The best Apple TV Plus shows: 23 great series to stream in August 2024

Fully leaning into the era when Jane Fonda’s aerobics videos were all the rage, ‘80s-set pitch-black dramedy Physical again proves Rose Byrne is one of her generation’s most unsung comic talents. The Australian star fully commands attention in and out of spandex as a deeply insecure mother who reinvents herself as an exercise guru – albeit one who loathes her clients almost as much as she does herself. Indeed, Byrne’s Sheila Rubin isn’t the most likeable of protagonists – her internal monologues are astonishingly caustic – but it’s refreshing to see a woman allowed to play the antihero in a novel spin on the bored suburban housewife narrative.

Having co-directed some of the most entertaining animated films of recent years with The Lego Movie and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – not to mention producing Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel – Christopher Miller left his regular collaborator Phil Lord behind for this live-action (well, mostly) murder mystery set around a high school reunion. Dave Franco’s intensely smug Bieber-esque pop star is the victim, Tiffany Haddish plays the ballsy detective investigating his death, and suspects include Sam Richardson’s escape room designer and Jamie Demetriou’s forgotten loner. As you’d expect, The Afterparty is chock-full of inspired pop culture references (particularly the spoof Hall and Oates biopic) and zips along with more wit and verve than Kenneth Branagh’s Poirot whodunnits.

If you’re more of a Brigadoon person than a Hamilton one, then this affectionate homage to the Golden Age of musicals should be right up your street. Schmigadoon! stars Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong as a quarrelsome couple who become trapped in an all-singing, all-dancing town, and can’t leave until they’ve rediscovered what it means to be in love – whether that’s with each other or with one of its numerous quirky inhabitants. Oscar winner Ariana DeBose and Broadway regulars Kristen Chenoweth and Aaron Tveit all help elevate the ambitiously-staged numbers, while Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen and Only Murders in the Building's Martin Short (in a brief cameo as a leprechaun) add to the self-knowing fun. It won't be back for a third season, so two is as good as it'll get for this one.

Shrinking stars Jason Segel as grieving therapist Jimmy Laird, who is spiralling after the death of his wife in a car crash. Jimmy begins to shake up the advice he gives to his patients by telling them what he really thinks, breaking all the rules – and changing lives in the process. The emotionally-driven comedy (created by Segel, along with Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence) also stars the legendary Harrison Ford as Dr Paul Rhodes, a fellow therapist who is battling Parkinson's disease. The series was mostly well-received, with critics praising its exploration of radical honesty. Some are calling it heartwarming, others over-earnest, but either way we believe it's one of the best Apple TV Plus shows, and we're not surprised to hear it's been renewed for a second season.

Between racking up the umpteenth season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and randomly buying a (then) non-league Welsh football team with Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney has also found the time to co-create and star in another smartly-written comedy. Set at a video game studio responsible for a World of Warcraft-esque MMORPG, Mythic Quest is more sincere and less nihilistic than The Gang’s exploits in Philly. But it’s equally hilarious and – as proven by the episode filmed using 40 iPhones, and the standalone tale charting the life-cycle of an indie game – just as willing to think outside the box.

Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) is the co-creator and star of this pitch-black comedy-drama. Inspired by the Flemish series Clan, it tells the story of four Irish sisters (played by Horgan, Eva Birthistle, Normal People's Sarah Greene and Behind Her Eyes' Eve Hewson) who despise their brother-in-law John-Paul (Dracula's Claes Bang) so much that they come up with a succession of schemes to kill him, in order to protect their sister, Grace (Anne-Marie Duff). The plot unfolds in two parallel timelines: one leading up to John-Paul's demise, the other following a pair of insurance agents (played by Peaky Blinders' Brian Gleeson and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande's Daryl McCormack) who suspect foul play. The results are compelling, darkly funny, and packed with unexpected twists and turns. You can read our full Bad Sisters review here.

Sure, its impossibly optimistic view of the world takes as much suspension of disbelief as Apple TV Plus's sci-fi fantasies. But at a time when the entire universe appears to be going to pot, a show as relentlessly feel good as Ted Lasso is what so many of us desperately needed. The hit series became an awards darling thanks to its heart-warming depiction of a middling soccer team in the English Premier League, and the fish-out-of-water American coach who unexpectedly finds himself in charge. Jason Sudeikis is brilliantly endearing as the moustachioed, cookie-baking lead, but every loveable character – most notably Brett Goldstein’s Roy Keane-esque hardman, Roy Kent – is perfectly cast. And, even though Ted Lasso season 2 and Ted Lasso season 3 can't quite live up to the all-round brilliance of Ted's first year in the dugout, this is undoubtedly one of the big winners among the best Apple TV Plus shows.

Min Jin's bestselling novel is adapted in this sweeping eight-part series, which has won rave reviews before Apple confirmed a second season of Pachinko was on the way. The series is a sweeping saga following four generations of a Korean immigrant family, and the decisions they make as they seek a better life for themselves and the generations to come. Tearjerking, poignant and skilfully plotted, Pachinko may be a slow burn, but it's one of the best Apple TV Plus shows and well worth sticking with. You won't have to wait long for season two either, as it's launching on August 23.

