Though Apple TV+ is still pretty new to the game, it's quickly established itself as one of the best streaming services around, with critically acclaimed shows like Ted Lasso and Severance. Whether you're looking for something to watch with the whole family, a thrilling mystery to take your mind off the real world, or some good old-fashioned star-studded prestige drama, we've got you covered with the highlight picks on Apple's streaming service. Browse our list of the best shows on Apple TV+.

For more streaming recommendations, check out the Best Shows on Netflix, the Best Shows on Amazon Prime, or the Best Shows on Hulu.

'Constellation' (2024 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 75% | IMDb: 7.1/10

Constellation TV Show Poster
Constellation
Sci-Fi
Thriller

Release Date
February 21, 2024
Cast
Noomi Rapace , Clare-Hope Ashitey , Jonathan Banks , James D'Arcy

Read Our ReviewCreated by writer Peter Harness, Constellation is a captivating science-fiction thriller starring Noomi Rapace (It Happened to Monday) alongside Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul). Rapace navigates the mysterious series, playing a distraught astronaut who must return home to Earth after an unexpected disaster leaves her desperate for answers. Through an eerie premise peppered with suspense, Constellation unravels a gripping quest for truth by intersecting the human brain with the enigma of space travel and the universe at large.

Rosie Coleman and Davina Coleman hold their own opposite Rapace, providing an uneasy vibe throughout the haunting series. Featuring grounded performances in an untethered world, Harness allows his action-packed thrills to mesmerize in an undeniably creepy atmosphere, only begging for more to be revealed. - Yael Tygiel

Watch on Apple TV+

'The New Look' (2024 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 58% | IMDb: 6.9/10

The New Look Film TV Show Poster
The New Look
Drama
Biography
History

Release Date
February 14, 2024
Creator
Todd A. Kessler

Read Our Review

The New Look covers the rise of now-iconic fashion designer Christian Dior as he goes head-to-head in the cutthroat industry against Coco Chanel. A period piece, the show is set during World War II, adding to the tension and conflict within the show’s storylines as Dior attempts to introduce the world to modern fashion. Created by Todd A. Kassler (Damages), the show premiered on February 13th, 2024.

The New Look stars Ben Mendelson (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) as Christian Dior, Juliette Binoche (The English Patient) as Coco Chanel, alongside David Kammenos (Supersex), Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), Joseph Olivennes (Versailles), and John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich). Audiences have enjoyed the show’s look and high-quality production value, as well as the cast’s terrific acting.

Watch on Apple TV+

'Calls' (2021 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Calls key art
Calls
Mystery
Thriller
Release Date
March 19, 2021
Creator
Fede Álvarez

Many horror writers and directors have harped on the importance of the viewer's imagination, believing that what the audience can think up will always be scarier than anything that can be shown on screen. Apple TV+'s Calls takes this to the extreme, as it consists of nine twelve-minute-long episodes where visuals are minimal and audio is everything. The viewer is eavesdropping on all sorts of calls, from ones involving plane crashes to murder to weird bodily occurrences.

The show premiered in 2021 and was praised for its voice actors, a cast composed of very well-known names in entertainment. With appearances by Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Rosario Dawson (Rent), Joey King (The Act), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Judy Greer (Thirteen Going on Thirty), Ben Schwartz (The Afterparty), and Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy), it's almost as fun to figure out whose voice is whose as it is to figure out the mystery of each episode. - Emily Cappello

Watch on Apple TV+

'Prehistoric Planet' (2022 - 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 8.5/10

prehistoric planet poster
Prehistoric Planet
Nature
Documentary

Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and skies.

Release Date
May 23, 2022

Read Our Review

You know it's going to be amazing quality if Jon Favreau (The Mandalorian) is involved, and Prehistoric Planet is no exception. The Apple TV+ show time travels back 66 million years and takes its audience to the time of dinosaurs. Directed by Andrew Jones and Adam Valdez, the show premiered in 2022 and ran for two seasons.

