22 of the Best 1980s Sci-Fi TV Shows: From ‘V’ and ‘Quantum Leap’ to ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’

By the time the 1980s rolled around, science fiction had traded in its dusty space helmets and doomsday bunkers for something a little flashier. This was the decade of home computers, cable TV and music videos—a time when “the future” didn’t seem like some distant fantasy anymore. And television sci-fi immediately picked up on that energy.

Shows like Knight Rider and Airwolf turned high-tech gadgets into heroes. Quantum Leap mixed time travel with heart, Max Headroom imagined a world run by TV networks and anthologies like Amazing Stories and a rebooted The Twilight Zone kept short-form wonder alive for a new generation. Even the old guard came roaring back, with Star Trek: The Next Generation proving that a thoughtful, idea-driven space adventure could once again pull in millions of viewers every week (while laying the groundwork for a long line of Star Trek spinoffs.

Experimentation was everywhere. Some series took wild swings—Beauty and the Beast took the romantasy route, while Outlaws threw Western gunslingers into the modern world. Others tackled the paranoia of the Cold War and the ethics of survival, as seen in V, War of the Worlds, and Alien Nation. Not everything worked, but there was a sense that TV sci-fi was finally shaking off the stigma of being “kids’ stuff” and starting to aim higher again.

1. ‘Galactica 1980’ (ABC, 1980)

Cast: Kent McCord (Capt. Troy), Barry Van Dyke (Lt. Dillon), Robyn Douglass (Jamie Hamilton), Lorne Greene (Adama).
Premise: A continuation of Battlestar Galactica in which the surviving Colonials finally reach Earth and, with the help of two young pilots, try to protect the planet from Cylon discovery while guiding its people toward higher technology.
Behind-the-scenes: Conceived by Glen A. Larson after ABC requested a more “family-friendly” version of the expensive 1978 series. Budget limits forced stock footage and cost-cutting, and the show’s light tone disappointed fans. It ran only ten episodes but introduced the flying motorcycles that became cult icons.

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The ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Spin-Offs That Never Made It to Space

For every successful sci-fi franchise, there are countless “what if” projects that never managed to take flight. Battlestar Galactica is one of the clearest examples—a series that has been canceled, revived and reinvented more times than anyone expected when Glen A. Larson’s space epic debuted on ABC in 1978. The original show, inspired by Star […]

2. ‘The Martian Chronicles’ (NBC miniseries, 1980)

Cast: Rock Hudson (Col. John Wilder), Bernadette Peters, Darren McGavin, Roddy McDowall.
Premise: In a series of linked stories, humanity colonizes Mars and discovers both the planet’s haunting past and its moral consequences for Earth’s expansionist instincts.
Behind-the-scenes: Adapted from Ray Bradbury’s classic 1950 book, scripted by Richard Matheson. Filmed in Spain for its red landscapes, it combined three feature-length installments. Bradbury disliked the slow pacing, but the miniseries introduced many viewers to his work.

3. ‘Beyond Westworld’ (CBS, 1980)

Cast: Jim McMullan (John Moore), James Wainwright (Simon Quaile), Connie Sellecca (Pamela Williams).
Premise: Following the film Westworld, Delos security chief Moore battles a scientist who plans to replace world leaders with android duplicates.
Behind-the-scenes: MGM hoped to turn Michael Crichton’s movie into a weekly thriller, but only five episodes were produced. Despite solid production values, ratings were poor and it became one of the shortest-lived network sci-fi shows of the decade.

4. ‘The Phoenix’ (ABC, 1981–1982)

Cast: Judson Scott (Bennu), Richard Lynch (Justin Preminger).
Premise: An ancient alien awakens from a pyramid tomb possessing mysterious powers and a mission to find his mate while evading government pursuit.
Behind-the-scenes: Created by Anthony Lawrence, the series sought a mystical, “New Age” tone amid Star Wars-era spectacle. Despite strong viewer mail after its pilot, ABC canceled it after only five episodes. Judson Scott was featured in the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

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The Making of Khan, the Greatest ‘Star Trek‘ Villain Ever

Few antagonists in Star Trek history have had the staying power of Khan Noonien Singh. First introduced in the 1967 original series episode “Space Seed,” Khan (Ricardo Montalban) was a genetically engineered superhuman from Earth’s 20th century who, along with his followers, was discovered in suspended animation aboard the SS Botany Bay. Charismatic and brilliant, […]

5. ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ (BBC, 1981)

Cast: Simon Jones (Arthur Dent), David Dixon (Ford Prefect), Mark Wing-Davey (Zaphod Beeblebrox).
Premise: Everyman Arthur Dent survives Earth’s destruction and hitchhikes across the galaxy with his alien friend and a perpetually depressed robot.
Behind-the-scenes: Based on Douglas Adams’s radio series, it mixed satire and absurdism with primitive but inventive video effects. The show became a cult hit on both sides of the Atlantic and helped launch Adams’s multimedia franchise.

