The Best Sci-Fi Shows on HBO Max Right Now

Creator: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann

Cast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, Anna Torv

It feels rare these days to find a television series that is both critically acclaimed and seriously fan-loved, but The Last of Us is just that. Adapted for television by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, The Last of Us is a gritty, gripping post-apocalyptic drama inspired by the successful video game of the same name. Following a rugged outlaw on a mission, played to perfection by Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian), The Last of Us journeys through ruthless, bloodthirsty killers to escort a teenage girl, played by Bella Ramsey (Catherine Called Birdy), across what is left of the United States. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Justin Halpern, Dean Lorey, Patrick Schumacker

Cast: Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, Ron Funches, Tony Hale

Bringing to life one of the most beloved DC characters, originally created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, Harley Quinn is a raunchy animated series helmed by creators Justin Halpern, Dean Lorey, and Patrick Schumacker. Featuring the voice of Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant), Harley Quinn includes a slew of talented and well-known voice actors, including Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, Ron Funches, and Tony Hale. Forgoing the iconic dialect solidified by Tara Strong, Harley Quinn explores a refreshing self-discovery tale, leaning into the character’s misadventures, wrapped in over-the-top graphic violence and outrageously lewd yet undeniably clever humor. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Russell T. Davies

Cast: Emma Thompson, Rory Kinnear, T’Nia Miller, Russell Tovey, Jessica Hynes

Creator Russell T Davies, best known for revitalizing the Doctor Who franchise, brings his unique sensibilities and knack for emotion-driven storytelling to this six-part dystopian miniseries. Years and Years follows a small Manchester family over the course of 15 years as the economic and political landscape of the UK starts to shift in a dark direction. The story feels like a classic sci-fi novel that holds a mirror up to our lives to speculate and comment on modern society. Anyone paying attention to politics will be able to recognize the parallels and cautionary aspects of the series. Much of that is conveyed through the fantastically over-the-top performance of Emma Thompson (Love Actually) as a charismatic Trump-style demagogue who threatens democracy itself.

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci

Cast: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Jasika Nicole, Lance Reddick

Fringe is a cult classic science-fiction drama starring Anna Torv (The Last of Us) and Joshua Jackson, along with John Noble (The Boys), Jasika Nicole, and the late Lance Reddick (John Wick: Chapter 4). Cleverly crafted from the minds of J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci, Fringe somehow managed to increase its fanbase with every cancellation. Set on a solid foundation of a traditional FBI agent (Torv) finding herself assigned to a unique fringe division of the Bureau, Fringe weaved through procedural storylines with serialized sci-fi phenomena, allowing both the compelling characters and devoted audience to freefall into an enigmatic puzzle of intriguingly complex mysteries. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Greg Berlanti, Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns

Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop, Ryan Potter

Titans, inspired by DC Comics’ Teen Titans, is a four-season series developed for television by Greg Berlanti (Superman and Lois), Akiva Goldsman (Star Trek: Picard), and Geoff Johns (Stargirl). Titans follows a group of superpowered teenagers attempting to unite as a team to defeat evil. Titans stars Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson, a vigilante and former partner of Batman, Anna Diop as extraterrestrial Kory Anders, Teagan Croft as an empath named Rachel Roth, and Ryan Potter as shapeshifter Gar Logan. Titans seamlessly blends a tenacious superhero story with a coming-of-age drama, growing both in its number of teammates and the evolution of its story. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Russell T. Davies

Cast: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori, Kai Owen

Spun off from Doctor Who, Torchwood leans a little older in theme and maturity, following the individuals tasked with protecting modern-day England from alien threats. Leading the team is immortal flirt from the 51st century Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), allowing Torchwood to explore the fan-favorite character’s sexual fluidity within the context of a science-fiction adventure series. Creator Russell T. Davies builds the show on witty banter and exciting action through two seasons of mostly monster-of-the-week episodes before evolving into multi-episode mini-series mysteries. While the season-long chapters subtitled Children of Earth and Miracle Day could stand alone, the character relationships forged in the first two seasons are vital to the story and should not be overlooked. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Armando Iannucci

Cast: Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Lenora Crichlow, Jessica St. Clair

A short-lived comedy series created by Armando Iannucci, Avenue 5 follows the eclectic ensemble of travelers aboard an interplanetary cruise ship. Starring Hugh Laurie as the ship’s captain and Josh Gad (Central Park) as its billionaire owner, Avenue 5 exquisitely depicts the preposterous personalities of wealthy and working-class people of a fictional luxury vessel. Launching the voyage with a devastating crisis, Avenue 5 cruises from catastrophe to catastrophe with unrestrained hilarity and satirical vigor. Overflowing with uproarious talent, the two-season sitcom features comedic gems like Zach Woods (Silicon Valley), Suzy Nakamura (Dead to Me), and Jessica St. Clair. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Robert Rodat

Cast: Noah Wyle, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight, Sarah Carter, Moon Bloodgood

Noah Wyle (Leverage: Redemption) stars in the exciting five seasons of adventure series Falling Skies, which depicts the devastating aftermath of a global alien invasion. Created by Saving Private Ryan scribe Robert Rodat, Falling Skies is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape where humanity must unite to battle a sinister alien force colonizing the planet with an unknown motivation. Co-starring Will Patton (Yellowstone), Drew Roy, and Moon Bloodgood (NCIS: Los Angeles), Falling Skies captivates audiences with a suspenseful premise and intricate themes of family, allowing the show to solidly ground the characters and relationships within an alien versus human spectacle. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Jack Thorne

