The Best Movies on Apple TV Plus – CNET


finch
This raw behind-the-music documentary gives you a closer look at the life of singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, from her breakthrough hit Ocean Eyes to the recording of James Bond theme No Time to Die. In the frank film, Eilish faces the pressures of touring, making music videos and writing and recording her smash hit album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Apple TV Plus

The Year Earth Changed (2021)

Beastie Boys Story (2020)

It’s more of an animated short than a movie, but considering the subject matter (and the fact Apple TV Plus doesn’t have that many movies) we’re adding it. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth is gorgeous, heart-warming and perfect for families with young kids.
This acclaimed coming-of-age film centers on 17-year-old Ruby, the only hearing member of a deaf family. After excelling in a choir class at her high school, she becomes torn between supporting her family’s fishing business and fully pursuing her passion for music. Featuring a standout performance from Emilia Jones, CODA (which stands for child of deaf adults) is a touching tale that deserves a spot on this list. Plus, it’s currently vying for a best picture Oscar. 

The good news is that if you’ve bought an Apple product recently, you probably already have access to the streaming service for free. Here’s a selection of some of the best movies so far…

Apple TV Plus
Starring Tom Hanks as a commander in the US Navy, Greyhound was well-received upon its release and — unlike most modern movies — comes in lean with a 90-minute run-time. Tense, well-acted and produced, and earning an Oscar nom for its sound, Greyhound is perhaps one of the best movies available on Apple TV Plus.

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

Apple TV Plus
A fantastically made documentary by Bryce Dallas Howard about what it is to be a dad in these times. Affecting, well-produced. A must watch, particularly for parents.

Apple TV Plus
You can read our full review of Finch here, but long story short: We liked it! It’s often overly sentimental, with a few cloying “life lessons” but this post apocalyptic tale of a lone survivor and a robot on a last gasp road trip has real charm and is well worth watching.

Apple TV Plus

Apple TV Plus

Greyhound (2020)

CODA received an Oscar nom for best picture.

The coming-of-age story Hala tells a relatable story about the struggle to form an identity, as a teenager balances her Muslim upbringing with her social life and identity as a high schooler.

Apple TV

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

Apple TV Plus
Nature is healing. No, really — this isn’t about those ironic early 2020 memes of crocodiles floating on pool noodles or cats riding a baggage carousel. When humans abandoned cities, parks, oceans and plenty of other places during COVID lockdowns in 2020, all sorts of wild critters benefitted. Narrated by the legendary David Attenborough, The Year Earth Changed shows that we owe it to whales, penguins, cheetahs and a whole host of other animals to interfere less with their lives.

Apple
It’s a bit light for the subject matter but The Banker, a biopic of Bernard Garrett — an enterprising Black business owner who hired a white person to be the face of his company to bypass racist attitudes — is worth a watch at the very least. 

Apple TV

The Banker (2020)

Fight for your right to party with Beastie Boys Mike Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) as they recount the story of their music, and 40 years of friendship with the late Adam Yauch (MCA ). This “live documentary experience” is directed by their longtime collaborator Spike Jonze as a fitting testament to these rap legends.

Apple TV Plus
Entertain your brain with the coolest news from streaming to superheroes, memes to video games.

Apple TV Plus
See also: Apple TV Plus: Everything to know about Apple’s streaming service | The 11 best shows on Apple TV Plus

CNET Culture

Apple
Apple TV Plus doesn’t have a movie library as deep as Netflix or other streaming rivals. Still, it’s got A-listers like Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington and Bill Murray on board — and even collected Oscar noms for films like CODA and The Tragedy of Macbeth.

A dazzling animated movie by the team behind Songs of the Sea, this is the third instalment of Tomm Moore’s loosely connected “Irish Folklore Trilogy.” It’s probably one of the best animated movies of 2020, richly deserving an Oscar nomination up against the giants of Disney and Pixar. Completely mesmerizing. 

Apple
On The Rocks brings Sofia Coppola back together with Bill Murray for the first time since A Very Murray Christmas. It’s a father and daughter drama essentially. It’s a little breezier than Coppola’s usual work, but that seems to suit Murray, whose charming, world-weary performance elevates the whole project.