WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
A deadpan, surreal, and strangely beautiful look at what happens when the world forgets who it is.
93%
Apples is a quiet, deadpan gem for families who actually like to talk about movies after the credits roll. It’s not 'fun' in the popcorn-movie sense, but it’s deeply memorable (ironically) and visually striking.
If you have a teen who is into photography, analog tech, or 'weird' cinema, this is a must-watch. If you’re looking for a Friday night distraction, keep scrolling—this one requires you to meet it halfway.
Best for ages 13 and up. While there isn't much 'inappropriate' content, the themes of existential dread and the slow, subtitled delivery make it a tough sell for anyone younger than a thoughtful eighth grader.
The film deals with loneliness and grief with a quiet, deadpan dignity. It avoids cynicism even when things get surreal, focusing on a man trying to find his footing in a world that has lost its collective memory.
The central premise—a pandemic of amnesia treated by doctors issuing 'life tasks' via cassette tape—is incredibly original. It uses analog tech like Polaroids and tapes to create a distinct, timeless visual world.
Very low on traditional 'red flag' content. No major violence, gore, or sexual content. The primary 'risk' is the heavy emotional weight of memory loss and existential sadness, which might be too much for younger kids.
It’s a masterclass in visual storytelling that prompts huge questions about how much of our identity is tied to our memories and whether we can truly start over.
Released in 2021, Apples couldn't help but be viewed through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it isn't a 'virus' movie. There are no zombies and no frantic scientists in hazmat suits. Instead, the 'New Amnesia' pandemic is a quiet, lonely affair. People simply sit down on a curb and forget who they are.
Directed by Christos Nikou—who worked as an assistant director on Yorgos Lanthimos’s Dogtooth—the film carries that signature Greek 'deadpan' DNA. Everything is slightly off-kilter, a bit absurd, and very dry. The protagonist, Aris, is given a series of tasks to help build a new identity: ride a bike, go to a costume party, see a movie. He has to document these with a Polaroid camera.
For a generation of kids raised on the 'infinite scroll' and digital permanence, the film’s obsession with analog technology is fascinating. The Polaroids represent a physical, unchangeable proof of existence. It’s a great entry point for discussing how we curate our lives today versus how memory actually works.
Let’s be real: for a lot of kids, this will be 'the movie where nothing happens.' There are long stretches of silence. Aris eats a lot of apples. He stares at walls. But for the right kid—the one who likes The Truman Show or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind—this is a high-concept playground. It’s a movie about the performance of being a person, and that’s a topic that resonates deeply with teenagers trying to figure out their own identities.
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