Since Apple TV+ was a late entrant to the streaming melee, you might not think there’s much worth watching, but think again. The service has lots of great new shows, and it keeps getting better. Here are the ones we think are worth watching right now. Keep in mind the TV-MA rating: Not all of these shows are child-friendly.
The Mosquito Coast (2021): Wildest Run-for-the-Border Family Adventure
Have you ever wanted to drop everything and move far, far away? Allie Fox (Justin Theroux) decides to do just that when he finds himself on the wrong end of government agents. Determined to live off-grid in a houseboat in Honduras, he smuggles his wife Margot (Melissa George) and their kids across the southern border.
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Inspired by the 1981 book of the same name, The Mosquito Coast tells an original story set in modern-day North and Central America. The star of the show, Justin Theroux, is the nephew of Paul Theroux, the author of the original book.
Slow Horses (2022): Best British Spy Thriller Based on a Book Series
What happens to British spies who make embarrassing mistakes? They get sent to Slough House, an administrative limbo under the watchful eye of Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), the world’s most miserable manager.
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Based on a series of books by Mick Herron’s novels, Slow Horses has the premise of a typical workplace comedy, but it quickly gets more exciting as the agents are tasked with more serious matters.
Shantaram (2022): A Gangster Story Based on Real Life
After breaking out of prison in Australia, bank robber Lin Ford (Charlie Hunnam) flees to India in hopes of starting a new life, but he soon finds himself in the criminal underbelly of Bombay.
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Shantaram is based on a semi-autobiographical novel by real-life bank robber Gregory David Roberts. Set in the 1980s, it’s a fun throwback to gangster movies of that era.
Echo 3 (2022): Best Bilingual International Action Thriller
When American scientist Amber Chesborough (Jessica Ann Collins) disappears in Columbia, her father Bambi (Luke Evans) and her husband Prince (Michiel Huisman) use their military training to go on a rescue mission.
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
Filmed in English and Spanish, Echo 3 is an emotionally explosive war drama that explores the complex history of U.S. secret operations in Latin America.
Acapulco (2021): Funniest Bilingual Rags-to-Riches Comedy
Today, Máximo (Eugenio Derbez) is a wealthy man, but growing up poor in the resort town of Acapulco wasn’t easy. Set in both the present day and the 1980s, Acapulco is an unlikely rags-to-riches story about a man who went from pool boy to self-made millionaire.
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Enrique Arrizon plays the young Máximo with all the charm of a teenage telenovela heartthrob. Acapulco features both Spanish and English dialogue, but there are subtitles for viewers who aren’t bilingual.
Central Park (2020): Best Animated Musical Sitcom for Adults
Park manager Owen Tillerman (Leslie Odom Jr.) works and lives happily with his family in Edendale Castle (based on the real Belvedere Castle) in Central Park, New York. However, their happy existence is threatened when a wealthy real estate developer wants to turn their home into condominiums.
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
While the title may sound like a knock-off of South Park, Central Park is quite the opposite. The show is aimed at older audiences, but it’s not at all vulgar or violent. The plot centers around hot-button issues like gentrification, but it’s not preachy. All in all, Central Park is a fun sitcom that teens and adults can enjoy together.
The Problem With Jon Stewart (2021): Most Glorious Return of a Talk Show Legend
The only real problem with Jon Stewart is that he’s been absent from our TVs for way too long. Finally, he’s back with a new talk show that combines comedy with political commentary. Every episode is a deep dive into a pertinent issue facing America today.
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Famous for his days hosting The Daily Show, Stewart has been an outspoken advocate for 9/11 frontline workers. He’s now signed to a multi-year deal, so expect The Problem With Jon Stewart to stick around for a few seasons.
Bad Sisters (2022): Darkest Comedy About Family and Murder
The Garvey sisters have a reputation for being tough, but are any of them capable of murder? That’s what everyone wants to know after the abusive husband of their friend Grace (Anne-Marie Duff) turns up dead.
Bad Sisters is an Irish comedy based on a Belgian show called Clan. The story unfolds as a mystery, so it’s best to go in without any preconceived notions of what’s going to happen.
Black Bird (2022): Based on the True Story of an FBI Informant
Facing a decade in prison for illegal firearms charges, Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton) agrees to work with the FBI in exchange for a lesser sentence. Immediately, Keene is sent undercover to find the victims of a suspected serial killer.
Believe it or not, Jimmy Keene is a real person, and the show is based on his 2010 autobiography In with the Devil. With just six episodes, Black Bird is easy to binge during a long weekend.
Severance (2022): Strangest Satire of21st Century Corporate America
The employees at Lumon Industries all have something in common: Every day, their memories of the outside world are erased when they arrive to work. The system works perfectly, until it doesn’t, which causes loyal worker Mark (Adam Scott) to question everything.
