Apple TV might have a reputation for flying under the radar with its movies and shows, but that’s changing in 2026. For the first time, members of the press were invited to an exclusive preview of what one of the best streaming services has been cooking up for the coming year.
From the return of Apple TV’s most acclaimed shows, like Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2, to star-studded new movies featuring Anya Taylor-Joy, John Cena, Keanu Reeves and more, we’ve got hours of great content to look forward to in the months ahead.
Not every new series that’s already been confirmed to be releasing this year was mentioned, though. That means I didn’t get a sneak peek of series like The Studio season 2 or Ted Lasso season 4. But with 11 movies and shows to give you an update on, I’ve still got plenty to share.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 (TV show)
Release date: February 27 (first episode)
Episodes: 10
Creators: Chris Black and Matt Fraction
Lead cast: Kurt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons
Apple TV’s Monsterverse series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, is set to make a splash this February. Picking up directly after the first season’s ending, the time-jumping show will see our heroes reuniting on Kong’s Skull island in a new mysterious village that takes centre stage in the next installment.
Fans can expect the return of alpha monsters Kong and Godzilla, alongside a completely original kaiju we’ve never seen in Toho’s franchise, Titan X. This ancient, tentacled creature will literally rise from the sea looking at footage from the official trailer, posing a brand-new threat to the world.
Can Kong or Godzilla stop Titan X from wreaking havoc on Earth in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2? We certainly hope so. Tune in on Friday, February 27, to watch the first episode of another action-packed monster series filled with seismic CGI.
Outcome (movie)
Release date: April 10, 2026
Director: Jonah Hill
Lead cast: Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer
Following Jonah Hill’s successful directorial debut Mid 90s, which was a poignant coming-of-age drama partly inspired by his life, it’s been a while since The Wolf of Wall Street actor jumped back in the directing chair.
Not counting his 2022 documentary Stutz, Hill’s new film Outcome marks his first proper foray into comedy as both a director and writer. Supporting him is a star-studded cast, including Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer and Kaia Gerber.
The film centers on a career-ending video that shatters the life of a beloved Hollywood star. Determined to unmask the blackmailer, the actor embarks on a journey down memory lane, reflecting on who he might have wronged along the way.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (TV show)
Release date: May 20 (first two episodes)
Episodes: 10
Creator: David Rosen
Lead cast: Tatiana Maslany, Jake Johnson, Brandon Flynn
The plotline for this new Apple TV series reads “a newly divorced mom Paula (Maslany) falls down a dangerous rabbit hole of blackmail, murder and youth soccer”, and if that isn’t enough to make you curious, then I don’t know what is.
Out of all the new TV shows set to hit the streamer in 2026, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is up there among the most intriguing. Why? What can I say, I’m a sucker for a murder mystery, especially one that involves an unassuming protagonist.
That kind of setup often produces some of the most original comedy moments, and from what I’ve seen so far, this series is packed with them. From being embarrassed about getting scammed by a cam boy online, to being forced to coach soccer because the other mums are out of Xanax, Paula just can’t seem to catch a break.
Lucky (TV show)
Release date: July 15 (first two episodes)
Episodes: 7
Creator: Jonathan Tropper and Cassie Pappas
Lead cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Timothy Olyphant, Annette Bening
When Marissa Stapley was writing her New York Times bestselling novel Lucky, she reportedly said that she was picturing Anya Taylor-Joy as the lead character, which means Apple TV’s adaptation really delivered on Stapley’s vision.
The Queen’s Gambit actor is the titular Lucky in the upcoming limited-series, which sees her play an unlikely con artist that gets shortchanged by a multi-million dollar heist gone horribly wrong. Forced to go on the run, can she escape the FBI, a ruthless crime boss and her own past?
At the heart of this new heist thriller series is a father and daughter relationship. Anyone who’s read Stapley’s book will know that this plays a central role in the story, but co-creator Jonathan Trooper revealed that it’s much more of a focus in the TV series.
Imperfect Women (TV show)
Release date: March 18 (first two episodes)
Episodes: 8
Creator: Annie Weisman
Lead cast: Elizabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, Kate Mara
Another book adaptation? Apple TV is really digging into the library this year with yet another mystery whodunnit, this time pulled from Araminta Hall’s novel Imperfect Women.
The series stars Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Kate Mara as three best friends who have known each other, and their secrets, for decades. But when one of the trio unexpectedly dies, the other two soon discover hidden secrets that threaten to upend their lives.
With Joel Kinnaman rounding out the supporting cast, this mystery thriller looks set to deliver tension, drama, and plenty of twists as a messy web of lies begins to unravel.
The Dink (movie)
Release date: July 24
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Lead cast: Jake Johnson, Ed Harris, Mary Steenburgen
Marty Supreme may have had heads turning to follow the ping-pong action at the box office, but now it’s time for a new racket sport to take the spotlight. Pickleball, the sport you didn’t know needed a movie.
