The best movies on Apple TV Plus are an eclectic mix of nail-biting thrillers, amusing comedies, family-friendly showstoppers, enlightening documentaries, and more. Though Apple was a little late to the streaming game, the quality of titles produced, the tremendous castings from Hollywood’s best and brightest, and the reception of a coveted Academy Award have established the streaming service as a competitive force amongst its rival giants.
If you've settled in on a Friday night and need an engrossing new movie to really sink your teeth into, there are plenty of fantastic choices. If you managed to make your way through our list of movies and you are looking for some binge-worthy shows next, it's worth checking out the best Apple TV Plus shows.
At a glance
Sharper A neo-noir thriller of secrets and lies, set amongst New York City's bedrooms and boardrooms. Characters compete for power in a high-stakes game of greed.
Fingernails Starring The Bear's Jeremy Allen White, this captivating romantic sci-fi film questions the forces that control love and how we find our romantic partners.
CODA Ruby is a CODA, or child of Deaf adults, who joins her school choir and discovers a gift for song. Will she help her family or pursue her own dreams?
Stephen Curry: Underrated The story of one of basketball's greatest-ever players. Steph Curry's story is about perseverance and never giving up on your dreams.
The Beanie Bubble The story of one of the world’s first internet sensations, the Beanie Babies, a coveted line of collectible stuffed toys from the 90s.
Apple TV Plus movies: Comedy
The Beanie Bubble
Behind every great businessman…there are three incredible women!
The Beanie Bubble is the story of one of the world’s first internet sensations, the Beanie Babies, a coveted line of collectible stuffed toys from the 90s, introduced by American Businessman Ty Warner. The Apple TV Plus biopic is an ode to female power in a heavily male-dominated corporate world, as it explores the integral role of the three women who, behind Warner, led The Beanie Babies craze and were integral to their rise to fame. The Beanie Bubble is a story filled with color and nostalgia, created to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroines of the Beanie Babies revolution.
Watch The Beanie Bubble on Apple TV Plus
Flora and Son
This is the heartwarming, uplifting story of Flora, a struggling young single mom from Dublin, who is trying to navigate parenthood with a troublesome teenage son. The film depicts their complicated mother-son relationship and their struggle while attempting to understand each other. When given an ultimatum that might change both of their lives forever, a final gesture from Flora, in the shape of a guitar found in a dumpster, triggers something between her and her son, initiating a chain of events that might just be what they need to find each other again.
Watch Flora and Son on Apple TV Plus
The Family Plan
Mark Wahlberg stars as Dan Morgan in the upcoming The Family Plan, the story of a retired assassin who is now living incognito with his wife, Michelle Monaghan, and three kids. The family blockbuster is packed with action and follows the Morgans taking an apparently ordinary family road trip to Las Vegas. What seems like the trip of a lifetime is, however, a carefully crafted disguise planned by Dan, who is trying to keep his identity a secret while attempting to save his family from some deadly shadows of his past.
Watch The Family Plan on Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus movies: Drama
CODA
No list of the best Apple TV Plus movies would be complete without this award-winning film. CODA won three Oscars, including "Best Picture" as well as "Best Adapted Screenplay" in 2022. This is a universally appealing film we would recommend to just about everyone. The main character of the film, Ruby, is a CODA, or child of Deaf adults. Ruby’s role in the family includes working on her family’s fishing boat before school and often serving as an interpreter for her Deaf parents and brother.
She joins her high school’s choir and discovers she that she’s a gifted singer, but has to make the difficult choice whether to keep helping her family or to pursue her own dreams. CODA made history in several ways: it’s the first film with a predominantly Deaf cast to win Best Picture and actor Troy Kotsur (who plays Ruby’s father) is the first Deaf male actor to win an Oscar (Best Supporting Actor). Additionally, CODA makes Apple TV Plus the first streaming service to win the "Best Picture" Academy Award. CODA will get you right in the feels.
Causeway
Causeway was Apple's main shot at an Academy Award in 2023 and worth checking out if you're a fan of heartfelt dramas. The film follows Lynsey, a US Military soldier sent home from Afghanistan with severe PTSD following the explosion of two roadside bombs. I can't say it's an easy watch, as it tackles some heavy subjects and doesn't shy away from the difficult emotions. Elevated by strong performances from Jennifer Lawrence and "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar-nominated Bryan Tyree Henry, Causeway isn't for everyone but it's an excellent film.
Watch Causeway on Apple TV Plus
Swan Song
Swan Song is a science fiction drama set in the near future. Mahershala Ali stars as Cameron, a man diagnosed with a terminal disease. He's offered an option that would shield his wife and son from grief: replacing himself with a carbon copy clone. He has to decide how far he will go and what he will sacrifice for love. This thought-provoking film will stick with you.
Watch Swan Song on Apple TV Plus
Palmer
I had only seen Justin Timberlake in romantic comedies or music videos, so to witness his delivery of such an emotional performance in Palmer was truly a surprise. Palmer is a profound, meaningful story about acceptance, rejection, belonging, and unconditional love. The movie follows ex-convict Palmer (Timberlake) as he struggles to navigate life after jail. The unexpected encounter with Sam, a kid who has been abandoned by his addict mother, Ted Lasso’s Juno Temple, unlocks something in Palmer, marking the beginning of a journey towards love and self-discovery.
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Literature fanatics will love this haunting adaption of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Joel Cohen's bold take on the classic won't be for everyone, but Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand are formidable talents that will keep you engaged from the first eerie moments of the film until the last. In case you're not familiar with MacBeth, the plot revolves around a Scottish general who is told by three witches that he will be King of Scotland. Emboldened by his wife, Macbeth proceeds to kill the king and become the new king, devolving into madness in the process.
