Outer Limits FAQ (frequently asked questions)

What is the Outer Limits?

The Outer Limits is an anthology television series. Each episode starts with an unseen control voice which set the tone for the series. The show tried to impart a sense of the awe and mystery of the universe. Most episodes have some basis in science fact and many have some type of monster designed to create terror.

There have been two incarnations of the Outer Limits. The first series (referred to on this website as original Outer Limits) aired from 1963 to 1965 on the ABC network. The second series (referred to as new Outer Limits) started airing in 1995 and 7 seasons of episodes were produced. The Showtime cable channel had the first 6 new Outer Limits seasons done. After Showtime cancelled the series in May of 2000 the Syfy (Sci-fi) cable channel picked up the new Outer Limits for another season of 22 episodes. Both the Showtime and Syfy (Sci-fi) episodes were also run in syndication.

Where can I see the original Outer Limits?

In the U.S. the original Outer Limits has re-run on a number of different outlets after the show was cancelled. Since the 1990s these have included the TNT cable channel, Syfy (Sci-Fi) cable channel, MeTV television network, Comet TV, Chiller cable channel, and THIS TV channel. Where the show airs changes over time but I list airings I know about in the schedule section of the Info page.

Where can I see the new Outer Limits?

After the new Outer Limits was cancelled by Syfy (Sci-Fi) the show has re-rerun different places in the U.S. These include the Syfy (Sci-Fi) cable channel, Showtime cable channel, Comet TV, Chiller cable channel, and syndication. The new Outer Limits has also run in Canada and the U.K. I list airings I know about in the schedule section of the Info page.

How can I find where the Outer Limits is streaming?

To find if and where a TV show is streaming an aggregator can be used. A TV show, for example Outer Limits, can be searched and they will tell you which streaming services have it. They generally include both paid and free services, and can also be used for movies. These aggregators include JustWatch , Realgood , and Yidio .

Wikipedia has an article which lists the streaming services each aggregator includes.

What is syndication?

Syndication is where TV shows are sold to individual stations rather than a single network. Any station could buy the rights to air syndicated shows. I do not know of any stations presently airing new Outer Limits in syndication but online TV schedules can be searched to check if new Outer Limits airs where you live.

Are new episodes still being made?

The last new episode was made in 2001. I have not heard of any plans to make more new episodes but one can never tell what the future might bring.

When and where was the new Outer Limits filmed?

The new Outer Limits is filmed on location in British Columbia, Canada. Here is the filming schedule I found on an I.A.T.S.E. (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists, and Allied Crafts) web page, and other places.

Is the new Outer Limits available on DVD?

In the U.S. there were 2 theme based new Outer Limits DVDs released on September 3, 2002 followed by 4 more theme based DVDs on June 21, 2005. The first season of new Outer Limits was released on DVD on November 1, 2005. All of these MGM releases are now out of print.

The seventh season of new Outer Limits was released on DVD on December 3, 2013.

For the details on all the U.S. releases see the new Outer Limits DVD page.

In Canada there have been 3 box sets of new Outer Limits DVDs. Season box sets for each of the 7 seasons were also released. These are reported to have the syndicated versions of the episodes rather than the Showtime versions. What I know about these releases is listed on the new Outer Limits DVD page.

Season 1 and some of the theme based DVDs have also been released in the U.K.

When will more new Outer Limits DVDs be released?

MGM has not given any indication of when or if more new Outer Limits DVD's might be released.

Is the new Outer Limits available on video and laserdisc?

In the U.S. eight 2 episode videos of first season episodes were released in 1996 but nothing has been come out since. They are out of print now. The only laserdisc released was Sandkings. For the details see the new Outer Limits video page.

In the U.K. there were sixteen 2 episode videos. They are out of print now. The details are also on the new Outer Limits video page.

Is the original Outer Limits available on DVD and Blu-ray?

Kino Lorber Studio Classics released season 1 of the original Outer Limits on both DVD and Blu-ray in the U.S. on March 27, 2018. Their season 2 DVD and Blu-ray releases were on November 20, 2018.

In the U.S. original Outer Limits season 1 was previously released on DVD on September 3, 2002 and season 2 on September 2, 2003. They were also re-released on DVD in 3 volumes. All of these MGM releases are now out of print.

There have also been original Outer Limits DVD releases in Australia and the U.K.

For details on what is in all the releases see the DVD section of the original Outer Limits video page.

Is the original Outer Limits available on video and laserdisc?

In the U.S. all of the episodes were released on video but are now out of print. There are 4 boxed sets of laserdiscs, each set has 6 or 8 episodes. For the details see the original Outer Limits video page.

In the U.K. there were eight 2 episode videos.

Has any of the Outer Limits music been released on CD?

There is one CD of new Outer Limits music and two CDs of original Outer Limits music. For the details see the Outer Limits music page.

Are there Outer Limits books?

There is the Outer Limits Companion and the more recent The Outer Limits at 50 both by David Schow. There are 3 novel books each with 4 stories from both the new Outer Limits and original Outer Limits. For younger readers there was an ongoing series of story books, some adapted from the series and some original stories. For the details see the Outer Limits books page.

Are there Outer Limits magazine articles?

In the U.S. there have been articles in Starlog, Cinefantastique, Sci-Fi Universe, Science-Fiction Explorer, Visions, and Filmfax. In the U.K. there have been articles in Starburst, Dreamwatch, TV Zone, and Shivers. Someday I plan to compile a list of articles.

Where can I get Outer Limits scripts?

Script City has scripts for a few episodes.

Who is the woman in some versions of the new Outer Limits opening credits?

Over the years lots of people have asked about this. There has also been lots of speculation of who the woman might be but I have not found an authoritative answer from someone involved with the show.

What is the song at the end of the new Outer Limits episode The Conversion?

It is Return to Innocence by Enigma.

What is the song at the end of the new Outer Limits episode Abduction?

This song was written for the episode possibly by one of the new Outer Limits music staff. If anyone has details please send me an email.

What are the official web sites?

MGM's site used to be theouterlimits.com but this has not been active for a number of years.

For other sites see the Outer Limits links page.

How long have these web pages been around?

It all started with the new Outer Limits episode guide which was first posted to the internet in July 1995. My original web site opened on June 18, 1996. The pages were moved to innermind.com on October 1, 1998. The creator and maintainer of this website is Loren Heisey. The purpose of this website is, and always has been, to provide information on the Outer Limits in an easy to digest form.

What is the Outer Limits section logo image?

To me Outer Limits invokes images of outer space so I went to the NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope website in search of a picture. I picked this one because spiral galaxies have always fascinated me and I liked the coloration.

The image is the spiral galaxy Messier 81 which is located in the northern constellation of Ursa Major. Though 12 million light-years away the galaxy is easily visible through binoculars or a small telescope. The infrared image was obtained by Spitzer's infrared array camera and is a four-color composite showing emissions from different wavelengths. The central bulge of the galaxy contains older stars and only a little dust. Winding outward are the grand spiral arms which contain much dust. By studying this galaxy astronomers can trace the distribution of gas and dust in the galaxy. This gas and dust provides the raw materials from which future stars will form. Messier 81 was discovered by Johann Elert Bode on December 31, 1774. For more info see NASA's website page for this Spiral Galaxy Messier 81 image.