When it comes to originals, Netflix and Amazon have the deepest libraries of prestige movies. But ever since CODA won the Best Picture Oscar, it’s become clear that some of the best movies are on Apple TV+.
As with any streaming service, not every film on the roster is a winner, but from the Billie Eilish documentary to Sundance darlings, Apple’s streaming service is building up a strong catalog to run alongside its growing slate of beloved TV shows.
Below are WIRED’s picks for flicks you should prioritize in your queue. Once you’re done, hop over to our list of the best movies on Netflix and the best movies on Disney+. If you’re feeling a little more episodic, our guide for the best shows on Amazon might be just the ticket.
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Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical
Summer is here! And if you, or your kids, are stoked about summer camp, this 40-minute Peanuts special is just for you. Actually, if you, or your kids, aren’t excited for summer camp, it might be for you, too. Charlie Brown wants to make his final year at camp his best yet. Sally, ever the skeptic, isn’t nearly as jazzed. Meanwhile, Snoopy and Woodstock go searching for treasure. Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical is all about keeping ahold of the things you love, even as life moves on. If you can’t sit around a campfire making s'mores, sit around this.
Bono: Stories of Surrender
Bono has a long history with Apple—one that goes back to the days when his silhouette marked the “Artists” icon on iTunes and the company was selling special U2 iPods. Now he’s working with the company to release Bono: Stories of Surrender, a movie version of his one-man show in which he performed U2 songs and told the stories of his life. It also features some behind-the-scenes footage from the tour. You can also watch it in an immersive format on Apple Vision Pro.
Deaf President Now!
Billed as “the greatest civil rights moment most people have never heard of,” Deaf President Now! chronicles an eight-day standoff on the campus of a Deaf university in Washington, DC, in 1988. At the time, Gallaudet University’s board of trustees had named a hearing president over a pair of qualified deaf candidates. In response, the students staged a week-plus of protests, walkouts, rallies, and boycotts. Eventually the hearing president resigned and deaf dean I. King Jordan was named president. This documentary from Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim chronicles the students’ efforts using photography and sound design meant to immerse the audience in the Deaf experience. The film played at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and comes to Apple TV+ on May 16.
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