Future Man

Josh Futturman is an ordinary janitor who moonlights as a world-class gamer, spending nights perfecting a brutally difficult video game. His quiet routine ends when two strangers claim to be from the future and insist his flawless run marks him as the key to preventing humanity's extinction. Dragged into a mission that mixes time travel, brutal combat and unexpected comic beats, Josh pairs up with two hardened fighters and tries to reconcile his small-town habits with increasingly lethal assignments. The show keeps the tone fast and unpredictable, leaning on absurdity and genre awareness while avoiding any spoilers about how the mission unfolds.

The series premiered on Hulu in 2017, created by Ariel Shaffir, Howard Overman and Kyle Hunter. It’s an original TV concept that blends sitcom structure with science fiction tropes, and episodes were handled by a rotating group of television directors and comedy veterans.

The show did not win major industry awards like Emmys or Golden Globes, but it carved out a niche among genre fans and streaming audiences. While it wasn’t a big presence at mainstream awards ceremonies, it found recognition in fan polls and niche critics for its offbeat tone and willingness to push boundaries within a comedy format.

Future Man has a noticeable cult following, with viewers quoting its sharp one liners, sharing clips of its more outrageous sequences, and turning character moments into memes. The casting of Josh Hutcherson, paired with Eliza Coupe and Derek Wilson, helped the series get attention beyond usual streaming comedy circles, and it fueled fan discussions about time travel rules and genre satire.

Critics and audiences gave the show mixed to positive reactions, reflected in its solid user score. Reviewers highlighted its dark humor, self aware parody of sci fi, and the show’s focus on friendship, fate and messy morality. It mixes slapstick and violence while questioning heroism and how ordinary people respond to impossible stakes.