Movies Made Entirely On Apple's iPhone: Tangerine, Unsane, High Flying Bird And More

Apple launched its new series iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max at its It’s Glowtime event today, September 9, 2024. Known for its impressive camera capabilities, Apple ’s new iPhone 16 series promises exciting advancements for filmmakers. The series features a higher frame rate 4K video recording, an improved spatial photos mode, and enhanced noise reduction. These upgrades aim to make the iPhone 16 series a robust tool for professional filmmakers. As Apple launches the new iPhone 16, here are five movies filmed on previous iPhone models.

Tangerine(2015)

Sean Baker’s film, Tangerine, tells the story of a transgender sex worker who goes into a frenzy after discovering that her pimp has cheated on her. Kitana KiKi Rodriguez stars as the lead, navigating the streets of Los Angeles. 

The entire film was shot using three iPhone 5S devices, a photography app, and an anamorphic lens. The movie earned several awards and made an impact at the Sundance 2015 Film Festival.

High Flying Bird(2019)

Steven Soderbergh’s film High Flying Bird is a sports drama entirely filmed on an iPhone 8 and can be watched on Netflix. It centres on a sports agent who pitches a risky opportunity to a rookie basketball player during an NBA lockout

The film was captured in 4K with the Filmic app, Moondog anamorphic lenses, and a DJI Osmo stabiliser.

Unsane(2018)

The psychological horror film Unsane follows Sawyer Valentini, a young woman portrayed by Claire Foy, who enters a mental institution for anxiety treatment and is committed involuntarily. 

Steven Soderbergh, the director, received much acclaim for his work, though many viewers may not realise that a significant part of the credit goes to an iPhone. The entire film was shot using three iPhone 7 Plus devices, with 4K video captured through the FiLMiC Pro app, which managed shutter speed, colour, and focus.

Detour(2017)

Détour is a short film released by Apple in 2017 and was shot entirely on an iPhone 7 Plus. Michel Gondry, known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and music videos for Björk and The White Stripes, directed it. 

The film depicts a family’s summer road trip through France, during which one of their tricycles falls off the car and embarks on its own adventure. Inspired by French cinematic history and culture, and the works of Jacques Tati and Albert Lamorisse, Détour garnered numerous awards.

9Ride(2017)

Matthew A Cherry’s 9 Rides is a feature film with a captivating concept. Released in 2017, the story follows an Uber driver who receives life-changing news on New Year ’s Eve while interacting with nine different passengers throughout the night. 

The cast includes Dorrian Missick, Robinne Lee, and Omar Dorsey, among others. Notably, the film was shot entirely on an iPhone 6s.