10 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows From the ’80s That Still Resonate

Sci-fi has always been television’s wild card because it’s the one genre that’s not afraid to bend rules, defy expectations, and sneak philosophy into prime time. Long before our viewing habits were puppeted by streaming algorithms and cinematic universes, sci-fi TV shows were experimenting with themes of consciousness and alien diplomacy, often on small budgets and sheer nerve.

The 1980s were particularly a turning point for sci-fi. While mainstream TV leaned into family sitcoms and cop procedurals, sci-fi carved out its own path by swaying towards scrappy, strange, and forward-thinking stories. It was a decade where pop culture was saturated with visions of apocalypse and possibility, and sci-fi simply reflected it all. Decades later, many of the sci-fi TV shows from the 1980s still resonate thanks to their narratives and aesthetic.

So, here are 10 sci-fi series from the 1980s that are worth revisiting.

‘Terrahawks’ (1983 – 1986)

Terrahawks, despite being in the ‘80s, presents a charming retro-futuristic vision of the year 2020, and follows a quirky but capable task force led by Dr. Tiger Ninestein, aka the Earth’s last line of defense against alien threats. Their main enemy is a grotesque android queen known as Zelda, who arrives with her monstrous brook from the planet Guk to conquer Earth.

Puppets and Paranoia

Terrahawks is the brain child of Gerry Anderson and Christopher Burr, and revisiting the show is like opening a time capsule of British sci-fi puppetry. Balancing slapstick humor with a surprisingly dark tone, it leans into surrealism, artificial intelligence, and interplanetary warfare, giving its android villains and heroes that feel oddly grounded despite their plastic faces. The series didn’t reach Thunderbirds level of fame, but it ran for four seasons and has cult status.

‘ALF’ (1986 – 1990)

When Gordon Shumway crash-lands into the suburban garage of the Tanner family, life in their quiet California home takes a wild turn. Nicknamed ALF (Alien Life Form), the furry and sarcastic alien from planet Melmac becomes a nuisance and a beloved member of the family, as ALF tries to adapt to Earth and hide from the government, we’re treated with snarky one-liners and heartfelt meddling.

About Family, Loss, and Co-Existing

ALF has a clever sci-fi premise that finds an alien refugee navigating domestic life, cultural misunderstandings, and the loneliness of living in exile. The emotional beats where ALF longs for his lost home add depth. But otherwise, this genre-blending sitcom thrives on comedy. The writing is sharp and the pacing is tight. Max Wright and Anne Schedeen are the Tanner parents, and ALF himself, voiced by Paul Fusco, became a pop culture icon, spawning merchandise, animated spin-offs, and even a TV movie.

‘Voyagers!’ (1982 – 1983)

Time Travel gets a twist in Voyagers!, a short-lived but beloved series that pairs a time cop with a history nerd. Phineas Bogg, a member of the secretive Voyagers society, travels through time using a handheld device called the Omni. His job is to keep history on track, but after a mishap leaves him stranded in 1982, Bogg teams up with a whip-smart orphan named Jeffrey Jones, who happens to know more about history than Bogg ever did.

Capsule of Historical Drama and Sci-Fi Flair

It only ran for a single 20-episode-long season, but the show left a lasting impression thanks to its clever format and warm chemistry between Jon-Erik Hexum and Meeno Peluce. It follows an episodic structure that allows the story to jump anyway and mix its historical facts with speculative fiction. The Omni’s red-light/green-light mechanic is a simple but effective sci-fi element that compliments the show’s breezy, family-friendly tone.

‘V’ (1983)

V stands as one of the decade’s best sci-fi miniseries. It begins with massive alien ships hovering over Earth’s cities, promising peace and technological advancements. But the facade is peeled back in no time as the Visitors turn out to be reptilian invaders in human disguise, bent on exploiting Earth and its resources. Journalist Mike Donovan and scientist Juliet Parrish uncover this sinister agenda and rally a resistance.

Most Intellectually Satisfying Sci-Fi

Directed by Kenneth Johnson, the miniseries was praised for its visual ambition and bold narrative. The political intrigue transforms into a full-blown rebellion across just two parts, and the show touches on themes of propaganda, fascism, and identity. The aliens’ human-like masks, their mind control tactics, and the dystopian atmosphere, all make it a gripping rewatch.

‘Red Dwarf’ (1988 – 2020)

Red Dwarf is a delightful deep-space sci-fi TV show that follows Dave Lister, the last human alive, as he wakes up three million years after a radiation leak wipes out the crew of the titular mining ship. His only companions in this future are a hologram of his uptight bunkmate Rimmer, a humanoid cat, and a neurotic service mech named Kryten. Together, they journey through space, time, and alternate realities.