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
A twisted spin on shows like The Office, Severance satirizes the darker side of corporate workplace culture.
Five Days at Memorial (2022): Remembering the Heroes of Hurricane Katrina
During one of the most catastrophic storms in American history, the New Orleans Memorial Medical Center operated for five days without power. Five Days at Memorial tells the true story of the doctors and nurses who weathered the storm.
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
This miniseries, as well as the book it was based on, addresses the difficult decisions doctors must make during disasters. More than anything, it’s a testament to the bravery of frontline workers.
For All Mankind (2019): Best Alternate History Show About the Cold War
The space race culminated in 1969 with the moon landing of Apollo 11, but what if the Soviet Union had landed there first? For All Mankind posits that America wouldn’t take the “L” and move on. In an alternate version of history, the space race continues with some unexpected outcomes.
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
The series uses a mix of fictional and real-life characters, like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, to create a plausible alternate past, present, and future. The first few episodes start with a sputter, but the ride gets back as it goes on. Stay strapped in for a new season in 2021.
Pachinko (2022): An International, Cross-Generational, and Multi-Lingual Epic
Pachinko is a mini-series based on the New York Times best-selling book of the same name. Across four generations, a Korean family moves from country to country in search of a better life.
With dialogue in Korean, Japanese, and English, Pachinko is a truly international series that celebrates immigration and diversity.
Prehistoric Planet (2022): A Blast From the Past Like You’ve Never Seen Before
The same animation studio that produced Disney’s remakes of The Jungle Book and The Lion King has recreated Late Cretaceous Earth, bringing audiences the most realistic look ever at the titans who ruled our Earth for millennia. With an original score by Hans Zimmer, Prehistoric Planet is much more impressive than the latest Jurrasic World movie.
IMDb Rating: 9.2/10
Narrated by David Attenborough, this five-part series uses the latest research on dinosaurs to build upon BBC’s previous series Planet Dinosaur (2011) and Walking with Dinosaurs (1999).
The Big Conn (2022): Baddest Social Security Scandal of the Last Century
Meet Mr. Eric C. Conn, the infamous Kentucky lawyer who stole half a billion dollars through Social Security fraud. As bad as that sounds, he couldn’t have done it without the help of compliant judges and doctors.
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
These days, true crime stories are a dime-a-dozen, but this one is a classic. Fans of watching white-collar criminals get busted won’t be disappointed with The Big Conn.
Tehran (2020): Most Suspenseful International Spy Story
Undercover hacker Tamar (Niv Sultan) returns to her home country to sabotage a nuclear program. However, when plans go awry, she’s tasked with an even more dangerous mission.
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
One of Apple TV’s most acclaimed original shows, Tehran is finally back with a second season. In 2021, Tehran became the first Israeli TV show to win the prestigious International Emmy Award for best drama.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (2022): Most Mind-Bending Mystery Series
At 91 years old, Ptolemy Grey (Samuel L. Jackson) becomes the caretaker of a teenage girl, Robyn (Dominique Fishback). As his dementia worsens, the teen helps Ptolemy regain his memory and uncover the truth behind his nephew’s death.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey is based on a novel by Walter Mosley, who also directs the show.
Loot (2022): Too Much Money, Too Few Problems
Molly (Maya Rudolph) is recently divorced, but don’t feel too bad for her. Now, her biggest problem is deciding how to spend the $87 billion she got from her ex-husband.
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Maya Rudolph makes Loot worth watching thanks to her impeccable comedic timing. More than an excuse to make fun of rich people, the show actually has a positive message about the importance of giving back.
WeCrashed (2022): The Story of the World’s Most Explosive Power Couple
WeWork co-founders Adam (Jared Leto) and Rebekah Neuman (Anne Hathaway) turned their co-working concept into a billion-dollar brand, but it all crashed and burned dramatically, just like their relationship.
Leto and Hathaway are captivating in their roles as a real-life power couple. The less you know about the true story behind WeCrashed, the more shocked you’ll be by the twist and turns.
Suspicion (2022): Most Twisted International Criminal Conspiracy
The son of American business mogul Katherine Newman (Uma Thurman) mysteriously goes missing from a New York hotel. Meanwhile, five British tourists return home from the U.S. only to find out that they are the prime suspects.
IMDb Rating: 6.2
Suspicion is an adaptation of an Israeli TV show called False Flag. New episodes air every Friday.
The Afterparty (2022): Best Genre-Bending Murder Mystery
When a high school reunion turns into a crime scene, everyone in attendance is a possible culprit. To clear their names, each guest gives their account of what happened in the style of various movie genres.