Each episode of Prehistoric Planet tackles a different area of the world where dinosaurs thrived, from deserts to swamps to the badlands. Viewers are taken on an immersive tour through the world and shown incredibly lifelike representations of what these places would have looked like when dinosaurs still lived. And where there's an epic show about the planet, there's an epic score. Prehistoric Planet was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Music Composition" by Kara Talve (The Planets), Anze Rozman (Beckham), and Hans Zimmer (Pirates of the Caribbean). While it only ran for two seasons, it was critically acclaimed for its state-of-the-art visuals and "immersive narration" by David Attenborough (Blue Planet II). - Emily Cappello

Watch on Apple TV+

'The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Season 2 Poster for The Reluctant Traveler starring Eugene Levy
The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy
Travel
Documentary
Release Date
February 24, 2023
Producer
Eugene Levy, David Brindley

Read Our Review

If Eugene Levy is in it, it's already iconic. That is the case with The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, an Apple TV+ documentary series that takes viewers around the world to some of the most unbelievable hotels. While in each location, Levy also explores the culture, the food, and the people of the area, all while delivering his classic Levy deadpan sass. Other than those he meets in his travels, Levy largely holds the show on his own, which is a feat few could do without boring their audience; however, Levy proves once again why he is one of the best as he travels through the show with ease.

Produced by Lucy Evans (Visionaries) and Laura Senior (Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures), the show premiered in 2023 and visited Finland, Costa Rica, Venice, Utah, Maldives, South Africa, Lisbon, and Tokyo in its first season, with Levy refereeing a sumo match in the season finale. With a second season on the way, fans of the show are eager to see what kind of traveling (and mischief) their beloved host will get into next. - Emily Cappello

Watch on Apple TV+

'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 7.8/10

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey poster
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
Drama
Release Date
March 11, 2022
Creator
Walter Mosley

Read Our Review

Based on the novel written by Walter Mosley, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey tells the story of Grey (played by Samuel L. Jackson), a 91-year-old man whose sudden return of his memory allows him to investigate the death of his nephew. Now being cared for by Robyn (Dominique Fishback), Grey rushes to use his long-forgotten memories before they're gone again. Created by original author Mosley, the show premiered on Apple TV+ in 2022. Reviewers highlighted the performances of the cast, especially that of Jackson and Fishback, who make a great duo in the show.

The show also stars Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (Bosch), Damon Gupton (Bates Motel), Marsha Stephanie Blake (Orange is the New Black), DeRon Horton (Lethal Weapon), and Percy Daggs IV (Solos). 71-year-old author and show creator Mosley has written dozens of books, most notably Blood Grove and And Sometimes I Wonder About You. Mosley has won several literature awards and is best known for his crime fiction writing. - Emily Cappello

Watch on Apple TV+

'Swagger' (2021 - 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.4/10

swagger poster
Swagger
Drama
Sports
Release Date
October 21, 2021
Creator
Reggie Rock Bythewood
Cast
O'Shea Jackson Jr. , Shinelle Azoroh , Tessa Ferrer , Quvenzhané Wallis , Caleel Harris

Inspired by basketball legend Kevin Durant's experience as a youth player in the AAU circuit, Apple TV+'s Swagger follows Ike Edwards (O'Shea Jackson Jr.) as he navigates the game, the coaches, the players, and their families. The show was released in 2021 to rave reviews, getting a second season and eventually wrapping up in 2023 after it failed to be renewed for a third. Fans were surprised when the show failed to receive a third season, as the cast's performances were widely praised, as well as the overall authenticity of the subject matter.

Created by Durant and Reggie Rock Bythewood (Dancing in September), the show also stars Isaiah R. Hill (Youthful Tales), Shinelle Azoroh (Don't Let Go), Tessa Ferrer (Insidious: The Last Key), Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild), and Caleel Harris (Think Like a Man). Since Swagger's end, Bythewood went on to Executive Produce Genius, a National Geographic show that tells the story of history's greatest minds like Pablo Picasso, Aretha Franklin, and Albert Einstein. - Emily Cappello

Watch on Apple TV+

'Acapulco' (2021 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Season 1 poster for Acapulco featuring Eugenio Derbez over a pink tropical resort
Acapulco
Comedy


A young Mexican man's dream comes true when he gets the job of a lifetime at the hottest resort in Acapulco. But he soon realizes the job is far more complicated than he ever imagined.

Release Date
October 8, 2021
Cast
Eugenio Derbez , Damian Alcazar

Read Our Review

When Maximo gets a job at the hottest resort in Acapulco, he quickly realizes that it's much more complicated than he previously thought. The Apple TV+ show Acapulco, based on the 2017 film How To Be A Latin Lover, follows Maximo through the trials and tribulations of learning this new job, as well as his demanding new clientele. Created by Eduardo Cisneros (Instructions Not Included), Jason Shuman (Lone Survivor), and Austin Winsberg (Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist), Acapulco premiered in 2021. Since then, a second season premiered in 2022, and the show was renewed for a third.

