13 Sci-Fi Shows on HBO Max That Are Absolutely Worth Your Time

13 Sci-Fi Shows on HBO Max That Are Absolutely Worth Your Time

HBO Max has become a treasure trove for science fiction fans, offering everything from mind-bending mysteries to epic space adventures.

Whether you’re into animated comedies that explore the multiverse or gritty post-apocalyptic dramas, there’s something here for every kind of sci-fi enthusiast.

These shows push boundaries, challenge expectations, and deliver unforgettable stories that stick with you long after the credits roll.

Get ready to discover your next binge-worthy obsession.

1. Scavengers Reign (2023)

Imagine crash-landing on a planet where every plant, every creature, and every landscape seems designed to kill you in the most beautiful way possible.

That’s exactly what happens to the survivors of the Demeter 227, who find themselves stranded on Vesta, a world that’s both breathtaking and terrifying.

The animation style alone sets this show apart—it’s like watching a living painting where nature itself becomes a character.

Each episode reveals new layers of this alien ecosystem, showing how humans must adapt or perish.

What makes this series special is how it balances stunning visuals with genuine emotional depth, exploring themes of survival, isolation, and humanity’s place in the universe.

2. His Dark Materials (2019–2022)

Ever wondered what it would be like if your soul walked beside you as an animal companion?

In Lyra’s world, that’s just normal life.

But nothing stays normal when she discovers a mysterious substance called Dust that connects multiple universes.

Based on Philip Pullman’s beloved novels, this series transforms complex ideas about consciousness, religion, and free will into an accessible adventure.

The production quality rivals major fantasy films, with armored polar bears that feel genuinely intimidating and parallel worlds that each have their own distinct flavor.

Watching Lyra grow from a reckless orphan into someone who challenges cosmic authority itself is both thrilling and deeply moving.

3. Watchmen (2019)

What if superheroes existed, but instead of saving the world, they made everything more complicated?

This isn’t your typical cape-and-tights story—it’s a bold reimagining that uses the original graphic novel as a launching pad for something entirely new.

Set in an alternate 2019 Tulsa, the show tackles heavy topics like racial trauma and inherited violence while still delivering shocking plot twists and spectacular action sequences.

Regina King’s performance as Sister Night anchors the series with fierce determination and vulnerability.

The show trusts its audience to keep up with nonlinear storytelling and deep mythology, rewarding careful viewers with revelations that recontextualize everything they’ve seen.

4. The Last of Us (2023– )

Twenty years after a fungal pandemic turns most of humanity into monsters, Joel has perfected the art of not caring about anyone.

Then he meets Ellie, a fourteen-year-old girl who might be immune to the infection, and everything changes.

This adaptation proves that video game stories can translate brilliantly to television when handled with care and respect.

The fungal infected aren’t just mindless zombies—they’re tragic reminders of the people they used to be, making every encounter feel meaningful.

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s chemistry elevates what could have been another zombie show into something profoundly human, exploring how love persists even when the world has ended.

5. Station Eleven (2021)

A flu pandemic wipes out most of humanity in days, but this isn’t about the collapse—it’s about what comes after.

Twenty years later, a traveling theater troupe performs Shakespeare for scattered survivors, proving that art matters even when civilization doesn’t.

The show jumps between timelines with grace, showing how a single night connects dozens of lives across decades.

It’s hauntingly relevant given recent world events, yet it never feels exploitative or preachy.

Instead of focusing on violence and despair, Station Eleven asks what’s worth preserving when everything falls apart.

The answer—human connection, creativity, and beauty—feels earned rather than sentimental.

6. Rick and Morty (2013– )

Rick Sanchez is the smartest man in the universe, which means he knows nothing matters and everything’s pointless.

So naturally, he drags his anxious grandson Morty on increasingly absurd adventures across infinite dimensions.

Don’t let the crude humor fool you—this show sneaks profound existential questions into episodes about pickle transformations and interdimensional cable.

The multiverse concept means literally anything can happen, from sentient fart clouds to entire civilizations living inside a car battery.

Behind the chaos and violence lies genuine character development, as the family grapples with what it means to love someone who’s too smart to care about consequences.

7. Dune: Prophecy (2024– )

Long before Paul Atreides walked the sands of Arrakis, the Bene Gesserit sisterhood was already pulling strings behind every throne in the universe.

