Apple TV+ is free this weekend. Here are 15 shows to watch immediately

No platform has more consistently amazing shows than Apple TV+. But outside of mega success Ted Lasso, they don't seem to get a lot of shine amongst the viewing public. Part of that is probably that there are so many streaming services and so little time, and part of that is there seems to be very little marketing done for these aforementioned amazing shows.

If you are not an Apple TV+ subscriber but want to try out some of their programming, now is your chance. The streaming platform is giving everyone an early 2025 present, making it free for the weekend of January 4 and 5. That means you have 48 hours to spend wisely with the app, and we're here to tell you which shows you should focus on with your limited time. This isn't an exhaustive list, but a good place to start.

1. Severence

What if at work, you only knew about work and at home you only knew your life outside of work. Welcome to severance, an experimental procedure that splits your two existences. Adam Scott is one of the workers that got it done, and would you believe there's more than meets the eye at Lumen?

2. Shrinking

EVERYONE SHOULD BE WATCHING SHRINKING. This is Harrison Ford's best work in the last few years, and it's a perfect mix of comedy and heart. Gabby Williams and Jason Segel are wonderful, and Ted McGinley steals the show as Derek.

3. Slow Horses

The MI-5 failures have to go somewhere, and in this comedy/drama, they go to Slough House where they're called the Slow Horses. Jack Lowden proves he's ready for a turn as an action star, and Gary Oldman shines as the grizzly if not smelly leader.

4. Pachinko

Not only is Pachinko one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful shows on television, it has the absolute greatest intro of all time.

5. Bad Sisters

How far would you go to save your sister from the absolute worst husband on Earth? This dark comedy set in Ireland is funny and serious. The first season is stronger than the recently-released second season, but both are worth a watch. Sharon Horgan and Eve Hewson (The Perfect Couple) anchor a fantastic cast.

6. For All Mankind

What if the United States didn't win the space race? That's the question that For All Mankind poses, and things are off and running after that. Soon, you'll end up with guns on the moon. Hi, Bob!

7. Black Bird

Taron Egerton truly should have won an Emmy for his portrayal of Jimmy Keene, a drug dealer that cuts a deal with the FBI to obtain information on a suspected serial killer. It's far and away Egerton's best performance, and his moment at the end of episode 6 is truly devastating. Paul Walter Hauser, who did win the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, plays the suspected murderer and is fantastic.

8. Disclaimer*

This is not an easy watch, but Cate Blanchett is magnetic as a journalist that has made her career off of unearthing other people's transgressions. How will things go when her own past comes back to haunt her?

9. Masters of the Air

The aviation sibling to Band of Brothers and The Pacific, Masters of the Air tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group in World War II. With a star-studded cast that includes Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Barry Keoghan and Anthony Boyle, it's a heart-wrenching story of heroism and brotherhood.

10. Presumed Innocent

Jake Gyllenhaal is a prosecutor who is accused of killing his mistress. Did he do it? Can you trust anyone? Come for the story, stick around for Peter Sarsgaard.

11. Sugar

Colin Farrell is a private investigator in Los Angeles. Mayhem ensues.

12. Dark Matter

Based on a sci-fi book by Blake Crouch, Dark Matter jumps into the world of multiverses and posits "What if you had to fight another version of yourself to get home?" It stars Jennifer Connelly and Joel Edgerton.

13. SILO

Yet another show based on a book series. Rebecca Ferguson is Juliette Nichols, an engineer in a desolate underground world. They've been told the surface is deadly, but are they getting the full story?

14. Hijack

Idris Elba on a hijacked plane. What else is there to say?

15. Lessons In Chemistry

Heartbreak and hope. Science and cooking. Brie Larson and Lewis Pullman. If Hollywood doesn't pitch Pullman 10 romcoms as soon as possible, they hate money.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Apple TV+ is free this weekend. Here are 15 shows to watch immediately