03:23 | 28/04/2022 Print
Top Best New Movies May 2022 and Full List |
Arriving May 2
Arriving May 11
Arriving May 16
When to stream it: Friday, May 27
It goes without saying that Netflix (and the show's audience) has high hopes for Stranger Things' next instalment. After a near three-year hiatus, the wildly popular supernatural horror action thriller series finally returns to our screens this month. And, based on its official trailer, we're expecting season 4 to be the biggest, darkest, and most emotional entry in the franchise yet.
Set six months after the season 3 finale, Stranger Things season 4 finds our heroes truly divided for the first time. The Byers family – with Eleven in tow – have relocated to California, leaving the likes of Mike, Dustin, Max, Lucas, and other prominent characters behind in Hawkins. Meanwhile, Hopper is alive but not entirely well, with Hawkins' chief of police incarcerated in a Kamchatka prison (alongside a demogorgon, no less) in Russia's eastern region.
Unfortunately for the group, the Upside Down isn't done with them yet. A new, terrifying threat with links to the mysterious Creel House – read our trailer breakdown for more on these teases – is ready to give our heroes their sternest test yet and, potentially, bring about the end of the world. No pressure then, guys and girls.
Stranger Things season 4 will be split into two halves, with Part 1 launching on May 27. Part 2 will arrive five weeks later on July 1.
When to stream it: Friday, May 20
Arriving a week before Stranger Things season 4, the next batch of episodes in Netflix's superb animated anthology series will hopefully deliver more stories filled with existential themes, gore, over-the-top action, and laugh out loud moments.
Season 2 of Love, Death & Robots was a lot shorter than its predecessor – the eight-episode season's shorter runtime and development cycle owing to the ongoing pandemic. Season 3 is set to follow suit, with only nine entries set to debut on Netflix later this month.
Still, there were some noteworthy episodes in Love, Death & Robots' second season, so we're hoping that season 3 will be packed with similarly stellar entries as Pop Squad or Snow in the Desert. In the meantime, check out our rankings of every Love, Death & Robots episode to date.
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When to stream it: Friday, May 6
After its recent subscriber and show cancellation issues, Netflix is altering its project development strategy and starting to lean into more foreign language-based productions. That's unsurprising, given that the streamer has enjoyed huge success with some of its non-US originals including Squid Game and Blood Red Sky.
The latest foreign language TV series off the Netflix production line is Welcome to Eden, an upcoming Spanish sci-fi drama seemingly inspired by the likes of Lost and Prime Video show The Wilds.
Welcome to Eden's plot synopsis is a fairly simple one: five young adult influencers are invited to a mysterious, exclusive party on the island of Eden by the brand company for a new drink. Initially, the trip seems like it'll be one that the group will look back fondly on in the years to come. But paradise isn't what it seems and it isn't long before the group become embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse as they try desperately to escape their island prison.
Netflix will certainly hope Welcome to Eden follows in the footsteps of Money Heist and Elite, two other Spanish Originals that have pulled in plenty of viewers. Time will tell, though, if Welcome to Eden will. With Netflix lacking in original film productions in May, this is the best we can hope for.
When to stream it: Friday, May 13
Three years on from her latest film role, Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect, JoJo Rabbit) is back as the star of a new comedy flick.
Senior Year sees Wilson play Stephanie Conway, a popular high-school cheerleader who suffers a head injury days before her senior prom. Waking from a 20-year coma, Conway realizes that she never graduated and, upset over this revelation, re-enrolls to complete her studies and become prom queen despite now being 37 years of age. Angourice Rice (Spider-Man's Betty Brant) plays the teen version of Conway, while the likes of Ted Lasso's Sam Richardson are part of the supporting cast.
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Senior Year looks like another fairly standard Netflix original movie, but there are sure to be some intriguing themes behind its premise. Namely, the trailer makes out that it'll focus on the shift in high-school culture over the past two decades, although this will likely be viewed through a comedy lens of sorts.
Love, death & Robots returns to Netflix this month. (Image credit: Netflix)
Here's the complete release schedule for every Netflix film and TV series in May 2022, including any third-party, licensed content set to launch:
Here's everything coming to Disney Plus in May this year.
Here's everything coming to Hulu in May 2022
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, season 11 -- Catch up on the lives of a select group of rich and fashionable women in Beverly Hills.
