Over the years, Sci-fi has become fairly mainstream, but the cyberpunk sub-genre is full of hidden gem masterpieces. Derived from general science fiction, cyberpunk focuses on gritty dystopia wherein technology, rather than advancing the world for the better, has become the infrastructure for societal collapse and stratification. Accordingly, the best cyberpunk shows of all time are speculative yet scarily realistic.
Many of the most prominent titles are cyberpunk anime that utilize animation to show their unique, futuristic technology and body modifications, but there are just as many real-life series that push the envelope with practical effects and editing tricks. With subversive subtext, thrilling action sequences, and poignant social commentary embedded within underling narratives, cyberpunk is a revolutionary genre— literally.
Dollhouse
2009-2010
Like many other projects created byJoss Whedon, Dollhouse was ahead of its time and only gained widespread acclaim after its cancelation. The cyberpunk thriller followed Eliza Dushku as Echo/Caroline, an eponymous Doll who sold herself to Rossum Corporation for a lucrative five-year contract. During that time, Caroline’s true self is erased and sporadically replaced by false memories and identities.
A rogue FBI agent devotes himself to dismantling the Dollhouses and saving Caroline. Yet, as Echo, she can’t reconcile her past with her current, untethered identity. When fragments of her fake memories remain after her missions are completed, however, Echo slowly begins to gain self-awareness, calling into question both the morally dubious technology and the very nature of autonomy itself.
Max Headroom
1987-1988
There’s sci-fi, and then there’s 1980s sci-fi. Of the latter, arguably nothing made as big of an impact on television as Max Headroom. The cyberpunk satire followed a journalist named Edison Carter (Matt Frewer) who, despite living in a TV-controlled dystopia, did his best to expose corruption— until a disastrous motorcycle accident, that is.
In response, Carter’s likeness is used to create an AI talking head (the titular Max Headroom) who delivers pithy social commentary during jarring but infrequent sequences. The prosthetic makeup adds an uncanny look to the title character that makes the entire series that much more unsettling and equally impressive from a practical standpoint.
The Peripheral
2022
Based on William Gibson’s 2014 novel of the same name, The Peripheral follows Flynne Fisher (Chloë Grace Moretz) as she unknowingly stumbles into a deadly quantum tunneling scheme. After acquiring a strange headset, Flynne enters what she believes to be a virtual reality game. Yet, she quickly discovers that everything is real— just 70 years in the future.
The Peripheral is a masterclass in world-building, but it sadly became Prime Video’s most unforgivable cancelation after a single season. Nonetheless, the 8-episode pilot season is still full of stellar camerawork, emotive performances, and poignant moral quandaries that leave the viewer with ample food for thought.
Batman Beyond
1999-2001
The superhero genre in and of itself toes the line of science fiction, but Batman Beyond put an innovative, cyberpunkish spin on Gotham’s caped crusader. In 2019— an at the time twenty-year jump into the future— Bruce Wayne continues his vigilantism despite his aging and physical limitations. Enter: Terry McGinnis, an aimless teenager who ends up being the perfect replacement.
With a high-tech suit and a harsh underbelly of crime to take down, Batman Beyond (also known as Batman of the Future) seamlessly blends classic superhero cartoons with cyberpunk rebellion. Decades after its inception, the series remains popular, with Batman Beyond’s recent Fortnite skin only introducing more new fans to the superhero’s iconic cyberpunk stint.
Incorporated
2016-2017
Incorporated doesn’t have an immediately striking hook, but its intrigue lies in how feasible its dystopia seems. In 2074, the world has been split into Red Zones and Green Zones, with the former being supposedly lawless lands while the latter is controlled by megacorporations like the central Spiga Biotech.
In Milwaukee, a Red Zone spy named Aaron Sloane (Sean Teale) infiltrates Spiga as manager Ben Larson, hoping to gather intel to take the company down from the inside and rescue his long-lost love. The terrifyingly realistic setting of Incorporated made it an instant classic for cyberpunk fans, and— for the most part— it holds up a decade later.
Pantheon
2022-2023
Inspired by a trio of short stories by Ken Lie, Pantheon focuses on a niche technological hypothetical that spirals into a world-threatening risk. Known as the singularity, the hypothesis suggests there will come a point where humanity can no longer control advancing technology, which could overhaul the entire natural order and leave humans on the fringes of society.
In Pantheon, this takes the form of mind-uploading procedures promoted by two warring tech giants: Logorhythms and Alliance Telecom. As a small group of rebels pushes back against the companies, they find themselves tangled in a boundless conspiracy. Pantheon is surely one of the best sci-fi shows of the decade and a glowing example of modern cyberpunk.
Mr. Robot
2015-2019
For the vast majority of viewers, Mr. Robot was likely their first foray into cyberpunk themes. The modern classic, helmed by Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson, had all the trademarks of a cyberpunk story, packaged as an easily-digestible drama. In fact, many avid Mr. Robot fans may never have realized it was a cyberpunk show.
Yet, the signs are all there once you know to look for them. The anarchist group fsociety relies on technology— and, specifically, Elliot’s hacking skills— to take down E Corp, a megacorporation as nefarious as it is ubiquitous. Thankfully, Mr. Robot‘s streaming success has brought it back into the mainstream, which could have a ripple effect for future cyberpunk techno-thrillers.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
2002-2005
Unquestionably one of the most beloved cyberpunk series of all time, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex follows Public Security Section 9, a group of trained professionals who investigate cyber-terrorism. Despite originally airing in 2002, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex remains one of the best depictions of cyberpunk, especially when it comes to technological body modification.
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Even without the cyberpunk focus, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a perfect sci-fi anime that blends genuinely compelling mysteries with an immersive, fully-realized world of its own. Nevertheless, the series laid the foundation for countless modern iterations of cyberpunk, animated or otherwise.
Humans
2015-2018
One of the most important aspects of the cyberpunk genre is how it forces the viewer to question their definition of personhood. On the surface, Humans is simply about lifelike robots called synths who take on various roles to serve their human owners. Naturally, the anthropomorphic synths start displaying signs of consciousness and emotion.
Furthermore, there’s an ongoing diegetic conversation regarding how humans should treat synths, with some groups believing they deserve rights while others abuse them, physically or sexually. At the heart of Humans‘ three seasons is the same question: at what point does something gain (and, in turn, lose) its humanity?
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
2022
Created as a prequel adaptation of the best-selling video game Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is the perfect representation of the sub-genre’s inherent dissonance. Amidst the neon lights, cyborgs, and sprawling cityscapes, the rich get richer while those on the outskirts have to resort to drastic alternatives if they want to survive megacorp greed.
Such is the case with protagonist David Martinez, a young student who becomes a titular edgerunner— an illegal mercenary— to keep himself afloat after a tragic shooting throws his life off-course. Not only is Cyberpunk: Edgerunners considered the greatest cyberpunk show ever made; it’s a sci-fi masterpiece that will only get better with age.