SUMMARY
Considering the quality, quantity, and diversity of films distributed under the Apple TV+ banners, GLAAD has given Apple TV+ a Poor grade.
Though Apple TV+ currently only has a small slate of original films, many have received critical acclaim and boasted all-star talent rosters. Consequently, it is disappointing that more films did not have LGBTQ representation. While Causeway painted an intricate portrait of a disabled lesbian, every other film in Apple’s library was “blink-and-you’ll miss it” in terms of the LGBTQ representation. Even in Causeway, only one line confirmed the lead’s queer identity. GLAAD hopes to see more LGBTQ-inclusive projects from Apple in the future.
HISTORY
Apple Inc. has been producing and distributing original content since 2016. In November 2019, Apple launched its streaming service Apple TV+ which offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. Apple TV+ then pivoted to incorporate a catalog of non-original movies and television programs, announcing its first acquisition in 2020. Apple TV+’s previous LGBTQ-inclusive films include The Velvet Underground (2021), Palmer (2021), and Come From Away (2021).
Note: Films distributed by Apple TV+ do not share their theatrical release numbers publicly and the company declined to provide this information for this report, as such these cannot be cited in this report.
CAUSEWAY
WIDEST THEATRICAL RELEASE: UNKNOWN
VITO RUSSO TEST: PASS
This drama follows Lynsey, a soldier who suffered a brain injury in Afghanistan and has returned home to New Orleans before she can be deployed again. Lynsey strikes up a friendship with James, a mechanic who was seriously injured in a car crash. At one point, a persistent man hits on Lynsey at a bar and James pretends to be her boyfriend until the man leaves. Later, Lynsey tells James that she wouldn’t have a boyfriend, she would have a girlfriend and James accepts this. Later on in the film, James opens up to Lynsey about his car accident and his own role in it. Lynsey hugs him and then kisses him. She pulls back and says that it was a mistake, and that she only kissed him because she felt sorry for him. James is angry and the two don’t speak for a period, until they reconcile at the end of the film. Though Lynsey kisses James, it is clearly an act of pity rather than romantic or sexual desire. It is disappointing that Lynsey’s only moment of physical affection was with a man. However, a complex and nuanced lesbian main character, especially a disabled veteran, is a story rarely told.
LUCK
WIDEST THEATRICAL RELEASE: UNKNOWN
Vito Russo Test: FAIL
This animated film features a few background shots where it looks like there could be LGBTQ couples, but these scenes are too brief to be confirmed or counted per GLAAD’s methodology.
SPIRITED
WIDEST THEATRICAL RELEASE: UNKNOWN
Vito Russo Test: FAIL
This musical contains a crowd scene with many presumed couples, and it could be inferred that there are two men and two women on dates together, but the couples are never singled out nor explicitly confirmed to be romantic. Thus, no characters were counted in GLAAD’s tally.
THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE
WIDEST THEATRICAL RELEASE: UNKNOWN
Vito Russo Test: FAIL
In this coming-of-age drama, there is a brief moment that features a shot of two women kissing. Protagonist Lennie is describing the people around her, and the audience sees two women kissing, though the shot is immediately covered by a man and woman kissing. It’s disappointing that the only representation is mere seconds of a queer couple, only to instantly be overshadowed by a straight couple.