At first, Apple TV+ was perceived as the worst choice among major streaming platforms, but it has recently become one of the most reliable sources of smart and extremely binge-worthy new TV. Whether you are a laughing, comedy, nail-biting, suspense, or a combination of both kinds of person, Apple’s program of shows is the one that will make you come very soon. Which ones, however, managed to endure such strong competition? Below are our picks of the 10 best Apple TV+ originals of all time, ranked not only by the critics but also by their memorable characters, sharp dialogues, and that “just one more episode” craving.
10. The Afterparty
Think of a murder mystery that’s a different style each week. That’s The Afterparty. By Christopher Miller (The LEGO Movie, 21 Jump Street), every chapter recuts the night of the murder from somebody new’s point of view—and in an entirely different film genre. With Tiffany Haddish sleuthing with a cast that also features Sam Richardson, Ben Schwartz, and Ilana Glazer, it’s smart and always funny, the ideal take on the whodunit template.
9. Bad Sisters
Half family drama, half dark comedy, Bad Sisters observes the Garvey sisters sticking up for one of their own to handle her abusive, controlling husband. The outcome? A twisty, bite-y, and unexpectedly tender tale that became a sleeper hit for Apple. Sharon Horgan headlines a phenomenal cast, and by season two, the tension (and laughs) are ratcheted up even further.
8. Pachinko
Based on Min Jin Lee’s bestselling novel, Pachinko is a visually stunning, decades-long drama of one Korean family’s struggle to survive and find a place in the world. With stunning cinematography, close storytelling, and show-stealing performances from Youn Yuh-jung and the rest of the cast, this show is as beautiful to watch as it is emotionally shattering. It’s the type of show that haunts you long after you’re done.
7. Mythic Quest
A workplace comedy with a heart, Mythic Quest takes place in the crazy offices of a hit video game studio. Rob McElhenney stars as Ian Grimm, the self-absorbed creative director, with a team of quirky (and endlessly humorous) colleagues played by Danny Pudi, Charlotte Nicdao, and more. It’s cutting, warm, and one of the most purely enjoyable shows that Apple has to offer.
6. Black Bird
This riveting true-crime thriller makes the prison informant cliche much more disturbing. Taron Egerton stars as Jimmy Keene, who’s sent to extract a confession from convicted serial killer Larry Hall—played with terrifying accuracy by Paul Walter Hauser. The tension doesn’t relent, and the performances are never to be forgotten. At only six episodes, it’s a tightly wound gut punch.
5. Silo
Hugh Howey’s Wool books are brought to life in this suspenseful, atmospheric science fiction thriller. Rebecca Ferguson plays an engineer who’s determined to discover what lies beneath in the underground silo where humanity’s remnants survive. With its careful world-building and lots of suspense, Silo’s first season captured a devoted fanbase, and the next is already getting us ready for even greater revelations.
4. Ted Lasso
Jason Sudeikis’s Ted Lasso started as a skit for a soccer promotional spot and somehow evolved into one of the decade’s most popular comedies. Ted’s incessant positivity, combined with clever writing and a stellar ensemble cast, made it a phenomenon that was finally a feel-good show and yet still managed to probe deeply enough into questions of loss, friendship, and self-improvement.
3. For All Mankind
This alternate-history series poses the question: What if the Russians beat us to the moon? The answer comes in a complex, ambitious series that combines space-race spectacle with realistic human drama. Ronald D. Moore and his writers provide big ideas and emotional moments in equal measure, and the show gets better still as it broadens its timeline.
2. Slow Horses
Gary Oldman swipes every frame in this clever, dark spy thriller about MI5’s most unglamorous outpost: Slough House, where British intelligence’s misfits and rejectees reside. What begins as a penal station becomes the stage for high-stakes spycraft, black humor, and shockingly sentimental character development. The prose is cutting-edge, and Oldman’s Jackson Lamb is immediately iconic.
1. Severance
Apple’s flagship show, Severance, is a work drama like nothing else. In this darkly clever universe, workers have a procedure that alienates work memories from private ones. Adam Scott heads up an all-star ensemble with Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, and Christopher Walken, in a series that’s half-mystery, half-satire, and half-philosophical thought experiment. It’s disturbing, compulsive, and impossible to get out of your head.
From tear-jerking comedies to edge-of-your-seat thrillers, Apple TV+ has shown it’s not only keeping pace with the streaming behemoths—it’s setting its high bar. The toughest part? Choosing which masterpiece to begin with.