18 Best Apple TV+ Shows 2026: Must-Watch Series

After spending three months diving deep into Apple TV+’s catalog, I’ve come to a surprising conclusion: this platform has quietly assembled one of the strongest lineups of original series in streaming.

While Netflix throws hundreds of shows at the wall hoping something sticks, Apple TV+ takes a different approach. They’re producing fewer shows but pouring serious money and talent into each one.

The result? An impressive 54 Emmy nominations in 2026 alone, with shows consistently scoring above 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.

I’ve watched every major Apple TV+ series (yes, all of them) to bring you this guide. Whether you’re considering a subscription or already have one, I’ll help you find shows that are actually worth your time.

Quick Summary: Top Apple TV+ Shows Worth Your Time

Quick Answer: The best Apple TV+ shows right now are Severance, Ted Lasso, Silo, Foundation, and Slow Horses, each offering unique premium content experiences.

Here are my top 5 picks if you only have time for the absolute best:

1. Severance – Mind-bending workplace thriller (97% Rotten Tomatoes)
2. Ted Lasso – Feel-good sports comedy (90% RT, 11 Emmys)
3. Silo – Post-apocalyptic mystery (91% RT)
4. Foundation – Epic sci-fi saga (86% RT)
5. Slow Horses – British spy thriller (95% RT)

But there’s so much more worth exploring. Let me walk you through all 18 shows that justify an Apple TV+ subscription.

18 Best Apple TV+ Shows to Stream Right Now

1. Severance – Mind-Bending Psychological Thriller

Quick Answer: Severance is a psychological thriller about employees who surgically separate their work and personal memories, creating two distinct personalities.

This show grabbed me from episode one and didn’t let go. Adam Scott plays Mark, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a procedure to completely separate his work memories from his personal life.

The premise sounds simple, but the execution is masterful. Director Ben Stiller creates an unsettling atmosphere where fluorescent-lit office corridors feel more terrifying than any horror movie.

What really sold me was how the show uses its sci-fi concept to explore work-life balance in ways I’d never considered. When Mark’s “work self” starts questioning the ethics of their situation, things get genuinely disturbing.

The supporting cast, including Patricia Arquette and John Turturro, delivers performances that earned 14 Emmy nominations. This isn’t just good sci-fi – it’s prestige television at its finest.

2. Ted Lasso – Feel-Good Sports Comedy

Quick Answer: Ted Lasso follows an American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team, spreading optimism and kindness despite overwhelming odds.

I’ll admit I was skeptical about a show based on NBC Sports commercials. Then I watched it and ugly-cried through half of season one.

Jason Sudeikis transforms what could have been a one-note character into something special. Ted’s relentless optimism isn’t naive – it’s a conscious choice in the face of personal struggles.

The show earned 11 Emmy awards across its three seasons, and every single one was deserved. The writing balances humor with genuine emotional depth that caught me completely off guard.

What impressed me most was how the show develops every character, not just Ted. Rebecca’s journey from vindictive owner to genuine leader spans all three seasons beautifully.

Season	Episodes	Rotten Tomatoes	Emmy Wins
Season 1	10	92%	7
Season 2	12	98%	4
Season 3	12	82%	0

3. Silo – Post-Apocalyptic Mystery

Quick Answer: Silo explores a dystopian future where humanity lives in a giant underground silo, forbidden from learning about the toxic world outside.

Rebecca Ferguson absolutely commands the screen as Juliette, an engineer who stumbles onto secrets that could destroy their underground society.

The world-building here rivals anything on HBO. Every detail of the silo’s 144-level society feels thought out, from the rigid class system to the mysterious regulations everyone follows without question.

I binged all 10 episodes of season one in two days. The mystery unfolds perfectly, answering just enough questions while raising new ones that had me theorizing between episodes.

Season 2 is currently airing weekly, and the production values have somehow gotten even better. Apple reportedly spent $20 million per episode, and it shows in every frame.