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
You may be surprised that this murder mystery was written by Christopher Miller, creator of The Lego Movie. Afterparty debuted with a three-episode premiere and will be followed by one new episode each Friday.
Harriet the Spy (2021): Best Reboot of a Beloved Children’s Character
Harriet the Spy brings the beloved children’s book series to the 21st century. Young Harriet (Beanie Feldstein), an aspiring writer with unyielding curiosity, often finds herself in over her head.
The animation designs are inspired by the illustrations of the original books, but the show has a distinctly modern feel that fits in nicely with Apple’s lineup of kid’s shows. There’s even a bit of humor for adults, but there’s nothing inappropriate for kids.
Foundation (2021): Most Ambitious Adaptation of a Sci-Fi Book Series
Isaac Asimov’s best-selling book series has been adapted into a big-budget Apple TV Plus exclusive. While it takes some liberties with the story in the books, Foundation is a satisfying space opera that spans across the galaxy. Led by mathematician Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), a team of renegades must work together to prevent the collapse of an empire.
With its galactic empires and clones, Foundation has obvious parallels with Star Wars, but the books predate the famous film franchise by several decades. In fact, George Lucas could have very well been inspired by Asimov.
The Morning Show (2020): Best Morning TV Drama
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a morning news show? The Morning Show gives a good, if somewhat dramatized, look. As one of the first shows released on Apple TV+, The Morning Show is a hit with the perfect balance of drama, rage, and self-indulgence while also tackling some heavy issues close to home for those of us in the audience.
Mich (Steve Carell) is a former morning anchor trying to get his job back. Alex (Jennifer Anniston) and Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) are sometimes friends and sometimes enemies battling a sexist establishment as they try to save a morning news show.
Schmigadoon! (2021): Best Tribute to the Golden Age of Musicals
Did you know that writer, actor, and comedian Keegan-Michael Key is also a fabulous singer? Now the whole world knows thanks to HBO Max’s musical series Schmigadoon! Trapped in a town that’s trapped in a real-life musical, Josh (Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) have no choice but to join in the fun.
Schmigadoon! is a musical for people who love musicals—it pays respect to beloved mid-century stage shows. In fact, the story is inspired by the 1947 musical and 1954 film Brigadoon.
Ted Lasso (2020): Best British-American Sports Comedy
Americans and Brits may speak the same language, but there are some irreconcilable linguistic differences. American Football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) finds this out the hard way when he agrees to coach a football team in London, only to learn that it’s an entirely different sport.
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
You may recognize the titular character from a series of NBC shorts promoting the network’s coverage of the Premier League. Jason Sudeikis’s portrayal of the lovably aloof coach captured the hearts of sports fans, and now he has his own show entering its second season.
Shining Girls (2022): Best Murder Mystery Book Series Adaptation
Journalist and assault survivor Kirby Mazrachi (Elisabeth Moss) just wants to forget the past, but it comes back to haunt her when the attack is connected with a new murder case.
It’s best to go in blind since Shining Girls takes some surprising turns. Just be warned that it gets pretty intense, so you might not want to binge it all in one sitting.
Trying (2020): Best Sitcom for Future Parents
Like a lot of couples, Jason (Rafe Spall) and Nikki (Esther Smith) want to be good parents. Unable to conceive on their own, they plan to adopt, which turns out to be a pretty involved process. Unsure of their own parenting skills, how will the couple convince strangers that they are capable of raising a child?
Trying is a great show to watch for expecting couples or anyone who might want to be a parent one day. It accurately represents the legal complexities of adoption and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with preparing for a kid. That said, Trying is a comedy first and foremost, so it’s more likely to make you laugh than cry.
Servant (2019): Best Paranormal Thriller From a Hollywood Director
Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) is thrilled when she lands a cushy gig as a live-in nanny, but there’s a catch: She’s actually taking care of a doll that the mother (Lauren Ambrose) believes is her deceased infant son. It’s a concept that’s been tried before with movies like The Boy and The Truth About Emanuel, but Servant brings enough to the table to stand on its own.
While M. Night Shyamalan didn’t direct or write any of the episodes, many scenes look like they could come from a Shyamalan film. Episodes are short and reveal only enough to keep you watching.
The Snoopy Show (2021): Cutest Kid’s Show Based on a Classic Cartoon
Charlie Brown is the de facto leader of the Peanuts gang, but everyone knows who’s the real star of the crew. Snoopy has been entertaining kids for decades, and thanks to Apple Plus, today’s generation can get acquainted with the world’s coolest beagle.
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
If you or your kids like The Snoopy Show, check out Snoopy in Space, another Apple Plus original. If you have kids, these series can act as a gateway to old classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas.
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