Apple Original Films

Overview

Apple Original Films is the feature film production and acquisition arm of Apple Inc., producing and distributing films for Apple TV+ and select theatrical releases. Launched alongside Apple TV+ in November 2019, the division operates from Apple's campus in Cupertino, California, with production offices in Los Angeles and London. Apple's financial resources allow it to offer filmmakers production budgets and acquisition prices that few competitors can match.

The division is led by Matt Dentler and Molly Carter, with overall oversight from Apple TV+'s content leadership. Apple Studios, the in-house production arm, handles physical production of Apple Original Films projects. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have earned 773 wins and 3,366 award nominations, including the Academy Award for Best Picture for CODA (2021) and the Academy Award-winning F1: The Movie (2025), which became the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.

For filmmakers with established track records seeking generous financing, global distribution to Apple TV+ subscribers, and increasing theatrical commitment, Apple offers a combination few other studios can provide. Access is through talent agencies, producers with Apple relationships, and festival acquisition strategies. Visit Apple TV Press for official announcements.

History

Apple TV+ launched in November 2019 with a modest film slate alongside a more substantial television lineup. The film division's ambitions became clear with its acquisition of Greyhound (2020) for $70 million, a Tom Hanks-starring World War II film originally set for theatrical release before Apple acquired it during the pandemic.

The division's credibility surged when CODA (2021) won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur), and Best Adapted Screenplay, making Apple the first streaming service to win the top Oscar. The film was acquired at Sundance for $25 million, the largest acquisition in the festival's history at that time.

Subsequent productions and acquisitions include The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021, directed by Joel Coen), Finch (2021), Wolfwalkers (2020), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023, Martin Scorsese's epic produced in partnership with Paramount), Napoleon (2023, directed by Ridley Scott), Argylle (2024), Fly Me to the Moon (2024), and Blitz (2024, Steve McQueen).

F1: The Movie (2025)

F1: The Movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and starring Brad Pitt, marked a turning point for Apple's theatrical ambitions. The film grossed over $500 million globally, surpassing Napoleon ($221 million) and Killers of the Flower Moon ($158 million) to become Apple's highest-grossing theatrical release. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery and earned approximately $60 million from IMAX screenings alone. With a reported production budget of $200-300 million and marketing costs exceeding $100 million, the film's profitability depended on sustained theatrical performance, but it demonstrated that Apple-backed films can compete at the highest level of the theatrical market.

Theatrical Strategy

Apple has pursued an increasingly theatrical approach, recognizing that theatrical releases drive cultural awareness and awards consideration for streaming content. Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon both received wide theatrical releases before moving to Apple TV+. F1 received the widest theatrical release of any Apple film, distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery in over 80 countries.

This hybrid model, combining theatrical prestige with streaming distribution, has become Apple's standard approach for major productions. However, Apple has also fielded commercial misfires: Argylle grossed $96 million worldwide and Fly Me to the Moon grossed $42 million, both underperforming relative to their budgets. Of Apple's five theatrical releases prior to F1, only Napoleon and Killers of the Flower Moon generated meaningful box office revenue, and neither was profitable theatrically given their $200 million+ budgets.

The success of F1 was considered an inflection point internally. According to industry reporting, there was a growing sense that if a crowd-pleaser like F1 did not work on the big screen, Apple would be better off abandoning the movie business in favor of television. The film's performance validated the theatrical strategy for now.

