The best movies on Apple TV+ right now (December 2023)

Joel Coen splits from the typical Coen brothers duo to bring us this remarkable cinematic rendition of the Shakespearian classic. Shot in beautiful black and white, The Tragedy of Macbeth stars Denzel Washington as the titular lord, a nobleman that receives a prophesy from a trio of witches that he will reign as king some day. Lady Macbeth (Frances McDormand), his spouse, will do whatever it takes to help her husband ascend to the throne. Bleak, graphic, and faithful to its source prose, The Tragedy of Macbeth is an arresting adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most renowned works.

Werner Herzog is a master when it comes to thrilling, existentialist-style documentaries. His latest foray into the genre, Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds takes a close look at the cosmological events, both big and small, that impact our planet and forged the universe as we know it. Exploring meteorites and shooting stars through a myriad of viewpoints from experts and theoreticians (the always-musing Herzog amongst them), Fireball doesn’t necessarily answer the ever-expanding set of questions we face when contemplating our existence, but the point is not the conclusion itself — it’s the journey of seeking the answers themselves that we’re here for.

Writer-director Todd Haynes goes all-out with the insightful documentary into the prolific rise of New York’s The Velvet Underground. A pioneering rock-act that was hard to put a distinct label on, Haynes’ deep-dive explores the impact the famous band had on music as a whole and the art scene the world over, utilizing talking-head interviews, live performances, Warhol films, and more. More than just a typical music doc, The Velvet Underground paints a kaleidoscopic portrait of nostalgia, culture, and invention.

Director Drew Xanthopoulos’ Fathom follows Ellen Garland and Michelle Fournet, a pair of scientists studying humpback whales with a focus on whale song and communication amongst the species. Seeking to illustrate the deep research process and field observations that go with an in-depth nature study, Fathom may not be breaking new ground in the documentary genre, but the film itself is a sincere homage to the hardworking, often unrecognized efforts of the scientific community the world over.

Not to be confused with the 2019 drama Coda, in which Sir Patrick Stewart plays a concert pianist, the lead of Apple’s 2021 original CODA is also passionate about music, but the title has another meaning as well. Emilia Jones plays 17-year-old Ruby, a CODA, or a Child of Deaf Adults. As the only hearing member of her family, Ruby helps her parents as they struggle to keep their fishing business alive, while in her high school choir club, her talent attracts the attention of the choirmaster (Eugenio Derbez), who pushes her to leave her hometown behind in favor of a prestigious music school. CODA is a sweet and hilarious coming-of-age film that not only features deaf characters but casts an impressive number of deaf actors, including Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God).

Adapted by Tom Hanks from the 1955 novel The Good Shepherd, Greyhound stars Hanks as Navy Commander Ernest Krause. Carrying out a mission to escort an Allied defense battalion across the Atlantic, Captain Krause’s fleet enters enemy radar as a legion of German U-boats unleash a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Stuck at sea, Captain Krause and his team must do everything in their power to complete their mission in one piece. Nominated for Best Sound at the 93rd Academy Awards, Greyhound is a gripping historical war film featuring a top-notch performance from Tom Hanks — although, by this point, we’ve all come to expect nothing but brilliance from everyone’s favorite Hollywood leading man and CGI-cowboy doll voice actor.

One of the best pieces of news any film fan could get in 2020 was that Sofia Coppola and Bill Murray — who collaborated on 2003’s Lost in Translation — were working together again, this time with the Apple TV+ original comedy On the Rocks. Rashida Jones stars as Laura, a wife and mother who doesn’t know whether or not her marriage is in trouble. She begins to think her husband Dean (Marlon Wayans) is cheating on her, and it’s her charming, restless father Felix (Murray) who pokes at those fears and manipulates her into nightly adventures speeding through New York City in a dying convertible and even secretly following her husband to Mexico. While at heart the film is a comedy, there is an unspoken but brilliantly conveyed sadness to Felix, who seems to care less about whether or not his son-in-law is faithful and more about spending time with his daughter. On the Rocks is funny, sweet, and quietly heartbreaking.

If you’ve been around long enough to remember hits like “Fight for Your Right” or “Sabotage” when they were first released, there is something surreal about watching Beastie Boys Story. For example, yes, that really is Mike D and Adam Horovitz, aka Ad Rock, up there on stage narrating things, but you may have to keep reminding yourself that Ad Rock in fact is not being played by Martin Freeman. The documentary presents one night of a stage show in which the rappers present the history of their group, from their early days as a hardcore punk act to the passing of their absent friend Adam Yauch. For already invested fans, it’s fun to see the group’s history retold from their perspective, and for the uninitiated, it’s a treasure trove. Make sure to keep watching through the credits for surprise celebrity cameos and some hilarious clips that include old MTV appearances, and at least one heated argument about dog-washing.