The 25 best shows on Apple TV Plus to watch right now

2024-11-04

EntertainmentStreaming ServicesApple Tv PlusThe 25 best shows on Apple TV Plus to watch right nowWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Britt Lower as Helly R and Adam Scott as Mark S in Severance season 2

While Netflix and Prime Video have pretty overwhelmingly large catalogues, the best Apple TV shows aren’tashard to pin down. The platform’s more refined attitude towards content creation makes it one of thebest streaming servicesaround, as it entices A-list actors and filmmakers with gigantic production budgets and lots of creative freedom.

The platform’s more modest selection of titles still has something for everyone to enjoy, though, from comedies like Ted Lasso and Trying to nail-biting thrillers such as Calls and Severance. There’s also twisty dramas like Slow Horses or Defending Jacob, if that’s more your bag. We really weren’t kidding when we said there’ll be a series to suiteverykind of viewer on Apple TV Plus…

But how do you pick out what’s worth your time? And beyond that, how do you narrow down which popular programmes are up your street? Well, that’s where we come in. If you’re sitting staring at your remote and wondering what is best to stream next, then look no further. We’ve done the hard work and have highlighted Apple TV Plus’s 25 best shows below.

25. Schmigadoon!

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong looking confused in the Apple TV Plus show, Schmigadoon!

Year:2021 – 2023Seasons:2

Want to watch for yourself but haven’t signed up for Apple TV yet? Check out our handy guide breaking down all theApple TV Plus costs and prices.

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24. Disclaimer*

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

A close-up of Cate Blanchett as Catherine Ravenscroft during the Apple TV Plus show, Disclaimer.

Year:2024Seasons:1

Want more recommendations? Read our list of thebest movies on Amazon Prime.

23. Central Park

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

A bunch of animated people singing in a park during the Apple TV+ show, Central Park.

Year:2020 – 2022Seasons:3

Now, that all seems relatively simple enough, but Central Park’s not your average animated series: it also happens to be a musical featuring big band numbers, raps, and some extremely catchy tunes. The results are both hilarious and charming; a shame, then, that we won’t be getting more than the already-released three seasons.

Need more animated picks? Check out our list of thegreatest animated TV showsof all time.

22. The Essex Serpent

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Claire Danes as Cora Seaborne and Tom Hiddleston as Will Ransome during the Apple TV Plus show, The Essex Serpent.

Year:2022Seasons:1

For more details, read ourThe Essex Serpent review.

21. Bad Monkey

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Vince Vaughn as Andrew Yancy being held by police during the Apple TV Plus show, Bad Monkey.

Year:2024Seasons:1

Vince Vaughn has always had a particular sense of humor, and Bad Monkey allows the actor to dig deep into a fascinating character like never before. Vaughn plays Andrew Yancy, a detective forced into leaving his main beat to become a restaurant inspector after years of recklessness. But before he starts checking kitchens to see if there are rats, he has one last job: delivering a severed arm to the wife of the arm’s former owner. Yancy ends up investigating what happened and becomes entangled in a criminal world full of eclectic and eccentric characters.

Vaughn laps up every scene, delivering deadpan jokes at every opportunity, leading to a series that’s a breezy yet darkly funny watch. The beachside setting adds to the Magnum P.I. feel of the whole thing, while the central murder mystery story keeps the pace bouncing along. But perhaps most importantly of all, the series never takes itself too seriously, allowing the goofball humor to take over when necessary.

For more hits, read our list of thebest shows on Amazon Prime.

20. Platonic

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Rose Byrne as Sylvia and Seth Rogen as Will during the Apple TV Plus show, Platonic.

Year:2023 – OngoingSeasons:1

Sylvia and Will were great friends – until Will got married to a woman that Sylvia despised. The two didn’t becomenotfriends, but they did stop seeing each other. However, now Will’s getting a divorce, and Sylvia finally reaches out to her single friend. They meet in a coffee shop and gradually realize just how close they are.

Laugh out loud with our list of thebest comedy movies on Netflix.

19. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Godzilla screaming during the Apple TV Plus show, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

Year:2023 – OngoingSeasons:1

Of course, while Godzilla and King Kong may be factors in the story, it’s the human aspect that keeps you watching. The Russells have charisma to spare and act as the series' heart. With that in mind, anyone going into this wanting to see Kaiju smashing buildings and thumping each other will be disappointed. This isn’t Godzilla vs. Kong on the small screen, but something altogether different that enhances the overarching series' lore.

