15 Shows Like Rick And Morty You Need To See Next

"Rick and Morty" has made waves ever since its 2013 debut. Viewers all over the world eagerly discuss their thoughts on the series in a variety of online venues. Every new episode seems to spawn an entirely new slew of memes. It managed to turn a condiment into a BBC-worthy news story. All this hype isn't undeserved, either: "Rick and Morty" expertly crafts its stories and characters in a way that is equally intellectual and hilarious. 

While it's definitely a master of its form, "Rick and Morty" is by no means the first television series to blend science fiction and dark comedy. Today, we're taking a look at the shows that take a similar tack. Some of them came before "Rick and Morty," while others made their debut after it first hit Adult Swim's airwaves. A few even feature the same talent. All 15 are sure to become any "Rick and Morty" fan's new favorite series. Sit back and enjoy the list — we'll be in and out. 20 minutes adventure.

While it never attained the cultural omnipresence or 30+ year runtime enjoyed by "The Simpsons," Matt Groening's sci-fi comedy "Futurama" is not without its own loyal fans. In fact, said fans are so passionate that the show survived its first cancelation back in 2003, ultimately spawning four more movies and two more seasons. 

After pizza delivery boy and New York native Philip J. Fry falls into a cryogenic freezing tube on New Year's Eve, he wakes up in the year 3000. Though his surroundings have definitely changed, he quickly finds his roots and settles back into working as a delivery boy. This time, however, he works for the Planet Express company, alongside a mutant cyclops, an alcoholic robot, and a crustaceous doctor, among other colorful characters. Just like Rick dismisses many planets he visits, "Futurama" treats the future with skepticism: Rather than a utopia, it portrays a comically familiar depiction of what lies ahead. While it might be impossible for the series to escape being compared to "The Simpsons," fans agree that "Futurama” stands on its own as a heartfelt and hilarious look at the future.

The "Star Trek" franchise has come to encompass an impressive number of television series over the course of its existence. While 2020's "Star Trek: Lower Decks" isn't the first animated take on Starfleet — that honor belongs to 1973's "Star Trek: The Animated Series" — "Lower Decks" does mark the first time "Star Trek" has intentionally dipped its toes into the world of comedy. Fans of "Rick and Morty" will find familiar comedic beats here, with good reason: "Lower Decks" creator Mike McMahan has been working on the series since its inception.

Set aboard the U.S.S. Cerritos, one of the least important ships in Starfleet, this animated series focuses on four low-ranking ensigns as they go about their day-to-day lives. "Lower Decks" trades the heavier story arcs present in shows like "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Picard" for a much more lighthearted look at the future. This risk pays off, striking a comfortable middle ground between genuinely exciting adventure and hilarious spoof. To top things off, experienced Trekkies will love spotting guest appearances from beloved "Star Trek" actors.

After working on cartoons including "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack" and "Adventure Time," J. G. Quintel created "Regular Show" in 2010. This quirky cartoon ran until 2017, and even earned a feature film, released in 2015. It received widespread praise from critics and fans alike and found a diverse audience, thanks to its surreal humor and realistic characters.

Much like Morty's mundane life is repeatedly interrupted by Rick's intergalactic antics, the cast of "Regular Show" is constantly bombarded by the bizarre. Taking place in a seemingly generic park in an American city, "Regular Show" follows a unique cast of characters led by Mordecai, a blue jay, and Rigby, a raccoon, who bumble their way through their groundskeeping jobs. The seemingly simple problems they face almost always escalate, forcing the gang to formulate ridiculous solutions. Making the series even more surreal is the fact that it fuses modern tech with '90s throwbacks, making its time period decidedly uncertain. All in all, this show proves itself to be anything but regular.

"Rick and Morty" co-creator Justin Roiland and "Star Trek: Lower Decks” creator Mike McMahan collaborate to great effect on "Solar Opposites." This winning and clever sci-fi series inverts the "Rick and Morty" formula by giving viewers a fully alien cast of protagonists, with humans in supporting roles. After a family of extraterrestrials is forced to flee the destruction of their home planet, they find themselves in suburban America. Their opinions about this are decidedly mixed. 

"Solar Opposites" fully embraces its wackiest science fiction concepts, much like "Rick and Morty" does: Things get very weird, very often. These absurdities are smoothly interwoven with the cast's day-to-day navigation of human culture, resulting in a unique blend of strangeness and normalcy. Fans of Roiland and McMahan's prior comedic ventures will find much of what has made their work successful here, with plenty of new twists to keep things from getting stale.

"BoJack Horseman" does not journey to the far reaches of outer space like so many series on this list. Rather, this Netflix original series tells the story of the titular actor, a deeply broken man struggling with his complex past, a murky future, and a ton of self-loathing. Just like Rick's substance abuse and complete neglect of those important to him are key parts of his character, BoJack's self-destructive personality proves to be his own worst enemy.

