Buck Rogers in the 25th Century poster

TV series

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

1979TV-142 seasons7.0 / 10

The original space man! The ultimate trip! Buck Rogers swings back to earth and lays it on the 25th Century!

20th-century astronaut Buck Rogers awakens in the 25th century after a freak accident puts him in suspended animation for 500 years. Upon returning to Earth and discovering the planet is recovering from a nuclear war, Buck uses his combat skills and ingenuity to protect Earth and fight evil throughout the galaxy alongside starfighter pilot Colonel Wilma Deering and robot companion Twiki.

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Checked Jul 22, 2026

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century premiered September 20, 1979. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.

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Synopsis

20th-century astronaut Buck Rogers awakens in the 25th century after a freak accident puts him in suspended animation for 500 years. Upon returning to Earth and discovering the planet is recovering from a nuclear war, Buck uses his combat skills and ingenuity to protect Earth and fight evil throughout the galaxy alongside starfighter pilot Colonel Wilma Deering and robot companion Twiki.

Season 1 episodes

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Episode 1

Awakening (1)

Sep 20, 19791h7.5 / 10

In the year 1987, NASA launched space probe Ranger III, with astronaut William "Buck" Rogers, on a 5-month trip around the solar system. However, the craft runs into a meteor storm, which disrupts its life support system and sends it into a long elliptical orbit of the Earth. In the year 2491, Ranger III again approaches the Earth, and is intercepted by the alien flagship Draconia, which is on a peace mission to Earth. Aboard the Draconia, Buck is revived by Princess Ardala and her second-in- command, Kane, whose true plan is to attack and conquer Earth. Buck is sent to Earth with a hidden homing device, which is soon discovered by Earth's Defense Directorate. After Buck convinces the humans of his true identity -- a man from the past -- he helps them to repel the Draconians' attack, with the aid of the mechanoids Dr. Theopolis and Twiki.

Episode credits

Directed by Daniel HallerWritten by Glen A. Larson, Leslie StevensGuest stars Henry Silva, Duke Butler, Caroline Smith, John Dewey Carter, Pamela Hensley

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Episode 2

Awakening (2)

Sep 20, 19791h8.3 / 10

In the year 1987, NASA launched space probe Ranger III, with astronaut William ""Buck" Rogers, on a 5-month trip around the solar system. However, the craft runs into a meteor storm, which disrupts its life support system and sends it into a long elliptical orbit of the Earth. In the year 2491, Ranger III again approaches the Earth, and is intercepted by the alien flagship Draconia, which is on a peace mission to Earth. Aboard the Draconia, Buck is revived by Princess Ardala and her second-in- command, Kane, whose true plan is to attack and conquer Earth. Buck is sent to Earth with a hidden homing device, which is soon discovered by Earth's Defense Directorate. After Buck convinces the humans of his true identity -- a man from the past -- he helps them to repel the Draconians' attack, with the aid of the mechanoids Dr. Theopolis and Twiki.

Episode credits

Directed by Daniel HallerWritten by Glen A. Larson, Leslie StevensGuest stars Henry Silva, Duke Butler, Caroline Smith, John Dewey Carter, Pamela Hensley

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 3

Planet of the Slave Girls (1)

Sep 27, 19791h4.2 / 10

Most of Earth's defense squadron becomes incapacitated after ingesting poisoned food discs. Buck travels to the planet of the food's origin, Vistula, with Wilma and flight instructor Duke Danton, an old boyfriend of Wilma's. On the planet, they trace the plot to a man named Kaleel who has been selling slaves to the planet's governor and secretly building an attack fleet. With so few fighter pilots, Earth's defense force is now outnumbered 10-to-1. Buck must rescue Wilma from Kaleel's mountain fortress and destroy the fleet before they can reach Earth. This episode was initially aired as a two hour special.

Episode credits

Directed by Michael CaffeyWritten by Anne Collins, Aubrey Solomon, Steve GreenbergGuest stars Macdonald Carey, Don Marshall, Jack Palance, Roddy McDowall, Michael Masters, David Groh, Brianne Leary, Karen Carlson

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Episode 4

Planet of the Slave Girls (2)

Sep 27, 19791h7.0 / 10

Most of Earth's defense squadron becomes incapacitated after ingesting poisoned food discs. Buck travels to the planet of the food's origin, Vistula, with Wilma and flight instructor Duke Danton (Groh), an old boyfriend of Wilma's. On the planet, they trace the plot to a man named Kaleel (Palance) who has been selling slaves to the planet's governor (McDowall) and secretly building an attack fleet. With so few fighter pilots, Earth's defense force is now outnumbered 10-to-1. Buck must rescue Wilma from Kaleel's mountain fortress and destroy the fleet before they can reach Earth. This episode was initially aired as

Episode credits

Directed by Michael CaffeyWritten by Anne Collins, Aubrey Solomon, Steve GreenbergGuest stars Macdonald Carey, Don Marshall, Jack Palance, Roddy McDowall, Michael Masters, David Groh, Brianne Leary, Karen Carlson

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 5

Vegas in Space

Oct 4, 19791h5.7 / 10

Buck is sent to the gambling city Sinaloa with Directorate special agent Marla Landers to rescue a young woman who has been kidnapped by the city's ruler, Velosi. Velosi plans to extract some information from the woman's mind in order to destroy one of his competitors. The information involves plans for the Draconian Hatchet fighters, which have been plaguing Earth's defense forces.

