Despite only being around since 2019, the young age of Apple TV Plus is absolutely not indicative of its maturity and quality level as a streaming platform. The number of accolades and recent award nominations, such as the record-breaking 54 Emmy nominations for 2023, is a testament to that.
Filled with award-winning comedies, captivating dramas, insightful documentaries, and more, Apple TV Plus has shows for everyone, and in this article, you will find a curated list of what we think are some of the best binge-worthy titles, together with some upcoming releases to get you excited.
Once you have exhausted this list or if you feel like tucking in for a movie night, check out our guide for The Best Apple TV Plus Movies.
At a glance
Severance is a twisty, dark drama that brings new surprises each week. (and please, where's season 2?)
For All Mankind is an excellent drama about the space race between the US and Russia in the '60s ... mostly.
Silo The last 10,000 people on Earth -- and their mile-deep home protecting them from the toxic world outside.
Ted Lasso A loveable American coach ends up a clueless soccer coach in England. Ted’s positivity is infection (well, for most)
Masters of the Air is the highly anticipated mini-series by Stephen Spielberg, starring Austin Butler.
Prehistoric Planet by Jon Favreau and the producers of Planet Earth: A delight, full of dinosaurs
The best shows on Apple TV Plus: Comedy
Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso is back for its third and final season. Ted, the main character, seems a bit silly and too good to be true, but he’s the genuine article: a warm, kind, good-hearted person. In an era where more shows feature anti-heroes than heroes, Ted Lasso is a bright spot in a world that has gotten even darker than the dark shows forever populating the entertainment world.
As for the plot, Ted Lasso is a “fish out of water” show about an American football coach who ends up a clueless soccer coach in England, hired by the angry ex-wife of the owner in an attempt to make the struggling team even worse. However, Ted’s contagious positivity changes everything and surprises everyone. The supporting cast is phenomenal. It’s worth noting that the show takes a darker turn in the second season. This must-watch show won dozens of Emmys and put Apple TV Plus on the map, and this year, it has once again broken records by earning 21 Emmy nominations and becoming the most-nominated comedy show for the third year in a row!
Watch Ted Lasso on Apple TV Plus
Mythic Quest
Mythic Quest is a workplace comedy about the dev team behind the (fictional) biggest multi-player video game of all time. The show stars Rob McElhenney, and if you love him in Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you're likely to enjoy Mythic Quest as well. Mythic Quest reminds us of Silicon Valley — a world where our fellow geeks rule the roost, often with hilarious consequences.
Watch Mythic Quest on Apple TV Plus
Shrinking
Created by Bill Lawrence, the creator of Scrubs, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein, Shrinking is a blisteringly sincere comedy that is both very warm and unafraid to get a little dark when needed.
Jimmy Laird, played by Jason Segel, is a therapist who realises his life needs to change after the death of his wife. With the help of his boss Paul Rhoades, who is played by Harrison Ford, he changes up his therapy style and uses his own advice to deal with his wife's passing, his daughter growing up, and what it means to age.
Originally airing in January 2023, it was renewed for a second season in March and has recently earned two Emmy Nominations.
Watch Shrinking on Apple TV Plus
Little America
Not sure you want to commit to an entire series? Just watch one episode. Little America is an anthology series; every episode is a complete story. Little America is based on the true stories of American immigrants, some recent and some decades ago.
This is a show that pulls at the heartstrings as you learn about each of these brave and inspiring individuals. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll get hooked. If you only watch one episode, watch The Cowboy.
Watch Little America on Apple TV Plus
The best shows on Apple TV Plus: Drama
For All Mankind
As far as we're concerned, For All Mankind was snubbed by the Emmy awards. It's the best show you're not watching (but should be). This excellent drama is not quite science fiction, not quite historical fiction, but a little of both. For All Mankind is about the space race between the US and Russia in the 1960s, but a key historical moment goes very differently in the show's first episode. After that, history is entirely changed in a multitude of ways.
Each season spans a decade, and we’re slowly moving to modern times in this alternate timeline. Though the historical/sci-fi elements are very cool, this is a human drama at its heart. It’s worth watching, even if you don’t consider yourself a big sci-fi fan. "Mad Men in space," as one iMore team member calls it — and a very fitting compliment to the show that is, too.
