iWorld
Apple TV adds classic films to subscription library in select markets
The new lineup includes Titanic, E.T. and The Martian but is not yet available in India
MUMBAI: Apple TV is giving its movie library a little déjà vu. The streaming service has added a selection of classic and popular films to its subscription catalogue at no additional cost, allowing subscribers in select markets to watch the titles without separately renting or buying them.
The films appear in a ‘Great Movies Available Now on Apple TV’ carousel within the Apple TV app. According to a report by 9to5Mac, the lineup is currently available in markets including the US, Canada and the UK, although the exact selection varies by region.
In the US, the additions include The Martian, Arrival, Looper, E.T., The Proposal, I, Robot, The Sixth Sense, Charlie’s Angels, Titanic, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, A Beautiful Mind, The Aviator and The Rookie, among others.
For Apple TV subscribers, the move effectively opens up a larger catalogue of familiar Hollywood titles without requiring a separate transaction. However, Apple has not said how long the films will remain available or whether the initiative is a permanent expansion of the service.
There is a catch for Indian viewers: the new movie lineup is not currently available in India.
That leaves Indian subscribers waiting to see whether Apple eventually brings the initiative to the market. A similar move could give the platform an opportunity to package Indian classics alongside its international catalogue.
A potential Indian lineup could include films such as Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Sholay (1975), Mr. India (1987), Lagaan (2001), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003), Don (2006), Phir Hera Pheri (2006), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Chennai Express (2013) and PK (2014), along with the Golmaal and Baahubali franchises.
For now, Indian viewers have had to make do with Apple’s other movie promotions. The platform recently ran a limited-time sci-fi movie sale for Rs 149 in India, featuring titles including 2001: A Space Odyssey and War of the Worlds.
Whether Apple’s latest catalogue experiment crosses the border remains unclear, but if it does, Indian subscribers may have plenty of old favourites ready for a new streaming encore.