4. Foundation – Epic Science Fiction Saga

Quick Answer: Foundation adapts Isaac Asimov’s classic novels about mathematicians predicting the fall of a galactic empire and planning for humanity’s survival.

This show shouldn’t work. Asimov’s books are notoriously “unfilmable” – they span centuries and focus more on ideas than action.

Yet somehow showrunner David S. Goyer pulled it off. The solution? Focus on the Empire storyline with Lee Pace’s magnificent Emperor Cleon, who rules as a series of clones.

The visual effects rival any blockbuster movie. When I saw the space elevator in episode one, I knew Apple wasn’t messing around with their budget.

Fair warning: this show demands patience. The multiple timelines and dense mythology lost some viewers early on. But if you stick with it, the payoff in season two is incredible.

5. Slow Horses – British Spy Thriller

Quick Answer: Slow Horses follows MI5’s reject spies relegated to administrative purgatory, who keep getting pulled into real intelligence operations.

Gary Oldman chewing scenery as the slovenly Jackson Lamb is worth the subscription alone. He leads Slough House, where disgraced MI5 agents do paperwork until they quit.

The show perfectly balances British wit with genuine spy thriller tension. Just when you think it’s a comedy, someone dies brutally and the stakes become very real.

I’ve rewatched season one twice, and it gets better each time. The writing is so tight that throwaway lines in episode one become crucial plot points by episode six.

With four seasons available and more coming, this has become Apple TV+’s most reliable series. Every season maintains the quality while expanding the world.

6. The Morning Show – Media Industry Drama

Quick Answer: The Morning Show exposes the behind-the-scenes drama at a network morning show dealing with #MeToo scandals and industry upheaval.

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon reportedly earn $2 million per episode, and they earn every penny. Their chemistry as frenemies anchors the entire show.

Season one tackled the #MeToo movement with surprising nuance. Instead of simple villains and heroes, we get complex characters making difficult choices.

The show lost me a bit in season two with its COVID storyline, but season three brought back the media intrigue that made the first season compelling.

What keeps me watching is how accurately it captures the TV news industry. Having worked adjacent to media, the office politics and ego battles ring painfully true.

7. For All Mankind – Alternative History Space Race

Quick Answer: For All Mankind imagines an alternative timeline where the Soviet Union reached the moon first, extending the space race for decades.

This show answers the question “what if NASA never lost funding?” The result is a thrilling exploration of how space advancement could have changed everything.

Each season jumps forward a decade, showing how continued space competition reshapes global politics. By season four, we’re in 2003 with established Mars colonies.

The character development across four seasons impressed me. Watching astronauts age realistically while technology advances around them creates unique storytelling opportunities.

Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) knows how to blend human drama with sci-fi concepts. Every space sequence feels both spectacular and scientifically grounded.

8. Shrinking – Therapy Comedy-Drama

Quick Answer: Shrinking follows a grieving therapist who starts telling his clients exactly what he thinks, breaking professional boundaries with chaotic results.

Jason Segel and Harrison Ford make an unexpectedly perfect duo. Ford’s grumpy senior therapist delivers some of the best one-liners I’ve heard in years.

The show tackles grief and mental health without losing its sense of humor. After my own loss last year, certain episodes hit harder than expected.

What sets Shrinking apart from other therapy shows is its optimism. Despite dealing with heavy topics, it believes people can actually change and grow.

Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso co-creator) brings the same warmth here. Characters feel like real people you’d want to grab coffee with, flaws and all.

9. Pachinko – Multi-Generational Epic

Quick Answer: Pachinko tells the sweeping story of a Korean family across four generations, from 1915 Korea to 1989 Japan.

This show made me cry in three different languages. The parallel timelines showing young Sunja in 1930s Korea and her grandson in 1989 Tokyo create beautiful thematic echoes.

The production values are stunning. Period-accurate details in costumes and sets transport you completely into each era.

Lee Min-ho’s performance as Hansu, a complicated anti-hero, deserved way more awards attention. He makes questionable choices feel inevitable given the historical context.

