3rd Rock from the Sun

There's a new family in town. They're not from another city... They're from another planet.

1996–2001Ended6 seasons139 episodes~60 min/epTV-PG

The high commander of an alien expedition lands on Earth -- what he considers to be the least-important planet -- in human form as Dick Solomon. Along for the ride are his alien compatriots Harry, Sally and Tommy -- who is the eldest of the group but is now angrily trapped in a teen's body.

Where to watch

Where can I watch 3rd Rock from the Sun?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists 3rd Rock from the Sun to rent or buy on Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about 3rd Rock from the Sun?

3rd Rock from the Sun earns 7 badges, led by Award-winning performance and Standout acting.

Award-winning performance, Cast badge.John Lithgow, Primetime Emmy win
Standout acting, Craft and mood badge.Reviews score it 90 of 100
Laugh riot, Craft and mood badge.Reviews score it 85 of 100
Crowd Pleaser, Reception badge.85% rated it 7 or higher
Before they were famous, Cast badge.Joseph Gordon-Levitt: newcomer then, star now
Preferred by Critics, Reception badge.Critics scored it 23 points higher than users
Fun, Craft and mood badge.Leaves you entertained

Reception
Craft and mood
Cast

Reception

Is 3rd Rock from the Sun worth watching?

3rd Rock from the Sun's Midcredits score is the 83^rd percentile of all shows, from 61K ratings across 2 sources. 85% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

83^rd percentile

Better received than 83% of shows

81^st Comedy74^th 1990s

Acclaim78^th

Approval83^rd

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser

How much people like it

77 /100

78^th percentile of all shows

79^th Comedy69^th 1990s

Rating distribution

12345678910

votes at each rating level (1–10)

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

85% liked it

83^rd percentile of all shows

80^th Comedy76^th 1990s

85% rated it 7–1015% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

97^th percentile

60K ratings across platforms

96^th Comedy94^th 1990s

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 29% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show is a wild, over-the-top sitcom about aliens struggling to understand human behavior.

Fans praised

John Lithgow's over-the-top physical comedy and commitment
brilliant ensemble cast with perfect chemistry
clever fish-out-of-water premise exposing human absurdity

Detractors panned

one-joke premise that wears thin quickly
overacting and loud, exhausting energy
repetitive, shallow humor with little substance

What stands out

ActingDivisive90

Lithgow's fearless physical comedy; strong cast performances

HumorDivisive85

mix of slapstick and alien misunderstandings; some find grating

CharactersDivisive80

distinct alien archetypes; some find them one-dimensional

OriginalityDivisive80

fresh alien premise in 1990s; seen as derivative by detractors

DialogueDivisive75

witty exchanges and physical comedy; some sex jokes

Pacing70

brisk episode structure; can feel relentless

Atmosphere70

playful suburban sitcom tone

Plot and storyDivisive65

premise-driven episodes; repetitive structure over time

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 23 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

Women vs men 5 points apart
Under-30s vs over-30s 4 points apart
US vs non-US 4 points apart

