Extinct: Prime Video's 83%-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller Deserves A Binge 9 Years Later

Published Aug 25, 2026, 3:07 PM EDT Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 3000 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions. Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston. neThis cancelled 2017 sci-fi thriller series earned an 83% Rotten Tomatoes audience score and is suddenly finding new life on Prime Video this week. Although its pilot episode originally premiered back in April 2017, followed by a 10-part season that ran from October to November of that year, this series has been virtually swept under the rug and lost to obscurity, becoming a promising high-concept sci-fi series that could have been great. Somewhat remarkably, it has become a Top 10 hit in the United States on Prime Video this week. Extinct is a forgotten 2017 dystopian sci-fi series that is finding new life on Prime Video this week, ranking #7 in the U.S. after being recently added in June 2026. The series received an 83% Rotten Tomatoes audience score but was cancelled after just one season despite receiving mostly positive reception from viewers. That said, its current popularity on Prime Video proves that there's still genuine interest in watching Extinct nine years after its initial debut. Find out more about this resurfaced hidden gem on Prime. Extinct Wasn't Cancelled Because Of Poor Ratings Or Quality Extinct has become one of the top shows to binge on Prime Video in recent weeks even though it appeared to be a dead on arrival series nearly a decade ago. This abandoned sci-fi series sits behind major new streaming releases on Prime Video such as Sterling Point, Ride or Die, and Reacher, making it one of the most unlikely success stories on the platform of the entire summer. Nine years later, modern audiences are finally catching up with the series that was never even cancelled due to poor quality or ratings. In fact, a behind-the-scenes production change was the true reason why this once-promising sci-fi show become extinct itself. Firstly, Extinct was an original production by BYUtv, a very niche streaming service owned and operated by Brigham Young University near Salt Lake City, Utah. As such, Extinct was designed to fit into the streamer's family-friendly programming style and did not have the wealth of production resources that major platforms like Netflix, HBO, and Apple TV have. Extinct is only now a Prime Video series through a licensing deal, but it does fit quite well into its vault of sophisticated and very popular sci-fi series, which include Fallout, The Expanse, and The Man in the High Castle. Ultimately, BYUtv decided to cancel Extinct after one season because it did not align with the niche streamer's overall brand image, not because the series wasn't strong narratively or well received by viewers. Extinct's co-creator Orson Scott Card commented on the reason behind the cancellation, noting that a shift in management at the streaming company was the driving force. Additionally, while the series found a dedicated fanbase, it failed to achieve its target viewership numbers. Still, it's unfortunate that Extinct couldn't find a new streaming home after such a positive start. Extinct's 83% RT Audience Score Proves It Deserved More Seasons Extinct offers viewers a rich story world to dive into based on an intriguing premise of a dystopian future world, which is partially why those who did watch the series became so enthusiastic about it. The series is set in the future, 400 years after the extinction of the human race. An alien civilization known as the Drone intervenes with the intention of bringing humanity back to life, creating and essentially resurrecting a small group of humans. However, another alien race, the Skin Riders, aim to keep humanity extinct, threatening the longevity of humankind once again. Extinct places humanity under the microscope of the supernatural powers and technologies of advanced alien races, creating a fascinating theoretical dichotomy about humanity's role in the universe. The intriguing hook that Extinct is based on invites natural tension and high stakes, inviting viewers to follow the last living humans in a completely new world where survival is the main objective. In the same vein as Apple TV's Silo and CW's The 100, the series centers on humankind's natural instinct of preservation in a post-apocalyptic world and rebellion against the powers that be. Even though it was cancelled far too soon, Extinct remains a great show to binge on Prime Video. Extinct Release Date 2017 - 2017-00-00 Network BYU Television Directors Ryan Little Writers Orson Scott Card Cast Chad Michael Collins Ezra