Fair warning: this moves at a deliberate pace. But if you appreciate character-driven storytelling, Pachinko delivers emotional payoffs that stay with you.

10. Black Bird – True Crime Thriller

Quick Answer: Black Bird tells the true story of a convicted drug dealer who goes undercover in a maximum-security prison to get a confession from a suspected serial killer.

Taron Egerton completely transforms himself as Jimmy Keene, a cocky drug dealer forced to befriend suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser).

The six-episode limited series maintains perfect tension throughout. Knowing it’s based on true events makes every interaction between Jimmy and Larry terrifying.

Paul Walter Hauser’s performance as Larry Hall gave me actual nightmares. He creates a character so unsettling yet strangely sympathetic that you can’t look away.

The show doesn’t glorify true crime – it shows the real cost on victims’ families and the moral compromises of the justice system.

11. Bad Sisters – Dark Comedy Mystery

Quick Answer: Bad Sisters follows five Irish sisters suspected of murdering their abusive brother-in-law, mixing dark comedy with genuine mystery.

Sharon Horgan created something special here. The show balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuinely dark subject matter about domestic abuse.

The mystery structure, jumping between the murder investigation and events leading up to it, keeps you guessing until the final episode.

What surprised me was how the show made me root for potential murderers. By showing the brother-in-law’s abuse gradually, you understand why the sisters might snap.

The Irish setting and humor give it a distinct flavor compared to typical American mysteries. The sisters’ chemistry feels completely authentic.

12. Acapulco – Bilingual Feel-Good Comedy

Quick Answer: Acapulco tells the story of a young Mexican man whose dream job at a glamorous resort in 1984 becomes more complicated than expected.

This show is pure comfort food. Eugenio Derbez narrates as older Máximo, telling his nephew about his youth working at Las Colinas resort.

The bilingual format works brilliantly. Characters switch between Spanish and English naturally, with subtitles that never feel intrusive.

I started watching this after a particularly rough week, and it was exactly what I needed. The 1984 setting adds nostalgic charm without overdoing the references.

Three seasons in, the show maintains its optimistic tone while tackling real issues like class differences and family expectations.

13. Lessons in Chemistry – Period Drama with Feminist Themes

Quick Answer: Lessons in Chemistry follows a brilliant chemist in 1960s America who becomes an unlikely cooking show host, using the platform to empower women.

Brie Larson perfectly captures Elizabeth Zott’s frustration at being dismissed despite her brilliance. The show makes 1960s sexism feel visceral without preaching.

The cooking show segments where Elizabeth explains recipes using chemistry are genuinely clever. She sneaks female empowerment messages into seemingly innocent cooking tips.

What elevated this for me was the supporting cast, especially the women in Elizabeth’s neighborhood who slowly realize they deserve more from life.

The eight-episode limited series tells a complete story with a satisfying ending. No cliffhangers or sequel baiting – just excellent storytelling.

14. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters – Kaiju Universe Expansion

Quick Answer: Monarch explores the secret organization tracking Godzilla and other Titans across two timelines, expanding the MonsterVerse mythology.

Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt playing the same character in different timelines is inspired casting. Their similar mannerisms sell the connection perfectly.

The show succeeds by focusing on human drama between monster appearances. When Godzilla does show up, the effects rival the recent movies.

I appreciated how the show expands the MonsterVerse mythology without requiring homework. You don’t need to remember every movie detail to follow along.

The family mystery driving the plot genuinely surprised me several times. It’s more character-driven than expected for a monster show.

15. Hijack – Real-Time Thriller

Quick Answer: Hijack unfolds in real-time as negotiator Sam Nelson tries to save a hijacked plane using only his skills and intelligence.

Idris Elba carries this entire show on his shoulders. His performance as Sam Nelson, thinking three steps ahead of everyone, is mesmerizing.

The real-time format creates incredible tension. Seven episodes equal the seven-hour flight, with events unfolding minute by minute.

I watched this entire series in one sitting, genuinely unable to stop. Each episode ends on a cliffhanger that makes “just one more” inevitable.

