Apple joined the streaming game in 2019 with Apple TV+, and to date, they have produced dozens of narrative and documentary feature films that are sure to stand the test of time as some of the best of the 2020s. From animated family movies to traditional comedies to political thrillers, the studio has proved that it’ll be a force to be reckoned with at awards shows and the box office moving forward.
Being such a young film studio, however, Apple TV+ has only produced a handful ofmovies that could genuinely be considered extraordinary, and as such, it’s relatively easy to gather the ones that are typically considered their very best. Spanning across all sorts of genres and starring some of the biggest stars in the game right now, they’re some of the best films of the decade so far.
10’On the Rocks' (2020)
Directed by Sofia Coppola
Though the world first became familiar with her in averymuch negative sense due to her acting work inThe Godfather Part III,Sofia Coppolasoon proved thatshe was a filmmaker with as much talent as her dad. She’s made some exceptional films throughout her career, and one of the most underappreciated is the A24 father-daughter dramedyOn the Rocks.
Bill MurrayandRashida Jonesare absolute dynamite together, and they’re definitely the main reason to watchOn the Rocks; but not theonlyreason. It’s one ofthe most underrated comedies of the decade, with a feel-good tone that’s irresistibly charming and a light-spirited sense of humor that’s much appreciated in this modern landscape full of self-serious comedies.
On the Rocks
9’Fancy Dance' (2023)
Directed by Erica Tremblay
Just before she shocked the world and earned an Oscar nomination due to her work in a certainMartin Scorsesemasterpiece,Lily Gladstonestarred in the dramaFancy Dance. Directed by first-timerErica Tremblayof the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, the film may not have received nearly as much awards buzz as Gladstone’s other 2023 release, but it was just as deserving of it.
Depicting reservation life with realism, urgency, and plenty of heart,this genre-meshing gem is a beautiful tale of love, family, and culture. Socially-minded but never preachy, it’s one of Apple TV+’s most timely and important films, full of sincerity and impactful messages. To no one’s surprise, Gladstone is tremendous in it.
Fancy Dance
8’F1 The Movie' (2025)
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
Apple TV+’s latest outing,F1 The Moviefeels like their biggest, most ambitious blockbuster to date; and if its critical success is any indication, it’s a sign that the tech giant’s future in the realm of filmmaking is looking pretty good. Whether, with time, it’ll be counted amongthe best sports moviesof the 21st century remains to be seen, but for now, it sure is one of the best of the 2020s so far.
F1’s story is pretty by-the-numbers, but sometimes, a clichéd story can be forgivenwhen a film is this thrilling, atmospheric, and visually impressive. The familiar material definitely feels like a detriment, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget about it as soon as the exhilarating racing scenes start. Full of charisma, IMAX-level visual prestige, and a booming score byHans Zimmer, it’s, at the very least, a better racing film than most.
7’Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie' (2023)
Directed by Davis Guggenheim
Apple TV+’s narrative feature game is terrific, but their work on documentary features is a whole different ballpark. The question of which is their best can warrant several different answers, but there’s one that’s bound to come up more often than most:Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which may not be one ofthe best documentaries of all time, but definitely is one of the best of the 2020s so far.
What could have easily become an emotionally manipulative tabloid-style exploration of an actor’s life is instead one of the most poignant, honest,and masterfully edited documentaries ever made about an actor. It’s a movie that’s never afraid to get sad, but likeMichael J. Foxhimself, it’s full of optimism and hope. It’s a spark of joy in filmic form.
STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie
6’Flora and Son' (2023)
Directed by John Carney
The Irish filmmakerJohn Carneyhas been making some of the most modern and emotionally riveting musicals of the 21st century for years, andhis latest outing,Flora and Son, is one of his best yet. With a93% approval from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s one of Apple TV+’s highest-rated films on the platform, and it’s easy to see why.
Flora and Sonis undeniably a crowd-pleaser, but not at all the derivative type. Instead, it’s as fresh, creative, and dynamic as all the incredibly catchy tunes it relies on, with an absolutely magnetic dynamic shared by leadsEve HewsonandOrén Kinlan. Both realistic and beautifully enchanting, it’s proof that contemporary musicals aren’t dead—you just have to know where to look for the great ones.
