Apple TV+ has officially unveiled an ambitious and carefully curated lineup of original series and films for 2026 that blends prestige drama, genre experimentation, and bankable star power across the calendar year. Spanning thrillers, comedies, horror, action, and psychological drama, the slate stretches from early winter through late autumn, clearly designed to capture both critical attention and mainstream loyalty.
More importantly, these releases reflect Apple’s continued evolution as a content powerhouse rather than a prestige boutique. Following the sustained success of titles like Ted Lasso and For All Mankind, Apple is doubling down on original storytelling that favors tonal confidence over algorithmic safety. The 2026 calendar balances returning favorites with bold new narratives, strategically spaced to keep subscribers engaged throughout the year.
Below are the most anticipated Apple TV+ shows and films of 2026…
Shrinking Season 3 (January 28)
New Season | Comedy-Drama
As Shrinking enters its third season, it continues to dismantle the sitcom rulebook with surgical precision. Grief, humor, and ethically questionable therapy remain its emotional fuel, but this time the stakes feel deeper and messier. With Jason Segel and Harrison Ford returning alongside new additions like Jeff Daniels and Michael J. Fox, the show leans further into vulnerability without losing its bite. Few series balance sincerity and self-awareness this deftly, and Apple knows it.
Eternity (February 13)
New Movie | Romantic Fantasy Comedy
Produced by A24, Eternity brings existential whimsy back into romantic comedy territory. Elizabeth Olsen stars as a woman navigating an afterlife where souls are given one week to choose their eternal partner. The premise is charmingly bureaucratic, but the execution is quietly philosophical. What begins as a love triangle evolves into a meditation on choice, regret, and emotional permanence without losing its sense of play.
The Last Thing He Told Me Season 2 (February 20)
New Season | Drama
Season 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me pushes its domestic thriller framework into darker, more emotionally complex terrain. Jennifer Garner remains its quiet anchor, playing restraint and fury with equal precision. While mysteries about missing husbands are hardly rare, this series distinguishes itself by prioritizing emotional fallout over shock twists. Trust, loyalty, and survival become the real battlegrounds.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 (February 27)
New Season | Sci-Fi
Season 2 leans harder into the MonsterVerse mythology, expanding its kaiju chaos while grounding it in human consequence. Kong returns, a new sea beast looms, and the personal stakes rise alongside the titans. This is blockbuster television that understands scale means nothing without emotional gravity.
Imperfect Women (March 18)
New Series | Psychological Thriller
Adapted from Araminta Hall’s novel, Imperfect Women places Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, and Kate Mara inside a psychological pressure cooker fueled by memory, intimacy, and suspicion. One death, three women, and a friendship rotting from the inside out. It’s sharp, uncomfortable, and acutely aware of how desire and resentment often coexist.
Your Friends and Neighbors Season 2 (April 3)
New Season | Crime Drama
Jon Hamm robbing his wealthy friends shouldn’t work this well, but it does. This suburban noir continues its critique of entitlement and moral decay with dark humor and unnerving precision. Hamm’s charm is once again weaponized, and Apple’s fascination with affluent implosion shows no signs of slowing. Expect discourse.
Outcome (April 10)
New Film | Black Comedy
Keanu Reeves stars as Reef Hawk, a disgraced movie star navigating scandal and reputation collapse. Directed by Jonah Hill, who also plays Hawk’s crisis lawyer, Outcome becomes a self-aware autopsy of fame, brand preservation, and Hollywood hypocrisy. It’s indulgent, yes, but knowingly so.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles (April 15)
New Series | Comedy-Drama
Based on Rufi Thorpe’s novel, this sharp, empathetic series follows a young mother navigating financial instability, internet labor, and inherited male chaos. Elle Fanning leads with tonal agility, balancing humor and quiet devastation. The show treats the internet as economic infrastructure, not a punchline, and that restraint makes it resonate.
Criminal Record Season 2 (April 22)
New Season | Crime Drama
Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo return for another icy excavation of institutional power and moral compromise. Beneath the procedural framework lies a story about authority—who wields it, who resists it, and who is crushed beneath it. Familiar territory for Apple, but sharpened.
Widow’s Bay (April 29)
New Series | Comedy Horror
A cursed seaside town comedy sounds cozy until it starts biting. This horror-comedy hybrid leans into folk terror, civic denial, and escalating absurdity, anchored by Matthew Rhys’s deadpan authority. Katie Dippold’s comedic instincts suggest laughs won’t undercut the dread. If the balance holds, Widow’s Bay could become Apple’s stealth genre breakout.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (May 20)
New Series | Dark Comedy
There’s comedy, and then there’s Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. The title feels less like a logline and more like a dare from Apple’s content strategy team. This darkly comic thriller stars Tatiana Maslany as Paula, a newly divorced mom who spirals into a labyrinth of blackmail, possible murder, and conspiratorial soup. With Jake Johnson alongside her, this is Apple’s bold cross-genre gambit: half neo-noir, half existential sitcom, all tangled up in suburban anxieties.
