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Review: Memory and identity vanish in soothing Greek existential drama ‘Apples’

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Memory, by choice or by accident, fails the aching characters in director Christos Nikou’s unassumingly superb first feature “Apples,” executive produced by Cate Blanchett , in which an epidemic of sudden amnesia sweeps across Greece.

Set in a nondescript past before smartphones became ubiquitous and analog technology still reigned (presumably the late 1990s, based on a movie referenced), the quiet film unfurls in a boxy aspect ratio and submerged in an opaque color palette of grays and light blues. The aesthetic choices exude a visual serenity that matches the story’s overall restrained tone.

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Expressionless, middle-aged Aris (Aris Servetalis) seems to be the latest victim of the unexplained affliction. Found on the bus sans documentation and with no family to claim him, he becomes an unidentified patient and begins a series of tests to determine what, if anything, he can recall. Like him, many others can’t remember who they were.

The illness not only removes all personal details from a person’s mind, but most information on how the world operates and its social norms. However, in Aris’ case, his predilection for the titular apples appears to suspiciously have been spared in the process.

To deal with those in his situation, the government has set up a program to help them start anew. Via cassette tapes, Aris receives a list of quintessential life experiences and skills he must pursue and document with a Polaroid camera. Some, like riding a bicycle or driving rely on muscle memory, while others push Aris out of his interpersonal comfort zone.

There’s a humorous absurdity to the tasks that seems to comment on our modern obsession with registering every moment with a camera. In a photo album, all these printed images of Aris’ new, forcefully constructed life accumulate like a tactile Instagram profile.

Greek film ‘Apples’ explores the role of memory in human existence

‘Could it be that we are the things we don’t forget? Because in a way, we are our memories,’ asks director Christos Nikou.

Jan. 12, 2021

One night at the movie theater, he comes across Anna (Sofia Georgovassili), another amnesiac also completing these pillars of the human condition to build a new identity. As a friendship develops between them, more questions emerge about who Aris and Anna are.

Gentle in their narrative approach, Nikou and co-writer Stavros Raptis play it close to the vest, letting the subtext and small shifts in the performance relay nods to its ideas on loss and reinvention. In their impeccable screenplay, one line of dialogue can inconspicuously but intensely expand our understanding of the offbeat premise and of Aris’ motivations.

There are other lyrical touches transmitted in thematically relevant imagery: Aris dresses up as an astronaut for a costume party, reaffirming in an unspoken manner the desire one can feel to leave behind all that you know, to explore new ground, to see one’s life from the outside in, like leaving the planet and looking back at it from outer space.

Even if one considers “Apples” part of the so-called Greek Weird Wave, such a subtly thoughtful and soothing approach to probe at existential concerns, rather than being predictably cynical or violent, makes it stand out.

That Nikou began his career as an assistant director to Yorgos Lanthimos on “Dogtooth,” while Servetalis appeared in that director’s 2011 film “Alps,” might inflate those assumptions about the collective bizarreness and deadpan humor that appears to characterize most of the Hellenic productions that reach our shores.

Late in the picture, in one of the film’s most surprisingly poignant scenes, Aris dances with abandon at a bar as if he has, for a moment or forever, forgotten about shame, reveling in a blissfully uninhibited state. It’s then that Nikou suggests the benefits of becoming a blank slate, unlearning fear and all other imposed social burdens. If no one knows who you were, not even you, then you can be a truer version of yourself.

Yet, what makes “Apples” a delicately affecting gem not to be missed is that the more its layers peel away, the more that apparently inconsequential facts like one’s favorite fruit gain importance as we examine who we become when we no longer have our baggage, both the beautiful and the sorrowful.

There’s a comforting benevolence to not recalling the pain once felt. If we could, we might agree to have all trauma wiped away, and have selective memory only treasuring the good parts of the past. But in reality, we tend to cling vehemently to what no longer is, because joy and suffering are often intertwined, components of a continuum that gives us meaning.

Forgetting can be a blessing, but perhaps the hurt that comes with not letting go is the price for having had a life worth remembering.

In Greek with English subtitles Not Rated Running time: 1 hours, 31 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena

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In the Greek film 'Apples,' a mysterious condition leaves people without memories

Justin Chang

Aris Servetalis plays a man who inexplicably loses his memory in Apples. Courtesy of Cohen Media Group hide caption

Aris Servetalis plays a man who inexplicably loses his memory in Apples.

I first watched Apples about two years ago, several months into COVID lockdown. At the time, the movie felt eerily of the moment, since its story takes place during a pandemic. In this pandemic, however, people aren't spreading a deadly virus; they're inexplicably losing their memories.

We see this happen in the opening scenes, when an unnamed middle-aged man (played by Aris Servetalis) leaves his Athens apartment one day, gets on a bus and falls asleep. When he wakes up, he can no longer remember his name, where he lives or where he was going.

He isn't carrying any ID, and so he winds up in a hospital where doctors examine him and wait for family members or friends to come and identify him. But no one shows up, and so the man is enrolled in a government program designed to help him and the many others like him cope with their amnesia.

He's placed in an apartment and given money for expenses. Each day he plays a cassette tape — the movie seems to be taking place pre-internet — and listens to a voice assigning him a specific task like "ride a bicycle" or "go watch a horror movie," in hopes that these experiences will help jog his memory. He's instructed to take Polaroids of these experiences and keep them in a scrapbook, which comes to resemble an extremely analog Instagram account.

It all sounds bizarre on paper. But Apples , the first feature from the director and co-writer Christos Nikou, unfolds with an understated deadpan wit that makes even its weirder touches seem plausible, even logical. At times it reminded me of some of the brilliant absurdist satires, like Dogtooth and Attenberg , that have put Greek cinema on the map over the past two decades.

But Nikou has a gentler, more melancholy touch. The script leaves a lot to the imagination: We learn no more about the cause or the outcome of the pandemic than we do about the avian attacks in Hitchcock's The Birds . We also don't learn much about the main character's background; there are no flashbacks to his earlier life and there's no voiceover narration, either.

But while the character is quiet and emotionally reserved by nature, Servetalis, the actor playing him, is a mesmerizing screen presence. Sometimes Nikou shoots him in close-up, and sometimes from a distance, creating a ghostly, disorienting effect. You can't stop watching him, whether he's walking the streets of an eerily underpopulated Athens or slicing and eating apples, his favorite fruit.

At one point he befriends a woman, played by Sofia Georgovassili, who's also trying to recover her memory through the government program. An attraction forms, but then quickly dissipates; their amnesia is more of a hindrance than a bond. Without their memories and their identities, it's hard for these two lonely, drifting souls to get on the same wavelength.

Speaking of memory: Watching Apples for the second time in two years, I was startled by how vividly I remembered much of it. In particular, I haven't stopped mentally replaying one extraordinarily moving scene in which our hero goes to a crowded dance club and begins doing the twist, losing himself in the music and the moment. Is he suddenly remembering how he used to dance, or is he blissfully surrendering himself to his amnesia? It's not immediately clear, and it's also not the only such ambiguous moment .

At times, our hero seems to experience flashes of clarity. He remembers his old address. He recognizes a dog from his old neighborhood. Is his memory coming back? But if so, why doesn't he share this good news with anyone, almost as if he preferred to stay in the dark? Is there some other explanation for what's going on?

I won't give anything away, especially since I'm not entirely sure myself. But as it unfolds, Apples seems to become a story about romantic loss as well as memory loss. Sometimes it suggests a lower-key version of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , and like that tale of lost love, it asks whether some memories are best left forgotten.

As strange and singular as Apples is, its protagonist's condition hits on something universal. It's about how we deal with grief and loneliness, especially when memory becomes more of a curse than a blessing.

The latest Apple TV+ movie is its best reviewed yet

If you had to name the best reviewed movie on Apple TV+, what would you guess?

CODA would be a good choice, since it won the Best Picture Oscar—the highest achievement possible for a film in the US. Another strong contender is Killers of the Flowers Moon , Martin Scorsese’s 2023 triumph. Or maybe The Tragedy of MacBeth comes to mind.

These are some of the most prestigious and praised TV+ original films, but they’ve all been bested by the latest new release on TV+.

The new best reviewed TV+ film: Fancy Dance

When it comes to measuring films’ critical success, Rotten Tomatoes is the go-to standard. Here are the Rotten Tomatoes scores for the three movies I mentioned above, which are among the very best on Apple TV+.

• Killers of the Flower Moon: 93%
• The Tragedy of MacBeth: 92%

These are excellent films that deserve the praise they’ve gotten.

However, the score for the newest TV+ release has outdone them all.

Fancy Dance , which stars Lily Gladstone and debuted last Friday on TV+, has an even better score of 96% freshness .

When considering Apple’s slate of other critically acclaimed films, it’s especially impressive for Fancy Dance to have topped the list.

Does this mean it’s objectively a better film? Not necessarily, but it does mean that a larger portion of critics have had a positive take on the film in their reviews.

Fancy Dance is Lily Gladstone’s second film on TV+, following last year’s Killers of the Flower Moon. Her performance in that film earned several awards and very nearly scored the Oscar for Best Actress.

Now, Gladstone leads this new title and becomes the only current actor to star in two of the best TV+ films.

Here’s a summary of Fancy Dance :

Since her sister’s disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare minute goes into finding her missing sister while also helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. At the risk of Jax losing custody to Roki’s grandfather, Frank (Shea Whigham), the pair hit the road and scour the backcountry to track down Roki’s mother in time for the powwow. What begins as a search gradually turns into a far deeper investigation into the complexities and contradictions of Indigenous women moving through a colonized world while at the mercy of a failed justice system.

You can watch Fancy Dance today on Apple TV+.

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Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.

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The 25 Best TV Shows On Apple TV+ Right Now (August 2024)

Every apple tv original show ranked worst to best, 10 biggest reveals in apple's michael j. fox documentary, quick links, best drama movies on apple tv+, best comedy movies on apple tv+, best musical movies on apple tv+, best action movies on apple tv+, best thriller movies on apple tv+, best documentaries on apple tv+.

• The best movies on Apple TV+ feature a diverse range of talent, from renowned directors to up-and-coming filmmakers, making it a strong contender in the streaming industry.
• The Beanie Bubble and Argylle are among the must-watch movies on Apple TV+, with each film offering a unique story and impressive performances from their cast.
• Cherry showcases the versatility of Tom Holland, in a role that departs from his well-known characters.

The best movies on Apple TV+ form an impressive collection of streaming content for subscribers. From documentaries about renowned performers to awards season darlings — including a Best Picture Oscar winner — the catalog of great films on Apple TV+ is only expanding. Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott are just two of several acclaimed directors whose movies are currently streaming on the online service. Apple TV+ has plenty of solid movies to watch right now across every genre, though when it comes to drama few streaming services can rival its impressive and high-quality content.

