Apple has confirmed when Ridley Scott’s Napoleon will be released on the streaming service, and we don’t have to wait much longer.
The historical epic starring Joaquin Phoenix, which charts the rise and fall of legendary French commander and emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, arrives on Apple TV Plus on Friday March 1. The upcoming launch also feels well-timed ahead of the 2024 Oscars Napoleon to take home three Academy Awards ahead of this year’s ceremony on March 10.
It’s time for the emperor to come home. Stream Napoleon on Apple TV+ on March 1. pic.twitter.com/iNIU5zoymhFebruary 15, 2024
Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like the version we’re getting on Apple’s streaming platform is Scott’s apparent director’s cut. In September 2023, Scott told Empire Magazine (courtesy Variety for the catch) that he has a “fantastic” but mind-boggling four-and-a-half cut on his latest major film project.
Scott said at the time that he would love it if Apple would help finance it Napoleon along with Sony Pictures – released the painfully long director’s cut after the film’s theatrical run. However, a spokesperson told Ny Breaking that there was “nothing to share at this time.” Napoleon‘s extended cut. So it’s unlikely we’ll see this edition make its debut on one of the world’s top streaming services in the near future.
Is Ridley Scott’s Napoleon worth streaming?
That depends on who you ask and/or whether you pay close attention to reviews on aggregator websites, such as Rotten Tomatoes.
If you’re forming your opinion based on the latter, it’s probably best to ignore it. Per Napoleon‘s Rotten Tomatoes page, it’s nothing more than an expensively put together, bang average movie. With a critical score of 58% and a viewership score of 59%, Napoleon doesn’t seem worth watching. If I were to factor those scores into the equation, I certainly wouldn’t be looking to add the Phoenix-led historical drama to our list of the best Apple TV Plus movies.
And yet, despite the mixed reception it’s received since its November 22 theatrical release, Napoleon earned more than its fair share of nominations ahead of the 2024 awards season.
Of course, it’s only won one gong so far – Vanessa Kirby, who was recently announced as part of Marvel’s Fantastic four film cast and won the AATCA International Award for Best Supporting Actress as Napoleon’s first wife Josefine. But with seventeen more chances to add to that lonely triumph, including four potential BAFTAs and the aforementioned three Oscars nominations it has received, Napoleon could still walk away with a decent amount of trophies.
So is Napoleon worth watching on Apple TV Plus? The consensus says: maybe not. However, based on the multiple award nominations, some people would suggest that this is the case.
Personally, I’m going to stream it – I haven’t watched Napoleon in theaters and while I won’t get the big screen experience the film arguably deserves, I’d like to see what all the fuss is about. Phoenix and Kirby always deliver compelling performances regardless of the quality of the films they star in, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t sit down and watch Scott’s latest directorial effort to see where it ranks among the best Ridley Scott- movies state.
And yes, if you don’t want to sign up for Apple TV Plus, you might not find it value for money if you’re only interested in watching Napoleon and you won’t enjoy it in the end; you can just get a free trial of Apple TV Plus. Register for a week and watch Napoleonand then cancel your subscription. That way you don’t spend money on a service you might not care about.