Episodes

6 seasons

Season 6 · 2000 · 20 episodes

S6E1
Les Liaisons Dickgereuses
Oct 24, 200022 min
Mary's wealthy sister Renata Albright has donated a large sum of money to have an extension built onto Pendelton University, but Mary knows that it is in fact a spiteful gesture designed to quite literally block the sunlight into her office. To retaliate, Dick schemes with Mary that he will woo Renata, win her, and then break her heart. Meanwhile, Sally and Harry are given ten thousand dollars by Renata to convert their house into a teen center.
S6E2
Fear and Loathing in Rutherford
Oct 31, 200022 min
Tommy is still reeling from his breakup with Alissa, but Sally and Harry convince him that if he can find an excuse to go over to her house, he can persuade her to watch a movie with him. When the pair leave the house together, however, Strudwick is suspicious and confronts Dick. Mrs. Dubcek suggests that they could have eloped, so Dick and Strudwick rush off to track them down before there's a baby on the scene, managing to accidentally abandon Mary in the process. Meanwhile, Tommy has rented a scary movie to watch with Alissa, in the hope that it might bring her into his arms, but Sally and Harry decide to show up and make it more real.
S6E3
InDickscretion
Nov 14, 200022 min
Dick and Mary decide to go on a double date with Sally and Don, but things start to become uncomfortable when Dick and Sally begin talking incessantly about how good their other half is in bed. The next day Dick and Sally come to realize that neither Mary or Don said anything about how good they are, and immediately worry that they aren't. Meanwhile, in a food store, Mary and Don run into each other and, consumed by what they'd heard about each other in bed, share a kiss. Elsewhere, Harry and Tommy follow in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac and take to the open road.
S6E4
Dick'll Take Manhattan (1)
Nov 21, 200022 min
The Solomons visit a parallel universe, in which they are living in New York City, where Dick is a highly regarded attorney, Sally writes a sex column and Harry is President of NBC, while Tommy is a star on Saturday Night Live. Despite this, Dick is unhappy because he cannot find Mary; however, upon entering a basement bar he discovers her, a failed actress-turned torch singer who has renamed herself Kiki Lyle. Meanwhile, Sally discovers that Don is the Mayor of New York, and that she isn't his girlfriend, but his mistress.
S6E5
Dick'll Take Manhattan (2)
Nov 28, 200022 min
Dick takes Mary up to his penthouse and wines and dines her, but she tells him that she doesn't believe in true love anymore, no matter how hard he might try to persuade her otherwise. Meanwhile, Sally isn't happy being second fiddle to Don's wife so she asks him to break up with her. Don, however, wants to run for president and so refuses, so Sally breaks up with him; while at NBC, Tommy's huge ego and demand for a high pay on Saturday Night Live leads Harry to fire him.
S6E6
Why Dickie Can't Teach
Dec 5, 200022 min
Tommy is looking for a college to attend and Dick steers him away from the big names such as Harvard and tries to convince him to attend Pendelton instead. Upon taking one of Dick's classes, however, Tommy decides that Dick is a lousy teacher and that he would rather look elsewhere. Outraged, Dick orders Tommy to go to Pendelton. Meanwhile, Sally is concerned that Don isn't listed one of Rutherford's ten most powerful men and so she gets him a job working for one of them.
S6E7
B.D.O.C.
Dec 12, 200022 min
The Solomons' say goodbye to Tommy as he goes to college, but Dick soon begins to miss him and attempts to convince him to come home. Tommy, however, is enjoying college life and doesn't want to, so Dick convinces him to pull an elaborate freshman prank to gain himself popularity, but really in the hope that Tommy will be expelled. Meanwhile, Sally and Harry are interviewing candidates for Tommy's replacement and although their best candidate appears to be a woman called Christie, when a handsome man named Bryce walks through the door, Sally hires him on the spot.
S6E8
Red, White & Dick
Dec 19, 200022 min
After hearing the crowd sing The Star Spangled Banner at a baseball game, Dick realizes that humans are passionate about their country of origin and attempts to become more American, only to discover that he actually has a Canadian passport. Meanwhile, the other Solomons' work on the basis that all Americans are equal, and start an equality system in the house, putting Harry in charge, who makes everybody wear the same uniform and rations household items, until Tommy begins to fear that they are losing their individuality.
S6E9
Dick Digs
Jan 9, 200122 min
When Dick accompanies Mary on an archeological dig, he is disappointed when the only thing he finds is a small pointed rock. Mary realizes, however, that it is an ancient spearhead and becomes upset, revealing that she has never found anything before. So, in order to make Mary happy, Dick steals a ceremonial wedding moon that was found the previous day and lays it for Mary to find. Meanwhile, the Rutherford Garlic Festival is on and Sally, Harry and Tommy decide to turn their attic apartment into a hotel, but things soon become hostile between them as they attempt to make their 'hotel' good enough to get a four star rating in the Crown Travel Guide.
S6E10
There's No Business Like Dick Business
Jan 16, 200122 min
After playing assistant to a magician at a child's birthday party, Dick decides to himself become a magician, with Sally as his assistant. They become a huge success, performing shows night after night at a local club, but show business soon starts to eat away at their offstage relationship until they hate each other. Meanwhile, Mary joins a defense class after being mugged in the park, while Harry joins the class as the man in the padded suit that everyone attacks.
S6E11
A Dick Replacement
Jan 30, 200122 min
Dick and Mary visit a psychic together, who claims that the pair are from two different worlds and predicts that Dick will one day up and leave Mary. Horrified at this news, Dick decides to find a replacement boyfriend for her, settling on a man called Gary; who thinks he's actually being offered Dick's position of physics professor. Meanwhile, Sally and Harry decide that if the psychic really knows that they are aliens, then they must kill her, but in a way that isn't possible for her to predict.
