Mobile menu toggle

Apple TV

Apple TV+ logo
Apple TV keeps producing hit series and films.

Apple TV is a subscription-based video streaming service launched in 2019. It offers a variety of original TV shows, movies, documentaries, and other content produced by Apple and its partners.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Apple TV:

Apple TV unveils hot 2026 lineup of series, movies and live sports

By

Apple TV 2026 programming lineup
Apple TV packs a full slate for 2026.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV showcased its ambitious 2026 slate Wednesday at an exclusive press event, revealing a packed calendar of new and returning series, original films and expanded live sports coverage including Formula 1 racing, Major League Soccer and Friday Night Baseball.

The streamer plans to release new originals every week in 2026, headlined by the highly anticipated fourth season of Ted Lasso this summer. Watch trailers below.

Ditch those extra remotes: How to control sound bar volume with Apple TV’s Siri Remote

By

One Remote To Rule Them All
All hail the mighty Siri Remote.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can set up your Apple TV’s Siri Remote to control the volume levels of a separate sound system. It might not work out of the box. But with a little poking around in Settings, you can set it up so you can use the convenient volume buttons built into the Siri Remote to control sound bars, etc.

That means you won’t need to keep two or three remotes lying around — you can make it all work from just one. It just takes a little setup.

3 reasons to watch suspenseful Apple TV spy thriller Tehran

By

Tehran Apple TV series review
Tehran may be the most gripping thriller on Apple TV.
Photo: Apple

In the crowded landscape of spy shows and movies, Apple TV’s Tehran cuts through the noise with a visceral intensity few titles can match. This Israeli thriller, which started airing season three on January 9, doesn’t just tell a spy story. It grabs you by the throat from the first frame and doesn’t let go until the credits roll.

For anyone who’s ever found themselves disappointed by the too-fast or too-slow pacing or predictable plotting of typical spy dramas, Tehran, now streaming season three (with a fourth on the way), offers a masterclass in sustained tension and genuine surprise. That makes it easy to forgive the subtitles, which most people will need for the Farsi (Persian) and Hebrew spoken on the show. 

Apple TV revs up Formula 1 content ahead of racing season

By

Apple TV is the new home of F1 racing
Apple TV is the new home of F1 racing.
Image: Apple TV

As the new home of Formula 1 on TV in the United States, Apple TV really wants its users to dig big-time car racing. So it just raised the green flag on a caravan of F1 content for fans to watch before Grand Prix races get underway in March as the start of the 2026 season.

And it’s all free for subscribers.

F1 with Brad Pitt takes pole position on Apple TV Oscar hopes

By

Photo of Damson Idris and Brad Pitt in Apple TV movie
Brad Pitt and Damson Idris star in F1, Apple TV's Oscar-nominated racing movie.
Photo: Warner Bros.

In a bit of a shocker, Apple Original Film F1: The Movie earned a Best Picture nomination plus three other nods when the 98th Academy Awards nominations came out Thursday. Four out of Apple TV’s six nominations went to the racing drama, while the documentary film Come See Me in the Good Light and the wildfire drama The Lost Bus drew two others.

“With F1, Joe, Jerry, Brad, Lewis and the entire creative team delivered something only they could — the most authentic, visceral and entertaining racing film ever made,” said Jamie Erlicht, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video. “They pushed technical boundaries at every turn, and it’s been a privilege to partner on a project of this ambition. Seeing F1 nominated for Best Picture is a testament to their remarkable artistry, vision and unwavering passion.” 

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

By

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

By

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 streaming services break records

By

Apple Services: Apple Music, iCloud, Apple TV and more
A variety of Apple services did remarkably well in 2025.
Image: Apple

Apple Music and Apple TV just had their biggest month ever. That strong streaming performance added to a banner year for the collection of products that go under the heading of Apple services.

“2025 was a record-breaking year for Apple Services, marked by remarkable growth, global expansion, and continuous innovation,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, in a press release Monday.

Apple TV scores 3 Golden Globe wins — but 3 hit shows strike out

By

Seth Rogen's big night at the Golden Globes went a little better than the episode of The Studio that centered on the awards show.
Seth Rogen's big night at the Golden Globes went a little better than the episode of The Studio that centered on the awards show.
Photo: Apple TV

Apple TV celebrated a successful night at the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, taking home three awards Sunday for its hit Hollywood-spoof comedy The Studio and its sci-fi phenom Pluribus. But some of the streamer’s other hit shows came up short in the awards ceremony.

