Why Movies On Apple Are Getting Serious Attention Now
- 01. Movies on Apple That Beat Netflix at Their Own Game
- 02. How Apple TV+ Outperformed Netflix in Movies
- 03. Key Award Wins Where Apple Beat Netflix
- 04. Top Movies on Apple TV+ Right Now
- 05. Apple's Strategic Advantages Over Netflix
- 06. Why Theatrical Releases Matter for Apple
- 07. How Apple's Strategy Serves Families and Educators
Movies on Apple That Beat Netflix at Their Own Game
Apple TV+ won the first Best Picture Oscar for a streaming service with "CODA" on March 27, 2022, beating Netflix's "The Power of the Dog" to Hollywood's most coveted prize. Today, Apple's movie strategy combines theatrical releases with prestige awards, family-friendly content protecting its brand, and exclusive deals with top directors like Martin Scorsese-creating a competitive edge Netflix cannot match.
How Apple TV+ Outperformed Netflix in Movies
Apple's family-friendly PG-13 strategy differentiates it from Netflix's TV-MA content, protecting Apple's core iPhone business while attracting major talent. Unlike Netflix, which faced contentious dynamics with cinema chains, Apple secured exclusive theatrical runs lasting several weeks before streaming, building prestige and relationships with theater owners.
Apple reportedly plans to allocate billions from its content budget to theatrical releases, following Amazon's $1 billion pledge-while Netflix remains steadfast in treating theatrical as secondary. This approach has delivered measurable results: "F1: The Movie" grossed $631.5 million globally with a 97% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, becoming Apple's biggest theatrical hit.
Key Award Wins Where Apple Beat Netflix
| Film/Series | Award | Date | Netflix Competitor | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CODA | Best Picture Oscar | March 27, 2022 | The Power of the Dog | Apple won-first streaming service to conquer Best Picture |
| Killers of the Flower Moon | 13 Oscar Nominations | January 22, 2024 | Multiple Netflix films | Doubled Apple's previous nomination record |
| Succession | Outstanding Drama Series Emmy | January 15, 2024 | The Bear (comedy) | 6 Emmy wins, 27 total nominations |
| F1: The Movie | Highest-Grossing Sports Film | June 2025 | No Netflix rival | Brad Pitt's highest-grossing film ever |
Top Movies on Apple TV+ Right Now
The 28 best movies on Apple TV include CODA, F1: The Movie, Come See Me in the Good Light, The Lost Bus, Highest 2 Lowest, and Bono: Stories of Surrender. These titles represent Apple's curated quality-over-quantity approach that contrasts with Netflix's massive but inconsistent library.
- F1: The Movie (2025)-Brad Pitt stars as racing legend Sonny Hayes; #1 sports movie of all time, available December 12, 2025 on Apple TV+
- CODA (2021)-First streaming Best Picture winner about a deaf family; historic Oscar triumph
- Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)-Martin Scorsese epic with 10 Oscar nominations; premiered on Apple TV+ January 12, 2024
- Napoleon (2023)-Ridley Scott historical epic with 3 Oscar nominations for costume design, production design, and visual effects
- The Lost Bus-Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera star; Oscar nominee directed by Paul Greengrass
Apple's Strategic Advantages Over Netflix
Apple's secret weapon is bundling-streaming TV and movie content with music and magazines, something Netflix simply cannot match. With access to a huge potential audience through iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, Apple attracts big-name talent uniquely.
While Apple self-limits to family-friendly content, this creative constraint produces results because filmmakers must innovate within boundaries. Apple's sparkling brand image ensures offensive content won't hurt iPhone sales-a problem Netflix never faces but also never solves for family audiences.
Why Theatrical Releases Matter for Apple
Apple's intention behind theatrical releases is not merely box office success but creating prestige that attracts renowned collaborators like Scorsese. Theater stocks jumped when Apple pledged to allocate multibillion-dollar content budget chunks to cinema releases.
Only one upcoming film, "Killers of the Flower Moon," had an announced distribution partner-Paramount-showing Apple's strategic partnership approach versus Netflix's isolation. Additionally, Apple TV will become the exclusive U.S. broadcaster for Formula 1 races, deepening the F1 movie's ecosystem value.
"F1: The Movie is the highest-grossing sports movie of all time, star Brad Pitt's highest-grossing movie of all time and Apple's biggest theatrical achievement"
- Apple TV+ official announcement, February 3, 2026
How Apple's Strategy Serves Families and Educators
While Apple's family-friendly approach serves parents seeking age-appropriate content, this strategy aligns with educational values emphasizing holistic development and positive role models. Schools and educators in Latin America can leverage Apple's PG-13 library for curriculum-integrated viewing without exposing students to mature content.
The 24 F1 movies planned for Apple (representing the number of races in the F1 season) demonstrate how Apple integrates education, sport, and entertainment-mirroring Marist pedagogy's integration of faith, reason, and culture.
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What Movies Are on Apple TV Right Now?
The most popular movies now include Propeller One-Way Night Coach, F1 The Movie, Outcome, Highest 2 Lowest, The Gorge, and Greyhound. New additions in 2026 include Widow's Bay, Margo's Got Money Troubles, Shrinking, Hijack, Tehran, and Pluribus.
Is Apple TV Better Than Netflix for Movies?
Apple TV+ beats Netflix in awards prestige and theatrical integration, winning Best Picture first and securing exclusive cinema runs. However, Netflix offers more content volume and mature TV-MA programming that Apple deliberately avoids for brand protection.
When Did Apple TV+ Launch?
Apple TV+ launched in late 2019 after Hollywood skepticism about Apple's heavy star-power presentation featuring Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg. Three years later, CODA's Best Picture win silenced critics completely.
Can You Watch Apple TV Movies Without a Subscription?
Yes-Apple TV+ offers 3-month free trials for new users, allowing access to the full 4K library including CODA and F1. The F1 movie specifically became free for subscription holders when it hit the platform on December 12, 2025.
What Makes CODA Historically Significant?
CODA became the first streaming-only film to win Best Picture, marking a breakthrough for representation as the first predominantly deaf cast to receive an Academy Award. The film's theme-Ruby, the only hearing member interpreting for her deaf family-resonates with inclusive education principles central to Marist pedagogy.
