Cherry

Cherry is a young man who leaves college behind and enlists as a combat medic in Iraq, clinging to his relationship with Emily as a beacon of stability. The brutal realities of war shape him, and he returns haunted by memories that blur the line between right and wrong. Back home, old habits and new temptations pull him toward risky choices as he tries to find meaning in a world that no longer feels like his own. His life spirals into a dangerous cycle of drugs and criminal acts. The film follows his arc through grueling routines, late nights, and the pull of a chaotic world. Its tone stays intimate even when the scale widens.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Cherry adapts Nico Walker's autobiographical novel and had a 40 million dollar budget. The film arrived on Apple TV+ in 2021, with Tom Holland headlining alongside Ciara Bravo and Jack Reynor.

Box office data for Cherry is limited because the film was released primarily on Apple TV+ with a limited theatrical run. The streaming strategy kept commercial figures modest, and earnings were not widely reported, underscoring a digital heavy distribution plan.

The film sparked discussions about PTSD and addiction, presenting a blunt look at a veteran's struggles. Holland shifts away from a familiar on screen persona toward a troubled flawed figure, drawing mixed reactions from critics who weighed risk taking against tonal shifts. The conversations touched on how streaming releases affect performance evaluation and audience access, and how mainstream actors push into boundary pushing material.

Critics noted Cherry's uneven pacing but acknowledged its unflinching portrayal of the costs of violence and the toll of war on personal life. The film centers on trauma, dependency, and the longing for belonging in a fractured, at times harsh landscape. Several reviewers highlighted Tom Holland's atypical turn as a risk that paid off with empathy rather than sensationalism, inviting viewers to question how society treats veterans. The themes resonate with debates about addiction, accountability, and the price of trying to belong.