Just subscribed to Apple TV+? Now’s the perfect time to make the most of it. We’ve compiled a list of top-rated Apple TV shows that have earned high praise from both critics on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb. With this guide, you can skip the endless scrolling and quickly find the best series to watch, saving time while discovering must-see content.
Top 30 Apple TV Shows (Ranked)
Before jumping into the list, here’s a quick note: these rankings come from a mix of critic reviews, audience scores, and overall impact. Apple TV+ has a pretty diverse lineup (from feel-good comedies to mind-bending sci-fi), so you’ll find something for every mood here.
If you’re still exploring plans or want to know the cost, check our guide on “how much is Apple TV+“.
1. Ted Lasso (2020–)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | Audience Score: 85% | IMDb: 8.8/10 (419k ratings)
- Genre: Comedy / Inspirational
- Seasons & Episode Length: 3 seasons, ~30–35 min/episode
- Synopsis: An American football coach unexpectedly becomes the coach of a British soccer team. His optimism and unconventional approach gradually earn the trust of players and staff.
2. Severance (2022–)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | Audience Score: 80% | IMDb: 8.7/10 (349k ratings)
- Genre: Sci-Fi / Thriller / Mystery
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~45–60 min/episode
- Synopsis: At Lumon Industries, employees have their memories surgically split between work and personal life. As they uncover hidden truths about the company and themselves, the line between their two worlds begins to blur…
3. Pachinko (2022~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | Audience Score: 92% | IMDb: 8.4/10 (17k ratings)
- Genre: Drama / Family Saga
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~50–60 min/episode
- Synopsis: Pachinko tells the story of a Korean family living in Japan across generations. They confront prejudice, personal struggles, and difficult choices. The series shows how their decisions shape each generation, with moments of both hardship and hope.
4. Prehistoric Planet (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | Audience Score: 96% | IMDb: 8.4/10 (12k ratings)
- Genre: Documentary / Nature / Science
- Seasons & Episode Length: 5 episodes, ~50 min/episode
- Synopsis: Stunning visual effects bring dinosaurs and prehistoric ecosystems to life, combining science and entertainment.
5. Slow Horses (2022~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | Audience Score: 86% | IMDb: 8.3/10 (125k ratings)
- Genre: Spy / Thriller / Crime
- Seasons & Episode Length: 2 seasons, ~50–60 min/episode
- Synopsis: A group of sidelined MI5 agents tackle high-stakes missions. As they face danger and navigate office politics, their skills and loyalties are constantly tested in tense and with some unexpected moments of humor.
6. Black Bird (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | Audience Score: 95% | IMDb: 8.1/10 (134k ratings)
- Genre: Crime / Thriller / Drama
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~50–60 min/episode
- Synopsis: Based on a true story, a man goes undercover in prison to befriend a serial killer. He must gain trust and navigate danger without being discovered, facing constant tension and moral dilemmas.
7. Shrinking (2023~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | Audience Score: 89% | IMDb: 8.1/10 (107k ratings)
- Genre: Comedy / Family
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~30 min/episode
- Synopsis: A therapist whose personal life is unraveling tries to help his patients, blending humor with heartfelt moments.
8. The Studio (2023~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | Audience Score: 76% | IMDb: 8.1/10 (44k ratings)
- Genre: Documentary / Entertainment
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~50 min/episode
- Synopsis: This series follows filmmakers during the making of a movie. You see their brainstorming sessions, arguments, and breakthroughs. It captures the pressure of tight deadlines, the problem-solving behind tricky scenes, and the small victories that bring a film to life.
9. For All Mankind (2019~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | Audience Score: 82% | IMDb: 8.1/10 (82k ratings)
- Genre: Sci-Fi / Drama
- Seasons & Episode Length: 3 seasons, ~50–60 min/episode
- Synopsis: The space race never ended in this alternate history. NASA astronauts face technical failures, political pressure, and personal struggles while competing to explore the stars. The series shows how ambition and rivalry shape their lives on Earth and beyond.
