It’s been some time since we’ve had a good alien-invasion show on the air. The 2010s were a golden era for alien invasion films, including movies like Battle: Los Angeles, the Cloverfield films, Arrival, The Fifth Wave, and even The Host — but TV shows that strung out the storyline were far less common. However, one stood tall as the alien-invasion representative on cable: Falling Skies.
Premiering in 2011 and running until 2015, Falling Skies follows former history professor Tom Mason as he becomes a key figure in the resistance against an alien race called the Espheni. Six months after the initial invasion that devastated most of the world, he’s helping to lead the 2nd Massachusetts Militia Regiment to protect survivors, organize their remaining forces, and rescue children mysteriously enslaved by Skitters, the spider-like creatures that appear to be the foot soldiers of the assault.
Falling Skies was one of those shows I wasn’t allowed to watch after dark when I was younger. That didn’t stop me from sneaking downstairs after bedtime to watch it over my parents’ shoulders when they weren’t looking, though. But now, after what seemed like years of being locked behind paywalls, you can finally stream Falling Skies on Netflix — here’s what you need to know.
Release Date
2011 – 2015-00-00
Network
TNT
Noah Wyle
Thomas ‘Tom’ Mason
Moon Bloodgood
Dr. Anne Glass
Will Patton
Captain Daniel ‘Dan’ Weaver
What is Falling Skies about?
Streaming on Netflix
All five seasons of Falling Skies arrived on Netflix on January 1, 2026. The streaming giant hasn’t announced a specific departure date, so it’s safe to say that the show is here to stay for the time being. But I wouldn’t wait to watch it — with five seasons and 52 total episodes to binge, you have a reasonably long road ahead to see if humanity prevails or not.
All you need is a Netflix subscription to start watching.
So, besides an alien invasion, what is Falling Skies about? Survival. Most of human civilization and its infrastructure were devastated by the initial invasion, and six months afterwards, aliens aren’t the only thing people are fighting against. When survival is the objective and resources are scarce, it’s every person for themselves — which is what Tom Mason, his family, and the rest of the 2nd Mass. encounter quickly enough.
Tom is an unlikely hero. You might recognize his actor from the wildly popular new medical drama, The Pitt, on HBO Max, but in this story, he’s a father turned rebellion leader. But unlike many of the militia’s leaders, who had prior military experience, he was a history professor before the sky fell (literally). His unique perspective and demeanor compared to the other freedom fighters around him are what make his arc so interesting. Besides his involvement in leadership, he’s the father of three sons. After his wife was killed in the initial invasion and his second son, Ben, was enslaved by the invaders, every decision he makes must balance his instinct to protect his other two sons, rescue Ben, and help the surviving civilians he swore to protect.
Falling Skies is unique because the story doesn’t hinge on great cinematic battles or major turning points in a war the audience only sees for two hours (tops). The series shows you what everyday life looks like for survivors of a horrific invasion — the ups, downs, failures, and small successes that keep them going. It paints a clear picture of the gnawing reminder of hunger and the ever-dwindling resources, the psychological tolls of living in their new reality, and everything far beyond the alien invaders themselves, even if they’re still the central antagonist.
This show was easily one of my favorite sci-fi dramas growing up. I’m beyond excited to jump back into the adventures with the 2nd Mass., and it’s a unique look at the worst and the best of humanity while it constantly bands together and falls apart against a common enemy: the Espheni.
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Simultaneous streams
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# of profiles
5
Netflix is a global streaming service offering on-demand access to movies, TV shows, documentaries, and original content. Founded in 1997 as a DVD rental service, it transitioned to streaming in 2007 and now operates in over 190 countries.