Cape Fear (June 5)
New Series | Crime Drama
This modern reimagining reframes the Max Cady mythos through contemporary lenses of trauma, justice, and entitlement. Javier Bardem’s casting alone signals menace, while Amy Adams grounds the chaos. It’s not nostalgia; it’s reinvention with teeth.
Sugar Season 2 (June 19)
New Season | Mystery Drama
If you thought the first season’s blend of sci-fi noir and quirky detective energy was bananas, wait until this thing opens its case files again. Colin Farrell returns as John Sugar, the private investigator caught in a missing-persons mystery. The story unfurls into a sprawling conspiracy, and perhaps the kind of city politics that make you grateful this remains fiction. The second season of a popular show has arrived, promising to deepen the mythology and introduce new characters into the mix. This season aims to strike a balance between character weirdness and plot machine energy, a feat that few shows can pull off successfully without collapsing under the weight of their own ambition.
One of the most anticipated new series is “Lucky,” set to premiere on July 15. This psychological thriller, produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine production company and boasting Apple’s sleek production values, is based on a bestselling novel. Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the lead role as a woman pulled back into the underworld she thought she had left behind. With powerhouse performances from Annette Bening and Timothy Olyphant, the series promises to be a gripping blend of psychological suspense and twisted family drama.
Next up is “The Dink,” a new sports comedy movie scheduled for release on July 24. Starring Jake Johnson as a washed-up tennis pro who transitions to pickleball, this feel-good film explores themes of redemption and familial relationships. With a talented cast including Mary Steenburgen and Ed Harris, “The Dink” is sure to deliver laughs and heartwarming moments that appeal to a wide audience.
On September 4, viewers can look forward to “Mayday,” an action comedy movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. Set during the Cold War, this high-flying adventure follows a U.S. Navy pilot who finds himself behind enemy lines with an unlikely ally. Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, “Mayday” promises to deliver a mix of buddy comedy and geopolitical slapstick that will keep audiences entertained from start to finish.
“Matchbox: The Movie,” set to premiere on October 9, takes a beloved toy brand and turns it into a globe-trotting action comedy. Led by John Cena in a role that showcases his physicality and deadpan humor, this film promises high-octane stunts, absurd stakes, and car-themed chaos that will appeal to audiences of all ages. With a mix of nostalgia and spy cinema, “Matchbox: The Movie” is shaping up to be a fun and unexpected delight.
Closing out the lineup is “Way of the Warrior Kid,” a family drama movie set to debut on November 20. Starring Chris Pratt and Linda Cardellini, this coming-of-age tale follows a bullied middle schooler who learns martial arts from his Navy SEAL uncle. Focusing on themes of confidence, vulnerability, and courage, “Way of the Warrior Kid” offers a fresh take on the family action genre that is sure to resonate with audiences.
And finally, fans of the hit series “Ted Lasso” can rejoice as the show returns for a fourth season in the summer of 2026. Known for its heartwarming storylines and quirky characters, “Ted Lasso” continues to captivate audiences with its blend of sports comedy and drama. In the upcoming season, Ted takes on a new challenge coaching a second-division women’s team, promising more laughs, tears, and heartfelt moments that have made the show a fan favorite.
With a lineup that includes a mix of psychological thrillers, sports comedies, action films, and family dramas, Apple’s second season offerings are sure to provide something for everyone. Whether you’re in the mood for suspense, laughter, or heartwarming moments, these new releases promise to deliver top-notch entertainment that will keep you coming back for more. The world is currently facing one of the biggest challenges in recent history – the COVID-19 pandemic. This novel coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, has spread rapidly across the globe, infecting millions of people and causing thousands of deaths. Governments around the world have implemented strict measures to control the spread of the virus, including lockdowns, social distancing, and travel restrictions.
One of the most effective ways to control the spread of the virus is through widespread testing. Testing allows health authorities to identify and isolate infected individuals, trace their contacts, and provide timely treatment to those who need it. However, testing has been a major challenge in many countries, with shortages of testing kits, long wait times for results, and discrepancies in testing criteria.
In response to these challenges, researchers and scientists have been working tirelessly to develop new and improved testing methods for COVID-19. One of the most promising developments in testing is the use of rapid antigen tests. Antigen tests detect the presence of specific proteins on the surface of the virus, providing results in a matter of minutes. These tests are less sensitive than the standard PCR tests, but they are faster, cheaper, and easier to use, making them ideal for mass testing efforts.
Another innovative testing method that is being developed is the use of saliva-based tests. Saliva tests are non-invasive and can be self-administered, reducing the risk of exposure to healthcare workers. These tests are also less resource-intensive than nasal swab tests, making them more scalable for mass testing programs.
In addition to developing new testing methods, researchers are also working on improving the accuracy and reliability of existing tests. This includes developing new reagents, optimizing testing protocols, and validating the performance of different testing platforms.
Overall, the development of new and improved testing methods is crucial in the fight against COVID-19. Testing plays a key role in controlling the spread of the virus, identifying hotspots, and guiding public health measures. By investing in research and innovation, we can improve testing capacity, accuracy, and accessibility, ultimately helping to bring an end to this global pandemic.