This series explores how these powerful women shaped galactic history through manipulation, breeding programs, and secrets.

Set ten thousand years before the events of Dune, the show reveals the origins of the mysterious order and their long-game political machinations.

The production design captures Frank Herbert’s vision of a future where technology is forbidden and human potential is everything.

Fans of the recent films will appreciate seeing this universe expanded, while newcomers get a fresh entry point into one of sci-fi’s richest worlds.

8. Titans (2018–2023)

Robin’s first words in this series? An expletive followed by “Batman.”

That sets the tone perfectly—this isn’t the kid-friendly Teen Titans you might remember from cartoons.

Dick Grayson tries to escape Batman’s shadow by forming a new team of young heroes, each dealing with their own trauma and powers.

Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven join him in battling threats both cosmic and personal, while struggling to become something better than their mentors.

The show embraces mature storytelling without being gratuitously dark, exploring how young people handle incredible power when the adults in their lives have failed them.

Character development takes priority over spectacle, though there’s plenty of action too.

9. Lovecraft Country (2020)

Atticus Freeman just wants to find his missing father, but the journey through 1950s Jim Crow America proves more terrifying than any cosmic horror.

And there are plenty of cosmic horrors too—tentacled monsters, ancient curses, and forbidden magic lurk around every corner.

The show brilliantly weaves H.P. Lovecraft’s horror elements with unflinching examination of American racism, creating something entirely unique.

Each episode tackles different genre conventions while maintaining a throughline about Black Americans fighting for their place in a country determined to erase them.

The cast delivers powerhouse performances, making you care deeply about characters navigating both supernatural threats and very real historical violence.

10. The Leftovers (2014–2017)

One ordinary day, two percent of the world’s population vanishes instantly. No explanation, no pattern, no closure.

Three years later, the remaining ninety-eight percent are still trying to figure out how to keep living.

This isn’t a mystery show about solving the Sudden Departure—it’s about how people cope when the universe refuses to provide answers.

The Garvey family and their small town community each find different ways to process grief, from joining a silent cult to desperately seeking meaning in chaos.

Carrie Coon’s performance as Nora Durst, who lost her entire family, is absolutely devastating.

The show asks profound questions about faith, loss, and whether moving on is even possible.

11. Creature Commandos (2024– )

When you need a suicide mission done and regular soldiers won’t cut it, who do you call?

A team of literal monsters, apparently.

Creature Commandos brings together Frankenstein’s monster, a werewolf, a vampire, and other inhuman operatives for black-ops missions too dangerous for normal heroes.

James Gunn’s signature blend of heart and violence translates perfectly to animation, giving these monstrous characters surprising depth beneath their grotesque exteriors.

The show explores what it means to be human when you’re anything but, while delivering spectacular action sequences that would be impossible in live-action.

It’s proof that superhero stories work best when they take risks and embrace weirdness rather than playing it safe.

12. Avenue 5 (2020–2022)

The Avenue 5 was supposed to be an eight-week luxury cruise around Saturn.

Then the ship’s gravity malfunctioned, killing the real captain and stranding hundreds of wealthy tourists in space for years instead of weeks.

Hugh Laurie plays Ryan Clark, who’s actually just an actor hired to play the captain—now he’s stuck pretending to know what he’s doing while everything falls apart.

The show skewers corporate incompetence, influencer culture, and human nature under pressure with brutal comedic precision.

Created by Armando Iannucci (Veep), the series delivers rapid-fire jokes while building increasingly absurd situations that somehow feel terrifyingly plausible.

Watching privileged passengers slowly lose their minds is darkly hilarious.

13. Fired on Mars (2023)

Jeff Cooper gets laid off from his job at a Martian colony, which would be bad enough on Earth.

But on Mars, where there’s literally nowhere else to go and the next shuttle home won’t arrive for years, unemployment becomes existential.

This animated workplace comedy explores the absurdity of corporate culture transplanted to an alien planet, where HR departments and performance reviews continue despite being forty million miles from Earth.

Jeff’s attempts to find purpose and connection in a place designed to be efficient rather than human create both comedy and genuine pathos.

The show’s deadpan humor and mundane sci-fi aesthetic make it feel like Office Space meets The Martian, with surprisingly thoughtful commentary on isolation and identity.