The sci-fi action comedy Murderbot exploded onto the ratings charts after it reached streaming in May, and stayed popular week after week. Over a month after a launch, the series from Apple TV+ still appears on the top 10 lists of two companies that track ratings.
Plus, Owen Wilson‘s sport comedy Stick and the new Apple TV+ thriller Echo Valley also pull in plenty of viewers.
Murderbot ratings: Enduring popularity
Apple TV+ generally does well with sci-fi series, which isn’t surprising for a computer maker. Silo, Dark Matter, Foundation and others have all been hits for the streaming service.
Murderbot, Apple’s latest foray into the genre, is about a cyborg — part robot, part human — built to provide security in very dangerous situations. The series follow the cyborg as it breaks the programming that forces it to kill … and then goes looking for a purpose. But don’t expect a traditional action show, as there’s plenty of comedy mixed in.
Alexander Skarsgård, who won Emmys, Golden Globes and SAG awards for roles that include Succession, Big Little Lies and True Blood plays the eponymous lead character. The adaptation was done by Oscar nominees Chris and Paul Weitz (About a Boy, Mozart in the Jungle).
It premiered on Apple TV+ on May 16, and six weeks later remains consistently popular. Movie and TV search engine JustWatch put Murderbot in the No. 2 slot of its ratings list of the 10 most popular series in the U.S. on streaming services for the week of June 16 through June 22 (see chart below). Rival service Reelgood put the show in the No. 8 slot on its list for top-rated series for the week of June 19 through June 25.
Chart: JustWatch
Ratings estimates from companies like JustWatch and Reelgood are necessary because streaming services rarely reveal how many people tune in to their offerings.
The first eight episodes of Murderbot season 1 can be watched now. The next is scheduled to appear on Friday.
Stick lands on the green again
Stick stayed near the tops of the streaming TV popularity charts for a third week. The Apple TV+ series stars Owen Wilson in a feel-good sports comedy.
In the series, Wilson plays an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career went off the rails decades ago. After his life gets even worse — his marriage fails and he’s fired from his job at a sporting goods store — the ex-pro bets his future on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom. That might sound like a drama, but Apple calls it “ a heartfelt, feel-good sports comedy about a found family and their relationships.”
Perhaps it’s Wilson’s star power, maybe it’s the premise, but the new series found an audience. JustWatch put the series at No. 7 on its most recent chart (see above).
The first six episodes of Stick season 1 are ready to watch now. The next premieres on Wednesday.
Thriller Echo Valley is also a hit
In Echo Valley, Sydney Sweeney plays a drug addict and probable killer whose mom, played by Julianne Moore, will do anything to save her. The thriller pulled in plenty of eyes after its launch on June 13.
JustWatch slotted it at No. 6 on its list of most popular films on streaming last week (see chart below), and Reelgood put the movie in its No. 7 slot.
Chart: JustWatch
Echo Valley is ready to watch now on Apple TV+.
Watch these and more on Apple TV+
Streaming hits like Murderbot, Stick and Echo Valley, plus many others, come 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 a library of drama, comedies, musicals, children’s shows, nature documentaries, etc.
