Apple have bizarre movie clause that means you can always work out who a movie villain is

Apple have an unusual movie clause when it comes to using their products in films - and our minds have been blown by this.

If you've ever been watching a movie and noticed that some characters are wandering around with the latest iPhone, while others are stuck with an old brick, there's actually a reason why.

While it's pretty fascinating, this piece of info might change the way you watch films forever - so you've been warned.

Apple have an unusual clause when it comes to using their products (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Back in 2020, director Rian Johnson, explained that while Apple allow film crews to use their products in movies, there's a very crucial clause.

They're apparently super picky about *who* uses them.

Johnson told Vanity Fair: “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 Knives Out - which Johnson directed - plenty of the murder suspects have iPhones.

But the actual villain, Ransom, uses non-Apple devices.

“Every single filmmaker who has a bad guy in their movie that’s supposed to be a secret wants to murder me right now,” Johnson added.

According to Apple's copyright and trademark guidelines, products have to be 'shown only in the best light'.

They explain: “The Apple product is shown only in the best light, in a manner or context that reflects favourably on the Apple products and on Apple Inc.”

And people have been speculating further about the 'rule' over on Reddit.

One person suggested that the clause dates back years, explaining: "It's well documented that Apple iPhones cannot be used on-screen with villains or bad guys or in any scene or depiction that may show the company in bad light or appear to be associated with crime or violence or bad stuff in general."

While an article from Wired also pointed out that all the good guys in 24 were seen using Macs, while the baddies all used Windows.

Apple products need to be shown in 'the best light', according to copyright guidelines (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

However, Apple aren't alone in trying to disassociate with negativity.

Darryl Collis, director of product placement specialists, Seesaw Media, told the Guardian: “All brands have stipulations for how they want to be used and seen on screen.

“It is common for some brands not to want to be associated with a bad guy, or for an alcohol or car brand not to want be linked with characters being drunk or involving crashes.”

LADbible has reached out to Apple for further comment.