The world is full of crazy science-related conspiracies. Some believe the moon landing was faked, and that Stanley Kubrick filmed it all in a studio. Others argue that vaccines are used to put microchips in humans, so that shadowy organizations can monitor everyone. Others say that a cure for cancer exists, but it’s being suppressed by Big Pharma to protect the profits that stem from the disease’s lengthy care process. Well, all these theories are bizarre. But if you want a great conspiracy, watch television.
The small screen is packed with a good number of sci-fi conspiracy shows that imagine nefarious groups of people plotting and holding major secrets that have huge global implications. Most of the stories we see aren’t plausible in the real world, but watching them play out on the screen is extremely entertaining. Sci-fi conspiracy shows not only highlight the dark side of human (or alien) nature, but also salute the power of fictional storytelling.
Here are 10 great sci-fi conspiracy shows that will hook you right away and won’t let go.
‘Dark Skies’ (1996 – 1997)
Dark Skies follows John Loengard (Eric Close), a congressional aide in the 1960s who discovers that the government is hiding evidence of an alien invasion. A parasitic race of tiny, multilegged, spider-like creatures that invade the brain is now close to taking over the world. Following the discovery, he and his fiancée, Kimberly Sayers (Megan Ward), are pursued by Majestic-12, a secret organization keen on ensuring the matter remains a secret.
They Live… Among Us
A spellbinding central performance by Close anchors this twist-packed tale of the decline of human dominance. Marvelously shot, with lush lighting, eerie sounds, and colorful sets, this show gets all the technical aspects right, with the camera moving fluidly among all suspicious individuals. Commissioned by NBC as a competitor to The X-Files, Dark Skies gets terrifying at times, but it rewards viewers who have strong hearts. You’ll also love the intro tune by Michael Hoenig, which was nominated for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music at the Emmys.
’12 Monkeys’ (2015 – 2018)
Loosely based on the 1995 movie of the same name, 12 Monkeys features actors Aaron Stanford and Amanda Schull as James Cole and Dr. Cassandra “Cassie” Railly. Cole, a scavenger, heads back in time from the year 2043 to stop a deadly plague that killed most humans. Aided by Cassie, a virologist, he does some digging and connects some of the events to the mysterious organization known as the “Army of the 12 Monkeys,” which aims to destroy the very fabric of time.
Better Than the Movie
The show expands on the themes, twists, and heated melodrama found in the original film as well as the 1962 featurette La Jetée, from which the idea was born. Regarding time travel, 12 Monkeys does better than most shows of its kind. The plotlines loop back and forth effortlessly, and no strand is left hanging. The Army of the 12 Monkeys is also a strong, villainous body, with influence that spans decades and members that aren’t easy to get to.
‘The Expanse’ (2015 – 2022)
In the made-up reality of The Expanse, humans have colonized a huge part of the universe, and the three largest powers are now the United Nations of Earth, the Martian Congressional Republic on Mars, and the Outer Planets Alliance (OPA), all locked in political tension. The tension rises even further when it’s discovered that Protogen, a powerful organization, has been experimenting on humans to weaponize an alien organism.
Keeping the Space Opera Torch Burning
This fascinating adaptation of the series of novels of the same name by James S. A. Corey explores the unique bond and conflict that can develop between humans and aliens with intelligence (mostly hard science) and sensitivity. It also highlights the effects of having too much power. Avoiding science fiction clichés and maudlin excess, The Expanse still manages to entertain via well-choreographed (and CGI-boosted) battle sequences, and wild turns. Fans will forever be grateful to Amazon for giving it a second chance. When SyFy canceled it after three seasons, Amazon picked it up and made three more chapters.
‘Orphan Black’ (2013 – 2017)
Orphan Black is about Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany), a drifter who witnesses her lookalike committing suicide and realizes she’s one of many genetically identical clones created by the Dyad Institute. Teaming up with her fellow clones —soccer mom Alison, scientist Cosima, and contract killer Helena — Sarah works hard to find out how deep the conspiracy goes and what the endgame truly is.
Lookalikes Everywhere
Few shows have a bigger fanbase than the #CloneClub. Who wouldn’t love a show this good, with exceptional photography that stands out as much as the protagonist? Marvel Studios might have given Tatiana Maslany a raw deal, but she gets all the time to shine here, playing close to 10 different characters. Her Emmy snub caused wide outrage, but she received many other accolades (a total of 23). Most importantly, Orphan Black raises serious issues about the ethical implications of scientific experiments, especially human cloning and its effect on autonomy and identity.
