Need a new alien fix after ‘Invasion’? Start here
Need a new alien fix after ‘Invasion’? Start here
Aliens, survival, and human drama collide again in these four shows that capture what made ‘Invasion’ so good.
So, you’re about to wrap the Season 3 finale of “Invasion” on Apple TV (which drops on Friday, Oct. 24) and are soon going to be faced with a massive alien-sized hole in your watchlist. This series has always popped with its solid storytelling, global scale, and slow-burn suspense that puts people first, not just the aliens. And if you’re craving more sci-fi that hits that same mix of mystery, humanity, and high-stakes survival, I’ve got four other shows that you should check out next. Here’s what to watch after you finish “Invasion.”
Invasion
Earth is visited by an alien species that threatens humanity’s existence. Events unfold in real time through the eyes of five ordinary people across the globe as they struggle to make sense of the chaos unraveling around them.
Loved ‘Invasion’? Watch: ‘Alien: Earth’
If “Invasion” drew you in with its slow-burn dread and human drama, “Alien: Earth” on Hulu turns up the intensity. This series brings the iconic “Alien” movie franchise to our planet, set in the year 2120, when a mysterious deep-space research ship crash-lands on Earth. A hybrid human-synthetic named Wendy and a small team of soldiers rush to the site, only to find a terrifying new threat waiting for them… including the deadly Xenomorphs.
Like “Invasion,” it’s a story about survival and human curiosity colliding with the unknown, and there’s a layer of corporate conspiracy in the background that gives it that same grounded realism. But “Alien: Earth” is much more of a full-on sci-fi horror experience. It dives straight into the chaos with terrifying creature encounters, high-stakes combat, and a darker tone that doesn’t let up. If you loved the tension and global scope of “Invasion” but wanted a little more action and terror, this one’s your perfect follow-up.
Alien: Earth
When the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-lands on Earth, Wendy and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.
Try out: ‘3 Body Problem’
For anyone drawn to the global mystery and slow-building alien presence of “Invasion,” “3 Body Problem” expands those ideas into something even more epic. Based on Liu Cixin’s acclaimed novel, the show kicks off in 1960s China, where one scientist’s desperate decision triggers a chain of events that ripple through time. Decades later, strange phenomena start shaking the laws of physics, and a team of scientists and a detective race to uncover the truth. The deeper they dig, the clearer it becomes that humanity is facing an otherworldly threat beyond comprehension.
What makes “3 Body Problem” such a natural next watch is its balance of human emotion and intellectual depth. Like “Invasion,” it unfolds on a global scale, connecting people across continents as they confront the unexplainable. Both shows use science fiction to ask huge questions about survival, morality, and what it means to face the unknown. But where “Invasion” thrives on personal stories, “3 Body Problem” leans into grand, mind-bending ideas about science, philosophy, and the limits of human understanding. It’s bigger, brainier, and guaranteed to make you think long after you’re done streaming.
3 Body Problem
Across continents and decades, five brilliant friends make earth-shattering discoveries as the laws of science unravel and an existential threat emerges.
Watch next: ‘Falling Skies’
If you ever wondered what comes after the invasion, “Falling Skies” on HBO Max has you covered. Produced by Steven Spielberg, this post-apocalyptic series opens six months after aliens have already conquered much of the planet. Civilization has collapsed, and scattered groups of survivors form resistance cells to fight back. The story follows a history professor, played by Noah Wyle, who leads a militia known as the 2nd Massachusetts as they struggle to protect their families and reclaim what’s left of humanity.
Where “Invasion” focuses on the uncertainty of first contact, “Falling Skies” drops you into the chaos of what happens when the worst has already arrived. Both series are about ordinary people rising to impossible challenges, clinging to hope and family as everything around them falls apart. The key difference is tone: “Falling Skies” moves faster, with more battles and constant danger, while “Invasion” stays quieter and more introspective. But both find their power in human resilience and the emotional cost of survival. If you loved “Invasion” but wanted more boots-on-the-ground warfare, this is your next binge.
Falling Skies
Falling Skies opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force.
Wild card pick: ‘The Eternaut’
For something that captures the heart of “Invasion” while offering a totally different setting, check out “The Eternaut.” Adapted from an Argentine graphic novel, the series begins when a deadly toxic snowfall blankets Buenos Aires, killing millions and signaling the start of an alien invasion. A small group of survivors takes shelter and tries to navigate the frozen, deserted city, soon realizing they’re facing an invisible extraterrestrial enemy pulling the strings from the shadows.
What makes “The Eternaut” so powerful is how it mirrors the humanistic side of “Invasion.” Both shows focus on everyday people caught in extraordinary circumstances, exploring what happens when communities are forced to unite in the face of disaster. But “The Eternaut” adds a distinctive cultural twist, turning Buenos Aires into a hauntingly beautiful battleground and emphasizing the collective heroism of ordinary citizens. Now, be ready for subtitles with this one, as it’s in Spanish, but it’s worth it because of how it successfully blends sci-fi horror with a deeply human story about survival and solidarity. If “Invasion” reminded you that humanity’s greatest strength is connection, this one carries that same message, even if it’s wrapped in something much bleaker.
The Eternaut
After a devastating toxic snowfall kills millions, Juan Salvo and a group of survivors in Buenos Aires must resist an invisible threat from another world.
More to watch after finishing ‘Invasion’:
‘The Expanse’ | Prime Video
The Expanse
A thriller set two hundred years in the future following the case of a missing young woman who brings a hardened detective and a rogue ship’s captain together in a race across the solar system to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history.
‘Colony’ | Peacock
Colony
In the near future a family must make difficult decisions as they balance staying together with trying to survive. They live in Los Angeles, which has been occupied by a force of outside intruders. While some people have chosen to collaborate with the authorities and benefit from the new order, others have rebelled — and suffer the consequences.
‘Defiance’ | Peacock
Defiance
In the near future, planet Earth is permanently altered following the sudden—and tumultuous—arrival of seven unique alien races. In the boom-town of Defiance, the newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully.
‘Halo’ | Paramount+
Halo
Depicting an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, the series weaves deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future.