6. ‘Voyagers!’ (NBC, 1982–1983)

Cast: Jon-Erik Hexum (Phineas Bogg), Meeno Peluce (Jeffrey Jones).
Premise: A time traveler and a young boy leap through history correcting mistakes to restore the proper timeline.
Behind-the-scenes: Produced by James Parriott, the show combined adventure and education, with real historical lessons woven into each episode. It ended after Hexum’s accidental on-set death during another production curtailed its revival prospects.

7. ‘The Powers of Matthew Star’ (NBC, 1982–1983)

Cast: Peter Barton (Matthew Star), Louis Gossett Jr. (Walt Sheldon).
Premise: An alien prince hides on Earth posing as a high-school student while honing telekinetic powers to one day reclaim his homeworld.
Behind-the-scenes: Production delays and a serious stunt accident plagued filming. NBC retooled mid-season, shifting from teen drama to espionage, but the series ended after 22 episodes.

8.’ V / V: The Final Battle / V: The Series’ (NBC, 1983–1985)

Cast: Jane Badler (Diana), Marc Singer (Mike Donovan), Faye Grant (Julie Parrish).
Premise: Alien Visitors arrive promising peace but secretly plan to enslave humanity, sparking a global resistance.
Behind-the-scenes: Created by Kenneth Johnson as an allegory for fascism, the original 1983 miniseries was a ratings phenomenon. Its follow-ups added action and soap-opera elements but rising budgets and creative turnover doomed the weekly series.

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When used properly, science fiction is the perfect prism through which to see ourselves, where we’ve been and where we’re going. Certainly, both Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone and Gene Roddenberry’s original Star Trek utilized it perfectly to address issues they otherwise never could have. And when Kenneth Johnson created the 1983 miniseries V, it was a cultural […]

9. ‘Amazing Stories’ (NBC, 1985–1987)

Cast: Anthology; rotating performers including Kevin Costner, Patrick Swayze, and John Lithgow.
Premise: Weekly self-contained tales of wonder spanning science fiction, fantasy, and the supernatural.
Behind-the-scenes: Steven Spielberg’s first TV production, produced through Amblin. Expensive for the time, it won multiple Emmys and revived the anthology format, though ratings were modest.

10. ‘The Twilight Zone’ (CBS revival, 1985–1989)

Cast: Anthology; narration by Charles Aidman (later Robin Ward).
Premise: Contemporary retelling of Rod Serling’s moral and speculative parables exploring fate, technology and the unknown.
Behind-the-scenes: Supervised by writers like Alan Brennert and George R. R. Martin. Its two-segment hour format yielded uneven quality but earned praise for episodes such as “Nightcrawlers” and “Her Pilgrim Soul.”

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11. ‘Outlaws’ (CBS, 1986–1987)

Cast: Rod Taylor (Deputy Marshal Craddock), William Lucking, Patrick Houser.
Premise: A posse of 19th-century outlaws and a lawman are transported through time to 1980s Houston, where they become modern bounty hunters.
Behind-the-scenes: Created by Lee David Zlotoff (MacGyver). The time-travel-meets-Western blend drew a cult audience but couldn’t find a stable slot.

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12. ‘Starman’ (ABC, 1986–1987)

Cast: Robert Hays (Starman), Christopher Daniel Barnes (Scott Hayden), Michael Cavanaugh.
Premise: Continuing the 1984 film, the alien returns to Earth to find his son and protect him from government agents.
Behind-the-scenes: Produced by Mike Gray and Bruce A. Evans. Shot largely in Oregon, it offered a gentler, character-driven approach than most sci-fi series. Ratings were modest but fan affection enduring.

13. ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (Syndicated, 1987–1994)

Cast: Patrick Stewart (Capt. Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton.
Premise: A new Enterprise crew explores the galaxy a century after Kirk and Spock, confronting moral and political dilemmas of a utopian future.
Behind-the-scenes: Created by Gene Roddenberry and produced by Paramount for first-run syndication. Initially polarizing, it evolved into a phenomenon that revitalized the Star Trek franchise and set TV’s sci-fi standard.

