5 Best Sci-Fi Series Theme Songs Of All Time, Ranked

When crafting a memorable and impactful theme song for a science fiction television show, several factors come into play. The song must set the right energy, reflect the tone of the world viewers are about to enter, and do so in just a few minutes. This is a tall order, yet throughout the history of sci-fi shows, the genre has consistently delivered on this challenge.

From classic golden-age themes to the modern, sleeker styles of series like Westworld and Severance, there exists a wealth of great tracks to consider. However, our focus here is on the top five best sci-fi TV show theme songs of all time, ranked.

One standout example is the theme from Star Wars, particularly its main theme. While the universe is filled with iconic themes, mostly composed by John Williams, the modern era has seen an increased involvement of a wider roster of composers. What sets the Andor theme apart is its unique approach: each episode features a different rendition of the theme, carefully composed to reflect the tone of the episode to follow.

This simple yet effective method of using variations amplifies the show's intensity and sets the perfect tone for every episode.

Another noteworthy theme is The Ballad of Serenity from Firefly. Performed by Sonny Rhodes, a prolific blues musician, the melody of guitar and fiddle perfectly matches the cosmic frontier aesthetic that made the show so distinctive in the early 2000s. Despite only having 14 episodes to establish its world, Firefly's enduring popularity and the chemistry of its ensemble cast, combined with fantastic production design and camerawork, make its theme an integral part of its success.

However, its steep competition makes it difficult to rank above the other top five themes on this list.

While several iconic sci-fi shows, such as The Twilight Zone, Doctor Who, and The X-Files, have produced signature chord progressions that define the genre, their tracks as a whole may not be as substantial. The exception to this rule is Star Trek: The Next Generation, where composer Jerry Goldsmith takes the original series theme by Alexander Courage and greatly expands upon it.

The quiet build-up, explosion of triumphant fanfare, and magical descent create a story of their own, capturing the essence of the show's tone. Although the theme is an adapted rendition of the Original Series theme, its lasting impact and enhancement in The Next Generation make it a deserving entry on this list.