If you’re short on time but still want to enjoy some great science fiction, here are five TV series perfect for binge-watching in a single day. While short sci-fi stories are popular in other formats, there aren’t many TV shows that offer the same quick experience.
Science fiction stories often require a bit more development on TV than other genres. It usually takes time to introduce viewers to the unique world and concepts before focusing on the plot and characters. Some sci-fi shows, however, immediately immerse you in the action and expect you to follow along.
Maniac (2018)
10 Episodes, 26-47 Minutes
Released in 2018, Maniac is a darkly comedic psychological series that’s somewhat faded from memory despite being an original Netflix production. The show featured Emma Stone shortly after her Oscar nomination for The Favourite, and Jonah Hill during a very successful period in his career.
Considering that Patrick Somerville, who made the acclaimed series Station Eleven, and Cary Joji Fukunaga, director of the first season of True Detective, were involved, it’s surprising Maniac hasn’t become a more significant cultural phenomenon. It really should have – especially since it’s only about 6 or 7 hours long, making it easy to watch all at once.
I’m completely captivated by this new sci-fi miniseries! It centers around Annie Landsberg and Owen Milgrim – two people who, separately, decide to take a huge chance on an experimental drug trial. The promise? A complete fix for all their problems, and believe me, both of them have plenty. I’m really invested in seeing what happens to them.
“Maniac” is a truly unique show where every episode throws something new at the viewer – different locations, characters, even entire worlds. This happens because the experimental drug Annie and Owen take sends them traveling through what feel like alternate universes. The series is constantly changing its style and tone, making it ideal for watching all at once so you don’t get lost in the twists and turns.
Calls (2021)
9 Episodes, 13-21 Minutes
Calls is an unusual show that takes a little getting used to, but it’s ultimately very satisfying. This science fiction thriller is unique because it’s told entirely through phone conversations and on-screen text. It’s similar to an old-fashioned radio play – a format that was popular decades ago but isn’t often seen anymore.
Apple TV+’s Calls is inspired by a French television show and created in partnership with Canal+, the original producer. It’s a series made up of connected phone calls where different people try to figure out what’s happening as a mysterious disaster unfolds.
Though you won’t see them on screen, the film features the voices of a star-studded cast including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Aubrey Plaza, Ben Schwartz, Clancy Brown, Danny Huston, Danny Pudi, Judy Greer, Karen Gillan, Lili Collins, Nicholas Braun, Pedro Pascal, and Rosario Dawson. These well-known actors bring both depth and tension to the story.
The show’s episodes are only loosely connected, and characters rarely reappear. Each story starts with a relatable, everyday problem—like a split or unexpected pregnancy—but quickly turns strange as the people involved realize something terrible is going on around them.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
10 Episodes, 23-28 Minutes
The Netflix animated series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, inspired by the 2020 video game Cyberpunk 2077, may have actually increased interest in the game itself, which didn’t receive a strong response when it first came out. While set in the same world as the games, Edgerunners features an original and separate storyline.
This anime series, consisting of 10 episodes, is set in Night City – a dark, futuristic city – about a year or two before the events of the game. Night City is a place where powerful corporations control everything, the wealthy live in luxury, and those less fortunate struggle to survive on the streets, often through gang activity or by working for ruthless companies.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells the story of David Martinez, a student facing hardship who experiences a devastating loss. This event connects him with Lucy Kushinada, a skilled cyber hacker, and introduces him to a world of edgerunners – technologically enhanced mercenaries who operate outside the law. David quickly demonstrates an extraordinary talent within this group.
This show is fast-paced and visually stunning, maintaining its energy throughout. While the animation is gorgeous, it’s David’s transformation – from inexperienced newcomer to dedicated edgerunner – that truly captivates you. His story is a moving and heartbreaking look at how people try to escape their pain.
Bodies (2023)
8 episodes, 55-61 Minutes
Netflix’s science fiction mystery thriller, Bodies, features a large cast, with many actors playing the same characters at different points in time. This is because the show jumps between four eras: 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053. While it shares some similarities with the German series Dark, Bodies offers its own distinct storyline.
A body unexpectedly turned up on Longharvest Lane in Whitechapel, London. It was discovered that bodies had appeared in the same spot for four years running, leading to four separate investigations, each handled by a different team within the Metropolitan Police.
The show features complicated time travel with detectives leaping between timelines and stuck in loops, all trying to fix a broken world across different eras. While it’s twisty and can be confusing, the short length of each episode actually keeps you focused on the key details.
Stephen Graham delivers a truly impressive performance, and the supporting cast is equally strong. The show is cleverly structured with four parts per episode, which helps keep the complex time loop manageable. The central mystery is engaging, offering plenty of smaller questions to ponder while the main puzzle unfolds.
Mrs. Davis (2023)
8 Episodes, 48-60 Minutes
Damon Lindelof often explores the complex connection between science and religion in his work, even after his show Lost. In series like The Leftovers and Watchmen, he delves into themes of free will, personal responsibility, our obligations to others and ourselves, and how both science and religion can be divisive forces – or bring people together.
In the Peacock series Mrs. Davis, creator Damon Lindelof directly addresses our constant reliance on technology. The show centers around Mrs. Davis, an overly helpful artificial intelligence that most people listen to through headphones. As a result of following her guidance, the world has seemingly solved problems like war and hunger.
Despite the strange and miraculous events happening around them, some people still struggle to find meaning in their lives. Sister Simone (Betty Gilpin), a Catholic nun with a deeply personal connection to Jesus Christ (Andy McQueen), is one of them. In this world, encountering the divine is just as possible as facing unbelievable dangers.
This series is genuinely funny and wonderfully unique, constantly offering surprising moments. While it’s lighthearted and often silly, it also explores deeply emotional stories about love, loss, and the sacrifices people make for their loved ones. It’s a fast-paced sci-fi show that you’ll likely want to rewatch again and again.
2026-07-20 23:21