Apple TV Movies You Are Sleeping On (but Shouldn’t)

Apple TV+ has built a deep movie library that mixes prestige dramas, splashy originals, and standout documentaries, and many of them fly under the radar. This roundup surfaces narrative films and docs across genres, from festival acquisitions to Apple Original productions that premiered in theaters before landing on the service. Expect big name stars, award winners, and inventive indies you may have missed. Use this list to find your next film night pick without digging around endlessly.

‘CODA’ (2021)

This coming-of-age drama follows a hearing teen in a Deaf family who discovers a gift for singing while helping with the family fishing business. Emilia Jones leads alongside Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin. The film was shot in Massachusetts with extensive use of American Sign Language. It earned major awards recognition and brought broad attention to Deaf performers.

‘Greyhound’ (2020)

Tom Hanks stars as a first time destroyer captain escorting Allied convoys across the North Atlantic during the Battle of the Atlantic. The film uses detailed naval tactics and authentic shipboard procedures. It adapts C. S. Forester’s novel about submarine warfare. Much of the sea action was created with large scale visual effects and sound design focused on sonar and radio chatter.

‘Finch’ (2021)

Tom Hanks plays an engineer who builds a robot to care for his dog as they journey across a harsh post collapse America. The story centers on survival planning and the rules he programs into the robot to learn and protect. Caleb Landry Jones provides the voice and performance capture for the robot companion. The film emphasizes practical problem solving in extreme environments.

‘The Banker’ (2020)

Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson portray entrepreneurs who devise a plan to buy banks and real estate while facing systemic barriers. The script draws on the lives of Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris. Period production design recreates mid century Los Angeles and Texas business settings. Nia Long co stars and the film explores lending practices and ownership strategies.

‘Palmer’ (2021)

Justin Timberlake plays a former football star who returns home and forms a bond with a child facing bullying at school. Juno Temple and Alisha Wainwright co star. The story looks closely at small town life and second chances after incarceration. It balances family dynamics with classroom and community challenges.

‘Tetris’ (2023)

Taron Egerton plays a game designer who fights for rights to distribute the puzzle hit during the final years of the Soviet Union. The film explains licensing deals and the complex web of contracts surrounding the game. It recreates 80s gaming culture and early handheld hardware launches. Archival inspired graphics and chiptune nods appear throughout negotiations and travel scenes.

‘Emancipation’ (2022)

Will Smith portrays an enslaved man who escapes through Louisiana swamps while evading trackers. The film incorporates historical photography that helped galvanize abolitionist movements. Antoine Fuqua directs with stark black and white inspired imagery and natural landscapes. Production used extensive location work to depict camps, rail lines, and waterways.

‘Sharper’ (2023)

This New York set thriller follows a chain of cons that link a bookshop worker, a tech billionaire, and a socialite. Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, and Justice Smith lead the ensemble. The film is structured in chapters that reveal overlapping schemes. It highlights art auctions, charity galas, and hedge fund culture as backdrops for deception.

‘Ghosted’ (2023)

Chris Evans plays a farmer who discovers his date is a covert operative after he is pulled into an international mission. Ana de Armas co stars as the agent with global contacts and gadgets. The story moves through London and Middle Eastern locales with set pieces on roads and in museums. Cameos and running gags tie into spy movie traditions.

‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ (2021)

Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand lead this stark adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. The production uses expressionist sets and controlled lighting on soundstages to shape mood. Joel Coen directs with a focus on language and choreography. Black and white cinematography presents a minimalist approach to the classic.

‘Causeway’ (2022)

Jennifer Lawrence plays a soldier recovering from a traumatic brain injury while forming a friendship with a mechanic in New Orleans. Brian Tyree Henry co stars. The film pays close attention to physical therapy and daily routines during recovery. It shows neighborhood life and quiet moments that build trust.

‘Swan Song’ (2021)

Mahershala Ali portrays a man considering a medical solution to spare his family from grief. Naomie Harris and Awkwafina support the intimate story. Futuristic tech and clinical settings are presented with subdued design. The narrative examines consent, identity, and family preparation.

‘The Velvet Underground’ (2021)

Todd Haynes weaves performance footage, experimental films, and interviews to map the band’s art scene roots. The documentary profiles Lou Reed, John Cale, and collaborators. It contextualizes the Factory milieu, minimalist composition, and downtown venues. Multi screen imagery mirrors the group’s avant garde style.

‘Beastie Boys Story’ (2020)

The surviving members present a live documentary directed by Spike Jonze. It blends stage storytelling with archival clips and photographs. The film tracks early club days, studio sessions, and tour footage. Format and pacing follow the structure of a heartfelt slideshow with friends.

‘Boys State’ (2020)

This documentary follows Texas teens at a weeklong program where they create a mock state government. Cameras capture campaign speeches, party platforms, and legislative sessions. The film studies rhetoric, coalition building, and media strategy among peers. It presents real time turns as votes shift and alliances form.

‘On the Rocks’ (2020)

Rashida Jones plays a writer who teams up with her father, played by Bill Murray, to follow her husband around New York. The film explores marriage worries alongside upscale Manhattan haunts. Sofia Coppola directs with attention to small talk and late night car rides. Bars, lofts, and art spaces create a grounded city map.

‘Spirited’ (2022)

Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell star in a modern musical riff on a classic holiday tale. Original songs drive large ensemble numbers staged in city streets and offices. The film uses practical choreography and playful behind the scenes staging. Production included big soundstage builds and extended dance rehearsals.

‘Raymond & Ray’ (2022)

Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke play half brothers attending their estranged father’s funeral. The story uncovers family secrets through tasks they are asked to complete. It mixes road trip elements with small town funeral customs. The tone shifts as new acquaintances share different versions of the past.

‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ (2022)

Cooper Raiff plays a recent graduate who becomes a party starter at local events while helping a single mother and her daughter. Dakota Johnson co stars. The film focuses on caregiving routines and the logistics of hosting parties for neurodivergent teens. It examines boundaries around friendship and work.

‘Flora and Son’ (2023)

Eve Hewson plays a Dublin mother who starts online guitar lessons and bonds with her son through music. The story uses video calls and song building to show skill growth. Joseph Gordon Levitt appears as a remote teacher guiding chords and recording. Street life and apartment spaces give an intimate feel.

‘The Beanie Bubble’ (2023)

This business drama tracks the rise of a toy craze through the women who powered sales and marketing. Zach Galifianakis plays the eccentric founder. The film breaks down pricing, scarcity tactics, and early internet resale communities. It moves across suburban offices and trade shows as trends spike.

‘The Family Plan’ (2023)

Mark Wahlberg plays a suburban dad who once worked as a government operative. A threat forces a family road trip that doubles as a safety plan. Car chases and diner stops mix with parenting mishaps. The story ties identity cover stories to routine domestic errands.

‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’ (2022)

Zac Efron portrays a New Yorker who sets out to hand deliver beer to friends serving overseas. The film follows ports, checkpoints, and press convoys during a turbulent period. Russell Crowe appears as a war photographer who provides guidance. The production recreates city blocks, bars, and field zones.

‘The Sky Is Everywhere’ (2022)

A teenage musician copes with grief while navigating school ensembles and a new relationship. Director Josephine Decker uses stylized imagery to visualize daydreams. The film adapts Jandy Nelson’s novel with emphasis on sheet music and performance spaces. Northern California locations give the story a natural backdrop.

‘Hala’ (2019)

Geraldine Viswanathan plays a Pakistani American teen balancing family expectations with her own plans. Skate parks and school hallways show daily life as she writes and practices. The film explores language at home and in classrooms. It captures the pull between privacy and community.

‘The Elephant Queen’ (2019)

A wildlife documentary follows a matriarch leading her herd across the savannah in search of water. Cinematographers track migrations with aerial and ground units. Narration introduces species that share the ecosystem. The film highlights seasonal cycles and protective behavior.

‘Dads’ (2019)

Bryce Dallas Howard directs a global look at fatherhood through interviews and home videos. The documentary features comedians, athletes, and everyday parents. It covers parenting schedules, leave policies, and support systems. Animated segments and archival clips add context.

‘Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You’ (2020)

This documentary captures the E Street Band recording sessions inside a home studio. Songs are laid down live with minimal overdubs. Black and white cinematography follows instruments, lyrics, and arrangement choices. Archival footage connects new tracks to earlier eras.

‘Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds’ (2020)

Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer explore meteorites and impact sites around the world. The film visits labs, deserts, and ice fields to study specimens. Interviews with scientists and collectors explain classification and origin. Cultural traditions related to celestial events appear throughout.

‘Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues’ (2022)

The documentary uses letters, interviews, and recordings to present the jazz icon’s career and commentary. It includes performance clips and television appearances. Scholars and musicians discuss his technique and public image. The film places his work within the broader history of American music.

‘Sidney’ (2022)

This portrait of Sidney Poitier includes family, collaborators, and historians. The film uses studio archives and clips from landmark roles. It covers activism, awards milestones, and directing credits. Interviews outline his influence on generations of performers.

‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’ (2023)

Michael J. Fox recounts his career and life with Parkinson’s disease. The documentary blends reenactments with film and television clips. It shows clinical routines, therapy, and daily movement strategies. Family scenes and candid remarks frame the timeline.

‘Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me’ (2022)

The film follows the singer and actor through tours, medical treatment, and advocacy work. It shows songwriting sessions, doctor visits, and quiet time at home. Mental health conversations guide the structure. The documentary includes travel footage and fan interactions.

‘Stephen Curry: Underrated’ (2023)

This sports doc traces the point guard’s path from high school to professional championships. It features practice drills, coaching notes, and game film analysis. Family and college teammates add perspective on training and setbacks. The film examines shooting mechanics and leadership.

‘The Pigeon Tunnel’ (2023)

Errol Morris interviews author John le Carré about his life in intelligence and literature. The documentary uses reenactments and excerpts to explore sources and themes. It discusses tradecraft, cover identities, and the writing process. Visual motifs connect personal history to fictional characters.

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (2023)

Martin Scorsese’s crime drama examines a series of murders in an oil rich community. Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro lead the cast. The production draws on historical records and locations. The film details law enforcement methods and financial exploitation schemes.

‘Napoleon’ (2023)

Joaquin Phoenix portrays the military leader across major campaigns and political shifts. Large scale battle scenes recreate formations, artillery, and logistics. Vanessa Kirby appears as a central figure in his personal life. The story spans coronations, treaties, and strategic retreats.

‘Argylle’ (2024)

This spy caper follows a novelist whose plots mirror real operations. The cast includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, and Dua Lipa among others. The film travels through trains, rooftop chases, and secret labs. Stylish gadgets and double crosses drive the set pieces.

‘The Instigators’ (2024)

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck play small time crooks whose plan spirals after a heist goes wrong. The story pairs them with a therapist who gets pulled into the getaway. Car routes, drop points, and street level improvisation shape the action. Boston locations and ensemble players add texture.

‘Wolfs’ (2024)

George Clooney and Brad Pitt star as fixers forced to work together on a delicate job. The film unfolds over one long night with shifting demands. It focuses on logistics, cleanup protocols, and client negotiations. Tight interiors and moving vehicles keep the pressure high.

Share your picks and hidden gems from Apple TV+ in the comments so everyone can find their next great movie.