
Streaming nights feel better when your picks include early space shows on netflix that balance wonder, story, and momentum. This guide keeps it human with crisp notes, fewer clichés, and reasons to press play without doom‑scrolling.
We blend live action, anime, and documentaries so marathons stay fresh and friendly. You’ll also see trails like space TV series, sci-fi series, space exploration shows, space documentaries, space anime, NASA docuseries, space opera series, and cosmic adventures to sharpen search paths.
Best space shows on netflix to start tonight
1. Lost in Space (2018–2021)
- Starring: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
- Seasons/Episodes: 3 seasons, 28 eps
- Runtime: ~45–60 min
- IMDb: ~7.3/10
A stranded family turns catastrophe into a blueprint for resilience. Action favors clear geography so rescues feel solvable. The Robot works as a moral mirror, not a shortcut. Production design looks premium without empty flash. Survival puzzles link to relationship repairs. Science beats are dramatized yet logical. Antagonists act like pressure, not cartoons. Each season finishes clean while leaving wonder. Found‑family optimism lands without syrup. Peril is tense but broadly family‑friendly. Practical effects keep immersion strong. Small payoffs hide in routine fixes. Music and color steer mood with restraint. Rewatches reveal clever setup. Pair with Alien Worlds for nonfiction contrast. Among the space shows on netflix, this one is glossy, warm, and reliable.
2. Another Life (2019–2021)
- Starring: Katee Sackhoff, Samuel Anderson
- Seasons/Episodes: 2 seasons, 20 eps
- Runtime: ~40–50 min
- IMDb: ~5.2/10
A cryptic artifact forces a high‑risk mission. The ship becomes a pressure cooker. Planet stops remix the rulebook. Pulp energy keeps the throttle open. Conflicts read messy and human. Action arrives fast for adrenaline seekers. Small wins matter because the next crisis forms. Performances anchor chaos to pride and duty. No lore wiki needed to enjoy. It wears its genre heart proudly. Camera work favors momentum. Sound design gives the craft a voice. It sits near the pulpy end of sci‑fi series. When you crave splashy danger, press play. Pair with Our Universe to recalibrate your brain. Within the space shows on netflix, this is the pedal‑down option.
3. The Silent Sea (2021)
- Starring: Bae Doona, Gong Yoo
- Seasons/Episodes: Limited series, 8 eps
- Runtime: ~45–55 min
- IMDb: ~6.8/10
A water‑starved Earth sends a team to a shuttered Moon base. Silence does the heavy lifting. Cool palettes sharpen clinical dread. Fear plays like procedure, not panic. Breadcrumb clues invite patient viewers. Flashbacks adjust motive with restraint. Violence punctuates rather than dominates. Dust and lab textures feel tactile. Choose this for contained mystery over dogfights. Night viewing amplifies tension. The pacing trusts patience. Performances keep emotion close. Negative space lets nerves breathe. Rewatches repay attention once secrets surface. Pair with Voltron for a tonal reset. As one of the space shows on netflix, it’s compact, eerie, and precise.
4. Away (2020)
- Starring: Hilary Swank, Josh Charles
- Seasons/Episodes: 1 season, 10 eps
- Runtime: ~45–60 min
- IMDb: ~6.6/10
A Mars mission tests leadership the slow way. Crises grade teamwork and trust. Ground control mirrors the ship’s stress. Small tasks get respectful screen time. Family threads tether big stakes. Visuals prize credible movement. Patriotism collides with sacrifice quietly. The crew feels like colleagues you worry about. Courage stays quiet rather than quippy. Pacing invites one‑more‑ep binges. Soundscapes hum with machinery. Staging keeps you oriented in cramped modules. It’s a human‑first pick among space shows on netflix. Themes of distance land gently. Pair with Countdown for real‑world training context. Earnest and hardware‑aware, it rewards patient viewers.