Singular and Lasting Experience

Red Dwarf has an enduring appeal due to its seamless blend of science fiction and situational comedy. Elements like time travel, virtual realities, and genetic engineering are always filtered through a lens of absurdities and wit, making it a must-watch even years later. The writing, led by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, is brilliant, and the cast, including Craig Charles and Chris Barrie, bring an energy that never feels stale.

‘War of the Worlds’ (1988 – 1990)

Picking up decades after the events of the 1953 movie, War of the Worlds reimagines H.G. Wells’ alien invaders, but this time, they are not a one-time threat. They are a dormant menace waiting to rise again. In this version, the Martians weren’t destroyed; just put into suspended animation where their bodies were stored in government facilities and forgotten. When a terrorist attack awakens them, the aliens try to reclaim Earth.

Sleeper Hit Worth Revisiting

Combining horror, espionage, and sci-fi, this one evolves across seasons and offers a darker, more grounded take on the classic alien invasion narrative. The reason this 1980s show is worth visiting is the way it channels the decade’s anxieties into a slow-burning premise ripe with psychological tension and dystopian warfare. Jared Martin’s performance as Blackwood anchors the show and the practical effects add gritty realism.

‘Transformers’ (1984 – 1987)

Long before it turned into a cinematic universe and dominated billion-dollar box office battles, Transformers introduces both kids and adults to a war between sentient robots from the planet Cybertron. The Autobots, led by the noble Optimus Prime, fight to protect Earth from the ruthless Decepticons, headed by Megatron. And that’s basically it.

Has Massive Influence on Pop Culture

Except, each episode of the series unfolds with high-stakes action and the occasional existential crisis, all while delivering spectacle in the form of robots morphing into cars, jets, and cassette players. Transformers’ mythology deepens over time, and we get to explore Cybertron’s history, the origins of the Transformers, and their relationship with humanity. The original animated series ran for four seasons and ended with a 1986 feature movie that shocked fans with its scope. Revisiting it now gets you pointing out clues you missed as a kid.

‘Alien Nation’ (1989 – 1990)

Set in a near-future Los Angeles, Alien Nation presents a world where a race of extraterrestrial refugees known as the Tenctonese have crash-landed on Earth and integrated into human society. It centers on the unlikely partnership between human detective Matthew Sikes and his alien counterpart George Francisco as they solve crimes while navigating culture and prejudice.

Smart and Still Relevant

Alien Nation only ran for one season, but its impact was strong enough to spawn five TV movies and a loyal fanbase. The show’s strength lies in its storytelling, where each episode strikes the perfect balance between gritty urban drama and alien metaphors, ultimately reflecting real-world issues with nuance. Revisiting now is all about realizing how ahead of time it was by tackling xenophobia and systemic bias.

‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987 – 1994)

A list about the best sci-fi TV shows from the 1980s is incomplete without mentioning Star Trek: The Next Generation. Set nearly a century after the original, it follows the crew of the USS Enterprise-D as they explore deep space, make interstellar negotiations, and confront moral quandaries. Led by the principled Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the crew has android officer Data, counselor Deanna Troi, and Wesley Crusher.

A Space Opera with Lasting Legacy

Widely regarded as one of the finest entries in the entire franchise, Star Trek: The Next Generation expands the scope and complexity of the Star Trek universe. Across seven seasons, it evolves from a shaky reboot. The writing matures quickly, there are debates about consciousness and free will, and a wide range of stories. Patrick Stewart’s performance as Picard is still iconic and the production design is what helped define sci-fi aesthetics for a generation.

‘The Twilight Zone’ (1985 – 1989)

The 1985 version of The Twilight Zone revives Rod Sterling’s legendary mythology and brings a new generation of viewers into a mystical dimension where the strange, the unsettling, and the bizarre lurk just beyond the frame. Each episode features a standalone tale about dystopian futures and alien encounters to offer a chilling exploration of the human condition.

An Anthology Brilliance

With contributions from writers like Harlan Ellison and George R.R. Martin, the show also veered into darker, more cerebral territory, making the revival more introspective than its predecessor. Which is to say that it holds its own and delivers a fresh batch of stories. The show’s format also allows for experimentation, where some episodes are poetic and others brutal. For those who love speculative fiction with a dash of unpredictability, The Twilight Zone is the perfect rewatch.