Murderbot Review Roundup: Apple TV+ Sci-Fi Series Early Reactions Are Telling
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Murderbot is a hit with critics.
The reviews for Apple TV+'s new sci-fi action comedy are out, and according to the consensus, it's another smash for the streamer. In fact, it's managed to get among the highest score for any series in 2025.
Based on author Martha Wells' series of novels called The Murderbot Diaries, which was first published in 2017, Murderbot stars Alexander Skarsgard as a cyborg who's developed sentience. However, in order to not raise unwanted attention and panic, the titular Murderbot has to play dumb and avoid detection.
Alexander Skarsgard stars in Murderbot
Alexander Skarsgard stars in Murderbot
Apple TV+
Read on for the full Murderbot Rotten Tomatoes score, and see what reviewers are saying about it.
Murderbot Reviews
Murderbot is currently sitting at a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes after 20 reviews. Compared with other 2025 releases, that's better than Disney+'s Andor (97%), HBO's The Last Of Us Season 2 (95%) and Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale (84%). Here's what critics said.
IGN: "Like its title character, Murderbot plays at being darker and more serious than it really is. And while plot momentum sometimes suffers from an over-dependance on a formulaic structure, the show is refreshingly light and life-affirming – especially for viewers who may see some of themselves in Murderbot's cold detachment from humanity. It's a wryly funny sci-fi comedy with a robot trying to understand humans, even if it would be easier to just kill them all instead."
Entertainment Weekly: "Viewers who stick with Murderbot will be rewarded with a moving finale, one that solidifies the characters' relationship with SecUnit and seems to set up the story from Wells' second book, 2018's Artificial Condition...Now that Murderbot finally found its voice, it deserves a chance to use it."
The Hollywood Reporter: "The show, though, isn't called Murderbot & Friends, and given how the next few seasons should go if Apple sticks to the books, the most important thing in the first season is developing affection for its title character and not a deep ensemble or rich sci-fi universe. In that respect, Skarsgard makes Murderbot a success, even if some readers will lament that he isn't the Murderbot they extrapolated from the page."
Radio Times: "With a unique premise, interesting world, and clever humour, the dedicated performances by all of its cast members are endearing enough to make you want to see more adaptations of Wells's universe being brought to life."
Murderbot Release Date
The first two episodes of Murderbot release on Apple TV+ on May 16, 2025. After that, each episode releases weekly.
Murderbot Cast
Alexander Skarsgård as Murderbot
David Dastmalchian as Gurathin
Noma Dumezweni as Mensah
Sabrina Wu as Pin-Lee
Tattiawna Jones as Arada
Akshay Khanna as Ratthi
Tamara Podemski as Bharadwaj
Clark Gregg as a Lieutenant
John Cho as a Captain
DeWanda Wise as a navigation unit.
Anna Konkle as Leebeebee
Murderbot Episode Schedule
There are ten episodes in Murderbot. The first two episodes premier on Apple TV+ on May 16, 2025, with new episodes coming out every Friday. The season finale airs on July 11, 2025.
Episode 1, 2 - May 16
Episode 3 - May 23
Episode 4 - May 30
Episode 5 - June 6
Episode 6 - June 13
Episode 7 - June 20
Episode 8 June 27
Episode 9 - July 4
Episode 10 - July 11
What is Murderbot about?
Here's Apple TV+'s official synopsis: "In a high-tech future, a rogue security robot (Alexander Skarsgard) secretly gains free will. To stay hidden, it reluctantly joins a new mission protecting scientists on a dangerous planet...even though it just wants to binge soap operas."
Murderbot Trailer
Check out the Murderbot trailer below to see Alexander Skarsgard in action as a cyborg with a soul.
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