Episode credits

Directed by Sigmund Neufeld Jr.Written by Anne CollinsGuest stars Joseph Wiseman, Pamela Susan Shoop, Juanin Clay, Cesar Romero, James Luisi, Ana Alicia, Alice Frost, Richard Lynch

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 6

The Plot to Kill a City (1)

Oct 11, 19791h7.0 / 10

After a Defense Directorate agent kills a member of a group of interstellar assassins, they plot to take their revenge on the city of New Chicago. Buck masquerades as an assassin and joins the group, but is soon uncovered. He must now, not only escape from the assassins, but also stop them from detonating New Chicago's matter/antimatter energy plant.

Episode credits

Directed by Dick LowryWritten by Alan BrennertGuest stars John Furlong, James Sloyan, Frank Gorshin, John Quade, Victor Argo, Markie Post, Cathey Paine, Anthony James

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 7

The Plot to Kill a City (2)

Oct 18, 19791h7.5 / 10

After a Defense Directorate agent kills a member of a group of interstellar assassins, they plot to take their revenge on the city of New Chicago. Buck masquerades as an assassin and joins the group, but is soon uncovered. He must now, not only escape from the assassins, but also stop them from detonating New Chicago's matter/antimatter energy plant.

Episode credits

Directed by Dick LowryWritten by Alan BrennertGuest stars John Furlong, James Sloyan, Frank Gorshin, John Quade, Victor Argo, Markie Post, Anthony James, James McEachin

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 8

Return of the Fighting 69th

Oct 25, 19791h6.0 / 10

Some time before Buck Roger's arrival, Col. Wilma Deering had set out to capture two interstellar gun runners. A fire in their spacecraft left them disfigured and they now set out to take their revenge on Wilma and Earth. Capturing a freighter with 20th Century chemical weapons, they plan to poison the planet's atmosphere. With the aid of retired members of the Earth Defense Directorate's 69th Squadron, Buck and Wilma attack the gun runners' base to destroy them and the chemical weapons.

Episode credits

Directed by Philip LeacockWritten by David Bennett CarrenGuest stars Robert Quarry, Elizabeth Allen, Duncan McKenzie, K.T. Stevens, Eddie Firestone, Robert Hardy, Peter Graves, Woody Strode

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 9

Unchained Woman

Nov 1, 19791h6.0 / 10

Buck masquerades as a convict to break into a prison in an attempt to rescue Jen Burton, who took the blame for a murder her boyfriend, a shipping pirate, really committed. The Earth Defense Directorate believes that she can supply information to put the pirate in jail. Breaking out of the underground prison, Buck and the woman head for a nearby spaceport for return to Earth, but they are pursued by an indestructible android prison guard.

Episode credits

Directed by Dick LowryWritten by Bill TaylorGuest stars Tara Buckman, Michael Delano, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bert Rosario, Walter Hunter, Robert Cornthwaite, Daniel Ades, Charles Walker

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 10

Planet of the Amazon Women

Nov 8, 19791h7.0 / 10

Kidnapped to the planet Zantia, Buck finds himself auctioned off to Ariela, the daughter of the planet's Prime Minister. Through her, Buck learns that the planet's male population are being held as prisoners of war of a people called the Ruathans. Buck agrees to help the women free their men in return for his own freedom.

Episode credits

Directed by Philip LeacockWritten by D.C. Fontana, Richard FontanaGuest stars Anne Jeffreys, Jay Robinson, Ann Dusenberry, Liberty Godshall, Antoinette Stella, Wendy Oates, Darrell Zwerling, Teddi Siddall

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 11

Cosmic Whiz Kid

Nov 15, 197946m6.3 / 10

Hieronymous Fox, an 11-year-old child genius from the 20th Century is kidnapped for ransom by the sinister Roderick Zale. The boy is the President of the planet Genesia and his bodyguard fears that he will be killed because they cannot meet the ransom demand. Buck, Wilma, and the bodyguard then make separate attempts to rescue the boy.

