Shows like The Expanse
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines The Expanse, going by its Boxlist taste profile: An otherworldly sci-fi series that is original, intimate and intricate. Best if you like the extraordinary over the everyday. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of social commentary, underdogs and mysteries that are not what they seem, plus tags such as planet mars, space colony and space battle.
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 The Expanse (2015).
- 1
Foundation (2021)
TV7.9
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: space opera.
- 2
Humans (2015)
TV7.5
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 3
The Society (2019)
TV7.8Easier to follow
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and weighty, with themes of underdogs and mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 4
Raised by Wolves (2020)
TV7.7
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive. Common ground: space colony.
- 5
Devs (2020)
TV7.4
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 6
Firefly (2002)
TV8.3Faster-paced
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: space opera, spacecraft, space.
- 7
Constellation (2024)
TV7.3Faster-paced
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and intricate, with themes of underdogs and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: conspiracy.
- 8
Manifest (2018)
TV7.7Faster-paced
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 9
From (2022)
TV8.3Easier to follow
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and intimate, with themes of underdogs and mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 10
Black Mirror (2011)
TV8.3
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 11
Fringe (2008)
TV8.1Easier to follow
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 12
The Peripheral (2022)
TV7.8Faster-paced
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 13
War of the Worlds (2019)
TV7.4Easier to follow
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of underdogs and mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 14
Pluribus (2025)
TV7.9Lighter option
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.
- 15
Severance (2022)
TV8.4
Why it's like The Expanse: Also heightened and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
Boxlist compares The Expanse 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 The Expanse?
- Picks with a similar feel include Foundation, Humans, The Society and Raised by Wolves. Each shares part of The Expanse's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 shows.
- How are these shows like The Expanse chosen?
- Boxlist compares The Expanse 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 The Expanse?
- Pluribus has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.