Apple TV Plus has quietly launched an expansion to its movie library in the US, with the streaming service adding a number of non-company licensed movies for the first time.
In what appears to be an experimental initiative, the service currently offers a number of old movies for subscribers to watch for free, including blockbusters like Anchorman and the entire Hunger Games series.
The movies in question appear as suggested additional content when browsing Spirited, Mythic Quest, and Causeway, the last three major Apple TV Plus releases that are exclusive to the platform.
For example, when users land on the page for the new Christmas musical Spirited, they're also presented with options to watch a handful of other movies starring Will Ferrell or Ryan Reynolds, including Semi-Pro, Old School, and Van. Wilder.
While browsing the Echo 3 action movie, you can also watch a selection of international thrillers, including Argo, Syriana and Man on Fire.
A total of 20 movies have landed on the service, with Jennifer Lawrence's blockbuster Silver Linings Playbook, Kevin Smith's Clerks and the Coen brothers' classic The Hudsucker Proxy also among the movies available to watch for free for Apple subscribers. TV Plus until November 30.
The movies are currently only offered to subscribers using Apple TV Plus in the US, and the company is currently very interested in whether more classic movies will be added and whether other regions will also receive a similar library expansion.
Analysis: a small boost for the library, but potentially significant
From the clever satire Severance to the excellent ensemble comedy Bad Sisters, one look at our list of the best Apple TV Plus shows should convince many critics that its curated selection makes it arguably the most popular and consistent streaming service for content. exclusive.
It's on a roll right now with the addition of the seasonal musical Spirited and the imminent return of the much-loved spy thriller Slow Horses, but the most common criticism of the service remains: its library is still a bit light, especially compared to rivals like Netflix. and DisneyPlus.
As it is, the average viewer could work their way through the best of Apple TV Plus in a matter of months.
With a recent price increase likely to have many users wondering if they should keep their subscription, this quiet move to bolster their content offering is timely and we expect it to eventually grow even more.
These movies are only available for a limited time, but if they're popular, it would be great to have a rotating library of additional movies coming to Apple TV Plus in the future, and it would really add to the overall value. The fact that Apple chooses a set of movies is also nice - it feels organized rather than the myriad of movies you have to search for on Netflix or Prime Video. Of course, not all the movies shown so far are five-star masterpieces, but still.
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