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sci-fi series

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on sci-fi series:

Countdown begins: How For All Mankind season 5 shakes up interplanetary politics

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For All Mankind season 5
And we thought the old-man makeup on Joel Kinnaman, right, was over the top last season.
Photo: Apple TV

Apple TV’s critically acclaimed space drama For All Mankind returns for a fifth season on Friday, March 27, the streamer said Wednesday, offering “first look” photos and video. The new season continues the alternative history of the space race launched in 2019.

The 10-episode fifth season will debut globally with a single episode followed by new episodes released weekly every Friday through May 29. 

Boring Pluribus merch doesn’t do brainy Apple TV show justice

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Product shot of
Items with just the Pluribus show title look the most boring, but not by much.
Photos: Sony Pictures

Not every Apple TV show gets merchandise like T-shirts and hats, but Vince Gilligan’s oddly original sci-fi head-scratcher Pluribus — the most-watched Apple TV show ever — just did. Too bad the merch is on the lame side.

One of the most weirdly refreshing sci-fi dramas in recent history deserves better than what Sony Pictures is peddling.

Apple TV 2026: Your guide to the most anticipated new and returning shows

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Highly anticipated Apple TV shows
Apple TV has plenty in store for 2026.
AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac

Apple TV is poised for a banner year in 2026, with an impressive slate of new original series, highly anticipated spinoffs and beloved returning favorites. From cyberpunk epics to gripping thrillers, the Apple TV 2026 lineup helps cement the streamer’s reputation as a powerhouse for quality programming.

Here’s your complete guide to the most highly anticipated shows coming to Apple TV next year.

Why you should binge the 12 best Apple TV shows of 2025

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Best Apple TV shows of 2025
Best Apple TV shows of 2025
AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac

Apple TV delivered another stellar year of television in 2025, cementing its reputation as a home for premium storytelling across genres. From stellar sci-fi to sharp Hollywood satire, here are 13 standout series that defined the best of the streaming service’s 2025 lineup of new and returning shows.

You should binge them because they’re great. And what better time to do so than during holiday downtime?

3 reasons Pluribus is the new must-watch series on Apple TV

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Pluribus season 1 review
As Carol, Rhea Seehorn finds herself in a waking nightmare.
Photo: Apple TV

Pluribus, Vince Gilligan’s newest TV series, has already bagged a perfect 100% rating on RottenTomatoes.com — a feat topping even acclaimed Apple TV shows like Severance.

The creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul wowed the critics once again with Pluribus, a post-apocalyptic science fiction psychological thriller that premiered on Apple TV on November 7. And it’s generating big-time buzz as one of the year’s most compelling television events. Its third episode airs Friday. And if you’re anything like me, you can’t wait because the first two blew you away. 

To me, the show is like the world’s longest episode of The Twilight Zone — in the best possible way, and in the here and now rather than circa 1959.

Caution: Pluribus spoilers ahead.

Vince Gilligan’s darkly comical new Apple TV drama Pluribus streams Friday

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Pluribus season 1
Pluribus debuts November 7 on Apple TV.
Photo: Apple TV

How would it feel to be the last unhappy person on Earth, and the world’s resources are trained on making you happy? You can get progressively bigger tastes of such a world through trailers, below — or you can start tuning in Friday when Apple TV streams Pluribus, from Breaking Bad and X-Files creator Vince Gilligan,

As I said when the official trailer dropped, for my money, the rampant happiness the world’s population apparently feels — aside from the story’s main character — is actually some sort of contagion with dire consequences. And she has immunity. 

Reviews so far are positive. The Guardian calls the “audacity” of the “intrepid” and “blackly comic” show “incredible,” while also revealing a cause of the worldwide happiness that jibes with my theory above. Variety says Rhea Seehorn is “magnificent” on the show. The BBC describes it as “George Orwell meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” And lots of reviews invoke Gilligan’s X-Files while some prefer references to The Twilight Zone

Apple TV+ renews epic sci-fi series Foundation for fourth season

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Foundation season 4
We'll have to wait and see if Brother Day (Lee Pace) and the rest of the characters return for season 4 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

The critically acclaimed Apple TV+ sci-fi series Foundation, based on Isaac Asimov’s legendary stories about a galactic empire in its lengthy death throes, will live on for a fourth season, the streamer said Thursday. The welcome news comes ahead of the season-three finale on Friday. (And that usually means Thursday night after 6 p.m. PT, when the streamer often posts the next day’s fare).

“There is no series quite like Foundation and we feel lucky and honored to be carrying the torch forward as co-showrunners into season four,” said co-showrunners and executive producers Ian Goldberg and David Kob. “We look forward to continuing the epic, emotional storytelling that defined the first three seasons of the show, and to be working alongside some of the most talented, passionate creative partners in the business.”

