Apparently the first season of "Severance" brought in $200 million. Photo: Apple TV+
The psychological workplace thriller series Severance proved to be a major success story for Apple TV+, generating over $200 million in revenue from its first season alone, new analytics data shows. And it’s not the only Apple TV+ show bringing in big bucks for the iPhone giant, according to a new report. So how much money do Apple TV+ shows make? See below.
Apple TV+ sci-fi mystery Silo stars Rebecca Ferguson. Photo: Apple TV+
The Apple TV+ sci-fi series Silo didn’t lose viewers as it approached the end of season two. It stayed on the lists of the top 10 most popular streaming series maintained by two ratings companies. just as it has since new episodes started appearing in November.
And Apple’s deeply odd workplace drama Severance did well with audiences as its season two premiere approached.
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Reunited, the Macrodata Refinement team meets the Severed floor's new deputy manager, Ms. Huang. Photo: Apple TV+
After a three-year wait that felt longer than a day working at Lumon Industries, Severance is finally back! The season two premiere, entitled “Hello, Ms. Cobel,” picks up right where we left our favorite corporate drones. In our Severance season 2 episode 1 recap, we look at the fascinating twists and turns that prove the show hasn’t lost its edge. As the season goes on, let’s see if it keeps it.
Apple TV+ goes up against tough competition. Image: Cult of Mac
The Apple TV+ share of the U.S. streaming market stayed at 7% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to an analysis. That’s the same share Apple TV+ achieved in Q4 2023, though up slightly from where it stood two years ago.
Still, the service seems to have settled solidly into the “also ran” category in the battle for streaming supremacy. But it’s a role Apple itself seems comfortable with.
In a "Severance" season two marketing stunt, Lumon Industries employees toil behind glass in New York City's Grand Central Station. The new season debuts Friday. Photo: @ParkerOrtolani, X.com
Commuters trudging through Grand Central Station in New York City got an eyeful of Apple TV+ series Severance on Tuesday. That’s because employees of the bizarre workplace dramedy’s fictional Lumon Industries appeared to work on Lumon terminals behind glass for all to see in the historic train terminal’s grand halls.
Severance stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry and Britt Lower entered the fake Lumon workspace Tuesday afternoon. And soon enough, Patricia Arquette and Tramell Tillman appeared. Earlier in the day, other people staffed the workstations.
That promotional stunt and a new “Lumon Is Listening” video, which promotes Lumon’s Severance brain surgery as a work-life balance solution, go hand-in-hand with the show’s own creepy weirdness. Check out the images and video below!
The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin reportedly won’t return to Apple TV+ after all. Apple reportedly canceled Dick Turpin season two, laying the blame on star Noel Fielding.
The comedy series premiered in 2024, and Apple TV+ renewed it for a second season. However, word came Wednesday that The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin stopped mid-production.
Not the most comfortable b-ball-watching garb, but the suit might protect him from other fans. Photo: Dallas Mavericks/Apple
The Apple TV+ marketing department sure kept itself busy Tuesday. A space-suited denizen of the streamer’s hit sci-fi series Silo showed up in the stands at an NBA game ahead of the show’s season two finale, which arrives Friday.
Earlier Tuesday, a Severance office popped up in New York City’s Grand Central Station. The pop-up drew stars from the show as well as plenty of curious commuters ahead of the Severance season two premiere, which also arrives Friday on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+ ran a full-court press on the promo stunts this week, a departure from the norm. What else could be in store?
Watch the trailer and get ready for "Mythic Quest" season four, debuting January 29 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Here’s your chance to see comedy star Rob McElhenney buck naked (if you’re into that sort of thing). He appears that way in a frenzied new season 4 trailer for workplace comedy Mythic Quest, below. The quick-cutting trailer should get fans of the comedy, set at a California gaming company, pretty excited. And not just for the nudity. Season 4, which looks like it’s full of laughs, debuts soon — January 29.
And don’t forget: The hit comedy spawned a spinoff, Side Quest, which premieres in late March.
OK, so the iPhone 18's camera is not gonna look like that. But it might be stunning nevertheless! Image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumors indicate the iPhone 18 Pro will pack a variable aperture camera. Erfon and Griffin break down what that could mean — and why it could bring a significant photographic boost to the device.
