Design by Yosef Phelan

From man-eating aliens bursting out of stomachs and out-of-control AI with a flair for the dramatic, to cunty body snatchers and skyscraper-sized lizards unleashing beams of atomic energy – c’mon, what’s not to love about sci-fi? Beyond the genre’s unhinged imagination, sci-fi has long resonated with the LGBTQIA+ community for its willingness to bend the rules around gender, identity and sexuality, while imagining worlds beyond the confines of societal norms. Historically, that queerness has often been more subtext than text, with LGBTQIA+ themes and characters lurking beneath the surface rather than taking centre stage. But in recent years, that’s started to change, with shows and films like Pluribus, Everything Everywhere All At Once and Sense8 putting queer identities and stories firmly in the spotlight.

That LGBTQIA+ sci-fi renaissance continues this November with the release of Blade Runner 2099. The third instalment in the acclaimed Blade Runner franchise stars Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh alongside Euphoria icon Hunter Schafer, bringing two formidable female leads to the forefront of the series for the first time. Schafer’s casting is particularly significant for trans representation in a genre with a long history of being dominated by male, heteronormative perspectives. As sci-fi continues to embrace the wonderfully weird, the wonderfully queer and everything in between, there’s never been a better time to revisit the stories that helped pave the way.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up our essential LGBTQIA+ sci-fi shows and films to watch ahead of Blade Runner 2099.

Blade Runner 2099 (2026)

Set 50 years after the events of Blade Runner 2049, the new series follows Cora, a fugitive navigating a newly “reborn” Los Angeles. Desperate to stop running, Cora assumes the identity of a Blade Runner – only to find herself drawn into a dangerous hunt that could threaten the fragile city she now calls home. Gasp! “Forced to partner with Olwen, a Replicant days from dying, she hunts down a runaway hiding a truth that could collapse their fragile city,” reads the synopsis.

While it’s yet to be confirmed whether Blade Runner 2099 will feature any explicitly LGBTQIA+ storylines, we’re excited to see openly trans actor Hunter Schafer step into the lead role of one of sci-fi’s most iconic franchises. Following in the footsteps of Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, Schafer will bring a new generation – and a new kind of representation – to the Blade Runner universe.

Doctor Who (2005–present)

The Whoniverse may not have embraced LGBTQIA+ themes and characters in its early years, but the 2005 revival, spearheaded by Russell T Davies, ushered in a much queerer era for the beloved sci-fi series. Following the Doctor and their roster of companions as they hurtle across timelines and galaxies, Doctor Who has become a treasure trove of queer characters, storylines and gloriously camp moments.

From the introduction of pansexual icon Captain Jack Harkness (whom we’ll come back to later) and the Doctor’s first openly gay companion, Bill Potts, to Drag Race legend Jinkx Monsoon hamming it up as the campy villain Maestro, there’s no shortage of LGBTQIA+ representation to celebrate. Then there’s the slow-burn relationship between Yaz Khan and the Thirteenth Doctor, and, of course, Ncuti Gatwa’s criminally short stint as the Fifteenth Doctor. These are just a handful of the LGBTQIA+ characters and storylines that have made the modern Doctor Who such a wonderfully queer corner of the sci-fi universe.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, aka The Daniels, Everything Everywhere All at Once is the kind of film that sticks with you long after the credits roll. From its incredible writing and truly bonkers alternate universes to its jaw-dropping action sequences and stunning score, the film is a wonderfully queer ride from start to finish.