Launch Weekend Popularity of Apple TV+ Movie 'Greyhound' Compared to 'Box Office Big Hit'

Tom Hanks' WWII movie "Greyhound" saw the largest opening weekend release ever on Apple TV+, according to "sources close to Apple" that spoke to Deadline.


"Greyhound" saw more viewers than any other movie or TV show released on ‌Apple TV‌+ to date during its launch weekend, and the film is said to have a "viewing audience commensurate with a summer theatrical box office big hit."

Prior to the current public health crisis that shut down movie theaters in the United States and other countries, "Greyhound" was meant to be released in theaters. Sony Pictures instead sold the rights to Apple for $70 million, making "Greyhound" the first ever Tom Hanks movie to go directly to streaming services without a theatrical debut.

Hanks in an interview called the straight to ‌Apple TV‌+ release "an absolute heartbreak" because of the difference in picture and sound quality between an in-home television set and a movie theater.

Along with its position as the number one movie release on ‌Apple TV‌+, "Greyhound" also appears to have attracted a new audience. 30 percent of those who watched the movie were new to the ‌Apple TV‌+ service.

In "Greyhound," Hanks takes on the role of Navy veteran and captain Ernest Krause, who fights his own self doubts while leading a convoy of Allied ships against German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic to prove that he belongs in command. The movie has an 80 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Popular Stories

iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Visa and American Express Vying to Win Apple Card Deal in 'Fierce' Fight

Tuesday April 1, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Visa wants to pay Apple approximately $100 million to be the new payment network for the Apple Card, reports The Wall Street Journal. As of right now, the Apple Card is on the Mastercard payment network, but that is set to change because Apple is ending its partnership with Goldman Sachs. Both American Express and Visa are vying to replace Mastercard as Apple's card services provider, while...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iOS 18

Apple Seeds First Beta of iOS 18.5 to Developers

Wednesday April 2, 2025 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming just two days after Apple released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. We don't yet know what Apple is introducing in the iOS 18.5...

Top Rated Comments

Robotti Avatar
62 months ago
I find watching movies at home much more enjoyable than in a theater. Great picture and sound quality, beer with my popcorn, AND I get to choose my company. I wouldn’t exactly call it a heartbreak.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wilgeno Avatar
62 months ago
75" 4K screen with surround sound system. Plus reclining leather seating, no screaming kids, pause at anytime for any reason, any snacks I want, same for drinks, and I get to choose the time to watch. No, it's just not the same experience as at the theater. It's a better experience.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThatGuyInLa Avatar
62 months ago
Hanks needs to come over to my place and watch it. He would not be so upset.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
62 months ago

"Greyhound" saw more viewers than any other movie or TV show released on Apple TV+
Now that's damning with faint praise if I've ever heard it.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
62 months ago
I watched it on Sunday. Thoroughly entertaining. May watch again soon.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
62 months ago

the film is said to have a "viewing audience commensurate with a summer theatrical box office big hit."
In other news... free at-home things are popular. :P

It's extremely easy to sit on your couch, hit a few buttons, and watch a new movie.

Or... you arrange for babysitting, drive to a movie theater, possibly pay to park, and spend a minimum of $40 for a couple to watch a movie together. Plus snacks!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)