To better compete with Netflix, Disney+, and other services, Apple TV+ is creating a catalog of non-original movies available to watch for free.
- What is happening? Apple TV+ is currently offering several older movies to stream for free to its US subscribers.
- Why care? Apple TV+ has a back catalog for the first time.
- What to do? Watch free movies before they disappear from the platform.
20 free movies added to Apple TV+ back catalog
So far, Apple TV+ hasn’t had an extensive back catalog, but that seems to be changing. TechRadar reports that Apple has licensed old shows and movies to create a back catalog that could better compete with services like Netflix, Disney+ and other video streaming services. Movies are available to stream on Apple TV+ to US subscribers at no additional charge.
The offer is not available outside of the US, which may indicate that we are at the very beginning of this experiment. These non-Apple Original Films films are not necessarily old Hollywood classics from the 1960s. The report did not specify which studios Apple might partner with on the initiative.
Some of the movies you can watch for free with an Apple TV+ subscription in the US include:
- “Argo”
- “Leading”
- The Hunger Games series
- “Man on Fire”
- “Old school”
- “Semi Pro”
- “Syrian”
- “Van Wilder”
This is not a definitive list as other non-originals are currently available.
A total of 20 movies are hosted on the service, including Jennifer Lawrence’s hit Silver Linings Playbook, Kevin Smith’s Clerks, and the Coen Brothers classic Hudsucker’s Confidant are also among the movies available to watch for free on Apple TV. Plus subscribers until November 30th.
Expect more non-Apple movies and TV shows to hit its video streaming platform in the future as the company makes more such deals with studios.
To stream any of these movies for free, use the search feature on the TV app. Apple also offers third-party movies when watching originals such as Spirited, Mythic Quest, Causeway, and a few more.
That’s why Apple TV+ has increased the subscription price.
Bloomberg reported in 2020 that Apple wanted to buy old shows and movies to add value to the Apple TV+ service.
“According to people familiar with the matter, video programming executives approached Hollywood studios to license old content to TV+ and bought several shows and movies,” Bloomberg journalists Lucas Shaw and Mark Gurman learned more than two years ago.
Well, @tim_cook said in April that he wouldn’t rule out acquiring a big company, so here’s what 🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/klWn3QMIXe
— iDownloadBlog (@iDownloadBlog) November 23, 2022
Apple TV+ started out as a place for exclusive originals, so it’s a small change in strategy. Of course, Apple will need to step up these efforts given the massive libraries of content available on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and more.
So if Apple is serious about building a back catalog, it will need to bring hundreds, if not thousands, of older shows to the platform, especially big franchises and blockbusters.
Read: How to adjust streaming and download quality on the TV app
How much does Apple TV+ cost?
Apple TV costs $7 per month after a free seven-day trial. At the time of its debut, the service cost $5 per month because it only had a few shows and movies. Apple recently raised the asking price for Apple Music, Apple TV+, and some of its other services.
In comparison, Netflix started at $8/month, but now customers have to shell out $10/month for the basic plan. Netflix also offers an ad-supported plan for $7 a month that limits picture quality to resolutions below the nominal 720p.
Disney+ will raise its monthly subscription price from $8 to $11 on December 8th. The service debuted at $7 per month. Hulu’s monthly price has also gone up, with the ad-free service jumping from $13 to $15, and the ad-supported tier from $7 to $8.
Apple TV+ is also included in Apple One bundle plans starting at $16.95 per month. And if you buy a new Apple device like an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV, the company gives you three free months of Apple TV+. One subscription can be shared with up to five additional people in your Family Circle.