The Family Law, complete season 1 -- This Australian comedy follows the dysfunctional world of a Chinese-Australian family through Benjamin Law, 14.
To Tell the Truth, season 8 premiere -- Comedian Anthony Anderson hosts this game show involving celebrity panelists.
The Kardashians, series premiere -- The famous Calabasas, California, family gets a new reality show, a Hulu original.
Mayans M.C., season 4 premiere -- The bikers from the Sons of Anarchy spinoff ride off for a fresh season.
Hear Amanda Seyfried's voice drop down in this miniseries about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. The biotechnology entrepreneur was convicted of criminal fraud -- but has maintained that her signature deep, baritone voice is authentic. A satisfactory take on a truly absurd piece of recent history.
This controversial slice of a larger-than-life relationship raises ethical questions on and off screen. An unrecognizable Lily James transforms into Pamela Anderson, whose sex tape with Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee illegally found its way to the public eye. Raising questions of consent, Pam & Tommy found its way to the screen without the blessing of Anderson herself. Don't worry: she's working on a Netflix documentary to share the "real story."
Michael Keaton stars in this miniseries about the opioid crisis in the US. Will Poulter, Kaitlyn Dever, Rosario Dawson and Peter Sarsgaard play the people affected by pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, which was found to have mislabeled its product OxyContin. A chilling drama.
The spinoff of Love, Simon follows another young man figuring out his identity and sexual orientation. Michael Cimino plays Victor, a half Puerto Rican, half Colombian-American starting at a new school in Atlanta. Delivered with all the heart you could hope for, Love, Victor is a welcome continuation of the Love, Simon world, with Nick Robinson returning to narrate.
This miniseries starring Kate Mara and Nick Robinson (Love, Simon) traverses the tricky territory of a forbidden affair between a Texas high school teacher and her 18-year-old student. Treated realistically, the romance brings consequences for the lovers, with sharp moments holding on its psychological impact. A quiet yet captivating cautionary tale.
Sally Rooney's novel turned miniseries is anything but normal. Normal People charts the romance between Marianne and Connell, from growing up on the Irish coast to starting university in Dublin. You see all their ups and downs, from breakups and depression, to the tough first steps at university. Eventually, you're so embedded in their lives, your heart breaks with theirs. It's incredibly hard not to fall in love with this show and its soulful couple.
Based on a Celeste Ng novel, Little Fires Everywhere puts a microscope on two women and their differing socioeconomic backgrounds. The ever brilliant Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington play the women, who both juggle teenage children, work and a whole lot of other conflicts. It all kicks off with a house burning down, so you know you're in for some dark twists and big acting moments.
This historical miniseries has a stacked cast, including Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne and Sarah Paulson. Blanchett plays Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist who caused unexpected backlash to the political movement to pass The Equal Rights Amendment. Other prominent feminists of the '70s like Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan all pop up. For a vivid look at history through powerhouse performances, Mrs. America is tremendous.
Ramy Youssef stars in this comedy-drama that shines a light on life for a first-generation American Muslim growing up in New Jersey. Understanding the values of his Egyptian community can be precarious for Ramy, but he takes on his spiritual journey with humor and empathy. It gets even better when Mahershala Ali joins in season 2.
If you're a British TV fan, it doesn't get much better than a Sarah Lancashire-led miniseries. The Accident is about, yep, an accident in a fictional Welsh community. An explosion on a construction site kills several children, leaving the community fighting for justice. Lancashire plays a hairdresser married to a local politician, whose plans to improve the town don't quite work out. Smart, nuanced and tackling complicated material, The Accident is compelling viewing.
The latest John Green young adult novel adaptation is an impressive miniseries set in the early 2000s, following students at a boarding school and a love story between Pudge and Alaska. But in a sad turn, there's a tragedy the students have to come to terms with. Looking for Alaska brings big teen emotions to life with an excellent cast and a wash of nostalgia.
This Jeff Daniels-led 10-episode series gives you an accessible look at what happened between the CIA and the FBI during the rise of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda in the late '90s. Based on a book that examines events in the lead up to Sept. 11, The Looming Tower dissects the rivalry between the divisions and how it might have paved the path for tragedy. It's as fascinating, pacey and sharp as it sounds.
Set in 18th century London, Harlots follows Margaret Wells, a brothel owner who faces competition from a rival brothel that offers posher services to more elite clientele. Looking at life for women at the time, when they could only move up in the world through marriage or sex work, Harlots has a bittersweet side amid the campy fun.
