Give Apple TV+ Another Try — Here Are 15 Recommendations to Get You Started!

Napoleon
(Film | Drama)

One of Apple's top films, Napoleon, spins a cinematic tale of one of France's shrewdest and best-known leaders. This 2023 film is directed and produced by Ridley Scott and features several well-known actors, including Vanessa Kirby and Tahar Rah, with Joaquin Phoenix portraying Napoleon Bonaparte.

The story primarily focuses on Napoleon's military prowess, his rise to power, and his tempestuous relationship with his wife Joséphine. Despite many erroneous accounts and iffy reviews, the film captured audiences and grossed $221 million before coming to Apple TV+. It was nominated for three Academy Awards and critics praised its intense battle scenes.

The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Series | Travel)

A favorite of anyone who loves Eugene Levy or is often disinclined to new experiences, this unique travel series follows the adventures of Levy as he explores the world in an attempt to break out of his comfort zone.

The excitement unfolds with a sleigh ride in Finland, where Levy learns to drive a team of huskies, tries reindeer meat, and goes for a dip in the arctic-cold water. His escapades continue across the globe, venturing into the Utah desert, soaking up the sun (and the underwater views) in the Maldives, and taking a ride through the canals of Venice.

Season 2 is now out and takes this reluctant traveler across Europe, catching sights of Italy, Germany, and Spain. It's a series the whole family can enjoy and will have you planning your next vacation — or at least dreaming of it.

Earth at Night
(Series | Documentary)

When we think of amazing nature shots and epic documentaries, we tend to think of National Geographic, but with titles like Earth at Night in Color, Apple is showing us a completely new viewpoint of what a documentary can be.

Narrated by Tom Hiddleston (Thor, Loki, Kong: Skull Island), this one-of-a-kind docuseries sheds a whole new light on our world at night… literally. Thanks to advanced camera technology, viewers are treated to full-color shots of animals in their natural habitats at night. The filmography is stunning and is sure to delight audiences of all ages.

Other similar Apple Originals include Tiny World (narrated by Paul Rudd), The Elephant Queen, and Earthsounds (a related docuseries also narrated by Hiddleston).

CODA
(Film | Drama)

One of the most inspiring Apple TV+ movies is, without a doubt, CODA. This Oscar-winning film tells the story of Ruby, a child of deaf adults (CODA) and the only hearing member of her family. With the help of her high-school music teacher, Ruby discovers her talent for singing. Her passion for singing leads her on a journey of finding herself while attempting to balance family commitments.

This heartwarming film stars actors of the deaf community, including Academy-Award winner Marlee Matlin, and paints a picture of two worlds at odds — while taking your emotions on a wild roller coaster of a ride.

Shrinking
(Series | Comedy)

Looking for a good laugh? Shrinking combines humor, emotion, and integrity in a way that will have you laughing and crying at the same time.

Jason Segel stars as Jimmy, a father and therapist grieving the recent loss of his wife. Everyone grieves differently, and for Jimmy, this process starts with drugs and escorts. Eventually he finds ways to help himself cope by helping others using somewhat eccentric — and probably unethical — practices, including letting a patient move into his home.

A large cast (including Harrison Ford) makes for a roster of unique characters that bring this series to life. It's one TV comedy that doesn't need a laugh track to have you laughing out loud.

Argylle
(Film | Action Comedy)

Is it a flop? Maybe, but it's currently at the top of the Apple TV+ movie charts. In fact, audiences give it a 72% despite the 33% rating given by critics (and it was definitely a hit with some of us here at iDrop News). With such a large disparity between ratings, it only made sense to include it on this list.

This spy action comedy directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman, X-Men: First Class) features an introverted novelist intrigued by the world of espionage. After experiencing writer's block while working on her next book, she finds herself targeted by an organization dubbed "The Division." The Division believes the stories in her novels seemingly predict their own real-life circumstances.

Argylle is overrun by big-name stars, including Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson, and — if you can see him — John Cena.

For fans of a certain other Matthew Vaughn film, it may be worth sticking around for a mid-credits scene.

Prehistoric Planet
(Series | Documentary)

There are dinosaur documentaries, and then there are dinosaur documentaries; Prehistoric Planet is the latter. Unlike most documentaries focused on primitive times, this docuseries uses blockbuster visuals and the expert narration of Sir David Attenborough to bring the past to life.

The result is amazing. You'll feel like you're watching a documentary about animals living today, not creatures that went extinct millions of years ago.

If you want an even more immersive experience and happen to be one of the few people to own a Vision Pro, you can experience Prehistoric Planet Immersive. This spatial-reality experience transports viewers into the past with two five-minute episodes.

Ted Lasso
(Series | Comedy)

If you haven't heard of Ted Lasso by now, there's a very real chance you're living under an actual rock, staring at a blue screen of death, and wondering if Apple will ever bring iMessage to your Android devices.

Ted Lasso is a sports comedy that isn't a sports comedy. As it's a comedy, and it has sports, but it's not about sports. In fact, whether you're a sports fanatic or not, there's a good chance you'll love this comedy-drama starring Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, and Juno Temple.

Despite being a comedy — and a damn good one — Ted Lasso is really a show about morals, friendship, and the harsh realities of life. It's essentially a Disney Channel show made for adults (and actually funny). That is to say, each episode leaves you with a moral message and a greater appreciation for the people around you.

With over 13 Emmy Awards and 61 nominations, it's a show that really doesn't need any introduction. If you haven't seen it yet, it's a must-watch.