Ahead ofMonarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2, check out our list of thebest Netflix horror moviesfor more streaming scares.

18. Criminal Record

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Peter Capaldi as DCI Daniel Hegarty during the Apple TV Plus show, Criminal Record.

Year:2024 – OngoingSeasons:1

You see, Hegarty’s left the life of crime-fighting behind. However, Lenker gets an anonymous call that tips her off that a person Hegarty put away in prison may not actually be responsible for the murders they apparently committed. She starts investigating, which brings in a very unhappy Hegarty, and the series takes off from there. Capaldi and Jumbo are brilliant as they explore each characters' complexities, unraveling their layers, and asking us, as viewers, to ask questions of them.

Jump into some classics with our list of thebest Hulu showsnow streaming.

17. Trying

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Rafe Spall as Jason Ross during the Apple TV Plus show, Trying.

Year:2020 – 2024Seasons:4

Writer Andy Wolton finds both the pain and the comedy in the situation, with Smith and Spall playing their parts perfectly. Many critics have drawn a fair comparison to Apple’s better-known comedy, Ted Lasso, but Trying is perhaps more revealing about the human condition. It’s also one of Apple’s longest-running shows, so you can properly become absorbed in Nikki and Jason’s lives. Plus, the fourth season takes place after a six-year time jump, which helps the show feel expansive and leads to new questions being asked of its leads.

16. Dark Matter

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen and Alice Braga as Amanda Lucas in the Apple TV Plus show, Dark Matter.

Year:2024 – OngoingSeasons:1

Dark Matter is another thrilling sci-fi series to add to Apple’s collection. One of the reasons for the show’s success is the fact showrunner Blake Crouch wrote the book that his series is based on – so he knows this story inside and out, and even improved on certain aspects of the source material. There are times when plotlines are slightly stretched, yet the main story is utterly propulsive.

If you want to dive into more multiverse action, read our expansive guide on how to watch all theMarvel movies and shows in order.

15. Lessons in Chemistry

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott in the Apple TV Plus series, Lessons in Chemistry.

Year:2023Seasons:1

However, Elizabeth would rather be in the lab, having been forced to leave a previous position due to her gender. Lessons in Chemistry presses some timely buttons, and Larson is exceptional in the role, while supporting actors Lewis Pullman and Aja Naomi King add just enough spice to the recipe. Oh, and there’s a talking dog… What’s not to love?

14. Masters of the Air

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

A bunch of soldiers standing in front of a plane during the Apple TV Plus show, Masters of the Air.

Year:2024Seasons:1

When Band of Brothers was released in 2001, it was groundbreaking television, telling the story of Easy Company in the Second World War. Almost a decade later, The Pacific recaptured that on-screen magic, focussing on the 1st Marine Division. Then, 14 years later, Master of the Air brought the 100th Bomb Group to the small screen, acting as the third part of this Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg-produced series.

Like both shows before it, Master of the Air is a stunning piece of filmmaking, highlighting the horrors of war, and the camaraderie that was forged between the men who fought it. The cast list – Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Barry Keoghan, Ncuti Gatwa – reads like a who’s who of up-and-coming stars. It may not be the most historically accurate series, but it is certainly a thrilling watch.

Want more gunfights? Check out our list of thebest Netflix action movies.

13. Black Bird

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Taron Egerton as James “Jimmy” Keene in the Apple TV Plus show, Black Bird.

Year:2022Seasons:1

This is very much the Egerton and Hauser show, as the two play morally complex characters who develop in interesting directions across the show’s six episodes. And if you’re thinking you’re done with true-crime series, Black Bird’s a bit different, having a tone in common with David Fincher’s Mindhunter and HBO’s The Night Of. Plus, in one of his last roles, Ray Liotta plays Egerton’s father, a former police officer, giving a heartbreaking performance that’s among his best.

Want more case-solving on your screen? Read our list of thebest thriller moviesof all time.

12. The Afterparty

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

The start of a party during the Apple TV Plus show, The Afterparty.