2026 Slate

At a media event in February 2026 at Santa Monica's Barker Hangar, Apple Studios unveiled footage from its forthcoming feature slate:

• Outcome (April 10, 2026) - Jonah Hill's third directorial effort, co-starring Keanu Reeves. A drama about what an apology means and who it serves.
• The Dink (July 24, 2026) - A pickleball comedy starring Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, and Ed Harris. Directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar).
• Mayday (September 4, 2026) - A Cold War-era action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. Co-produced with Skydance.
• Matchbox The Movie (October 9, 2026) - A Mattel Films action-adventure starring John Cena and Jessica Biel. Co-produced with Skydance.
• Way of the Warrior Kid (November 20, 2026) - An adaptation of Navy SEAL Jocko Willink's novel, starring Chris Pratt and Linda Cardellini. Directed by McG. Co-produced with Skydance.
• Being Heumann - Release date TBD. Part of the announced slate.
• Liminal - A new sci-fi thriller starring Vanessa Kirby and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, directed by Louis Leterrier. Announced March 2026.

Additional recent releases include The Lost Bus (directed by Paul Greengrass, starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera), Highest 2 Lowest (Spike Lee's fifth collaboration with Denzel Washington), and The Gorge (starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy).

What Filmmakers Should Know

Acquisition Strategy

Apple Original Films acquires completed films from major festivals (Sundance, Cannes, Venice, Toronto) and develops original projects with established filmmakers. The division has demonstrated a preference for prestige, auteur-driven work from directors with significant track records, as well as family and animation content. Apple's acquisition prices are among the highest in the industry: the $25 million CODA deal set a Sundance record, and the company has consistently paid premium prices for festival titles.

Production Budgets

Apple's financial resources allow it to offer production budgets that often exceed what other streaming services or traditional studios can commit. Killers of the Flower Moon had a reported budget of $200 million. F1 had a reported budget of $200-300 million. Napoleon had a reported budget of $200 million. For filmmakers with projects that require large-scale production resources, Apple is one of the few entities willing to finance at this level.

Distribution Model

Apple TV+ has over 93 million subscribers as of 2025. Films that receive theatrical releases are typically distributed by partner studios (Warner Bros. for F1, Paramount for Killers of the Flower Moon) before moving to Apple TV+ for streaming. The theatrical window varies by title. For streaming-only releases, films debut globally on Apple TV+.

Access Routes

• Festival acquisitions: Apple actively acquires at Sundance, Cannes, Venice, and Toronto. Filmmakers with films premiering at these festivals may attract Apple's attention through their sales agents.
• Talent agencies: Apple works with established directors and producers through agency representation (CAA, WME, UTA).
• Producer relationships: Producers with existing Apple relationships can bring projects to the division.
• Skydance partnership: Several 2026 slate titles are co-produced with Skydance Media, suggesting an active co-production channel.

Animation

Apple has been active in animation, co-producing Wolfwalkers (2020) with Cartoon Saloon. The division continues to develop animated features alongside its live-action slate.

House Style & Genre Focus

Apple Original Films focuses on prestige, awards-oriented films from acclaimed directors, combined with select commercial tentpoles. The division has demonstrated a preference for auteur-driven work from directors with significant track records, including Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon), Ridley Scott (Napoleon), Joseph Kosinski (F1: The Movie), and Joel Coen (The Tragedy of Macbeth). Apple's financial resources allow it to offer production budgets that often exceed what other streaming services or traditional studios can commit.

CODA (2021) won the Academy Award for Best Picture, making Apple the first streaming service to win the top Oscar. F1: The Movie (2025), directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt, grossed over $500 million globally and became the highest-grossing sports feature of all time, marking a turning point for Apple's theatrical ambitions. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery in over 80 countries.

Apple pursues a hybrid theatrical-streaming model: commercial titles receive theatrical runs (distributed by partner studios like Warner Bros. or Paramount) before moving to Apple TV+, while other titles premiere directly on the streaming platform. The division has also been active in animation, co-producing Wolfwalkers (2020) with Cartoon Saloon. Apple does not accept unsolicited submissions. Projects enter development through talent agencies, established producers with Apple relationships, festival acquisitions, and the Skydance partnership channel.

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

See Also

For understanding how streaming distribution affects filmmakers, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue across theatrical and streaming windows, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For budgeting independent features at various budget tiers, see the Indie Film Budget Calculator.