5. Space Force (2020–2022)
- Starring: Steve Carell, John Malkovich
- Seasons/Episodes: 2 seasons, 17 eps
- Runtime: ~27–35 min
- IMDb: ~6.7/10
Office politics meet rockets with a grin. Budgets and egos bump elbows. Malkovich’s diction is a weapon. Carell mixes bluster and bruised sincerity. Jargon is seasoning, not homework. Season two tightens the ensemble. Episodes are snackable between heavy picks. Design spoofs military chic lightly. The show quietly argues for science. Great as palate‑cleansing levity. Rewatches still pop with jokes. Headline winks stay sitcom‑cozy. Among space shows on netflix, it’s a breezy reset. Pair with The Silent Sea for contrast. Comedy keeps the marathon livable. A friendly on‑ramp for science‑averse viewers.
6. 3 Body Problem (2024– )
- Starring: Jovan Adepo, Jess Hong
- Seasons/Episodes: 1+ season, 8+ eps
- Runtime: ~45–60 min
- IMDb: ~7.6/10
First‑contact anxiety ripples across decades. Physics acts like a thriller engine. VFX chase awe but keep choices human. Structure alternates sprint and stroll. Humor flickers then yields to scale. Performances make the math personal. Production suggests long history without clutter. Episodes end with new questions. Big swings feel earned. The score nudges dread, not noise. Idea‑hungry viewers will feel fed. It lives at the brainy end of sci‑fi series. As one of the space shows on netflix, it aims grand. Theorize with friends mid‑episode. Pair with Our Universe to reset scale. Spectacle with thinking time is the deal.
7. Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999, Anime)
- Voices: Kōichi Yamadera, Megumi Hayashibara
- Seasons/Episodes: 1 season, 26 eps
- Runtime: ~24–25 min
- IMDb: ~8.9/10
Space noir drifts on jazz and regret. Genres shuffle every episode. Yoko Kanno’s score co‑stars. Action trusts restraint and rhythm. Side characters blaze then vanish. Micro‑expressions outshine fireworks. Melancholy shares a cigarette with humor. The finale still stings. Binge or savor like vinyl. Dialogue leaves interpretive room. Mood matters as much as motion. It’s a gentle gateway to anime. On the shelf of space shows on netflix, it’s timeless. Bounce to Edens Zero after heavy episodes. Night rewatches amplify the vibe. A culture touchstone that keeps giving.
8. Knights of Sidonia (2014–2015, Anime)
- Voices: Ryōta Ōsaka, Aya Suzaki
- Seasons/Episodes: 2 seasons, 24 eps
- Runtime: ~24 min
- IMDb: ~7.7/10
A generational ship creaks like a cathedral. Aliens stay unknowable, so wins feel uneasy. Mecha fights honor inertia and mass. CG suits the chill distance. Genetic policy shapes harsh culture. Growth comes from rules, not speeches. Horror textures stay restrained. Scars become plot, not props. It’s pressure, not quips. Lighting preserves spatial logic. Music stays spare to sharpen dread. Design detail rewards slow frames. Within the space shows on netflix, it’s stark and strange. Follow with Voltron for color and hope. Great for rule‑loving viewers. It lingers like a cold star.
Discovery Pivot: more space shows on netflix to expand your queue

9. Edens Zero (2021– )
- Voices: Takuma Terashima, Mikako Komatsu
- Seasons/Episodes: 2+ seasons, 50+ eps
- Runtime: ~24 min
- IMDb: ~7.1/10
Friendship fuels warp‑speed quests. Planets play like toy boxes. Fights stay readable and playful. Villains earn rounded backstories. Running gags return like comets. Bright cues refresh tired brains. Plot rarely idles at red lights. Newcomers feel welcome fast. Loyalty and growth anchor themes. Arcs end on upbeat notes. Color design screams Saturday morning. It’s wholesome without blandness. In space anime and space shows on netflix, it’s breezy. Pair with Lost in Space for all‑ages fun. Serotonin follows tense thrillers nicely. A gateway pick for families.
10. Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016–2018)
- Voices: Jeremy Shada, Bex Taylor‑Klaus
- Seasons/Episodes: 8 seasons, 78 eps
- Runtime: ~23–24 min
- IMDb: ~8.1/10
Five pilots learn teamwork the hard way. Episodic fun feeds serialized payoffs. Staging respects timing and jokes. Antagonists evolve without fuzziness. Banter builds found‑family warmth. Later seasons still keep the promise. Speed and legibility coexist. The finale feels earned. Kids and adults find layers. Arcs reward attention, not homework. It’s a staple of space exploration shows. Start here for bright heroics. Among space shows on netflix, it’s dependable. Pair with The Orbital Children for a smart echo. Great for sleepovers and weekends. Hopeful tone stabilizes a queue.
11. Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (2020–2021)
- Voices: Jake Foushee, Jason Marnocha
- Structure: Three parts, 18 eps
- Runtime: ~22–24 min
- IMDb: ~6.8/10
Civil war drains a planet dry. Mass and scale feel believable. Lore nods reward fans yet welcome new viewers. Dialogue goes darker than toy memory. Battles bruise instead of sparkle. Political choices ripple forward. Quiet beats breathe between blasts. Final chapters pay off early seeds. Clank and weight dominate sound. Motives bend under scarcity. It slots into sci‑fi series and space opera series. Myth arrives without homework. In space shows on netflix, it brings steel and spark. Pair with Challenger for sobering nonfiction. Strategy fans will feel seen. Tight, purposeful, respectful of time.
12. Love, Death & Robots (2019–2022)
- Format: Animated anthology
- Volumes/Episodes: 3 volumes, 35+ shorts
- Runtime: ~7–20 min
- IMDb: ~8.4/10
Styles swing from slapstick to existential. Several shorts test vacuum survival. Endings refuse tidy bows. Tiny time, huge aftertaste. Visual experiments keep eyes guessing. Scripts waste no lines. Curate a theme night easily. It lures sci‑fi skeptics gently. Rewatches reveal hidden beats. Tone swings cleanse palates. It fits sci‑fi series and cosmic adventures. Among space shows on netflix, it’s a tasting menu. Drop to The Signal after for focus. Great on busy nights. Variety guarantees hits for someone.
13. Alien Worlds (2020)
- Narration: Sophie Okonedo
- Type: Docuseries
- Runtime: ~38–41 min
- IMDb: ~6.8/10
Speculative biology meets real science. CGI builds rule‑bound creatures. Earth comparisons give grip. Experts frame wonder, not scold. Each episode holds one planet’s rules. It’s playful yet rigorous. Clarity beats sizzle for learning. Wonder is treated seriously. Teachers can lift segments. You will pause to Google terms. It lives in space documentaries. Within space shows on netflix, it’s vivid and educational. Pair with Edens Zero for mood balance. Calm Sunday viewing fits well. Narration stays warm and steady.
14. Our Universe (2022)
- Narration: Morgan Freeman
- Type: Docuseries
- Runtime: ~41–45 min
- IMDb: ~7.6/10
Grand scale meets daily life. Narration guides without condescension. Metaphors make light‑years graspable. Sound design lifts abstract ideas. Episodes center big themes. Color grading soothes the eye. It calms and teaches together. Trivia lingers days later. Parents won’t be bored. Structure grows insight gently. It’s a keystone of space documentaries. Within space shows on netflix, it’s a clear breather. Pair with Away to move from ideas to cockpits. Good on weeknights. Production values impress throughout.
15. Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (2021)
- Featuring: Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux
- Type: Docuseries
- Runtime: ~40–45 min
- IMDb: ~7.4/10
Four civilians learn flight the hard way. Training centers people, not gear. Families carry emotional delta‑v. Launch editing feels fresh again. Medical hurdles get plain talk. Timelines resist fake suspense. Backstories earn inspiration. Post‑landing scenes stay human. Mood lifts without sugarcoating risk. Access balances intimacy and respect. It sits inside NASA docuseries. Among space shows on netflix, it feels close to the metal. Pair with Space Force to decompress. Students will find pathways to research. A tight weekend watch with heart.
16. Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)
- Directors: Steven Leckart, Daniel Junge
- Type: Limited docuseries
- Runtime: ~40–45 min
- IMDb: ~7.8/10
A national wound is revisited with care. Insiders speak plainly. Archives deliver the gut punch. Editing balances empathy and accountability. Structure shows how choices stack. The crew is honored as people. It’s heavy but vital. Lessons echo beyond spaceflight. Interviews chart institutional drift. Visual pacing avoids exploitation. It anchors NASA docuseries with rigor. Within space shows on netflix, it is essential context. Pair with Our Universe for gentler scale. Leadership teams should watch this. Clear, respectful, and necessary.
