Looking for the best Apple TV+ shows to binge watch in 2025? The streaming service offers an impressive line-up of original series spanning gripping dramas, twisty thrillers, laugh-out-loud comedies, and sci-fi that's out-of-this-world.
Whether you want gripping espionage, heartfelt stories or clever comedies, our TV writer has chosen the 15 best new and returning Apple TV+ shows that are must-watch picks, generating buzz and critical acclaim.
The best Apple TV+ shows of all time
1. Slow Horses
Genre: Spy Thriller
Starring: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Rosalind Eleazar, Saskia Reeves, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Jonathan Pryce, Joanna Scanlan, Ruth Bradley,
A gritty and witty espionage series based on Mick Herron’s novels, Slow Horses follows disgraced MI5 agents stuck in a department for losers - except they keep stumbling into real threats. Gary Oldman is magnetic as the slovenly yet brilliant leader, and we can't wait for season 5 of Slow Horses.
2. Shrinking
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Starring: Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Luke Tennie, Lily Rabe, Wendie Malick, Michael Urie
Co-created by Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein, Shrinking is about a grieving therapist who starts breaking the rules with his patients and his own life. It's funny, warm, and emotionally raw, with standout performances.
3. Bad Sisters
Genre: Dark Comedy, Thriller
Starring: Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Eve Hewson, Sarah Greene, Claes Bang, Daryl McCormack, Brian Gleeson, Owen McDonnell, Barry Ward, Thaddea Graham, Michael Smiley, Fiona Shaw
Set in Dublin, Bad Sisters centres on the five Garvey sisters, who are fiercely loyal to one another—and possibly involved in the suspicious death of their brother-in-law, a man everyone hated. Told across two timelines (before and after his death), the show weaves together dark humour, emotional depth and a juicy mystery.
Created by and starring Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe), Bad Sisters is wickedly funny, sharply written, and full of suspense. It effortlessly balances satire, sisterhood, and thriller elements. The performances are top-notch, especially Claes Bang as the detestable “The Prick,” and the chemistry among the sisters is magnetic.
4. Severance
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Starring: Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman
What if you could completely separate your work and personal memories? Severance explores this chilling concept with sleek visuals and a slow-burning mystery that turns into one of the most gripping sci-fi thrillers on TV. A must-watch for fans of Black Mirror and Westworld.
5. The Crowded Room
Genre: Psychological Drama, Thriller
Starring: Tom Holland, Amanda Seyfried, Sasha Lane, Will Chase, Lior Raz, Emmy Rossum
A gripping exploration of mental health and trauma, The Crowded Room follows a young man arrested for a crime he may not remember committing. It’s a slow burn, but Tom Holland delivers a powerful performance that proves his dramatic range.
6. Trying
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Starring: Rafe Spall, Esther Smith, Siân Brooke, Darren Boyd, Scarlett Rayner, Cooper Turner, Paula Wilcox, Oliver Chris
This British gem follows a couple navigating the ups and downs of adopting a child. Trying is warm, sweet, and effortlessly funny; a comforting watch with emotional depth.
7. Ted Lasso
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Nick Mohammed, Juno Temple, Anthony Head, Kola Bokinni, Toheeb Jimoh, Cristo Fernández, James Lance
A heart-warming, feel-good sports comedy with a massive heart, Ted Lasso has become a cultural phenomenon. It’s about belief, empathy, and leadership, told through the most unlikely soccer coach in Premier League history.
8. Pachinko
Genre: Drama, Historical
Starring: Youn Yuh-jung, Jin Ha, Kim Min-ha, Inji Jeong, Lee Min-ho, Kaho Minami, Anna Sawai, Kaho Minami, Steve Sanghyun No
A visually stunning, deeply emotional saga spanning four generations of a Korean family living in Japan. Pachinko weaves personal and political struggles into a lyrical narrative based on Min Jin Lee's acclaimed novel.
9. Silo
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery
Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, David Oyelowo, Common, Harriet Walter, Avi Nash, Rock Gomez, Chinaza Uche
Humanity lives underground, trapped in a massive silo without knowing why. Silo builds a compelling mystery with layered world-building and a quietly intense lead performance by Rebecca Ferguson.
10. Hijack
Genre: Thriller, Action
Starring: Idris Elba, Neill Maskell, Eve Myles, Archie Panjabi, Christine Adams, Max Beesley, Ben Miles, Kate Phillips
Told in real-time, Hijack follows a tense seven-hour flight overtaken by hijackers, with Idris Elba as a cool, calculating negotiator onboard. A high-stakes thriller that delivers suspense from take-off to landing.
11. The Morning Show
Genre: Drama
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Néstor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Bel Powley, Jack Davenport, John Hamm
This glossy newsroom drama dives into power dynamics, #MeToo reckoning, and media ethics, all with high-wattage performances. It helped launch Apple TV+ and remains one of its flagship dramas.
12. Foundation
Genre: Sci-Fi, Epic
Starring: Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Laura Birn, Terrence Mann, Cassian Bilton, T'Nia Miller, Elliot Cowan
A visually ambitious adaptation of Isaac Asimov's sci-fi masterpiece. While complex and sometimes slow-paced, Foundation is a cerebral, grand-scale saga for viewers who like their sci-fi with a philosophical edge.
13. Black Bird
Genre: Crime Drama, Thriller
Starring: Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Sepideh Moafi, Greg Kinnear, Ray Liotta
Based on a true story, Black Bird follows a convicted drug dealer offered a chance at freedom if he can coax a confession out of a suspected serial killer.
14. Prime Target
Genre: Conspiracy Thriller
Starring: Leo Woodall, Quintessa Swindell, Sidse Babett Knudsen, David Morrissey, Stephen Rea, Fra Fee, Joseph Mydell, Jason Flemyng, Martha Plimpton
A brilliant Cambridge maths student discovers a pattern in prime numbers that could unlock every computer in the world, drawing the attention of a shadowy enemy and an NSA agent. Together, they unravel a high-stakes conspiracy.
15. Platonic
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen, Luke MacFarlane, Tre Hale, Andrew Lopez, Carla Gallo
A hilarious and honest look at male-female friendships in midlife. Platonic mixes raunchy humour with surprisingly tender insights about identity, family and friendship.
Apple TV+ shows FAQs
Can I watch Apple TV+ on any device?
Yes! You can stream Apple TV+ on different streaming devices, including Apple TV device, iPhone, iPad, Mac, smart TVs, game consoles, and through most web browsers. It also supports streaming via Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Google TV.
AppleWhich Apple TV+ shows are based on true stories?
Black Bird is based on the true story of a man who went undercover in prison to gain a serial killer’s confession. The Morning Show also draws inspiration from real-world media and workplace scandals.
Are there any good Apple TV comedies?
Definitely. Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Trying, Bad Sisters and Platonic are among the best Apple TV comedies, blending humour with emotional depth and strong character development.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and loves going on walks with her three dogs.