While Apple TV+ is popular for its streaming series such as Ted Lasso, Severance, and Schmigadoon!, its movie roster is definitely worthy of consideration. By combining the works of both iconic and newcomer directors and studios alongside its own Apple TV+ originals, the service has established a strong foothold in a streaming industry dominated by even bigger names. Just as the best TV shows on Apple TV+ showcase a diverse range of talent, so do the best Apple TV+ movies.

For more movie streaming recommendations, be sure to check out the best movies on Hulu and the best movies on Max .

New On Apple TV+: All The Movies & TV Shows Arriving In August 2024

Known for its award-winning original content, the Apple TV+ catalog grows from month to month. Here's everything new on Apple TV+ in August 2024.

The Banker (2020)

Not available

The Adjustment Bureau director George Nolfi is behind one of the best drama movies currently on Apple TV+ — 2020's The Banker. With an all-star cast that includes the likes of Nicholas Hoult, Anthony Mackie, and Samuel L. Jackson, The Banker was overlooked during the awards season when it arrived, though in the years since it has gained attention from audiences who discovered it on Apple's streaming service, and it's consistently one of the most popular titles on the platform. The Banker is a period drama set in the 1950s, and tells the story of real-life historical figures Bernard Garrett (played by Anthony Mackie) and Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson).

Garrett and Morris are incredibly significant figures in the world of finance, as they were two of the first Black bankers in the United States. The Banker chronicles their journey and fight to establish themselves in the industry despite the incredible amount of racism and prejudice they faced. The performances of Hoult, Jackson, and Mackie were especially highlighted in many reviews, and The Banker is a solid drama that reveals one of the most intriguing — and undertold — stories when it comes to the struggles of African-Americans to establish themselves in the mid-20th century.

Finch (2021)

Tom Hanks stars in the post-apocalyptic drama Finch as a man who builds a robot to care for his dog and keep him company as they journey across a barren wasteland. Originally titled BIOS, the sci-fi movie was released in 2021.

Post-apocalyptic sci-fi movies are incredibly popular, and one of the most intriguing of the last few years, Finch, is available to stream on Apple TV+. Finch stars Tom Hanks as Finch Weinberg, a man living in a world that was all-but-destroyed fifteen years earlier when a solar flare wiped out the ozone layer. Finch is one of the few survivors, inhabiting the harsh wasteland Earth has become with his dog and a helper robot. Only venturing outside to find supplies, Finch learns that he's dying, and so builds a second robot, named Jeff, to take care of his dog, Goodyear.

Finch is incredibly emotional as far as post-apocalyptic science-fiction goes, avoiding the action of franchises like Mad Max or movies like The Book of Eli to instead focus on a more emotionally-driven and heartwarming tale. The movie was responded to well by critics, especially because of the ability of director Miguel Sapochnik and writers Craig Luck and Ivor Powell to deliver an incredibly grounded tale in a subgenre that usually focuses on scope and spectacle.

Greyhound (2020)

Greyhound is a 2020 Apple TV+ war film starring and written by Tom Hanks. Hanks plays Captain Krause, a US Navy Commander who must lead his crew as they are hunted by the Germans during World War II. Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham, and Matt Helm star alongside Hanks in this Aaron Schneider-directed film.

If there's one actor who's cemented their reputation as being a masterful presence in war movies, it's Tom Hanks, and one of the actors' best recent ventures in the genre, Greyhound, is available to stream on Apple TV+. While not the critical hit that Saving Private Ryan was, Greyhound still stands as a solid entry into Tom Hank's filmography. It was nominated for multiple awards, and won the Golden Reel for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Sound Effects and Foley for Feature Film (meaning it's also one of the best movies on Apple TV+ to watch for subscribers who have a surround sound set-up).

In Greyhound, Tom Hanks plays Commander Ernie Krause, a Naval officer on his first assignment during WW2. Krause is put in charge of a group of escort ships charged with defending a convoy from Nazi U-boats. It's an incredibly tense war movie in which Hanks shines, as do fellow cast members Stephen Graham and Elisabeth Shue.

CODA (2021)

Coda is a coming-of-age drama that was written and directed by Sian Heder. Its story centers around Ruby Rossi, a 17-year-old high school student who is the only member of her household who isn't deaf. The movie was a huge hit with critics, picking up three Academy Awards including the highly coveted Best Picture prize.

Perhaps the most celebrated original movie on Apple TV+, CODA was the first film distributed by a streaming service to win the Oscar for Best Picture . The movie follows 17-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones), the only hearing member of her family, who must navigate the difficulties of teenagehood with the sense of responsibility she feels towards her nearest and dearest.

While working on her father's fishing boat and assisting as her brother's and parents’ interpreter, she finds herself torn between exploring her dreams of singing and the obligations she feels to her family. The Apple TV+ movie holds a Certified Fresh 94% critic score and 91% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, proving its popularity isn’t confined to the Academy.

In addition to Best Picture, CODA won Oscars for both Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023)

Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon is the next film from director Martin Scorsese, based on the non-fiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, initially captured by David Grann. When members of the Osage tribe are murdered in the 1920s via mysterious circumstances shortly after the discovery of oil on Native-American soil, the FBI is established to uncover the true reason behind them.

Already hailed as a Martin Scorsese masterpiece , Killers of the Flower Moon is based on a true story and the David Grann book of the same name, Killers of the Flower Moon is about the 1920s Oklahoma murders of Osage people after oil was discovered on their land. At the center of it all is Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), a WW1 vet whose rancher uncle, William King Hale (Robert De Niro), convinces him to marry an Osage woman named Mollie (Lily Gladstone), whose family is wealthy from oil money.

Killers of the Flower Moon is a film so harrowing and engrossing that viewers will forget its three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Scorsese doesn't shy away from the injustices and brutalities committed against the Osage by white men like Hale, and members of the Osage were consulted when filming the movie, providing the story with the authenticity it needs. From the heart-wrenching performances by the Killers of the Moon cast (particularly Gladstone) to Robbie Robertson's heart-pulsing score, the movie is a searing critique of an ugly chapter in American history and easily one of the best dramas on Apple TV+.

Napoleon (2023)

From director Ridley Scott and writer David Scarpa comes Napoleon, a dramatic historical-epic film that follows the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte as he embarks on a lengthy French campaign of conquest. The film also focuses on his relationship with Josephine, his Empress and the love of his life, a relationship that was equal parts romantically intense and self-destructive.

Ridley Scott's 2023 epic Napoleon is now available to stream on AppleTV+. Starring Joaquin Phoenix as the titular French general and, later, Emperor, Napoleon is a historical biopic that rival's Scott's seminal work, 2000's Gladiator. With solid performances throughout and some truly breathtaking scenes, there are few new movies on AppleTV+ — or any other streaming platforms for that matter — that are quite as grand in scale or scope as Napoleon.

2023 was a solid year for film, and the fact Napoleon didn't win more awards is purely a testament to its competition, which included the likes of Barbie and Oppenheimer. However, as far as movies available to watch on AppleTV+ right now go, Napoleon stands out as one of the absolute best.

Causeway (2022)

Causeway follows the story of a U.S. soldier (Jennifer Lawrence), who struggles to adjust to civilian life after returning home from Afghanistan with a traumatic brain injury. The film delves into her emotional and physical recovery, highlighting the challenges and support systems that come into play during her rehabilitation. Directed by Lila Neugebauer, Causeway offers a poignant look at personal resilience and healing.

Bryan Tyree Henry earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2023 Oscars for his performance in Causeway , which is a much-deserved recognition of his centrality to the movie's success. Also starring Jennifer Lawrence in a gripping lead performance , the Apple TV+ Original movie follows Lawrence's Lynsay, a soldier who struggles to adjust to life back home after she returns to New Orleans. Causeway deservedly ranks among the best Apple TV+ movies, proving a hit with both casual viewers and professional critics alike.

From comedies including Ted Lasso and Mythic Quest to dramas including Severance, there are many great TV shows available to binge-watch on Apple TV+.

Tetris (2023)

Tetris is the nigh unbelievable retelling of the true story behind Tetris, the video game that swept the world up in the late 80s and early 90s. Taaron Egerton stars as Henk Rogers, a man who discovers the game and heads to the Soviet Union to meet with its inventor, AlexeyPajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to turn the game into a worldwide phenomenon. However, Henk soon realizes that even something as simple as trying to get a video game published can be dangerous during a Cold War between the U.S. and U.S.S.R.

Part biopic, part Cold War thriller, Tetris is more than a video game movie adaptation . The Apple TV+ movie tells the surprisingly dark story of how the titular game became a global phenomenon. In 1988, US-based entrepreneur and video game designer Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) worked to obtain the rights to Tetris from its programmer Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Yefremov).

Enamored with what he believes to be the greatest game ever, Rogers risks his life to cross the Iron Curtain and contact the game's creator itself, eventually finding a way into Russia when tensions between the two nations are at their highest. For true gamers, lovers of history, and viewers looking for compelling, real-life political intrigue, Tetris is one of the best Apple TV+ movies in any genre.

The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022)

The Greatest Beer Run Ever

The Greatest Beer Run Ever is the strange but true story of John Donohue, portrayed by Zac Efron, and his time after a stint in the Marine Corp back in 1967. One night at a bar with other seafaring merchants, he's challenged to do something unthinkable - sneak into Vietnam and find his friends amid combat to deliver letters, a friendly face, and a ton of beer. John decides to take this challenge head-on and charts a course across enemy lines with help from various people, including Arthur Coates (Russell Crowe), a war journalist who wants John to understand the media's coverage of the war and how flawed it is. John's journey into the heat of battle will reveal the horrors of war and give him a new perspective on life. The Greatest Beer Run Ever airs exclusively on Apple TV+ on September 30 2022.

Starring Zac Efron and Russell Crowe, Peter Farrelly's The Greatest Beer Run Ever is a biographical war dramedy that depicts the extraordinary true story of John “Chickie” Donahue. Efron plays the young war veteran who snuck into the Vietnam War to deliver beer to his on-duty friends. Although The Greatest Beer Run Ever 's true story adaptation received mixed reviews from critics, it was among the top 10 most popular streaming movies after its release — speaking to its charming reinvention of many traditional war movie tropes.

The Greatest Beer Run Ever 's popularity made it one of the platform’s biggest movie premieres and decidedly one of the most enjoyable drama movies on Apple TV+.

Apple TV+ Originals had a big night at the Emmys this year. Here is every one of the streaming titan’s series ranked in descending order.

Cherry (2021)

Created for Apple TV+, Cherry is a film adaptation of the drama novel that sees Tom Holland play the role of "Cherry," a young man who meets the love of his life but continues to make destructive life decisions, jeopardizing his happiness and relationship. After returning from the Iraq war, Cherry's adjustment to citizen life is marked with PTSD and addiction as he continues to enter a life of complete self-destruction. 

A welcome departure for Spider-Man star Tom Holland , Cherry is a poignant story of trauma, love, and addiction. Holland stars as the titular Cherry, a young man struggling with PTSD and opioid addiction who meets the love of his life but risks losing her due to poor decisions and life changes. While the Apple TV+ movie initially received negative reviews from critics, Cherry is notable for its striking visuals from Anthony and Joe Russo.