Year:2022 – 2023Seasons:2

Each episode follows a different person, starting with Sam Richardson’s escape-room designer Aniq, as the show delves into their past. And in a genius move, each episode is shot and styled according to that person’s personality – one episode might be a John Woo-esque actioner, the next a rom-com. Best of all, Tiffany Haddish’s brilliant, hilarious Detective Danner is on the scene to investigate what’s happened. It all makes for a ludicrously good time – a shame, then, that a third season was never commissioned.

11. Foundation

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Leah Harvey as Salvor Hardin looking up to the sky during the Apple TV Plus show, Foundation.

Year:2021 – OngoingSeasons:2

Foundation is dense. It’s a show that luxuriates in its world-building to a fault – there are so many complexities to this universe. After all, half the characters are clones of Emperor Cleon, ruler of the galaxy. Some versions of Cleon are the same actor, while others are different. Their rule is put into doubt when Jared Harris' mathemetician – who can tell the future with a mathematic algorithm – foresees their doom.

While we wait for Foundation season 3, check out our picks for thebest sci-moviesof all time.

10. Dickinson

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson in the Apple TV show, Dickinson.

Year:2019 – 2021Seasons:3

When Apple TV Plus launched, there was only one comedy on the service: Dickinson, which tells the story of poet Emily Dickinson, highlighting how she went against the worldviews of the time to live an extraordinary life. However, while the real Dickinson lived in the 1800s, the series refuses to feel dated, using modern language, music, and references, an intriguing mix that makes Dickinson feel completely of its own.

Hailee Steinfeld shines in the eponymous role; you will find it hard not to root for the rambunctious Dickinson in all that she does. The script also takes a few surreal turns as Dickinson’s poetry comes to life on screen, at times taking audacious leaps into her imagination. After a first season finding its feet, the second and third move beyond any gimmicks to truly examine Dickinson’s life, making for a series unlike any other. No wonder it was awarded a Peabody Award.

9. Shrinking

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

A blue car parking during the Apple TV Plus show, Shrinking.

Year:2023 – OngoingSeasons:2

What happens when your therapist takes it a step too far? That’s the question Shrinking asks. Following his wife’s death, Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel) starts telling his patients how it is; he implores one to leave her abusive husband and another to take up mixed martial arts. And while they appear to be better initially, things don’t quite work out as smoothly as Jimmy would like them to.

8. Silo

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

A group of workers during the Apple TV Plus show, Silo.

Year:2013 – OngoingSeasons:2

In a world where mankind has been driven underground, one woman wants to discover the truth of what’s outside… Ok, voice-over; this show’s not quite as simple as that. Silo may whiff of Fallout, yet it’s a different beast altogether, taking a grounded approach to its storytelling as the characters – and us – discover why everyone’s trapped beneath the Earth’s surface.

Silo is, as you may expect, a twisty, turny show that pulls the rug from under your feet and then the ground from under your bottom. Rebecca Ferguson is spectacular as Juliette Nichols, a hardened mechanic-turned-sheriff, as she unravels the mysteries of her silo. Go into this knowing as little as possible and prepare to be stunned; even the opening episode is an unexpected jaw-dropper.

Head over to our guide on theSilo season 2 release schedule. We’ve also got aSilo season 2 reviewto sink your teeth into as well.

7. Mythic Quest

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Rob McElhenney as Ian Grimm clicking his fingers to show off some special effects during the Apple TV show, Mythic Quest.

Year:2020 – OngoingSeasons:3 (plus two specials)

When Apple announced that it was making a workplace comedy about a fictional games studio, gamers around the world collectively went: “Oh no!” After all, it’s not like the industry has been particularly well represented on screen before. However, Mythic Quest doesn’t go for any under-the-belt jabs at gamers and instead fully embraces the chaos of creating video games.

If you want to take a break from streaming and dive into some gaming, check out our list of all theupcoming gamesheading our way this year.

6. Bad Sisters

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Eve Hewson as Becka Garvey sitting on the side of the road during the Apple TV Plus show, Bad Sisters.

Year:2022 – OngoingSeasons:2

Few people have a knack for comedy like Sharon Horgan. First, she created and starred in BBC Three’s underrated Pulling, about three singletons in Hackney. Then came Catastrophe, the award-winning series about a woman who becomes pregnant following a fling with Rob Delaney. Horgan now has another critical darling on her hands with Bad Sisters, about five sisters all living in modern-day Dublin. They’re being investigated for insurance fraud after one of their husbands dies in suspicious circumstances…

The series takes place across two timelines; the first before the death of the husband, the second during the investigation into how he died. The hilarity comes from the absurdity of the whole thing, while the mystery of what really happened will keep you stuck to the TV screen.