17. Nightflyers (2018)
- Starring: Eoin Macken, Jodie Turner‑Smith
- Seasons/Episodes: 1 season, 10 eps
- Runtime: ~42–46 min
- IMDb: ~5.9/10
A research ship becomes a maze. Cold lighting sharpens paranoia. Tech blurs into menace. Relationships fray logically. Questions grow cosmic and eerie. Violence stays punctuative. Haunted‑house grammar fits the runtime. Mood outruns mythology. Panic stays controlled on screen. Production builds sterile dread. It sits at the horror edge of sci‑fi series. Pair with Voltron to calm nerves. Sound makes the ship feel alive. A neat bleak weekend binge. Endings ache rather than fake. A niche curio with devoted fans.
18. The 100 (2014–2020)
- Starring: Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley
- Seasons/Episodes: 7 seasons, 100 eps
- Runtime: ~41–43 min
- IMDb: ~7.6/10
Teens return to a dangerous Earth. Ethics pile up faster than food. Alliances shift with new cultures. Action keeps the field readable. Seasons widen mythology thoughtfully. Leads change in hard ways. Patience gets rewarded. The show bridges orbit and soil. Dialogue wrestles with cost. Villains become perspectives. It belongs to sci‑fi series with grit. Among space shows on netflix, it links station to ground. Pair with Salvation for a countdown echo. Group viewings spark debates. Rewatches reveal early seeds. Politics and survival share the wheel.
Final-Stretch Lift: space shows on netflix that keep the marathon rolling

19. The Signal (2024)
- Starring: Peri Baumeister, Florian David Fitz
- Type: Limited series
- Runtime: ~43–45 min
- IMDb: ~6.4/10
A missing astronaut sparks a family mystery. Timelines toggle cleanly. Spaceflight feels procedural, not glossy. Hope and doubt share the frame. Twists arrive with earned logic. Four parts invite single‑night binges. Final reveals reframe clues. The reveal drives most discussion. Camera language keeps memory straight. Music stays restrained. It’s a compact outlier within space shows on netflix. Pair with Love, Death & Robots for dessert. Mystery first, space second. Guess early and compare notes. Pacing wastes no minutes. Human‑scaled, tidy, satisfying.
20. Exception (2022, Anime)
- Voices: Takahiro Sakurai, Atsumi Tanezaki
- Seasons/Episodes: 1 season, 8 eps
- Runtime: ~24–26 min
- IMDb: ~5.7/10
Bioprinted bodies face identity knots. Lighting carves dread from silence. Creature design favors tactile wrongness. Dialogue asks hard questions simply. Few rooms feel truly safe. The score whispers unease. Morality refuses tidy borders. The last chapter lingers cold. Claustrophobia replaces heroics. Visual motifs invite theories. A niche but memorable space shows on netflix entry. Pair with MST3K to laugh after. Pick it for unease over spectacle. The style grows by episode three. One‑sitting possible on a weeknight. Short, sharp, and thoughtful.
21. Make My Day (2023, Anime)
- Voices: Masaomi Yamahashi, Ayahi Takagaki
- Seasons/Episodes: 1 season, 8 eps
- Runtime: ~24–27 min
- IMDb: ~5.6/10
A prison planet hides a predator. Tools look useful, not sleek. Civilians learn teamwork painfully. Rumors grow into swarms. Cold beauty masks danger. Geography stays legible in chases. The body count matters. Hope is rationed carefully. Sound favors breath and ice crackle. Exhaustion becomes a virtue. It sits between space anime and space shows on netflix. Pair with Edens Zero for warmth. Fans of mining‑colony grit will smile grimly. Design favors ugly‑useful choices. A bruised survival tale. Efficient and focused storytelling.
