HBO Max’s Underrated 8-Part Sci-Fi Comedy Returns as a Global Streaming Hit

Adult animation is having a moment, with shows like Rick and Morty and Inside Job leading the way. Now, a sci-fi comedy that many had forgotten is suddenly gaining popularity on HBO Max, three years after it originally ended.

According to FlixPatrol, the animated comedy Fired on Mars is currently a popular show on HBO Max, ranking as the seventh most-watched worldwide. It’s gaining traction in several countries including Argentina, Australia, and the UK. Created by Nate Sherman and Nick Vokey, the series first launched in April 2023 and was inspired by their earlier short film.

What Was Fired on Mars About?

The story, Fired on Mars, centers around Jeff, a graphic designer who moved to the Mars colony to work for a new company. When he unexpectedly loses his job, Jeff is left stranded with no way to get back to Earth and must figure out his next move.

The animated series Fired on Mars boasts a talented voice cast including Luke Wilson as Jeff Cooper, a man searching for meaning after losing his job. Tim Heidecker, Sean Wing, Pete Davidson, Cedric Yarbrough, Amara Karan, Pamela Adlon, and Leslie David Baker also lend their voices to the show, playing characters named Darren Young, Brandon O’Brien, Martin, Jaxton Olivier, Crystal, Reagan Smith, and Hubert Danielson respectively.

The sci-fi comedy Fired on Mars featured a large cast including Frankie Quiñones, Al Di, Chase Bernstein, Stephen Root, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Emily Watson, Thomas Haden Church, Carson Mell, David Faustino, Dasha Nekrasova, Dan Soder, Dawnn Lewis, and John Noble. Though it only lasted one season with eight episodes and didn’t get a lot of attention, the show was actually quite popular with those who watched it.

Fired on Mars Received Positive Reviews from Viewers

The HBO Max comedy Fired on Mars hasn’t received an official critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences love it – giving it an 84% rating (Popcornmeter). It also has a solid 6.9 out of 10 rating on IMDb from nearly 3,000 viewers, and an impressive user score of 8.2 on Metacritic, which suggests widespread positive feedback.

I’ve been following the reviews of Fired on Mars, and it sounds really interesting! Johnny Loftus at Decider pointed out that there’s a surprisingly funny and edgy side to the show, especially because it focuses on Jeff’s feelings of being an outsider. And Marty Brown from Common Sense Media thinks the show has a solid base and could really take off – which is encouraging to hear! It seems like it’s got potential to be something special.

Despite not being widely noticed when it first aired, Fired on Mars has gained a dedicated following as a sci-fi favorite. The show is now experiencing a revival, climbing the charts on HBO Max and finding new fans – much like other series that became hits later on. Currently, Fired on Mars is one of the most popular shows on the platform globally.

2026-07-27 02:35