25 Best Movies On Apple TV+ Right Now (July 2024)

Summary

• 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.

Best Drama Movies On Apple TV+

Finch (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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

Swan Song (2021)

Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali stars alongside Glenn Close, Naomie Harris, and Awkwafina in Swan Song, a romantic sci-fi film that raises existential questions about what it means to be human. The movie tells the story of a terminally ill man given the option to replace himself with a clone and spare his family’s grief, leaving him to contemplate whether to discuss the offer with his wife.

Apple TV+’s Swan Song has been praised for its cast, particularly Ali, who was nominated for a BAFTA Film Award and a Golden Globe for his performance, and deservedly ranks as one of the best movies on Apple TV+.

Tetris (2023)

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)

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+.

Cherry (2021)

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.

Best Comedy Movies On Apple TV+

On The Rocks (2020)

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)

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)

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)

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.

Best Musical Movies On Apple TV+

Spirited (2022)

Starring A-list comedy actors Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, the Apple TV+ Original Spirited is a movie musical spin on Charles Dickens’ classic story A Christmas Carol. Spirited follows a selfish miser named Clint Briggs (Reynolds) who is taken on a magical journey by the ghosts of Christmas Present (Ferrell), Past (Sunita Mani), and Yet-To-Come (played by Loren G. Woods, voiced by Tracy Morgan).

Whether it’s the holiday season or not, Spirited offers enjoyable entertainment from its ensemble cast and talented lead actors, as well as an innovative update to the time-honored parable.

Flora And Son (2023)

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)

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.

Best Action Movies On Apple TV+

Argylle (2024)

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)

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.

Best Thriller Movies On Apple TV+

Emancipation (2022)

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)

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)

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.

Best Documentaries On Apple TV+

Girls State (2024)

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.

Watch On Apple TV+

The Velvet Underground (2021)

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.

Watch On Apple TV+

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023)

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.