Unreal's four seasons are all up on Hulu for you to devour. The satirical series centers on the behind-the-scenes of a Bachelor-type dating show and the questionable integrity of its producers. Clinging to her moral compass is Rachel Goldberg, whose particular talent lies in manipulating addictive reality TV drama. But things get complicated when she develops feelings for the show's playboy suitor. Smart, biting and occasionally grim, Unreal is a sharp assessment of people and popular TV.
While May 2022 won't see as many TV show and movie premieres as usual, HBO Max still has to make room for all of the new additions to its catalog, so many beloved titles will also be exiting by the end of the month. Some of the notable titles leaving HBO Max by May 31 include The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Pride and Prejudice (2005), Clueless, the Keanu Reeves-starring action thriller Speed, and Eddie Murphy's Dr. Dolittle movies. Following May 2022's arrivals, HBO Max subscribers can also look forward to titles dropping on the service later in the year, including the Father of the Bride reboot movie in June and the Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon in August.
May 1:
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood, 2019
47 Ronin, 2013
Assassins, 2020 (HBO)
At Close Range, 1986 (HBO)
An Autumn Afternoon, 1962
The Big Sleep, 1946
Back To School, 1986
Bottle Rocket, 1996
Calladita, 2020 (HBO)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968 (HBO)
Child 44, 2015 (HBO)
Chungking Express, 1994
The Color Purple, 1985
Conan The Barbarian, 2011 (HBO)
Devil in A Blue Dress, 1995
Dodes 'Ka-Den, 1970
Domino, 2019 (HBO)
Downhill, 1927
Dragnet Girl, 1933
Early Spring, 1956
Early Summer, 1951
The End of Summer, 1961
Equinox Flower, 1958
Eraser, 1996
Fallen Angels, 1995
Floating Weeds, 1959
FRIDA, 2002 (HBO)
The Fugitive, 1993
Furry Vengeance, 2010 (HBO)
Gang Related, 1997 (HBO)
Good Morning, 1959
Hard Rain, 1998 (HBO)
Hart’s War, 2002 (HBO)
High and Low, 1963
Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius, 2001 (HBO)
Julie, 1956
Killers, 2010 (HBO)
Language Lessons, 2021
Love and Baseball, 2021
The Machine That Kills Bad People, 1952
Masters Of The Universe, 1987 (HBO)
The Missing, 2003 (HBO)
The New Guy, 2002 (HBO)
North Dallas Forty, 1979 (HBO)
Not Easily Broken, 2009
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, 2012
Poseidon, 2006
Red Beard, 1965
Ringo and His Golden Pistol, 1966
Rugrats Go Wild, 2003 (HBO)
Rugrats In Paris: The Movie, 2000 (HBO)
The Rugrats Movie, 1998 (HBO)
The Sapphires, 2012 (HBO)
Sense and Sensibility, 1995
Sliding Doors, 1998
St. Elmo's Fire, 1985
The Stepford Wives, 2004 (HBO)
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, 2009 (Extended Version)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 1991 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Tokyo Twilight, 1957
Top Secret!, 1984 (HBO)
Transporter 3, 2008 (HBO)
Unbroken, 2014
Underworld, 2003
Underworld: Awakening, 2012
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, 2009
Welcome to the Dollhouse, 1995
W.E., 2011 (HBO)
What To Expect When You're Expecting, 2012 (HBO)
The Wild Thornberrys Movie, 2002 (HBO)
You, Me and Dupree, 2006
Young Adult, 2011 (HBO)
Zathura: A Space Adventure, 2005
May 3:
Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Know, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
May 5:
Las Bravas F.C., Max Original Season 1 Premiere
Queen Stars Brazil, Max Original Season 1 Premiere
The Staircase, Max Original Limited Series Premiere
May 6:
Dear Evan Hansen, 2021 (HBO)
Entre Nos: Carmen and Alfred (HBO)
La Afinadora De Árboles, 2019 (HBO)
May 7:
We Baby Bears, Season 1 Part C
May 9:
Get Hard, 2015
May 10:
Catwoman: Hunted, 2022
The Matrix: Resurrections, 2021 (HBO)
Sesame Street Mecha Builders Season 1 Part A
Robot Chicken Season 11 Part B
May 12:
Hacks, Max Original Season 2 Premiere
Who’s By Your Side, Max Original Season 1 Premiere
May 13:
Hank Zipzer, 2014
Old, 2021 (HBO)
Smalls, Season 4
May 15:
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Drama Series Premiere (HBO)
May 17:
Sesame Street Mecha Builders, Season 1 Part B
The Mule, 2018 (HBO)
May 20:
Identidad Tomada, 2020 (HBO)
May 22:
Fast Foodies, Season 2
May 23:
Teen Titans Go! Season 7 Part B
May 26:
Navalny
That Damn Michael Che, Max Original Season 2 Premiere
Tig n’ Seek, Max Original Season 4 Premiere
May 27:
Blippi Special
Blippi Visits
Blippi Wonders
Blippi: Learn With Blippi
Ghost, Season 1
Ghost, Season 2
Stath Lets Flats
May 29:
The Misery Index Season 3 Part B, 2021
May 31:
Miami Vice, 2006 (Extended Version)
Blue Clues S1 (1999)
Lovestruck High (2022)
Bang Bang Baby S1, Part 2 (2022)
When to stream it: Friday, May 6
After its first (and break-out) season wowed audiences back in December 2020, The Wilds returns for its second outing in early May.
