Apple TV Series You Are Sleeping On (but Shouldn’t)

Apple TV+ has built a surprisingly deep bench of originals that cover everything from space-race alt history to intimate character dramas and globe-spanning thrillers. If you have only dipped into a few of the biggest titles, there is a lot more worth adding to your queue. Below are forty series with concise details on what they cover, who made them, and who stars, so you can quickly spot what fits your mood and time.

‘For All Mankind’ (2019)

This alt-history drama imagines a world where the space race never ended. Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi lead the creative team. The story follows NASA astronauts, engineers, and their families through escalating missions and geopolitical pressure. Joel Kinnaman, Wrenn Schmidt, and Krys Marshall anchor an ensemble that grows across multiple seasons.

‘Servant’ (2019)

Tony Basgallop created this psychological thriller with M. Night Shyamalan as executive producer and frequent director. The plot centers on a Philadelphia couple and the mysterious nanny who arrives after a family tragedy. Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free, and Rupert Grint headline the cast. The show unfolds in tightly staged bottle episodes that deepen its central mystery.

‘Dickinson’ (2019)

Alena Smith reimagines the life of poet Emily Dickinson with a playful modern sensibility. Hailee Steinfeld stars alongside Anna Baryshnikov, Ella Hunt, and Jane Krakowski. Episodes blend period settings with contemporary music and dialogue. The series explores creativity, family expectations, and the poet’s relationships across concise half-hour chapters.

‘See’ (2019)

Created by Steven Knight, this post-apocalyptic saga is set in a world where sight has vanished from humanity. Jason Momoa leads the cast with Alfre Woodard and Sylvia Hoeks. Large-scale action sequences mix with court intrigue and clan politics. Filming emphasizes tactile worldbuilding and choreographed combat designed around nonvisual perception.

‘Truth Be Told’ (2019)

Nichelle Tramble Spellman adapts a crime novel into a podcast-inflected investigative series. Octavia Spencer plays a true-crime host who reopens old cases and confronts their fallout. Different seasons examine new crimes with rotating guest stars such as Aaron Paul and Kate Hudson. The show pairs procedural structure with media-ethics questions.

‘Home Before Dark’ (2020)

Inspired by young reporter Hilde Lysiak, the series follows a precocious journalist who uncovers secrets in her lakeside town. Dana Fox and Dara Resnik developed the show. Brooklynn Prince stars with Jim Sturgess and Abby Miller. Family dynamics and small-town politics drive a serialized mystery that spans school, newsroom, and police settings.

‘Little America’ (2020)

This anthology from Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon, and Lee Eisenberg tells standalone immigrant stories. Each episode focuses on a different protagonist and culture. Scripts draw from real profiles to highlight work, love, and community. The format makes it easy to sample in any order.

‘Trying’ (2020)

A warmhearted comedy about a couple navigating adoption. Andy Wolton created the series, with Rafe Spall and Esther Smith in the lead roles. Episodes follow assessments, classes, and family hurdles with social-worker oversight. The show balances relationship milestones with the practical steps of building a home for a child.

‘Tehran’ (2020)

This espionage thriller centers on a Mossad hacker-agent on assignment inside Iran. Moshe Zonder, Dana Eden, and Maor Kohn created the series. Niv Sultan stars with supporting turns from Shaun Toub and Glenn Close in later arcs. Cyber operations, undercover identities, and diplomatic stakes drive compact mission-based episodes.

‘Mythic Quest’ (2020)

Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Megan Ganz craft a workplace comedy set at a game studio. McElhenney stars with Charlotte Nicdao, Ashly Burch, and Danny Pudi. Storylines cover live-ops chaos, creative disputes, and corporate maneuvers. Occasional standalone episodes explore character backstories and industry history.

‘Defending Jacob’ (2020)

Based on William Landay’s novel, this limited series follows a prosecutor whose son is accused of murder. Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery lead the cast with Jaeden Martell. Court strategy, forensic details, and family strain shape each episode. The adaptation uses a closed case structure with a defined resolution.

‘Foundation’ (2021)

David S. Goyer adapts Isaac Asimov’s landmark sci-fi saga about mathematics, empire, and exile. The show tracks the Foundation’s long plan alongside the ruling genetic dynasty of Cleons. Jared Harris, Lee Pace, and Lou Llobell front an ensemble across multiple planets. Visual effects support political and philosophical plotlines.

