Streaming Streaming TV, Movies, & More The Best Movies on Apple TV Plus Right Now (February 2021) The best flicks on Apple's streaming video service by Sam Costello Writer Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. our editorial process Facebook Twitter Sam Costello Updated on February 02, 2021 Tweet Share Email Streaming TV, Movies, & More Apple TV+ Netflix Hulu Disney+ Prime Video Favorite Events Apple TV+ doesn't have the thousands of movies that Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max offers. But it does have a great selection of high-quality films from major talents and big-name stars. Whether you want an engaging drama, a thought-provoking documentary, or something for the kids, these are the best movies on Apple's streaming platform. Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry (2021): The Singer's Coming-of-Age Story Apple TV IMDb rating: n/aStarring: Billie EilishDirector: R.J. CutlerRating: n/aRuntime: 2 hours, 20 minutes Billie Eilish is one of music's hottest new stars, and now she has her own documentary on Apple TV. The World's a Little Blurry chronicles the teenaged singer-songwriter's rise from normal 17-year-old to household name, all while recording and releasing her debut album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" What's it like for a teen to live on the road, perform in worldwide tours, and record chart-topping hits with her family? This film seeks to answer those questions and more. Coming February 26th Palmer (2021): A Drama About Family and Picking Up the Pieces Apple TV IMDb rating: 6.9/10Starring: Justin Timberlake, Ryder Allen, June Squibb Director: Fisher StevensRating: RRuntime: 1 hour, 50 minutes Palmer is the story of a college footballer (Justin Timberlake) who returns to his hometown to start life over after spending time in prison. There he connects with a young boy (Ryder Allen) who was abandoned by his mother. Together, perhaps they can reassemble the pieces of their broken lives—if Palmer's past doesn't get in the way. Watch 'Palmer' on Apple TV+ Wolfwalkers (2020): A Beautiful Animated Fantasy Film Cartoon Saloon IMDb rating: 8.1/10Starring: Honor Kneafsey, Eva Whittaker, Sean BeanDirector: Tomm Moore, Ross StewartRating: PGRuntime: 1 hour, 43 minutes Wolfwalkers is a lovely animated adventure film about a girl and her father sent to eradicate all the wolves from the forest surrounding the Irish village of Kilkenny. But there's more than a bit of magic in those woods and those wolves. The movie has a lush visual style, strong voice performances, and a big heap of Irish folklore. It's a good one to watch with the whole family. Watch 'Wolfwalkers' on Apple TV+ Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth (2020) – The Beloved Children's Book in Animated Form Apple IMDb rating: 7.4/10Starring: Meryl Streep, Jacob Tremblay, Chris O'DowdDirector: Philip Hunt, Douglas CarriganRating: TV-GRunning Time: 36 minutes Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth is a short animated film based on the beloved children's book by Oliver Jeffers. Filled with beautiful art and soothing vocal performances from actors like Meryl Streep, Chris O'Dowd, and Ruth Negga, it's a lovely glimpse at the basics of life on this planet. Plus, the short length is perfect for smaller attention spans. Watch 'Here We Are' on Apple TV+ Dads (2020): An Affectionate Tribute to Paterfamilias Apple IMDb rating: 6.5/10Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Ron Howard, Will SmithDirector: Bryce Dallas HowardRating: TV-14Runtime: 1 hour, 27 minutes Bryce Dallas Howard is a famous actress and director with a famous director dad. So, she got her father, and other celebrity fathers, to sit down and chat about parenthood and its various struggles. Will Smith, Patton Oswalt, Neil Patrick Harris, and more give interviews for this heartwarming documentary. There are also glimpses into the lives of everyday dads. It all sounds a bit saccharine, but it's also a moving tribute to the big guy in our lives. Watch 'Dads' on Apple TV+ Greyhound (2020): Best Serious Tom Hanks Movie IMDb rating: 7.0/10Starring: Tom Hanks, Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham Director: Aaron SchneiderRating: PG-13Runtime: 1 hour, 31 minutes Originally planned as a major theatrical release, COVID-19 pushed the debut of this World War 2 thriller onto Apple TV+. Greyhound stars Tom Hanks (who also wrote the screenplay; adapted from a novel by C.S. Forester) as an inexperienced commander of a fleet of escort ships during the early days of U.S. involvement in World War 2. In this action-packed naval war saga, the fleet must evade German U-Boats as it makes it way to Liverpool. Watch 'Greyhound' on Apple TV+ On the Rocks (2020): Best Indie Family Relationship Drama IMDb rating: 6.5/10Starring: Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, Marlon WayansDirector: Sofia CoppolaMotion Picture Rating: RRunning Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes This mix of comedy and drama reunites director Sofia Coppola with her Lost in Translation collaborator, the iconic Bill Murray, for a look at family and relationships. In On the Rocks, a woman (Rashida Jones) enlists the help of her playboy father (Murray) to help figure out whether her husband (Marlon Wayans) is cheating on her. That quest involves a trip from New York to Mexico, with examinations of the dynamics between fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and more. The film is boosted by a winning cast and a lighter tone than the material might lead you to expect. Watch 'On the Rocks' on Apple TV+ Beastie Boys Story (2020): Best Non-Earth-Shattering Hip Hop Time Capsule IMDb rating: 7.8/10Starring: Mike D, Adam HorovitzDirector: Spike JonzeRating: TV-MARuntime: 1 hour, 59 minutes Hip hop heads can't afford to miss this career-spanning look back at seminal group, the Beastie Boys. From the group's start nearly 40 years ago, through their breakout early albums, their '90s reinvention, to the 2012 death of co-founder Adam "MCA" Yauch, this documentary runs the gamut. Directed by Spike Jonze—who also directed the band's iconic music video "Sabotage," along with indie feature hits like Her, Adaptation, and Being John Malkovich—the film may not break any news or provide major insights, but it's still a great time capsule for long-time fans and new converts. Watch 'Beastie Boys Story' on Apple TV+ Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You (2020): Best Springsteen Fan Creative Indulgence IMDb rating: 7.4/10Starring: Roy Bittan, Nils Lofgren, Patti Scialfa Director: Thom ZimnyRating: TV-PGRuntime: 1 hour, 30 minutes Released in conjunction with the album of the same name, this Springsteen doc takes a deep dive into the Boss' work by combining in-studio performances, rare archival material, and live footage. While the documentary is nominally tied to the creation and release of the "Letter to You" album, there's something here for fans of any era of Springsteen or those simply interested in creative work. Springsteen's recent turn towards introspection and looking back on his life and career has revealed important facets of an artist many think they already know, making Letter to You all the more interesting. Watch Letter to You on Apple TV+ Hala (2019): Best Culturally Inspired Coming of Age Drama IMDb rating: 5.9/10Starring: Geraldine Viswanathan, Jack Kilmer, Gabriel Luna Director: Minhal BaigRating: RRunning Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes This coming-of-age drama set in a Pakistani-American family provides a new look at a well-worn genre. In Hala, the titular character is a teenage girl who loves skateboarding, has a crush on a non-Muslim boy, and is trying to make her way in the world as any teenager would. This is complicated by her parents' expectations for her, cultural pressures, and growing discord in her family. Featured at the Sundance film festival, Hala freshens up the coming of age story by coming at it from a different cultural perspective. Watch 'Hala' on Apple TV+ Boys State (2020): Best Examination of What Governing Might Look Like in the Future IMDb rating: 7.7/10Starring: Ben Feinstein, Steven Garza, Robert MacDougall Director: Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss Rating: PG-13Runtime: 1 hour, 49 minutes This award-winning documentary (it took home the Grand Jury Prize for documentaries at Sundance 2020) is extra relevant in the wake of the U.S. presidential election and a renewed focus on democracy and governance worldwide. Boys State chronicles the journey of over 1,000 teenagers attending the eponymous annual event, in which they design a government. This process includes everything you'd expect, including creating parties, running campaigns, and all of the messiness and ugliness that can come with politics—all of which makes it an important look at how we govern ourselves and what that might look like in the future. Watch 'Boys State' on Apple TV+ The Banker (2020): Best Drama with a Social Conscience IMDb rating: 7.3/10Starring: Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult Director: George NolfiRating: PG-13 Runtime: 2 hours This film, which is based on true events, had its premiere marred by accusations of sexual misconduct against a co-producer, but that shouldn't subtract from its power. The Banker tells the true story of a pair of Black real-estate entrepreneurs in 1950s Los Angeles and Texas. Facing challenges due to racism, the pair recruit a White man to pose as the head of their company. The trio buy properties and integrate neighborhoods, fighting racism along the way, until a suspicious executive and missteps by the white partner bring the business down. Watch 'The Banker' on Apple TV+ Fireball (2020): Best Science Documentary for Herzog Fans IMDb rating: 7.0/10Starring: Werner Herzog, Jan Braly Kihle, Jon Larsen Directors: Werner Herzog, Clive OppenheimerRating: TV-PGRuntime: 1 hour, 37 minutes Ever get a strange feeling when thinking about what might be out there in space, just waiting to fall to earth? If you want a look at the heavens grounded in science, look no further than Fireball. Directed by master documentarian Werner Herzog, Fireball focuses on meteors and comets, and examines how they've influenced history, religion, and much more. For documentary fans, any new Herzog is an immediate must-watch. Watch 'Fireball' on Apple TV+ The Elephant Queen (2018): Best Nature Documentary Following a Herd of Elephants IMDb rating: 7.8/10Starring: Sadoc Vazkez, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sadoc Vazquez Director: Mark Deeble, Victoria StoneRating: PGRuntime: 1 hour, 36 minutes Following in the footsteps of nature documentaries like March of the Penguins, this award-nominated film follows the journey of a herd of elephants displaced by drought. Narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, the film has been praised for its nuanced and sensitive look nature, community, and family. Suitable for viewers of all ages, The Elephant Queen tells a complex, rewarding story. Watch 'The Elephant Queen' on Apple TV+ Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up. Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit