“Set course for more movies!” Greyhound may have inspired a new strategy for Apple TV+. Photo: Apple
Tom Hanks’ WWII flick Greyhound is the biggest hit Apple has enjoyed so far. And it’s reportedly made the company serious about blockbuster Apple TV+ movies for the first time.
The iPhone maker is supposedly considering debuting a movie each month on its streaming service. And several of those are expected to be blockbusters.
Sean Teale and Brittany O'Grady star in musical romance Little Voice. Photo: Apple TV+
After an unexplained absence last Friday, Apple today released the latest episode of its series Little Voice.
The series, from producer J.J. Abrams, songwriter Sara Bareilles and writer Jessie Nelson, follows the journey of aspiring singer Bess King as she strives to live out her dreams.
Apple TV+ isn't blowing away viewers right now. Photo: Apple
Apple TV+ has the lowest overall experience score of major streaming platforms and customers are least likely to want to return, suggests a new report from UserTesting, a platform that connects organizations to their customers.
While the numbers aren’t appalling (Apple TV+ had a satisfaction score of 83% versus Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu’s 90% and HBO Now and Amazon Prime’s 87%), it’s still another indicator that Apple TV+ is not overwhelming customers the way it perhaps should.
Elisabeth Moss has been called the "Queen of Peak TV," and now she’s headed for Apple TV+. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple gave a series order to Shining Girls, a metaphysical thriller that’ll star Emmy Award winner Elisabeth Moss, perhaps best known for The Handmaid’s Tale.
The show will play on the Apple TV+ where it’ll join multiple other thrillers announced in recent weeks.
Plex Live TV includes over 80 free channels, including plenty for children. Photo: Plex
Plex began offering 80+ free channels of live TV on Thursday. The service is available on many types of Apple devices, and offers children’s programming, news, lifestyle shows and even sports.
There’s a catch, of course. There always is. In this case, it’s commercials. Plex Live TV is supported by advertising.
Relative newcomer Grace Kaufman, previously seen in the TV series Man With a Plan and The Last Ship, will play the lead role in new Apple Originals movie The Sky Is Everywhere.
The adaptation of the Jandy Nelson YA (young adult) novel tells the story of an American high school girl mourning the death of her sister. She becomes romantically involved with both her late sister’s fiancé and another young man who is new to town.
Echo 3 was previously adapted into When Heroes Fly in Israel. Apple TV+ is producing a new version written by Mark Boal. Photo: Keshet Studios
Apple on Thursday gave a straight-to-series order to Echo 3, a new action-thriller from Mark Boal, who picked up multiple Oscars for writing The Hurt Locker.
The 10-part series headed for Apple TV+ is inspired a novel by Amir Gutfreund.
Justin Timberlake is the latest to hitch his wagon to Apple TV+. Photo: Apple
Apple continues to grow its library of original movies with big stars, with Justin Timberlake joining that roster on Wednesday. He’ll play the lead in Palmer, which will be directed by Fisher Stevens and appear on the Apple TV+ streaming service.
Apple TV+ emphasizes that it offers only original programming. But so far that’s not working. Photo: Apple
Apple TV+ has just a tiny fraction of the U.S. streaming video market, according to a market-research firm. Even nine months after its launch, it’s well behind well-established rivals like Netflix and even the other newcomer, Disney+.
Because 2020 doesn't have enough streaming subscription services. Photo: NBC Universal
NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock launched Wednesday, complete with iOS and Apple TV apps.
Peacock, which joins a plethora of similar streaming services, has been up and running for Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Flex cable customers since April. However, today it gets a wider U.S. release, with both paid and free tiers.
Instead of theaters, Tom Hanks’ WWII movie Greyhound debuted on Apple TV+... where it did very well. Photo: Apple
Tom Hanks’ feature film about World War II brought in the largest opening-weekend audience Apple TV+ has netted so far. Even better for Apple, Greyhound reportedly brought plenty of fresh customers to its still-new streaming video service.
Jason Sudeikis reprises his character as an American sports coach turning his attention to soccer. Photo: Apple
Apple just dropped a Ted Lasso trailer that gives the world its first glimpse of Jason Sudeikis reviving his clueless coach character for Apple TV+.
Sudeikis first played Lasso in a hilarious 2013 ad for Premier League soccer games on NBC Sports. With this Apple Original, he will extend the gag to series length, portraying a hapless, small-town college football coach hired by a U.K. soccer team.
Idris Elba, seen here in “Turn Up Charlie” could bring “Innovative, entertaining and thought-provoking” shows and movies to Apple TV+. Photo: Green Door Pictures
Idris Elba reportedly signed a first-look deal with Apple. This means the iPhone maker gets the right of first refusal for all projects dreamed up by Elba and his Green Door Pictures production company.
Apple TV+'s latest acquisition sounds like it's a winner. Photo: BOOM! Studios
Apple has acquired the movie rights to an adaptation of graphic novel Snow Blind, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Deadline reported over the weekend.
The movie (and the 2017 graphic novel it was based on) is about a teenager, Teddy, who finds out that his family have been in the Witness Protection Program for years. Now someone after revenge has managed to locate them.