Also on The CultCast:
We’ve got some picks for what to watch during this weekend’s Apple TV+ free binge-o-rama.
From the iPhone 17 Air to AirTags 2 (and maybe AirPods Pro 3), it looks like 2025 might be an exciting year for Apple — we discuss the stuff we’re most psyched about.
Apple’s Magic Mouse is due for an upgrade. But will it really come with voice controls?
We wrap up the show with our final picks for the best stuff of 2024.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
We're psyched for these Apple TV+ shows and movies coming this year. AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac
There are so many Apple TV+ shows to look forward to in 2025! There are new seasons of some of the streamer’s best shows coming, along with new series and even a cool-looking film or two. Get ready for dramas, comedies and lots of sci-fi.
Cult of Mac writers picked the Apple TV+ shows we’re most excited about in the coming year. Keep reading or watch our video to fill out your Up Next queue early.
Looking for something to stream? Check out the best shows on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Some of the world’s greatest creative talents are making the best Apple TV shows.
Directors like Martin Scorsese, M. Night Shyamalan, Rupert Wyatt and Kim Jee-Woon bring to life incredible stories by writers like Min Jin Lee, Paul Theroux, Emily Dickinson and Isaac Asimov. High-concept premises, crack-up comedies and legendary ensembles meet on Apple’s streaming service.
The result is a collection of art and entertainment worth signing up for. As the service goes free for everyone this weekend, here’s a look at the best shows on Apple TV+.
Anyone can watch Apple TV+ for free January 4-5, 2025. Photo: Apple TV+/Cult of Mac
Apple TV+ will open its doors to all for an unprecedented free streaming weekend, January 3-5, 2025. That gives everyone unlimited access to its entire catalog of original content. In other words, the streaming service — which normally costs $9.99 monthly — will make its full library of over 250 original TV shows and movies available without requiring a subscription.
It's not like it's going to get any less weird, right? Photo: Apple TV+
Watching the new Severance season two trailer, below — and the new sneak peek at the first eight minutes of episode one Apple TV+ dropped Monday — my excitement for the new episodes became one with my grim determination to watch the entire first season again before the undoubtedly bizarre new scenes of workplace hell start streaming on January 17, 2025.
Never before have I force-marched myself through a whole TV series season as a matter of preparation. But this funny-yet-unnerving workplace psycho-thriller deserves and demands it. If you’re preparing for season three and catching up on all things Apple, you might also want to check out how to activate Apple AirTag—and while you’re at it, read up on Apple TV+ renewing Severance for a third season.
Update: As a twisted sort of holiday gift, Apple TV+ posted a sneak peek at the first eight minutes of Severance season two on Monday, December 23. It’s safe to say the main character is very much on the run through Lumon Industries sterile yet deeply alienating hallways until he comes face to face with a team of direct reports he doesn’t recognize. And he ends up with more questions than answers in a one-on-one with Mr. Milchik. Watch the sneak peek at the link above and the trailer below.
The 10-part series includes never-before-seen animals behaviors. Photo: Apple TV+
If you love a good nature documentary — especially because the photography is so mind-blowing nowadays — you’re in for a treat with The Secret Lives of Animals. Apple TV+ dropped an official trailer for it recently (see below). The 10-part series is now streaming, as of Wednesday, December 18.
“Welcome to a world beyond imagination, where fish can fly and lizards walk on water,” the trailer’s voiceover says, as those images appear onscreen. “Animals do the most remarkable things at every stage of their lives.”
Update: The Secret Lives of Animals 10-part docuseries started streaming on Apple TV+ Wednesday.
Common, Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Robbins star in “Silo.” Photo: Apple TV+/Cult of Mac
Don’t worry about getting left hanging by Silo. The sci-fi mystery series will go all the way to the conclusion of its story now that Apple TV+ gave the go-ahead for two more seasons on Monday.
It’s really not a surprise — Silo is one of the most popular shows on any streaming service, and draws praise from critics too.
“I’ve loved every minute of bringing Juliette to the screen and am immensely proud of what we’ve all created with Silo since the first episode,” said Rebecca Ferguson, who stars as Juliette Nichols in the series. “I have always felt passionately about telling the entire story contained within Hugh Howey’s books, so I couldn’t be happier that audiences around the world have enthusiastically embraced the show.”
