Amongst streaming providers, Apple TV+ is famend for its practically obsessive deal with producing solely unique content material. Whereas the corporate often presents up a couple of gems from elsewhere, they’re normally both tied into its greater tasks or a part of extra focused promotions.
For instance, Apple has practically each Charlie Brown and Peanuts particular obtainable to stream, however that’s as a result of it purchased the rights to the complete franchise, and is producing new vacation specials and even engaged on a characteristic movie. It did the identical with Fraggle Rock, bringing all 4 seasons of the early-Eighties Jim Henson present to complement its unique Fraggle Rock: Rock On sequence, a six-episode reboot that’s since been adopted up by Fraggle Rock: Again to the Rock.
We’ve additionally often seen one-offs of particular movies made obtainable to enhance different Apple TV+ options, equivalent to when Apple made The Starvation Video games franchise and Silver Linings Playbook obtainable to coincide with Jennifer Lawrence’s Apple TV+ movie Causeway.
Whereas the connections in these earlier circumstances have been fairly apparent, Apple is taking a pointy left flip right now by making 51 traditional films obtainable for Apple TV+ subscribers to stream as a part of their subscription at no additional cost.
From The Accountant to Zoolander, there doesn’t appear to be any rhyme or cause to the set of releases. 51 is an odd quantity, however there’s in all probability no hidden that means right here; it’s possible simply the bundle Apple labored out.
The listing contains fairly a set of previous hit movies, and whereas some have apparent connections to Apple tasks, others seem to have solely a tenuous hyperlink at greatest.
For instance, Saving Non-public Ryan is a well timed selection to incorporate because it was arguably the inspiration for HBO’s hit Band of Brothers, which finally led to Apple’s present Masters of the Air. All three had been produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who additionally starred within the movie.
Others characteristic actors who’ve appeared in Apple TV+ hits, like Ryan Reynolds (The Proposal) and Will Ferrell (Outdated College), each of whom appeared in Apple’s Spirited. There’s additionally Leonardo Di Caprio (Titanic, The Wolf of Wall Avenue, Catch Me If You Can), who starred in Apple’s Killers of the Flower Moon, and Will Smith (Males in Black, I Am Legend) of Apple’s Emancipation, to call a couple of.
Then there’s a potential themed connection. We’ve already talked about Saving Non-public Ryan which dovetails into Masters of the Air in additional methods than one. There’s additionally Gravity which has an analogous really feel to Apple’s Constellation, which debuted final month.
Largely, although, this appears like a random assortment of movies, suggesting that Apple could merely be experimenting with providing a again catalog to see what sort of uptake it would get. The movies on provide actually aren’t unique to Apple TV+, however they may very well be a pleasant bonus for these signing up to take a look at Apple’s originals.
It’s in all probability not a coincidence that these seem the identical day Apple TV+ begins streaming Napoleon, which premiered in theatres in late November. Apple’s different large theatrical launch, Killers of the Flower Moon, got here to the streaming service in January, and its spy drama Argylle opened in theatres 4 weeks in the past and can possible land on the service in late April or early Might, shortly after this free film promotion ends.
You may head over to the “Nice Motion pictures on Apple TV+” assortment to see the entire listing, all of which can be found to Apple TV+ subscribers till the tip of March, with some working by the tip of April. Sadly, this seems to be a US-only provide, not less than for now.