It’s free, and it also packs the latest Apple news and how-tos. Plus, this week we’ve got reviews of three new Apple TV+ offerings, including Tom Hanks’ World War II movie, Greyhound.
Download it now and enjoy it on your favorite iOS device. (Or use the links below to read in your browser.)
Can you handle some hot, hot beta action? Image: The CultCast
This week on The CultCast: We’ve got more details on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and Apple Maps gets a new feature that blows us away! Plus: We talk our two-week impressions of iOS 14, and a major Hollywood film is coming to Apple TV+.
Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Tom Hanks' World War II movie Greyhound will debut on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple
It’s a busy day for Apple TV+ as two new shows and the Tom Hanks World War II drama Greyhound all made their debut Friday on Apple’s streaming TV service.
Check out the trailers — and Cult of Mac‘s reviews — below.
Tom Hanks gives us an inside look at the naval action shown in his new Apple TV+ film, Greyhound. Photo: Apple
Tom Hanks wrote and stars in Greyhound, a feature film about World War II debuting Friday on Apple TV+. In a new video, the beloved actor talks about the real-life story it depicts: the challenges of Allied ships crossing the Atlantic infested with Nazi submarines.
Watch Hanks’ inside look at his upcoming film now:
Tom Hanks thanks Apple TV+ for throwing his new World War II movie a lifeline. Photo: The Today Show
Tom Hanks said Tuesday that Apple TV+ “saved the day” by releasing his new World War II movie during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the actor couldn’t say enough good things about Apple when he hit The Today Show to promo Greyhound, which debuts on Apple TV+ this Friday.
All the happy talk came a day after Hanks made headlines for calling Greyhound’s upcoming streaming debut an “absolute heartbreak.”
The Maurice Sendak Foundation owned the rights to Where the Wild Things Are. And they just made a deal with Apple TV+. Photo: The Maurice Sendak Foundation
Apple TV+ and The Maurice Sendak Foundation have teamed up to develop new shows based on the many works of Maurice Sendak, a world-renown author and illustrator of children’s books. Whether this means a series based on Where the Wild Things Are is in the works is anyone’s guess, though.
What is the code for greatness? No one in the documentary series Greatness Code is going to tell you. Photo: Apple TV+
There’s a reason this review only has one image in it: Apple TV+ doesn’t have any more press pictures for this show. Why? Because why should it? This paper-thin passel of hagiographies isn’t worth promoting.
Greatness Code, which debuts July 10, isn’t a show so much as it’s an investment in the big star athletes being interviewed. To say no to the project would have meant scuttling potential relationships with some of the biggest names in sports. But to admit it’s worth your time seems a bridge too far.
Tom Hanks wrote this nuts-and-bolts movie about naval warfare. Photo: Apple TV+
Tom Hanks is here to rescue a cargo convoy from the Nazis — and presumably you from your free time. His new movie, Greyhound, is being released straight to Apple TV+ this Friday after COVID-19 scuttled the film’s theatrical release. This means there’s nothing between you and some old-school, flag-waving thrills.
In fact, Greyhound is the very definition of old school. There’s no fuss, no muss: just a man, his crew and some German U-boats hiding out in the gray fog of World War II, ready to pounce on American soldiers.
Sean Teale and Brittany O'Grady star in musical romance Little Voice. Photo: Apple TV+
The latest lightweight Apple TV+ crowdpleaser comes from producer J.J. Abrams, songwriter Sara Bareilles and writer Jessie Nelson. Little Voice, which debuts on Apple’s streaming service on July 10, hits every single beat you expect — and none you don’t.
There’s little chance you won’t experience precisely the emotional journey and reaction you’re anticipating just from looking at the show’s promotional materials.
If you wanna watch a scrappy, model-beautiful singer finally find her voice with help from a supportive and kooky family of zany outsiders, and then live her dream of being a star, then yeah, come on in.
Hanks talks about his "Apple overlords" in new interview. Photo: Apple TV+
Tom Hanks made a few not-so-flattering comments about the “Apple overlords” in an interview about his new World War II movie Greyhound. The film, which was originally supposed to launch in theaters, was pulled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, it will premiere on Apple TV+ this Friday.
In an interview with The Guardian, Hanks describes the shift to Apple TV+ as “an absolute heartbreak.” He also spills the beans on one of Apple’s slightly unusual requests for his press interviews.
One episode of Dear... focuses on Oprah Winfrey. Photo: Apple TV+
So far, the Apple TV+ shows affiliated with Oprah Winfrey (or approved by her) represent some of the streaming service’s safest offerings. And her spirit, to say nothing of her face, is all over the inspiring series Dear…
Each episode focuses on a single celebrity and the moving fan letters they receive highlighting the star’s impact on regular people. A such, it takes the form of part-biography, part-tribute to its famous subjects.
Dear… certainly does not stand out as one of the most hard-hitting journalistic exercises you’ll see. But as puff pieces go, the episodes prove both persuasive and reasonably inspiring. The show plays like a MasterClass with lessons about community building and standing up for yourself.