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Looking for something new to watch without spending a small fortune?
With the announcement that UK subscribers to Paramount+ will need to cough up more each month, Netflix is hiking prices in the US — with a possible increase coming to these shores later in the year, and a new expensive tier for Prime Video, it's not cheap to binge-watch the boxsets or blockbusters that everyone is talking about.
That's what makes the latest shake-up from Apple TV so unusual.
Apple has added 19 classic Hollywood movies to its streaming service to watch at no extra cost. This marks a significant departure for Apple TV, which has differentiated itself from the competition by only populating its catalogue with exclusive content, including award-winning series like Ted Lasso, Widow's Bay, Severance, Slow Horses, Silo, and The Morning Show. Apple produces its own blockbuster films, like the immensely popular F1: The Movie, as well as Wolfs, The Lost Bus, and Killers Of The Flower Moon.
Unlike rivals from Amazon, Disney, and Netflix, Apple TV has refused to licence existing titles to increase the number of films and series in its library. Some of the most popular shows on Netflix — Seinfeld, Friends, and The Office US — weren't created by the streamer.
Out of nowhere, Apple TV has made a shift from its usual originals-only approach by adding roughly 19 classic Hollywood films that you can watch at no additional cost. The films have popped up in a fresh carousel labelled Great Movies Available Now on Apple TV, giving you instant access to beloved titles that were previously only available to purchase or rent from iTunes.
Big-budget blockbusters like Titanic and The Martian sit alongside sci-fi favourites such as E.T. and I, Robot. Thriller fans can dive into Gone Girl and Zodiac, while comedy lovers will enjoy Zoolander, 21 Jump Street, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. There's also The Sixth Sense, The Bourne Identity, Arrival, Looper, and The Proposal on offer.
That's quite a selection spanning different genres, and you won't need to shell out extra rental fees to watch any of them. The exact titles seem to vary between countries, so if you're reading this overseas, you might see a slightly different selection of films.
If you're not already signed up, Apple TV will set you back £12.99 monthly, though you can save a bit by paying £99 for the full year. If you're already subscribed, watching these blockbuster films won't cost you a penny.
But even if you're not already signed up, there's a way to enjoy the likes of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and A Beautiful Mind for free. You can take advantage of a seven-day free trial to watch these films without spending a penny. Just remember to cancel before the free trial period is over so you won't be charged.
If you've recently bought a new gadget from the Apple Store, you might be eligible for up to three months of Apple TV at no cost.
As for where you can watch, you've got plenty of options. The service works on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android devices and Windows PCs through the native app. You can also stream directly in your web browser by visiting tv.apple.com, or watch on smart TVs, streaming devices and game consoles.
There's a catch, though – nobody knows how long these films will actually stick around. It's not clear whether this is a permanent change to Apple TV's strategy or just a short-term promotion to attract new viewers. Turns out Apple has dabbled with this kind of thing before, adding licensed content a few years back, but that experiment didn't last particularly long.
Meanwhile, the service isn't abandoning its focus on original content altogether. Coming up in September, you can look forward to Mayday, an action-comedy featuring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh as the next major original film release. The new season of Ted Lasso and Silo are both currently airing new episodes each week, too.
