The 25 Best Apple TV+ Original Movies Everyone Should Watch

2 hours ago7 min read1 comments

When Martin Scorsese’s sprawling epic 'Killers of the Flower Moon' and Ridley Scott’s monumental 'Napoleon' alone represent nearly six hours of pure, unadulterated cinema, it becomes clear that Apple TV+ is not merely dabbling in original films but is aggressively courting auteur-driven prestige. This is a studio playing the long game, one that understands that cultural capital is earned not through algorithmically pleasing content, but by bankrolling visionary directors with the resources to realize their most ambitious, and often commercially risky, projects.Consider the trajectory: just a few years ago, the platform was the plucky newcomer; today, it is the home for filmmakers like Scorsese, who spent decades at traditional studios navigating budget constraints, now finding a patron willing to fund a three-and-a-half-hour historical tragedy about the systematic murder of the Osage Nation. This is a profound shift in the industry's power dynamics.Similarly, 'Napoleon' showcases a commitment to the kind of large-scale, practical filmmaking that has become increasingly rare outside of franchise tentpoles, with Scott given the canvas to depict the French emperor’s life with a blend of grand battles and intimate psychological dissection. Beyond these titans, the Apple TV+ filmography is a carefully curated gallery of cinematic ambition.'Swan Song' explores the ethical morass of cloning with a quiet, melancholic beauty that feels more like an indie gem than a streaming product, while 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' reimagines Shakespeare through stark, expressionist black-and-white imagery, proving a willingness to embrace bold artistic formalism. 'CODA's historic Best Picture win was not a fluke but a testament to a strategy that values emotional authenticity and narrative precision, a film that resonated precisely because it felt human-scaled in an era of spectacle.This dual approach—supporting both intimate human stories and gargantuan historical epics—creates a unique identity. It’s a far cry from the scattershot method of some competitors, instead building a library where each film, from the animated charm of 'Wolfwalkers' to the tense thriller 'Emancipation,' is a statement piece.They are betting that audiences, and awards voters, will gravitate toward a brand synonymous with quality and directorial freedom, a modern-day equivalent of the classic Hollywood studio system where the director’s vision is the ultimate star. The 25 best Apple TV+ original movies are therefore more than a watchlist; they are a document of a studio meticulously crafting its legacy, one masterpiece at a time.

#Apple TV+

#original movies

#Killers of the Flower Moon

#Napoleon

#cinema

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