5. For All Mankind

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

A group of women getting ready to go to space during the Apple TV Plus show, For All Mankind.

Year:2019 – OngoingSeasons:4

What if the Russians touched down on the moon before the Americans? That’s the central question of For All Mankind. The series takes place in an alternate reality where the soviet engineer Sergei Korolev led the Russians to space flight in 1969 (when, in real life, Korolev died in 1969). This all leads to NASA becoming ever more obsessed with getting to the moon – and far beyond.

Each season of For All Mankind takes place across 10 years, with actors playing both fictional and real-world characters. The space race itself makes for a thrilling narrative as countries battle to become the first to reach certain planets and start colonies on them, all while corporate interests become more and more important. The show has been so well-received that a spin-off is on the way, making this a bonafide franchise for Apple.

If you are keen to see what other series are heading our way, check out our guide on all thenew TV showson the near horizon.

4. Ted Lasso

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard, and Nick Mohammed as Nate during the Apple TV Show, Ted Lasso.

Year:2020 – 2023Seasons:3

The show that put Apple TV Plus on the map. Ted Lasso’s the reason most people have a subscription – its cocktail of heart and humor was the soothing balm we all needed during the COVID lockdowns. Jason Sudeikis plays the titular American football coach who comes over to the UK to head up the “soccer” (bleurgh) team Richmond FC. While he might not know his Earl Grey from his PG Tips, Ted’s fully committed to helping his team, both on and off the pitch.

Ted Lasso launched the careers of its actors into the stratosphere; Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Nick Mohammed, and Juno Temple are essentially household names now. That’s mainly down to the sheer quality of the first two seasons – you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who has watched the show and who is not to be head-over-heals with everyone involved with Richmond FC. Expect to laugh, expect to cry, and expect to be tweeting at the cast asking for more the moment it’s over.

3. Slow Horses

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb standing in a graveyard during the Apple TV Plus show, Slow Horses.

Year:2022 – OngoingSeasons:4

Read ourSlow Horses season 4 reviewfor more details!

2. Pachinko

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

A woman looking concerned in the woods during the Apple TV Plus show, Pachinko.

Year:2022 – OngoingSeasons:2

Pachinko is one of those shows that everyone will tell you is good and, chances are, you will put off watching because, well, it sounds like quite a lot. After all, the show follows four generations of a single Korean family between 1915 to 1989 as they deal with starting a new life in Japan and the racism they face. But Pachinko is a show that needs to be at the front of your watchlist, if not playing on your television right now.

1. Severance

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Adam Scott as Mark Scout in the best Apple TV Plus show, Severance.

Year:2022 – OngoingSeasons:1

Imagine clocking into work and then, poof, you’re clocking out again, like no time has passed at all. Sounds too good to be true. But that’s what Lumon offers you; the chance to sever your working consciousness (your innie) from your everyday consciousness (outie) so that your work self and real self don’t remember each other. If only it were so simple…

Severance sets out its unique premise in its opening episode – and the problems that come from severing yourself in two. The show has everything; engrossing mysteries, conspiracy theories, philosophical questions about life. Adam Scott grounds the series as Mark Scout, whose “outie” is mourning his wife, while Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, and John Turturro, bring this sci-fi world to life. Severance is a thrilling watch – no wonder we named it thebest TV show of 2022. Season 2 is set to kick off on January 17, so you’ll have just enough time to catch up if you hit play now…

If you want to keep up to date with the next outing for the best show on Apple TV, check out our guide on everything that you need to know aboutSeverance season 2!

For more streaming picks, head to our lists of thebest shows on Netflix, thebest shows on Disney Plus, and finally, thebest shows on HBO Max.

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

25. Schmigadoon!

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24. Disclaimer*

23. Central Park

22. The Essex Serpent

21. Bad Monkey

20. Platonic

19. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

18. Criminal Record

17. Trying

16. Dark Matter

15. Lessons in Chemistry

14. Masters of the Air

13. Black Bird

12. The Afterparty

11. Foundation

10. Dickinson

9. Shrinking

8. Silo

7. Mythic Quest

6. Bad Sisters

5. For All Mankind

4. Ted Lasso

3. Slow Horses

2. Pachinko

1. Severance

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