In a swift turnaround in the streaming landscape, Tehran, the spy series from Apple TV+, reclaimed its leading role and dethroned the phenomenon Pluribus in just two days. The thriller, which follows a Mossad agent on dangerous missions, launched its third season internationally on January 9, 2026, reaching the top of global rankings by January 11, according to FlixPatrol data. Meanwhile, Pluribus, the science fiction series created by Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), had dominated the charts since its premiere in November 2025, but saw its hegemony surpassed by the force of Tehran‘s return.
As a result of this immediate success, Tehran took the number one spot in 68 countries, solidifying itself as one of the biggest successes in Apple TV+’s catalog at the start of the year. On the other hand, the United States remained loyal to Pluribus, keeping the new season of the spy thriller in second place in the territory. This fierce competition is relevant because it demonstrates the audience’s appetite for well-produced suspense series with complex plots, in addition to highlighting the strong competition among the platform’s original productions.
Production Details and Future
The third season of Tehran features a special appearance by Hugh Laurie (House) and continues to blend geopolitical tension with personal drama, a winning formula that has earned critical acclaim since its debut in 2020. Apple TV+, in fact, has already renewed the series for a fourth season, demonstrating full confidence in the storyline. In turn, Pluribus has also secured a second season, but creator Vince Gilligan himself admitted it may take a good while to develop it, a fact that even prompted a public plea from writer Stephen King to speed up the process.
Thus, fans of suspense and science fiction have plenty of reasons to remain subscribers to the service. New episodes of Tehran are released every Friday, with the current season running until February 27, 2026. The battle for the top of streaming, therefore, heats up the catalog and proves that, in the competitive world of digital entertainment, even the biggest hits can be challenged by heavyweight rivals in a matter of hours.