10. Dickinson (2019~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | Audience Score: 92% | IMDb: 8.1/10 (1.5k ratings)
- Genre: Comedy / Drama / Biographical
- Seasons & Episode Length: 3 seasons, ~25–30 min/episode
- Synopsis: A modern, irreverent take on Emily Dickinson’s life. She challenges expectations, experiments with her poetry, and faces conflicts between personal desires and societal rules.
11. Little America (2020~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | Audience Score: 86% | IMDb: 7.6/10 (4.1k ratings)
- Genre: Anthology / Drama
- Seasons & Episode Length: 2 seasons, ~30–35 min/episode
- Synopsis: Heartfelt stories of immigrants in America, showcasing diverse experiences, struggles, and triumphs.
12. Foundation (2021~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | Audience Score: 73% | IMDb: 7.6/10 (120k ratings)
- Genre: Sci-Fi / Drama
- Seasons & Episode Length: 2 seasons, ~50–60 min/episode
- Synopsis: Epic adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s classic series, following the rise and fall of a galactic empire and a band of rebels fighting destiny.
13. Calls (2021~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | Audience Score: 86% | IMDb: 7.7/10 (8.1k ratings)
- Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Experimental
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~30–40 min/episode
- Synopsis: Stories told entirely through phone calls, intertwining multiple narratives and suspenseful plot twists.
14. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | Audience Score: 93% | IMDb: 7.8/10 (7.3k ratings)
- Genre: Drama / Mystery
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~60 min/episode
- Synopsis: An elderly man with dementia discovers secrets about his life and the people around him, blending memory, emotion, and mystery.
15. Chief of War (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | Audience Score: 83% | IMDb: 7.5/10 (13k ratings)
- Genre: Documentary / History
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~45–50 min/episode
- Synopsis: Explores the leadership, battles, and personal stories of historical chiefs, blending history with compelling storytelling.
16. Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | Audience Score: 93% | IMDb: 7.5/10 (2.3k ratings)
- Genre: Documentary / Music
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~50 min/episode
- Synopsis: Follows the life and career of Steve Martin, exploring his music, comedy, and personal journey.
17. Bad Sisters (2022~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | Audience Score: 72% | IMDb: 8.2/10 (52k ratings)
- Genre: Dark Comedy / Crime
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~50–55 min/episode
- Synopsis: Four sisters navigate complex relationships and dark secrets while dealing with crime and personal challenges.
18. Bad Monkey (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | Audience Score: 81% | IMDb: 7.4/10 (28k ratings)
- Genre: Comedy / Mystery
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~45 min/episode
- Synopsis: A quirky detective story set in Florida, mixing humor, crime, and eccentric characters.
19. Muderbot (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | Audience Score: 85% | IMDb: 7.4/10 (31k ratings)
- Genre: Sci-Fi / Action
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~45 min/episode
- Synopsis: A robotic detective navigates a futuristic world, solving crimes while confronting ethical dilemmas.
20. Schimigadoon! (2021~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | Audience Score: 84% | IMDb: 7.4/10 (16k ratings)
- Genre: Musical / Comedy / Fantasy
- Seasons & Episode Length: 2 seasons, ~45–50 min/episode
- Synopsis: A magical town where life feels like a musical, two visitors try to uncover the mystery and find their way home.
21. Shining Girls (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | Audience Score: 85% | IMDb: 7.4/10 (23k ratings)
- Genre: Thriller / Drama
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~50–55 min/episode
- Synopsis: A time-traveling serial killer and a survivor’s quest for justice intertwine in this suspenseful drama.
22. Sugar (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | Audience Score: 80% | IMDb: 7.4/10 (41k ratings)
- Genre: Drama / Romance
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~40–50 min/episode
- Synopsis: A heartfelt story exploring love, ambition, and personal growth through the lives of interconnected characters.
23. Drop of God (2023~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | Audience Score: 93% | IMDb: 8.0/10 (15k ratings)
- Genre: Drama / Mystery / Wine
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~50 min/episode
- Synopsis: A young man with a passion for wine embarks on a journey to solve his late father’s intricate wine legacy, navigating family rivalry and personal growth.