Holland's performance in Cherry ’s title role also won popular acclaim among critics, making it a must-watch for fans of the Spider-Man actor who want to see his versatility outside the MCU.

The Instigators (2024)

The Instigators revolves around the complex dynamics of a group of individuals who find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue and deception. As alliances are formed and trust is broken, the true motives of each character are slowly revealed, leading to a crescendo of tension and suspense.

Apple TV+ has several original movies that had limited theatrical releases and then went on to gain acclaim and popularity with viewers once they reached the streaming platform, which is the case with Apple's 2024 heist-comedy movie The Instigators. While The Instigators doesn't do much to break out of their regular narrative tropes of heist comedies, it still provides an incredibly solid viewing experience that's sure to appeal to viewers who enjoy a team of hilariously mismatched thieves fumbling their way through a grand plan.

While it received middling reviews from critics, many viewers have thoroughly enjoyed The Instigators , especially due to the performances of leading cast members Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. Affleck also co-wrote the script, and it's clear from his performance that he has a thorough understanding of both his character and what makes the movie tick thematically. Apple TV+ subscribers who want a comedy that's more cerebral than average but still doesn't do anything overly complex (and is supported by some great action sequences) will find that The Instigators more than satisfies.

On The Rocks (2020)

on the rocks

Lost in Translation director Sofia Coppola teamed up with Bill Murray once again in 2020 for the grounded father-daughter comedy On The Rocks. Murray leads the cast alongside The Office and Parks and Recreation star Rashida Jones. Bill Murray plays Felix Keane, with Jones as his adult daughter Laura, and the two conspire to find out the truth about Laura's husband, Dean (Marlon Wayans). Both suspect that Dean may not be faithful, and so they set out to find evidence of his infidelity.

Just like Lost in Translation, Coppola has woven together an incredibly emotional and complex comedy with On The Rocks (which she also wrote the script for). It was received well by most critics, and was nominated for a slew of awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for Bill Murray in 2021. While not as successful as Murray and Coppola's venture in Lost in Translation, Apple TV+ subscribers will certainly find that On The Rocks hits the same notes incredibly well.

The Family Plan (2023)

The Family Plan

The Family Plan is an AppleTV+ original action comedy movie starring Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan. The film revolves around a former assassin named Dan who is forced to go on the run with his family after the dangers of his career catch up to him. The Family Plan is directed by Simon Cellan Jones and written by David Coggeshall.

Mark Wahlberg stars in the original Apple TV+ action-comedy The Family Plan, which has all the trappings of a theatrical comedy release and is among the most enjoyable easy watches on the platform. Wahlberg plays a quiet car salesman and family man named Dan Morgan, who is seemingly a pacifist bordering on pushover. However, as the movie progresses, it emerges that Dan was once a highly skilled assassin.

After an attempt is made on his life, Dan must go into hiding with his family while he tracks down his assailant — and, as this is a comedy movie primarily, hilarity ensues as wife Jessica (Michelle Monaghan) and kids Nina (Zoe Colletti) and Kyle (Van Crosby) try to come to terms with learning Dan is actually a trained killer. While The Family Plan does little to break the action-comedy mold, an incredibly charismatic performance from Wahlberg and some well-executed (if textbook) moments ensure it sits comfortably among the best movies available on Apple TV+.

Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)

Cha Cha Real Smooth

Cha Cha Real Smooth is a heartfelt drama film directed by and starring Cooper Raiff. Released in 2022, the film centers around a recent college graduate who becomes a bar mitzvah party host and forms a bond with a young mother, played by Dakota Johnson. As they navigate their connection, the story explores themes of personal growth and emotional vulnerability.

A gentle dramedy with a romantic heart, Cha Cha Real Smooth is a great showcase for director, producer, writer, and star Cooper Raiff . The movie follows Andrew (Raiff), a recent college graduate who earns money as a party starter for bar and bat mitzvahs, and he begins dating 32-year-old mother Domino (Dakota Johnson) before things inevitably become more complicated.

The Apple TV+ movie was praised for Raiff’s performance and direction, as well as the story’s touching premise and sincerity. Given even higher acclaim than Raiff’s successful feature film debut, S***house , Cha Cha Real Smooth is among the best movies on the streaming service and deserves a watch as the young actor-director continues climbing through the industry.

The Beanie Bubble (2023)

The Beanie Bubble

The Beanie Bubble is an Apple TV+ original movie focusing on the Beanie Babies craze in the '90s. The story focuses on Ty Warner (Zach Galifianakis), a toy salesman who is frustrated with the business until he works with three women to invent the tiny stuffed animals known as Beanie Babies.

Anyone who had kids or was one themselves in the '90s remembers the Beanie Babies craze that permeated the decade. The Beanie Bubble centers on the toy manufacturer behind the bean-filled stuffies , Ty Warner (Zach Galifianakis), and the three women (Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Snook, Geraldine Viswanathan) who helped him become a billionaire.

The Beanie Bubble is part of a growing "corporate biopic" trend in cinema, and while it isn't the most original or critically acclaimed of the lot, anyone who collected the toys will be fascinated by their origin story. The main cast's performances have also been praised, particularly Viswanathan's.

Flora And Son (2023)

Flora and Son

Flora and Son is a music-based drama directed by John Carney. Starring Eve Hewson, the film follows a struggling single mother in Dublin who attempts to bond with her troubled teenage son through a shared love of music. Featuring original songs and touching performances, the story explores themes of family, redemption, and the transformative power of creativity amidst life's challenges.

With films like Once , Begin Again , and Sing Street , director John Carney is the master of the feel-good music movie , and Flora and Son is no exception. The film takes place in Dublin, Ireland and sees single mom Flora trying to find a hobby for her rebellious teenage son Max (Orén Kinlan) to keep him out of trouble. She comes across a discarded guitar, and through online guitar lessons with Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max can rebuild a connection.

Flora and Son is a quiet yet incredibly sweet movie about how a change in perspective and a celebration of the arts can bring people together. Hewson steals the show, but the entire cast is phenomenal, and audiences will get swept away in the film's beautiful music.

Come From Away (2021)

Come From Away

Come from Away is a play that centers on a group of 7,000 airline passengers who were stuck in Newfoundland after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The play was based on a true story and initially performed in San Diego in 2013 before being filmed for an AppleTV+ film at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater in New York City in 2017.

Filmed live at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater in the city of New York during the COVID-19 pandemic for an audience of first responders and 9/11 survivors, Come From Away is a theatrical production about the 7,000 passengers who found themselves stranded in Newfoundland following the 9/11 attacks .

Come From Away reveals the inspiring story of how the residents of Newfoundland and the stranded passengers turned a humanitarian crisis into one of the biggest community efforts that responded to the historic tragedy — balanced with just the right amount of comedic moments. Come From Away is one of the best Apple TV+ films not just for theater lovers, but for anyone looking for a feel-good musical comedy about the innate positive power of humanity.

Argylle (2024)

Argylle is an action thriller by director Matthew Vaughn. The movie centers on an introverted novelist who is thrown into the real world of espionage after the plot of her most recent spy thriller parrels the crimes of an underground syndicate. Argylle has a star-studded cast, including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Dua Lipa, and Samuel L. Jackson, among others.

Argylle arrived on AppleTV+ in 2024 after having a theatrical debut earlier in the year, and Matthew Vaughn's action spy comedy is already creating conversations thanks both to its intriguing and innovative plot, as well as an all-star cast led by Henry Cavill. The movie focuses on spy novelist Elly Conway, whose books focus on the titular Argylle. An introvert, Elly is thrown wildly out of her comfort zone when she's targeted by a real-life spy organization whose novels apparently predict the future.

Henry Cavill is joined in the Argylle cast by Bryce Dallas Howard as Elly, alongside a cast stacked with A-Listers that includes Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, and popstar Dua Lipa. Argylle is a bombastic and energetic ride that never takes itself too seriously, much like Vaughn's beloved Kingsman movies — to which it shares a surprising connection or two.

Ghosted (2023)

Ghosted is a romantic action-comedy film directed by Dexter Fletcher, featuring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas. The plot revolves around an ordinary man who falls for a mysterious woman, only to discover she is actually a secret agent. Their ensuing adventure takes them on a thrilling, globe-trotting mission. The film combines elements of romance, humor, and high-stakes action for an engaging cinematic experience.

From the director of Rocketman , a Top Gun: Maverick producer, and the writer of Deadpool, Ghosted mixes classic tropes of the rom-com and action-adventure genres into a slickly entertaining package. Following the promise of its title, the movie sees Cole (Chris Evans) ghosted, despite forming a seemingly close bond with Sadie (Ana de Armas). Unable to take the rejection, Cole tries to see Sadie in London where she works, but is instead abducted by arms dealers who misidentify him as a legendary CIA operative.

Before Cole gets tortured for information, Sadie arrives to rescue him, revealing her true identity in the process. A fun weekend flick buttressed by two perennially charming Hollywood superstars, Ghosted is a welcome addition to the available action movies on Apple TV+ and was the streaming service's most-watched film debut.

Emancipation (2022)

Emancipation

Based on the true story of a man named Gordon in the 1860s, Emancipation tells the tale of an enslaved person named Peter, played by Will Smith, who escapes from a Louisiana plantation. The film is an action/thriller that shows Peter's journey as he tries to avoid murderous hunters that will stop at nothing to catch him. Finally, Peter escaped to the North and joined the Union Army to stop the slave trade in the south and fight for true emancipation. The true story of Gordon featured the famous photographs of Peter's whipped back, which became a central focal point for strengthening the abolitionist movement of the time. 

The historical thriller Emancipation stars and was co-produced by Will Smith. It's definitely one of the more serious movies in the actor's back catalogue, and at no point relies on his considerable abilities as a comedic talent. Smith stars as Peter, an escaped slave hiding in the swamps around Baton Rouge in Louisiana. Set in the 1860s shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln, Emancipation is an incredibly tense and emotional watch, though critics didn't warm to it particularly well and sometimes felt the action outweighed the emotional message the movie was trying to convey.

Will Smith won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his performance as Peter, showing that the movie definitely hit the right notes with some critics at least. Among his notable co-stars are Ben Foster, who gives an absolutely chilling performance as the slave hunter Fassel, and Charmaine Bingwa as Peter's wide Dodienne.

The Tragedy Of Macbeth (2021)

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Joel Coen presents The Tragedy of Macbeth, a film based on the classic play written by William Shakespeare, starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. The film retells the story of Macbeth, which entails ambitious goals that result in a usurpers plot and murder that shakes the kingdom to its core.

Visually striking direction, courtesy of the masterly Joel Coen, as well as some extremely compelling performances by its cast help make The Tragedy of Macbeth one of the greatest modern Shakespeare adaptations . A shoo-in for any Apple TV+ best movie list, Joel Coen’s solo Macbeth movie stars Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Corey Hawkins, and Harry Melling in an incredibly ominous and artistic take on the classic tale.

