10 best Apple TV+ miniseries that are short, smart, and bingeable

Apple TV+ has muscled its way into the game with this laser focus on slick, original miniseries. Ever since its launch in November 2019, Apple has been dropping these tightly wound shows that don’t drag on forever. They get in, tell their story, show off some A-list faces, flex the storytelling, then get out before you get bored. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to those never-ending series that pad out seasons with filler episodes.

People these days barely have time to breathe, let alone watch 22 episodes of anything. Apple TV+ probably gets it. Plus, they’re not just churning out quantity for the sake of it; each show brings something to the table. Critics gobble them up, awards get tossed their way, and the casts mix big names with up-and-comers and somehow make it work. Also, genre-wise, it’s a buffet: drama, thriller, sci-fi, history, whatever your vibe is.

So, this piece is a highlight reel of the ten best Apple TV+ miniseries that prove the platform isn’t just another streaming service lost in the crowd. For each pick, we’ll break down what makes it tick: the plot, the timing, the cast, and what exactly makes it stand out in a world drowning in mediocre content.

Disclaimer: The article contains the writer's personal opinion; reader discretion is advised.

Best Apple TV+ miniseries to binge

Black Bird (2022)

This Apple TV+ miniseries is based on actual events, which just elevates the creep factor. You get Taron Egerton playing Jimmy Keene, a small-time crook who gets offered a chance at freedom if he can elicit a confession from a suspected serial killer. Paul Walter Hauser plays the killer, Larry Hall, and the guy is unsettling in a way that’ll make you want to sleep with the lights on.

The show is a battleground of minds, with Jimmy and Larry playing this slow, psychological chess match that’s as tense as it gets.

Dropped in July 2022, it has only six episodes, so you can binge it in a weekend. Egerton is off the charts here, and Hauser’s performance is a nightmare fuel. The direction is sharp, the theme is gritty, and it doesn’t glamorize anything.

Furthermore, there are no pointless side plots, just straight-up suspense and smart writing. If you like true crime with some real bite, this is it.

Hijack (2023)

Now, if you’re looking for a sweaty-palms kind of ride, you can watch Hijack. In this Apple TV+ miniseries, Idris Elba is stuck in a plane that gets hijacked, and instead of freaking out, he tries negotiating his way out. The whole story happens in real time, and each episode is like a ticking clock, and the tension is ridiculous.

Dropped in 2023, and it has just seven episodes, so no filler, and no fluff. Elba just owns the screen, and the show keeps you locked in that claustrophobic, nerve-wracking plane cabin the whole time.

The Afterparty (2022)

This Apple TV+ miniseries is for the whodunit fans who also love a good laugh. The Afterparty kicks off at, well, an afterparty for a high school reunion, and a murder goes down. Here’s the twist: every episode is some other character’s version of what happened, and each one plays out like a different genre. Musical, noir, rom-com: it’s all here, and somehow it works.

It dropped in 2022 with Tiffany Haddish leading a killer cast. Only eight episodes, and each one zips by because you’re dying to see what the next perspective brings.

It’s just fun, super clever, hilarious, and keeps you guessing. If you want something that’ll flex your brain and make you laugh, queue it up.

Five Days at Memorial (2022)

Five Days at Memorial (Image via Apple TV+)

Time for something heavier. Five Days at Memorial is about the chaos at a New Orleans hospital during Hurricane Katrina. This Apple TV+ miniseries digs deep into the heartbreaking choices people had to make when everything went sideways.

The show came out in August 2022, eight episodes, with Vera Farmiga and Cherry Jones just crushing it. It’s one of those shows that sticks with you because it doesn’t sugarcoat anything and just lays out the raw reality and lets you sit with it.

Why tune in? Because it’s gripping, honest, and beautiful even in the darkest moments. If you want a smart drama that says something, this’ll hit you right in the feels, and maybe make you a little mad at the world.

The Essex Serpent (2022)

Victorian England, mysterious sea monsters, and Tom Hiddleston staring soulfully into the fog, what more do you want? Claire Danes plays Cora, a widow who is way too curious about rumors of a giant serpent terrorizing a tiny village. She teams up with local pastor, William Ransome (played by Hiddleston), and what you get is a moody, twisty story about science, faith, and all the feelings in between.

This Apple TV+ miniseries dropped in May 2022 with six episodes and was directed by Clio Barnard.

If you’re into brooding period dramas with a side of supernatural things, dig in. The visuals are lush, the characters are layered, and it has enough intrigue to keep you hooked.

Lessons in Chemistry (2023)

Lessons in Chemistry (Image via Apple TV+)

Lessons in Chemistry is based on Bonnie Garmus’s book, and Brie Larson stars as Elizabeth Zott, a 1960s chemist who ends up hosting a cooking show. But it’s not just about food, it’s about flipping gender roles and inspiring a whole generation.

This Apple TV+ miniseries was released in October 2023. It is just eight episodes long, so you can burn through it in a weekend. And Brie Larson is always awesome, so that’s a win.

The show is smart, funny, and it has got heart. Lessons in Chemistry oozes a feminist energy without getting all preachy.

Defending Jacob (2020)

This one is a heavy ride. Chris Evans plays Andy Barber, a Massachusetts DA whose teenage son, Jacob, is accused of murder. Things spiral fast, and the family unravels.

It dropped back in April 2020 with eight episodes. Michelle Dockery and Jaeden Martell round things out, and the acting is top-notch.

If you’re into legal dramas with serious emotional gut-punches, this is it. This Apple TV+ miniseries tackles loyalty, morality, and all those uncomfortable questions about what you’d do for your kid.

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (2022)

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Image via Apple TV+)

Samuel L. Jackson plays an old man battling dementia, who is suddenly given the chance to get his memory back long enough to solve a mystery from his past. It premiered in March 2022 and has a total of six episodes.

It has got real emotions, digging into memory, aging, and what makes you… you. And it doesn’t drag on forever. Quick binge, but it’ll stick with you.

The Studio (2024)

If you’ve ever wondered how Hollywood works, The Studio is perfect. It’s a comedy-drama that skewers the whole moviemaking circus, following a studio desperately juggling art and cold hard cash.

It landed in 2024, eight episodes, and was stacked with actors who actually know how to land a punchline but can turn on the drama too.

This one has sharp writing, the humor is on point, and there is enough behind-the-scenes drama to keep you hooked. If you’re a pop culture nerd or just want to see Hollywood roast itself, you’ll love it.

Chief of War (2025)

This one is set in the late 1700s in Hawaii, with the four big island kingdoms just duking it out. The story drops you in the sandals of Kaʻiana (played by Jason Momoa). The show is deep into the guts of what it means to be Hawaiian, to fight for your home when outsiders are sniffing around, and to figure out who you are when everything’s changing.

Apple TV+ rolled this out on August 1, 2025, with nine episodes. You get the sweat, the dirt, the heartbreak of a culture trying to hang on. And Momoa puts a real soul in this thing. The series dives right into unification, colonization, and everything in between.