The Apple TV+ comedy Palm Royale shot to near the top of the streaming ratings charts immediately after its debut.
And the crime-drama Manhunt also continues to draw a large audience on Apple’s streaming service.
Apple TV+ for the win
Apple TV+ is one of the smaller streaming services, but keeps producing shows with outsize popularity. That includes Severance and Ted Lasso that pull in enough viewers to become cultural phenomena.
Plus there are plenty more that score near the top of the ratings charts, like Slow Horses, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Shrinking. And there are two current shows doing just as well.
Palm Royale popularity starts off strong
Emmy and Oscar nominee Kristen Wiig created plenty of funny characters on Saturday Night Live and in movies like Bridesmaids. Now she stars in Palm Royale, which premiered on Apple TV+ on March 20.
The series ranks No. 5 on ReelGood’s list of Top 10 TV shows on streaming during the week ending March 27. And it’s at No. 7 on JustWatch‘s list of top streaming shows for the week ending March 24.
Photo: JustWatch/ReelGood
Estimates from companies like JustWatch and Reelgood are necessary because streaming services rarely reveal how many people watch their offerings.
Apple says of its new comedy:
“Palm Royale is a true underdog story that follows Maxine Simmons (Wiig) as she endeavors to break into Palm Beach high society. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, Palm Royale asks the same question that still baffles us today: “How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to get what someone else has?” Set during the powder keg year of 1969, Palm Royale is a testament to every outsider fighting for their chance to truly belong.”
It has some amazing acting talent, with the cast including Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Ricky Martin, Mindy Cohn, Bruce Dern and the iconic Carol Burnett.
The first four episodes are available to watch now on Apple TV+. The fifth will premiere next week.
Manhunt crime-drama finds a big audience, too
Apple TV+ has found success with historical dramas recently, and that includes Manhunt ever since its March 15 launch.
The series ranks No. 8 on the ReelGoods list of Top 10 TV shows on streaming last week, while it’s at No. 9 on the JustWatch list of top streaming series.
History tells us that stage actor John Wilkes Booth (played in the Apple TV+ series by Anthony Boyle) went on the run for 12 days after he shot Lincoln in the back of the head at Ford’s Theatre in 1865.
Apple says of its new show:
“Manhunt is a conspiracy thriller about one of the best known but least understood crimes in history, the astonishing story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.”
The first four episodes are available to watch now on Apple TV+. The fifth will premiere next week.
Watch now on Apple TV+
Watching Palm Royale or any of these other series or films comes with a subscription to Apple TV+. The service is $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle.
And Apple’s streaming video service also includes much more, of course. There are comedies, musicals, children’s shows, nature documentaries, etc.
Want more tips on what to watch on Apple TV+? Read our guide to the 15 best shows on Apple TV+.