The Tragedy of Macbeth earned three nominations at the 2022 Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Washington), Best Production Design, and Best Cinematography, further highlighting its credentials.

Watch On Apple TV+

Sharper (2023)

A neo-noir thriller directed by Benjamin Caron, Sharper is an Apple TV+ and A24 joint venture released in both theaters and on Apple's streaming service. Sharper switches perspectives from several characters looking to climb the social and financial ladders of New York City, with winners and losers on all sides. At the center of it all, one young man stands to profit from the city's billionaires as an act of revenge against his family.

An edge-of-the-seat dramatic thriller, Sharper is a welcome addition to the neo-noir crime genre. The movie revolves around a con artist who targets Manhattan billionaires, yet is inventively told through a series of non-linear vignettes from different perspectives. Sharper 's star-studded cast includes Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, and John Lithgow , who all work together to expertly steer the twisty and labyrinthine narrative.

With a 70% score from critics and 74% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a surprise ending, Sharper offers a smart update to the classic crime caper formula.

Girls State (2024)

Teenage girls from across Texas come together for an intense political simulation, competing to build a mock government. Amidst fierce rivalries and alliances, they navigate personal ambitions and political challenges, offering a revealing look at the future of American leadership.

Girls State is one of the most intriguing political documentaries of the last few years, and a solid addition to the AppleTV+ lineup of documentary movies. Released in 2024 to a resoundingly successful debut at the Sundance Film Festival, Girls State follows 500 girls from Missouri. Specifically, it dives into the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program in which groups of high school juniors meet for a week at camp with the goal of attempting to build and run a hypothetical government from the ground up.

Gives fascinating insight into the political views, aspirations, and ideas of young women in modern-day America.

The documentary was created by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBain and gives fascinating insight into the political views, aspirations, and ideas of young women in modern-day America. It's a companion movie to Moss and McBaine's 2020 documentary Boys State. However, since the focus is now on female participants in the program, Girls State offers an almost entirely different and unique perspective — especially since the world and political landscape has changed significantly in the few years since 2020.

The Velvet Underground (2021)

The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground is an AppleTV+ original documentary detailing the rise of the rock band The Velvet Underground and their influence on New York City in the 1960s. The film is directed by Todd Haynes and has new interviews with surviving band members John Cale and Maureen Tucker.

Offering a comprehensive look into the formation, rise, cultural impact, and breakup of the original lineup of the titular alternative rock band from the '60s, The Velvet Underground is a must-watch from both a social and musical perspective. The movie is an enthralling deep dive into the creative process of musicians and artists Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker, Sterling Morrison, Doug Yule, John Cale, Christa Päffgen, and legendary pop art pioneer Andy Warhol, who managed the band.

The Velvet Underground includes interviews with band members Cale, Yule, and Tucker — along with some of their contemporaries from the '60s — and archival footage and audio from the era. Essential viewing for lovers of music, art, and history, The Velvet Underground is a top-tier Apple TV+ documentary.

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023)

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie is a biography/documentary film that recounts the life and career of the titular actor. From his life as a Canadian army recruit to his blockbuster start in films such as Back to the Future, the film is retold through reenactments, and conversations with Fox and his children. The film also includes a deeper look into his battle with Parkinson's disease, which has never before been seen.

The 2023 winner of the Hope Award at the SXSW Film Festival, STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie shines a light on the life of the beloved actor and his life with Parkinson's disease. From how Fox tried to keep his disease a secret at the height of his career in 1991 to how he lives with Parkinson's over two decades after being diagnosed, STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie paints a captivating and relatable portrait of a cinematic legend.

Like his movies, the life of Michael J. Fox is just as filled with entertainment, losses, wins, and hope, making STILL a tender and affecting portrait.

Michael J. Fox announced his Parkinson's disease in 1998. His story has been well-documented, but the new documentary Still contains 10 new reveals.

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Top 20 Best and Highest Rated Movies on Apple TV+ of All Time

Please bookmark this page as we celebrate and list what is deemed the Top 20 Best and Highest Rated Movies on Apple TV+ of All Time.

Apple TV+ was launched on November 1st, 2019. What the streaming service lacks in original content, more than makes up with hardware. Apple TV+ was the first streaming service to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. That film was a little crowd-pleaser called CODA , which capture the hearts of Hollywood critics, but very few people actually saw it. That’s why we are here, however. To rank the very best films the niche streaming service has to offer.

If you are still deciding what to watch next, bookmark this page as we list what is deemed the Best, Highest Rated Apple TV+ movies of All Time. We’ve used Rotten Tomatoes as the benchmark, with the minimum reviews being 35 as a floor.

We will also share the IMDB rating to give you a sense of difference in objectivity. On top of this, if we have reviewed it on our site, we will also share the review with you. We will update this page every two months so audiences can keep up to date on the latest best, and most popular Apple TV+ movies as part of their subscription.

Last update: August 5th, 2023.

Top 25 Best and Highest Rated Movies on Apple TV+ of All Time

25. the sky is everywhere (2023).

Official Premise: 

“A shy, teenage musician tries to keep things together in the aftermath of her older, more outgoing sister’s death.”

Cast: Grace Kaufman, Jason Segal. Jacques Colimon

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 66% (58 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 5.6/10

M.N. Miller of Ready Steady Cut calls the film “An operatic, endlessly creative, and breathtaking visual poem of grief.”

24. Sharper (2023)

“Motivations are suspect, and expectations are turned chaos, as a con artist takes on Manhattan billionaires”

Cast: Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69% (137 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 6.7/10

Linda Marric of The Jewish Chronicle said, “While Sharper’s genius resides in its ability to successfully outwit its audience, at no point does it feel labored or in the least predictable.”

23 . Palmer (2021)

“An ex-convict strikes up a friendship with a boy from a troubled home.”

Cast: Justin Timberlake, Ryder Allen, Alisha Wainwright, June Squibb, and Juno Temple

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72% (114 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 7.2/10

At Ready Steady Cut, M.N. Miller said, “ Palmer is an uneven experience that is not as transparent as it thinks it is or needs to be.”

22 . Finch (2021)

“A man, a robot and a dog form an unlikely family in a powerful and moving adventure of one man’s quest to ensure that his beloved canine companion will be cared for after he’s gone.”

Cast: Tom Hanks, Caleb Landry Jones, and Marie Wagenman

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74% (171 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 6.9/10

At Ready Steady Cut, M.N. Miller said, “ Finch attempts to ride on the coattails of a winning formula that isn’t earned.”

21. Greyhound (2020)

“The film follows a commander in the US Navy on his assignment commanding a multi-national escort destroyer group of four defending an Allied convoy of thirty-seven merchant and troop ships.”

Cast: Tom Hanks, Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, and Elisabeth Shue

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78% (238 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 7.0/10

At Ready Steady Cut, Daniel Hart said, “Its reliance on the star lead defeats the objective of the war achievement — Greyhound has got this terribly wrong.”

20. Swan Song (2021)

“In the near future, a terminally ill man explores a heart-wrenching, emotionally complex solution to save his wife and son from grief by duplicating himself without them knowing.”

Cast: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Glenn Close, Awkwafina, Adam Beach

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79% (101 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 6.8/10

InSession film calls the film  “A stoic, moving film about working through anticipatory grief and coming to the realization that some things are bigger than ourselves.”

19 . Tetris (2023)

Official Premise:  

“The story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to players around the globe. Businessman Henk Rogers and Tetris inventor Alexey Pajitnov join forces in the USSR, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.”

Cast : Taron Egerton, Toby Jones, Nikita Efremov

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82% (184 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 7.4/10

At Ready Steady Cut, we said, “ Tetris already had the building blocks to be something great and put a fresh spin on the Cold War-era film by making it a behind-enemy-lines legal 8-bit western where everyone makes up the rules as they go.”

18 . The Banker (2020)

“Revolutionary businessmen Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) and Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson) devise an audacious and risky plan to take on the racist establishment of the 1960s by helping other African Americans pursue the American dream.”

Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%

IMDB Rating: 7.3/10

At Ready Steady Cut, M.N. Miller said, “ The Banker offers a mild return but misses an opportunity on a larger investment.”

17. Hala (2019)

“Muslim teenager Hala copes with the unraveling of her family as she comes into her own..”

Cast: Geraldine Viswanathan, Jack Kilmer, Gabriel Luna, and Anna Chlumsky

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86% (37 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 6.2/10

16 . Causeway (2022)

“A US soldier suffers a traumatic brain injury while fighting in Afghanistan and struggles to adjust to life back home..”

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Brian Tyree Henry, Linda Emond, Jayne Houdyshell, and Stephen McKinley Henderson

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85% (168 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 6.6/10

At Ready Steady Cut, M.N. Miller said, “There is something to be said about a movie that lets the story play out with great patience and restraint. One that does not pander to nor patronize its audience. That is what you have in Causeway . An observational character study that feels extraordinarily human.”

15. Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)

“A man who works as a bar mitzvah party host strikes up a unique friendship with a young woman and her teenage daughter.”

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Cooper Raiff, Raúl Castillo, Odeya Rush, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Brad Garrett, and Leslie Mann

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85% (225 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

At Ready Steady Cut, M.N. Miller said, “Cooper Raiff’s latest film is not about reaching physical maturity but an emotional one. Cha Cha Real Smooth is funny, wonderful, and heartfelt, and also happens to be refreshingly honest.”

14. Stephen Curry: Underrated (2023)

“The coming-of-age story of Stephen Curry, from an undersized basketball player at a small college to becoming a larger-than-life NBA superstar.”

Cast: Stephen Curry

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87% (31 reviews)

InSession Film said, “ Stephen Curry: Underrated is a perfect family documentary for sports fans and anyone inspired by someone accomplishing their dreams. Just not as insightful as one could hope.”

13 . On the Rocks (2021)

“A young New York mother faced with sudden doubts about her marriage teams up with her larger-than-life playboy father to tail her husband.”

Cast: Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, Marlon Wayans

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87% (290 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 6.4/10

12. Who are you, Charlie Brown? (2023)

“Follows interviews with friends, family and more of the iconic comic strip to create a portrait of the late Peanuts creator.”

Cast: Drew Barrymore, Lupita Nyong’o

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89% (9 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 7.1/10

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times called the film  “A suitably warm and breezy love letter.”

11 . Sidney (2022)

“Historians and film experts honor the legendary Sidney Poitier and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker, and activist at the center of Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement.”

Cast: Sidney Poitier

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90% (80 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 7.8/10

At Ready Steady Cut, Ricky Valerio said, “ Sidney is a fine-tuned documentary that should be watched for generations to come.”

10 . The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

“As ghastly witches prophesy that Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, will soon become the King of Scotland, ambitious Lady Macbeth prompts her husband to act.”

Cast: Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92% (87 reviews)

At Ready Steady Cut, M.N. Miller said, “Denzel Washington gives a thunderous performance in Joel Coen’s stamp on Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Macbeth .”

9 . Beastie Boys Story (2020)

“Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz share the story of their band and 40 years of friendship in a live documentary experience.”