‘Person of Interest’ (2011 – 2016)
For reclusive tech billionaire, Harold Finch (Michael Emerson), the idea of create an advanced AI surveillance system for the U.S. government to predict terrorist acts and ordinary crimes starts out as fun, but turns nightmarish. A covert government unit called Northern Lights takes over the system’s operations and not only ignores ordinary crimes but also uses it for assassinations. Finch thus recruits ex–CIA operative John Reese (Jim Caviezel) to intervene. How successful will they be in Person of Interest?
Sentience and Misuse are Real Threats
Filmed, occasionally, in grainy footage to simulate tech malfunctions and surveillance videos, Person of Interest manages to create anxiety, dread and atmospheric tension on a ridiculously modest budget. Initially, what makes the show so unsettling is its plots, which almost feel authentic, considering how quickly A.I. is advancing. And sci-fi fans need not be worried after watching the first few episodes. The fast-paced gem starts as the crime-fighting kind but morphs into a proper science affair later on. Undoubtedly one of the quintessential shows about A.I.
‘Fringe’ (2008 – 2013)
Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), a scientist; Walter Bishop (John Noble); and Walter’s ne’er-do-well son, Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), are members of the FBI’s Fringe Division in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, investigating strange (mostly multiversal) occurrences in the universe. We learn that governments and powerful corporations (mostly a biotech company known as Massive Dynamic) are working together to exploit fringe science. What are the Fringe protagonists gonna do about it?
The Multiverse, Examined Using Hard Science
Fringe starts in a tame fashion, but when the three protagonists, all convincingly played, begin to find strange occurrences and the answers, your skin slowly starts to crawl. Heavier in theory than any standard conspiracy series, it is the ultimate in faux-reality tension, capped by massive cliffhangers. When it premiered, the show was seen as a blatant attempt to copy The X-Files, but it soon carved its own path. Over the years, it spawned 1 12-part comic book series, an alternate reality game, and three books.
‘Severance’ (2022 – Present)
A group of employees at the biotechnology company, Lumon Industries, find out that their corporation performs “severance,” a procedure that splits a person’s work and home memories to enable them to be more productive. The “innie” does not know the outside world, and the “outie” doesn’t know anything about their job. Sounds like a good idea on paper, but plenty of malice plays out in Severance.
Great Work-Life Balance? Not Quite
A piercing study of the divide between employers and employees, Severance goes to places no other TV show has ever dared. It’s 41 Emmy nominations so far are proof of quality, and so is the ever-expanding fanbase. Beautifully shot, the corridor scenes never stop being highlights, and the star-studded cast that includes Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette does extremely well. Apple TV really hit the jackpot with this. And who knew Ben Stiller could direct a sci-fi show so brilliantly?
‘Lost’ (2004 – 2010)
At first, Lost seems like just another castaway tale, but there is more. The main characters are survivors of a fictional Oceanic Airlines flight from Sydney to Los Angeles that crashed on a South Pacific island. As the characters figure out ways to survive, it emerges that the Dharma Initiative has been conducting secret experiments on the island in an effort to harness its unique, universe-defining properties.
An Overabundance of Twists
This smoldering sci-fi drama was a huge ratings success in the 2000s and still packs some heat now. All the main cast members are incredible, and a luminescent star quality also shines through the supporting crew. It took the combined efforts of Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof to come up with this magic, and we cannot thank them enough for their abracadabra. You can never really tell what’s going to happen, and numerous fan theories exist to this day.
‘The X-Files’ (1993 – 2018)
The X-Files dwells on the thorough investigative efforts of FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who focus on the “X-Files”: unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder, a skilled and experienced criminal profiler, strongly believes in conspiracy theories and supernatural activity, while Scully is a skeptic, fully trusts science.
Best ’90s TV Duo
Writer and producer Chris Carter gifted the world with this detailed, tightly scripted sci-fi thriller filled with classic hard-boiled dialogue, and was rewarded with numerous accolades. Duchovny and Anderson remain on top throughout the series, and the storytelling quality never fades. No other show has better mythopoeia-driven plots than The X-Files, a ‘90s gem credited with shaping modern sci-fi television and making conspiracies cool again. It was also somewhat of a training ground for major writing talents, including Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan,
‘Stranger Things’ (2016 – 2025)
Set in the 1980s, Stranger Things combines science and horror while examining the activities of Hawkins, Indiana, residents as they deal with a strange alternate dimension named the Upside Down. The chaos begins when a group of people gets word about experiments similar to those of Project MKUltra and a facility that can crack open a path from Earth to the Upside Down.
A Euphoric Retro Feel
Above all things, Stranger Things wows with its cinematography. It’s beautifully shot, creating a perfect ‘80s retro feel. Beyond that, the chemistry of the young actors is electric, each of them channeling a unique mystique. The brave, the cowardly, the indecisive…this critically acclaimed series has it all! So far, the actors have received 39 awards collectively. When someone talks about a well-acted show, this is what they mean.