Flora and Son
5’CODA' (2021)
Directed by Sian Heder
There are plenty ofBest Picture Oscar winners that are good, but by no means great; andCODAis generally agreed to be one of them. However, once one looks past the debate of whether it deserved to win Hollywood’s top prize or not, it becomes much easier to delve under the surface and see the film for what it is: A beautifully inclusive and life-affirming family film about the power of passion, family, and individuality.
CODA’s charm is absolutely irresistible, thanks to its standout cast and its deeply touching script. Its coming-of-age story doesn’t pack many surprises, but it’s told with enough vibrancy and love that it never comes across as clichéd or saccharine. Instead,it’s an emotionally sincere, beautifully acted, effectively humorous crowd-pleaserthat knows exactly what to do with its formula to make it feel fresh.
4’Cha Cha Real Smooth' (2022)
Directed by Cooper Raiff
Cooper Raiff’s sophomore directing effort,Cha Cha Real Smoothis the best and most charming romantic comedy in Apple’s catalog. Touching, emotional, and sweet, the film manages to break free of traditional genre tropes, formulas, and clichés to craft a unique kind ofrom-com that cements Raiff as a new talent to watch out for.
Starring Raiff andDakota Johnsonin a pair of extraordinary performances, it’s a movie as hilarious as it is emotionally compelling. Its deeply nuanced writing, along with the excellent acting and Raiff’s distinct direction, all help in making this a refreshingly relatable and heartfelt coming-of-age that touches on difficult topics with sensitivity and care.
Cha Cha Real Smooth
3’The Tragedy of Macbeth' (2021)
Directed by Joel Coen
It’s only been recently that theCoen brothers, perhaps the greatest and most popular directing duo in Hollywood, started working apart.Joel Coen’s first movie withoutEthan CoenwasThe Tragedy of Macbeth, a portrayal ofWilliam Shakespeare’s Scottish Play that’sright up there alongside the works of Kenneth Branagh andLaurence Olivieras one of the best-ever big-screen depictions of the Bard’s work.
The Tragedy of Macbethsticks remarkably close to the source material, but it’s the way Coen’s unique direction puts a tonal and aesthetic spin on the story that makes this one ofthe greatest arthouse war moviesever made. The performances are out of this world, the visuals are exquisite, and Coen’s bare-bones approach to the narrative and its themes is quite a sight to behold.
The Tragedy of Macbeth
2’WolfWalkers' (2020)
Directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart
Animation throughout the 2020s has been exceptional, and the indie Irish gemWolfWalkersis far and away one ofthe decade’s best animated movies so far. Produced by Cartoon Saloon, one of the most criminally underrated animation studios currently working, it’s a beautiful family adventure borrowing greatly from Irish folklore.
The film has something for everyone.Children will fall in love with its sense of humor, colorful visuals, and positive messages, while grown-ups are guaranteed to be delighted by its striking animation style and more mature themes. It’s a complex, nuanced, crowd-pleasing masterpiece of modern animation that Apple TV+ is lucky to have in its filmography.
Wolfwalkers
1’Killers of the Flower Moon' (2023)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
There’s no question about it: When you have a Martin Scorsese movie in your catalog, it takes something quite enormous for it tonotbe the best film in that catalog. Indeed,Apple TV+’s best movie so far isKillersof the Flower Moon, an anti-Western bolstered by a trio of career-best performances by Lily Gladstone,Leonardo DiCaprio, andRobert De Niro, all of whom received Oscar nominations for their work.
Killers of the Flower Moonjuggles different tones and genres, being Scorsese’s first-ever Western and one ofthe best gangster movies of the last five years, amounting to a 3.5-hour-long epic driven by richly layered characters, fascinating themes, and an enthralling plot. If Apple keeps investing in these kinds of grand, bold, auteur-driven projects in the future, it isn’t hard to imagine Apple TV+ becoming even more of a leading player in contemporary Hollywood.
Killers of the Flower Moon
NEXT:The Best Movies Over 3 Hours Long from the 2020s So Far, Ranked