Cast: Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, and Adam Yauch

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94% (85 reviews)

At Ready Steady Cut, Daniel Hart said, “ Overall, Beastie Boys Story is a personal story, accounting as a long journey from start to finish, with a warm intimacy behind it, portraying how they went from kids to an established hip hop group. It combines 40 years of friendships and the live documentary concept is something that needs to happen more often.”

8 . CODA (2021)

“As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her passion at Berklee College of Music and her fear of abandoning her parents.”

Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94% (297 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 8.0/10

7 . Boys State (2020)

“A thousand 17-year-old boys from Texas join together to build a representative government from the ground up.”

Cast: René Otero, Steven Garza, Ben Feinstein, Eddy Proietti Conti, Jack White, Malec Moghadam, and Robert MacDougall

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95% (141 reviews )

IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

At Ready Steady Cut, Daniel Hart said, “It goes without saying that Boys State gives a bleak future to the next wave of politics.. What is witnessed is incredible and it platforms a boot camp version of a young politician’s life. There are no doubt viewers will shake their head but undoubtedly they will not be able to look away..”

6 . Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry (2021)

“An intimate look at the singer-songwriter’s journey, navigating life on the road, on stage, and at home, while creating her debut album.”

Cast: Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell, Maggie Baird, and Patrick O’Connell

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96% (101 reviews)

Ready Steady Cut, Jonathan Wilson said, “All this gives Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry a much stronger sense of intimacy and at times invasiveness than something like Miss Americana. It’s both a gift and a curse at times, but it makes the film a must-see for fans and an eye-opening coming-of-age story for everyone else.”

5. The Velvet Underground (2021)

“The Velvet Underground explores the multiple threads that converged to bring together one of the most influential bands in rock and roll.”

Cast: Mary Woronov, Jonathan Richman, John Cale, Maureen Ann Tucker, Sterling Morrison, and Lou Reed

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98% (133 reviews)

4 . Come from Away (2021)

“7,000 passengers are stranded after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in a small town in Newfoundland, where they were housed and welcomed. Filmed live on stage at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater in New York City.”

Cast: Petrina Bromley, Jenn Colella, De’Lon Grant, Joel Hatch, Tony LePage, Caesar Samayoa, Q. Smith, Astrid Van Wieren, Emily Walton, Jim Walton, Sharon Wheatley, and Paul Whitty

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98% (42 reviews)

3 . Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (2022)

“Follow the life and legacy of the master and so-called founding father of jazz, America’s first pop star, and cultural ambassador.”

Cast: Louis Armstrong, Sacha Jenkins, Sara Bernstein, Sacha Jenkins, Justin Wilkes, Julie Anderson, Brian Grazer, and Michele Anthony

Rotten Tomatoes Score:   98% (56 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 8.5/102

2. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023)

“Follows the life of beloved actor and advocate Michael J. Fox, exploring his personal and professional triumphs and travails, and what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease.”

Cast: Michael J. Fox

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99% (147 reviews)

IMDB Rating: 8.1/10

Jenry K. Miller of Sight & Sound said, “Still is a nuanced meditation on the price of success.”

1 . Wolfwalkers (2020)

“A young apprentice hunter and her father journey to Ireland to help wipe out the last wolf pack. But everything changes when she befriends a free-spirited girl from a mysterious tribe rumored to transform into wolves by night.”

Cast: Honor Kneafsey, Eva Whittaker, Sean Bean, Simon McBurney, Tommy Tiernan, Jon Kenny, John Morton, and Maria Doyle Kennedy

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99% (173 reviews)

And that completes our Top 20 Best and Highest Rated Movies on Apple TV+ of All Time list. What’s your favorite movie on Apple TV+? Comment below.

Article by Marc Miller

Marc Miller (also known as M.N. Miller) joined Ready Steady Cut in April 2018 as a Film and TV Critic, publishing over 1,600 articles on the website. Since a young age, Marc dreamed of becoming a legitimate critic and having that famous “Rotten Tomato” approved status – in 2023, he achieved that status.

Manifest season 4, episode 1 recap - how is Ben coping without Grace?

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Tom Hanks Is at His Heroic Best in This Underrated WWII Drama Trending on Apple TV+ With 78% Rotten Tomatoes Score

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Tom Hanks is famously obsessed with World War II, having long been associated with some of the most acclaimed films and television projects set during that era. But while some of them — Saving Private Ryan , more than anything else — are widely beloved classics of the genre, other Hanks projects have flown under the radar, like a bomber sneaking into enemy airspace at the dead of the night. Among Hanks’ most underrated war dramas — and honestly, among his most underrated movies , period — is Greyhound .

Originally set for a theatrical release, the movie ultimately debuted in 2020 on Apple TV+ , a move mainly facilitated by the pandemic. Tightly paced, highly dramatic, and featuring exemplary naval combat sequences , Greyhound featured Hanks in the role of US Navy Commander Ernie Krause. He's assigned stewardship of a destroyer for the first time in his life, only to be caught in the middle of a deadly skirmish in the “Black Pit,” a dangerous area in the Atlantic where it's every man for himself. Krause’s task is to escort a convoy of Allied soldiers to Liverpool , but the group is ambushed by U-boats, forcing Krause and his fellow commanders to use every tool at their disposal — bravery, intelligence, and a lot of firepower — to defend themselves and complete the mission.

Directed by Aaron Schneider , Greyhound is based on the 1955 novel The Good Shepherd , by C.S. Forester ; interestingly, the movie was adapted by none other than Hanks himself. Greyhound was produced on a reported budget of $50 million , and was one of two Hanks projects to debut on Apple TV+ in the span of just a few months; the second was Finch , a post-apocalyptic survival drama directed by Miguel Sapochnik . Greyhound holds a “fresh” 78% approval rating on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , with praise being heaped onto the film's 90-minute run-time and effective CGI, among other things. Collider’s review at the time called it “a thrilling and captivating ride.”

Hanks Followed 'Greyhound' Up with 'Masters of the Air'

Greyhound also scored an Academy Award nod in the Best Sound category, but while the movie was appreciated for its technical achievements, Hanks’ performance as a God-fearing seaman also received acclaim. In addition to starring in movies like Saving Private Ryan and Greyhound , Hanks has also co-produced and co-created the seminal WWII miniseries Band of Brothers , which premiered on HBO in 2001, and its spiritual follow-up, Masters of the Air , which debuted on Apple TV+ earlier this year.

Also starring Stephen Graham , Rob Morgan , and Elisabeth Shue , Greyhound is available to stream on Apple TV+ now. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Greyhound (2020)

Watch on Apple TV+

15 best Apple TV Plus movies to watch now

There's a lot more to Apple TV Plus than Ted Lasso

If you're looking for the best Apple TV Plus movies to watch, you've come to the right place. Apple's films are mostly known for high-profile award nominees, such as the Oscar-winning CODA and the powerful Causeway with Jennifer Lawrence.

But there's a lot more to be seen, as the best movies on Apple TV Plus include fantastic music documentaries, strong performances from veterans and rising stars alike — and even some movies that are only here for a short time.

All of these movies (as well as the best Apple TV Plus shows ) helped Apple TV Plus secure the title of one of the best streaming services , so let's dig into our favorites:

The best Apple TV Plus movies

Matchstick men (2003).

One of the best underrated parts of Apple TV Plus is how it began giving out free movies outside of its collection. You know, like Netflix and the rest of the best streaming services . That's why we can recommend Matchstick Men, an under-appreciated 2003 Nic Cage film, where he plays Roy, a con artist who's constantly dealing with his own ODC — with the help of his partner in crime Frank (Rockwell). Their cons are complicated, though, when Roy's teenage daughter Angela (Lohman) arrives and wants to be a part of both her father's life and his work.

Mostly a comedy, Matchstick Men is truly a "who's conning who?" flick, where you will constantly be wondering about allegiances. And if it looks and feels like the work of a master of the art, that's because Ridley Scott directed it. This time, though, Scott was applauded for something other than visual flourishes: Roy, Frank and Angela's story is excellently told with flair to spare.   — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman Genre: Comedy Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%

Out of Sight (1998)

Out of Sight is another reminder to look for the "Included with Apple TV+" section inside Apple's TV app. 

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Stephen Soderbergh's Out of Sight stars George Clooney as Jack Foley, who is both a phenomenal bank robber ... and freshly escaped from prison. Unfortunately, Jack puts himself right back into the fire once he falls for Karen (Lopez), who has all the intelligence and sex appeal he looks for — with one big catch: she's a Federal Marshall. 

Applauded for how well Soderberg adapted Elmore Leonard's novel, getting all the character beats and quirks right, Out of Sight also offers Clooney at his best.   — Henry T. Casey

Cast: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle, Dennis Farina, Albert Brookes Genre: Crime drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

Cha Cha Real Smooth (2002)

Cha Cha Real Smooth — the second feature film from rising writer/actor/director Cooper Raiff — was the latest piece of evidence that he's a promising young creator. Here, he stars as Andrew, a party host who doesn't know what else he wants from life — being fresh out of college will do that to you. At a bar mitzvah, Andrew meets Domino (Johnson) and her autistic daughter Lola (Burghardt), and they all hit it off pretty quickly.

A relationship story that's focused on what their connection brings out of each side, Cha Cha Real Smooth feels grounded and realistic. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that both Cooper Raiff and Dakota Johnson deliver strong performances that will have you rooting for them both. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Cooper Raiff, Dakota Johnson, Vanessa Burghardt, Evan Assante, Leslie Mann, Brad Garrett Genre: Comedic drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

Boys State (2020)

The American Legion Boys State, a summer leadership program, teaches young men about the process of our government and politics. And here, directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss follow four of the young men who are trying to prove they can form a better government than the one that rules over them.

The results, as you might imagine, show that kids only seem to be able to fall into the same problems and patterns that our current elected officials engage in. Incredibly well-edited and riveting, Boys State may not leave you with optimism about tomorrow's leaders, but it will entertain. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Ben Feinstein, Robert MacDougall, Steven Garza, René Otero Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

Spirited (2022)

While some critics say it's a bit too-much (isn't indulging the point of the holiday season?), Spirited's dual leads of Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell make it an easy sell. This musical comedy puts Reynolds in the Scrooge shoes, as Ferrell plays an aspiring Ghost of Christmas Present out to save the day. Reynolds' Clint Briggs is the perfect kind of person to "save" as he's a big deal in the world of PR, and is using social media followers as weapons to survive. Fix him, and Present gets to prove himself and help others in the process. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Patrick Page Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%

Causeway (2022)

Trauma is universal, and Causeway looks to show that this shared language can be used to heal provided you meet the right people. Lynsey (Lawrence) is a soldier coming off of a tour of duty, and coming home with a brain injury suffered after an IED explosion. Back in New Orleans, she's having trouble re-adjusting but she is fortunate enough to meet James (Henry), who is also dealing with his own issues. Critics rave that Lawrence delivers her best performance since Winter's Bone, and that Henry's made a name for himself off of this movie alone. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Brian Tyree Henry Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

Greyhound (2020)

In World War II, U.S. Navy Commander Ernest Krause (Tom Hanks) finds himself smack-dab in the middle of what would become the longest and most complicated naval warfare ever: The Battle of the Atlantic. Making matters worse, this is Krause's first wartime operation, and the German U-boats are on the tail of his vessels.

