5 Cyberpunk TV Shows That Every Sci-Fi Fan Needs to Watch

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Cyberpunk is a type of science fiction often described as ‘high-tech, low life.’ It’s easy to see why stories about bleak, near-future worlds – frequently controlled by powerful corporations, advanced AI, or constant monitoring – are gaining popularity. Thankfully, this growing interest has also led to a wave of excellent cyberpunk movies and TV shows in recent years.

Shows like Altered Carbon, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and even Black Mirror have introduced many people to the world of cyberpunk. If you’ve enjoyed those and want to explore this dark, futuristic genre further, here are five series we recommend.

5) Better Than Us

Netflix’s Russian series, Better Than Us, offers a realistic look at artificial intelligence. The show is set in Moscow in the near future, where androids are common. It follows Arisa, a robot originally created as a military weapon, who unexpectedly develops feelings and the ability to think for herself, making her both a powerful asset and a potential threat. Paulina Andreeva plays Arisa, and the series also stars Kirill Käro and Viktoriya Isakova as part of a family caught up in a complex political conflict.

Though definitely a cyberpunk story, Better Than Us stands out by focusing on everyday life – things like family and work – rather than gritty street conflicts. Most of the action happens in familiar places like homes, hospitals, and offices, exploring how AI realistically impacts relationships, jobs, and raising children. The show draws heavily from the ideas of Isaac Asimov, blending them into a story set in post-Soviet Russia. Its realistic and somewhat bleak style will appeal to fans of serious, thought-provoking science fiction.

4) Pantheon

AMC’s series, Pantheon, inspired by stories from Ken Liu, centers around the idea of “Uploaded Intelligence” – essentially, human minds that live on after death as digital copies. The story begins with Maddie Kim, a high school student who’s being bullied, when she starts getting strange online messages claiming to be from her deceased father (voiced by Daniel Dae Kim). This personal mystery quickly grows into a much larger, worldwide conflict involving powerful technology companies.

With its two packed seasons, Pantheon explores the idea of life after death in the digital world more deeply than most shows of its kind. It tackles a classic cyberpunk question – are uploaded minds still truly human, or just incredibly realistic simulations? What sets Pantheon apart is its excellent writing and subtle animation style. Even though it didn’t reach a huge audience and had a complicated release, the show has gained a loyal and growing fanbase.

3) Mr. Robot 

Considered a modern cyberpunk masterpiece, Mr. Robot brings the gritty “high tech, low life” aesthetic to the present day. Created by Sam Esmail, the show features Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson, a lonely cybersecurity expert who secretly works as a hacker fighting for justice. He’s drawn into a complex plan led by the mysterious Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) and a group called fsociety, all aiming to dismantle E Corp, the powerful company that dominates the world’s finances.

Sam Esmail, fascinated by corporate influence and digital tracking, collaborated with cybersecurity experts to make the technology in Mr. Robot feel authentic. The show delivers both an exciting, fast-paced thriller and a thought-provoking look at capitalism. With its innovative visuals, storytelling that keeps you guessing, and a finale that breaks the rules, Mr. Robot is essential viewing for science fiction enthusiasts.

2) Max Headroom

Before the term ‘cyberpunk’ became common, the quirky, sarcastic AI character Max Headroom first appeared in a 1985 British TV movie called Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future. George Stone, Annabel Jankel, and Rocky Morton then developed the idea into a series for ABC. The show centers on journalist Edison Carter (played by Matt Frewer) who, after a life-threatening accident, discovers corruption at Network 23. The accident also results in part of his consciousness being digitally transformed, creating the AI personality Max Headroom – also portrayed by Frewer.

Even though it only lasted two seasons, Max Headroom was remarkably forward-thinking. It anticipated trends like reality television, the rise of viral stars, and even concepts such as algorithms and influencer marketing. Blending film noir, satire, and cyberpunk science fiction, the show paved the way for later thought-provoking series like Black Mirror. Max Headroom himself became a pop culture sensation, appearing in advertising and music videos, and the show continues to be a classic of the sci-fi genre.

1) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 

Netflix’s anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by Studio Trigger and directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, takes place in the same world as the Cyberpunk 2077 video game. The story centers on David Martinez, a struggling student in Night City who becomes involved in cybernetic modifications and mercenary jobs after a personal loss. He falls into the city’s criminal life and joins a crew led by the enigmatic Lucy, who is voiced by Emi Lo in the English dub.

Thanks to its stunning animation and deeply moving story, Edgerunners received a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The show’s characters, like Rebecca and Maine, powerfully represent common themes within the cyberpunk genre. It features Trigger’s distinctive, over-the-top visual style set against a bleak city backdrop, and its music, including the song “This Fffire” by Franz Ferdinand, has become popular on its own. More than just a great watch, Edgerunners also brought renewed attention to the game Cyberpunk 2077 and the cyberpunk genre in general.

What’s your favorite cyberpunk TV show? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-14 19:41