Set in 1984, the show stars Enrique Arrizon (April's Daughter) as young Maximo, while the show is narrated by modern-day Maximo, played by Eugenio Derbez (Overboard). The show also stars Damián Alcázar (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian), Camila Perez (Gotham), Vanessa Bauche (The Mask of Zorro), and Raphael Alejandro (Once Upon a Time). - Emily Cappello

Watch on Apple TV+

'The Big Door Prize' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 6.4/10

big door prize poster
The Big Door Prize
Comedy
Release Date
March 29, 2023
Cast
Chris O'Dowd , Gabrielle Dennis , Damon Gupton , Josh Segarra
Developer
David West Read

Based on the book by MO Walsh, The Big Door Prize tells the story of a small town that is thrown into chaos when a mysterious machine appears that is able to measure people's "Life Potential." Premiering on Apple TV+ in 2023, the show stars Chris O'Dowd (Bridesmaids) as Dusty, whose interactions with the machine and the townspeople around him are chronicled throughout the show. While Dusty is perfectly fine in his uneventful life as a teacher, his daily routine alongside his wife Cass (Gabrielle Dennis) and his daughter (Djouliet Amara) is uprooted when the machine appears.

The show was popular upon its release, earning high on Rotten Tomatoes and a second season order. The show was created by Schitt's Creek alum David West Read and also stars Sammy Fourlas (Backstage Features), Patrick Kerr (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Josh Segarra (Arrow), and Elizabeth Hunter (Jersey Boys). Season one is currently available to stream on Apple TV+, with season two coming mid-2024.

Watch on Apple TV+

'Platonic' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.2/10

Platonic TV Show Poster
Platonic
Romance
Comedy
Release Date
May 24, 2023
Cast
Rose Byrne , Seth Rogen , Tre Hale , Andrew Lopez
Seasons
1

Reuniting unexpectedly delightful comedy duo Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne (Neighbors), Platonic hilariously explores friendship dynamics between former best friends as they approach their individual mid-life crises. Platonic was created by Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller and features a supporting cast that includes Luke Macfarlane (Bros), Tre Hale, and Carla Gallo. Platonic is 10 episodes of relatable yet ridiculous physical comedy, drug-fueled shenanigans, and all-around ludicrous hijinks.

Guaranteed laughs with Rogen and Byrne leading the charge, Platonic allows the more series moments to breathe as these characters figure out their messy lives. The central, age-old question regarding whether men and women can be just friends doesn’t diminish the talent and presence of the incredible cast. Approaching the subject from a completely different viewpoint than the classic comedy When Harry Met Sally, Platonic cleverly explores new avenues of the topic with characters facing later-in-life milestones. - Yael Tygiel

Watch on Apple TV+

'Central Park' (2020 - 2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 6.9/10

central park poster
Central Park
Animation
Comedy
Release Date
2020-00-00
Seasons
1

Central Park is an adorable animated musical series with the visual style of Bob’s Burgers. Narrated by a fourth-wall-breaking street performer voiced by Josh Gad (Frozen), Central Park revolves around the Tillerman–Hunter family who lives on the premises in the fictional Edendale Castle. Through the first season, the series centers on the family attempting to save the famous park from the clutches of Bitsy (Stanley Tucci), a wealthy curmudgeon intent on replacing the park with condos and rental space.

Appealing to the wholesome and progressive humor of adult animated shows like Bob’s Burgers and The Great North, Central Park welcomes viewers into the life of yet another working-class American family with intriguing and rambunctious children, while allowing the plot to unfold over the season instead of limiting shenanigans to a single-episode storyline. Plus, you can’t beat the catchy musical numbers featuring Gad and other Broadway star cast members like Hamilton alums Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr.

Watch on Apple TV+

'The Essex Serpent' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 75% | IMDb: 6.3/10

essex serpent poster
The Essex Serpent
Romance
History
Drama
Release Date
2022-00-00
Cast
Claire Danes , Tom Hiddleston , Frank Dillane , Hayley Squires
Creator
Anna Symon

Read Our Review This BAFTA-winning series is set in 1893 in Victorian England and follows the story of Cora (Claire Danes), who, although recently widowed, has actually found freedom following a long and physically abusive relationship. In her attempts to forget the horrors of her past, Cora relocates to Essex and starts to investigate the mystery of a local creature known only as the Essex Serpent. However, as Cora starts to get closer to the investigation and those around it, a striking tragedy leaves her at the heart of a local hunt for answers.