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19 Rare 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' Set Photos, 1987 to 2002

The arrival of the syndicated television series Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987 was met with two equally fervent responses: excitement that we were getting a new weekly version of Star Trek and trepidation that it could never live up to the legend of what had been. The question was whether or not a new crew aboard […]

14. ‘Max Headroom’ (ABC, 1987–1988)

Cast: Matt Frewer (Edward “Edison” Carter / Max Headroom), Amanda Pays, Jeffrey Tambor.
Premise: In a media-controlled near future, a crusading journalist’s digital clone exposes corporate corruption.
Behind-the-scenes: Inspired by the British telefilm 20 Minutes into the Future. Its cyberpunk imagery and sardonic tone anticipated The Matrix. Critically acclaimed but short-lived due to high costs and niche appeal.

15. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (CBS, 1987–1990)

Cast: Ron Perlman (Vincent), Linda Hamilton (Catherine Chandler).
Premise: In New York, an empathic lion-like man from an underground community forms a bond with an idealistic attorney.
Behind-the-scenes: Created by Ron Koslow; produced by CBS Television and Republic Pictures with George R. R. Martin (writer of the Game of Thrones novels) on staff. Merged fantasy romance with social allegory, gaining a devoted fandom that endured long after cancellation.

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The ‘Beauty and the Beast‘ 1987 Romantasy Series Cast, Then and Now

Above the streets of New York and below them, television's most romantic fantasy played out, starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman.

16. ‘Probe’ (ABC, 1988)

Cast: Parker Stevenson (Austin James), Ashley Crow (Mickey Castle).
Premise: A brilliant scientist uses logic and invention to unravel scientific mysteries.
Behind-the-scenes: Created by Isaac Asimov and Michael Wagner for Disney/ABC. Its cerebral tone appealed to critics but confused casual viewers, ending after seven episodes.

17. ‘The Highwayman’ (NBC, 1987–1988)

Cast: Sam J. Jones (The Highwayman), Jane Badler, Tim Russ.
Premise: In a near-future America, an enigmatic lawman drives a massive high-tech truck to battle futuristic crime.
Behind-the-scenes: Executive-produced by Glen A. Larson. A mash-up of Mad Max and Knight Rider, it featured spectacular vehicles but little story cohesion; only nine episodes aired.

18. ‘War of the Worlds’ (Syndicated, 1988–1990)

Cast: Jared Martin (Harrison Blackwood), Lynda Mason Green, Richard Chaves, Philip Akin.
Premise: The aliens from the 1953 film awaken decades later and renew their attempt to conquer Earth.
Behind-the-scenes: Produced by Paramount Television for syndication. Season 1 followed the ’50s film continuity; Season 2’s creative overhaul shifted tone toward grim dystopia.

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19. ‘Something Is Out There’ (NBC miniseries 1988 / series 1989)

Cast: Joe Cortese (Detective Brick Brody), Maryam d’Abo (Ta’Ra).
Premise: A Los Angeles cop teams with a telepathic alien woman to stop an extraterrestrial killer on the loose.
Behind-the-scenes: Universal’s attempt to pair Alien-style horror with buddy-cop chemistry. The miniseries rated well, but the weekly follow-up was canceled after eight episodes.

20. ‘Quantum Leap’ (NBC, 1989–1993)

Cast: Scott Bakula (Dr. Sam Beckett), Dean Stockwell (Al Calavicci).
Premise: A scientist trapped in his own time-travel experiment “leaps” into other people’s lives to correct mistakes in history.
Behind-the-scenes: Created by Donald P. Bellisario. Its blend of morality play, nostalgia, and emotional storytelling built a loyal audience and multiple Emmy wins.

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21. ‘Alien Nation’ (Fox, 1989–1990)

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Cast: Gary Graham (Matt Sikes), Eric Pierpoint (George Francisco), Michele Scarabelli (Susan Francisco).
Premise: Set in a near-future Los Angeles where alien “Newcomers” integrate into society, two detectives—one human, one alien—form an uneasy partnership.
Behind-the-scenes: Developed by Kenneth Johnson from the 1988 film. Canceled after one season despite critical acclaim; five TV movies followed in the 1990s.

22. ‘Hard Time on Planet Earth’ (CBS, 1989)

Cast: Martin Kove (Jesse), Danny Mann (voice of Control).
Premise: An alien soldier exiled to Earth learns humanity while guided by a hovering robotic overseer.
Behind-the-scenes: Produced by Jim and John Thomas (Predator). Intended as action-comedy but suffered from uneven tone; canceled after 13 episodes and remembered mainly as a late-’80s curiosity.