Taron Egerton (who also headlined Tetris, one of the best Apple TV Plus movies) and the late Ray Liotta star in this gripping drama from the pen of crime maestro Dennis Lehane (writer of the book that inspired Shutter Island, one of the best Martin Scorsese movies). Egerton plays James Keene, a drug dealer who is given the chance to win his freedom if he enters a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane to solicit a confession from a suspected serial killer. The alleged killer, Paul Walter Hauser's Larry Hall, is regarded by local police as a fantasist, and there's every chance his conviction will be thrown out on appeal, meaning Keane has to work fast. Dark as the blackest cup of coffee and featuring a score from Scottish doom rockers Mogwai, Black Bird is a tough watch at times, but also very compelling.

There’s no shortage of police procedurals available on streaming services, but the two lead performances in Criminal Record lift it to the next level. Peter Capaldi adds another memorable role to a resumé that already boasts Doctor Who and The Thick of It’s sweary Malcolm Tucker, as cynical and abrasive veteran cop Daniel Hegarty. The ever-brilliant Cush Jumbo (star of The Good Fight, one of the best Paramount Plus shows), meanwhile, proves to be the perfect adversary as younger, more idealistic detective June Lenker. So even though the investigation that brings these two very different detectives together isn’t up there with the crime genre's best, watching them spar with one another is well worth your time.

Colin Farrell is private detective John Sugar in this mystery thriller investigating the disappearance of Olivia Siegel, a Hollywood producer’s beloved granddaughter. While John Sugar appears pretty well put together for tackling the case of a missing person in LA’s dark underbelly, it’s his personal demons that chase him throughout. Throw in some murky waters surrounding the Siegel family’s history and you’ve got a show full of suspicion and suspense. Farrell’s performance catches the eye, even though there’s a lot of talk around the eight-episode run taking a while to reveal its true self. But, with the mystery genre behind it, there's always a lot to unravel, and you're sure to find yourself with jaw agape as its most shocking moments are unveiled.

Having gone back to World War II in Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers and The Pacific, executive producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks report for another tour of duty in their latest military drama, Masters of the Air. This time out they take to the skies to tell the story of the 100th Bomb Group, flying missions over Nazi Germany. As with Band of Brothers – which featured future A-listers Damian Lewis, Michael Fassbender and Tom Hardy – the cast is loaded with up-and-coming screen talent, including Elvis’s Austin Butler, The Banshees of Inisherin’s Barry Keoghan and new Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa. With all nine episodes of season one receiving primarily positive reviews from critics, it’s earned a place among the best Apple TV Plus TV shows.

It's our only horror pick so far, but it's a good one! M. Night Shyamalan has delivered plenty of hits (The Sixth Sense) and misses (Old) during his career, but you'll be pleased to know that his Apple TV show is very good indeed. And a welcome return to form for Rupert Grint, who has moved far beyond his Harry Potter days. This deliciously creepy horror sees a wealthy couple attempt to overcome the loss of their child via a reborn doll, which is creepy enough if you ask me, but things get worse when a mysterious nanny rocks up and the doll takes on a life of its own. Lauren Ambrose shines as a reporter mother suffering a psychological breakdown. And if that's not good enough, the food shots (Toby Kebbell plays a stay-at-home chef) will ensure you’ll be just as famished as you are frightened. And hey, it might lessen the blow a little!

Although set in the world of espionage, Slow Horses has as much in common with the workplace drudgery of The Office as the glitz and glamour of James Bond. Its admin department setting is even called Slough House. Adapted from Mick Herron’s 2010 novel, this darkly comic espionage tale stars Gary Oldman as a misanthropic boss forced to take Jack Lowden’s disgraced agent under his grimy, pencil-pushing wing. But his team of misfits – aka the slow horses of the title – do eventually find themselves in more high-octane situations when the new recruit uncovers a right-wing nationalist conspiracy that may well incriminate his former colleagues. The show's proved so popular that a fifth season has been confirmed before the fourth has even aired. And, when it comes to Slow Horses season four, it's coming on September 4.

In this eight-parter adapted from Lauren Beukes’ novel, the ever-watchable Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale) tops the bill as Kirby Mazrachi, a Chicago newspaper archivist. She wanted to be a journalist, but that had to be shelved after surviving a brutal attack that has left her in a constantly shifting reality. Then, one day, she learns that a recent murder is linked to her assault. On the hunt for answers, she teams up with veteran reporter Dan Velazquez (played by Narcos’ main man Wagner Moura) to understand her ever-changing present and confront her past. Trippy and gripping with a great supporting cast (including Jamie Bell and Amy Brenneman) this is another top-notch entry in our list of the best Apple TV Plus shows.