Watch The Tragedy of Macbeth on Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus movies: Romance
Fingernails
Fingernails is a captivating romantic sci-fi film that questions the forces that control love. The premise of the film is that a controversial new technology has been created to scientifically determine whether couples are truly in love. The protagonist, Anna, is torn between what science has told her should be her true match and what her own heart feels. Her internal divide generates traction with her partner, raising questions science cannot answer, threatening the power of love to overpower scientific rationale.
Watch Fingernails on Apple TV Plus
The Sky Is Everywhere
If you are in the mood for a soulful romantic drama, look no further. The Sky Is Everywhere is an emotional coming-of-age movie about re-discovering love and finding purpose again after a tragic loss. The story follows Lennie, a teenage musician who, after the death of her sister Bailey, finds herself torn in a love triangle that embodies her internal puzzle between loss and life.
Watch The Sky Is Everywhere on Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus movies: Thriller
Sharper
Sharper is a fun, twisty thriller about upper crust New York society and con artists playing their games. It's sleek, sexy, dark, and fun to watch. This film seems to have flown under the radar a bit, but it's well worth the watch. The stellar cast includes Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, and John Lithgow.
Watch Sharper on Apple TV Plus
Tetris
Who knew that the invention of a video game would lead to a cold war era thriller? But it does. Tetris is a taut, fun adventure behind the iron curtain. It's based on the true story of an American video game salesman, Henk Rogers, who discovers the Russian-made game in 1988 and seeks the rights to share the game with the world. The events of the film Tetris are slightly exaggerated for dramatic purposes, but the spirit of the film remains true.
Finch
Finch is a post-apocalyptic survival adventure film featuring one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors, Tom Hanks. The story follows the life of Finch (Hanks), a robot engineer who, with his dog, manages to survive and find shelter after a solar flair destroys the planet as we know it. After 15 years of safety, Finch, his dog, and the robot he created to protect his dog in the event of his demise, must seek alternative shelter to avoid another flair. They step into the outside world and embark on an epic journey, searching for hope, life, and the meaning of being human.
Apple TV Plus movies: Documentary
Stephen Curry: Underrated
The inspiring coming-of-age story of basketball player Stephen Curry and his journey from undersized player at a small college to NBA superstar. Curry is currently considered the greatest basketball shooter and one of the greatest of all time for the sport, and this documentary is a portrait of his resilience, passion, and tenacity.
Watch Stephen Curry: Underrated on Apple TV Plus
STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie
I can't overstate Michael J. Fox's popularity and influence on pop culture in the 80s. To say he was a household name would be an understatement. He was one of the most beloved stars of both TV and film at the time, starring in top sitcom Family Ties for most of the decade as well as the massively popular Back to the Future franchise. His devastating Parkinson's diagnosis affected us all. STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie explores what happens when "an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease."
Watch STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie
The Pigeon Tunnel
Directed by Academy Award winner Errol Morris, The Pigeon Tunnel is an insightful documentary on the story and career of David Cornwell, a distinguished English-Irish MI5 agent turned writer and since then known by his pen name, John le Carré. The movie spans over the last six decades of Le Carré and culminates with his last and most personal interview.
Watch The Pigeon Tunnel on Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus movies: Animation
Luck
Sam is the unluckiest person in the world until a mysterious cat offers her a good luck penny. Despite the sudden stream of good luck, Sam loses the penny due to her persistent clumsiness, and she is transported to a magical universe where good and bad luck reside. Sam quickly realizes that these two worlds are extremely intertwined and coexist solely thanks to a very delicate balance. So what happens when Sam’s bad luck threatens to break the equilibrium between the two? What will the repercussions on humankind be?
Wolfwalkers
Pop some popcorn and put on the PG-rated animated Wolfwalkers, winner of five Annie Awards, for your next family movie night. The fantasy film takes place in ancient Ireland, where superstition and magic rule. The main character, Robyn, and her father are tasked with destroying the last of the wolves, for they are considered to be evil. While out exploring, Robyn meets a mysterious girl named Mebh, and is drawn into her enchanted world. Wolfwalkers is great fun for all the family and well worth checking out.
Watch Wolfwalkers on Apple TV Plus
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse
Apple TV Plus original The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse garnered an Oscar in 2023 for "Best Animated Short". You may have heard of Charlie Mackesy's 30 minute short film before as it has been adapted from his beautiful book of the same name. A must-watch for anyone, particularly children and families, the film shows the beauty of friendship in a profound and easy to watch way.
Watch The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse on Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus movies: Coming soon
The pool of titles is evergrowing on Apple TV Plus, and there is so much to look forward to in the upcoming months. Currently in Cinemas and available soon on Apple TV Plus is Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated Napoleon, telling the story of one of history’s most famous and infamous generals, beautifully portrayed in action and psyche by Oscar-winning Joaquin Phoenix.
Martin Scorsese’s latest emotional masterpiece, Killers of the Flower Moon, is currently available to rent or buy on Apple TV and will soon be free to Apple TV Plus subscribers. The film marks yet another successful collaboration between Scorsese, De Niro, and Di Caprio, and I definitely think that this will be one to watch for the upcoming award season.
So grab your popcorn and take your pick, and remember, you can watch Apple TV Plus with up to six members of your family with Family Sharing.
Award-winning films
With Apple TV Plus, you can watch well-produced, big-budget films from famed directors, and starring award-winning actors and actresses across all your Apple devices and with up to six members of your Family Sharing group.