The show avoids action movie clichés. Sam isn’t a secret agent – he’s a corporate negotiator using business tactics against terrorists.

16. Presumed Innocent – Legal Thriller Revival

Quick Answer: Presumed Innocent follows a prosecutor accused of murdering his colleague and lover, fighting to prove his innocence while his life unravels.

Jake Gyllenhaal brings incredible intensity to Rusty Sabich. Watching him slowly unravel as evidence mounts against him is genuinely unsettling.

The show improves on the 1990 Harrison Ford film by having eight episodes to develop characters and red herrings. The ending genuinely shocked me.

What works best is the family drama. Rusty’s wife (Ruth Negga) isn’t just a supportive spouse – she’s complex and potentially dangerous herself.

David E. Kelley knows how to write legal dramas, and this might be his best work since Big Little Lies.

17. Drops of God – Wine Industry Drama

Quick Answer: Drops of God follows two potential heirs competing for a wine empire through a series of wine-tasting challenges, blending family drama with wine education.

This Japanese-French co-production feels unlike anything else on Apple TV+. The wine-tasting scenes are shot like action sequences.

I know nothing about wine, but the show made me care about terroir and vintage years. The way characters describe wine flavors becomes almost poetic.

The inheritance competition structure keeps things moving while exploring family dynamics and cultural differences between French and Japanese wine cultures.

Fleur Geffrier and Tomohisa Yamashita have wonderful chemistry as rivals who respect each other. Their growing connection feels earned.

18. The Studio – Hollywood Satire

Quick Answer: The Studio satirizes modern Hollywood as a movie studio head tries to balance art, commerce, and massive egos in the film industry.

Seth Rogen plays Matt Remick, newly appointed head of Continental Studios, dealing with nightmare productions and entitled stars. The industry insights feel painfully accurate.

The show works because it doesn’t pull punches. Hollywood’s obsession with franchises and risk aversion gets thoroughly skewered.

Guest stars playing exaggerated versions of themselves provide the biggest laughs. Catherine O’Hara’s episode as a method actor gone too far is brilliant.

Coming from the team behind Veep, the rapid-fire dialogue and creative insults hit perfectly. It’s the meanest comedy on Apple TV+ and I love it.

Apple TV+ Shows by Genre: Find Your Perfect Match

Quick Answer: Apple TV+ offers strong content across genres, with particular strength in sci-fi thrillers, workplace dramas, and premium limited series.

Genre	Best Shows	Perfect For
Sci-Fi/Thriller	Severance, Foundation, Silo	Complex plots, world-building fans
Drama	The Morning Show, Pachinko, Presumed Innocent	Character studies, emotional depth
Comedy	Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Acapulco	Feel-good viewing with substance
Mystery/Crime	Black Bird, Bad Sisters, Slow Horses	Puzzle solvers, tension seekers
Alternative History	For All Mankind, Monarch	What-if scenarios, detailed worlds

If you’re new to Apple TV+, I recommend starting with your preferred genre’s top pick. These shows consistently deliver quality that justifies the subscription.

How to Maximize Your Apple TV+ Subscription?

Quick Answer: Maximize Apple TV+ value by subscribing for 1-2 months to binge top shows, using free trials strategically, or bundling with Apple One for better value.

Here’s my tested strategy for getting the most from Apple TV+:

1. The Binge Strategy: Subscribe for 2 months, watch everything worthwhile, then cancel until new seasons arrive
2. Free Trial Timing: Save your 7-day trial for when multiple shows you want have complete seasons
3. Apple One Bundle: If you use other Apple services, the bundle saves $9 monthly while adding Apple TV+

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: Is Apple TV+ Worth It?

After extensive viewing, Apple TV+ proves that less can be more in streaming. You won’t find endless content, but what’s there consistently delivers.

For $9.99 monthly, you’re getting shows that rival HBO and win major awards. My recommendation? Subscribe for two months, watch the shows listed here, then reassess.

The platform isn’t trying to be Netflix. It’s creating a boutique streaming experience where every show feels like an event worth watching.