To celebrate ‘Murderbot,’ here are 7 sci-fi comedies to stream now
To celebrate ‘Murderbot,’ here are 7 sci-fi comedies to stream now
Whether you’re into robots, aliens, or glitchy digital afterlives, this list delivers.
Sci-fi was a staple in my house growing up. We’re talking full “Star Trek: The Next Generation” nights — the only show I was allowed to stay up to watch until 11 p.m. But I’ve always had a soft spot for comedy too, so it makes total sense that as an adult, I gravitate toward shows that mash up the two.
There’s just something awesome about a show that contemplates what’s out beyond our world (or what could be hidden in it) and still makes you laugh. And with Apple TV+ dropping their newest show, “Murderbot,” it felt like the perfect time to round up my all-time favorite sci-fi comedies. So, here are the top seven sci-fi comedy TV shows you can stream right now.
Top 7 sci-fi comedy TV shows on streaming right now:
No. 7: ‘Avenue 5’ (2020) | Max
Kicking off the list is “Avenue 5,” a darkly funny space-cruise disaster that deserved way more than two seasons. Hugh Laurie plays the captain of a luxury spaceship that veers wildly off course, leaving a ship full of clueless passengers, useless executives, and panicked crew members to spiral into chaos — slowly, hilariously, and with zero idea how to fix it.
The show’s got biting satire, corporate stupidity, and a ton of bleak laughs. It’s the kind of series where the big sci-fi concept is just the backdrop for people being very bad at handling emergencies. If you like your space stories messy, modern, and a little mean, “Avenue 5” is worth the trip — even if it ends a little too soon.
Avenue 5
40 years in the future, space captain Ryan Clark and the crew of the luxury space cruise ship Avenue 5 navigate disgruntled passengers and unexpected events after experiencing technical difficulties onboard.
No. 6: ‘The Orville’ (2017) | Hulu
Most people know Seth MacFarlane as the guy behind “Family Guy” and “Ted,” but he’s also got a surprisingly heartfelt live-action space comedy that’s basically a love letter to “Star Trek”… just with more jokes and awkward conversations. “The Orville” blends sci-fi adventure with workplace comedy in a way that’s way more charming than you’d expect.
There are alien encounters, space battles, and high-concept sci-fi episodes — but also office gossip, failed relationships, and a crew that’s just trying to keep it together. If you ever thought “Star Trek” needed more punchlines, “The Orville” delivers with just the right mix of sincerity and silliness.
The Orville
Follow the crew of the not-so-functional exploratory ship in the Earth’s interstellar fleet, 400 years in the future.
No. 5: ‘Upload’ (2020) | Prime Video
“Upload” takes the idea of digital heaven and runs with it — straight into glitchy tech, corporate greed, and a surprising amount of heart. When Nathan, a young coder, dies unexpectedly, his consciousness is uploaded to a virtual afterlife run by a shady tech company. The result? A sleek, hilarious, and oddly romantic look at what happens after the cloud.
The show’s got a sharp satirical edge — there are in-app purchases in the afterlife, ads everywhere, and customer service reps for the dead — but it never loses its emotional core. Between the murder mystery, the love triangle, and the existential jokes, “Upload” somehow manages to be clever, funny, and weirdly touching all at once.
Upload
In 2033, people who are near death can be “uploaded” into virtual reality hotels run by 6 tech firms. Cash-strapped Nora lives in Brooklyn and works customer service for the luxurious “Lakeview” digital afterlife. When L.A. party-boy/coder Nathan’s self-driving car crashes, his high-maintenance girlfriend uploads him permanently into Nora’s VR world.
No. 4: ‘The Boys’ (2019) | Prime Video
At No. 4 is “The Boys,” a show that somehow manages to be a superhero satire, a sci-fi thriller, and a brutally funny dark comedy all at once. It’s set in a world where superheroes are real — but they’re also fame-hungry, corrupt, and powered by shady science. Basically, it flips everything you know about superhero stories on its head, and then stomps on it.
