When the pandemic upended Hollywood's release calendar, studios had to make tough calls. Some films, like A Quiet Place Part II, were delayed for over a year. Others, like Coming 2 America and The Tomorrow War, were sold off to streaming platforms. Among those pivots was a World War II thriller from Sony that initially seemed like a gamble—but has since become one of Apple TV+'s most enduring hits.
That film is Greyhound, directed by Aaron Schneider and starring Tom Hanks as a U.S. Navy captain leading a convoy through treacherous waters during the Battle of the Atlantic. Unlike many war epics, Greyhound is lean and relentless, clocking in at just 91 minutes. It avoids sentimental tropes and heroic clichés, offering instead a taut, action-driven experience that appealed to both critics and younger audiences.
According to FlixPatrol, Greyhound has now spent more than 675 days on Apple TV+'s domestic top 10 chart—a staggering milestone that underscores its streaming longevity. The film, which Apple acquired for a reported $70 million, holds a Certified Fresh 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus praising its "efficiently economical approach" to the genre.
The success of Greyhound has paved the way for a sequel, currently in production with Hanks and Schneider returning. Fans eagerly awaiting more naval warfare can take comfort in knowing the franchise is in good hands.
Apple TV+ has been building a reputation for high-quality original content, from the chilling 'Cape Fear' remake starring Amy Adams and Javier Bardem to the fantasy blockbuster 'Eternity' with Elizabeth Olsen. But Greyhound remains one of its most reliable draws, proving that a well-crafted war film can find a massive audience outside theaters.
Interestingly, Sony saw a similar pattern with KPop Demon Hunters, which became Netflix's most-watched movie of all time after being offloaded. The lesson? Sometimes a streaming-first release can turn a would-be theatrical title into a cultural phenomenon.
For now, Greyhound continues to dominate Apple TV+'s charts, and with a sequel on the horizon, Tom Hanks' naval saga is far from over. Stay tuned for more updates on this and other streaming milestones.
