Weekend watchlist sorted: three standout Apple TV picks to binge

If you reckon you’ve exhausted everything worth watching on Netflix and the rest, don’t overlook the one streamer that’s quietly batting above its weight. Apple TV doesn’t bombard you with endless titles for the sake of it, but their original series tend to go for quality over sheer bulk—most stuff on there actually feels handpicked, like someone’s fussier cousin did the programming. Here are three absolutely binge-worthy Apple TV shows I rate among the absolute best for your weekend, plus a cheeky honorary mention because, frankly, ignoring Elle Fanning at her peak would be criminal.

Three standout Apple TV shows—plus an honorary mention—headline this list of what to binge right now.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Let’s start with that honorary mention because I can’t help myself. Margo’s Got Money Troubles (2026–) stars Elle Fanning, who, if you ask me, hasn’t put a foot wrong since she won people over in The Great. Here, she’s front and centre in a role that gives her licence to be messy, honest and entertaining as a young single mum trying to navigate a grenade-scattered life. It’s billed as a drama-comedy, or if you prefer, a comedy that sometimes punches you in the feelings. Smart, lively writing makes the tough bits hit home, but Fanning’s performance is what anchors the whole affair. Watch if you’re after something grounded and character-led—this isn’t a high-concept fantasy, but it keeps you hooked all the same.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

If you thought Wyatt Russell playing a younger version of his own dad Kurt Russell sounded like the most ‘on the nose’ casting ever, that’s precisely what Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023–) delivers. It’s part of the MonsterVerse, so yes, it’s got the towering VFX spectacle you’d expect, but the real surprise is how much this is an actual TV show first—proper storylines, overlapping timelines, and a focus on characters alongside the kaiju carnage. You get all the fun of a big-screen Godzilla blockbuster, only you’re watching from your own sofa with a packet of crisps. The series actually digs into concepts the films often breeze past, so if you’ve ever wanted more mythology than a simple monster smackdown, this one’s packed with it. It’s shot in such cinematic fashion, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’d got lost on its way to the multiplex.

• Wyatt Russell and Kurt Russell play the same character at different ages
• Spans multiple timelines, expanding the MonsterVerse in clever ways
• Two seasons of sci-fi drama that put real effort into character arcs, not just CGI

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed

Here’s the new Apple TV head-turner, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (2026–), coming at you with sharp satire and just the right amount of awkward charm. Tatiana Maslany (She-Hulk, Orphan Black) is on consulting duty alongside Jake Johnson (the one from New Girl), hired by a luxury self-help and wellness brand. The concept? They’re paid to engineer happiness for paying clients, but—surprise—the gig is thoroughly ridiculous and occasionally soul-crushing. The rest of the ensemble is full of on-the-rise talent and reliable character actors, and everyone leans into the darkly comic side of the modern pleasure industry.

If you hate the smugness of self-care culture or, frankly, just want something that takes the mickey out of luxury wellness, this is right up your alley. But if you’re looking for a giggle-fest the family can join in with, try something else—its sense of humour is sharp-edged, with no laugh track to soften the blows.

Widow’s Bay

Finally—arguably the show most destined to eat your whole weekend—Widow’s Bay (2026–), a horror-comedy that’s picked up steam well beyond what Apple perhaps expected. The pitch alone gives away how much fun this is: Matthew Rhys is Tom Loftis, mayor of an island where ghost tourism is booming so much the supernatural and the farcical inevitably collide. Created by a former Parks & Recreation writer, it knits together proper creepy moments and wry laughs, threading trauma and personal chaos through the ongoing mystery. Each episode piles on enough intrigue and weirdness you’ll struggle not to hit ‘next episode’, which is exactly what you want on a lazy weekend. Think Schitt’s Creek crossed with What We Do in the Shadows, but with more bumps in the night. The only warning: if you’re allergic to horror and comedy mixing, or you hate being scared as much as you hate laughing, it might not be your thing—but you can’t say it doesn’t try something new.