Steven Spielberg doesn't just make sci-fi; he makes sci-fi in a way only he can. His stories feature a human element amid the alien and supernatural occurrences, which makes his work resonate with many audiences. Recent shows like The Boroughs have been lauded for their magical, Spielbergian feeling. And while Spielberg is known for movies, he has occasionally dipped his toes into television, bringing his grand visions to the small screen.
That's why Apple TV enlisted him back when the streaming service was launching as Apple TV+. Among the streamer's earliest shows was a 5-part sci-fi series that never got the attention it deserved and was canceled after one season. The series was a remake of Spielberg's 1985 award-winning series Amazing Stories. The 2020 version had a longer runtime than its predecessor, which was only 25 minutes per episode. The season followed an anthology format, with each episode telling a distinct story featuring entirely different characters, settings, and eras. It enlisted episodic guest stars such as Dylan O'Brien (Teen Wolf), Victoria Pedretti (You), Josh Holloway (Duster), and Austin Stowell (NCIS: Origins).
Six years later, Amazing Stories is seeing renewed interest, especially in America. The series has been among the most-watched in the past week, according to data from FlixPatrol, with viewers seeking it out on Apple's PVOD service iTunes. Shows cultivating a new audience years after they ended are not uncommon, but are usually catalyzed by a recent development, and for Amazing Stories, it could be Spielberg's new sci-fi movie, Disclosure Day. The film opened in theaters on June 12 and has been lauded as a masterpiece with an 84% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Your answers point to the iconic sci-fi hero who shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of facing the impossible.
You carry a weight most people would crumble under — the knowledge of what you're capable of, and the burden of what you might have to become.
You lead with instinct, warmth, and an absolute refusal to accept a no-win scenario — because you've always believed there's a third option nobody else has thought of yet.
You are the kind of person who holds the line when everyone else is losing faith — not because you're fearless, but because giving up simply isn't something you're capable of.
You are not reckless, not grandiose, and not particularly interested in being anyone's hero — you just refuse to stop when it matters.
You have been through fire that would break most people — and what came out the other side is something the world underestimates at its peril.
Shows getting canceled is rarely about one thing or another; it's a combination of many factors, and for Amazing Stories, those problems started early when the original showrunner, Bryan Fuller, left the series because of creative differences. Apple TV — still in its infancy stage — halved the original ten-episode order, and when the show premiered, it didn't make a huge impression on viewers or critics. It failed to capture a wide audience due to low ratings, and the anthology format did it no favors, as there was no cast appeal. Ultimately, Apple TV opted not to order more episodes, effectively ending the show's short run. Still, Amazing Stories is a decent, heartfelt watch that'll keep you guessing throughout.
Stream all episodes on Apple TV in the U.S., and catch Disclosure Day in theaters now. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
