How To Watch 'Fringe': Is The Sci-Fi Series Available To Stream?

There's hardly a shortage of television shows nowadays. Between gritty dramas and quirky comedies, it can be overwhelming when trying to pick a new show to binge, especially when considering all the different ways to consume content. Whether cable channels or streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and a slew of others, there are more shows to watch — and ways to watch them — than ever before.

One of the series currently experiencing renewed attention thanks to its streaming presence is Fringe. The sci-fi drama that aired on Fox from 2008 to 2013 was known for its case-of-the-week-style storytelling as well as its ability to create and sustain a dense mythology over its five seasons — not to mention interacting with fans through many of the series' in-episode glyph codes.

The show revolves around the fictional Fringe division of the FBI headquartered in an off-the-books basement lab at Harvard University. With Senior Agent in Charge Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick) leading the way, FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), scientist Walter Bishop (John Noble), and his son Peter (Joshua Jackson) are tasked with investigating and solving a myriad of science-related crimes. From shapeshifters to parallel universes to a mysterious race of beings referred to as Observers, the trio attempts to find the connection between the weird and inexplicable events plaguing them.

Fringe has been off the air since 2013, so if you're looking to catch up (or re-watch) the fan favorite sci-fi series, here's all you need to know about the show, where to find it, and how to stream it.

Is Fringe Available to Stream Online?

Image via FOX

Yes, all episodes of Fringe are currently available to stream online. All five seasons can be viewed via IMDb TV, HBO Max, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon, and iTunes.

It's currently free on IMDb TV (though you'll need to sign in with an IMDb, Google, Facebook, Amazon, or Apple account), while HBO Max requires users to have a subscription to use the service. However, you might already have HBO Max and not even know it. If you subscribe to HBO through a variety of service providers, you already have access to HBO Max at no extra cost.

If you choose to buy through Google Play, episodes can be bought or rented for $1.99/each (SD) or $2.49/each (HD), while the price of $1.99/each (SD) and $2.99/each (HD) is the same for Vudu, Amazon, and iTunes.

Do You Need a Subscription to Watch Fringe?

Out of the many ways to stream Fringe, the only subscription you'll need is for HBO Max. A subscription with ads can be purchased for $7.99/month (or $99.99/year), or one that's ad-free for $11.99/month (or $149.99/year). Other services offering the show operate via a pay-per-episode model rather than a monthly or yearly payment plan.

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How Many Episodes and Seasons Are There?

Fringe aired exactly 100 episodes across its five seasons. While Seasons 1-4 range from 20-23 episodes each, Season 5 is a shortened season consisting of 13 episodes. Between falling ratings and being an incredibly expensive show to produce, its fate was in jeopardy after the Season 4 finale. But thanks to Fringe's rabid fan base, Fox agreed to a condensed final season rather than outright canceling the show, giving the opportunity to wrap up many of the series' mysteries and character arcs.

Do I Have to Watch All Episodes in Order?

While it would certainly make for a much more robust and satisfying viewing experience to watch Fringe's seasons and episodes in the order in which they were released, it's not necessarily crucial. Viewers who choose to watch chronologically will be rewarded with a better understanding of the series' captivating mythology, not to mention its deep and emotionally satisfying character arcs. On the other hand, there's plenty of stand-alone and case-of-the-week-style episodes that will be sure to satisfy casual viewers' needs for a dose of sci-fi storytelling.

Will There Be a Season 6 of Fringe?

Image via Warner Bros.

Although the series finale wrapped up the main characters' stories in a nice bow, there were enough storytelling possibilities left on the table to continue the show. But does it look like they will be explored in a potential sixth season? Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like a continuation of the show is in the cards...for now, anyway. In an interview with Collider's Steve Weintraub, executive producer Akiva Goldsman admits that the possibility of a reboot was discussed, but the idea ultimately fell through. "We talked to Warner Bros. and we talked to ourselves... but we didn't find a way through it." With Fringe continuing to find new life and audiences with its presence on streaming platforms, it might be too early to rule out the prospect of a continuation or reboot sometime down the road.

Are There Any Shows Similar to Fringe?

You've watched all 100 episodes of Fringe. Now what? Whether you're looking to match the show's sci-fi vibes, its case-of-the week format, sprawling mythology, or captivating characters, there are plenty other shows to binge that will satisfy the Fringe vibe you've been craving:

The X-Files: Viewers yearning for another series about FBI agents investigating paranormal phenomena might be satisfied with The X-Files. A spiritual sister to Fringe, the show revolves around FBI partners Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they, too, investigate cases which seem to involve unexplained phenomenon. With a duration of 218 episodes across 11 seasons (and two movies), there's sure to be a variety of cases for everyone's taste.

Timeless: A history professor (Abigail Spencer), Army operative (Matt Lanter), and pilot (Malcolm Barrett) are tasked with traveling through time in an attempt to capture a man (Goran Višnjić) who intends to rewrite American history. Timeless features great lead characters, an exciting use of time travel, humor, and a mythology that carries it through its two seasons.

Wayward Pines: A strange, cult-like town is the setting for Fox's two season mystery science fiction series. Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon) is a Secret Service agent looking into the disappearance of two other agents when his investigation leads him to the town of Wayward Pines. The series features its fair share of sci-fi elements such as mutated creatures and cryogenics, not to mention its investigative component and overarching mysteries and mythology.

V: The criminally underrated two season revival of the alien invasion series from the 1980s features many of the same elements of Fringe, includingaliens, scheming antagonistic forces, resistance groups, and futuristic technology. It's also incredibly well paced with a group of characters that you can't help but become invested in — not to mention a killer villain in Morena Baccarin's Anna.

Lost: The series about a group of plane crash survivors stranded on a mysterious island is a good bet for those seeking out character-driven mysteries with hearty helping of sci-fi thrown in. Between time travel, the mysterious Dharma Initiative, and the series' visual effects, it's fairly close to the original and captivating science fiction of Fringe. The show was also created by Fringe co-creator J.J. Abrams.