Apple TV Finds Its Newest Sci-Fi Streaming Hit With 94% Rated Spin-off

June 1, 2026

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Apple TV has long been known for delivering high-quality science fiction. From Silo and Severance to Murderbot and Foundation, there’s something for everyone on the streaming platform, including a new sci-fi drama that’s taken the Top 10 by storm following its debut on May 29.

Premiering on the same day Apple TV’s greatest sci-fi series, For All Mankind, ended its fifth season, Star City burst onto the scene with a two-episode premiere that expands the world created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi. Like the flagship series that explores an alternate timeline where the Russians were first to land on the moon and the space race never ended, Star City examines events from behind the Iron Curtain.

That being said, Star City isn’t a prequel or a sequel to For All Mankind, but rather a sci-fi series that runs parallel to the main show. Where the latter showed things mainly from an American perspective, the former follows cosmonauts, engineers, and intelligence officers working within the secretive Soviet space program as they race to be first to the moon. While events do take place before the start of For All Mankind, the two timelines will eventually converge on one another, but show things from a new and unique vantage point.

‘Star City’ Is Already a Hit on Apple TV

First announced in 2024, Star City features a stellar cast that includes Rhys Ifans, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Agnes O’Casey, to name a few. As mentioned, the sci-fi spin-off made its debut on May 29 with a two-episode premiere, and since then, the series has wasted no time making its presence known on Apple TV.

In just a few short days, Star City has skyrocketed up the charts. It is currently the second most popular show on Apple TV’s Global Top 10 list behind Jon Hamm’s dark comedy, Your Friends & Neighbors. In the United States, Star City sits in fourth position on the Top 10 behind For All Mankind, Widow’s Bay, and Hamm’s newfound hit, but we expect it to climb even higher as the first season rolls on.

Thus far, Star City has also been a big hit with critics, as the show holds an overall rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. That’s way higher than the 75% rating given to the first season of For All Mankind, signifying that the new spin-off could reach even greater heights than its predecessor if it’s given the chance to continue.

Will There Be a Season 2 of ‘Star City’?

Agnes O’Casey stars in ‘Star City’

Apple TV

Given the fact that Star City only recently premiered its inaugural season, it’s too early to tell what its fate will be. Apple TV hasn’t officially renewed the series for Season 2, so as of now, the future remains uncertain. However, it’s safe to say that, given its early success, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if they decided to keep it around for a while.

Should that happen, don’t expect Star City to jump ahead a decade like For All Mankind did each season. The creators have said in the past that they plan to keep the show primarily set in the 1970s to allow for a more detailed examination of the Soviet space program.