24. Midnight Family (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | Audience Score: 96% | IMDb: 7.0/10 (608 ratings)
- Genre: Documentary / Crime
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~80 min
- Synopsis: Follows a family-run ambulance service in Mexico City, highlighting challenges and ethics in emergency healthcare.
25. Stick (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 82% | Audience Score: 72% | IMDb: 7.2/10 (16k ratings)
- Genre: Comedy / Drama
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~30 min/episode
- Synopsis: Follows quirky and endearing characters navigating the ups and downs of everyday life.
26. Woman in Blue (2023~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | Audience Score: 82% | IMDb: 7.3/10 (107k ratings)
- Genre: Drama / Mystery
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~50–55 min/episode
- Synopsis: A mysterious woman appears in a small town, uncovering hidden secrets and shifting relationships.
27. Berlin ER (2023~)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | Audience Score: 92% | IMDb: 7.3/10 (1.4k ratings)
- Genre: Medical / Drama
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~45–50 min/episode
- Synopsis: A realistic depiction of hospital life in Berlin, following staff and patients through high-stakes situations.
28. The Afterparty (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | Audience Score: 78% | IMDb: 7.3/10 (24k ratings)
- Genre: Comedy / Mystery
- Seasons & Episode Length: 2 seasons, ~30–40 min/episode
- Synopsis: A murder mystery unfolds during a high school reunion party, with each episode showing different perspectives of the same night.
29. Trying（2020-2023）
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | Audience Score: 91% | IMDb: 8.0/10 (15k ratings)
- Genre: Comedy / Drama / Family
- Seasons & Episode Length: 3 seasons, ~30 min/episode
- Synopsis: A heartfelt and humorous series about a couple struggling with infertility, navigating the ups and downs of adoption, relationships, and the challenges of building a family.
30. Criminal Record (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | Audience Score: 65% | IMDb: 7.1/10 (13k ratings)
- Genre: Crime / Drama
- Seasons & Episode Length: 1 season, ~45–50 min/episode
- Synopsis: A suspenseful cold case investigation reveals hidden truths and complex character relationships.
Further reading: The Best Movies on Apple TV to Stream Now [2025 Update]
Use a VPN While Watching Apple TV+ Shows
A VPN lets you stream Apple TV+ shows faster and more securely.
LightningX VPN is designed for fast, reliable streaming, making it a great Apple TV VPN. With high-speed servers across multiple regions, it minimizes buffering and ensures smooth playback even for high-definition content.
It also supports a wide range of devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows PCs, and smart TVs, so you can enjoy your shows with multiple choices.
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FAQs – Apple TV+ Shows
Q1: How do Rotten Tomatoes, Audience Score, and IMDb ratings differ, and which one should I trust when choosing Apple TV shows?
Rotten Tomatoes mainly reflects critic reviews, showing how professionally acclaimed a show is, while the Audience Score represents general viewers’ opinions and often aligns with popular taste. IMDb ratings are based on a weighted average from a global user base, indirectly reflecting both critic and fan perspectives. When choosing an Apple TV+ show, it’s best to consider all three metrics together.
Q2: Are these Apple TV+ shows suitable for binge-watching, or are they better to watch slowly?
Some Apple TV+ shows are ongoing series, like Ted Lasso, Shrinking, and Drop of God, with new seasons planned for the future. Others are limited series or standalone documentaries, including Black Bird, Prehistoric Planet, and Midnight Family.
Checking the Apple TV+ show pages will give the most up-to-date information on seasons and new releases, helping viewers plan their watching schedule accordingly.
Q3: Do Apple TV shows follow traditional TV formats?
Apple TV+ often breaks from traditional broadcast TV formats. Seasons are shorter, and episode lengths are flexible, which allows creators to craft cinematic storytelling with higher production values.
This is evident in series like Severance and Pachinko, where Apple TV shows use episode length and pacing to enhance plot depth, character development, and visual storytelling, offering a different experience from typical network television.
