Whilesci-fias a genre generally conjures images of big-budget spectacles and grand uses of special effects, some series manage to achieve greatness without a lot of money behind them. Although science fiction can benefit from large-scale endeavors and huge finances backing them up, at its core, this is a genre that’s more concerned with ideas than it is withawe-inspiring special effects. While big budgets can elevate already great stories, they would be nothing without strong writing, performances, and thought-provoking thematic depth.
Many of thebest sci-fi seriesof all time were made on shoestring budgets, as long-runningshows likeDoctorWhomanaged to become defining works of popular culture long before they were given large budgets. Otherseries were strikingly clever in how they utilized the limited fundsthey had and managed to make their shows appear much more expensive than they actually were. From cult classics to offbeat triumphs, sci-fi television boasts many great low-budget series.
8Sliders (1995–2000)
This parallel universe-traversing series explored massive topics with a small budget
The Fox sci-fi seriesSlidersfollowed characters who could “slide” between Earth’s various parallel universesvia a vortex-like wormhole. With a technology malfunction meaning they could not return home to their own universe, it was fascinating to watch these characters enter alternate timelines with concepts like what if America lost the Revolutionary War or find themselves in a world where time moves backwards. While all these locations made for thrilling sci-fi settings, they were also so similar to our own world that they did not require massive budgets to depict.
Slidersturned its budgetary constraints into an advantage, and the inability to put huge amounts of money behind extraordinary locations meant that the concepts themselves had to do much of the narrative heavy lifting. With thought-provoking ideas serving as the basis for each episode,Slidersmanaged to stand out as a great 1990s sci-fi series.
7The Outer Limits (1995–2002)
This anthology revival series stood up to the legacy of the original
The Outer Limitswas an acclaimed 1960s sci-fi horror series that stood as a compelling alternative toThe Twilight Zone. While the show’s legacy was strong enough to warrant a revival in the 1990s and early 2000s, this was not accompanied by a massive budget, but the show still managed to deliver great sci-fi stories usually infused with horror elements and a surprising twist ending. As a thought-provoking and philosophically rich series, the revival ofThe Outer Limitswas often deeper and more intriguing than what was seen in the original show.
With Kevin Conway as the new Control Voice,The Outer Limitsvalued interesting stories and strong characterizations over eye-catching guest stars or expensive spectacles. With episodes that could be happy, tragic, scary, or sad,one of the best things aboutThe Outer Limitsrevival was that you never knew what to expect, and the show consistently pushed for creativity and originality.
6Babylon 5 (1993 - 1998)
This space opera series kept budgets low through minimal location use
Babylon 5told the story of human military staff and alien diplomats onboard a space station in a way that managed to look absolutely great while keeping the budget low. Series creator J. Michael Straczynski was struck by how often sci-fi series go over budget and felt that this primarily came down to a lack of preplanning on behalf of the creators (viaMirrors.) To overcome this issue,Straczynski ensured much of the action ofBabylon 5was set in one place, the space station, which kept costs low while also exploring the complexities of the universe.
By focusing on the aftermath of several interspecies wars,Babylon 5’sship was built to accommodate neutral ground for galactic diplomacy and trade, offering ample opportunity to explore conflicts that were incredibly relevant to real-world politics. Through the use of clever CGI cutscenes and by building a universe through dialogue rather than visuals,Babylon 5was the king of doing a lot with very little.
5Farscape (1999–2003)
This Australian-American sci-fi series made up for its low budget through iconic Jim Henson creatures
WhileFarscapenever had a huge budget, it did have one aspect that felt totally priceless and irreplaceable: puppets from the Jim Henson Creature Shop. With the same iconic puppetry that was also used bySesame Street,The Muppets,Labyrinth, andThe Dark Crystal, there’s just something so nostalgic and striking about these puppets that it more than made up for the smaller-scale budget ofFarscape. With animatronics that actually felt alive, the use of practical effects madeFarscapefeel like it had far higher production values than its budget allowed for.