Episode credits

Directed by Leslie H. MartinsonWritten by Alan Brennert, Anne CollinsGuest stars Earl Boen, Albert Popwell, Ray Walston, Melody Rogers, Lester Fletcher, Tobar Mayo, Tony Epper, Gary Coleman

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 12

Escape From Wedded Bliss

Nov 29, 197946m7.3 / 10

Princess Ardala returns to try to make Buck, who she considers the most genetically perfect male in the galaxy, her husband. With a powerful weapon poised in Earth orbit, she commands Earth's leaders to turn Buck Rogers over to her or else...

Episode credits

Directed by David MoessingerWritten by Anne Collins, Alan BrennertGuest stars H.B. Haggerty, Alfred Ryder, Michael Ansara, Pamela Hensley

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 13

Cruise Ship to the Stars

Dec 27, 19791h7.3 / 10

Murder and romance await Buck, Wilma, Theo and Twiki aboard the cruise ship Lyran Queen. Buck befriends a shy young girl (Beck) while investigating the attempted kidnapping of beauty queen Miss Cosmos (Stratten) by a woman (Noble) with superpowers. To his surprise, Buck learns the true identity of the mystery woman as he seeks the location of Miss Cosmos before a deadly dissection laser kills her.

Episode credits

Directed by Sigmund Neufeld Jr.Written by Alan Brennert, Anne CollinsGuest stars Kimberly Beck, Dorothy Stratten, Trisha Noble, Brett Halsey, Leigh McCloskey, Patty Maloney, Timothy O'Hagan

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 14

Space Vampire

Jan 3, 19801h7.0 / 10

No one believes that the Vorvon, who sneaks up on his victims and drains their living soul, is responsible for a series of deaths on Space Station Theta except Wilma -- his next intended victim.

Episode credits

Directed by Larry StewartWritten by David Wise, Kathleen BarnesGuest stars Lincoln Kilpatrick, Christopher Stone, Nicholas Hormann, Phil Hoover, Phil Hoover, Jeannie Fitzsimmons, David Moses

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 15

Happy Birthday, Buck

Jan 10, 19801h7.0 / 10

It's Buck Roger's 534th birthday, and Wilma and Dr. Huer plan a surprise party to cheer up the homesick astronaut. Wilma arranges to get Buck "out of the way" by having him accompany Dr. Huer's assistant to New Detroit with the doctor's business schedule. Meanwhile, a man who is plotting revenge against Huer attempts to gain access to the schedule from the assistant so that he can ambush and kill Dr. Huer.

Episode credits

Directed by Sigmund Neufeld Jr.Written by Martin PaskoGuest stars Tamara Dobson, Gina Gallego, Bruce Wright, Morgan Brittany, Peter MacLean, Tom Gagen, Clay Alexander, Harry Gold

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 16

A Blast for Buck

Jan 17, 19801h7.0 / 10

To discover the secret behind a terrifying riddle presented to him, Buck subjects himself to a mind probe in an attempt to find out who is responsible for the mysterious objects being transported into the Defense Directorate's building.

Episode credits

Directed by David G. PhinneyWritten by Dick Nelson, Jock GaynorGuest stars Katherine Wiberg, Gary Coleman

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 17

Ardala Returns

Jan 24, 19801h6.3 / 10

Princess Ardala returns with another plan to snare the man from the 20th Century. This time, she captures Buck by luring him aboard a phoney 20th Century spaceship like his Ranger III. Once aboard the flagship Draconia, Kane creates four duplicate androids of Buck in an attempt to have them pilot the Draconian Hatchet fighters in an attack against Earth.

Episode credits

Directed by Larry StewartWritten by Allan Cole, Chris BunchGuest stars Bob Minor, H.B. Haggerty, Betty A. Bridges, Michael Ansara, Pamela Hensley, James Emery

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 18

Twiki is Missing

Jan 31, 19801h6.0 / 10

Twiki is kidnapped by the evil ruler of a mining colony who, faced with an uprising of the mine workers, plans to make duplicates of the mechanoid to work the mines. While in the mines attempting to rescue Twiki, Buck discovers something that will help Earth destroy a 10-ton ice asteroid that is on a collision course with Earth.

Episode credits

Directed by Sigmund Neufeld Jr.Written by Jaron SummersGuest stars John P. Ryan, Anne-Marie Martin, David Darlow, Bebe Louie, Eugenia Wright, Ken Letner

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 19

Olympiad

Feb 7, 19801h7.0 / 10

Buck is invited to be the special guest of the 2492 Olympics. Shortly after arriving on the planet where they are being held, he is drawn into a game of political intrigue as an athlete from the planet Lozira attempts to defect to Earth.

