SF & Fantasy TV: Free on Tubi
Why pay for streaming?
Apps like Tubi offers lots of stuff for FREE.
Recently, my wife and I asked ourselves why we were still paying for so many streaming subscriptions. With all the free stuff on zero-cost channels like Tubi, we already had plenty to watch.
In fact, I was just clicking around in the Tubi app to see what else to add to my Wish List. Here are a number of TV shows I found worth watching or re-watching…
(Take note: The Tubi channel offers enough stuff, I’m planning completely separate pages each for listing available movies and available cartoons.)
Breakthrough Streaming
With like 97 million monthly active viewers(!), the free streaming service Tubi offers a huge selection of on-demand content—including more than 275,000 movies and TV episodes plus over 300 exclusive originals. Find more info or click for the app HERE.
Here’s a list of just SOME of the TV shows you can watch free on Tubi
(These are just titles that had my interest—either because I like them or have heard good things. You can find more TV shows available on the Tubi site or in the app.)
Dramas
1 The Twilight Zone | (1959-1964) | The anthology TV series Twilight Zone showed a groundbreaking mix of horror, science fiction, and fantasy stories hosted by the show’s creator, Rod Serling. He wrote 92 of the series’ 156 episodes—and a number of other episodes were written by Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson. In the decades since the show debuted, there have been many, many adaptations, follow-ups, and copies that have appeared in different media.
2 The Outer Limits | (1963-1965) | Science fiction anthology show The Outer Limits often gets compared to Twilight Zone, despite being more focused on, well, science fiction. The show was usually quite dramatic—often with a plot twist. However, I once wrote how my favorite episode was a romantic comedy involving time travel and a murder mystery. (In fact, you can watch “Controlled Experiment” free on Tubi.)
3 The Avengers (UK) | (1961-1969) | British spy-fi show The Avengers (which pre-dated the Marvel Comics team—just saying) focused (mostly) on John Steed and his various lady crime-fighting partners. His most famous partner is Emma Peel. A fun mix of adventure, espionage, and detective work, as well as British pop culture stereotypes, by the time The Avengers ended, it was reportedly on TVs in 90 countries. TV Guide has ranked The Avengers in the Top 20s in their list of top cult TV shows.
4 Being Human | (2008-2013) | British horror / comedy / drama Being Human follows roommates who are, well, a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost. I don’t want to spoil any surprises—but I will say that I really, really liked the main cast for the first few seasons. But when the cast began to change, I was shocked how I liked those stories even better. Also, I loved the show’s musical score. If you haven’t seen Being Human, go watch this show. (There was also a U.S. remake. Never watched that, so I have no opinion.)
5 Forever Knight | (1992-1996) | Canadian TV show Forever Knight is a cop show where the main officer is, well, a vampire. In fact, he’s hundreds of years old. Struggling with feelings of guilt for his past actions (some of which we see in the show’s flashbacks), Nick Knight now hopes to redeem himself as a homicide detective working the night shift in present-day Toronto, Ontario. He’s also hoping to find a way to become human again. (But it’s complicated.)
6 Sanctuary | (2007-2011) | Canadian sci-fi / fantasy TV show Sanctuary follows Dr. Helen Magnus and her team as they seek out those referred to as Abnormals—including monsters, legends, cryptids, legends, and others with special abilities. Once they find them, the job is to either help—or stop—these Abnormals, based on their intentions. Starting out as a series of webisodes, Sanctuary made the jump to TV.
7 The Dresden Files | (2007) | This TV show is inspired by the popular urban fantasy novels by Jim Butcher (whom we’ve talked about here), starring private investigator and wizard Harry Dresden as he helps the Chicago police investigate supernatural disturbances. The TV version of The Dresden Files follows the general ideas—albeit with some changes. In fact, Butcher reportedly says the show is “meant as an alternate world, where the overall background and story-world is similar, but not all the same things happen.”
8 The War of the Worlds | (2019) | In early 1900s England, a young couple must contend with a terrifying Martian invasion when a mysterious capsule lands in their small town. While H.G. Wells 1898 novel War of the Worlds has been adapted in a number of ways, this BBC TV mini-series apparently leaned on some personal details from the author’s real life: “It seems Well’s own romantic past came into play when the three-part BBC series was being created.” (Express)
9 Monster Madness | (2015) | This docuseries offers viewers a journey into the history of movies in the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy movie genres. Monster Madness shares about the golden age of horror movies, about mutants, space invaders, and drive-ins, about the gothic revival of horror, about the 1960s era of Blacula and Splatter movies, then the cinematic evolution of the 1970s with The Invasion of Body Snatchers and more.
10 The Dead Zone | (2002-2007) | Based on Stephen King’s amazing novel, the TV show The Dead Zone features a man who—following a car accident and coma—wakes up with psychic abilities. Now using his powers to help solve crimes, his attempts are complicated by visions of apocalyptic events. “It’s been an honor to be associated with [Stephen King],” star Anthony Michael Hall told the hosts on talk show The View. “And, also, the kind of work it’s given me as an actor—an incredible range, and a great opportunity.” (Apparently, the series ended on a cliffhanger. Just so you know.)
11 Hammer House of Horror | (1980) | This anthology series came from British movie studio Hammer—whose monster movies featured the likes of Count Dracula, Baron Victor Frankenstein, and the Mummy. The self-contained episodes on Hammer House of Horror showcased different types of horror—ranging from witches, werewolves and ghosts, to cannibalism and serial killers. (BTW, Hammer movie regular Peter Cushing did show up on the TV show, in the episode “The Silent Scream.”)