Enter The Dink, an underdog comedy in which washed-up tennis pro Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) is stuck coaching unruly kids at his dad Chuck’s (Ed Harris) suburban country club. To get back in shape after an injury, Dusty reluctantly tries pickleball, and quickly gets hooked – just like I imagine we will.
Way of the Warrior Kid (TV show)
Release date: November 20
Director: McG
Lead cast: Jude Hill, Chris Pratt, Linda Cardellini
Jocko Willink’s Way of the Warrior Kid book series was already a hit with parents and kids, so it’s no surprise that Apple TV’s adaptation starring Chris Pratt is shaping up to be just as popular.
Think The Karate Kid, but without dojos or big tournaments. An injured ex-Navy SEAL moves in with his sister and ends up teaching his nephew how to defend himself as well as, perhaps more importantly, how to find courage and confidence along the way.
With the books being praised for teaching resilience and self-discipline, this action-adventure TV series is poised to change bedtime stories forever.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles (TV show)
Release date: April 15 (first three episodes)
Episodes: 8
Creator: David E. Kelley
Lead cast: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman
Based on Rufi Thorpe’s novel, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a family drama that will body-slam your heart right onto the sofa with its plucky protagonist’s fight for survival.
Margo (Elle Fanning) is the daughter of an ex-pro wrestler (Nick Offerman) and a former Hooters waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer), so she’s always been a fighter. But when she suddenly finds herself pregnant, out of a job and without roommates, it’s up to her to dig deep and reignite that fighting spirit to get her new family back on track.
Turning to OnlyFans to try and find a way out of her money problems, Margo embarks on a journey of self-discovery and motherhood.
Matchbox The Movie (movie)
Release date: October 9
Director: Sam Hargrave
Lead cast: John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson
Following the runaway success of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Apple TV is digging into Mattel’s toybox next with Matchbox: The Movie. These iconic toy cars were a staple of childhood imaginations back in the 1960s, beloved for their lifelike designs and craftsmanship.
Nowadays, Matchbox cars are more collector’s item than playground staple, but that hasn’t stopped Apple TV from turning them into a full-blown movie. Matchbox The Movie is an action-packed adventure where undercover CIA agent Sean (John Cena) drags his lifelong friends into a globe-trotting chase with the fate of the world on the line.
Cape Fear (TV show)
Release date: June 15 (first two episodes)
Episodes: 10
Creator: Nick Antosca
Lead cast: Amy Adams, Jarvier Bardem, Patrick Wilson
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a lawyer is stalked by a criminal recently released from prison, seeking revenge for being sent behind bars. Full marks if you immediately thought of the 1962 or 1991 Cape Fear films, and bonus points if John MacDonald’s 1957 novel The Executioners, which both movies are based on, came to mind.
Directed by Martin Scorsese – who also directed the 1991 movie – and produced by Steven Spielberg, this reboot looks set to bring the story to a new generation of viewers, combining slick cinematography of a swampy southern America with a creeping sense of feverish dread.
Mayday (movie)
Release date: September 4
Director: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Lead cast: Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, Marcin Dorocinski
Buddy comedies are at their best when two people from completely opposite worlds come together and somehow click, and judging by the synopsis of Mayday, the upcoming Apple TV movie looks like it hits that sweet spot.
The new spy comedy pairs hotshot US Navy pilot Lieutenant (Ryan Reynolds) with a gruff ex-KGB agent (Kenneth Branagh), who has an odd obsession with all things American, setting up a hilarious collision course.
What else is coming to Apple TV in 2026?
On top of all the above new and returning series, and original films, Apple TV has plenty more in store for 2026, including an array of live sports. Thanks to its new partnership to become the exclusive broadcaster of F1 in the US, sports fans have a lot to look forward to in the year ahead, including MLS, and Friday Night Baseball in addition to Formula 1.
And that’s not even mentioning all the series that have already been announced to be arriving throughout 2026, including returning favorites like Ted Lasso season 4, Shrinking season 3 and Your Friends and Neighbors season 2. For a full list of everything that’s been announced so far to be on the way, see below.
|
Movie or show |
Release date |
|---|---|
|
Shrinking season 3 |
January 28 |
|
Eternity |
February 13 |
|
The Last Thing He Told Me season 2 |
February 20 |
|
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 |
February 27 |
|
Imperfect Woman |
March 18 |
|
For All Mankind season 5 |
March 27 |
|
Your Friends and Neighbors season 2 |
April 3 |
|
Outcome |
April 10 |
|
Margo’s Got Money Problems |
April 15 |
|
Criminal Record season 2 |
April 22 |
|
Widow’s Bay |
April 29 |
|
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed |
May 20 |
|
Cape Fear |
June 5 |
|
Sugar season 2 |
June 19 |
|
Lucky |
July 15 |
|
The Dink |
July 24 |
|
Mayday |
September 4 |
|
Ted Lasso season 4 |
June-August (TBC) |
|
Matchbox The Movie |
October 9 |
|
Way of the Warrior Kid |
November 20 |
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amelia.schwanke@futurenet.com (Amelia Schwanke)