Episode credits

Directed by Larry StewartWritten by Craig BuckGuest stars Judith Chapman, Bob Seagren, Elgin Baylor, Paul Mantee, Paul Coufos, Nicolas Coster, Barney McFadden, Anthony Davis

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 20

A Dream of Jennifer

Feb 14, 19801h7.5 / 10

Buck is haunted by the appearance of a young woman who bears a striking resemblance to Jennifer, a woman who Buck left behind when he was propelled into the 25th Century. He follows her, finds out her name is Leila Markeson, and soon discovers that she was made to look like Jennifer in order to lure Buck into a trap set by an alien who wants Buck to stop a space freighter from delivering weapons to a planet his people hope to conquer. Buck gets Wilma to detonate a warhead to deceive the aliens into thinking the shipment is destroyed. Buck defeats the enemy, but loses Leila, and his lost love again, as she tearfully dies in his arms.

Episode credits

Directed by David G. PhinneyWritten by Alan BrennertGuest stars Anne Lockhart, Mary Woronov, Gino Conforti, Dennis Haysbert, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, Paul Koslo, Shawn Michaels, Marsha Mercant

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 21

Space Rockers

Feb 21, 19801h7.5 / 10

The evil Lars Mangros plans to broadcast a subliminal signal during the next performance of the rock group Andromeda that will cause the youth of the galaxy to riot. Buck infiltrates Musicworld, where the broadcast will originate, in an attempt to stop the madman from destroying the galaxy's cities.

Episode credits

Directed by Guy MagarWritten by Allan Cole, Chris BunchGuest stars Judy Landers, Jerry Orbach, Richard Moll, Leonard Lightfoot, Nancy Frangione, Jesse D. Goins, Jeff Harlan, Cynthia Leake

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 22

Buck's Duel to the Death

Mar 20, 19801h7.0 / 10

Buck attempts to free a peaceful planet from the powerful grip of an evil warlord known as the Traybor. He leads a band of men into Traybor's fortress in the hope of freeing the women the alien has kidnapped, but Traybor has a few special powers that may end Buck's career at any moment.

Episode credits

Directed by Bob BenderWritten by Rob GilmerGuest stars Keith Andes, Heidi Bohay, Fred Sadoff, William Smith, Elizabeth Stack, Edward Power, Stephanie Blackmore, Francisco Lagueruela

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 23

Flight of the War Witch (1)

Mar 27, 19801h7.3 / 10

Buck journeys through a space warp into another universe, where he discovers that the peaceful planet Pendar is being threatened by the sinister war witch Zarina. The Pendarans enlist the aid of Buck and Princess Ardala, who had followed Buck through the space warp, and an unsteady alliance between the humans and Draconians is formed as Buck leads a combined fleet against Zarina's battlecruiser.

Episode credits

Directed by Larry StewartWritten by David Chomsky, Rob Gilmer, Bruce LansburyGuest stars Sam Jaffe, Vera Miles, Larry Ward, Sid Haig, Julie Newmar, Michael Ansara, Tony Carroll, Brent Davis

Where to watch Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Episode 24

Flight of the War Witch (2)

Mar 27, 19801h6.0 / 10finale

Buck journeys through a space warp into another universe, where he discovers that the peaceful planet Pendar is being threatened by the sinister war witch Zarina. The Pendarans enlist the aid of Buck and Princess Ardala, who had followed Buck through the space warp, and an unsteady alliance between the humans and Draconians is formed as Buck leads a combined fleet against Zarina's battlecruiser.

Episode credits

Directed by Larry StewartWritten by David Chomsky, Rob Gilmer, Bruce LansburyGuest stars Sam Jaffe, Vera Miles, Larry Ward, Sid Haig, Julie Newmar, Michael Ansara, Tony Carroll, Brent Davis

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Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026

Available now in United States

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More about Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Watch trailerBuck Rogers in the 25th Century HD Blu-Ray – Trailer

Cast

Gil GerardBuck Rogers

Erin GrayWilma Deering

Tim O'ConnorDr. Elias Huer

Wilfrid Hyde-WhiteDr. Goodfellow

Thom ChristopherHawk

Mel BlancTwiki (voice)

Eric ServerDr. Theopolis (voice)

Jay GarnerAdmiral Efram Asimov

Credits

Created by: Glen A. Larson, Leslie Stevens
Written by: Alan Brennert, Stephen McPherson, Esther Mitchell, Bob Mitchell, Leslie Stevens, Norman Hudis, Aubrey Solomon, Steve Greenberg, Paul Schneider, Glen A. Larson, Francis Moss

Production details

Status: Ended
Series type: Scripted
Episodes: 37
Original language: English

Networks & production

NBCUnited States
Universal TelevisionUnited States
Glen A. Larson ProductionsUnited States
Bruce Lansbury Productions
John Mantley Productions

Themes

25th centuryalien invasionartificial intelligence (a.i.)extraterrestrialfuturenuclear war aftermathplanetary romancerobot