Humans and anthropomorphic animals coexist in "BoJack Horseman," though Los Angeles is just as vapid as ever. Within this colorful setting, the series takes a sobering look at loneliness, family trauma, and depression, often through the protagonist's troubled history. It's not all doom and gloom, though: "BoJack Horseman" still manages to deliver clever and comical takes on modern issues. As it makes you question how we see the world around us, so to will it make you laugh. Sound like a certain sci-fi cartoon you've heard of?

Newcomers to oddball comedy "Smiling Friends" might be surprised to find a diverse cast of voice actors in its lineup, ranging from well-known celebrities like "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard to online personalities like "Salad Fingers" animator David Firth and RedLetterMedia writer-director Mike Stoklasa. That range of talent is put to very good use: "Smiling Friends" is an utterly bizarre, darkly humorous, and visually inventive success.

Jaded Charlie and optimistic Pim have a dynamic much like Rick and Morty's. They work for Smiling Friends Inc., whose mission is to bring a smile to the face of everyone who reaches out to them. This seemingly wholesome premise is undermined by the company's unusual clientele, whose extreme dilemmas regularly leave the duo in over their heads. Though the show is still in its infancy, fans are excited to see where creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack take the smiling friends from here.

First airing in March 2001, "Invader Zim" stands as one of the darkest cartoons to ever air on Nickelodeon. While its grim tone may have been at odds with the children's programming it originally sat beside, audiences will find that it fits right in with adult-oriented shows like "Rick and Morty." A race of aliens from planet Irk are plotting a systematic invasion of neighboring planets. Their leaders send the zealous Zim on a "top secret" mission to scout out a planet in the far reaches of their known universe — but in truth, this quest is just an effort to get rid of him. Zim, none the wiser, eagerly accepts his mission, and eventually finds his way to planet Earth in his ill-equipped spacecraft. 

Zim's sardonic attitude towards humans, coupled with his total inability to blend into human society, all underscore the comically ineffective nature of his character. He remains undaunted, however — and so does Dib, his alien-hunting nemesis. Their enmity, and the purposefully unpleasant world they inhabit, are more than a little reminiscent of "Rick and Morty." The fact that "Invader Zim" still manages to be kid-friendly while bearing such a resemblance is a testament to its boundary-pushing bonafides.

"Archer" feels like a mixture of "The Office" and "James Bond," with a generous sprinkling of "Rick and Morty" absurdism. Set in a murkily mid-century New York City, this series follows Sterling Archer, a spy as suave as he is chaotic. Under the cover of his good looks and sleek skills, he's an eccentric mess with a crass sense of humor, a headstrong attitude, a drinking problem, and a penchant for making his co-workers' lives miserable. Said colleagues round out the raunchy series, all of whom are under the controlling thumb of Archer's mother and the head of their agency, Malory Archer.

"Archer" boasts plenty of action, but its characters never feel secondary to it. The series' irreverent sense of humor is its greatest asset, standing in stark contrast to its professional setting. Much like "Rick and Morty," "Archer" is also full of jokes that reward loyal viewers. Callbacks are constant, to the point that many go from being one-off gags to major storytelling structures. If you're looking for edgy comedy, vivid characters, and the kind of intricacy that spawns passionate fandom, "Archer" is your ideal watch.

Gravity Falls was created by Alex Hirsch, who happens  to be a longtime friend of "Rick and Morty" co-creator Justin Roiland. These two talents have expressed their bond through a plethora of Easter eggs eagle-eyed viewers can spot in each series. Their friendship is also reflected in their similar comedic styles: "Gravity Falls" might be a kid-friendly cartoon, but "Rick and Morty" fans will love its off-the-wall approach to the universe's weirdest corners.

Taking place in the fictional town of Gravity Falls, Oregon, this animated series follows twins Dipper and Mabel as they spend a summer with their quirky great uncle Stan. This isn't a restful vacation, however: The siblings are thrust into a world of cryptids, ciphers, and paranormal mysteries they must confront to understand the deeper secrets at play. The series stays pretty lighthearted throughout its two-season run, but it handles its themes with maturity and intelligence. Eventually, the over-arching plot reveals itself to be part of a much larger mystery that is sure to keep adult viewers engaged.

The centuries-old Time Lord and his iconic phone booth likely need no introduction by now, but we'll deliver one anyway. One of the longest-running television shows in history, "Doctor Who" has earned an even loftier place as one of the most well-known and widely beloved science fiction series in existence. In large part, it's managed to stay fresh due to the unique regenerative capabilities of the titular character. The Doctor has been played by iconic talents like David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, and Matt Smith — and those are only some of the most recent choices. 

The Doctor's personality remains somewhat stable, despite the regeneration at play. The ancient Time Lord is quippy, sarcastic, and full of bravado, to the point of cockiness — rather like a certain Rick Sanchez. The two leads are also united in facing a diverse array of enemies: The Doctor fights bloodthirsty statues, dementia-inducing aliens, and terrifying children. "Rick and Morty" might be a far darker creation, but it shares an interstellar spirit with "Doctor Who," as well as a penchant for memorable and often dramatic storylines.

