending shows of the moment across streaming services including Max, Hulu, Tubi and Amazon Prime Video. And if you want to stay informed about all things streaming, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter .

“Conan O’Brien Must Go”

“Conan O’Brien Must Go” is the most popular show on Max at the moment.

Released on April 18, the new travel show follows the late-night host as he travels to Norway, Argentina, Thailand and Ireland. A spin-off of his podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” the series also features fans previously featured on the pod.

“Under The Bridge”

One of the top shows on Hulu is “Under the Bridge,” which debuted on April 17 with the release of the first two episodes. New installments will drop every Wednesday through May 29.

The crime drama is based on Rebecca Godfrey’s 2005 book “Under the Bridge: The True Story of the Murder of Reena Virk” and stars Lily Gladstone as a police officer tasked with investigating the death of a teenage girl.

“Dinner with the Parents”

The new Amazon Freevee comedy series, “Dinner with the Parents,” premiered on April 18.

A remake of a British sitcom, the show revolves around two 20-something year old brothers who go to weekly family dinners at their parents’ house and the chaos that ensues every time. Michaela Watkins, Carol Kane, Dan Bakkedahl and Jon Glaser star.

The British dark comedy “Big Mood” became available for streaming to U.S. audiences on Tubi on April 19, three weeks after its Channel 4 premiere on March 28.

“Bridgerton” and “Derry Girls” star Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West play two best friends navigating challenges after a decade of closeness.

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