BBC Life on Mars
Created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan · 2006–2007 ·
Life on Mars (2006–2007) earns a 86% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended overall. Created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan; stream on BBC.
Averaged from five public sources (critic, audience, Metascore, IMDb, fan). See how we calculate scores.
Averaged from 5 sources
Where to watch Life on Mars
Life on Mars is catalogued under BBC — confirm current regional rights on the platform.
Is Life on Mars worth watching?
Yes — Life on Mars earns a 86% Celluloid Score. Recommended, created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan and streaming on BBC.
Critics Consensus
A modern detective wakes up in 1973 and has to police alongside Gene Hunt — a time-travel premise used as an argument about what policing is for.
Celluloid Critics Consensus
What is Life on Mars about?
A detective chief inspector from 2006 is investigating a serial killer when he is knocked over by a speeding car. Waking up, he finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to 1973. Initially struggling to come to terms with his situation, he has to come to terms with the old-fashioned technology and attitude of the day, while figuring out how he came to be trapped in the past.
Critic Reviews
Life on Mars Review (2006–2007): Is It Worth Watching?
★★★★☆
Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan's Life on Mars (2006–2007) runs 2 seasons, 16 episodes on BBC — a crime series from United Kingdom carrying a 86% Celluloid Score.
Essential television — one of the best in its genre.
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Most searched questions about Life on Mars
High-intent answers for seasons, streaming, cast, and whether Life on Mars is worth watching — built for search and AI overviews.
Yes — Life on Mars earns a 86% Celluloid Score (Recommended), averaged from critic 96%, audience 92%, Metascore 80/100, IMDb 8.4/10, and fan 80%. A modern detective wakes up in 1973 and has to police alongside Gene Hunt — a time-travel premise used as an argument about what policing is for.
Life on Mars scores 86% because all five independent sources agree: critics 96%, audiences 92%, Metacritic 80/100, IMDb 8.4/10 and fan ratings 80%. A modern detective wakes up in 1973 and has to police alongside Gene Hunt — a time-travel premise used as an argument about what policing is for. See the full breakdown on the Life on Mars series page.
No — Life on Mars is not on Netflix. It streams on BBC, and on Celluloid it is catalogued under BBC. Streaming rights rotate by country, so confirm in your region before subscribing.
Life on Mars first aired in 2006 and ran through 2007 (2006–2007). Created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan; it streams on BBC today.
Life on Mars has 2 seasons across 16 episodes (2006–2007). Status: ended / complete.
At roughly 40–50 minutes per episode, Life on Mars’s 16 episodes take roughly 12 hours of runtime (plus credits). Binge pace depends on season breaks.
Life on Mars streams on BBC in supported regions. On Celluloid it is catalogued under BBC. Rights rotate — confirm in your country on the platform app.
Life on Mars stars John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster, and others. Created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan.
Life on Mars has 16 episodes across 2 seasons (2006–2007).
A detective chief inspector from 2006 is investigating a serial killer when he is knocked over by a speeding car. Waking up, he finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to 1973. Initially struggling to come to terms with his situation, he has to come to terms with the old-fashioned technology and attitude of the day, while figuring out how he came to be trapped in the past.
Life on Mars was created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan. It is a crime, drama, mystery series from United Kingdom, primarily in English.
Fans often continue with Inside No. 9, Happy Valley, Line of Duty. See More Like This on the Life on Mars page.