Let’s be real: Apple TV+ isn’t trying to bury you in hundreds of random titles. Instead, it quietly delivers some of the strongest, sharpest films you can stream right now. If you’re sick of mindless scrolling and just want great movies sans guesswork, this is the platform that actually makes it easy. From award-winning dramas to unforgettable docs and gorgeous animated films, here are the 10 best movies on Apple TV+ to watch ASAP, counting down from number 10, because building suspense is half the fun.
10. The Pigeon Tunnel
Fans of spy stories will be glued to Errol Morris’s in-depth documentary about John le Carré, aka David Cornwell. Rather than a standard interview piece, the film blends Morris’s conversation with Cornwell, archival material, and clips from famous le Carré adaptations. The author speaks with the confidence and precision of someone who’s been shaping stories his whole life. It’s thoughtful, layered, and essential viewing for anyone fascinated by espionage or literary icons.
9. Hala
Minhal Baig creates a tender, decidedly grounded coming of age film in Hala through the beautifully nuanced title performance by Geraldine Viswanathan. While trying to balance school and relationships with the pressures of her family’s cultural expectations, the movie sails through the tugs and pulls of identity with so much sincerity and warmth. The honesty thatViswanathan brings to the role elevates quiet moments into impactful ones.
8. Boys State
This documentary peeks inside a Texas summer program where teenage boys create their own mock government, and it’s every bit as chaotic as real politics. Ambition, ego, rivalry, and heartbreak collide as these young men try to build a society from scratch. It’s entertaining, sometimes alarming, and a striking snapshot of the next generation’s political instincts.
7. On the Rocks
Sofia Coppola teams up with Bill Murray and Rashida Jones on a soft, stylish dramedy about a woman who suspects her husband of cheating. Murray plays the charming, old-school dad who talks his daughter into investigating, which leads to a series of emotional confrontations and playful adventures. It’s wistful, humorous, and very much in Coppola’s signature, dreamy lane.
6. Letter to You by Bruce Springsteen
This music documentary, shot in expressive black and white, takes viewers deep inside the creation of Springsteen’s album Letter to You. The film will eventually transform from one about writing songs into one about memory, aging, and artistic friendship through rehearsal footage, reflections, and intimate studio moments. It’s a heartfelt tribute to a legendary artist and his longtime collaborators.
5. Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds
Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer explore humanity’s fascination with meteorites and the stories surrounding them. True to Herzog’s form, the movie strays boldly into a medley of science, philosophy, humor, and visuals so extraordinary they make for a peculiar viewing experience, one of a kind, to say the least.
4. CODA
Apple TV+’s first Best Picture winner is as moving as it is uplifting. CODA follows Ruby, the only hearing member of her deaf family, while she struggles to balance her responsibilities at home with her growing passion for singing. The cast shines and shines, delivering an emotional payoff in full force. Heartfelt is a mix of family, love, and finding your voice, literally and figuratively.
3. A Charlie Brown Christmas
A timeless favorite that needs no introduction, this animated classic weaves together some holiday melancholy and subtle humor with that unforgettable jazz score into a story that never gets old. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time, it will still strike a chord.
2. Wolfwalkers
A visual masterpiece, the final chapter of Cartoon Saloon’s Irish folklore trilogy tells the story of a little girl making friends with a shape-shifting wolfwalker, thus creating a mythology-laden tale woven with notions of family and resistance. Spectacular hand-drawn animation combines with a magical, emotionally affecting story in one of the very best animated films in recent memory.
1. Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese’s ambitious historical epic takes the top spot. Based on the real incidents of the murders of the Osage in 1920s Oklahoma, this film tackles in-depth issues of betrayal, greed, and systemic violence. The performances, particularly Lily Gladstone, are astounding, with immaculate, unflinching direction by Scorsese. It is a heavy film, but a brilliant one.
Apple TV+ is not about an endless catalog; it’s about the wins with top-tier films consistently. And if quality over quantity is your mantra, then the choice just got really easy.