Over the past decade, Stranger Things has been the defining sci-fi show in Netflix’s portfolio, blending a supernatural mystery and a coming-of-age story, but the platform’s newest sci-fi series is kicking off an exciting trend that will show up in tons of new TV and film throughout the summer. Netflix hasn’t always been known for its sci-fi prowess. While Stranger Things was an early series that gave the platform a major viewership boost, bringing the feeling of appointment TV in a whole new way, it wasn’t always steady in quality as it moved through its nearly ten-year run on Netflix.

The success of Stranger Things can’t be understated, but as it wound down, it was clear that it was the right time for the sci-fi series to come to a close. Netflix bid a fond farewell to the series, and with room for a new sci-fi series to come into the picture, there’s been some curiosity about what’s bound to be its next big show for the genre. Thankfully, The Boroughs has made enough of an impact in a short time to ensure that the eight-part sci-fi series is going to be taking the crown as Netflix’s best sci-fi show.

The Boroughs, which is executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, arrives at an interesting time in the sci-fi world. With several large-scale, highly-anticipated projects coming on the big screen and the small within the sci-fi genre, The Boroughs will kick off a trend that viewers will be seeing all summer.

The Boroughs Is The Perfect Show To Watch Ahead Of Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day

One of the most interesting things about The Boroughs releasing when it did is that the series released just under a month ahead of Steven Spielberg’s newest film, Disclosure Day. Both existing in the sci-fi genre, the film and the series tackle similar themes and share a common thread. The Boroughs follows a group of retirees who live in a picturesque community. Throughout the series, they must come together to defeat a threat beyond their own understanding, and while dealing with something from another world, they also combat their issues in their current day and age.

With a classic invasion-style storyline, The Boroughs makes use of a fascinating trend that both the Duffer Brothers and Spielberg have used in their work over the years. Bringing classic genre storytelling into the mix, The Boroughs employs several big names who aren’t entirely known for their work in sci-fi. Much like Stranger Things in the past, who chose to bring Winona Ryder on board for her skill and her prominence in ’80s sci-fi, The Boroughs brought stars like Geena Davis and Alfre Woodard into the mix. As a pre-cursor for a sci-fi blockbuster, The Boroughs is a perfect watch.

Disclosure Day Marks A Major Sci-Fi Return For Steven Spielberg

While The Boroughs and Disclosure Day may. be two very different pieces of sci-fi, the fact that Spielberg’s film is even in the genre marks a huge return for the iconic director. As his first feature focused on extraterrestrial life after 2005’s War Of The Worlds, Disclosure Day is going to be a massive shift in his resume. While Spielberg did direct Ready Player One in 2018, its focus was more on virtual reality, while Disclosure Day is focused entirely on the idea of extraterrestrial life closing in on the world.

With shows like The Boroughs and films like Disclosure Day coming this summer, a sci-fi season is upon us at an exciting time. With a summer-long science fiction movement appearing to be breaking its way through to the mainstream, both TV and film buffs should be ready for more content than they know what to do with. With Netflix already contributing a major sci-fi series in The Boroughs, Disclosure Day is next to make waves in the genre.

Release Date

May 21, 2026

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews

Directors

Augustine Frizzell, Kyle Patrick Alvarez

Writers

James Schamus, Jose Molina, Julie Siege, Tom Hanada