EXCLUSIVE : Add this one to the ongoing push-pull between streaming and theatrical. Wolfs , the Jon Watts -scripted and -directed film starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt , has become the most viewed movie in Apple TV+ history. Apple doesn’t break out specifics, but I’m told the film boosted viewership by nearly 30% week over week on the service.
It premiered on Apple TV+ on September 27, in more than 100 countries. The film created the biggest viewership spikes in the U.S.
, UK, Canada, Australia, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, and Germany. Wolfs stars Clooney and Pitt as “fixers,” shadowy guys who solve thorny problems for the wealthy. These two have to change their lone-wolf habits and work together.
The original deal called for a distribution plan that was to start with a wide theatrical release before landing on the streaming service. That got changed to a limited weeklong release before the big streaming bow. Watts, Clooney and Pitt premiered the picture at the Venice Film Festival.
Theatrical releases have become pricey hit-and-miss situations, but the streaming results put Wolfs in the win column for Apple, which has signed Watts to script to direct a sequel . The film surpassed numbers turned in on another recent star-driven straight-to-streaming crowd-pleasing caper film, the Doug Liman-directed The Instigators with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck leading a strong ensemble cast. Apple execs are enthused by the results.
“When George, Brad and Jon approached us with t.