For those unfamiliar with the hit Prime Video series: The Wilds follows a group of teenage girls who, on the way to a Hawaii-based female empowerment retreat, are marooned on a deserted island after the airplane they were on crashes into the ocean. The show follow these castaways as they learn to work and live together, but something isn't quite right about the island they're stationed on, or the events surrounding the plane crash itself...
We'll refrain from spoiling The Wilds' first season here – those who have seen the show will know what goes down as part of its plot anyway. Suffice to say, though, you'll certainly want to check The Wilds out before season 2 returns, with its diverse and representative cast, engaging narrative, and surprise reveals positioning it as a must watch for any Prime Video subscriber.
When to stream it: Friday, May 6
Arguably the best Spider-Man movie of all-time – though we're sure 2004's Spider-Man 2 and 2021's No Way Home will have something to say about that – thwips its way onto Prime Video in May. And, if you haven't seen it (and why wouldn't you have done so!?) yet, you're in for a real treat.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a visual feast for the eyes, with its comic book style animation, laugh out loud moments, heart-wrenching story, and superb soundtrack setting it apart from its live-action Spider-Man brethren. Honestly, it's hard to do it justice in just a few paragraphs, but it's definitely worth watching if you're a Spidey, superhero, comic book, or general movie fan. Oh, and it did the whole Marvel multiverse plot thread before Marvel's Phase 4 plans introduced it in its MCU movie and TV shows, so it's a pioneering flick in many ways.
Into the Spider-Verse stars Shameik Moore as Miles Morales, a rebellious Puerto-Rican-American teen who – yep, you guessed it – gets bitten by a radioactive spider. After his universe's Peter Parker/Spider-Man is killed by the villainous Kingpin, Miles takes it upon himself – with a little help from Spider-Men and Spider-Women from across the multiverse – to take action and prevent Kingpin from carrying out his nefarious plan.
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There's a reason (well, multiple, actually) it makes our best superhero films ever made. Stick this on your 'to watch' list immediately.
When to stream it: Friday, May 20
Now this could be something of a sleeper hit for Prime Video. A sci-fi drama thriller starring J.K. Simmons and Sissy Spacek, with input from The Crown director-executive producer Philip Martin? Consider us sold.
Simmons and Spacek star as Franklin and Irene York, an elderly couple who, years earlier, discovered a chamber – buried in their backyard – that acts as a portal to a distant and seemingly uninhabitable planet. The pair have closely guarded this secret ever since, but it isn't long before their neighbors and the authorities begin to take an interest in the Yorks' private getaway – especially when an enigmatic young man called Jude (Chai Hansen) mysteriously appears on the previously deserted planet.
Amazon Studios has a knack for bringing us surprising, thoughtful, endearing, and gripping sci-fi projects, with the likes of Tales from the Loop, Solos, and the recently released Outer Range drawing in viewers. Expect Night Sky to perform a similar feat later this month.
Night Sky looks like it'll be a fun sci-fi drama when it lands on Prime Video this month. (Image credit: Amazon Studios)
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Here's a full albeit brief rundown of every film and TV series that'll be available to stream on Prime Video as soon as May 2022 rolls around.
Jenny Barry
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