Futurama

The adventures of a late-20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J. Fry, who, after being unwittingly cryogenically frozen for one thousand years, finds employment at Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery company in the retro-futuristic 31st century.

Futurama (1999-2026) is an American adult animated science fiction comedy created by Matt Groening for FOX, later continued on Comedy Central and Hulu. Pizza delivery boy Philip J. Fry (voiced by Billy West), accidentally frozen for a thousand years, lands a job at Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery company run by his grandniece Leela (Katey Sagal) and the blunt robot Bender (John DiMaggio). Each episode follows the crew on deliveries across a retro-futuristic 31st century, where bizarre clients, mad scientists and alien bureaucracies turn every errand into a chaotic detour. The series runs eleven seasons and 164 episodes, mixing standalone adventures with a longer thread about Fry's place in a world that has moved on without him. Its engine is comic escalation: a simple delivery spirals into absurd complications, and the crew's bickering loyalty keeps the chaos grounded. Sharp social satire, pop-culture wit and a wistful undercurrent of displacement give the show its warmth. Its tone is breezy yet melancholic, and its sensibility places it alongside The Simpsons and Rick and Morty for fans of irreverent adult animation, with Red Dwarf appealing to those who love deadpan space comedy.

Viewers broadly regard Futurama as a sharp, deeply layered sci-fi comedy whose jokes reward repeat viewing, though its later revival seasons are seen as weaker than the original run.

• The Simpsonsirreverent sci-fi comedy, animated satire of a future society, ensemble of quirky characters
• Red Dwarfspace-faring comedy, deadpan humor with a dysfunctional crew and episodic cosmic adventures
• Rick and Mortyadult animated sci-fi comedy with a bickering crew and absurd alien encounters
• Doctor Whosci-fi satire with heart, deadpan wit and a nostalgic core amid cosmic absurdity

Created by

Matt Groening

Release Date

1999-03-28

Episode runtime

22 min

Rating

8.5 / 10 (3949)

What is Futurama about?

A 20th-century pizza delivery boy frozen for a thousand years becomes a Planet Express courier in a retro-futuristic 31st century.

What is Futurama like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Futurama as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as layered.

Is Futurama violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Futurama as mild.

What did critics think of Futurama?

Viewers broadly regard Futurama as a sharp, deeply layered sci-fi comedy whose jokes reward repeat viewing, though its later revival seasons are seen as weaker than the original run.

Which shows are like Futurama?

Shows with a similar feel include The Simpsons, Red Dwarf, Rick and Morty, and Doctor Who.

How long is Futurama?

Futurama: 11 seasons, 164 episodes.

Is Futurama still running?

No, Futurama has ended.

Where can I watch Futurama?

In United States, Futurama streams on Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow.