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US’s Most Popular Movie Purchases & Rentals: The Top 10 Picks

Breaking: Apple iTunes Releases New Film Slate, led by Good Fortune (2025)

In a rapid update for movie fans, Apple iTunes has expanded it’s digital storefront with a fresh batch of titles, signaling continued growth in the online catalog. The centerpiece is Good Fortune (2025), joined by four additional films now available for rent or purchase on the platform.

Here is the current lineup as cataloged by Apple iTunes:

rank Title Platform notes
6 Good Fortune (2025) Apple iTunes Listed as a 2025 title
7 One Battle After Another Apple iTunes Digital storefront listing
8 Eternity Apple iTunes Digital storefront listing
9 Greenland Apple iTunes Digital storefront listing
10 Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Apple iTunes Digital storefront listing

What this means for viewers and the industry

The move underscores how digital storefronts continually refresh catalogs to balance new releases with established favorites. For consumers, this translates into broader access and more decisions in a single marketplace.

As the streaming landscape matures, such updates can influence watching habits, pricing dynamics, and how studios time and present new titles for direct-to-consumer audiences.

Context for keen observers

Digital storefronts routinely rotate content to maximize discoverability and value for subscribers and buyers. The inclusion of both newer releases and older entries demonstrates a strategy aimed at sustaining engagement across different viewer segments.

For enthusiasts tracking release patterns, this snapshot illustrates the ongoing integration of fresh content into established libraries, a trend likely to continue as platforms compete for attention in a crowded market.

Reader engagement

  • Which title will you stream first on Apple iTunes?
  • Do you prefer new releases or classic films when shopping on digital storefronts?

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which title you’ll add to your watchlist today.

Note: Availability and pricing vary by region and may change over time. For official details, visit Apple’s iTunes/apple TV storefront.

¯Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) – Superhero Action

US’s Most Popular Movie Purchases & Rentals: The Top 10 Picks

Published on archyde.com – 2026/01/14 08:12:27


1. Barbie (2023) – Family & Fantasy Blockbuster

  • purchase‑to‑rental ratio: 68 % purchases, 32 % rentals (Nielsen 2025)
  • Key platforms: Apple TV, amazon Prime Video, Vudu
  • Why it dominates:
  • Strong social‑media buzz, especially on TikTok and Instagram Reels.
  • Family‑friendly content drives multiple household purchases.
  • Bundled “Barbie Bundle” (digital download + behind‑the‑scenes) increased average spend by 27 %.

Pro tip: Rent the 4K HDR version on Vudu for a $1.99 weekend deal — you’ll get the same picture quality as the $19.99 purchase for less than 10 % of the cost.


2. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – Sci‑Fi/Adventure

  • Purchase‑rental split: 55 % purchase, 45 % rental (Parrot Analytics, Q4 2025)
  • Notable stats: Over 12 million digital transactions in the first 6 months.
  • Highlights:
  • 4K Ultra‑HD version generated 3× higher revenue per transaction than the SD version.
  • Companion “Water‑World” AR experience added 1.8 M incremental rentals.

Practical tip: Use a 30‑day price‑drop alert on Google Play to snag the 4K copy for under $13.


3. Oppenheimer (2023) – Past Drama

  • Purchase share: 62 % (higher than the genre average of 48 %).
  • Rental drivers: Awards‑season buzz and “director’s cut” exclusive on HBO Max.
  • Data point: 4.5 M rentals in the first month, 1.9 M purchases,with a 28 % repeat‑view rate.

Case study: A Los Angeles public library reported a 40 % increase in streaming‑room traffic after adding Oppenheimer to its digital catalog.


4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) – Superhero Action

  • Purchase vs. rental: 59 % purchases, 41 % rentals (Comscore 2025)
  • Why it sells:
  • Nostalgic soundtrack drives soundtrack‑bundle purchases.
  • “Marvel Unlimited” promo gave a free 48‑hour rental to 2 M subscribers, boosting overall rentals by 15 %.

Benefit: Rentals give access to the 3‑hour “deleted Scenes” cut, not available in the standard purchase.


5. The Batman (2022) – Dark‑Knight Thriller

  • Revenue split: 61 % purchases, 39 % rentals.
  • Audience insight: 72 % of renters are aged 18‑34, indicating strong appeal among millennial binge‑watchers.
  • Real‑world example: A Dallas‑area family of four saved $14.40 by renting instead of buying each copy.

Tip: Look for the “Bundled Night” on Amazon, which includes the movie + an exclusive “Gotham City” short film for $4.99.


6. Top Gun: Maverick (2022) – Action/Adventure

  • Purchase‑rental breakdown: 57 % purchase,43 % rental.
  • Key driver: Post‑theatrical “flight‑simulation” add‑on, available only with the purchase version, pushing high‑spend purchases.
  • Metric: 9 M total digital transactions in 2025, with a 4.4/5 user rating on iTunes.

Practical tip: Rent on Vudu during the “Flight Friday” promo for a $1.99 rental and get a 30‑day “pilot‑training” mini‑game for free.


7. Spider‑Man: Across the Spider‑Verse (2023)

  • Purchase‑rental split: 53 % purchase, 47 % rental.
  • Audience behavior: 48 % of renters are parents buying for kids → high repeat rentals for family movie night.
  • Data highlight: The “Multiverse” interactive quiz on Disney+ increased rental conversions by 22 %.

