Streaming services have been around for quite some time now, with many of them popping up over the last couple of years to compete with the big boys like Netflix and Hulu. But one streaming service to note as of late is actually Apple TV+, the streaming service that is of course connected to the famous technology company.
While you can rent your favorite shows on the platform, the actual streaming service has so much to offer those with an Apple TV+ subscription. From amazing documentaries that talk about hit pop singers like Selena Gomez to the Academy Award-winning movie, CODA, there are plenty of options to suit your tastes. While the best Apple TV+ shows are just as fun to watch, the movies are great too, and also available to stream with the Apple TV Plus free trial. Here are the best Apple TV+ original movies you can check out now.
CODA
First up on this list, we have the 2022 Academy Award Best Picture winner, CODA. This movie tells the inspiring story of a young woman who is the only hearing person within her deaf family, and discovers that she has a passion for singing. However, she must choose between pursuing this passion and staying at home to help her family with their fishing business.
CODA is phenomenal. From the outstanding CODA cast (one of which, Troy Kotsur, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor) to its inspiring story, this movie is one that you won't forget. It's a simple coming of age tale that somehow speaks so many volumes and encourages you to chase your dreams, no matter what obstacles might be in your way. It's no wonder it won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Beastie Boys Story
Have you ever been curious about the lives of one of the most famous musical groups of all time? That’s exactly what Beastie Boys Story is all about. Band members Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz came together to share the story of their band and the forty-year friendship that came along with it through every up and down they could have imagined.
For people like us who never really get to understand what’s on the inside of the music industry, it’s certainly one of my absolute favorite pieces of work that I have watched regarding it. For a band that has been around as long as the Beastie Boys, hearing about everything they have been through is inspiring, and will make anyone want to get up and achieve their dreams with their buddies by their side.
Come From Away
Remember when the filmed stage production of Hamilton released on Disney+ and the world fell in love with theater again? That should be the same case with Come From Away on Apple TV+. This wonderful filmed version of the Broadway show tells the incredible true story about a small community in Newfoundland that opened its doors to the world during 9/11.
While I’ve always been the biggest fan of musicals, especially modern musicals, Come From Away has been a big favorite of mine, strictly for the beautiful story that it tells. The music is also stunning as well, featuring amazing voices from all around. If you need a movie to feel good about, this is your go-to.
Boys State
When I talk about award-winning documentaries, this is certainly one of them. Boys State, which was the winner of the Grand Jury Prize for documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival, goes over the week-long tradition that a Texas high school had of gathering all their seniors for an intensive mock exercise in which they build their own state government.
For me, it was eye-opening. Not only because it was interesting to see how some of these young adults tried to find solutions to problems, but also because of how little many of them knew about governments or how things are properly run. You’ll find yourself becoming the student in this mock exercise as well, learning through every step of the way.
Spirited
Are you spirited yet when it comes to holidays? That’s what this musical comedy intends to do. Spirited, starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, tells the story of the Ghost of Christmas Present trying to do the unthinkable – redeem an unredeemable person, for the second time in centuries. However, as he gets to know this man, he goes on his own adventure of self-reflection.
Spirited is such a great movie. To some, it might not be everyone’s favorite jolly film, but I loved it from start to finish and the music is so much fun. And don’t even get me started on the comedic talent of both Reynolds and Ferrell in the same room. These two need to be in more movies now. I demand it – and make sure music is included next time too.
Causeway
If you’re looking for a brilliant drama, then you need to check out Causeway. This film, starring Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role, tells the story of a young woman who experiences a brain injury while she is overseas in Afghanistan during a tour for the U.S. Army. But as she waits at home to go back out into the field, she struggles to adapt to normal everyday life after the trauma she went through.
I look at Causeway like another version of CODA. Both are completely different stories, but tell something that I think everyone can connect to on a personal level. CODA was a more coming of age story, while Causeway feels like the moment where we try to learn to adapt to new settings and circumstances that we aren’t used to. It’s about perseverance and bravery and so much more, and I personally think it’s a movie everyone should watch. Also, Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in it is great and I’ll be shocked if she doesn’t get an Academy Award nomination for it.
Finch
Tom Hanks is a fantastic actor, and Finch is another great pick on this list. Finch tells the story of a robot, whose main goal is to protect his creator’s dog, owned by Finch himself, and this team of post-apocalypse survivors go on quite the adventure that teaches them about the world and everyone around them, one amazing moment at a time.
Finch feels more like a movie you want to watch to escape the world thanks to the wonderful performance from Hanks, mixed in with some really cool effects. I also personally love the robots in this movie. They’re cool-looking, charming in all the right ways, and make the movie that much more fun.
Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry
2019 was a big year in music, namely for one young star named Billie Eilish. And in Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, we got a first-hand look into her life as she was just starting to rise to fame, and how her life differs from being at home to on stage and writing her debut album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?”
If you don’t know the story of this amazing singer and want to learn, this is your best bet. Not only is it captivating and motivating to listen to Eilish’s story and hear what she has gone through, but the documentary again gives a look into the music industry from a different point of view. Billie Eilish has many more years ahead of her in her career, but even getting this slight glimpse into her life at the beginning is interesting enough to keep you watching.
The Tragedy Of Macbeth
Starring the talented Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth is another adaptation story of William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, telling the tale of a young man who is told by three witches that he will be the next King of Scotland, but this blind belief it what ultimately leads to his downfall.
