Ridley Scott's Napoleon, the 158-minute historical epic starring Joaquin Phoenix, is enjoying a major resurgence on Apple TV+ this July 2026. The film, which initially struggled to break even at the box office, has climbed the streaming charts to become one of the platform's most-watched titles, outperforming hits like Greyhound and Fountain of Youth.
The renewed interest comes as Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey dominates theaters, sparking a broader appetite for old-fashioned Hollywood epics. Scott's darkly humorous take on the French general is benefiting from this cultural moment, with viewers flocking to streaming to catch the film they may have missed in cinemas.
Released in 2023, Napoleon grossed approximately $222 million worldwide against a reported $200 million budget. While it didn't match the box office success of Nolan's Oppenheimer from the same year, the film has found a second life on Apple TV+. The movie was produced by Apple Studios and distributed theatrically by Sony, a strategy the tech giant has used for other projects like F1 and Argylle.
Joaquin Phoenix leads the cast in his most prominent role since his Oscar-winning turn in Joker. Interestingly, Phoenix nearly exited the project just before production began, but was persuaded to stay after Paul Thomas Anderson performed uncredited script rewrites. Vanessa Kirby co-stars as Empress Joséphine.
Critics have given Napoleon a mixed 58% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus calling it a "slyly funny epic with bravura set pieces and a divided runtime." Despite the lukewarm critical reception, the film's streaming success suggests it may be developing a cult following similar to Scott's The Last Duel, which bombed in theaters but has gained traction on home video.
Scott, now 88, is preparing to return to sci-fi with The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin. It will be his first sci-fi film since 2017's Alien: Covenant. In recent years, he has focused on historical dramas like Gladiator II, though none have matched the commercial success of his earlier work.
For more on the streaming landscape, check out our piece on Apple TV+ Hit 'The Morning Show' to End After Season 5 in 2027. And if you're curious about other Ridley Scott gems, read about Ridley Scott's Underrated Heist Gem 'Matchstick Men' Hits Tubi Free in July 2026.
As Nolan's The Odyssey continues to draw crowds, it's clear that audiences are hungry for grand historical storytelling. Whether Napoleon will maintain its streaming momentum remains to be seen, but for now, Scott's emperor is having his day.