Surrounded by a beautifully realized Victorian setting, The Essex Serpent tells a tale of faith and freedom that, despite its unrelatable time period and concept, often feels gut-wrenchingly real to a modern society where online witch hunts are a daily activity. Featuring a star-studded cast, including the likes of Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes (with the character of Cora being originally given to Keira Knightly), this moody tale offers the perfect immersive antidote for the weight of the world, with an enthralling puzzle at its heart ready to pull you in. - Jake Hodges

Watch on Apple TV+

'Lessons in Chemistry' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | IMDb: 8.2/10

lessons-in-chemistry-poster
Lessons In Chemistry

Release Date
2023-00-00
Cast
Brie Larson , Lewis Pullman , Aja Naomi King
Main Genre
Drama
Seasons
1
Creator
Lee Eisenberg

Read Our Review Based on Bonnie Garmus’ novel of the same name, Lessons in Chemistry follows Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott, a highly intelligent chemist who, due to the backward views on gender in the 1960s, is rejected from fulfilling her potential at work. After being fired from her job, Zott decides to take matters into her own hands, starting a television cooking show specifically to, on the surface, teach housewives tips and tricks about chemistry. In reality, however, she is educating them on their right to a full and boundless education.

Poignant, encapsulating, and ready to tug on your heartstrings, Lessons in Chemistry is perhaps Brie Larson at her finest, working with a set of scripts that accurately and tenderly adapt the wonderful source novel. Not wanting to be bogged down by subtextual foreshadowing or mysterious twists and turns, Lessons in Chemistry is akin to its title in that it simply plays out, like some sort of science, the journey of its central character in all its life-affirming glory. - Jake HodgesWatch on Apple TV+

'The Changeling' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 74% | IMDb: 5.9/10

The Changeling TV Show Poster
The Changeling
Horror
Drama
Fantasy
Release Date
September 8, 2023
Cast
LaKeith Stanfield , Elizabeth Whitmere , Jonelle Gunderson , Elena Hurst
Seasons
1

Read Our Review This blend of horror, drama, and fantasy is set in an alternate version of New York City and follows Apollo Kagwa (LaKeith Stanfield), a used book dealer whose father disappeared when he was only a boy. Once burdened by mysterious dreams in the wake of his father’s absence, Apollo had managed to move on in his life — that is, until he became a father of his own and the dreams returned. Then, suddenly, all of his nightmares come true when his wife, Emma (Clark Backo), is revealed to not quite be who she says she is as she runs away with their child.

Based on Victor LaValle’s novel of the same name, The Changeling is a gripping, thought-provoking puzzle that encourages its audience to put the pieces together episode by episode. Alongside a stellar cast, the always-terrific LaKeith Stanfield beautifully blends a sense of hope and despair, like he somehow expected the devastating events yet to hit him. Each episode is pensive in its delivery of the story, allowing time for each moment of character development to perfectly land, with this series likely to live in your memory for many years to come. - Jake Hodges

Watch on Apple TV+

'Black Bird' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Black Bird Apple TV Poster
Black Bird
Biography
Crime
Drama

Release Date
July 8, 2022
Seasons
1

Read Our Review This double Primetime Emmy-winning biographic drama stars Taron Egerton as Jimmy Keene, a man sentenced to a 10-year stint in a minimum security prison without chance of parole. Fearing for his safety, Keene strikes a deal with the FBI for him to be moved to a maximum security prison where, amongst some of the most sadistic and evil criminals in the country, he will attempt to befriend and eventually elicit a confession from a suspected serial killer, Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser).

This moody, brooding drama keeps you gripped from minute one, thanks to a tense atmosphere only amplified by the dark and fearful setting. Taron Egerton, alongside a superbly cast ensemble, is captivating as a man who walks the tightrope between relatable and often difficult to empathize with. The story is unapologetically brutal at times, made even more viscerally gutwrenching when you realize the tale is based on true events. Sure to hold your focus without letting go, Black Bird is one for fans of dark drama. - Jake Hodges

Watch on AppleTV+

'Hijack' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 7.4/10

Hijack Apple TV Poster
Hijack
Drama
Thriller
Release Date
June 28, 2023
Cast
Idris Elba , Neil Maskell , Max Beesley , Ben Miles
Seasons
1
Creator
Jim Field Smith, George Kay

Read Our Review This thrilling Idris Elba-led series took the world by storm upon its release, telling the story of a plane hijacked during its seven-hour flight to London. With a plane full of passengers staring down the barrel of death, it is up to business negotiator Sam Nelson (Elba) to use his powers of psychology and impressive combat skills to save everyone on the plane.