Watch For All Mankind on Apple TV Plus
The Morning Show
The Morning Show helped launch the fledgling streaming platform in 2019, and it's much more than a vehicle for massive stars like Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carrell, Billy Crudup, and more. The Morning Show is a behind-the-scenes look at a Today Show-type morning show and a disgraced host reminiscent of Matt Lauer, played by Steve Carrell. That's revealed in the first episode, and then we see the fallout.
Jennifer Aniston (nominated for an Emmy) as the show's co-host, Reese Witherspoon as Steve Carrell's eventual replacement, and Emmy winner Billy Crudup deliver powerhouse performances in this ripped-from-the-headlines #metoo story. The show returned for two more fantastic seasons, with season three leading the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards as this year’s most nominated show, so there's plenty to binge here!
Watch The Morning Show on Apple TV Plus
The Buccaneers
The Buccaneers is a TV show based on an unfinished novel from 1938 by Edith Wharton. The story is set in the 1970s and follows a group of rich American Women from New York City who travel to London hoping to find wealthy English husbands.
The love triangles, steamy romances, ball gowns, and English countryside settings remind me a lot of Netflix’s period drama hit show Bridgerton. However, The Buccaneers’ impeccable Jane Austen and Little Women vibes had more to say when it came to sisterhood, female rights, and self-discovery themes, giving the show more depth, which I really liked!
Watch The Buccaneers on Apple TV Plus
Lessons in Chemistry
Lessons in Chemistry is set in the 1950s and features Academy Award winner Brie Larson as Elizabeth, a lab technician who, after being fired from her job, decides to apply her knowledge of chemistry to another great passion of hers, cooking. Elizabeth becomes a TV sensation with a cooking show called Supper at Six, where through the episodes, she strives to teach women a lesson or two about their role in the world. Lessons in Chemistry is a story about fighting for women’s rights, where Brie Larson embodies a slightly different version of Wonder Woman, becoming a beacon of hope and revolution in a very sexist society.
Watch Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV Plus
The best shows on Apple TV Plus: Documentary
Prehistoric Planet
If you're a fan of dinosaurs, you'll want to check out Prehistoric Planet. Jon Favreau and the producers of Planet Earth created this stunning look at our world 66 million years ago. David Attenborough lends his voice talents, and Hans Zimmer creates the soundtrack for this gorgeous show. The show returned for a second season earlier this year, which followed if not exceeded the success of the first season, and received an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score).
If you love documentaries, you'll also want to take a look at our list of the Best Apple TV Plus documentaries.
Watch Prehistoric Planet on Apple TV Plus
Tiny World
Tiny documentary series Tiny World ran for just two seasons. Narrated by actor Paul Rudd, the show uses groundbreaking new technology to document the activities and fight for survival of some of the smallest creatures on Planet Earth, heading into deserts, jungles, and forests to do so.
Charmingly delivered and spectacular to watch, it's no wonder we consider this to be one of the best Apple TV documentaries.
Watch Tiny World on Apple TV Plus
John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial
A true crime documentary series about the murder of one of Music's most beloved icons, John Lennon. The documentary features incredible archival footage, a large number of testimonials, and statements by those involved in the investigation of his tragic death. The never-before-seen material shines some light on one of the most famous murders, which makes this a very interesting watch.
Watch John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial on Apple TV Plus
Real Madrid: Until The End
Real Madrid: Until The End is a three-part documentary series that showcases the incredible 2021/2022 UEFA Champion's League campaign of Los Blancos, Real Madrid. Apple's soccer documentary strives where other sports documentaries falter by making an honest and entertaining show for soccer super fans and casual fans alike. So, if you are interested in shows like The Last Dance, give Until The End a chance.
Watch Real Madrid: Until The End on Apple TV Plus
The best shows on Apple TV Plus: Thriller
Severance
Severance is a twisty, dark drama that manages to bring new surprises each week. The premise is that new technology allows the mind to be “severed” between work and home. So, when you’re at work, you have no knowledge or memories of home, and when you leave the office, you have no idea what’s gone on there. The idea is that it will create a better work/life balance since you won’t need to worry about your other roles and can be completely in the moment wherever you are.
