Apple TV has come a long way as it approaches its seven-year anniversary. The streaming platform took some time to get off the ground, what with its relative lack of any kind of marketing, but its TV shows have been piling up awards in the last few years, most recently with the horror-comedy Widow’s Bay. It does have a couple of popular and successful films to its name, but that side of its entertainment lineup is still a bit lackluster.
However, that may change in October, as a slate of new titles premiere. Here are the top titles streaming on Apple TV you don’t want to miss along with everything else coming to the platform.
- Price
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$13 per month
- Free trial
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7 day free trial and 3 months free if you buy an Apple device
- Simultaneous streams
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6
- # of profiles
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6
- Originals
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Yes
- Live TV:
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Limited (There are live sports and some add-on channels offer live TV)
The Last First: Winter K2 – October 2
High altitude adventure documentary
Apple TV excels when it comes to sweeping documentaries, especially ones that focus on nature, in part because the company has some amazing technology behind it to make such films look incredible. The Last First: Winter K2 looks to be breathtaking to watch, but beyond that, this documentary is set up to be intense and emotional. It follows Icelander John Snorri Sigurjónsson and the Pakistani father-son team of Ali and Sajid Sadpara as they tackle the treacherous K2 mountain during winter.
Early reviews have been positive, positioning the film as not just about thrills, but also human connection and determination. I’m expecting it to be inspiring and harrowing, although probably more of the latter. Be careful that this might be a tougher watch than you’re anticipating.
Matchbox the Movie – October 9
Fast and Furious meets Barbie
I have not seen this movie yet, but I can tell you it’s probably not going to be one of the best ones Apple has ever made. Still, it at least might be fun! The success of Barbie led to studios scrambling to make stories inspired by toys, demonstrating that studios really have no ability to accurately figure out why a movie is successful despite it being plain and obvious (it’s not about toys!)
So now there is Matchbox, a story about cars. And it looks like other vehicles, too. Really, there is no way this movie is coherent or deep, but the hope is that this action-comedy starring John Cena can position itself as a better Fast and Furious movie. Because that’s what the trailer suggests it’s really doing. The story doesn’t matter, but there will be chases and quips and explosions. Cena has also been in the Fast and Furious franchise, so it might be even harder to discern this film from its clear inspiration.
Fingers crossed that this film will have a little more heart and better dialogue than another recent Apple TV knockoff in Fountain of Youth, which felt like AI mashed together National Treasure and Jungle Cruise in the worst way possible.
Tenzing – October 16
Inspiring true story about the first successful Everest climb
Another mountain movie coming to Apple, this film is a fictionalized recount of the first summit of Everest through the eyes of Tenzing, the Indian-Nepalese guide who was one of the first two men, alongside New Zealander Edmund Hillary, to successfully make it to the top in 1953.
I saw the World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and was quite surprised. As expected, the film is gorgeous to look at and there are some truly awe-inspiring moments to witness, especially towards the end as the team gets closer to the peak of Everest.
What stands out more is the human element. The film centers Tenzing Norgay, and chronicles his infatuation of and respect for Everest over the course of his life. It’s sweet, tender, and inspiring, and the film is wise to not only avoid overdramatizing what is already a dramatic story, but also not spending too much time with the other climbers. While Tom Hiddleston plays Hillary, the audience is only treated to what they need to know about him. This is a story about Tenzing, and rightly so. Incidentally, it might be the best movie Apple TV has ever made.
Slow Horses Season Six Finale – October 21
A thrilling mystery comes to a conclusion
Apple TV’s longest-running show, and I would argue its best, will see its sixth-season finale come in October, but fans can rest easy knowing it will return. In fact, it’s coming back for another two seasons, with Apple recently renewing the series through season eight.
The first two episodes were screened at the Toronto International Film Festival this year as part of the event’s Primetime program, and I was pretty impressed. It certainly landed in the upper level of seasons (so far), with some bigger consequences, returning faces, and a better balance of humor and intrigue than in past seasons.
All of that means I’m very excited to see where things will end up this year as the story of the first two episodes sees the agents targeted from without and within. It’s always fun to see the mystery come together, even if the season is coming to a close. And perhaps the end of the season could be paired with a much-anticipated announcement of who exactly the next James Bond might be.
Nocturne – October 30
New psychological thriller series debuts
This new showing coming at the end of the month should delight the many viewers out there who love serial killers. Well, stories about serial killers. Nocturne stars Liev Schrieber as Jonah, a man seeking peace and quiet in rural Pennsylvania whose life is upended when a serial killer (Stephen Graham) decides to target him. Jonah is pulled into some kind of game, as is his daughter (Zazie Beetz), who happens to be an FBI agent.
Admittedly, this all sounds fine, and likely to fall alongside other Apple TV shows that are well-made, well-acted, and overall decent. I can’t tell if there’s anything particularly unique or compelling here, but at least there are some talented people on the screen.
Every title coming to Apple TV in October
October 2
The Last First: Winter K2
The Sisters Grimm Season 2 (Premiere)
Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 6 – “What the Universe is Made of”
October 7
Small Prophets (All Episodes Streaming)
Last Seen: Season 1, Episode 6 (Final)
Ted Lasso: Season 4, Episode 10 (Final)
Brothers: Episode 4 – “The Band”
Slow Horses: Season 6, Episode 4 – “Lost and Found”
October 9
Matchbox the Movie
Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 7 – “The Pyramid”
October 14
Brothers: Episode 5 – “Valentine’s Day”
Slow Horses: Season 6, Episode 5 – “Sayonara”
October 16
Tenzing
Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 8 – “The Basic Oneness of Everything”
October 17
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (Streaming for Free)
October 21
Brothers: Episode 6 – “The Dance”
Slow Horses: Season 6 – “Judgement Day” (Final)
October 23
Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 9 – “How to Build the Box”
October 28
Brothers: Episode 7 – “The Interview”
October 30
Nocturne (Premiere)
Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 10 – “No Quiet Life”