‘Invasion’ (2021)

Simon Kinberg and David Weil tell a global story of first contact seen through ordinary people. Settings include small towns, military bases, and classrooms across several countries. Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, and Shamier Anderson star. The series mixes character survival arcs with slowly revealed alien technology.

‘Physical’ (2021)

Annie Weisman created this dark comedy about a woman who builds a fitness empire. Rose Byrne stars with Rory Scovel, Dierdre Friel, and Paul Sparks. The story follows business expansion, media production, and competition. Aerobics culture and retail distribution provide period detail for the industry rise.

‘Swagger’ (2021)

Inspired by experiences from Kevin Durant’s youth basketball world, this series examines players, coaches, and parents. Reggie Rock Bythewood created the show. O’Shea Jackson Jr., Isaiah Hill, and Shinelle Azoroh lead the cast. Episodes cover recruitment, tournament circuits, and off-court pressures.

‘The Mosquito Coast’ (2021)

Based on the novel by Paul Theroux, this thriller follows a brilliant inventor who pulls his family into a dangerous escape. Justin Theroux stars with Melissa George, Logan Polish, and Gabriel Bateman. The story moves across borders with cartel and government pursuit. Survival tactics and family loyalties shape each leg of the journey.

‘Acapulco’ (2021)

This bilingual comedy tracks a young man’s first job at a luxury resort. Eugenio Derbez narrates and appears as the older version of the protagonist. Episodes juggle staff politics, wealthy guests, and family obligations back home. The series uses a framed storytelling device to compare past choices with present outcomes.

‘Mr. Corman’ (2021)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt created and stars as a teacher confronting anxiety and creative detours. The show mixes grounded scenes with stylized sequences. Debra Winger, Juno Temple, and Arturo Castro appear in key roles. Episodes examine friendships, roommates, and day-to-day classroom life.

‘Pachinko’ (2022)

Showrunner Soo Hugh adapts Min Jin Lee’s multi-generational novel about a Korean family across countries. The series uses parallel timelines to follow migration, work, and love. Youn Yuh-jung, Kim Min-ha, and Lee Min-ho lead the cast. Production spans multiple languages with careful attention to settings and cuisine.

‘Severance’ (2022)

Dan Erickson created this workplace thriller directed in part by Ben Stiller. Employees undergo a surgical procedure that splits work and personal memories. Adam Scott stars with Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, and Christopher Walken. The plot explores corporate governance, data refinement, and labor consent.

‘Slow Horses’ (2022)

Adapted from Mick Herron’s novels, this spy series follows MI5 washouts assigned to Slough House. Gary Oldman leads with Jack Lowden and Kristin Scott Thomas. Cases involve Russian rings, political optics, and inter-department rivalries. Banter and field tradecraft ground operations that spiral beyond their brief.

‘Black Bird’ (2022)

From creator Dennis Lehane, this true-crime limited series follows a convict who seeks a confession from a suspected serial killer. Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser star, with Ray Liotta in a notable role. Prison settings and investigative procedures drive the tension. The narrative adheres to case records and interviews.

‘Bad Sisters’ (2022)

Sharon Horgan adapts a Belgian format into a Dublin-set dark comedy thriller. The Garvey sisters deal with an abusive brother-in-law and a persistent insurance probe. Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson co-star with Horgan. The timeline weaves parallel investigations with family rituals.

‘Shining Girls’ (2022)

Based on Lauren Beukes’ novel, this thriller features a newspaper archivist linked to a series of attacks. Elisabeth Moss stars with Wagner Moura and Jamie Bell. Journalism workflows, crime scene evidence, and archival research frame the investigation. Shifts in reality are mapped to clues the characters uncover.

‘Five Days at Memorial’ (2022)

John Ridley and Carlton Cuse adapt Sheri Fink’s reporting about a hospital during a catastrophic storm. The series recreates ICU protocols, rescue logistics, and legal inquiries. Vera Farmiga, Cherry Jones, and Cornelius Smith Jr. lead the cast. Production design emphasizes flooded infrastructure and emergency response.

‘Surface’ (2022)

This psychological mystery follows a woman recovering from a traumatic incident and memory loss. Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars with Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Ari Graynor. Financial circles, therapy sessions, and surveillance footage guide the story. The plot tracks competing accounts as the lead rebuilds her identity.

