Why you never see a film or TV villain using an iPhone onscreen

The battle of iPhones vs Androids is a tale as old as time and it looks to be advantage Apple once again.

Lots of us are always keen to secure the latest Apple product but they're not quite as in demand in the film industry, for one peculiar reason. And in murder mystery or action films where we see a villain, the reality is that you'll probably never see them using an iPhone.

While Apple products can be used to catch cheating villains in real life, you can also use them to help you identify the mystery killer on your TV screen, thanks to a so-called 'no villain clause' reportedly imposed by the tech giants.

Flip phones might hint towards the villain. (Getty Stock Images)

Rumours of the clause first surfaced when American filmmaker Rian Johnson discussed the issue with Vanity Fair in 2020, when talking about his work on the first Knives Out mystery.

He said: "Apple, they let you use iPhones in movies. But - and this is very pivotal - if you’re ever watching a mystery movie, bad guys cannot have iPhones on camera.”

In an August 2024 interview on the podcast Wrap Drinks, prop master Heidi Koleto added fuel to the fire.

Although Jacob was an awful bloke, he isn't the villain in Knives Out (Lionsgate Films/Screenrant)

She said: “I got a script once where an actress is supposed to be looking at her phone while she’s driving drunk and crashes her car. They wanted to see a text message pop up and I had to be like ‘We can’t do that. We’ve established this character with an Apple phone. We can’t have her driving drunk and crashing while looking at an iPhone, they’ll never work with me again'.”

Apple are yet to confirm or deny the existence of the 'no villain clause' but it is confirmed that the tech company can have a say in how it is represented during the production.

Richard Osman has also discussed the clause on The Rest is Entertainment podcast and it's something he will no doubt have to be aware of, as Netflix prepares to launch The Thursday Murder Club on its platform later this year.

Personally, I think it would it would be incredible viewing to see a film villain taking a sip from the beer app on their classic iPhone while defeating the protagonist but the chances are that won't happen anytime soon, unless maybe you're watching a film entirely produced by Samsung.

So, keep a close eye out the next time you're watching a modern thriller or murder mystery, as the chances are if you see an iPhone being used, you can rule out that character as one of your suspects.