The Apple TV+ crime drama Presumed Innocent has been among the most watched shows on streaming since launching in mid-June, according to analysts. Season one of the series — which stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a man who might, or might not, have murdered the woman he’s having an affair with — recently wrapped up, and the opportunity to bingewatch all the episodes pushed the show to become the most viewed on any streaming platform, according to analysts.
Plus, the reimagining of Time Bandits found a big audience, and Natalie Portman’s Lady in the Lake had another strong week.
Presumed Innocent starring Jake Gyllenhaal rebounds to the top
Crime dramas are a staple of TV, and Apple has not overlooked the genre. There’s no better example than Defending Jacob starring Chris Evans. Or there’s Criminal Record starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo. And these are just a couple of examples.
Clearly, it’s a popular genre because Presumed Innocent shot to the top of the streaming charts after premiering on June 12, and has done well ever since. And with the season finale on July 24, there was a rush of viewers: the series ranks No. 1 on Reelgood’s list of Top 10 TV shows on streaming during the week ending August 1. And it’s at No. 1 on JustWatch‘s list of top streaming shows for the week ending July 28.
Chart: JustWatch/Reelgood
Estimates from companies like JustWatch and Reelgood are necessary because streaming services rarely reveal how many people tune in to their offerings.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays a lawyer in love in Presumed Innocent. And it looks like he might just be a murderer, too. The eight-episode limited series comes from TV veterans David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams.
If its ongoing popularity catches your eye, Apple’s teaser says:
“The gripping series takes viewers on a journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal) is suspected of the crime. The series explores obsession, sex, politics and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.”
The entire season one of Presumed Innocent is available now. And season two is on the way.
Lisa Kudrow’s Time Bandits steals the spotlight
Apple TV+ turned the 1981 cult classic movie Time Bandits into a comedic adventure series for all ages starring Lisa Kudrow (from Friends, duh). The show premiered July 24 on the streaming service, and it immediately found an audience. It was at No. 3 on JustWatch’s most recent list of most popular Top 10 TV shows on streaming, and at No. 5 on ReelGood’s equivalent list.
The series takes viewers on an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin. They witness the creation of Stonehenge, see the Trojan Horse in action, escape dinosaurs, experience the Ice Age and the Harlem Renaissance, and much more along the way.
It’s not only a hit with audiences. The series has a 91% approval rating from the review-aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes.
All 10 episodes of Time Bandits premiered on Apple TV+ at once. No waiting — they’re all ready to binge-watch.
Lady in the Lake continues strong
The Apple TV+ thriller Lady in the Lake had its second week near to top of the charts after becoming a top 10 hit with streaming viewers as soon as it premiered. Natalie Portman leads the cast of the limited series that was at No. 8 on ReelGood’s most recent list of most popular Top 10 TV shows on streaming, and at No. 9 on JustWatch’s own list.
The show is set in 1960s Baltimore, where the disappearance of a young girl pushes Jewish housewife Maddie Schwartz (played by Portman) to shed a secret past and reinvent her life as an investigative journalist. Cleo Sherwood (played by Moses Ingram) is a mother navigating the political underbelly of Black Baltimore while struggling to provide for her family. SPOILERS: When Cleo is murdered, Maddie becomes fixated — a fixation that puts everyone around them in danger.
The first four episodes of Lady in the Lake are available now. New episodes debut every Friday through August 23, 2024.
Watch these and more on Apple TV+
Watching Presumed Innocent, Time Bandits and Lady in the Lake plus many 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’s a growing library of drama, comedies, sci-fi, 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+.