Hanks delivers a solid performance that grounds the movie, and his script is fantastic for a reason we can rarely say about war movies. It's short and economical. War films, which usually go in the opposite (epic-length) direction, rarely arrive in 93-minute forms. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Tom Hanks, Stephen Graham, Elizabeth Shue, Rob Morgan Genre: War Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%

Sidney (2022)

Oprah Winfrey (producer) and Reginald Hudlin (director) delivered an excellent, revealing and uplifting portrait of the iconic Bahamian-American actor Sidney Poitier. Unfortunately necessary for younger audiences who may not know of the late actor's work, Sidney is more of a love letter and eulogy than it is a traditional documentary.

That said, a stacked guest list featuring the likes of Ms. Winfrey, Harry Belafonte, Robert Redford and Denzel Washington help make Sidney feel like a warm gathering of friends. While the consensus surrounding the film is positive, critics didn't argue the film rose to Mr. Poitier's level.

— Henry T. Casey

Cast: Denzel Washington, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

On The Rocks (2020)

Bill Murray and Rashida Jones acting under Sofia Coppola's direction is an equation that set expectations pretty darn high. Here, Jones plays Laura, who's lived her whole life with her father Felix (Murray) being hard to nail down, and not quite around as often as people would like him to be. But he's exactly the person Laura needs to talk to once she thinks her husband Dean (Wayans) is having an affair. The two spend nights out in New York City tracking him down, and go on an unadvised trip as well.

And while On The Rocks may not exactly be as strong as the sum of its parts, it's got a casual warmth and coolness that is definitely entertaining. If you remember how little actually happened in Coppola's Lost in Translation, you won't be disappointed by On The Rocks. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, Marlon Wayans Genre: Comedy Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

Beastie Boys Story (2020)

The Beastie Boys (MCA, Mike D and Ad Rock) were one of the most popular rap groups of their era, but never got to tell their own story until this Spike Jonze-directed feature. But the film isn't your standard documentary. Instead, it's a recording of a live stage show with Mike D and Adam Horovitz telling their stories on stage, with archival footage mixed in. A true must-watch for any Beasties fan, Beastie Boys Story is easily one of the best Apple TV Plus movies. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Adam Yauch, Spike Jonze Genre: Music documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

CODA (2021)

The acronym in the title stands for “child of deaf adults,” and in this case, it’s 17-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones). Living in Gloucester, Ruby interprets for her deaf parents (Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur) and deaf older brother (Daniel Durant), plus helps out with the family’s fishing business. Encouraged by a music teacher, Ruby develops a passion for singing, which mystifies her parents. It also hurts them — her mother asks if she would want to paint if they were blind. With a big choir audition coming up, Ruby feels torn between her dreams and the needs of her family. The heartwarming story, fine performances and excellent sound production made this one of the best movies of 2021. — Kelly Woo

Cast: Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin, Daniel Durant, Eugenio Derbez, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo Genre: Drama/Comedy Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry (2021)

As unruly as one of her own songs, Apple TV Plus' Billie Eilish documentary The World's a Little Blurry is a non-linear documentary. It jumps around in time from a performance in Salt Lake City back to the recording studio where Eilish and her brother Finneas work on various songs together. It also provides moments showing Eilish's breakup with her boyfriend, earning her learner's permit and dealing with personal health issues.

Appreciated for its candid view of Eilish's life, The World's a Little Blurry feels more like an actual documentary than most behind-the-scenes films about musicians get to be. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell, Maggie Baird, Patrick O'Connell Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

Take it from me, someone who is no fan of the works of William Shakespeare, and never really got a grip on the way he writes: The Tragedy of Macbeth is a phenomenal film. Director, producer and writer Joel Coen brings an artfully minimalist look to The Scottish Play, though it's Denzel Washington's gripping performance as Lord Macbeth that makes the film emotionally powerful whether you can translate each line or not. Additional points are given for how this take on Macbeth shows an actually positive and loving relationship between the Lord and his Lady Macbeth (Frances McDormand). — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022)

Much like Apple's Billie Eilish documentary, this Selena Gomez doc is more intimate than you'd might expect. Tracking Gomez for six years, which included successful times on stage, in the studio and camera for Only Murders In The Building, My Mind & Me's cameras also caught Gomez during her most personal moments.

Applauded for its portrayals of handling mental health, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me is one of the best Apple TV Plus movies. Offering an honest and vulnerable view of Gomez' life, as well as a cathartic ending, this Apple TV Plus original film offered proof that documentaries are one of Apple's core competencies. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Selena Gomez, Raquell Stevens Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

The Velvet Underground (2021)

Much like Beastie Boys Story, the 2021 documentary The Velvet Underground is a huge treat for fans of the band. The film's success is derived from director Todd Haynes, who's created a visually dynamic collage from the source material provided to him. Interviews with John Cale and Maureen “Moe” Tucker help ground the film in storytelling, as Haynes isn't interested in narrative arcs. — Henry T. Casey

Cast: Mary Woronov, Jonathan Richman, John Cale, Maureen Ann Tucker, Sterling Morrison, Lou Reed Genre: Music documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

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Apple TV+ new no.1 show is a delight that deserves its 91% Rotten Tomatoes score

Bad Monkey made me laugh and is Vince Vaughn at his best

I've been a relative latecomer to Apple TV+, but having benefitted from a banking benefit (cheers Barclays), I can quickly see why many regard it as the best streaming service . There are heaps of exclusive shows and movies with many more coming – but it's the service's new no.1 show that's really caught my attention. 

Bad Monkey is an Apple TV+ exclusive that, for me, had flown under the radar in the lead-up to its release – but on a whim at the end of last weekend I caught glimpse of the trailer, thought it looked amusing, and promptly steamed through the first two episodes. You can watch the trailer below to see if you'll be just as enticed. 

Anyway, it was quickly a 'my-oh-my' moment, as I think this is Vince Vaughn at his very best – in his casually comedic role playing Andrew Yancy, a detective turned restaurant inspector in Florida. Others agree, too, with the show fully deserving of its 91% Rotten Tomatoes score awarded by critics. 

At the time of writing the jury is out on the audience score, with its lower 76% rating not quite here nor there just yet. But I'm certainly already a fan – and can't wait for episode three in the weekly release schedule. This isn't one of those box sets that you can binge all at once – and the better for it, I suspect. 

The show comes from a pedigree too, with Scrubs and Ted Lasso producers on board – so no real surprise to see Zach Braff pop up in the trailer for Bad Monkey either. There are plenty of other stars on board, too, with both Rob Delaney and Michelle Monaghan both showing face – both featuring in recent Mission Impossible movies.

While I can't give too much away about where Bad Monkey is headed, so no spoilers here, the mix of Miami Beach's Dexter -like vibes (to be fair a severed arm features promptly as a key part of the story), The Wedding Crashers -style nonchalant comedy scripting, and a dual storyline that brings the drama, this looks to be a worthy high-scoring new Apple TV+ production.

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Tv/streaming, collections, chaz's journal, great movies, contributors, the new look.

“Elegance requires intimacy,” says Christian Dior ( Ben Mendelsohn ), during a pivotal moment of the new Apple TV drama “The New Look.” The French designer is expressing frustration at the palatial postwar atelier space his new corporate sponsors are pressuring him to occupy, for he does not believe beauty can come out of intimidating surroundings. But the dialogue is equally applicable to Dior’s characterization on creator Todd Kessler ’s (“Damages,” “ Bloodline ”) 10-episode miniseries, premiering today, which follows the trials and tribulations of Parisian couturiers during and after World War II. The writing is far more sympathetic to Dior’s struggles, charting the path from endless personal tragedies to legendary artistry. Moving and intriguing though Dior’s achievements are, they cannot distract from the flat-out revisionist treatment of Coco Chanel ( Juliette Binoche ). Extensive historical evidence has revealed that Chanel was a Nazi, yet the writers seem committed to doing everything they can to minimize, or conceal entirely, this truth. Chanel’s story is treated with kid gloves, and perhaps most appallingly of all, her fight to control her business is portrayed as more debilitating than the experiences of European Jews. 

The series begins not unlike the pilot of HBO’s much-maligned “The Newsroom.” In a crowded auditorium in 1947, a young woman poses a question to Dior, who has just released his “New Look” collection to the public: is it true that while working for Lucien Lelong ( John Malkovich ) during the war, Dior helped create gowns for the wives and girlfriends of Nazis occupying Paris, while Coco Chanel closed her boutique out of patriotic loyalty? Dior hesitates to answer, and the next 10 episodes reveal why. Yes, Lelong kept his couture house open even when German troops invaded France, and though he designed nothing himself, he employed artists like Dior and Pierre Balmain (Thomas Boitevin) to provide dresses for the Nazis who knocked at his door. Credit where credit is due, this decision raises interesting questions about what antifascism can and/or should look like. Lelong is not happy about supplying fashion to Nazi women, but makes the decision to cooperate not only because it prevents his workers from sliding into homelessness, but also keeps alive some semblance of the historic reputation of Paris as the fashion capital of the world. 

Complicating this thorny issue is Dior’s sister Catherine ( Maisie Williams , fierce and heartbreaking in the part), a fearless member of the French Resistance, to whom Christian hands his paychecks, which help pay for her comrades’ operations and weapons. Catherine’s arrest, torture, and eventual imprisonment at Ravensbrück concentration camp is captured in harrowing detail. Williams is more than capable of handling the role, conveying with ramrod clarity the young Miss Dior’s commitment to anti-fascism. Equally moving is Catherine’s postwar journey, as an emaciated husk of herself, screaming in her sleep, and battling amnesia due to malnutrition. Mendelsohn and Williams play well off each other, creating a fine balance between Christian’s delicate interiority and Catherine’s steely exterior.

Parallel to the Diors’ tale is that of Coco Chanel. There is little about her arc in the series that is not in complete contrast to the truth. (Perhaps that’s why “Inspired by true events” flashes across the screen before each episode, like a dilapidated house on Zillow being sold “as is.”) In the series, Chanel closes her boutique because — according to her — an evil phalanx, including partners known as the Wertheimer Brothers ( Charles Berling and Jérôme Robart), have seized control of her business. Only out of desperation does she use the Nazi connections of her dear friend Baron Vaufreland ( Christopher Buchholz ) to secure the release of her nephew André (Joseph Olivennes) from Nazi custody, an act which German military intelligence operative Gunther von Dincklage ( Claes Bang ) uses to secure her future cooperation as an agent for the Third Reich. Chanel is frightened to receive and forced to obey orders from General Walter Schellenberg ( Jannis Niewöhner , having some fun with the role), head of German military intelligence. None of this is even remotely true. In reality, Chanel, an open anti-semite and homophobe since at least 1923, closed her boutique, saying publicly that “it was not a time for fashion,” a decision which allowed her to fire 4000 workers who had participated in a French general strike in 1936, and invoked “Aryan laws” to successfully wrest control of her company back from the Wertheimer Brothers. Baron Vaufreland was a Nazi recruiter, and von Dincklage was Chanel’s lover, and assisted in her installment at the Hotel Ritz during the occupation of Paris. She gladly worked with Schellenberg as part of Operation Modellhut, a 1943 Nazi plot to send plans for a separate peace, behind Hitler’s back, to Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Madrid; Chanel even paid for Schellenberg’s medical and living expenses after the war. 