As far as action-thrillers go, Hijack has absolutely everything a viewer could want. Idris Elba unsurprisingly makes for a perfect lead, managing to be both a captivating, hard-hitting hero and a vulnerable victim of a terrifying ordeal. Creators Jim Field Smith and George Kay do everything they can to make each episode as breathless as possible by not just setting a hostage situation on an airplane (perhaps the scariest place to be held hostage) but also having each of the seven episodes play out in real-time. - Jake Hodges

Watch on AppleTV+

'Silo' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Silo Apple TV Poster
Silo
Drama
Sci-Fi
Release Date
May 5, 2023
Cast
Rebecca Ferguson , Iain Glen , Tim Robbins , Shane McRae , Henry Garrett
Seasons
2
Creator
Graham Yost

Read Our Review This big-budget sci-fi series is set in a dystopian future in which the entirety of humanity has been forced to survive underground deep inside the claustrophobic confines of the titular silo. Engineer Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) is tasked with investigating the mystery behind the suspicious death of one of her colleagues. While on her mission, however, she uncovers an even bigger conspiracy that goes right to the top — or, more accurately, right to the surface.

Based on Hugh Howey’s novel Wool, Silo is the perfect blend of a bleak, intricate character study and an eye-opening sci-fi adventure. Every aspect of the series seems to lend generously towards the success of the final product, perhaps no more than the show’s sound design, which, like many other triumphs in this genre, feels both out-of-this-world and touching. With a story brimming with twists impossible to see coming, this is one series you’re going to be very grateful you took the time to watch. - Jake Hodges

Watch on Apple TV+

'Shrinking' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Shrinking TV Show Poster
Shrinking
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
January 27, 2023
Cast
Harrison Ford , Jason Segel , Jessica Williams , Luke Tennie
Seasons
1
Creator
Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel

Read Our Review Nominated for two Primetime Emmys, this series follows Jason Segel’s Jimmy, a therapist who perhaps needs his own help as he struggles to deal with the loss of his wife and life as a single parent. Having always performed professionally and by the book, he decides to throw caution to the wind and simply tell his clients what he thinks — and it can be brutal. Will Jimmy’s new outlook help both his patients and himself?

Dramatic, touching, and brilliantly funny, Shrinking is a refreshing series that never loses its heart. Supported by a star-studded cast, Shrinking is perhaps the best example of Harrison Ford’s late-career foray into comedy, with this series likely to make many wish Ford had worked in the genre for many years before he did. Managing to marry the discussion of devastatingly relatable issues with a cast of well-rounded characters without ever missing a comedic beat, Shrinking is simply a success. - Jake Hodges

Watch on AppleTV+

'Truth Be Told' (2019 - 2023)

IMDb: 7.1/10

truth be told
Truth Be Told
Crime
Drama
Release Date
2019-00-00
Cast
Octavia Spencer , Michael Beach , Mekhi Phifer
Creator
Nichelle Tramble Spellman

This tense mystery follows the life of popular true-crime podcaster Poppy Scoville-Parnell (Octavia Spencer), who, after using her podcast to incriminate and help convict Warren Cave (Aaron Paul) for murder, is invited to properly investigate the case. However, Poppy soon realizes that what was once a black-and-white case that felt so easy to solve behind her microphone is, in fact, a nuanced situation that has the power to end lives — especially considering Cave’s insistence that he was framed.

Tense, dramatic, and full of emotional weight, Truth Be Told doesn’t allow any of its characters to feel wholeheartedly good, understanding that the intricate nuance at the heart of its story must translate into all of its characters. In a world where true crime feels more popular than ever, Truth Be Told acts as a healthy reminder that the subjects of these pieces of media are very real, and so are the cases, with many very quick to paint a picture with dangerously broad brush strokes. Supported by a superb cast, this series is both entertaining and poignant. - Jake Hodges

Watch on Apple TV+

'Slow Horses' (2022 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 7.9/10

slow-horses-poster
Slow Horses
Drama
Release Date
April 1, 2022
Seasons
3

Read Our Review This five-time BAFA-nominated series stars the iconic Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden, with the latter portraying the disgraced intelligence service agent River Cartwright, who is currently a part of Slough House, a place for failed service members to be kept out of harm's way. However, when a disgusting case of kidnapping sparks his attention, River realizes that this could be his chance at redemption, not just to save his career but also the victim’s life.

For many, Slow Horses is the best spy thriller on TV in the 21st century, with an enormously talented cast and a set of indulgent scripts providing the triumph. Alongside a genuinely thrilling story of deceit and danger, Slow Horses also provides an astute social commentary that grounds the tale in our modern world. With each emotional and dramatic beat met with expert accuracy, Slow Horses, despite what its name may suggest, races by as all great series do, leaving you always itching for more. - Jake Hodges

Watch on AppleTV+