You can never go wrong if you like a TV show that was made by people like J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci. Thus, many fans were disappointed when Fringe ended. Since this show covered many subgenres within sci-fi, like mystery and horror, as well as different themes like time travel and parallel universes, we’d like to present to you the top 20 TV shows like Fringe.
Not all shows will resemble the show 100%, but they’re all well-written, high-quality sci-fi TV shows. Another reason for making a list is that a lot of lists are terrible. We’ve personally tried at Fantasy Warden to find shows that resemble it at least to some point, but most lists just offer superficially related content or shows that don’t have that same vibe. Also, our list will focus on shows that contain sci-fi elements, horror, and mystery.
20. Supernatural [2005-2020]
Photo Credits: Warner Bros. Television
Since you’re a fan of The Fringe like Fringe you must’ve at least heard of Supernatural. Supernatural follows brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles), who are traveling around the US hunting otherworldly beings. The show features a lot of mythical creatures such as ghosts, ghouls, demons, angels, vampires, werewolves, etc. As the name says Supernatural is what these two brothers are looking for while they’re cruising in their 1967 Chevy Impala. They’re looking for their father and engaging in an everlasting battle between Heaven and Hell.
The show was created, written, produced, and directed by Eric Kripke. His other notable work is the popular TV shows Bogeyman, The Boys, The Boys Presents: Diabolical and Gen V. Supernatural has that teamwork vibe that’s famous in TV shows like The Fringe, X-Files, and that uneasy vibe from The Twilight Zone. In Fringe we had parallel universes, here we have Heaven and Hell which is kinda similar, but the show isn’t as scientific as Fringe.
19. Westworld [2016-2022]
Photo Credits: HBO Entertainment
If you’re a fan of J.J. Abrams there’s not a chance you’ve missed Westworld. This sci-fi thriller TV show is about an amusement park set in the 2050s. Just unlike other parks, this one is a place where you can enjoy your wildest fantasies if you know what I’m saying. You can do this with so-called “hosts” who are robots and the problem gets when the AI becomes self-aware like it always happens in this kind of TV shows or movies. For now, this is all that you should know just it’s now about a different universe like in The Fringe, it’s about different timelines so the audience has to connect the dots.
Both the Westword and Fringe have a really good cast with strong character development. The cast members include Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Hopkins, and many more. If you’re a fan of shows like Fringe with deep philosophical and ethical dilemmas then you’ll like Westworld. The show was created by Jonathan Nolan, the brother of Christopher Nolan, and Lisa Joy and it’s based on the 1973 book Westworld and its equal Futureworld. I read both books so I’ll have to say loosely, very loosely based on those books.
18. Stranger Things [2016-2025]
Photo Credits: 21 Laps Entertainment
Usually characterized as horror, but I think it’s the geekiest sci-fi TV show ever made; if you can read between the lines. Unlike Fringe the agents aren’t from the FBI but from the CIA and KGB with a bunch of kids; think of it as Fringe meets The Goonies. Stranger Things is about a group of kids who’re looking for their missing friend. Since I don’t want to spoil the plot I’ll just have to say that if you’re a fan of D&D you’ll love the rest of the plot. Yes there is a different dimension and it’s full of horrific monsters, but the acting and the budget are through the roof. Everything about this show is a must.
Yet another important thing that I have to mention is that it’s set in the 80s. There’s a great story about friendship, love, and the innocence of childhood. If you’re in your 20s and 30s, or even older you’ll miss these things. You won’t even know until you watch this TV show. Finally, pop culture references are just amazing and can create those nostalgic moments of a world that seems like a parallel universe, if you compare it to the post-COVID world. Stranger Things was created by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer and it stars Winona Ryder and David Harbour.
17. Person of Interest [2011-2016]
Photo Credits: Bad Robot
Another TV series like Fringe but with more kinda Fringe meets Eagle Eye/Minority Report shows. Person of Interest follows John Reese a former US Special Forces/CIA operative to build a supercomputer that predicts crimes both big like terrorist attacks and small crimes. The complex supercomputer in Person of Interest is called “The Machine”. This all happened after the 9/11 terrorist attack and after John Reese was presumably found dead, but he was living as a hobo in NYC. Person of Interest similar to Eagle Eye fills us with philosophical social questions about surveillance, AI, and privacy.
On the other hand series like Fringe usually have some government conspiracy elements added to the mix. Fringe features secret agents that operate and explore otherworld and multiverse phenomena, while in Person of Interest, we follow secret agents operating secret The Machine. Thought-provoking TV show with some great acting and brilliant character development. The main stars of the show are Jim Caviezel, Michael Emerson, and Taraji P. Henson. It was created and directed by Jonathan Nolan whose next project was Westworld.
