Netflix has some excellent new TV series arriving in the month of May, including a few that are already lighting up Rotten Tomatoes and the Top 10, like Man on Fire and Unchosen. But there’s still plenty to come on the streaming service, including what’s in store for U.S. subscribers this weekend.
Fire up your watch list and be sure to add the following gems: Netflix’s near-perfectly rated new mini-series based on a classic novel about survival, savagery, and civilization; a mind-bending and viciously cool anime about a guy with a lizard’s head; and a new British crime drama starring Steve Coogan.
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Lord of the Flies
Stranded schoolboys turn savage in this adaptation of a classic novel
While I have no desire or intention to relive my high school English days by picking up a copy of William Golding’s classic allegorical examination of civilization versus savagery, Lord of the Flies, I will continue binging the heck out of Netflix’s dark and compelling limited series that’s currently wowing critics, with a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Created by Adolescence‘s co-creator, Jack Thorne, the four-part series is the first time Golding’s book has been adapted for television. If your memory of sophomore English is as bad as mine, allow me to recap. Lord of the Flies gets tense, as a group of 1950s British schoolboys find themselves stranded on an uninhabited tropical island after their plane crash-lands, and all the adults are killed.
- Brand
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Apple
- Operating System
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tvOS
As the boys attempt to govern themselves and keep order, two factions emerge—the more democratic group led by Ralph (Winston Sawyers) and the bespectacled Piggy (David McKenna), and the Hunters, led by the power-hungry Jack, played by Lox Pratt, who’ll soon play Draco Malfoy in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.
As you might imagine, the boys wrestle with their savage tendencies, and what begins as a group of kids trying to survive the wilds of the jungle turns into them trying to survive one another.
Lord of the Flies
- Release Date
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2026 – 2026-00-00
- Network
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BBC One
- Directors
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Marc Munden
2
Dorohedoro
A lizard-man hunts for the sorcerers who cursed him
The wide world of manga and anime is still very much a mystery to me. But one thing I do know is that I like it, and when I find a new series to watch, I’m all over it. Such is the case with Netflix’s Dorohedoro, a wildly creative and wonderfully grotesque anime that manages to still be goofy and light at the same time. Dorohedoro‘s first season appeared on the streamer in 2020, but its much-anticipated second season has been dropping new episodes every week since the beginning of April, with the latest one (episode 20) landing May 6, and the finale dropping in June. Binge season one, catch up on season 2, but you should definitely watch it.
Based on Q Hayashida’s manga of the same name, Dorohedoro follows Caiman, a lizard man suffering from amnesia. He has no idea who he is, how he came to be, or why he has a lizard’s head. Oh, did I mention that he also has a sorcerer, Risu, trapped inside his throat? Living in the magic-polluted and stingy megacity of Hole, Caiman is searching for answers. Hole is filled with masked magic-weilding bad guys from the Sorcerer’s World known as oppressors, running around turning humans into twisted creatures, like Caiman, who’s desperately trying to find the oppressor responsible for his condition.
Quiz
Netflix’s Additional Features
Trivia challenge
Think you know everything Netflix offers? Put your streaming knowledge to the test right now.
StreamingGamesSportsEntertainmentFeatures
When did Netflix officially launch its mobile gaming feature for subscribers?
That’s right! Netflix launched its mobile gaming feature in November 2021, starting with Android users. The service began with just a handful of titles and has since grown to over 80 games included with a standard subscription.
Not quite — Netflix gaming launched in November 2021. It rolled out first on Android before expanding to iOS, and all games are included at no extra cost as part of a Netflix subscription.
Which major live sporting event did Netflix broadcast for the first time in December 2024?
Correct! Netflix made its live sports debut by broadcasting two NFL games on Christmas Day 2024. It was a landmark moment for the platform, signaling a major push into live sports broadcasting.
The answer is the NFL Christmas Day doubleheader. Netflix streamed two NFL games on December 25, 2024, marking the company’s first-ever live sports broadcast and a significant expansion of its content strategy.
Which pop superstar’s concert special, filmed in 2023, became one of Netflix’s most-watched live events?
That’s right! Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour concert film arrived on Netflix and drew massive viewership. It was part of Netflix’s growing strategy of securing high-profile music and entertainment specials to complement its scripted content.
The correct answer is Beyoncé. Her Renaissance World Tour concert special became one of Netflix’s standout live event offerings in 2023, helping the platform establish itself as a destination for premium music experiences.