22. Salvation (2017–2018)
- Starring: Santiago Cabrera, Jennifer Finnigan
- Seasons/Episodes: 2 seasons, 26 eps
- Runtime: ~41–43 min
- IMDb: ~6.9/10
An asteroid clock starts ticking. Jargon turns into urgency fast. Conspiracy threads twist cleanly. Egos complicate every plan. It moves like a summer paperback. Romance spices the stakes. Season breaks land on earned cliffs. You will guess wrong twice. Momentum leads yet ethics appear. Casting covers budget seams. A popcorn slot in sci‑fi series. Among space shows on netflix, it’s the countdown pick. Pair with Challenger for caution context. Whiteboard fans will enjoy it. Light companion to heavier hard‑sci‑fi. Satisfying even half‑watched.
23. The Orbital Children (2022, Anime)
- Voices: Natsumi Fujiwara, Azumi Waki
- Seasons/Episodes: 1 season (2 parts), 6 eps
- Runtime: ~35–40 min
- IMDb: ~7.0/10
Kids raised by AI learn judgment. A tourism station cascades into peril. Visuals stay elegant and dense. Action feels like solvable puzzles. Friendship becomes governance. Humor breathes between reveals. Tech is tactile and curious. Optimism is earned honestly. Smart storytelling respects younger viewers. Adults get chewy subtext. A standout in space anime. Among space shows on netflix, it’s nimble and wise. Pair with Voltron to keep youthful momentum. Great for family nights. Editing balances clarity and tension. Short, resonant, rewatchable.
24. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return (2017–2018)
- Starring: Jonah Ray, Felicia Day, Patton Oswalt
- Seasons/Episodes: 2 seasons, 20 eps
- Runtime: ~65–85 min
- IMDb: ~8.0/10
Goofball riffs turn orbit into movie night. Long episodes suit weekends. Puppet chemistry is the point. Jokes arrive at every speed. Nostalgia hums yet feels modern. Continuity is a vibe. Snacks recommended for louder laughs. Best with friends who riff back. A warm buffer between darker binges. Guests add spice without derailments. It rides the comedy edge of space shows on netflix. Pair with Nightflyers to swing tones. Reset the queue whenever it gets grim. Great for lazy afternoons. Converts newcomers easily. Space can be silly on purpose.
25. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron‑Blooded Orphans (2015–2017, Anime)
- Voices: Kengo Kawanishi, Yoshimasa Hosoya
- Seasons/Episodes: 2 seasons, 50 eps
- Runtime: ~24–25 min
- IMDb: ~7.9/10
Child soldiers seize agency carefully. Politics slice through labor and contracts. Mecha fights feel heavy and costly. Loss reshapes every goal. The score blends steel and sorrow. Quiet scenes carry weight. Systems act as villains. The ending hurts and heals. Mechanical detail dazzles nerds. Winning gets questioned often. It anchors space opera series. Among space shows on netflix, it’s tough and thoughtful. Pair with The Orbital Children for relief. Best with lights low and volume up. Great for post‑episode talks. Tears are earned, not demanded.
26. Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 (2016, Anime)
- Voices: Kōki Uchiyama, Ayame Misaki
- Seasons/Episodes: 1 season, 22 eps
- Runtime: ~24–25 min
- IMDb: ~7.3/10
A dangerous prototype meets politics. Battles feel orchestral and clear. Lore is dense but mapped. Characters fight inheritance and enemies. Visual polish feels feature‑grade. Music turns reveals into Moments. Honor and duty anchor dialogue. Final turns reward patience. Operatic tone stays steady. Scale jumps from cockpit to parliament. It’s a pillar of space opera series. Inside space shows on netflix, it’s expansive. Pair with Iron‑Blooded Orphans for a tour. Fans of intrigue will smile. Fleet action respects spatial logic. A strong capstone for a weekend.
Conclusion: smarter ways to follow space shows on netflix
Build mini‑programs: “Lunar Night” (The Silent Sea + Our Universe), “Found‑Family Flight” (Lost in Space + Edens Zero), and “Docu‑Double” (Countdown + Challenger). Rotate a space anime with a live‑action thriller, and keep a docuseries handy to reset pace across these space shows on netflix.
For trusted discovery beyond the app, see Rotten Tomatoes’ curated hub best Netflix shows and movies and The New York Times’ TV & streaming section. Both refresh recommendations tied to space TV series, space documentaries, and sci‑fi series with steady editorial oversight.
Frequently Asked Questions about space shows on netflix
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