12 The Invisible Man | (1958-1959) | The first of a number of movies and TV shows that borrowed the idea from H.G. Wells, this 1950s British show followed a scientist—rendered invisible by a lab accident—as he partners with British Intelligence. The show was loosely inspired by Wells’ 1897 novel The Invisible Man—seriously, they took it in a completely different direction. This character remained sane. And, you know, helped people.
13 Space:1999 | (1975-1977) | When the moon is blown out of orbit, the crew of Moonbase Alpha struggles to survive as the moon now shoots through deep space. British sci-fi show Space: 1999 was a kind of follow-up of the show UFO (not the continuity—the actual set itself). It was also the final production by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and—at the time—the most expensive series produced for British TV.
14 Primeval | (2011) | A zoologist professor and his team investigate what is ripping holes in time and allowing ancient dinosaurs to prowl the land in the 21st century. This British sci-fi TV show follows a team of scientists investigating temporal anomalies across the United Kingdom—where prehistoric and futuristic creatures are coming through. There are also terrorists plotting to end of the world. Tubi TV also has episodes of the Canadian spinoff series, Primeval: New World. In that show, new team of scientists from the Cross Photonics company in Vancouver track down dangerous creatures emerging through anomalies in time.
15 Dead Like Me | (2003-2004) | In this fantasy / comedy / drama, Dead Like Me stars Ellen Muth and Mandy Patinkin as grim reapers working in Seattle. The show’s narrator, 18-year-old Georgia “George” Lass (Muth) is learning on the job as she removes the souls of people and escorts them until they move on to the afterlife. The show also shares how George and her family deal with her death. Tubi TV also has the follow-up 2009 movie Dead like Me: Life After Death.
Sitcoms
1 The Munsters | (1964-1966) | Follow along on the adventures of an honest family of monsters who struggle to adapt to the everyday world and their neighbors. (While The Munsters have been revisited by a number of media projects, I love-love-love the original show. Seriously, we’ve talked about them a lot on Monster Complex®.)
2 The Addams Family | (1964-1966) | Based on Charles Addams’ cartoons, this sitcom follows a spooky, yet loving family, their creepy butler, and, well, a hand-in-a-box as they shake up their suburban neighborhood with their macabre ways. Tubi TV also has The Addams Family 1977 Halloween special, as most of the 1960s cast got back together.
3 I Dream of Jeannie | (1965-1970) | A marooned astronaut finds a strange bottle on an island containing a beautiful Genie whose granted wishes, back at home, don’t quite come out right! (BTW, the episode I keep coming back to is when they give an origin story to actual 1960s music group Boyce and Hart. (If you’re a fan of The Monkees like I am, then you know who I’m talking about. And will enjoy the little nods to that group, as well.) Tubi TV also offers free the 1985 TV movie I Dream of Jeannie: Fifteen Years Later.
4 ALF | (original live action sitcom) | This hit ‘80s comedy feaures a furry alien life form who crashed into a suburban family’s house and takes his place there as a total smart-aleck. (Who just wants to eat their cat.) Btw, I watch this show’s heartbreaking Christmas episode “Alf’s Special Christmas” almost every year.
Project ALF | (follow up TV movie) | The original sitcom ended on a cliffhanger—thankfully, they came back with this TV movie to serve as a finale for the original series.
ALF: The Animated Series | (prequel show) | Follow the adventures and misadventures of ALF, under the real name Gordon Shumway, on his home planet of Melmac before he crash landed on Earth.
ALF Tales | (fairy tail parodies—I really liked this show) | ALF and his friends from his home planet Melmac uniquely retell classic stories—with Alf and friends cast in those roles—for this entertaining animated series for the whole family.
ALF on ALF | (commentaries on original show) | Behind-the-scenes commentary (with pop-up trivia) for four original episodes starring the wisecracking furry extraterrestrial.
Animated shows
01 Thundarr the Barbarian | After Earth’s fall, evil wizards rule a strange new world until Thundarr the Barbarian rises, leading a rebellion with strength, courage, and justice. C’mon, it’s “Conan the Barbarian” meets “Star Wars”! (This show is why I recently got obsessed with Sword & Sorcery.)
02 Men In Black: The Series | Based on the 1997 movie, a secret government organization made up of Earthers provide intergalactic immigration services for extraterrestrials.
03 Justice League | Earth’s greatest superheroes unite as the Justice League, combining their powers to face powerful villains, supernatural threats, and global dangers. For this version of the team, the members include Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), The Flash (Wally West), Hawkgirl, and J’onn J’onzz.
04 Justice League Unlimited | Following up the Justice League show, this expanded spin-off had the team membership grow to also include Supergirl, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Question, Huntress, Vixen, Shining Knight, Vigilante, Captain Atom, and a bunch more. There were also some great guest stars, like the future version of Batman (from Batman Beyond). And I consider the final episode of this show to be one of the BEST superhero stories EVER.
05 Batman: Brave & The Bold | Named after the Batman team-up comic book from years ago, this was a fun show with the Caped Crusader and lots of guest stars. Including the great episode with the Spectre and Phantom Stranger (their debate was AMAZING), a wonderful musical episode (I keep watching it, over and over, and singing along), the funny “Aquaman’s family on vacation” episode, and the hilarious finale where Batmite’s plan is to actually get the show canceled… This is a definitely a superhero show to check out.
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