What is the name of Netflix’s feature that allows users to download content for offline viewing?
Correct! Smart Downloads is Netflix’s feature that automatically deletes watched episodes and downloads the next one in a series when you’re connected to Wi-Fi. It makes offline binge-watching seamless and storage-friendly.
Not quite — the feature is called Smart Downloads. Introduced in 2018, it intelligently manages your offline content by removing episodes you’ve already watched and replacing them with the next one automatically.
Which of the following best describes Netflix’s approach to original podcast content as of 2024?
Spot on! Netflix has produced companion podcasts that complement popular series and films, offering behind-the-scenes insights and cast interviews. These are typically released on major podcast platforms to extend engagement beyond the screen.
The correct answer is that Netflix releases companion podcasts tied to its shows and films. Rather than a standalone podcast platform, Netflix uses audio content as a marketing and engagement tool, distributing episodes through existing podcast services.
What does Netflix’s ‘Top 10’ feature display to users?
Correct! Netflix’s Top 10 feature shows the ten most-watched titles in your specific country during the current week. Launched in 2020, it added a social dimension to Netflix by letting viewers see what everyone around them is watching.
Not quite — Top 10 shows the most-watched titles in your country for that week. Netflix introduced this feature in February 2020, and it quickly became a cultural talking point, influencing what people choose to watch based on regional popularity.
Which of the following game studios did Netflix acquire to bolster its gaming library?
That’s right! Netflix acquired Night School Studio in 2021, the indie developer behind the critically acclaimed game Oxenfree. It was Netflix’s first game studio acquisition and signaled serious ambitions in the interactive entertainment space.
The correct answer is Night School Studio. Netflix bought the indie developer — known for creating Oxenfree — in September 2021. It was the company’s first game studio purchase, laying the groundwork for its expanding gaming division.
In 2024, Netflix aired a highly publicized boxing match. Who were the two fighters involved?
Correct! The Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match aired live on Netflix in November 2024. Despite technical streaming difficulties experienced by many viewers, it was one of the platform’s most-watched live events and a defining moment in Netflix’s live sports strategy.
The answer is Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul. Netflix streamed this highly anticipated bout in November 2024, though the event was marred by widespread buffering issues. It still drew enormous viewership and marked a bold step for Netflix into live combat sports.
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Helping Caiman is his ally and best friend, Nikaido, who also runs a restaurant called the Hungry Bug, where Caiman scarfs her famous gyoza. Together they kick ass, hunt down oppressors and, here’s where it gets weird(er)—when they catch one, Caiman sticks their head down his throat so Risu can tell whether it’s the one they’re looking for. If not, it’s a wild bloodbath. Dorohedoro‘s first season has a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s pretty safe to say season two will, too. It’s an insanely fun ride, if you like anime.
1
Legends
Steve Coogan stars in this true-crime espionage drama
Espionage, drug trafficking, rag-tag undercover teams, British accents—check, check, and check! With Slow Horses gone from Netflix, and Dept. Q a distant memory, I’m happy to see a new British crime drama land on the ‘flix. Legends is a six-part series from The Gold and Guilt writer Neil Forsyth, and starring the excellent Steve Coogan, based on the secret real-life government drug crackdown project of the 1990s known as Beta Project.
In the early ’90s, heroin was flooding into Britain. With the overdose of a young Oxford student, who happens to be the daughter of a prominent cabinet minister, acting as a catalyst, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise decides an alternate approach is necessary. Instead of relying on police or intelligence services, a team of untrained customs officers is quietly assembled to build fake identities known as “legends” to infiltrate the drug gangs scourging the nation.
Coogan plays Don, a former undercover cop and the head of the Legends program, who leads the team—made up of Heathrow customs officer Guy (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga‘s Tom Burke); Kate (Hayley Squires, I, Daniel Blake), a bored vice division officer who’d been chasing illegal porn importers; tax inspector, Bailey (Sense8‘s Aml Ameen), and Erin (The Gentlemen’s Jasmine Blackborow), a document fabricator keeping their identites secret. Forsyth dived deep for the show, interviewing the actual operatives and combing through court transcripts. All six episodes are there for your weekend binge.
Legends
- Release Date
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May 7, 2026
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Brady Hood, Julian Holmes
Whether you want prestige drama, a true-crime fix, or something completely unhinged, Netflix has you covered this weekend. But if none of these is striking you, check out some of our other lists, including for Prime Video, HBO Max, and Paramount+.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