Foundation season 3 ratings confirm it’s a streaming powerhouse

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Foundation season 3
“Foundation” season 3 continues to be a hit for Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Foundation season 3 is a huge hit for Apple TV+ with the series continuing to draw viewers as the season progresses. Fresh episodes of the sci-fi epic hit streaming  in July, and it’s one of the most popular shows available with the season finale drawing close.

Speaking of sci-fi, the Apple TV+ thriller Invasion also found a large audience last week.

Invasion season 3: Now the real war starts [Now streaming!]

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Invasion season 3
Invasion season three debuts August 22 on Apple TV+. Watch the new trailer.
Photo: Apple TV+

Ready to face the end of the world as we know it? The new 10-episode season of Apple TV+’s epic alien onslaught series Invasion streams its first episode Friday. A new one follows each Friday through October 24.

And you can watch the recently released Invasion season three trailer below. It shows the evolving face of the alien menace. And it looks like the horrific inroads the extraterrestrials made in seasons one and two of Invasion, seemingly slowed by a determined but disconnected human effort, might be just a preview of much worse to come.

Complex and thrilling Foundation returns for season 3 on Apple TV+ [Now streaming!]

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Foundation season 3
Foundation season 3 debuts with its first episode on Friday, July 11.
Photo: Apple TV+

Rejoice, fans of deliciously complicated and marvelously cinematic sci-fi! Apple TV+’s adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s iconic Foundation stories finally returns for a new season Friday. So now you can stream Foundation season three’s first episode, “A Song for the End of Everything,” in which intergalactic supervillain The Mule wreaks havoc.

Apple TV+ greenlights Murderbot season 2 as season 1 wraps up

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Murderbot season 2 get a greenlight from Apple TV+
Jump for joy! Murderbot season 2 is on the way.
Photo: Apple TV+

Murderbot season 1 did well enough in the ratings that Apple TV+ committed to season 2 on Thursday.

The news comes as the season 1 finale of the sci-fi comedy thriller becomes available to stream. A renewal isn’t surprising, given that t series stayed one of the top 10 most-watched shows every week during its entire run.

Murderbot still beats almost every streaming series

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Alexander Skarsgård stars in Murderbot on Apple TV+
Alexander Skarsgård plays the eponymous Murderbot in the Apple TV+ series.
Photo: Apple TV+

The sci-fi action comedy Murderbot exploded onto the ratings charts after it reached streaming in May, and continues to be popular even as the season finale approaches. Many weeks after a launch, the series from Apple TV+ still appears on the top 10 lists of a company that tracks ratings.

Plus, Owen Wilson‘s sport comedy Stick also pulls in plenty of viewers.

3 reasons to watch Murderbot on Apple TV+

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Murderbot season 1 review
Your weekend should include watching Murderbot. You’ll be glad you did.
Image: Apple TV+/Cult of Mac

The sci-fi action comedy Murderbot season 1 is the hottest show premiering this weekend. Apple TV+ turned an award-winning collection of novels into a series that’s fun to watch, with an enjoyable mix of laughs and fight sequences… with some suspense mixed in.

Here’s why you should tune in this weekend, whether you’ve read Martha Wells’ books or not.

Sci-fi action comedy Murderbot stays true to its brilliant source novels [Apple TV+ trailer]

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Murderbot season 1 on Apple TV+
Murderbot is a lot lighter than you might expect.
Photo: Apple TV+

Murderbot is not a horror series. It’s sci-fi action comedy, no matter what the name implies — a new trailer for the upcoming Apple TV+ series makes that clear. And the trailer also shows that the plot sticks close to Martha Wells’ award-winning novels.

Watch the trailer for Murderbot season 1 that debuts in May to see for yourself:

Murderbot sci-fi action series explodes onto Apple TV+ in May

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Murderbot premieres on Apple TV+ in May
The Murderbot sci-fi thriller/comedy premieres on Apple TV+ this spring.
Photo: Apple TV+

The Apple TV+ adaptation of the brilliant Murderbot novels by Martha Wells got a premiere date for the sci-fi action series: May 16. And a first glimpse at Alexander Skarsgård as the lead character came out, too.

Plus, fans of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning books can take hope from Apple’s synopsis of its show, as it closely follows the written version.

Silo going out big while Severance comes on strong

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Apple TV+ sci-fi mystery SIlo stars Rebecca Ferguson.
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.

Escapee from Apple TV+’s Silo shows up at NBA game

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Silo shows up at NBA game
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?