I mean, you can’t get more classic than Macbeth, and this movie tells the story wonderfully. Denzel Washington is killer in his role as Macbeth, and deserves all the awards, but honestly the whole entire Tragedy of Macbeth cast is talented and really gave this movie their all, creating another awesome addition to Apple TV+’s repertoire.
Bruce Springsteen’s Letter To You
If you want a film that covers one of the most known singers and performers of all time, Bruce Springsteen, then this is the movie for you. In Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You, Springsteen opens up about everything in his life to his fans as a tribute to the E Street Band, rock ‘n’ roll in general, and how music has shaped his life.
What’s even cooler about this awesome documentary is that we get to see Bruce Springsteen record with his full band live in the studio for the first time since Born in the U.S.A., one of his most famous songs. As someone who grew up listening to all different kinds of genres, it warms my heart to see Springsteen so affected by music and understanding where it has taken him in life.
The Elephant Queen
Learning about animals is one of my favorite pastimes, so why not have the chance to do that while also viewing a documentary at the same time? The Elephant Queen is a documentary that goes over what life is like in an elephant herd, with the focus being Athena, a fifty-year-old elephant and the matriarch of a herd of African elephants.
These creatures are so beautiful. I feel like that is said a lot when it comes to elephants, but they truly are. The Elephant Queen only captures that and makes you understand their beauty even more. One of my favorite parts is learning how the group really coexists and moves when things start to get tough in Africa, and it’s so intriguing to see how they work as a herd.
Wolfwalkers
Okay, I’m going to be honest, animation is one of my favorite genres, and I hope that if it is for you, then you will surely check out Wolfwalkers. In this Academy-Award nominated film, we follow the story of Robyn Goodfellowe, a young hunter who goes to Ireland with her father in an attempt to wipe out the last wolf pack during a time where magic and superstition run wild.
I hope I can scream this to the heavens because oh my God, this is one of the most beautifully animated films I have ever had the privilege to witness. It’s such different animation from the typical CGI-madness that we get on a daily basis and I believe that it’s something everyone should see, even if animated films have never been your thing. It’s euphoric to see a film like Wolfwalkers streaming that is so vividly pleasing as this one.
Swan Song
Starring Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali, Swan Song is beautiful in all the right ways. Swan Song starts off with a common issue that many people face - a family member who is diagnosed with a terminal illness. However, in this world, he is given the ultimate opportunity for his family to thrive after he’s gone – the ability to replace himself with a clone.
I bet that premise already has you hooked in some way, and it should. This movie isn’t the flashiest piece of sci-fi, but it’s certainly one that has so much heart and will probably make you cry in some way. Mahershala Ali, however, is who truly shines. Playing dual roles is hard, but literally trying to play yourself in two different ways seems like it would be even harder, and he does a fantastic job. The movie is worth watching just for his excellent performance.
Selena Gomez: My Mind And Me
When I first found out that Selena Gomez, an actress and singer, was releasing a documentary on Apple TV+ about some of her tougher years, I was intrigued at first, but only when I watched Selena Gomez: My Mind And Me did I realize just how much fans didn’t know what was going on with her behind the scenes. The film gives us a personal look into her life, and how she dealt with her personal and professional issues.
As a fan of hers, I felt many feelings while watching this documentary. It was a great insight into the mindset of a former Disney kid, and showed just how much she truly tried to break out as her own individual person and not be associated with someone else. If you’re a fan of the actress, I’d truly suggest watching this movie – it’ll change your perspective on her, in a good way.
Hala
I’ll preface this by saying that I grew up Catholic, and because of that, I was never exposed to how other religions were practiced for a long time. That’s why a movie like Hala was so necessary for me to be properly informed. In Hala, we look into the life of Hala Masood, played by Geraldine Viswanathan, and her becoming a teenager with her own values and life that are in conflict with the views of her Muslim family.
Again, I never got to experience anything as a younger child because it wasn’t what I grew up around, so having a chance to really get to explore what it’s like in other religions opened my eyes to things I never thought I’d see. Conversations I never thought I’d hear. For Hala, it’s the classic self-discovery story of a young teenage girl, mixed in with some serious themes that anyone from today could understand, and how family and your own life sometimes don’t always mix so well. It’s truly a movie of the times, and a great one at that.
The Velvet Underground
Last but not least, we’re taking a look at The Velvet Underground, a documentary that you need to check out. This film, released by Apple TV, documents the story of the real-life rock band, The Velvet Underground that was around during the 1960s and ‘70s – as well as the 1990s years later. We follow their contributions to the music industry, and how they shaped the world of underground music for us to listen to today.
I’ll be honest - growing up, I never had a huge interest in rock. My dad is a wedding singer so I was constantly listening to the latest pop songs that were performed at his gigs, and on the rare occasion, I’d get to listen to Led Zeppelin or Bon Jovi. But as I’ve gotten older, my tastes have increased and The Velvet Underground is one of my favorite older bands, and it’s fascinating to witness their story from beginning to end. It’s also directed by Todd Haynes, who has done such movies like Carol and Dark Waters, so you know it’ll be great.
With all these options to choose from, you’ll surely be entertained for some time now. I can’t wait to see what new 2022 movies end up coming out on AppleTV+ – as well as new 2023 movies. If they are as entertaining as these, then sign me up.