‘Echo 3’ (2022)

Created by Mark Boal, this action thriller adapts the Israeli series ‘When Heroes Fly’. A scientist is taken in South America, prompting a rescue mission with military and intelligence assets. Luke Evans, Michiel Huisman, and Jessica Ann Collins star. Cross-border politics and terrain challenges shape each operation.

‘Extrapolations’ (2023)

Scott Z. Burns assembles an anthology about climate change impacts on people and industries. Episodes explore finance, migration, faith, and technology across different locations. The ensemble includes Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, and Tahar Rahim among many others. Each chapter connects through recurring characters and corporate threads.

‘Silo’ (2023)

Graham Yost adapts Hugh Howey’s ‘Wool’ novels into a contained-society mystery. Rebecca Ferguson leads a cast that includes Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo, and Tim Robbins. The series details engineering systems, judicial rules, and resource management inside the silo. Investigations expose how information control shapes daily life.

‘Hijack’ (2023)

Idris Elba stars as a corporate negotiator caught on a seized flight. George Kay and Jim Field Smith created the series. Real-time structure tracks aviation procedures, cockpit access, and air-traffic coordination. Parallel scenes on the ground follow security services and family communications.

‘Constellation’ (2024)

Created by Peter Harness, this space-set psychological thriller stars Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks. The plot follows an astronaut after a crisis in orbit and the strange gaps that follow. Scenes on the ISS and in European agencies detail mission protocols and debriefs. The show uses scientific hardware and training to ground its mystery.

‘Sugar’ (2024)

Colin Farrell plays a private investigator drawn into a Hollywood family’s missing-person case. Showrunner Mark Protosevich uses classic detective motifs alongside industry settings. Production design moves through studios, screening rooms, and archival vaults. The case structure blends personal history with contract and security details.

‘Dark Matter’ (2024)

Blake Crouch adapts his novel about an abduction that opens access to alternate lives. Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly lead the cast. Scientific concepts like quantum superposition and a multiverse device are explained through character choices. The series pairs lab environments with Chicago-area locations.

‘The New Look’ (2024)

Todd A. Kessler dramatizes fashion houses navigating occupied Paris and postwar recovery. Ben Mendelsohn portrays Christian Dior with Juliette Binoche as Coco Chanel. The production recreates ateliers, salons, and runway presentations. Storylines track business strategy, collaborations, and the creation of the New Look silhouette.

‘Masters of the Air’ (2024)

From the producers behind ‘Band of Brothers’, this limited series follows the 100th Bomb Group. Austin Butler and Callum Turner star with a large supporting ensemble. Aerial sequences depict bomber formations, crew roles, and mission planning. Episodes also cover training bases, POW camps, and unit rotations.

‘Lessons in Chemistry’ (2023)

Lee Eisenberg adapts Bonnie Garmus’s bestseller about a chemist who hosts a cooking show. Brie Larson stars with Lewis Pullman and Aja Naomi King. Storylines examine lab access, publishing, and broadcasting practices. The show details how recipes and experiments translate to television segments.

‘Platonic’ (2023)

Nicholas Stoller and Francesca Delbanco created this comedy about two former best friends reconnecting. Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen lead the cast. The series explores small business operations, parenting schedules, and nightlife scenes. Episodes track how adult friendships affect work and home.

‘City on Fire’ (2023)

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage adapt Garth Risk Hallberg’s novel into a New York mystery. An investigation into a shooting links to downtown music scenes and real-estate schemes. Wyatt Oleff and Chase Sui Wonders star among an ensemble. Police files, zines, and financial records feed the case threads.

‘Liaison’ (2023)

This bilingual thriller stars Vincent Cassel and Eva Green as former partners forced to work together. The plot involves cyberattacks, intelligence cooperation, and diplomatic channels. European settings include London, Paris, and Brussels. The show highlights data breaches, surveillance tradecraft, and government response.

‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ (2023)

Chris Black and Matt Fraction expand the MonsterVerse timeline for television. Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell play the same character across different periods. The series connects field teams, archival footage, and secret-organization files. Encounters with Titans are framed through mission logs and scientific expeditions.

Share the Apple TV+ shows you plan to start next in the comments so other readers can swap recommendations.