Of course, it’s not quite as simple as it sounds, and it gets more complicated as the season progresses. There really isn’t anything on television quite like this one, and it deserves every bit of critical praise it receives. We can't wait for Severance Season 2.
Watch Severance on Apple TV Plus
Hijack
A 7-hour flight, split into seven one-hour-long episodes to follow the nerve-wracking journey of a plane that gets hijacked on its way to London from Dubai. Hijack is an action-packed binge full of plot twists, secrets, crisis management, and a plane filled with terrorized passengers. Amongst these is Sam Nelson, portrayed by Idris Elba, a professional negotiator who will do all he can to find a way home to his family and protect as many as possible. If you are looking for a thrilling, nail-biting, jaw-dropping TV show, then fasten your seatbelts and check in on Idris Elba’s flight from Dubai to London.
Slow Horses
With a stellar cast and a gripping plot, Gary Oldman’s squad of misfits is back for a third season of Slow Horses. The darkly comedic espionage drama follows a dysfunctional team of British intelligence agents who have been demoted from MI5 agents to a B-class consigned team, the Slow Horses. Despite being confined to a boring, mundane career of paperwork, the Slow Horses find themselves once again right in the middle of the action with Oscar winner Gary Oldman as the leader of the pack.
Watch Slow Horses on Apple TV Plus
Servant
If you enjoy M. Night Shyamalan's brand of thriller filled with twists and turns, you're sure to love the chilling Servant. A young couple suffers a tragedy, which creates a gigantic rift in their marriage. This opens the door for a creepy and mysterious force to enter their home. As mentioned in our Servant review, the show's shocks and scares will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Watch Servant on Apple TV Plus
The best shows on Apple TV Plus: Sci-Fi
Silo
"Silo is the story of the last ten thousand people on earth, their mile-deep home protecting them from the toxic and deadly world outside," Apple's description of Silo begins. "However, no one knows when or why the silo was built and any who try to find out face fatal consequences." Sounds pretty good right? It gets better.
"Rebecca Ferguson stars as Juliette, an engineer, who seeks answers about a loved one's murder and tumbles onto a mystery that goes far deeper than she could have ever imagined, leading her to discover that if the lies don't kill you, the truth will."
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
A small screen for the giants of the MonsterVerse. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is an epic sci-fi action series that follows the battle between Godzilla and the Titans, after which humans finally accept that monsters are real. The story spans three generations and follows two siblings as they track their late father’s footsteps to uncover his secrets and understand his involvement with a secretive organization called Monarch. From the producers of Godzilla v Kong, this is the first TV adaptation of the MonsterVerse beasts, and it does not disappoint.
Watch Monarch: Legacy of Monsters on Apple TV Plus
Foundation
Foundation was arguably one of the best things on Apple TV Plus when its first season came out, and the recently released season two did not disappoint either. The success and improvements of the second season were celebrated by the critics, and in December 2023, the series was renewed for a third season!
With two incredible seasons already available and the third one on its way, Foundation is a must-binge for all Sci-Fi fans.
Watch Foundation on Apple TV Plus
The best shows on Apple TV Plus: Coming soon
This list covers just some of the best TV shows of Apple TV Plus, but the platform has so much more to offer and so much upcoming new content to look forward to.
Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated action-packed mini-series Masters of The Air, a collaboration with Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, starring Oscar-nominated Austin Butler, will premiere globally on January 26. Criminal Records, a new British thriller about two clashing detectives working together on a murder case, will premiere on January 10.
Lastly, for fashion enthusiasts, the gripping historical drama The New Look, which is about the lives and revolution of Christian Dior and Coco Chanel during World War II, will debut on Valentine’s Day. One highly anticipated detail of The New Look is the soundtrack, which was written by Grammy Award Winner Jack Antonoff and features covers of modern songs by contemporary artists.
So take your pick, start your binging session, and remember, you can watch Apple TV Plus with up to six members of your family with Family Sharing.