Fans of the absurdist comedy and over-the-top violence that fuel "Rick and Morty" will feel right at home watching an episode of "Superjail!" Its uniquely trippy visuals and excessive gore practically put this series in a category of its own. This Adult Swim comedy centers around an incomprehensibly large jail with a seemingly endless population of prisoners. Run by an eccentric and comically psychotic character known as the Warden, many of its surreal happenings are the result of his actions. Joining him are Jared, Jailbot, and Alice, all of whom are complacent in his insanity. 

Each episode of "Superjail!" builds to a crescendo of extreme violence, leaving scores of prisoners in pieces. Not everyone can stomach the series' more intense scenes, but its fluid animation style and downright unpredictable stories are undeniably impressive. "Rick and Morty" fans will especially appreciate the series' brutal whimsy, as well as it visual innovation, which often becomes outright psychadelic.

"Cowboy Bebop" follows a group of bounty hunters as they traverse the endless expanse of space, eternally tracking down their next target. It does this so well, it's widely considered to be one of the best anime series of all time. "Cowboy Bebop" is also notable for featuring a fantastic English dub led by Steve Blum, who plays the laid-back Spike Spiegel. You might recognize his velvety voice from "Star Wars: Rebels," "Demon Slayer," and "Avatar: The Legend of Korra," among other productions.

While the majority of "Cowboy Bebop" storylines are confined to one episode, every character aboard the ship is tremendously deep. Their histories are intermittently explored throughout the series' concise 26 episode run, especially Spike's gangland past. This approach is much like the one "Rick and Morty" applies to Rick's backstory, and achieves similar success. Not everyone on board the Bebop gets a happy ending — some wind up facing more questions than answers, in fact. But their stories are all unforgettable.

"The Venture Bros." is heavily inspired by the classic '60s cartoon "Jonny Quest." But while that property is a pretty straightforward adventure show for kids, "The Venture Bros." is an irreverent and adult-oriented comedy series. In a world rife with superheroes, mad scientists, occult masters, and exotic aliens, Dr. Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture tries to raise his twin boys and deal with a complex past he's continually reminded of. Like Rick, Rusty is far from the archetypal father figure — in fact, he's kind of a jerk. His bizarre childhood (subject of the in-universe "Rusty Venture" cartoon series) is the foundation of the show's genuinely gigantic world-building, which grows ever more intricate as the series goes on. Like "Rick and Morty," "The Venture Bros." is continuity-heavy and character-rich, full of unexpected developments that call back to prior seasons. 

The fantastic writing and consistent quality level of "The Venture Bros." has helped it maintain its devout fanbase for roughly two decades. Though a 2020 cancelation brought the series to an abrupt end, devotees rejoiced to learn a "Venture Bros." movie will be wrapping its many storylines up. There's never been a better time to dive into this impressive series and its dizzyingly hilarious world.

Set in the far-flung future, "Red Dwarf" begins with technician Dave Lister waking up aboard the titular mining vessel, only to find out he's the last surviving human in the universe. Joining him is a hologram of one of his long-dead crewmates and a highly evolved descendant of a cat Lister smuggled aboard. While the plot might sound like a precursor to "Star Trek: Voyager", there's a lot less heroic ambition and way more cowardice among this crew. Over time, new characters are added to keep things interesting, including a zestless robot named Kryten who the crew attempt to transform into an individual.  

"Red Dwarf" sets itself apart from the ever-growing landscape of sci-fi in a number of interesting ways. Its lack of aliens stands out especially vividly: Every creature the unlikely crew encounters has its origins on Earth. The casual attitude Lister takes towards his hopeless situation on board the Red Dwarf is also notable, and remarkably similar to the dark humor that so characterizes "Rick and Morty." The situation never stops being comical, despite its severity. With an original 11-year run starting in 1988 and a revival that began in 2009, it seems this British comedy might be around just as long as the ship it's named after.

An overt parody of the long-running "Star Trek" franchise, "The Orville" stars series creator and comedy legend Seth MacFarlane. Episodes play out like your typical "Star Trek" installments, albeit with the comedy level dialed up to 11 — and then some. Yet day-to-day issues among the crew continue on, punctuated by cosmic anomalies, odd aliens, and intergalactic warfare, many of which serve as real-world allegories. 

Though "The Orville" got off to a somewhat rocky start, Season 2 proved to a resounding success that got many once-iffy fans fully on board. Audiences who enjoy the zany comedy and serialized adventures of "Rick and Morty" will find that "The Orville" scratches both itches, while also exploring its own brand of interstellar adventure. "Rick and Morty" fans who also happen to be "Star Trek" fans will be especially entertained, of course, but even the most "Trek"-averse can still enjoy the sci-fi antics on display.