Best Sci-Fi Shows on Max 2026: 12 Essential Picks for Your Watchlist

Are you ready to escape the mundane? HBO Max—now known as Max—has cemented itself as a sanctuary for science fiction, offering everything from bleak dystopian futures to mind-bending space farces. As of January 19, 2026, these series represent the pinnacle of storytelling beyond our atmosphere.

Best Sci-Fi Shows on Max: Where High Concept Meets High Budget

Streaming has unlocked massive production values for the genre. Avenue 5, created by Armando Iannucci, proves that space travel can be as hilarious as it is terrifying, while Dune: Prophecy brings cinematic grandeur to the small screen with its look at the Bene Gesserit origins.

Top 5 Sci-Fi Shows to Watch Right Now

• No. 1: Avenue 5 (2020–2022, a 3-year voyage in space)
• No. 2: Doom Patrol (2019–2023, spanning 4 irreverent seasons)
• No. 3: Dune: Prophecy (2024–present, boasting an EW grade of B+)
• No. 4: The Last of Us (2023–present, a record-breaking adaptation)
• No. 5: The Leftovers (2014–2017, exploring a 2% global disappearance)