Featuring a diverse ensemble cast that escaped from the corrupt, militaristic organization known as the Peacekeepers,Farscapeleaned into offbeat storytelling, practical effects, and rich world-building to create something truly special. With creative storytelling that meant one episode could be filled with slapstick comedy while the next featured almost-Shakespearean levels of tragedy,Farscapeensured the last thing a viewer would be thinking about when they were enjoying an episode was its lack of a huge budget.
4Doctor Who (1963–1989)
It’s a testament to just how inspired the originalDoctor Whoseries was that this BBC sci-fi has remained an integral part of British culture to this day. While the revival series, which began in 2005, has benefited from an increased budget and modern special effects, the original run of the show was a low-budget affair that had to devise clever ways to present time travel and space exploration on a limited budget.
The fact thatDoctor Whoantagonists like the Daleks and Cybermen have remained consistent foeswithin the series mythology and maintained their low-budget aesthetic showcases that you don’t need a lot of money to create some truly iconic designs. The way that the Doctor can be regenerated with a new actor means this series has the potential to go on forever, and it’s thrilling to investigate the way the show grew from a small-scale 1960s sci-fi to one of the most beloved series of all time.
3Firefly (2002)
This Joss Whedon cult favorite made great use of its restricted budget
Fireflyis one of the most famous examples of a great show that was cancelled too soon, and even more than 20 years later, viewers still hold out hope for its return. While series creatorJoss Whedon proved himself a major voice in television through the success of shows likeBuffy the Vampire SlayerandAngel, this did not guarantee him a huge budget forFirefly. Instead, this Western had to make do with limited funds as it told the story of fugitive renegades living on the fringes of society after being on the losing side of a civil war.
WhileFirefly’sbudgetary constraints may not be immediately apparent, those paying attention will notice the clever way much of the action was confined to the inside of the Serenity spaceship. When the team did go outside to explore alien planets, instead of expensive CGI-rendered landscapes, it was often barren desert worlds that they encountered. Luckily, this actually played into the show’s mix of sci-fi and Western aesthetics and added to the series its unique sense of style.
2Red Dwarf (1988 - Present)
This BBC cult classic managed to achieve greatness without a huge budget
One prime reason that BBC sci-fi comedyRed Dwarfmanaged to become such an enduring success was that, instead of trying to come across as a prestige, big-budget epic, it embraced its financial restrictions and made this part of its aesthetic. With poor sets, obvious models, and a lack of CGI,Red Dwarffocused on human experiences and strong writing over expensive spectacle.
As a hilarious parody of the sci-fi genre, part ofthe joy of watchingRed Dwarfwas catching its endless references to everything from2001: A Space OdysseytoThe Terminator. With its distinctive vocabulary,Red Dwarfcarved out its identity through aspects that didn’t require money, as made-up words like hologrammatic, dollarpound, and bazookoids made its world feel fully realized. While it’s uncertain if the show will return for new episodes in 2025 as previously announced, it’s a testament to the quality of the series that sci-fi fans still crave moreRed Dwarf.
1The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)
This anthology series valued strong writing over expensive set pieces
Rod Serling transformed the TV landscape with his all-time great anthology seriesThe Twilight Zone, a show that has continued to influence writers and directors to this day. With a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror,The Twilight Zonetold eerie stories with profound moral messages, often with shocking twist endings infused with existential pondering. While the show never had a huge budget, this didn’t matter, as the writing and performances were so strong that it has stood the test of time all these decades later.
The Twilight Zonewas so influential that the name itself has become shorthand for strange or unusual happenings, and its influence continues with modern anthology series likeBlack Mirror. With 156 episodes of the original show, each of which required new actors, sets, and props, little from previous episodes could be reused onThe Twilight Zone. The show had to make do with a small budget to justify 20-plus episode seasons per year. Without expensive special effects to fall back on,The Twilight Zonehad no choice but to make everything else top-tier and become an all-time greatsci-fiseries.