Strange Planet
(Series | Animated Comedy)

Here's one for the kids and the kids-at-heart. Strange Planet is an animated comedy series based on a webcomic by Nathan W. Pyle. Like Ted Lasso, the series approaches moral philosophy in an entertaining and comedic fashion but is better suited for younger audiences.

The series features a planet of blue beings similar to humans. They use humorous terminology for everyday words, such as "mouthstones" instead of teeth. The omission of traditional race and gender enables the show's characters to explore universal issues that resonate with a larger yet still diverse audience.

Severance
(Series | Thriller)

There's something about this award-winning thriller that keeps people coming back for more despite its mind-twisting distortions. Severance is a wild trip through a suspense-filled drama with a sprinkling of comedy that will leave you questioning reality.

Through an operation called "Severance," characters can elect to separate their personal memories from those made at work. This process results in two separate personalities, each with its own unique life and memories.

Workers call themselves "innies" because they know only a life trapped in an office. They refer to their real-world counterparts as "outies." Innies have no knowledge of anything outside of work, including relationships, family lives, or hobbies. On the flip side, outside-of-work employees don't know their coworkers or what they do at their jobs.

Chaos ensues when a former employee seeks out an old coworker and the innies begin to discover more about their outside lives. Pretty soon a conspiracy begins to slowly unravel.

It's an unusual, yet relatable narrative. If you're looking for something new or different, Severance is sure to deliver.

Watch Severance on Apple TV+ (TV-MA, ~50 min, Thriller)

Killers of the Flower Moon
(Film | Crime Western)

If you need proof of Apple's thirst for quality content, look no further than Killers of the Flower Moon. This western crime drama had a staggering $200 million budget but only grossed $157 million at the box office. While financially it might sound like a flop, quality doesn't come cheap and Apple has money to burn, especially when it comes to growing its platform. According to Rotten Tomatoes, both viewers and critics love it. Critics gave it a score of 93 percent and audiences weren't far behind with 84 percent.

In fact, Killers of the Flower Moon received 10 Academy Award nominations, 7 Golden Globe nominations, and 9 British Academy Award nominations. In total, it has 277 nominations and 93 wins. The National Board of Review also named it the best film of 2023 and selected it as one of the American Film Institute's top 10 films of the year.

The film is based on David Grann's 2017 non-fiction book of the same title. The plot focuses on the Osage murders during the early 1900s. It received a mixed response from indigenous people. Criticism centered around the lack of appreciation for Osage culture due to a heavy focus on the murders. That said, some praised the accurate portrayal of the culture.

Tetris
(Film | Political Thriller)

It's simple. It's addictive. It's fun. And it's a classic. Tetris is a beloved game that's captured the hearts of gamers for decades. But do you know the history behind this iconic game?

If not, that's okay. It appears this film's writers don't either. According to the real-life Henk Rogers (portrayed by Taron Egerton in the film): "It's a Hollywood script, a movie. It's not about history, so a lot of [the events in the film] never happened."

That said, Rogers also said the story was "close enough and very right emotionally and spiritually."

Watch Tetris on Apple TV+ (R, 1 hr 57 min, Thriller)

Cherry
(Film | Crime Drama)

Like Argylle, viewers of Cherry didn't agree with critics. In spite of its Tomatometer score of 37%, audiences gave it a 73%.

Cherry (Tom Holland) is a war veteran suffering from PTSD; he and his wife are both struggling with an addiction to drugs. After stealing from a drug dealer, Cherry robs a bank to pay them back. The robbery begins a domino effect in which he continues robbing banks to finance his addiction.

Although reviews are critical of the film's directing and writing, many viewers and critics praise the cast's performances, especially Holland's. In an interview for GQ, Holland said, "Cherry took me to some of the darkest places I've ever been. I would never go back there, not for anyone."

Palm Royale
(Series | Comedy Drama)

Apple's deep pockets are pretty handy when it comes to recruiting top talent. Palm Royale packs the roster full of A-listers, including Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Leslie Bibb, Laura Dern, and Allison Janney. Even the legendary Carol Burnett, now 91 years young, makes an appearance.

Currently number one on the Apple TV+ charts, Palm Royale is set in the late 1960s. Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig), aspires to join an exclusive Palm Beach club, but soon learns of the "rules" she'll have to abide by to fit in. Both comedy and drama ensue as Maxine employs various antics, from lies to seduction, to secure a place at the exclusive Palm Royale resort.

Sugar
(Series | Mystery Drama)

Colin Farrell stars as John Sugar, a private detective who investigates the disappearance of a producer's granddaughter after solving a case in Japan.

The show is still fairly new and reviews are limited. The season finale streams next Friday (May 17).

And so much more!

While it might seem like Apple TV+ has a limited selection, consider how much time you spend scrolling through other services trying to find something to watch. Apple's large assortment of excellent content outweighs its overall lack of filler content.

Other TV offerings include Franklin, a political drama highlighting Benjamin Franklin's secret mission to France; Loot, a comedy in its second season about a billionaire divorcee trying to reconnect with reality; and Manhunt, a thriller series exploring the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination.

You can also find content suitable for families and kids of varying ages, such as Jane, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Luck.

Are you still watching Apple TV Plus? If so, which films and shows do you like best? What do you want to see next?

Sign up for Apple TV+ or Apple One to gain access to these titles. Apple TV+ starts at $9.99 and new subscribers can try it free for seven days.

Disclaimer: Some artwork/graphics in this article may include depictions Apple of the Apple Logo and Apple TV+ titles and content. These depictions are being used for illustrative and informative purposes only. The use of these images does not represent Apple, Inc. or its affiliates. iDrop News, the author, and the illustrator are not affiliated with Apple.