Key Takeaways

• Premiere Details: The first episode of Hijack Season 2 premiered last week.
• Episode Release: New episodes will continue to be released weekly until March 4.
• Critical Acclaim: Season 1 received a nearly perfect score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
• Idris Elba’s Role: Elba plays Sam Nelson, a character navigating a hijacked plane.

Idris Elba’s new Apple TV series is already back at the top of streaming charts, but things are only just getting started for Hijack. The first episode of Hijack Season 2 premiered last week, and Collider is thrilled to partner with Apple TV to exclusively preview a new sneak peek at Episode 2, which will begin streaming on January 21. There were only seven episodes in Hijack Season 1, which premiered back in 2023, but Season 2 received an eight-episode order. Apple TV will continue to release new episodes weekly until the Season 2 finale airs on March 4.

Hijack Season 1 took the world by storm when it first premiered a few years ago, earning widespread critical acclaim while spending months at the top of streaming charts. The show stars Idris Elba as Sam Nelson, a man who finds himself on a plane being hijacked by dangerous criminals. Everyone on the plane immediately turns to panic once they notice what’s happening, but Sam quickly realizes he must keep his cool if everyone is going to make it back to the ground alive. Season 2 brings the action to the tube underground. Hijack Season 1 earned a nearly perfect 90% Certified Fresh mark from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Having Idris Elba’s face plastered all over marketing has certainly helped Hijack become such a massive success — Elba is one of the biggest stars in the world right now. He’s even emerged as one of the most popular fan choices to play the next James Bond after Daniel Craig, though it’s been reported that Amazon is looking for a younger actor to portray 007. He’s best known for his roles as the detective Luther and for playing Heimdall in the MCU.

What Else Is Popular on Apple TV Right Now?

Hijack is the most popular show on Apple TV right now, but it has found competition in other series like Tehran and Pluribus. Pluribus, which hails from creator Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), recently took the crown from Severance to become Apple TV’s most-watched show of all time. Apple TV also has some of the best original movies on streaming right now, including F1, the massive blockbuster starring Brad Pitt that was directed by Joseph Kosinski. Anya Taylor-Joy’s 2025 sci-fi film,The Gorge, has also become an all-time streaming success.

Check out the first episode of Hijack Season 2 on Apple TV and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the series.