Shows like Foundation
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Foundation, going by its Boxlist taste profile: An otherworldly sci-fi series that is inventive, heavy and intricate. Best if you like the extraordinary over the everyday. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of social commentary, plus tags such as empire, distant future and prophecy.
Here are 15 shows with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Foundation (2021).
- 1
Raised by Wolves (2020)
TV7.7
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive. Common ground: distant future.
- 2
The Expanse (2015)
TV7.9
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: space opera.
- 3
Halo (2022)
TV8.3Lighter option
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: distant future.
- 4
Orphan Black (2013)
TV7.8
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.
- 5
Humans (2015)
TV7.5
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.
- 6
The Rain (2018)
TV7.5
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.
- 7
Pluribus (2025)
TV7.9Lighter option
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.
- 8
Altered Carbon (2018)
TV7.8Darker
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: distant future.
- 9
Black Mirror (2011)
TV8.3Darker
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.
- 10
Westworld (2016)
TV8.1
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.
- 11
Travelers (2016)
TV7.6
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.
- 12
Firefly (2002)
TV8.3
Why it's like Foundation: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: space opera.
- 13
- 14
- 15
Boxlist compares Foundation with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Foundation?
- Picks with a similar feel include Raised by Wolves, The Expanse, Halo and Orphan Black. Each shares part of Foundation's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 shows.
- How are these shows like Foundation chosen?
- Boxlist compares Foundation with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.
- Is there a lighter show like Foundation?
- Halo has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.