The best movies on Apple TV+ include some of the must-see titles of the season, like Oscar 2024 nominees Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon.
As one of the best streaming services, Apple TV+ has something for everybody.
One of Apple TV+'s latest original releases is The Instigators, Matt Damon's new heist movie. The story follows a desperate father and an ex-con who plan to steal money from a corrupt politician, but their heist doesn't go as expected and they see themselves chased both by police and vengeful crime bosses.
This year, Apple TV+ also released Matthew Vaughn's latest movie Argylle, a star-studded action comedy with Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Dua Lipa and more. The movie poses the question: who is the real Agent Argylle?
Additionally, among Apple TV+'s upcoming releases, we can find Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum's new movie Fly Me to the Moon (in cinemas on July 12 and on Apple TV+ at a later date).
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
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Though best known for critically acclaimed original TV shows like For All Mankind, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and The Morning Show, it's also building a remarkable catalogue of movies featuring some of the most talented stars and filmmakers working today.
Legendary directors like Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott, A-list actors like Denzel Washington, Jennifer Lawrence and Dakota Johnson, and indie filmmakers like John Carney and Christos Nikou have found a home at Apple TV+ in the last few years. And this list just keeps growing.
If you're still not a subscriber and want to be, Apple TV+ costs £8.99 per month.
If you still need some time to think about it, you can still check some of these movies for free by taking advantage of Apple TV+'s current seven-day free trial, available for all new subscribers. Want to know about other free Apple TV+ deals? We've got you covered.
Fancy Dance (2024)
Lily Gladstone is excellent in Fancy Dance, which follows her historic Oscar nomination for her role as Mollie Burkhart in Killers of the Flower Moon (which is in this list too!).
The story follows Jax (Gladstone), who has been taking care of her teenage niece Roki (played by Isabel Deroy-Olson) since her sister Tawi's disappearance. When the authorities realise her mother is probably never coming back, Roki is taken away from the Seneca-Cayuga Reservation in Oklahoma.
However, Jax insists on finding out the truth about her sister, and taking her niece to the upcoming powwow.
Read our review of Fancy Dance.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture and Leading Actress for Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon is Martin Scorsese's latest masterpiece. It's a must-see movie on Apple TV+.
Based on a true story set in 1920s Oklahoma, the movie follows the serial murders of the wealthy members of the Osage Nation.
Its lengthy runtime is well worth it, as this might be one of Scorsese's best movies. Reuniting with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert de Niro, the filmmaker delivers a truly masterful and thought-provoking work. That powerful ending and surprising cameo are the cherry on top.
Read our review of Killers of the Flower Moon.
Napoleon (2023)
Come on, we know you're dying to hear the line "You think you're so great because you have boats!" on your TV.
Napoleon is definitely more humorous than viewers might expect from a biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix. Now, the movie also features glorious battle scenes and gripping political tensions, as well as a turbulent romance between the soldier-turned-emperor and his first wife Joséphine (played by The Crown's Vanessa Kirby).
The movie scored three nominations at the Oscars in 2024, and it's now available to watch at home.
Read our review of Napoleon.
Fingernails (2023)
If you're looking for a different kind of romantic movie, Fingernails might be one for you.
Starring Jessie Buckley (Wicked Little Letters), Riz Ahmed (The Night Of) and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), the movie introduces a curious system to find a perfect love match – with a fingernail from each lover, a revolutionary test can determine if they are really made for each other.
Greek director Christos Nikou's second feature film is a witty, absurdist satire about love and relationships, in the vein of Yorgos Lanthimos' The Lobster. And that ending? It might break your heart a little.
Read our review of Fingernails.
Tetris (2023)
Based on an extraordinary true story, Tetris is not another video game movie.
Taron Egerton is all energy in this movie as Dutch entrepreneur and video game designer Henk Rogers, who in 1988 discovered Tetris, a video game created by Russian computer engineer Alexey Pajitnov. He risked everything by travelling to the Soviet Union to win the rights to the game, even facing media tycoon Robert Maxwell in an intense legal battle.
Believe it or not, this story makes for a highly entertaining watch in Tetris, which ends up becoming an exciting Cold War thriller with plenty of car chases and espionage work.