Why 2026 is gonna be a banger for Apple [Cult of Mac podcast No. 1]

By

Image of a crystal ball with a translucent Apple logo, plus the words Cult of Mac podcast No. 1, used to illustrate a show notes post about Apple's new products coming in 2026.
Next year's going to be one for the ages.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple’s got a fantastic year ahead of it, with a genuinely prodigious pipeline of new products coming in 2026. From a folding iPhone and a low-cost MacBook to entirely new product categories, get ready for 12 months of exciting new Apple hardware.

In our first show under the new Cult of Mac branding, and our final podcast of 2025, we discuss all the great stuff that Apple fans have to look forward to in 2026.

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • We kick off with a thorough explanation of what’s up with the new podcast name, the direction we plan to take the show in 2026, and what Erfon is up to with The CultCast. We also apologize for any confusion about the changes (and, as always, we wish Erfon the best).
  • We wrap the show with Griffin’s dead Apple products draft, in which we each select discontinued hardware that’s ready for a comeback.

Listen to this week’s episode of Cult of Mac 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 2026: Your guide to the most anticipated new and returning shows

By

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.

15 new products to expect from Apple in 2026

By

Apple products due to launch in 2026
Apple has a busy 2026 in store. Which of these new and upgraded products can we expect?
AI image Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

With more than a dozen new Apple products in the pipeline, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy and important year for the company. Among a plethora of high-profile device launches, we should see the first folding iPhone next year

If all the rumors prove true, Apple’s 2026 product road map looks bold, exciting and ambitious. Check out all the new products Apple likely will launch in 2026.

Today in Apple history: Second-gen Apple TV hits 1 million sales

By

apple tvPIC
On this day in 2010, the Apple TV hit a sales milestone.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

December 27: Today in Apple history: Second-gen Apple TV hits 1 million sales December 27, 2010: Almost four months after the second-gen Apple TV’s debut, Cupertino says it has sold 1 million of the streaming video devices.

The news shows that Apple’s set-top box is gaining momentum. However, Apple’s PR move — which included a preemptive press release issued on December 21 that said Apple “expects sales of its new Apple TV to top one million units later this week” — is also a low-blow shot at competitor Roku, which recently said it planned to hit the 1 million unit mark by the end of 2010.

Change these 3 hidden Apple TV settings and thank us later

By

Apple TV settings: Fix Its Biggest Problems
Fix the remote, the Home Screen, and those pesky sports notifications.
Image: Davidbspalding/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

There are three Apple TV settings I always tell people to change as soon as they set theirs up. While I heartily recommend the Apple TV over the clunky and ad-infested experience of Roku and other smart TVs, it’s not perfect. You’ll want to change a few things to make it right. 

First of all, you can put one of the Siri Remote buttons to better use. The TV button, by default, opens the Apple TV app — but you can have it take you to the Home Screen instead. Also, you’ll want to change the Home Screen to show your Continue Watching list, not its recommendations. And finally, you can turn off those annoying Apple TV sports notifications to stop the interruptions while you’re watching your shows. 

Change these three annoying default settings, and you’ll be in for a far better viewing experience. Keep reading or watch our video to find out how.

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

By

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?

How to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas for free this weekend [Too late!]

By

How to watch ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ for free
A Charlie Brown Christmas is free to watch on Apple TV later this month.
Photo: Apple TV

The Christmas season is starting, 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 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.

iOS 26.4 features surface in new internal Apple leak

By

iOS 26.4 features leak
iOS 26.4 will apparently come with several handy new features.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

A leaked iOS 26 internal build reveals several new features Apple plans to introduce in iOS 26.4. These include credit card autofill support for third-party apps, folders in whiteboarding app Freeform, and a Sports tier in Apple TV.

The company will supposedly also introduce additional security measures with the update.

Brad Pitt’s record-breaking F1 movie now streaming free on Apple TV

By

F1: The Movie stars Brad Pitt
Drivers, fire up your Apple TV. F1 is finally here.
Photo: Apple Original Films

After earning more than $629 million at the global box office this summer, the racing flick F1: The Movie finally zoomed from theaters to living rooms, reaching the Apple TV streaming service on Friday.

