Apple TV doesn’t always get the credit it deserves, but its movie catalog is quietly stacked with gems worth your weekend. From a hand-drawn animated masterpiece to a tearjerker sci-fi road trip and a wild real-life political thriller, we have your weekend watchlist covered with these three underrated gems.
These Apple TV+ Gems Have Your Weekend Fully Covered
Wolfwalkers (2020)
- Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Adventure
- IMDB rating: 8.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes (critics): 99%
The film
- Platform: Apple TV+
- Studio: Cartoon Saloon (same creators behind The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea)
- RT Score: 99% (critics)
- Awards: Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Feature
Set in 17th-century Kilkenny, Ireland, Wolfwalkers follows Robyn, the daughter of an English hunter tasked with wiping out the last wolf pack in the region. She befriends a wild girl from a mystical tribe that transforms into wolves while they sleep. Irish studio Cartoon Saloon, the four-time Oscar-nominated team behind The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, crafted the whole film in hand-drawn animation that shifts between sharp geometric lines and loose expressive brushwork.
The visual style changes depending on which world Robyn inhabits at any given moment, and the result is captivating. I also like how Irish folklore and colonial history are woven into the story, and the movie stays with you long after the credits roll.
Why it’s considered “underrated”
Even with its near-perfect critical score, Wolfwalkers didn’t get mainstream attention because:
- It released during Apple TV+’s early streaming era (limited marketing reach)
- It was overshadowed by bigger studio animation releases
- It’s more “arthouse fairy tale” than blockbuster family comedy
You can watch Wolfwalkers on Apple TV.
Boys State (2020)
- Genre: Documentary
- IMDB rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes (critics): 94%
This real-life documentary drops you into a week-long program where a thousand teenage boys from across Texas build a representative government from scratch. Directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine embedded themselves in that chaos and captured something remarkable. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and it earns every bit of that recognition.
You watch these kids invent political factions, run smear campaigns, and find ways to win at almost any cost. It lands as a disturbingly accurate portrait of how American democracy actually operates. I really like how the film lets these young men be genuinely complex and contradictory. Some of them will surprise you in ways you won’t expect going in.
You can watch Boys State on Apple TV.
Finch (2021)
- Genre: Sci-fi, Drama, Adventure
- IMDB rating: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes (critics): 74%
Set in a scorched, post-apocalyptic America after a solar disaster wipes out most of humanity, Finch follows a dying robotics engineer who builds a robot to care for his dog when he’s gone. Tom Hanks plays the title role with the kind of quiet warmth that makes the whole saga land with sincerity rather than schmaltz.
Director Miguel Sapochnik, who helmed some of Game of Thrones‘ most ambitious episodes, brings a sweeping visual sense to a surprisingly intimate story. The film leans into humor and tenderness rather than the bleakness of its setting. I really like how the film leans into warmth and humor rather than leaning on the bleakness of its setting. It’s a sci-fi film with a big beating heart, and it’s more than earned its underrated status.
You can watch Finch on Apple TV.
Luck (2022)
- Genre: Animation, Comedy, Adventure
- IMDB rating: 6.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes (critics): 48%
Plagued by bad luck all her life, 18-year-old Sam, a bright-eyed orphan brought up in the care system, is about to enter the real world and move into her new house. And as she bids farewell to her best friend and roommate Hazel, Sam is officially on her own. But it’s a jungle out there, especially when you are the unluckiest person in the world. However, as Sam tries to find her feet, preoccupied with doing the right thing, change arrives in the shape of a mysterious black cat and a shiny lucky penny. Now, the sky’s the limit. But first things first. Where does luck come from? If Bad Luck is a mirror image of Good Luck, is Sam about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
You can watch Luck on Apple TV.
Here’s a clearer breakdown of the Apple TV+ “underrated movies to watch this weekend” style list, including Wolfwalkers and the kinds of films that usually show up in these roundups.
🎬 1. Wolfwalkers (2020)
Why it’s in every “underrated Apple TV” list:
- One of Apple TV+’s most critically acclaimed films (near-perfect RT score)
- Stunning hand-drawn animation from Cartoon Saloon
- Strong emotional core about friendship, nature, and control vs freedom
Wolfwalkers
What it’s about (simple):
A young girl in 1600s Ireland discovers a secret world of people who transform into wolves—and gets pulled into their conflict.
Wolfwalkers
Why it feels “underrated”:
- Released early in Apple TV+’s life when the platform had low visibility
- More artistic than mainstream animated hits
- Didn’t get theatrical exposure like Disney/Pixar films
🎬 2. Echo Valley
Echo Valley
Why “underrated”:
- Strong performances didn’t translate into widespread attention
- Overshadowed by bigger streaming thrillers
Why it shows up in these lists:
- High-profile cast but quieter release
- Psychological thriller energy instead of blockbuster marketing
Echo Valley
Core idea:
A mother tries to protect her troubled daughter after she returns home entangled in dangerous criminal activity.
