Lumon has 127 steps for "maximizing glee and enforcing a productive workplace," but unfortunately, they've been redacted. Photo: Apple TV+
In yet another creative promo for its hit workplace thriller series Severance, Apple TV+ dropped a new video Wednesday that masquerades as a Lumon Industries management training video.
“Lumon Industries is proud to present the Lumon Management Program — otherwise known by its breviloquent moniker of LUMP,” Apple TV+ wrote on X, announcing the video. “Today’s practicum: Integrating New Team Members.”
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.
OK, so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumors indicate the iPhone 17 Pro camera will get a major upgrade. Shocker!
Also on The CultCast:
Just how thin will the iPhone 17 Air be?
Three lesser Apple products should get big upgrades in 2025.
The next version of CarPlay might be even more awesome..
With the Severance season two premiere imminent, the creative Apple TV+ marketing is off the hook.
Erfon and Griffin get jazzed about the recently hyped Nintendo Switch 2.
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.
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.
★★★★★
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
This season two promo image has been out for a while. The new teaser trailer gives a clue as to why he's carrying balloons with his face on them. Photo: Apple TV+
Fans of hit Apple TV+ series Severance — call it a surreal workplace thriller — would expect nothing less than to have their heads exploded by the season two trailer. And without too much exaggeration, that’s pretty much what they get with the video Apple TV+ dropped on YouTube Wednesday.
It leaves you with nothing but tantalizing questions. Like: What the hell are they doing? Well, whatever it is, we want in. The January 17 streaming date can’t come soon enough. Watch the teaser trailer below.
Thriller film "The Gorge" is coming soon to Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Popular young movie stars Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy star alongside Sigourney Weaver in the upcoming thriller film The Gorge on Apple TV+, the streamer revealed Thursday. It noted the film, which has no firm release date yet, will get promoted along with season 2 of hit series Severance at pop culture festival CCXP24 in early December.
“They’re not keeping you out. They’re keeping them in,” reads the tagline for the Apple Original Film. And in bigger news for fans of the mind-bending workplace drama series, Apple noted Severance returns with its second season January 17 (for those who don’t already know).
Apple TV+ costs billions to produce, but there are reportedly budget cuts. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple reportedly wants to reduce the amount of money it pours into its Apple TV+ streaming service. And the company also wants to get more bang for its buck.
The result likely will be fewer Apple TV+ shows, and decreased spending on marquee projects. Plus, underperforming series can expect to get canceled more quickly.
Which Apple rumor are you most surprised by? Photo: Nathan Bingle/Unsplash License
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We dissect the latest Apple rumors, which go from incredible bummer (Apple Watch) to potential breakthroughs (iPhone and HomePod).
Also on The CultCast:
The latest iOS 18 beta brings some welcome new changes.
A teaser trailer and a release date get us psyched for season two of Severance.
Griffin tells us all about a keyboard with a peculiar name in a new Under Review segment.
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.
This glimpse of Adam Scott carrying balloons down a Lumon Industries hallway appeared during the WWDC24 keynote. Photo: Apple TV+
Just as we thought when Apple put out a Severance teaser Tuesday in Morse code saying nothing but “tomorrow,” word of a season 2 air date arrived Wednesday, along with a spooky teaser trailer. But our wishful thinking that the air date would come in fall 2024 was just that. It’s actually slated for January 17, 2025. And in the meantime, the short trailer below is worth a watch. It brings eerie Severance vibes.
The WWDC24 keynote featured an Apple TV+ reel with Severance season two footage of Adam Scott walking down a Lumon Industries hallway with balloons. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ dropped an odd Severance Morse code teaser video Tuesday that simply spells out “tomorrow,” suggesting news about the workplace thriller’s second season will arrive Wednesday. We expect an air date announcement for fall 2024, and perhaps more.
Apple offered a scant first look at the upcoming season of the hit show during the WWDC24 keynote in June. But other than that, fans of the funny and disturbing workplace thriller have had little to go on — until now (or until tomorrow, that is).
Adam Scott plays Mark S. in Severance on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
One of the most popular, critically acclaimed and flat-out weird shows on Apple TV+ — the darkly comedic workplace thriller Severance — has resumed production on season two after pausing for the recent writers strike.
Apple posted on X (formerly Twitter) about it Monday. Take a look below.
Adam Scott stars in "Severance." While you wait (and wait) for season 2, treat yourself to 8 hours of the show's theme music.
Fans who miss the psychological dark dramedy Severance on Apple TV+ can now drone out to a full day of the show’s ghostly piano-based theme song with the “8 Hour Work Day Innie Mix,” which Apple released Tuesday on YouTube.
Get it, innies? You can play the eerie mix for your whole 8-hour workday. It’s like having the show’s credits roll all day in your head as you start to question your choices in life.
"Severance" season 2 is on hold because of the writers strike. Photo: Apple TV+
The Writers Guild of America is on strike, causing problems both immediate and long-term for TV and movie production. And Apple TV+ certainly is not immune.
Production on two Apple series already stopped because of picketing, including the bugle popular Severance. And that raises questions about other series and movies.
Zach Cherry, left, Adam Scott and John Turturro star in Severance on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Production on the second season of Severance, the Apple TV+ thriller about a profoundly creepy workplace, has seen delays because the series’ two showrunners hate each other, according to a recent report.
Scripts were scrapped amid the two not speaking to each other as director Ben Stiller searched for help. And it seems he finally found it. Stiller also downplayed on-set drama in a tweet.
These sci-fi shows make Apple TV+ better, smarter and more fun. Image: Cult of Mac
Looking for your next science fiction binge? Apple TV+ offers some excellent sci-fi series to keep your eyes popping and (more importantly) your brain humming.
From mythic procedurals to New Testament space operas, Apple TV+ gives viewers a number of exciting science fiction series worthy of a watch. Some seem hilariously literal, while others prove truly fantastical. No matter your tastes, there’s something for every sci-fi fan.
Here are our picks for the best science fiction shows on Apple TV+.
These 10 Apple TV+ shows reached the peak of popularity on the streaming video service. Photo: Apple TV+
Although Ted Lasso is amazing and wildly popular, it’s not the only hit show on Apple TV+. A search engine focused on movies and TV released a top 10 list of everything on Apple’s streaming service, revealing which other series also draw plenty of viewers.
Subscribers to the streaming service might use it to find additional shows worth watching.
From left, Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, John Turturro and Britt Lower star in Severance. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ correctly referred to its hit psycho-drama Severance as a “cultural phenomenon” Sunday when it pointed out the show nabbed Best Drama and Best New Series at the Writers Guild Awards. It’s the only show to win two major categories this year.
This year was good for Apple, but 2023 looks even better! Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We’re talking about all the Apple gear we’re certain will arrive in 2023 — and some we just hope will materialize.
Also on The CultCast:
An Apple Watch Ultra clone for less than $50?!?
More on Apple’s penny-penching strategy of skimping on cloud storage by serving up lower-resolution files.
Our picks for best of 2022 — part two!
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.
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Will sideloading and alternative app stores be a good thing? Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: If the EU does indeed force Apple to open up the iPhone to allow alternative app stores, is that a bad thing? Some people think sideloading apps will be fantastic.
Also on The CultCast:
Cool new stuff to try in iOS 16.2.
Why web browsing might be in for radical changes on iOS devices.
How to get Apple TV+ for free so you can watch Severance, our favorite show of the year.
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.
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Adam Scott is up for one of the top 2023 Golden Globe awards. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ earned Golden Globe nominations in five important categories, including Best Drama. The creepy, very popular series Severance earned two of the nominations, and the prison thriller Black Bird got the rest.