Silo getting complete story arc as Apple TV+ greenlights season 3 and 4

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Take a sneak peek Common, Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Robbins in 'Silo' season 2
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.”

Next episode of Silo comes early for Thanksgiving weekend

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Silo episode 3 schedule
Surprise! Episode 3 of "Silo" season 2 comes early, starring Rebecca Ferguson.
Photo: Apple TV+

Normally season-two episodes of hit Apple TV+ sci-fi series Silo air on Fridays, but Apple TV+ said it plans to move upcoming episode three to Wednesday, November 27, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend celebrated in the United States. As in the past, the streamer apparently makes that move to try to maximize viewership while people are home recovering from Turkey Day food comas.

And as many Apple TV+ watchers know, the streamer often posts new episodes the evening before the air date. So you might be able to watch it as early as Tuesday night.

3 Reasons to Watch: Silo, the hit dystopian sci-fi show on Apple TV+

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Rebecca Ferguson in
Rebecca Ferguson's gutsy performance is just one reason to watch epic sci-fi series Silo.
Photo: Apple TV+

In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, our hand-cranked Apple TV+ recommendation engine, we’re looking at the dystopian sci-fi show du jour, Silo. While not a full Silo review, it’s a full-throated endorsement of the thrill-packed series and its star, Rebecca Ferguson.

Created by Graham Yost (Justified, Speed), and based on the books by Hugh Howey, the show focuses on the last people on earth, who live in a huge, underground structure and slowly start to learn there’s more to their predicament than meets the eye. The first season of Silo became a bona fide hit. And season two of Silo just started streaming on Apple TV+.

Harrowing season 2 ventures outside the Silo [Now streaming]

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Silo season 2 trailer
Dystopian drama series "Silo" returns to Apple TV+ for its second season on November 15.
Photo: Apple TV+

In hit Apple TV+ sci-fi series Silo, Rebecca Ferguson’s engineer character, Juliette, spent her whole life toiling in the bowels of a giant tube sunk into the soil, protected along with the last 10,000 people on Earth from a supposedly deadly outside world. But she’s willing to risk venturing outside to find the truth in the season 2 trailer of dystopian drama. Apple TV+ dropped it Monday.

Update: Silo‘s eagerly awaited 10-episode second season emerged on Apple TV+ Friday, November 15, with the first episode. Tagline: “Juliette finds sanctuary in a silo long ago destroyed by war, thinking she’s alone.” Want a quick taste? Watch the first 5 minutes here.

First 5 minutes of Silo season 2 dig into horrifying past [Video]

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Silo season 2 sneak peek
That silo dweller with battle flag has seen better days ... a long time ago, it seems.
Photo: Apple TV+

Anybody care for a big taste of Silo season 2 ahead of the hit sci-fi series’ November 15 air date on Apple TV+? The streamer dropped a “sneak peak” Friday of the show’s new season — literally the first five minutes of episode one. Outside the silo in which countless generations have lived, main character Juliette not only explores the hellscape that supposedly will kill her, but sees ominous signs of what came (way) before. We get a major flashback.

“Watch the first 5 minutes of Silo Season 2,” the YouTube page says. “Juliette lives.” So yeah, she’s not dead. At least not yet.

Silo season 2 hits Apple TV+ November 15

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'Silo' season 2 hits Apple TV+ November 15
The second season of Silo premieres this autumn!
Photo: Apple TV+

Silo will return for a second season on Apple TV+ this fall. Apple announced the premiere date for season two of the popular sci-fi series Saturday at Comic-Con International. In addition, we also learned that Steve Zahn (War for the Planet of the Apes) joined the Silo cast.

Finally, Silo season 2 details arrive — in a couple of weeks

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Silo season 2 details
"Silo " star Sarah Ferguson peers at you mysteriously in this season 2 teaser image.
Photo: Apple TV+

Release dates for new seasons of hit Apple TV+ shows like Severance and Slow Horses are in the news, and now we can add Silo to that list — maybe. The show’s stars and producers will discuss season 2 details at San Diego Comic-Con July 27, Apple TV+ said Friday. And a release date — and maybe more, like a trailer — will probably come out of that panel discussion.

Rashida Jones investigates a mystery with creepy robot in Sunny [Now on Apple TV+]

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Apple TV+ mystery thriller 'Sunny' stars Rashida Jones and a robot
Rashida Jones and her robot star in Sunny on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Suzie’s Japanese husband and son are missing and possibly dead, so her husband’s secretive company gives her a creepy robot named Sunny as a consolation prize. Together they’ll uncover the dark truth of what’s really going on. Intrigued? Stream the newly released Apple TV+ mystery series Sunny now.

It’s already earned a high score from Rotten Tomatoes.