Cast: James McAvoy, Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Amir Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda

Based on Philip Pullman’s novel trilogy, His Dark Materials is a whimsical adventure series that ventures through alternate realities. The show stars Dafne Keen (Logan) as Lyra, an ambitious and special young girl who finds herself unraveling a mystery across dimensions with the assistance of her Daemon, an animal companion manifestation of her soul unable to stray from her physical body. Jack Thorne’s adaptation of His Dark Materials is visually stunning as it explores new realms and broaches curious philosophical questions, providing fans of the source material another reason to pretend the failed movie version, The Golden Compass, never existed in this reality. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Ruth García, Fernando González Molina, David Oliva

Cast: Macarena García, Pau Gimeno, Cristian López

Unfortunately short-lived, Paradise is a fascinating mystery series with an eerie interdimensional foundation reminiscent of Stranger Things. Co-created by Ruth García, Fernando González Molina, and David Oliva, Paradise is a series taking place in the early 1990s about teenagers in a fictional coastal town of the Spanish Levante. Paradise watches Javi (Pau Gimeno), a determined young man, take matters into his own hands when his older sister and her two friends suddenly go missing from a nightclub. Over seven episodes, Javi and his friends discover a pathway to another world where more than just missing children are hidden away. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland

Cast: Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke

Co-created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, Rick and Morty blends crude potty humor with richly developed sci-fi tropes deeply rooted in meta-satire. Roiland voices both titular characters in the critically acclaimed animated science-fiction series: Rick Sanchez, an alcoholic, sociopathic scientist, and his whiney but kind-hearted grandson, Morty Smith. Geared towards adults, Rick and Morty is a vulgar comedy with stories of interdimensional travel, aliens, creatures, and planets. Rick and Morty also stars Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, and Sarah Chalke, and although it feels like it intentionally misleads audiences into thinking each episode is a standalone, the layers of jokes are even more enjoyable when watched as a binge. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: James Gunn

Cast: John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee

Peacemaker is a hilarious action series following the events of the 2021 film The Suicide Squad. Created by director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3), begging John Cena (Blockers) to reprise his role, Peacemaker follows as the vigilante is forced to join a black ops squad on a mysterious mission to save humanity. Supported by an incredible ensemble cast, including Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black), Jennifer Holland, and Steve Agee, Peacemaker uniquely unites jovial entertainment with ridiculous action and exaggerated scenarios to produce an excitingly engaging eight-episode first season. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Damon Lindelof

Cast: Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tom Mison, Jeremy Irons, Jean Smart

Watchmen is a compelling mini-series from Damon Lindelof starring Regina King (The Harder They Fall) as a Tulsa police detective. Watchmen takes place 34 years after the events of the comic series on which the drama is based in a reality where masked superheroes and vigilantes are no longer heroes and instead considered outlaws. With a story involving themes of race, systemic oppression, and American history, Watchmen delicately weaves a groundbreaking and flashy action-packed sci-fi series with rich messages. It also features marvelous performances from King, as well as her co-stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman), Jean Smart (Legion), and Jeremy Irons (House of Gucci). – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Patrick Somerville

Cast: Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Matilda Lawler, Lori Petty, David Wilmot

Emily St. John Mandel’s novel provides the groundwork for Station Eleven, a post-apocalyptic dystopian miniseries from Patrick Somerville. Taking place across two decades, Station Eleven peels back the story of a disastrous pandemic that collapses civilization, focusing on groups of survivors, including a troupe of traveling performers and a dangerous cult leader. With stellar performances from stars Mackenzie Davis (Terminator: Dark Fate), Himesh Patel, Lori Petty (Orange is the New Black), and David Wilmot over the course of 10 episodes, Station Eleven explores humanity’s attempts to rebuild and reimagine, attempting to forgive and forge ahead to avoid a reality in which mistakes are repeated. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Jeremy Carver

Cast: Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Matt Bomer, Brendan Fraser, Joivan Wade

One of the most delightfully absurd comic book adaptations, Doom Patrol whimsically examines the madcap adventures of a team of superpowered outcasts. Highlighted by an ensemble of powerhouses, including Oscar winner Brendan Fraser, April Bowlby, Matt Bomer, and Joivan Wade — along with a seemingly endless supply of personalities played by Diane Guerrero — Doom Patrol truly stands out in the superhero genre. Developed for television by Jeremy Carver, Doom Patrol, at times, feels like the writing team picked random words out of a hat yet somehow molded them into engaging mysteries, mythologies, and even moving moments. Doom Patrol is an underrated series about a found family on a wild ride. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Charlie Grandy

Cast: Mindy Kaling, Glenn Howerton, Sam Richardson, Constance Wu

Created by Charlie Grandy, who developed the animated project with star Mindy Kaling (The Morning Show), Velma is a reimagining of the classic Scooby-Doo character in a modern and multicultural world. Attempting to impress an older-skewing audience, Velma embraces the humor style of Harley Quinn — unfortunately, without as successfully balancing the raunchiness with deeply layered interpersonal relationships. Velma provides an interesting perspective to grow her new origin story, along with the iconic mystery gang voiced by Glenn Howerton as Fred, Sam Richardson (The Afterparty) as Norville, and Constance Wu (Hustlers) voicing Daphne. In addition, Velma’s art style is also aesthetically appealing. – Yael Tygiel