Yeah, it’s violent and completely unhinged, but it’s also sharp as hell. From exploding heads to evil corporations, to that dead-eyed Homelander smile, this show never stops going for it. And underneath all the chaos, there’s some real commentary about power, politics, and what happens when tech and hero-worship get way out of control. If you’re not caught up, now’s a great time — with the final season on the horizon, it’s only getting wilder from here.
The Boys
A group of vigilantes known informally as “The Boys” set out to take down corrupt superheroes with no more than blue-collar grit and a willingness to fight dirty.
This show is NOT for kids, thanks to the profanity, gore, and sexual content. But it is an antidote for adult fans who might be a little bored with the stereotypical superhero fare. It’s funny, dramatic, exciting, and thought-provoking.
No. 3: ‘Resident Alien’ (2020) | Peacock
At No. 3 is “Resident Alien,” which plays like a modern cousin to “Mork & Mindy” — alien crash-lands on Earth, tries to blend in, chaos and misunderstandings follow. That premise never really gets old, and this version adds a murder mystery, small-town politics, and a lead performance that’s somehow both robotic and wildly expressive.
Alan Tudyk is so good as the alien posing as a human doctor — deadpan one second, deeply weird the next. He doesn’t understand emotions, social cues, or basically anything about Earth… but he’s still somehow the most lovable person in town. It’s part sci-fi, part fish-out-of-water comedy, and all kinds of fun. If you like your aliens awkward and your towns full of secrets, “Resident Alien” is an easy pick.
Resident Alien
Crash-landed alien Harry takes on the identity of a small-town Colorado doctor. Arriving with a secret mission, he starts off living a simple life…but things get a bit rocky when he’s roped into solving a local murder and realizes he needs to assimilate into his new world. As he does, he begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his mission and asking the big life questions like: “Are human beings worth saving?” and “Why do they fold their pizza before eating it?”
No. 2: ‘Murderbot’ (2025) | Apple TV+
At No. 2 is “Murderbot,” the newest entry in the sci-fi comedy canon, following an android who hacks its own system and gains free will — only to discover it mostly wants to be left alone to watch soap operas. Alexander Skarsgård plays the title role with the perfect mix of deadpan sarcasm and quiet inner turmoil, and yes, that combo absolutely works.
Based on the hit book series by Martha Wells, the show drops Murderbot into the middle of a corporate-run galaxy where it’s forced to keep pretending it’s just another obedient machine. There’s action, awkward social encounters, and a ton of dry humor packed into every scene. It’s smart, it’s weird, and it somehow makes a robot who hates feelings feel oddly relatable. Definitely one of the most original new sci-fi shows out there.
Murderbot
In a high-tech future, a rogue security robot secretly gains free will. To stay hidden, it reluctantly joins a new mission protecting scientists on a dangerous planet… even though it just wants to binge soap operas.
No. 1: ‘Futurama’ (1999) | Hulu
At No. 1 is the undisputed GOAT of sci-fi comedy shows — “Futurama.” It’s been around since 1999, it’s survived multiple cancellations and network hops, and somehow? It’s still hilarious. The latest season dropped in 2024, and the jokes still land like it’s day one. That kind of staying power doesn’t happen by accident.
Whether it’s Fry bumbling his way through the 31st century, Bender living his best morally questionable life, or the gang getting into increasingly absurd sci-fi messes, the show never runs out of ways to make future tech feel totally relatable (and totally broken). It’s sharp, stupid, heartfelt, and endlessly rewatchable. If you’ve never seen it — or haven’t checked in for a while — it’s time. “Futurama” is still the standard all other sci-fi comedies are trying to meet.
Futurama
The adventures of a late-20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J. Fry, who, after being unwittingly cryogenically frozen for one thousand years, finds employment at Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery company in the retro-futuristic 31st century.