Some people were skeptical when Apple TV+ turned the 1981 cult classic movie Time Bandits into a comedic adventure series for all ages. But it’s hard to argue with success — for the second week, the show starring Lisa Kudrow is one of the most popular on any streaming service.
And Jake Gyllenhaal’s crime drama Presumed Innocent continues to pull in a huge audience.
Time Bandits sneaks onto Top 10 popularity charts
Terry Gilliam’s original Time Bandits is a cult classic, but it’s dark humor intended for adults. Apple reimagined it with the same premise but a lighter tone. One critic called it, “that rare remake that gets it right.”
Having Lisa Kudrow (from Friends, duh) as its star has to help draw a large audience to the show about a ragtag group of thieves roaming through history. And it definitely has found an audience: the series ranks No. 4 on JustWatch‘s list of top streaming shows for the week ending August 4. And it’s at No. 5 on Reelgood’s list of Top 10 TV shows on streaming during the week ending August 8.
Chart: JustWatch/Reelgood
Estimates from companies like JustWatch and Reelgood are necessary because streaming services rarely reveal how many people tune in to their offerings.
Time Bandits takes viewers on an unpredictable journey through time and space with a motley crew of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin. They witness the creation of Stonehenge, see the Trojan Horse in action, escape dinosaurs, experience the Ice Age and the Harlem Renaissance, and much more along the way.
Critical are generally upbeat. “If you’re looking for a fun, silly diversion and clever character-oriented comedy for the family, Time Bandits is a pleasant time to be had,” said RogetEbert.com, for example.
Time Bandits premiered July 24 on Apple TV+. It’s been dropping two episodes a week since then, so the first six are ready to watch. More arrive each Wednesday.
Presumed Innocent starring Jake Gyllenhaal keeps drawing big audiences
A glance at at the top-ten charts shows that Presumed Innocent actually pulls a bigger audience than Time Bandits, but that’s come to be expected. The crime drama has now stayed popular every week from its debut in mid-June through its season finale in late July and now into August. Most recently, it was at No. 3 on both ReelGood’s and JustWatch’s lists of most popular Top 10 TV shows on streaming.
For those who might be newly interested because season one has wrapped up, Apple’s teaser says:
“The gripping series takes viewers on a journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal) is suspected of the crime. The series explores obsession, sex, politics and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.”
All eight episodes of Presumed Innocent season one are available now. But that’s not the end of the show: Apple TV+ already committed to season two.
Watch these and more on Apple TV+
Watching Time Bandits and Presumed Innocent plus many other series or films comes with a subscription to Apple TV+. The service is $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle.
And Apple’s streaming video service also includes much more, of course. There’s a library of drama, comedies, musicals, children’s shows, nature documentaries, etc.
Want more tips on what to watch on Apple TV+? Read our guide to the 15 best shows on Apple TV+.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