S6E12
Dick's Ark
Feb 6, 200122 min
Dick has bought a new camera, with which he makes Mary angry, by constantly taking her picture against her wishes. As a result, Mary decides that the two need some time apart. Meanwhile, Sally's coat is ruined when Harry wears it out in the rain, but he claims that the Channel 10 weatherman said it was going to be sunny. Sally marches down to the station and tries to convince them to pay for her coat, but it soon becomes apparent that Sally is excellent at predicting the weather, so they give her the position. Dick, however, is worried that Sally's spot on prediction of the weather will attract unwanted attention and so, when she discovers that Rutherford is to be hit by tornados, he orders her to report otherwise.
S6E13
You Don't Know Dick
Feb 13, 200122 min
Nina accuses Dick of knowing nothing about Mary, so in an attempt to prove her wrong, when Judith walks into the office announcing that she has two tenth-row tickets to a Gordon Lightfoot concert, Dick claims to already have front row tickets. Of course, he doesn't, and so attempts to find a pair of front row tickets before it is too late. Meanwhile, Sally tells Chaz, the Channel 10 anchorman, that she would like to start presenting the news instead, and so he agrees to let her interview Lightfoot in the company's box at the Rutherdome; but really, he intends to seduce her.
S6E14
My Mother, My Dick
Feb 20, 200122 min
Mary's mother Martha arrives in town and Dick decides to tell her what Mary really thinks of her - that she ruined her childhood. Angry, Martha tries to attack Dick and falls over, ending up in hospital. When Dick goes to visit, however, Martha tells him her side of the story, and a deeply moved Dick takes her side and promises to tend to her during her recovery. Meanwhile, Harry and Sally get a nasty surprise when throwing junk in the time space portal - a new alien.
S6E15
Glengarry Glen Dick
Apr 17, 200122 min
After hearing a pitch for a timeshare, Dick is sold and, unable to afford it entirely, he convinces Don to pay the other half. When Dick, Mary, Sally and Don take their first holiday there, however, they find it to be dismal; small and windowless, with nothing in the surrounding area but a prison. Meanwhile, Tommy has finally outgrown Harry, leading Harry, paranoid that he is shrinking, to consult a doctor.
S6E16
Dick Soup for the Soul
May 1, 200122 min
Dick accompanies Mary and Nina to a book-signing for a self-help book entitled 'A Road Map to Happiness', and despite first thinking it stupid, Dick opens the book and is immediately converted. He then concludes that his relationship with Mary stands in the way of his happiness, and attempts to break up with her. At college, Tommy is attempting to get into a fraternity but is doubtful that he'll pass the entry rituals, so he enlists Sally's help, but she just ends up making it harder. Meanwhile, Mrs. Dubcek gives Harry the job of painting the kitchen ceiling, and he is determined to create a work of art.
S6E17
Mary Loves Scoochie (1)
May 8, 200122 min
Dick discovers that Mary has been receiving elaborate love letters from a mystery man named 'Scoochie' and confronts her about it. She reveals that she has been receiving them for years but has no idea who Scoochie actually is, so Dick pretends that it has been him all along. This goes wrong, however, when the real Scoochie arranges to meet Mary at the Medieval Festival. Meanwhile, after another alien unit operating in Ohio wins an award over the Solomons at the Alien Award Show, Sally and Harry make it their mission to track them down, and eventually move in with an Amish family, who they believe to be the other unit, since they are so different.
S6E18
Mary Loves Scoochie (2)
May 15, 200122 min
With the identity of Scoochie revealed to be Liam Neesam, who had visited Pendelton three years ago, Dick is panicked, and follows Liam and Mary to dinner, where he overhears Liam offering her a job with a six-figure salary. The other Solomons suggest that Dick reveal himself as another alien in order to gain Liam's respect. When he does, however, Liam reveals that he doesn't care for Mary, but that she is part of a huge plan to transform the Earth's entire population into monkeys, and rename it Planet Monkey World, so that it may be an exhibit for aliens. Meanwhile, Sally, Harry and Tommy discover that their favorite movie, Arthur 2: On the Rocks' has a 'prequel' - Arthur.
S6E19
The Thing That Wouldn't Die (1)
May 22, 200122 min
Mary is having trouble dealing with what she has just seen - Dick transforming Liam into a monkey, which he had done to stop him doing the same to the Earth's population. Dick consults the other Solomons and they decide that the best approach is to deny everything. Meanwhile, Mary meets with Nina and Judith, who confess that they believe Dick to be an international terrorist, so when Dick and Mary next meet, she demands that he tell her the truth about himself. So, Dick tells Mary that he and the others are aliens. Mary's reaction is first disbelief, then shock, and then she finds it sexy to be dating a spaceman. Elsewhere, the local store has been robbed and Sally catches Don hiding in the frozen foods freezer, where he admits that he hid because he was scared. Harry takes a different line and asks the shopkeeper Sam out on a date, but later runs into her working at a posh restaurant, where she instructs him to call her Samantha. Confused, Harry believes that he is dating twins.
S6E20
The Thing That Wouldn't Die (2)
May 22, 200122 minFinale
The Solomons are struggling to take in the news - they have been ordered back home due to Dick's transgression with Liam. Dick's first instinct is to ask Mary to come, so he takes her to the planetarium before breaking the news to her that they are leaving, and asking her if she will join them. Meanwhile, since admitting his fear to Sally, Don has decided to quit the police force and open a muffin store, but Sally is disgusted by this career choice and decides to whip Don into shape - and turn him into a hardy police officer. At home, Harry and Tommy are attempting to organize a farewell party for the aliens, but have no money, so they decide to max out their credit cards and not worry about paying the bill, since they'll be halfway across the galaxy - they even hire Elvis Costello to sing Fly Me to the Moon.