“The New Look” gets only two things right. First, the Wertheimer Brothers agreed to renegotiate Chanel’s original contract, largely according to her terms, because they did not wish to lose money selling Chanel-branded apparel and perfume, and were worried further publicity of their legal battle would bring Chanel’s wartime activities to light. The second is that Chanel was indeed a friend of Churchill’s, which is why she was entrusted with serving as a messenger to him, and it is likely due to her enmeshment with the British aristocracy — and knowledge of their Nazi sympathies — that she was never arrested nor tried for collaboration. If the writers knew all this, their decision to paint Chanel as a woman frightened for her life, traumatized by war, forced to obey orders as a desperate effort to stay alive, is deeply distasteful at best, and horrifying at worst.

Perhaps an argument could be made that performances by Binoche, Mendelsohn, and Williams make this a worthy watch. Indeed, it is a genuine treat to watch Binoche’s take on Chanel, her quicksilver facial expressions and body language rapidly accommodating each new situation, each existing fear, tossing aside promises like a clip-on earring from her ears. Mendelsohn, too, brings a soulful melancholy to Dior, a man beset by personal losses and wartime trauma, struggling to create beauty out of horror. It is impossible not to tear up while watching his beautifully lined face contort with sorrow, as he contemplates the horrors from which he could not protect his sister. 

Putting aside the historical revisionism for a second, “The New Look” also falters on its own false terms. For a series ostensibly about fashion, little time is actually spent on the designers’ actual work — costume designer Karen Muller Surreau is barely able to take center-stage — and the camerawork is shakier than that used in the “Bourne” films. 

Finally, while John Malkovich simply cannot do a French accent (a lesson no one apparently learned from his turn as Hercule Poirot on Amazon), he brings a dignified despondence to Lelong, a man who knows the relevance of his field relies on distasteful decisions. There’s even a lovely “ Dangerous Liaisons ” reunion, when Glenn Close arrives in Paris to play Harper’s Bazaar editor Carmel Snow; she and Lelong have a tête-à-tête about who should be the face of fashion after the war’s end. Dior won that honor for his stupendous creations, but the series named for his collection won’t be so fortunate.

On Apple TV+ now. Entire series screened for review.

Nandini Balial

Nandini Balial is a film and TV critic, essayist, and interviewer.

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Film credits.

The New Look (2024)

Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior

Juliette Binoche as Coco Chanel

Maisie Williams as Catherine Dior

John Malkovich as Lucien Lelong

Emily Mortimer as Elsa Lombardi

Claes Bang as Hans Von Dincklage

Glenn Close as Carmel Snow

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The 21 Best Movies on Apple TV+ Right Now

When it comes to originals,  Netflix and  Amazon have the deepest libraries of prestige movies. But ever since  CODA   won the Best Picture Oscar , it’s become clear that some of the best movies are on Apple TV+.

As with any streaming service, not every film on the roster is a winner, but from the Billie Eilish documentary to Sundance darlings, Apple’s streaming service is building up a strong catalog to run alongside its growing slate of  beloved TV shows .

Below are WIRED’s picks for flicks you should prioritize in your queue. Once you’re done, hop over to our list of the  best movies on Netflix and the  best movies on Disney+ . If you’re feeling a little more episodic, our guide for the  best shows on Amazon might be just the ticket.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more .

The World’s a Little Blurry

When it originally came out in 2021, The World's a Little Blurry proved to be an unprecedented look into the life of pop phenom Billie Eilish as the then-teenager recorded her debut LP When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Director R. J. Cutler got amazing access for the film, which chronicles everything from Eilish’s songwriting process with her brother Finneas to her frank talk about her Tourette’s. But it also was only a small chapter of the singer's life. Now that she's won multiple Grammys and Oscars, started singing about eating girls for lunch, and performed at the Olympics Closing Ceremony, watching Blurry feels like opening a time capsule—in all the best ways. It’s the kind of music documentary that redefines the music documentary.

The Velvet Underground

You may think that director Todd Haynes only makes intense dramas like Carol and May December , but for this film he went deep into the art scene in New York City in the 1960s to unearth what happened when the Velvet Underground exploded a lot of people’s ideas of music. Piecing together new interviews with archive footage and even old Andy Warhol films, it captures a moment in music history that changed things forever.

Fancy Dance

Set on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma, Fancy Dance follows the journey of Jax ( Killers of the Flower Moon ’s Lily Gladstone), a woman who has been caring for her niece Roki ever since her sister, Roki’s mother, went missing. After the authorities deem Jax unfit to care for her niece, Roki is sent to live with her grandfather. Looking for answers, Jax takes Roki on the road to try to find her mother and ends up trying to escape the same authorities, who aren’t putting the same effort into finding her missing sister as they are in trying to find her. An examination of life on colonized land, Fancy Dance is also a thoughtful look at protecting community.

Like a few things on Apple streaming services, this movie has a weird connection to Taylor Swift—but unlike many of those things, this connection has been debunked. In the film, Bryce Dallas Howard plays Elly Conway, a spy novelist whose stories end up becoming a little too real. Because her character carries a cat in a backpack, like Swift, there were rumors the singer was involved in writing the script, rumors that Howard dispelled in a late-night interview . Is Argylle worth your time despite the lack of Swift involvement? Reviews are mixed, but if you are part of the camp that wants to see Henry Cavill be a Bond-like hero, this is your shot.

Girls State

Do you remember the 2020 documentary Boys State , about a group of young men in Texas who attend a summer program where the are challenged to form their own government? Girls State is similar—it even comes from the same filmmaking team of Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine—but it follows a group of people who have never seen someone of their gender hold the office of US president. It's also set in Missouri, not Texas. Expect all the same wild ambition and hearbreak—and more than a few life lessons learned.

OK, so Napoleon didn’t exactly get critics’ pens flying , but sometimes you’re just in the mood for a big, prestige-y Ridley Scott historical drama, you know? This one stars Joaquin Phoenix as the title character, following his quest to conquer, well, as much as he possibly can. Rather than being a sprint to the Battle of Waterloo, however, this pic gives attention to the French emperor’s emotionally rocky relationship with his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais (Vanessa Kirby). What happens when a man can conquer most of Europe but not his own feelings? Watch and find out.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese’s epic film is based on David Grann’s 2017 book about a member of the Osage Nation, Mollie Burkhart, who sought to get to the bottom of the deaths in her family. Set in 1920s Oklahoma, a time when many Osage were being killed for the money made from oil on their land, Scorsese’s film follows the relationship between Mollie (played by Lily Gladstone, who won a Golden Globe for her performance) and Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and what happens when the FBI comes to investigate the Osage deaths. When WIRED named it one of 2023’s best movies , we called it “a feel-bad masterpiece,” and we stand by that.

Fingernails

Can technology determine whether you've found The One? Probably not, but in the latest from writer-director Christos Nikou, an institute run by Duncan (Luke Wilson) claims that it has found the formula for true love anyway—and Anna (Jessie Buckley) wants to figure out if it's real. The institute, you see, has determined that Anna and her boyfriend Ryan (Jeremy Allen White) are a match, but has doubts. While working at the institute, though, she meets Amir (Riz Ahmed) and finds someone who actually might be her match.

Flora and Son

Remember Sing Street , that charming indie about a kid in Dublin who starts a band as an escape from his complicated home life? What about Once , that charming indie about a pair that spends a week in Dublin writing songs about their love? If you enjoyed either of those—or if they just sound like something you might enjoy—let us suggest Flora and Son , a charming indie about a mother in Dublin trying to connect with her son through song. Like Sing Street and Once , Flora and Son comes from director John Carney and has all of his signature moves, plus something else: Eve Hewson, who plays the movie's titular mom. She's a force, and she hits all of her musician notes perfectly. Makes sense; she's Bono's daughter.

Stephen Curry: Underrated

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry might be one of the most beloved players in American basketball—and he is definitely one of the best players, if not the best player, in the league. He has been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player twice and has won four championship rings. He also has more career three-pointers than anyone in the league. But in the late aughts, he was a kid at a small school, Davidson College, just trying to live up to the potential his coaches saw in him. Underrated , directed by Peter Nicks ( Homeroom ), chronicles that journey, showing how Curry bested the predictions of his own NBA draft (many said he didn't have the size necessary for the league) to become one of the greatest to ever play the game. For basketball fans, it's a must-watch.

Beastie Boys Story

One of the pioneering groups in hip-hop, the Beastie Boys have a story like no other. For this “live documentary,” filmmaker Spike Jonze filmed Mike Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) as they told a crowd at Brooklyn’s Kings Theater about their rise to stardom. Complete with old footage, photos, and stories from the group’s decades-long career, the doc captures just how influential the Beasties have been since they started playing music together as kids in New York City in the late ’70s and early ’80s. It also features some wonderful memories of their third member, Adam “MCA” Yauch, who died in 2012 following a battle with cancer.

This is the one that put Apple TV+ on the map. The movie’s title is an acronym for “child of deaf adults.” It’s the story of Ruby, the only hearing person in a family that includes two deaf parents and one deaf sibling. When Ruby discovers a love of music, she's forced to reconcile her own aspirations with those of her family, who run a small fishing business and often need her to help communicate. Warm and gripping,  CODA  is the kind of movie that will have you cheering and crying at the same time.

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

In 1985, Michael J. Fox was one of Hollywood’s biggest names as the star of a hit TV show ( Family Ties ) and the year’s highest-grossing movie ( Back to the Future ). Just a few years later, at the age of 29, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In  Still , Oscar-winning documentarian Davis Guggenheim offers a poignant portrait of Fox’s personal and professional life and his journey from teen idol to advocate for a cure.

Mahershala Ali stars alongside, well, Mahershala Ali in this romantic-sci-fi-drama. Yes, it’s all of those things. Cameron (Ali) is a loving husband (to Naomie Harris) and father who, after learning he has a terminal illness, must decide just how far he’ll go to protect his family from having to know the truth, or deal with the devastating aftermath.

Sharper is one of those movies where the less you know about it going in, the better. Just know that no one is what they seem or who they say they are in this neo-noir starring Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, and John Lithgow. This twisty little thriller flew largely under the radar when it was released in theaters for a half-second in early 2023.

Cha Cha Real Smooth

“Sundance hit starring Dakota Johnson”s are almost a dime a dozen, but this one, about a young bar/bat mitzvah party-starter is the, ahem, real deal. It also proves that Cooper Raiff—who writes, directs, and stars in the movie—is one to keep your eye on.

