15 Shows Like Rick And Morty You Need To See Next

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.

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.

"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?

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.