Sci-Fi television used to be a big fixture within the entertainment industry. That isn’t to say there hasn’t been any good sci-fi television in recent years; there has. Unfortunately, most current shows in that genre are within legacy franchises like Star Wars or Star Trek. Today, a person would be hard-pressed to find a good new sci-fi TV show, and that likely could be the cause of the modern TV landscape.
Generally speaking, Sci-Fi shows are high-budget projects that often take time to develop their world and characters. Additionally, unless a Sci-Fi show is part of a consistent franchise, movie studios are much less likely to invest in new shows, especially if it fails to gain a decent number of consistent viewers. The shift towards streaming has also done the television genre a disservice in getting the word out there on new Sci-Fi shows, and further fragmenting audiences. Networks like the SYFY channel used to be a reliable way of watching shows in that genre, but not anymore.
That said, it’s unsurprising that major television networks began pulling away from scripted media. Time and time again, established franchises and live sports prove to be where the money is currently. It’s unfortunate, especially with how that fact comes in stark contrast to audiences craving new and exciting shows to watch.
That said, there have been recent successes with Sci-Fi projects in the film world, particularly the successful film adaptation of the 2022 novel Project Hail Mary. While it isn’t a completely new property, Project Hail Mary’s success proves that general audiences are still interested in Sci-Fi media.