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Yes, most people already know the story of Macbeth—Scottish lord with an eye toward ruling his country—but not everyone has seen it through the eyes of director Joel Coen. Shot entirely in black and white and starring Denzel Washington as Macbeth and Frances McDormand as his powerful wife, the film was nominated for three Oscars and brought a very new twist onto a classic Shakespearean tale.

Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues

Above all else, Louis Armstrong is known as one of the most famous jazz musicians of all time. But he was also a figure in the struggle for equality in America—albeit a complicated one. As director Sacha Jenkins illustrates in this documentary, while Armstrong broke racial barriers in entertainment he also faced accusations that he didn’t stand up as much for civil rights as other performers of his era. Jenkins got access to scores of photographs, clippings, and even recordings Armstrong made of his own conversations for this documentary, and that access provides a much fuller picture of the legendary musician than the world has ever had.

One of the most popular video games of all time,  Tetris  was a phenomenon for Nintendo Game Boy owners in the 1980s. But  Tetris (the movie) is the story of the people who made the game and brought it from the then-Soviet Union to the rest of the world. Part historical dramedy, part espionage flick, the movie doesn’t always hit its marks, but if you’ve never heard the story of how  Tetris  got out from behind the Iron Curtain, it’s worth a watch.

Causeway  kind of came and went when it was released in 2022, but that’s also the sort of movie it is. Focused on a soldier (Jennifer Lawrence) who returns home after suffering a brain injury in Afghanistan, the film from director Lila Neugebauer is about trauma and how people lean on each other to get through it. A worthy watch for the times when you have your own stuff to work through.

Sidney Poitier died in 2022, the same year Apple TV+ released this documentary looking at the actor’s long-running career— In the Heat of the Night ,  Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner —and impact on American culture and politics. With interviews ranging from Spike Lee and Morgan Freeman to Harry Belafonte, the film goes beyond his time in Hollywood, starting with his upbringing in the Bahamas and ending with his massive impact on the civil rights movement and elsewhere.

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Apple Rethinks Its Movie Strategy After a String of Misses

“Wolfs,” a new film starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, was going to get a robust theatrical release. But the company is curtailing that plan.

By Nicole Sperling

When Apple won a bidding war in 2021 for the rights to make the action comedy “Wolfs” with George Clooney and Brad Pitt, it did so in part because it promised the stars it would put the movie into a large number of movie theaters.

“Brad and I made the deal to do that movie where we gave money back to make sure that we had a theatrical release,” Mr. Clooney said last year in an interview with the Hollywood trade publication Deadline.

But this month, just six weeks before the film was set to show up in thousands of theaters around the United States, Apple announced a significant change in plans. “Wolfs” will now be shown on a limited number of movie screens for one week before becoming available on the company’s streaming service on Sept. 27. (Internationally, it won’t appear in theaters at all with the exception of the Venice Film Festival, where it will premiere on Sept. 1.)

“‘Wolfs’ is the kind of big event movie that makes Apple TV+ such an exceptional home for the best in entertainment,” Matt Dentler, the head of features for Apple Original Films, said in a statement. “Releasing the movie to theaters before making it widely available to Apple TV+ customers brings the best of both worlds to audiences.”

The film’s director, Jon Watts, told Vanity Fair that he had found out about the change in plans only days before the announcement. “The theatrical experience has really made an impression on me, of how valuable this thing is and how important it is,” Mr. Watts said. “I always thought of this as a theatrical movie. We made it to be seen in theaters, and I think that’s the best way to see it.”

Despite the filmmakers’ desires, the about-face follows a middling run at the box office for Apple, which began releasing films into theaters around the country via partnerships with traditional studios in October.

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Everything We Know

Everything we know about the foundation streaming series, based on isaac asimov's sci-fi novel trilogy — a major influence on star wars and star trek — the apple tv+ series stars jared harris and lee pace and is scheduled to debut in 2021..

TAGGED AS: Apple TV Plus , Apple TV+ , Sci-Fi , science fiction

In the 70-plus years since Isaac Asimov published his epic 1951 science fiction novel Foundation and its sequels — 1952’s Foundation and Empire and 1953’s Second Foundation — this space opera has inspired numerous movies and TV shows (and games, and comics, and other novels…). Not only can you see its influence in Star Trek and Star Wars , but elements of it have even turned up in Futurama .

Now, after a few false starts, Asimov’s influential trilogy is finally making its way to television courtesy of Apple+ and some familiar names. Slated to debut on September 24, the 10-episode show Foundation will be overseen by frequent Christopher Nolan collaborator David S. Goyer , with familial assistance from Asimov’s daughter Robyn Asimov . The series is coming from Skydance Television, which previously produced the Netflix series Altered Carbon (which, not coincidentally, was also based on a classic sci-fi novel).

In the intro to the show’s first teaser trailer, Goyer noted that, “People have been trying to make Foundation for over 50 years,” and that “…the story is sprawling, [and] unfolds over the course of a thousand years.” Ironically, the show’s second trailer makes Foundation look a bit like the upcoming Dune movie, which is also based on a sprawling, multi-year sci-fi novel people have been trying (and usually failing) to bring to screens for years.

(Photo by Apple TV+)

Set in the far future, the show, like the novels, will follow as Hari Seldon ( Jared Harris , pictured), the inventor of a new predictive science called psychohistory, who uses it to try and both slow and limit the impact of what he sees as the inevitable collapse of the Galactic Empire. Of course, this makes some people rather nervous, not the least of which is Hari, who’s not only smart enough to invent a new kind of science, but also to know how the people in power will react to it.

But while the novels are decidedly hard science-fiction stories, short on action and long on intellect, Apple+’s description of Foundation makes it sound like the show might be a bit less literary. According to their press materials, the show “chronicles a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire,” which suggests this series will follow the spirit of the novels more than the letter.

It’s also doubtful, given the scope and the 10-episode order (so far), that Foundation will cover all three books. It may not even cover all of the first one, especially if they incorporate elements of Asimov’s prequel novels, 1988’s Prelude to Foundation and 1993’s Forward the Foundation . But with the credentials of the people involved, we’re hopeful that Goyer and Apple will be able to pull it off.

Who Are the Creatives on  Foundation ?

(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Goyer serves as the series’ showrunner. (Original co-writer and co-show runner John Friedman left the production in April of 2019, though it’s not known if this was planned or unplanned). And while Goyer is best known as a screenwriter — most notably for Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, the Blade films, and both Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice — he’s no stranger to TV. He was the co-creator, a producer, and a writer for the SyFy channel’s Superman prequel Krypton , the co-creator and a writer for the WB’s short-lived comic book adaptation Constantine , and is currently helping to develop The Sandman , a show based on author and producer Neil Gaiman’s iconic comic book series.

Joining Goyer in the show’s credits are co-executive producers and writers Leigh Dana Jackson ( Helix , 24: Legacy ) and Victoria Morrow ( Weeds , Rectify ), co-producer Adam Banks ( Altered Carbon , Luke Cage ), and the aforementioned Robyn Asimov, who will serve as an executive producer.

As for the writers, while Goyer will pen an as-yet-unknown number of episodes, he, Jackson, and Morrow will be joined by Marcus Gardley, who was the executive story editor for 10 episodes of The Chi , and a writer of four; Sarah Nolen ( The Americans ); and Saladin Ahmed, who is best known for writing the comic books Ms. Marvel and Miles Morales: Spider-Man . Isaac Asimov will also share writing credit on all 10 episodes, which is a neat trick given that he passed away in 1992.

Where things get even more interesting is in the director’s chair. Here, Foundation will feature the talents of Alex Graves ( Lost in Space , Altered Carbon ), Jennifer Phang ( The Boys , Resident Alien ), and Rupert Sanders ( Ghost in the Shell , Snow White and the Huntsman ). But the most interesting person who’ll be yelling “CUT!” for Foundation — and twice no less — is Roxann Dawson, who has directed episodes of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels , House of Cards , and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , but is best known to fans of epic sci-fi space operas as B’Elanna Torres from Star Trek: Voyager …a show she directed twice before doing the same for 10 episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise .

Who’s in the Cast of Foundation ?

Like the crew, many of the cast members also have experience with epic space stories. For the role of Hari Seldon, Goyer and company cast two-time Emmy nominee Harris, who’s well versed in the ways of space and TV thanks to his role as Anderson Dawes in multiple episodes of The Expanse . Harris recently starred in HBO’s Emmy-winning limited series Chernobyl , for which he received his second Emmy nomination; played King George VI in multiple episodes of The Crown ; and had roles in the shows The Terror ,  Carnival Row , Mad Men (his first Emmy nomination), and Fringe .

Foundation also stars Lee Pace , who plays Emperor Brother Day, and will undoubtedly draw from his experience playing Ronan the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy . Pace also has experience with epics, and royalty, having played the Elven king Thranduil in The Hobbit movies, as well as TV experience from playing Joe MacMillan in Halt and Catch Fire . He is also Emmy nominated for his role as Ned on ABC fantasy series  Pushing Daisies .

Some of the casting of Foundation will change things up from the book. While the character of Eto Demerzel is male in the novels, the role in the show will instead be played by a female, Finnish actor Laura Birn . Birn is best known for the 2014 movie A Walk Among the Tombstones ; though she’s also no stranger to serialized entertainment, having played Elena in all eight episodes of Netflix’s The Innocents .

Alfred Enoch has been cast in an as-yet-unidentified role. Like many of his costars, Enoch also has experience with epics, having played Dean Thomas in the Harry Potter movies, and experience with TV, as Wes Gibbins in How to Get Away with Murder . So he’s probably playing a space wizard who’s in law school…or something.

The cast of Foundation also includes Terrence Mann  as Brother Dusk, who is the eldest member of the royal family. Mann previously played Whispers in the Netflix show Sense8 , though horror fans know him better as Ug, the interstellar bounty hunter in all four Critters movies. Joining him in the royal family as Brother Dawn is Cassian Bilton, a British actor whose previous credits include a handful of short films, including the BAFTA-nominated Shoal .

Bilton is not the only relatively unknown actor in the Foundation cast, though. Gaal Dornick, a mathematician who becomes Seldon’s biographer, will be played by Lou Llobell (pictured), who also appears in the upcoming sci-fi movie Voyagers , while the role of Salvor Hardin, who is the first mayor of Terminus City, will be played by Leah Harvey, who was previously seen in the wrestling movie Fighting with My Family .

When Does Foundation Premiere?

Like every other show in production these days, production on Foundation  experienced delays related to COVID-19, coming to a complete halt in March 2020 before resuming in October. The cast and crew then moved to Malta in January of 2021 to film for a month, then to two separate locations the Canary Islands. Currently, the series is scheduled to debut on Apple TV+ on September 24, 2021, which means you still have plenty of time to read the 220-page original novel — or heck, the entire 660-page trilogy — and forget most of the plot twists before the show comes to your viewing screen.

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