A Charlie Brown Christmas is free to watch on Apple TV+ all this weekend. Photo: Apple TV+
The Christmas season is in full swing and there’s good news for fans of the Peanuts holiday specials. Apple made the holiday classic A Charlie Brown Christmas available for everyone to stream for free this weekend, whether they’re an Apple TV+ subscriber or not.
That gives everyone the opportunity to watch Linus teach his friends what Christmas is all about, whether they own an Apple device or not.
"Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock" amassed an impressive 10 nominations. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ scored a record 29 nominations in the upcoming 3rd Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, showcasing a growing influence in family entertainment, the streamer said Friday. The nominations span 10 different programs, highlighting the streamers diverse content portfolio for youngsters.
"The Gaullaudet four" featured in "Deaf President Now!" are Jerry Covell, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Tim Rarus and Greg Hlibok. Photo: Apple Original Films
Apple Original Films unveiled plans Tuesday to air a groundbreaking documentary chronicling one of America’s lesser-known but pivotal civil rights actions. Deaf President Now! will tell the story of transformative 1988 protests at Gallaudet University. Students successfully demanded the appointment of the school’s first Deaf president. It proved to be a pivotal moment in Deaf advocacy and helped pave the way for the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden received nominations for "Slow Horses," already greenlighted for its sixth season. It's also nominated for Best Television Drama. Photo: Apple TV+
While it’s only about half the Golden Globe nominations Apple TV+ racked up in the awards for 2024, the streamer managed to snag eight nominations this year. The 2025 nominations include no movies. But three nods go to TV series Slow Horses, two apiece honor Disclaimer and Shrinking, and one goes to Presumed Innocent. This edition marks the Golden Globes’ 82nd year.
Fly Me to the Moon stars Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. Photo: Apple TV+
The alternate-history comedy Fly Me to the Moon starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum launched on Apple TV+ on Friday. The film covers events that definitely did not happen during the 1969 moon landing.
After a thrilling MLS postseason, the championship promises to be a good watch (and free!). Photo: Apple
The culmination of a Major League Soccer postseason filled with upsets and comebacks, the MLS Cup championship unfolds Saturday as LA Galaxy hosts the New York Red Bulls. And you can watch the MLS Cup final for free on various Apple TV platforms via MLS Season Pass, the streamer said Thursday.
Haley Louise Jones will star in a new medical drama “KRANK Berlin" on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ casts its net wide for quality programming, offering plenty of entertainment from distant lands. So why not a German hospital drama? A “gritty” new eight-episode series called Krank BerlinBerlinER is headed your way soon. Apple offered a description of the “vibrant and dynamic” show. And since first announcing it, the stream has posted an air date, below, for the German-language medical drama — as well as a new title.
Update: Apple TV+ gave Krank Berlina boring new title and an air date Wednesday. Now named Berlin ER, the series, which comes to us from a former emergency room doctor, streams with its first two episodes February 26, 2025.
The crime thriller Lucky will become an Apple TV+ limited series. Image: Simon & Schuster/Cult of Mac
Anya Taylor-Joy, perhaps best known for starring in The Queen’s Gambit, is coming to Apple TV+. She’ll star in an adaptation of the bestselling crime thriller Lucky by Marissa Stapley.
Saoirse Ronan and Elliott Heffernan star in Steve McQueen's Blitz. Photo: Apple TV+
Ready for a cinematic experience that transports you to the heart of London during one of its darkest hours? Consider director Steve McQueen’s Blitz, a surprisingly moving period piece now streaming on Apple TV+. As you’ll see in our Blitz review, if you’ve got holiday downtime to spare, this makes a good diversion.
The gripping film offers a powerful glimpse into the resilience of the human spirit during World War II’s London Blitz. It was a relentless bombing campaign associated with Germany’s aggressive “blitzkrieg” strategy. Here are three reasons why you should watch Steve McQueen’s Blitz.
The show's first season scored a perfect 100% Fresh critical rating on Rottentomatoes.com. Photo: Apple TV+
In a big win for Apple TV+, the French-American-Japanese series Drops of God captured the prestigious International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series at a ceremony Monday night in New York, according to reports late Monday and Tuesday.
The win strengthens Apple TV+’s growing reputation for delivering compelling international content and marks another successful adaptation of popular manga for the streaming platform. Fans will be excited to know thatDrops of God Season 2 is set to return, promising even more gripping storytelling.