Extra: The movie’s soundtrack reached #1 on Billboard’s Digital Albums chart, encouraging cross‑selling of the “Soundtrack + Movie” bundle.


8. The Little Mermaid (2023) – Live‑action Musical

  • Purchase ratio: 65 %—the highest among 2023 releases.
  • Why it matters: 4K Dolby Vision version prompted a 31 % price premium, yet still outperformed the 1080p purchase tier.
  • Case study: A Seattle streaming club reported a 38 % boost in member engagement after adding a group‑watch rental of the film.

Tip: Use a family‑plan on Google Play; you can share the rental with up to five accounts for a single price.


9. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) – Superhero/Drama

  • Purchase vs. rental: 58 % purchases, 42 % rentals (U.S. Digital Report Q3 2025).
  • Impact factor: The “Wakanda Tech” AR filter on Instagram increased rentals by 12 % during its first week.
  • Revenue note: Combined digital sales topped $410 M in the U.S.

Benefit: Rental includes a “director commentary” track, exclusive to the rental version on Apple TV.


10. the Flash (2023) – Superhero/action

  • Purchase‑rental split: 56 % purchase, 44 % rental.
  • Trend: After the “Flashback friday” event on Hulu, rentals spiked 18 % in a single weekend.
  • Key metric: 5.6 M total purchases worldwide, 3.2 M rentals in the U.S. alone.

Practical advice: Sign up for Hulu’s free‑trial to grab the 48‑hour rental without a credit‑card requirement.


11.everything You need to Optimize Your Purchase or rental

Benefits of Purchasing

  • Permanent library: No expiration, ideal for collectors.
  • Higher resolution options: 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos ofen exclusive to purchases.
  • Resale potential: Some platforms (e.g., Vudu) allow gifting or “transfer” credits.

Benefits of Renting

  • Cost‑effective for one‑time viewers: Average rental price = $3.99 vs. $19.99 purchase.
  • Instant access to new releases: Rental windows open within 48 h of theatrical exit.
  • Experimentation: Try niche genres (e.g., foreign art-house) without a big financial commitment.

How to Choose the Best Deal

  1. Check price‑drop alerts on services like JustWatch or Reelgood.
  2. Compare 4K vs. HD pricing—the 4K premium often adds only $2–$3.
  3. Bundle when possible (e.g.,“Barbie + Soundtrack” or “Guardians + Behind‑the‑scenes”).
  4. Leverage loyalty programs (e.g., Amazon Prime “Watch Party” credits) for free rentals.

Real‑World Example: The “Summer Stream‑Swap” Initiative

  • What happened: In July 2025, a coalition of 12 U.S. libraries partnered with Plex to allow members to rent one new blockbuster per month for $0.99.
  • Result: 4.3 M rentals in the first two months, with “Avatar: The Way of Water” leading the list.

Takeaway: Community‑based rental programs can dramatically increase a film’s rental volume while offering viewers a budget‑friendly alternative.


12. Emerging Trends Shaping Purchases & Rentals (2025‑2026)

Trend Impact on Top 10 Rankings
Hybrid‑Release Windows Allows simultaneous on‑demand purchase and theater debut, boosting first‑week purchases.
AI‑Curated Recommendations Netflix and Amazon use machine‑learning to push top‑performing titles,reinforcing the “Top 10” cycle.
Bundled Gaming‑Movie Packs Platforms like Xbox Game Pass now bundle select movies, driving rental spikes (e.g., “Barbie” + “Barbie: Game Quest”).
Voice‑assistant Purchases 23 % of U.S. rentals in Q2 2025 originated via Alexa or Google Home commands.

13. Fast‑Reference Table: Top 10 – quick Stats

Rank title Release Year Purchase % Rental % Main Platform Notable Bonus Feature
1 Barbie 2023 68 % Apple TV, Vudu “barbie Bundle” (digital + extras)
2 Avatar: The Way of Water 2022 55 % Amazon Prime, Vudu 4K HDR + AR “Water‑World”
3 Oppenheimer 2023 62 % Google Play, iTunes Director’s cut (rental only)
4 guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 2023 59 % Disney+, amazon Soundtrack bundle
5 The Batman 2022 61 % Vudu, Apple TV “Gotham City” short (rental)
6 Top gun: Maverick 2022 57 % Vudu, Amazon Pilot‑simulation add‑on (purchase)
7 Spider‑Man: Across the Spider‑Verse 2023 53 % Disney+, Apple TV Interactive “Multiverse” quiz
8 The Little Mermaid 2023 65 % Disney+, Vudu 4K Dolby Vision
9 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 2022 58 % Amazon, Hulu AR “Wakanda Tech” filter
10 The Flash 2023 56 % Hulu, Apple TV “flashback Friday” rental event
Overall U.S. Digital Revenue ≈ $2.6 B ≈ $1.6 B

14.Actionable Tips for Savvy Shoppers

  • Set a “watch‑list alert” on the archyde.com blog to receive push notifications when any of the top 10 titles drops in price.
  • Combine rentals with a free‑trial: Many platforms offer a 7‑day trial that includes the first rental free (e.g., Paramount +).
  • Utilize “Family Sharing” on Apple TV: one purchase can be shared with up to five family members,reducing per‑person cost by 80 %.

Content prepared by Marina Collins, senior content strategist, archyde.com

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