Watch experience

What is 3rd Rock from the Sun like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Ironic, light and gentle — an even-paced watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Even-paced

Demand · Pace

slowrelentless

Casual

Demand · Attention

casualfull focus

Easy watch

Demand · Emotional cost

easyheavy

Resolved

Demand · Resolution

resolvedambiguous

What it feels like

Ironic

Tone · Sincerity

ironicearnest

Light

Tone · Weight

lightdark

Heightened

Tone · Style

naturalisticheightened

Gentle

Feel · Intensity

gentleintense

Steady

Feel · Swings

steadyswings

Funny

Feel · Humor

noneconstant

Moods

JoyfulAbsurdWarm

Heaviest: throughout

Absurdist humor

Satirical · 5% of showsAbsurdist · 6% of shows

Told as

Three-actResets each episode · 10% of showsStatus quo each season

ToneThe show plays its alien premise with a knowing distance, satirizing human behavior through exaggerated misunderstandings and absurd logic.

The rideThe series maintains a consistent light, playful mood from start to finish, never dipping into heavy territory.

StructureEpisodes follow a conventional sitcom three-act structure with a setup, complication, and resolution that restores the status quo.

Episode formatAlmost every episode ends with the status quo restored — the aliens' misadventures are self-contained with little lasting consequence.

Season formatEach season is interchangeable; the premise and character dynamics do not evolve significantly, and any season is an entry point.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

FunFeel-good

Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you smiling and entertained, with a gentle afterglow of the absurd comedy and affection for the characters.

How it ends · evidence

Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows

Every story archetype, clockwise from the top

Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% (this title) · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of errors: Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe typical episode is driven by the aliens' misunderstandings of human customs, resulting in escalating chaos, a classic comedy-of-errors structure.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes

Every theme, clockwise from the top

Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
Self 27%: Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% (this title) · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsIdentityHope · 4% of shows

Satirizes its themeIntimate stakesEnsemble lead

How it treats its themeThe alien family's fumbling attempts to pass as human constantly explore what family means, while their alien perspective satirizes human social constructs.

StanceThe show uses its alien protagonist's confusion to satirize human family dynamics and everyday social conventions.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanInstitutionalRealistic

PopOrchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Ben Vaughn

SettingRutherford, Ohio: a college town where the aliens pose as faculty and live in a suburban apartment

MusicThe theme song, a bouncy instrumental pop piece, sets the show's upbeat, quirky tone.

Content guide

Is 3rd Rock from the Sun okay for kids?

TV-PG

3rd Rock from the Sun is rated TV-PG. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (13/100), sexual content at mild (33/100), language at moderate (35/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (28/100) and frightening material at minimal (7/100). Overall it is heavier than 27% of TV-PG shows.

Ratings in 9 other countries