16. The Man in the High Castle [2015-2019]
Photo Credits: Amazon Studios
Described as a dystopian alternative historical sci-fi TV show it perfectly fits in with Fringis. To put it simply the story takes place in an alternative timeline where Axis powers won WWII. The US is dived into two parts the East US is under the control of the Greater Nazi Reich and West US is under the Shōwa-period Empire of Japan. What this show does best is depicting that chilling dystopian Nazi world filled without freedom and democracy. The Man in the High Castle refers to a person who might hold a key to unlocking an alternative universe where the Allies won WWII.
The show was created by Frank Spotnitz and some of the main stars include Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, Rufus Sewell, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, etc. Series similar to Fringe such as The Man in the High Castle feature highly intellectual and complex moral dilemmas and topics. If parallel universes are what attracted you to Fringe, this is the show that could serve as a prequel. Now as most great TV shows this one is based on a book written by Philip K. Dick’s 1962.
15. Twin Peaks [1990-2017]
Photo Credits: Lynch/Frost Productions
I know what you’re thinking now, how is it possible that I’ve never heard of a TV series like Fringe that ran for almost 30 years? Well, the answer is simple the show originally started in 1990 and 1991 and then it was canceled. Now in 2017, the show returned for the 3rd and final season on Showtime, as it was originally ABC’s show. Back in the 90s, this was a show that defined a genre something like X-files before X-files. It made a perfect blend of sci-fi, horror, mystery, surrealist, trill, and comedy. Everything about this show is well done, just don’t google Win Peaks The Black Lodge, or you’ll spoil everything.
Twin Peaks is just like the Fringe about parallel universes but not in the same way. I won’t spoil you, so you can watch it and the show only has 3 seasons. The show was created by David Lynch and Mark Frost; yes David Lynch who directed the original Dune from 1984. TV shows like Fringe probably were inspired by Twin Peaks and X-files, since the shows share a lot of similarities as you’ll see.
14. Millennium [1996-1999]
Photo Credits: 20th Century Fox
First of all, if you know who is Chris Carter you’ll watch the show immediately. Secondly, if you don’t know who he is, he’s the creator of X-Files. Just like X-Files and other series similar to Fringe, it’s all happening in FBI. We follow a former FBI agent Frank Black who possesses telepathy and he joins a mysterious organization called Millenial Group. Just you should be aware that this has nothing to do with millennials since the show was referring to the next millennium or 2000s. Just like Fringe, the overall dark tone is set in Millennium too and you’ll get a good look at some gruesome crimes and cool supernatural abilities.
TV shows like Fringe and X-Files and many others start with the “case of the week” plot, and Millennium is not an exception. Since the creator is Christ Carter and stars include among others Lance Henriksen, Megan Gallagher, Terry O’Quinn, Brittany Tiplady, etc. There’s nothing more to say other than it’s binging time!
13. Wayward Pines [2015-2016]
Photo Credits: 20th Century Fox
Most of the shows like Fringe share similarities regarding parallel universes, while Wayward Pines does something different. This show is all about dystopian themes, human experimentation, and manipulation of people of Wayward Pines, Idaho. In the first season, we follow a United States Secret Service agent Ethan Burke who is investigating the disappearance of other two Secret Service agents. Ethan will then find out what evil is hidden within this idyllic town as he tries to get out, but will he do it? The second season, it’s about a surgeon called Dr. Theo Yedlin and this season has a darker tone.
The whole TV series is based on The Wayward Pines novels by Blake Crouch. The show was developed by Chad Hodge, and the pilot was directed by none the less but M. Night Shyamalan who was also the executive producer of the show. Unfortunately, the whole show was canceled after only 2 seasons so grab that popcorn and coke, and let’s binge this one tonight. Some of the stars are Matt Dillon, Carla Gugino, Toby Jones, Shannyn Sossamon, Hope Davis, and Terrence Howard.
12. PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal [1996-2000]
Photo Credits: Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.
Since this is a list of TV shows like “Fringe,” we have to mention the most famous “X-Files” clone from Canada: “PSI Factor.” Born in 1991, I enjoyed watching “The X-Files” just like everyone else. At the time, I found many episodes super scary, but I was just a kid back then. Then, I stumbled upon “PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal,” and it was awesome. The show explores paranormal phenomena, mysteries, and unexplained events through the eyes of a fictional organization called the Office of Scientific Investigation and Research (OSIR). Each episode follows the OSIR team of investigators, including scientists, journalists, and researchers, as they examine and attempt to explain a wide variety of supernatural occurrences and paranormal events. The team investigates phenomena such as UFO sightings, ghostly encounters, cryptids, psychic abilities, time travel, and other unexplained mysteries.
