Everything You Need to Know About Watching Fast and Furious 9 on Apple TV
The highly anticipated ninth installment of the blockbuster Fast and Furious franchise, F9, was just released in theaters on June 25, 2021. Naturally, fans are eager to see how the globetrotting adventure continues for Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew. With the movie still playing exclusively in cinemas, many viewers are wondering: when will Fast and Furious 9 be available on streaming? Specifically, will it come to Apple TV? Below, I’ll break down everything we know so far about the film’s streaming and digital release plans.
Will Fast and Furious 9 Be Released on Apple TV?
- Based on previous Fast & Furious movie releases, it’s very likely that F9 will eventually become available for rental or purchase on Apple TV.
- The last three F&F films – Fate of the Furious, Hobbs & Shaw, and Furious 7 – all hit iTunes/Apple TV roughly 45-60 days after leaving theaters.
- Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and shortened theatrical window, industry insiders expect F9’s digital debut could come even sooner – possibly around 30-45 days post-cinemas.
So in short – yes, while not confirmed just yet, all signs point to Fast and Furious 9 hitting Apple TV and other digital platforms in late July or early August 2021. The movie will probably be available for rent or purchase, rather than included with a streaming subscription like on Netflix.
Will Fast and Furious 9 Be Streaming on Cable Services First?
It’s possible but unlikely that F9 would premiere on cable video-on-demand (VOD) before digital platforms. Historically:
- The Fate of the Furious was the first F&F movie to debut simultaneously on cable VOD and digital HD the same day, which was 31 days after theaters.
- Hobbs & Shaw followed a similar pattern, arriving on cable and digital 30 days after cinemas.
- With the shorter window now standard, major studios prefer releasing directly to digital stores which reach a much wider audience.
So while you may be able to rent F9 a day or two sooner through your cable provider depending on deals, the broadband digital release on Apple TV and others will likely be the first major post-theater availability.
When Will Fast and Furious 9 Be Available to Streaming Subscribers?
Once F9 finally makes its way to digital and cable VOD, the wait will continue a bit longer for subscribers of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. Based on prior F&F films:
- The earliest any Fast movie has hit a subscription service was Furious 7, which took around 9 months to reach Netflix after theaters.
- Both Fate of the Furious and Hobbs & Shaw waited about 6 months for their Netflix streaming debuts.
- Since F9 is a Universal title, it may follow those timelines – debuting on Peacock (NBCUniversal’s service) around 6 months after VOD with other streamers to follow later.
So while depressing for fans eager to stream F9 ASAP, it’s realistic to expect a wait of at least 6 months and possibly into early 2022 before the high-octane action lands on the big subscription services.
In Summary – When and Where Will You Be Able to Watch Fast and Furious 9?
Theaters (Now – Ongoing)
Digital/VOD (Estimate: Late July to Early August 2021) – Available to rent on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, etc.
Cable VOD (Estimate: Same date as digital VOD) – Available to rent through cable providers on demand.
Peacock (Estimate: January – March 2022) – NBCUniversal’s streaming service will likely get F9 first among subscriptions.
Other Streamers (Estimate: 6+ months after theaters) – Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney+ will stream F9 later in 2022 most likely.
From my experience following home video release schedules, the estimates above seem quite reasonable based on prior Fast films. Still, the pandemic has introduced more uncertainty. But hopefully this breakdown helps fans understand their options for catching up on Dom and crew’s escapades as soon as possible from the comfort of home. Let me know if any other F9 streaming questions come up!
Fast & Furious 9 Apple TV Details
| Release Date | Length | Director |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2021 | 2 hours and 25 minutes | Justin Lin |
| Streaming Since | May 25, 2021 | Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang |
| Rating | PG-13 | Action, Crime, Thriller |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 76% (Audience Score) | Universal Pictures |
FAQ
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When will Fast and Furious 9 be released on Apple TV?
The movie was originally scheduled to come out in theaters in May 2020 but was delayed a few times because of the pandemic. It finally premiered in theaters in June 2021. Many people are wondering if and when it will be available to stream at home on Apple TV. Some sources say it may come to Apple TV and other digital platforms around Christmas 2021 or early 2022. However, the exact release date has not been officially announced yet.
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Will I have to pay to rent or buy it on Apple TV?
Yes, you will most likely have to pay a fee to watch Fast and Furious 9 on Apple TV after its digital release. Most new movies that come to streaming services or video-on-demand are not free – you have to purchase or rent them. Prices can vary, but rentals usually cost around $5-6 while purchases run $15-20. So be prepared to shell out some cash if you want to stream it at home rather than seeing it in theaters.
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Will the Apple TV version have any extra/deleted scenes?
It’s possible the digital version may contain some extra footage not seen in theaters, like extended or alternate scenes. Directors often film additional material that gets cut from the theatrical release for time. Studios sometimes add this unused footage back in for the home video release. However, it’s not 100% clear if Fast and Furious 9 will have any significant extra scenes added. Most of the time the digital version is basically the same cut as the theatrical film. We’ll have to wait and see what bonus material, if any, Universal decides to include on Apple TV.
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How will the video and audio quality compare to the theater?
While seeing a big blockbuster like Fast and Furious 9 on the largest screen possible in a movie theater is always more immersive, the video and audio quality on Apple TV should be pretty darn good nowadays. As long as you have a decent sized HDTV and home theater system, the Apple TV version filmed in high definition will look stunning. The digital audio mixes are also designed for home theaters. It may not match the theatrical experience 100%, but it comes pretty close and lets you watch from the comfort of your couch!
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Will Fast and Furious 9 be in 4K on Apple TV?
Yup, considering how many Apple TV users have 4K TVs nowadays, it’s an extremely safe bet that Fast and Furious 9 will be made available in stunning 4K resolution when it’s streaming on Apple TV. In fact, most new movies coming to digital get a 4K transfer to take advantage of modern home theater setups. With its many impressive action sequences shot on high-quality cameras, the visual effects in F9 will no doubt really pop in sharp 4K. It’ll be an awesome way to rewatch it at home!
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What special features might be included?
When big movies like Fast and Furious 9 get released digitally, producers often include some cool bonus materials to sweeten the deal. You may find things like behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, director or cast commentaries, and even sneak peeks at the next installment. It would not be surprising if the Apple TV version has a making-of doc showing how they filmed crazy stunts. Vin Diesel is also famous for hype videos, so perhaps we’ll get one of those too. Only time will tell what bonuses Universal decides to add for fans to enjoy!