The Best Movies on Apple TV+ Right Now

CODA (2021): A Family Movie About Pursuing Your Dreams

This Apple original is the story of 17-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones), the only hearing member of a deaf family, or a "CODA" (child of deaf adults). She serves as an interpreter for her family while working on their struggling fishing boat. But when she joins the high school choir and develops a passion for music, she struggles between wanting to pursue her dreams and feeling obligated to care for her family.

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2022): Joel Cohen's Take on Shakespeare's Doomed Scottish King

Plenty of directors have put their own spin on Shakespeare, but this Macbeth adaptation from Joel Cohen promises to be an interesting adaptation. Denzel Washington plays the titular Scottish king doomed by his own madness and ambition, while Frances McDormand plays his murderous wife.

Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry (2021)—The Singer's Coming-of-Age Story

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 a normal 17-year-old to a 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.

Emancipation (2022): Grittiest Escape Story Inspired by History

In 1860s Louisiana, a slave named Peter (Will Smith) escapes from a plantation, but he's still far away from freedom. He'll have to make it out of the South before he's safe from getting sent back.

The main character in Emancipation is inspired by a real escaped slave. However, the film takes historical liberties that turn his story into an action movie.

Luck (2022): An Animated Apple Original for the Whole Family

Ever feel like you have the worse luck in the world? Well, you don't. Sam Greenfield (Eva Noblezada) is actually the unluckiest girl alive, but her fortunes start to turn around when she meets a magic cat named Bob (Simon Pegg).

Apple TV+ has plenty of kid-friendly content, but there aren't many movies for families, so Luck is a welcome addition to the platform. Luck is an Apple original, so you won't find it on Disney Plus or any other streaming service.

The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022): A Toast to an Unsung War Hero

During the nadir of the Vietnam war, former U.S. marine John “Chickie” Donohue (Zac Efron) embarks on a perilous mission to deliver liquid courage to the frontlines. Not knowing what awaits him, Chickie solicits the help or war photographer Arthur Russell Coates (Crowe).

Sound crazy? Believe it or not, it really happened. Thanks to a superb cast, The Greatest Beer Run Ever delicately walks a fine line between comedy and serious social commentary. 

Raymond & Ray (2022): A Dark Comedy That Digs Deep

After the passing of their abusive father, Raymond (Ewan McGregor) and his younger half-brother Ray (Ethan Hawke) are forced to reconcile by fulfilling their dad's dying wish: for his two sons to literally dig his grave together.

Raymond & Ray tells a simple story with a superb cast. While its central themes are trauma and grief, the movie forefronts the healing power of humor.

Causeway (2022): A Soldier's Story About the Scars of War

After surviving a brain injury on the battlefield in Afghanistan, soldier Lynsey (Jennifer Lawrence) is sent home to recover. As she struggles to reintegrate into her family and society, Lynsey begins counting down the days until her next deployment.

Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022): A Moving Love Story

While his girlfriend is studying abroad, Andrew (Cooper Raiff) lands a job as a party starter for local Bar Mitzvahs. Unexpectedly, he forms a bond with the mother of an autistic child who is impressed with Andrew's ability to get anyone dancing.

Not quite a rom-com, Cha Cha Real Smooth is likely to make you laugh and cry. The movie was released simultaneously in theaters and on Apple TV+.

Come From Away (2021): Best for Broadway Fans

Filmed at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York City in front of an audience of 9/11 survivors and frontline workers, this award-winning Broadway musical is the story of 7,000 people who are stranded in a small town after flights are grounded on September 11, 2001. The townspeople welcome them all as they struggle to process the events of the day and find new hope in an extraordinary situation.

Cherry (2021): A Dark Tale of PTSD and Drug Addiction

Based on the best-selling novel by Nico Walker, Cherry stars Tom Holland as a disenfranchised former vet who turns to bank robbery to fund his drug addiction. After returning home from the Iraq war, Cherry suffers from PTSD and falls in with a bunch of depraved misfits. The only good thing in his life is his relationship with Emily (Ciara Bravo). Holland gets to stretch his acting muscles and move beyond Spider-Man.

Finch (2021): A Man, a Dog, and a Robot Take a Road Trip

Finch (Tom Hanks) is a robotics engineer in a post-apocalyptic world. For years, he's been living in an underground bunker with his dog, Goodyear, and working on a robot named Jeff. But, when he wants to make sure Goodyear is taken care of after he's gone, Finch goes on a road trip across the wastelands of the American West. It's an unusual premise, but Hanks is always watchable and the film promises to have some heart and humor.

It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown (2022): Best New Original Charlie Brown Special

In this Earth Day special, the Peanuts gang must rescue a flower that's sprouted on the baseball field before it gets trampled upon during the big game.

Apple TV+ has tons of exclusive Charlie Brown and Snoopy cartoons that are appropriate for all ages. As an added bonus, this one has a positive environmental message.

The Year Earth Changed (2021): Putting a Positive Spin on the Covid-19 Pandemic

This documentary special narrated by David Attenborough takes a look at some of the more uplifting stories to come out of 2020. When the whole world went on lockdown as the Covid-19 virus sickened and killed millions, it had a positive effect on the environment. Whales returned to Glacier Bay, capybara started appearing in suburbs across South America, and more. The documentary chronicles how small changes in human behavior, like not going on cruises or closing beaches for a few days a year, can have a drastic impact on nature and offers a blueprint for how we can live more harmoniously with our environment in the future.

Palmer (2021): A Drama About Family and Picking Up the Pieces

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.

Swan Song (2021): A Sci-Fi Film About Grief

Swan Song is a tearjerker of a film starring Mahershala Ali as Cameron, a husband and father diagnosed with a terminal illness. His doctor (Glenn Close) presents him with an intriguing solution: replace himself with a clone. How far will Cameron go to shield his family from grief?

Wolfwalkers (2020): A Beautiful Animated Fantasy Film

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.

The Velvet Underground (2021): Documenting One of Rock 'N' Roll's Most Influential Bands

While they were commercially unsuccessful during the height of their career in the '60s and '70s, The Velvet Underground is now considered one of the most influential rock bands of all time. This new documentary charts the band's rise to fame, combining in-depth interviews with never-before-seen performances and some experimental art. It's both dark and reverent, and a worthy follow-up for director Todd Haynes, who's also responsible for the Bob Dylan flick I'm Not There.