Similar to “The X-Files” and “Fringe,” this show had you pondering about some of these weird theories. There are plenty of episodes that are thought-provoking, such as “Dream House” or “First Russian on the Moon.” The atmosphere in the series is not scary but spooky and eerie, at least. The show sets undertones well, and the acting crew is great. Dan Aykroyd plays both the real-life host and the fictional character Peter Axon, Nancy Anne Sakovich is Lindsay Donner, Barclay Hope is Connor Doyle, Matt Frewer is Matt Praeger, and Colin Fox plays both the real-life and fictional character Curtis Rollins.
11. The Leftovers [2014-2017]
Photo Credits: HBO Entertainment
One of the hardest TV shows that I had to watch was “The Leftovers.” Now, don’t get me wrong when I said “the hardest”; I mean that it was tough for me psychologically. Let me give you some background, so you can handle it much easier. The show explores the lives of people trying to cope with the aftermath of a global event called the “Sudden Departure,” where 2% of the world’s population inexplicably disappears without any explanation. Imagine waking up one day and witnessing 160 million people gone just like that. The Sudden Departure has significant impacts on society, leading to the breakdown of social structures, the rise of various belief systems and cults, and deep psychological and emotional struggles for those left behind. Trust me, it’s really hard to grasp the downfall unless you watch it.
Set in the fictional town of Mapleton, the series primarily follows the Garvey family—Kevin Garvey, the town’s police chief; his wife, Laurie, who joins a mysterious cult called the Guilty Remnant; his daughter, Jill; and his son, Tom. That’s just in the beginning; later on, the show expands and introduces a bunch of new characters. “The Leftovers” presents human emotions and responses to trauma uniquely and truthfully. Apart from other TV Shows Like “Fringe,” this one is by far the saddest. If you like shows about faith, identity, and the search for meaning in an unpredictable and chaotic world, then this is your perfect match.
10. Lost [2004-2010]
Photo credits: ABC
The TV show Lost, which was literally “lost” in time, is maybe one of the most resembling ones, especially in seasons 4 and 5. Overall, both Fringe and Lost have great character development and they incorporate a lot of the same elements, such as mystery, suspense, and supernatural phenomena. Unlike Fringe, the show doesn’t strictly follow two FBI agents, but similarly, it has a sense of mystery and memorable characters.
The first and second seasons are a bit too slow, but once you pass that, it’s all rainbows and unicorns. The cast of the show is amazing, starting with Matthew Chandler Fox as Jack Shephard, Naveen Andrews as Sayid Jarrah, and Emilie de Ravin as Claire Littleton. If you like shows with airplanes, mysterious islands, and a great sci-fi plot twist, this is the one that you should check out, especially if you liked Fringe.
9. Dark [2017-2020]
Photo credits: Netflix
Time travel, Germany, thriller, sci-fi – that’s how Dark is known. Similar to Lost, the first season was probably a bit boring at moments, but it got better over time. Dark revolves around children disappearing in a made-up town called Winden in Germany. The story includes some time-traveling elements, but what makes it one of the TV shows like Fringe, besides the time travel, is the dark tone of the show and grim atmosphere.
The show’s cast was one of the best I’ve seen lately, as it included Jonas Kahnwald, who brilliantly played the character of Jonas Kahnwald, Maja Schöne, who played Hannah Kahnwald, and the other cast members were phenomenal. The two co-creators, Baran Bo Odar and Jantje Friese, later created 1899, which, in my opinion, was even better than Dark.
8. 1899 [2022]
Photo credits: Netflix
This show was, in my opinion, for no good reason, canceled in January 2023. It was brought by the creators of Dark and released on Netflix in November 2022. The story had an amazing international cast of different actors with great storylines, and it delved deeper than any other show I’ve seen recently. The story was set on a steamboat traveling from England to New York in 1899, but that’s just the beginning, as the show had so much more to offer.
The cast featured Emily Beecham as Maura Henriette Franklin/Singleton, Aneurin Barnard as Daniel Solace, Andreas Pietschmann as Eyk Larsen, and many other talented actors and actresses. The show really had a lot of potential, and we hope that Netflix will reconsider and at least add one more season to explain the great mystery behind the show. We just hope it won’t be handled as sloppily as the ending of Inside Job.
7. Doctor Who [2010–2014]
Photo credits: BBC
One of the longest-running shows, Doctor Who had to make it to this list. Just like other TV shows like Fringe (The Twilight Zone and X-Files), it was probably one of the TV shows from which the creators of Fringe drew their inspiration. Doctor Who started in 1963 and the original timeline of the show ended in 1989. The new timeline began in 2005, and it’s still ongoing today. Whichever timeline you choose, it’s a good one.
As with other shows that have been rebooted or are quite old, Doctor Who also features multiple doctors who change throughout the seasons. In the picture that we shared, you can see the 11th Doctor portrayed by Matt Smith. The show revolves around a Time Lord called the Doctor, who is an alien but appears to be human. He travels in a spaceship called the TARDIS, which looks like a police box from 1960s London. Overall, the show has had a great impact on pop and sci-fi culture and can be considered as one of the TV shows similar to Fringe.
