Let’s get real: when Apple TV+ originally came out, none of us were really jumping at the chance to subscribe. Another technology firm attempting to be a Hollywood big shot? No thanks. But somewhere between the eye-rolling and the memes, Apple TV+ went about doing the unthinkable—it became one of the most intelligent, sleek, and consistently excellent streaming services available. It does not necessarily have thousands of titles to navigate through, but it has what it does have, and it is top quality.
From sweet comedies and spine-tingling thrillers to award-grabbing dramas that’ll have you questioning your life decisions, Apple TV+ is styling hits like a pro. So, in classic countdown style, here are the 9 best Apple TV+ original shows you absolutely must get familiar with, starting from number 9 and counting our way to the crème de la crème.
9. The Studio
Hollywood is a sucker for a good roast of self, but The Studio accomplishes it with better brains and sting than most. Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, a newly minted head of a studio attempting (and failing) to reconcile art, ego, and profit. It’s snappy, frenetic, and laugh-out-loud funny, full of industry cameos—yep, even Martin Scorsese makes an appearance. The series treads the delicate balance between satire and authenticity, giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the insanity of film production that only Hollywood elites (and Twitter junkies) could imagine.
8. Shrinking
What if your therapist ditched the act of appearing to have it all together and just gave you the truth? That’s the idea behind Shrinking, a laugh-out-loud, deeply human series about a grief-stricken shrink (Jason Segel) who takes the guidelines and throws them out the window. With Harrison Ford in one of his strongest performances in years, the show blends belly laughs with real feeling. From the folks behind Ted Lasso, this one’s a must-see if you enjoy your comedies with heart and direction.
7. Silo
For fans of sci-fi with a love for mystery, Silo is a must-watch. Based on Hugh Howey’s bestselling books, the series plunges audiences into a giant underground world where nobody dares to ask questions about the rules or what lies beyond. Rebecca Ferguson stars as an engineer whose quest for answers risks tearing it all apart. Clever, tense, and stunningly constructed, Silo is like Lost in the streaming era, except tighter and darker.
6. Black Bird
True crime television doesn’t get much more compelling than Black Bird. Taron Egerton stars as Jimmy Keene, an inmate given his freedom—provided he becomes friends with a potential serial killer and obtains a confession. What transpires is an unsettling psychological game of cat and mouse between their characters, Keene and Larry Hall (played by Paul Walter Hauser, who should be awarded every accolade under the sun for his performance). It’s intense, emotional, and expertly acted—a crime drama that fully deserves its darkened tone.
5. For All Mankind
What if the space race never ended? All Mankind takes that “what if” and constructs an entire alternate universe around it, with the Soviets pulling ahead of the U.S. to the moon. What begins as a Cold War rivalry escalates into a decades-long journey of ambition, politics, and human resilience. With stunning production design and intricately layered storytelling, it’s one of Apple’s most ambitious and most underrated gems.
4. Slow Horses
Spy dramas tend to be formulaic, but Slow Horses is not one of them. Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the genius but rumpled head of an MI5 reject team that somehow manages to save the day despite their ineptitude. It’s part thriller, part dark comedy, part workplace soap opera, with some of the best writing on television. Apple obviously sensed it had a hit, ordering several seasons before the first one even made it to air.
3. Severance
Ever dreamed of compartmentalizing your work and personal lives? Severance makes that concept a dystopian horror. Adam Scott is the star of a phenomenal ensemble in this creepy, humorous, and existential series about workers whose memories are surgically separated from work and home life. Developed by Dan Erickson and produced by Ben Stiller, Severance is one of the decade’s most innovative, unnerving shows, and an eerie critique of corporate culture.
2. Pachinko
Not many shows are able to be both epic and intensely personal, but Pachinko achieves this. It’s a grand, centuries-spanning family saga that unfolds over generations of a Korean family in Japan and America, a show about love, loss, and the indomitable will to survive in the face of discrimination and history. Each shot is beautiful, each performance affecting. Youn Yuh-jung and Minha Kim give stunning performances in what may be Apple TV+’s prettiest production to date.
1. Ted Lasso
Come on, you didn’t see this coming. Ted Lasso isn’t just Apple TV+’s smash hit; it’s a cultural moment. Jason Sudeikis’s boundlessly cheerful football coach made aana underdog comedy a movement around kindness, leadership, and believing in yourself. With heartfelt storytelling and whip-intelligent humor, Ted Lasso has gained its rightful place among the all-time greats. It’s the show that convinced us all, perhaps being nice can win after all.
There you have it, nine reasons Apple TV+ deserves your attention. From space epics to heartfelt dramedies, this streamer has quietly built one of the strongest libraries in the game. Whether you’re in the mood to laugh, cry, or spiral into existential dread (looking at you, Severance), Apple’s got your next binge ready and waiting. So go on, hit play. You’ve earned it.