The film blends blazing-fast cars on the racetrack with clashing personalities off the track. Brad Pitt stars as an aging racer trying to prove he still has what it takes to be a Formula One driver, with the action playing out at 230 mph.

Apple TV dominates Golden Globes race, eclipsing Netflix and HBO in prestige TV

By

Apple TV eclipses Netflix and HBO in prestige TV
This awards season may recognize Apple TV's dedication to quality like never before.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV has emerged as the streaming platform to beat this awards season, capturing half of the Best Drama series nominations at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards unveiled Monday — a remarkable achievement that signals the tech giant’s arrival as a major force in prestige television.

Three of the six nominations in the coveted Best Drama TV series category belong to Apple — the mind-bending workplace thriller Severance, the darkly humorous espionage drama Slow Horses and the breakout new sci-fi series Pluribus. That puts Apple ahead of streaming rivals Netflix and HBO Max, which each landed only one drama series nomination in the category.

Apple’s Prehistoric Planet docuseries replaces dinosaurs with saber-toothed tigers [Now streaming!]

By

Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age Season 1: saber-toothed tiger
A saber-toothed tiger in Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age, now on Apple TV.
Photo: Apple TV+

Liven up your Thanksgiving week with woolly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers. The next chapter in the Apple TV award-winning natural history series Prehistoric Planet leaves dinosaurs behind in favor of megafauna that lived during the last ice age, when glaciers covered much of the Earth’s surface.

The streaming service premiered Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age on Wednesday.

Apple TV Cyber Monday deal: Stream for just $5.99 a month — here’s why it’s worth it!

By

Apple TV's colorful new logo
This early Black Friday deal slashes the cost of an Apple TV subscription in half.
Image: Apple

For Black Friday 2025, Apple unleashed a promotion giving new and returning Apple TV subscribers a six-month subscription for $5.99 per month.

This Apple TV Black Friday deal slashes more than 50% off the regular price of $12.99 per month!

Additionally, Apple is offering a bundle deal with Peacock Premium/Premium Plus at a discounted rate. See all the details below. 

The Family Plan 2 spends Christmas with killer Kit Harington [Now streaming!]

By

The Family Plan 2 movie
Mark Wahlberg and Kit Harington star in The Family Plan 2.
Photo: Apple TV

Retired secret assassin Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg) and his now-the-wiser wife Jessica (Michelle Monaghan) lead the Morgan family to Europe for the holidays, only to find a gun-toting Irish villain from the past — played by English actor Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) — haunting them. And by “haunting” we mean trying very, very hard to rip off and probably kill Dan. It’s Apple Original Films’ first sequel, The Family Plan 2, and it’s now streaming November 21 on Apple TV, just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Reviews so far suggest it could be perfect for that holiday down time. The Hollywood Reporter calls it a “dumb-fun sequel that clears a low bar.” The New York Times says it’s a “better executed, equally goofball sequel about a family’s tangles with organized crime.” But some reviews get a little more Grinch-y, with Collider calling the film “lackluster” and Screen Rant fuming that it’s “mind-numbingly boring and unfunny.” But still, gathering in front of the screen could be better than talking to certain relatives, right?

How to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving for free

By

Don’t miss ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving‘ on Apple TV
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is available for free later this month. Here’s how to watch it.
Photo: Apple TV

With Thanksgiving coming in a few weeks, it’s time to watch the beloved Peanuts special that celebrates this holiday, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. While Apple TV subscribers can watch it anytime, Apple will also make the special free for anyone to stream one weekend this month.

You do not need an Apple device to enjoy either. It’s easy on Windows and Android.

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

By

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.

Apple TV scores: MLS matches now included at no extra cost

By

Apple TV scores: MLS matches now included at no extra cost
Every Apple TV subscriber can now watch the entire 2026 MLS season.
Photo: Apple/MLS

Watching Major League Soccer just got cheaper and easier. Starting in 2026, anyone with a subscription to Apple TV can enjoy every regular-season MLS match.

“We’re thrilled to bring MLS to more fans around the world next season on Apple TV,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, in a press release Thursday. “Every match, all in one place, alongside incredible Apple Originals — it’s a win for fans everywhere.”