Read our review of Tetris.
Flora and Son (2023)
John Carney's latest work has a key element we've come to expect of his movies, from Once to Being Again — lots of music.
Starring Bad Sisters' Eve Hewson, Flora and Son follows a single mother who shares custody of her rebellious son Max (Orén Kinlan) with her ex Ian (Jack Reynor). Unable to find him a hobby to set him straight, Flora turns to music in order to bond with Max, with the help of online lessons from a musician named Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).
It's a sweet story, perfect for those looking for an overlooked gem in Apple TV+'s catalogue.
Read our review of Flora and Son.
The Beanie Bubble (2023)
For a while, the Beanie Babies took over the United States like a plague. In The Beanie Bubble, we get to discover what was really behind this stuffed toy phenomenon.
Starring Elizabeth Banks (Cocaine Bear), Sarah Snook (Succession) and Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), the movie tells the story of billionaire and Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner from the perspective of three essential women in his life, Robbie, Maya and Sheila.
Based on Zac Bissonnette's novel The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute, The Beanie Bubble mixes truth and fiction as it explores the lights and shadows of the American Dream.
Read our review of The Beanie Bubble.
Causeway (2022)
Jennifer Lawrence delivers one of her best performances in Lila Neugebauer's 2022 movie Causeway.
The story follows military engineer Lynsey, who has returned to the US from Afghanistan with a debilitating brain injury following an IED explosion. She now has to adjust to a new reality in her New Orleans home, where her memories haunt her. Helped by a local mechanic (played by Brian Tyree Henry) who is also dealing with his own personal trauma, Lynsey tries to move forward with her life.
This movie reminds us why Jennifer Lawrence is one of the best actresses of her generation.
Read our review of Causeway.
CODA (2021)
Back in 2022, CODA became the first Apple TV+ movie to score the Oscar for Best Picture (it also won awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur), but the movie was breaking new ground well before that.
Starring Deaf actors Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant, alongside lead actress Emilia Jones, the movie follows the experiences of a teenager in the fishing town of Gloucester, Massachusetts. She faces the usual teen issues, from making friends at school to discovering her passions, while also dealing with the particularities of living with a deaf family.
This remake of 2014 French movie La Famille Bélier is a beautiful coming-of-age story with endearing performances.
Wolfwalkers (2020)
An animated gem, Wolfwalkers makes for a wonderful family-friendly watch with stunning visuals and a fascinating story.
The story follows Robyn Goodfellowe, a young apprentice hunter who travels to Ireland to wipe out the last wolf pack, but instead ends up befriending a free-spirited girl who lives in the forest. That's his way into the tribe of the Wolfwalkers, humans who turn into wolves at night, as he deviates for the first time from the path his father laid out for him.
The movie, co-produced by Cartoon Saloon and Mélusine Productions, was nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. It's the third movie in director Tomm Moore's Irish Folklore Trilogy, following 2009's The Secret of Kells and 2014's Song of the Sea.
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth is a stunning adaptation of William Shakespeare's world-famous play Macbeth.
Everybody knows the story to some extent – it follows Macbeth's attempts to seize the Scottish throne after receiving a prophecy from a trio of witches, who told him he was destined to become King.
Starring Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand and an absolutely creepy Kathryn Hunter, the movie is a gorgeous black-and-white tale exploring ambition and violence. It really does justice to the original source.
Mireia (she/her) has been working as a movie and TV journalist for over eight years. Based in the UK, she is a former deputy movies editor at Digital Spy, and previously worked for the Spanish magazine Fotogramas. Mireia's work has been published in other outlets such as Esquire and Elle in Spain, and WeLoveCinema and GamesRadar+ in the UK. She is also a published author, having written the essay Biblioteca Studio Ghibli: Nicky, la aprendiz de bruja about Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service.
During her years as a freelance journalist and film critic, Mireia has covered festivals around the world and has interviewed high-profile talents such as Kristen Stewart, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal and many more. She's also taken part in juries such as the FIPRESCI jury at Venice Film Festival and the short film jury at Kingston International Film Festival in London. LinkedIn