Presumed Innocent adopts a TV format for the first time with Jake Gyllenhaal taking on the role of prosecutor, Rusty Sabich, the prime suspect in the murder of his colleague/mistress. Originally a 1987 novel of the same name, then a 1990 film adaptation with Harrison Ford as Rusty, it’s been transformed once again as an Apple Original series. While Gyllenhaal is no stranger to the big screen, this limited series marks his first TV role. And viewers can watch the tale unfold over eight intense episodes. There are impressive performances to enjoy from a big-name cast, too, including Ruth Negga as Rusty's wife, Barbara, and Gyllenhaal’s real-life brother-in-law, Peter Sarsgaard, as the head of homicide. Fans of the show will be pleased to hear Presumed Innocent has been renewed for season 2.

Idris Elba gets to live his best 24 life in this mostly real-time high-altitude drama. While Jack Bauer was a highly trained counter-terrorism operative, however, Elba's Sam Nelson is a business negotiator, more likely to be found in corporate boardrooms than dealing with hijacked aircraft. This Die Hard/Passenger 57-like scenario has become something of a Hollywood cliché but, despite the almost obligatory implausible moments, Hijack functions as a gripping seven-episode thriller. Elba is as watchable as ever as the reluctant hero, and he gets quality support from Peaky Blinders' Neil Maskell, Torchwood's Eve Myles and The Good Wife's Archie Panjabi. A second season of Hijack was announced in January 2024.

Based on the New York Times’ bestseller, sci-fi thriller Dark Matter follows Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) as he finds himself abducted into an alternate reality of his own life, by himself. Stripped away from his idyllic family life, he must fight to return to what he knows while navigating a vast array of other realities. It’s another entry for Apple TV Plus’ commitment to providing adult sci-fi originals, joining the ranks alongside For All Mankind, Silo, and Foundation also on our list.

Severance is one of those shows I talk about so much that everyone around me is probably sick of hearing about it. But it's worth the near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes critic score because this is arguably Apple TV Plus' most unique offering yet. Starring Parks and Recreation legend Adam Scott in the leading role of Mark, we follow a group of employees who have willingly undertaken the severance procedure. No, it's not a payoff, it's something more sinister. Here, people's brains are severed between work and life, meaning when they're at work they don't know anything about their home lives, and vice versa. But why would someone take on a procedure like that? And what is actually going on with this suspicious Lumon Industries? Well, with more episodes on the way, you can read up on everything we know about Severance season 2 before it arrives, as well as the confirmed Severance release date where hopefully those questions will be answered...

Silo is dystopian sci-fi delivered with all the style and storytelling prowess we've come to expect from the streamer. Speed writer Graham Yost gets more mileage out of trapping people in an enclosed space in this adaptation of Hugh Howey's book series, about a community living in a vast underground bunker. Mission: Impossible's Rebecca Ferguson plays an engineer who starts to ask questions about the silo's origins and what happened up above, while powerful forces try to keep its history under wraps. What follows is 10 episodes of smart, tense storytelling enclosed in spectacular brutalist sets. Filming for the show's second season returned finally wrapped in March after a strike-induced hiatus, but a release date is yet to be confirmed.

Much as Prime Video's The Man in the High Castle asks, ‘What if the Germans won the war?,’ For All Mankind imagines an alternate timeline where the Soviet Union made it to the moon before America. Co-created by Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), the Saturn Award-winning series mixes real-life figures such as Neil Armstrong and Ronald Reagan with fictional astronauts to build a handsomely-recreated vision of the 1960s and early ’70s – and in subsequent seasons, the ’80s and ’90s. But the personal drama, particularly the stories which put the women front and centre, are often just as gripping as its exploration of the global space race. In fact, we believe For All Mankind has the right stuff to be your next TV binge. For All Mankind has officially been renewed for season 5, as well as new spin-off series, Star City, announced for Apple TV Plus.

Loosely based on sci-fi legend Isaac Asimov’s book series of the same name, this ambitious drama centers on a group of exiles who set out to establish a new society to overthrow the ruling Galactic Empire and ensure the survival of humanity. Foundation may well be Apple TV Plus’s most visually spectacular original, and its cinematic scope is matched by magnetic performances from Jared Harris as a mathematician turned Nostradamus-like rebel leader, and Lee Pace as a succession of ruthless cloned Emperors. With a storyline that stretches out over centuries, it can be a challenging watch, but Foundation's immersive, intelligent script (featuring moral dilemmas and even the occasional mathematics montage) ensures it's worth sticking with the drama. Our season 2 premiere review explains why – and be sure to read our Foundation season 3 hub for the lowdown on what's coming in its next chapter.

Having made a sizeable footprint on the big screen with Kong: Skull Island and the Godzilla movies, the self-styled MonsterVerse stomps onto Apple TV Plus. Unfolding across two distinct timelines, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is part origin story for the eponymous beast-hunting organisation, part angst-ridden drama about a bunch of 20-somethings caught in Godzilla and co’s blast radius. It’s all tied together by father-and-son stars Kurt and Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), both brilliant as the old and young versions of cynical military man Lee Shaw. But your enjoyment of the series will depend on how much you want to see giant creatures beating the hell out of each other – when the Titans clash, the visuals are worthy of the big screen, but the monster sightings don’t happen nearly often enough.