Apple TV+ began life as the dark horse of the streaming wars, but it’s rapidly become one of the most reliable platforms for quality storytelling. In a few short years, it’s delivered award-winning dramas, acerbic comedies, and ambitious sci-fi winners that compete with HBO and Netflix on both prestige and popularity. If you’re wondering where to start, or what to rewatch, the Tomatometer has the answers. Here’s a countdown of the ten best Apple TV+ originals, ranked by critic and audience scores, and all absolutely worth your next binge.
10. Shrinking
Tomatometer: 94% | Audience Score: 89%
Jason Segel plays a therapist who’s tired of being nice, and he begins speaking his mind to his patients. The outcome? Pandemonium, humor, and a remarkable degree of therapy. Starring Harrison Ford in one of his most comedic, most sincere turns, Shrinking mingles comedy and sadness in a way few programs do. Critics have complimented its warmth, its humor, and its thoroughly human foundation.
9. Trying
Tomatometer: 96% | Audience Score: 91%
This delightful British sitcom tracks Nikki and Jason, a pair going through the trials and tribulations of adopting. Their journey to parenthood is cringe, tear-jerking, and riddled with laugh-out-loud moments. Audience members and critics have fallen in love with its combination of sincerity and absurdity, dubbing Trying one of the most authentic comedies on television.
8. Severance
Tomatometer: 95% | Audience Score: 80%
What if your work life and personal life were literally separated in your brain? That’s the eerie idea behind Severance, starring Adam Scott as an office worker stuck in a corporate hellhole. Showrun by Ben Stiller, the series blends dystopian suspense with visually stunning design. Critics have called it one of the most innovative and philosophical sci-fi dramas of the past decade.
7. Mythic Quest
Tomatometer: 96% | Audience Score: 81%
By the makers of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mythic Quest explores the back-stage mayhem of a successful video game development shop. Rob McElhenney fronts a group of offbeat characters who make office politics into comedy gold. The show is both absurd and moving, honoring creativity, ego, and collaboration in the most dysfunctional manner conceivable.
6. Murderbot
Tomatometer: 95% | Audience Score: 82%
Adapted from Martha Wells’ popular sci-fi novellas, Murderbot is the tale of a wayward security android that only wants to be left alone to watch soap operas in peace, but keeps getting pulled back into rescuing humans. Alexander Skarsgård lends the titular robot an unexpected amount of snark and heart. Critics are hailing it “the funniest science fiction show of the year,” and its mix of humor, action, and existential angst has quickly made it a favorite.
5. Central Park
Tomatometer: 97% | Audience Score: 73%
From the makers of Bob’s Burgers, Central Park is a musical animated comedy about a family that actually resides within the park they run. It’s full of witty songs, quirky misfits, and New York vitality. Critics have commended its vibrant animation and cheerful demeanor; it’s just the right boost for any mood.
4. Little America
Tomatometer: 97% | Audience Score: 86%
An anthology based on actual immigrant experiences, Little America honours the humor, heartache, and hope of individuals pursuing the American dream. Each episode is self-contained, but collectively they compose a vibrant, compassionate picture of contemporary life. Critics have termed it “a quiet masterpiece” for its humanity and narrative elegance.
3. Pachinko
Tomatometer: 97% | Audience Score: 92%
Spanning generations and decades, Pachinko traces a Korean family’s triumph over love, loss, and survival in Japan and America. Adapted from Min Jin Lee’s celebrated novel, the series is a cinematic achievement, visually stunning and emotionally powerful. Praise has been heaped upon it as a milestone in international television, with breathtaking performances and unparalleled depth.
2. Black Bird
Tomatometer: 98% | Audience Score: 95%
In this tense true-crime thriller, a fallen sports star (Taron Egerton) is granted release from prison if he can befriend a possible serial killer (Paul Walter Hauser) and get him to confess. It’s a game of psychological cat-and-mouse. Critics describe Black Bird as “a masterclass in suspense,” and both stars give some of their finest performances.
1. Slow Horses
Tomatometer: 97% | Audience Score: 87%
At the top of the list is Slow Horses, a darkly comedic spy drama that flips espionage on its head. Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the foul-mouthed boss of MI5’s team of misfits. Featuring wicked writing, rich character development, and loads of twists, it’s the uncommon spy thriller that’s as funny as it is suspenseful. Critics agree, Slow Horses is Apple TV+ at its very best.
Honorable Mentions
If you’ve already breezed through these, don’t miss other standouts like The Studio, Bad Monkey, Platonic, and Shrinking (yes, it’s worth another mention). Apple’s library is stacked with inventive, emotionally grounded shows that prove quality still matters in the streaming age.
From offbeat comedies to epic dramas, Apple TV+ has established itself as the destination for intelligent, exquisitely constructed storytelling. Whether it’s sci-fi brain teasers or poignant studies of character, this slate shows that Apple’s bite-sized offering is full of big wallop.