Unlike Netflix and Prime Video, Apple TV+ rarely licenses third-party movies. While that means it doesn’t have the same quantity as those other services, it still has plenty of quality original movies for you to enjoy.
With famous faces like Tom Hanks and Saoirse Ronan, award-winning drama, and interesting documentaries, Apple TV+ has something for everyone.
10
Greyhound
|
Release Year |
2020 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 31 minutes |
Tom Hanks loves a war movie. Greyhound, in which he stars and is based on a 1955 novel, is no exception. Hanks is on good form as a US Navy Commander, tasked with leading a convoy of ships carrying soldiers and supplies across the brutal Atlantic.
Greyhound certainly isn’t as deep as the ocean, but it doesn’t outstay its welcome, and succeeds in telling a tense, action-packed tale.
9
Blitz
|
Release Year |
2024 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
2 hours |
Blitz is a period drama set during World War II and is directed by Steve McQueen, who is responsible for other great features like 12 Years a Slave and Widows.
Blitz follows a young boy called George who is evacuated to the countryside to escape the danger of London. However, George decides to risk the journey home back to his mother. The horrors of the war are well realized, but it’s the central characters that make this stand out.
8
Tetris
|
Release Year |
2023 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 58 minutes |
Tetris is one of the most iconic video games of all time—you’ve likely dropped those blocks down a screen at least once in your life. But you might not know about its interesting inception.
Based on a true story, Taron Egerton stars in the suitably titled Tetris as a salesman who wants to take Russian creator Alexey Pajitnov’s game and sell it to the world. It makes for a surprisingly compelling political thriller.
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7
The Tragedy of Macbeth
|
Release Year |
2021 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 45 minutes |
One half of the Coen brothers making a black-and-white adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth? It’s an unusual pitch, but this version with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand works wonderfully.
The Tragedy of Macbeth is haunting and unusual, bringing Shakespeare’s writing to life with powerful performances and stunning visuals. Even if you’ve seen other takes on Macbeth, don’t overlook this.
6
Sidney
|
Release Year |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 46 minutes |
It’s no easy task to sum up the life of the multi-talented Sidney Poitier, but the documentary Sidney does an admirable job. It includes archival footage and commentary from friends and collaborators, which are great, but the highlight is hearing from the man himself in his last appearance before his death in 2022.
Whether you’ve never seen a Poitier movie or you consider yourself an expert, this is a brilliant and revealing documentary.
5
CODA
|
Release Year |
2021 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 51 minutes |
CODA is an Oscar-winning story about the struggles and dreams of a girl who is a child of deaf parents. While she wants to pursue her love of singing, she also feels obliged to help her family as a translator and working at their fishing business.
In a way, CODA is a simple movie, but it’s so heartwarming and well written that it doesn’t matter, and it provides an insight into a world you may be unfamiliar with.
4
Boys State
|
Release Year |
2020 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 49 minutes |
Boys State is a documentary about over a thousand boys in Texas who must work together to build a representative government from scratch. It’s not always an easy watch, but it’s an utterly fascinating look at human nature and politics.
If you like Boys State, you should also watch the follow-up Girls State. It’s equally good.
3
Killers of the Flower Moon
|
Release Year |
2023 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
3 hours 26 minutes |
After oil is discovered on tribal land, the Osage people find themselves on the receiving end of brutality. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon is set in the 1920s and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone, both giving strong performances.
This is an epic and remarkable drama that will keep you gripped throughout, despite the long runtime.
2
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
|
Release Year |
2023 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 35 minutes |
Michael J. Fox is not only a legendary actor, but his foundation has put billions of dollars into Parkinson’s research. Still is a touching documentary that mixes real-life and scripted moments to capture the career of Fox and how his life has been impacted by the disease.
It’s obviously a moving watch, but it’s also an uplifting one because of the spark and determination of the man at the center.
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How Does Apple TV+ Compare to Other Streaming Services?
We pit Apple’s streamer against Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+.
1
Wolfwalkers
|
Release Year |
2020 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 43 minutes |
Wolfwalkers is a gorgeously animated fantasy film set in Ireland. When a hunter is sent to kill the last wolf pack in the nearby woods, his young daughter follows him and makes a mysterious friend who is part of a shapeshifting tribe.
It’s charming and thought-provoking, and the sort of film that works on multiple levels for different age groups. Even if animations aren’t normally for you, give Wolfwalkers a try and you won’t regret it.
Completed this list? Apple TV+ has plenty of great shows worth your time too, like Severance, Dickinson, and Silo, and the library continues to grow.
Apple TV+
Apple’s own video streaming service, Apple TV+, is home to acclaimed TV shows and films, like Ted Lasso and CODA.
