7 TV Shows Like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ to Binge Before the Revival

While you wait for the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival, these other sci-fi and horror series will keep you entertained in the meantime. When Sarah Michelle Gellar’s tough Slayer, her kind mentor Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), and her Scooby Gang stood in the wreckage of Sunnydale in the series finale, “Chosen,” it was unclear if fans would ever spend time with these singular characters ever again (besides rewatching Buffy’s seven seasons, of course). Everyone cheered earlier in February 2025 when reports came out that a Hulu revival was likely happening, and now there is a 2026 release window for New Sunnydale starring Ryan Kiera Armstrong as young Slayer Nova.

Few TV characters have captured pop culture discussions like Buffy Summers, who is as comfortable bantering with a classmate as she is kicking a vampire’s butt. Still, there are plenty of other series that have smart and physically strong protagonists, non-stop action, and in some cases, coming-of-age themes. From a five-season sci-fi story where an incredible star plays more than one character to another monster-of-the-week show, put these great TV series on your binge-watching list.

‘The Umbrella Academy’

Netflix

There’s no doubt that The Umbrella Academy Season 4 is nowhere near as good as previous seasons. However, the previous three seasons tell an endearing and adventure-packed story about young characters with magical powers, and they arguably make up for the rough ending. Starring Elliot Page in the role of Number Seven, or Viktor Hargreeves, the series follows the adopted siblings of rich Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore).

The Umbrella Academy will appeal to Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans who like watching clever characters fight evil and grow up in a strange, perplexing, and terrifying world that is unlike what most experience. Just like the siblings are committed to ensuring the apocalypse doesn’t take place, Buffy is often tasked with making sure humanity continues to exist, and when she dies in the Season 5 finale, “The Gift,” her tombstone hilariously reads, “She saved the world. A lot.”

‘Orphan Black’

Buffy fans who love plotlines about good vs. evil and characters who team up to help each other become who they’re meant to be will love this sci-fi series. A brilliant story about clones, family connections, and trauma, Orphan Black aired for five seasons from 2013 to 2017. Tatiana Maslany portrayed 17 clones, an incredible accomplishment that she is still celebrated for.

Just like Buffy’s hopes for a regular existence are ruined when she learns about her destiny, Sarah Manning realizes her life has been altered for good when she sees a woman who looks just like her jumping in front of a train in the pilot episode. Both Buffy and Orphan Black balance sci-fi elements with emotional, family-driven storylines. Similar to how Buffy attempts to protect her sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg), Sarah is often consumed by worry about her daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler).

‘Wednesday’

From confident Slayer Faith Lelane (Eliza Dushku) to smart Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), Buffy and her friends are so compelling because they don’t fit in. The same thing can be said for Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) and her classmates at Nevermore Academy. Although Wednesday, which has two seasons so far on Netflix and was renewed for a third, doesn’t quite deliver all the Addams Family quirks that fans were hoping for, it’s perfect if you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s rebellious characters.

Although Wednesday Season 2 was released in two parts, a frustrating trend that Netflix seems to be continuing, you can binge all 16 episodes now if you haven’t gotten around to them yet. It’s fun to imagine Wednesday and Buffy getting along and fighting the Hyde Monster, who can be considered the Big Bad of Wednesday Season 1. The characters would likely respect each other’s trust in themselves, even when others think they’re on the wrong track.

‘Roswell’

The three-season series Roswell was on the air at the same time as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and scratched the same itch for engaging TV storytelling. If you enjoy the complicated love stories on Buffy and want some danger with that romance, it’s a great choice. While Buffy is torn between “good” vampire Angel (David Boreanaz) and “evil” Spike (James Marsters), Liz Evans (Shiri Appleby) wonders if she can truly love Max Parker (Jason Behr), her classmate who, oh yeah, is also an alien (that’s a small wrinkle).

Since Roswell has several seasons, it’s a great binge-watch before Buffy, Nova, and the other new characters arrive on Hulu sometime in 2026. Although, of course, both series have plenty of villains and battle scenes, the emotional connections between the characters also stand out. Roswell is so popular that a four-season revival aired on The CW from 2019 to 2022 called Roswell, New Mexico, although the original is arguably more interesting and unique.

‘The Vampire Diaries’

The Vampire Diaries starsNina Dobrev as regular teenager Elena Gilbert, and features the same kind of gripping love triangle that is one big reason whyBuffy the Vampire Slayer is so much fun to watch. Should Elena choosebrooding, kind Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) or his more confident “bad boy” Damon (Ian Somerhalder)? And is it even possible for Buffy to be with Angel or Spike forever?

The Vampire Diaries is also a good choice for those looking to be entertained by a fun, romantic story before Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale because, like the beloved series starring Gellar, every season feels unique and distinct. Rather than relying on the same old storylines, TVD switches things up with new villains like Klaus (Joseph Morgan), who first appears in Season 2, and takes viewers on a wild ride where it’s never clear if characters are going to stay dead.

‘Supernatural’

The story of charming brothers Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) and their constant quest to save people from monsters and other threats is a perfect series for those who count Buffy among their all-time favorite shows. Both Supernatural and Buffy also examine the bonds of family and feature several emotional moments, along with likable side characters like Angel Castiel (Misha Collins).

Supernatural‘s 15 seasons are still so popular that there is hope that a revival could take place in the near or far future. Until that becomes a reality, fans will have to settle for rewatching episodes, and if you haven’t checked it out, the show’s 300-plus episodes make for a fun binge. It’s fun to see the Supernatural cast’s career success in recent years, but for many, the magic and chemistry between Ackles and Padalecki was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

‘The X-Files’

Four years before Buffy Season 1 premiered on The WB, The X-Files arrived on Fox and introduced viewers to the complicated professional relationship between Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Although Buffy has more teen angst than the long-running sci-fi series, both shows have a monster-of-the-week format that is comforting, even when, of course, the storylines are creepy.

Although other TV villains were inspired by Buffy’s Big Bads, The X-Files definitely pioneered the formula of smart characters investigating new creatures in each episode. As soon as you watch Eugene Victor Tooms (Doug Hutchison) appear in Season 1, Episode 3, “Squeeze,” a serial killer who is also a mutant, it’ll be tough not to binge the entire series. Tooms gives the Buffy monsters, like horrifying god Glory (Claire Kramer), a serious run for their money. While the revival isn’t as great as the original run, it can give Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans hope that a new, compelling story is possible. And if Ryan Coogler makes a new X-Files in the future, it’ll likely be a fascinating new take.