6. Travelers [2016-2018]
Photo credits: Netflix
Travelers, as you guessed it, is strictly one of those shows about time travel, but with an interesting twist. People are trying to go back to the past from the 22nd century to the present day to prevent the collapse of our society. The show explores many horrors through the lens of sci-fi and future dystopias that, judging by our current world, are awaiting us.
The show was created by Brad Wright and it was a huge success. The main cast consisted of Eric McCormack, Mackenzie Porter, Jared Abrahamson, Nesta Cooper, Reilly Dolman, and Patrick Gilmore. Overall, the story is good and you can still watch it on Netflix.
5. Counterpart [2017-2019]
Photo credits: Startz
Counterpart is a sci-fi thriller series and it resembles Fringe in many ways, but the parallel universe is the main key. We follow the story of Howard Silk, who works as an office worker for UN IO (Office of Interchange). Until he finds out that there is a parallel universe created in the late 1980s. After that, in the 1990s, interesting events will take place that will change both worlds forever.
Counterpart was created by Justin Marks and it was broadcast on Starz. It stars J.K. Simmons (Howard Silk) as the main protagonist, as well as Olivia Williams, Harry Lloyd, Nazanin Boniadi, and others. Overall, the show captures the atmosphere and essence of Fringe, but it also introduces us to a new way of retelling Cold War-era paranoid stories.
4. Black Mirror [2011-present]
Photo credits: Netflix
The show picked the darkest parts of our society and humanity and put them together in an anthology series. Black Mirror is a great show for all the fans of Fringe as it explores the parallel universe as well as the potential “parallel” universe of our futuristic expectations. Except for Black Mirror’s season 6, all previous seasons were about the future of humanity, and the episodes were pretty dark and grim, just like some parts of Fringe.
For true Fringe and sci-fi fans, this is a must-watch, but if you’re a true fan, you’ve probably already watched this one. The actors changed from each episode and season, but the quality of the show is quite good. The show was created by Charlie Brooker, and the most famous cast members included Bryce Dallas Howard, Anthony Mackie, Jon Hamm, Michaela Coel, and many others. We also explored some other shows like Black Mirror that have that dystopian dark vibe to it.
3. Warehouse 13 [2009-2014]
Photo credits: SyFy
By the looks of it, Warehouse 13 is one of the closest TV shows to Fringe. That’s probably because of the setup, the time when it was filmed, and familiar faces (similar humor too). The story follows United States Secret Service Agents Pete Lattimer and Myka Bering as they work in the secret Warehouse 13, where supernatural artifacts are stored. As the seasons and story progress, they gather more people on their team while searching for missing artifacts and trying to retrieve them.
Warehouse 13 was created by Jack Kenny and David Simkins, and it has been described as a mix of X-Files and Indiana Jones. This combination creates a great blend, and the show has received high rankings among critics. The main cast includes Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek, Genelle Williams, and more. If you liked Fringe, X-Files, or even Indiana Jones, give Warehouse 13 a go.
2. The Twilight Zone [1959-1964]
Photo credits: CBS
The show that started modern-day sci-fi horror and other related genres is The Twilight Zone. There have been many attempts to revive the franchise, and the most recent one was back in 2019 by Simon Kinberg, Jordan Peele, and Marco Ramirez. I had high expectations because of Jordan Peele’s involvement, but it fell short. Maybe it’s best to leave some shows at peace. The original show explored a wide range of topics such as time travel, the supernatural, abductions, and more. Anything you can think of was either started here or was based on characters/situations from The Twilight Zone episodes.
As a huge fan of sci-fi, if you enjoyed any of the shows from this list, you have to watch The Twilight Zone at least once in your life. When you watch this anthology sci-fi series, you’ll see how much inspiration it provided to later creators and your appreciation for sci-fi and horror. The original show, which aired from 1959 to 1964, was created by Rod Serling.
1. The X-Files [1993-2018]
Photo credits: Fox
The show that probably Fringe was based on was either The Twilight Zone or The X-Files. To me, as a ’90s kid, this was the Holy Grail of Sci-Fi, and the modern-day Bonnie and Clyde were ’90s Mulder and Scully (but in a good way). Fringe, let’s not say a ripoff but inspired by this show, as were many others. I think X-Files doesn’t deserve any further explanation, as any sci-fi geek probably knows the story and lore by heart.
The great Fox William Mulder, played by David Duchovny, will probably go down in history as the best FBI supernatural detective of all time. While Dr. Dana Katherine Scully, portrayed by Gillian Anderson, will go down as the female fantasy of ’90s kids and as the great opposite of Mulder. Most great movies or TV shows usually get one of two things right: the time or the character, but X-Files is one of the rare ones that got both, just like The Twilight Zone.
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