The sunny season might not begin until June, but the first Friday in May is the start of the summer movie season. Over the next three to four months, the studios will be releasing their slate of new popcorn movies and blockbusters in hopes of attracting eyeballs and making money. Streaming services like Netflix will also follow suit and hope their original movies will become popular hits.
This May, Netflix has five major movie releases that are worth your time. Our top pick is a romantic comedy centered around gender dynamics in the workplace. Right behind that is an endearing drama based on a book and an animated movie featuring the recipient of the Oscar for Best Actor. All five of these movies can be streamed in the U.S. and around the world.
5
The Crash
A documentary about a fatal incident
True crime has a legitimate argument to be Netflix’s most popular genre. I believe people are inherently curious about crimes, and the idea that they have a chance to solve something is appealing. It’s like playing a detective without all the responsibilities. I also love learning about a subject I’m unfamiliar with. The Crash is an upcoming documentary about an incident I’ve never heard of, and after reading the synopsis, I’m immediately intrigued. In 2022, a car traveling over 100 mph crashed into the side of a building in Strongsville, Ohio.
Three people—Mackenzie Shirilla, the 17-year-old driver; her boyfriend, Dom; and his friend, Davion—were in the car. Two died, but one survived. On the surface, it’s a tragic car accident. Once the authorities dug deeper, shocking revelations came to light. I’ll won’t spoil it, but I don’t see how a true-crime fan wouldn’t like that premise.
The Crash premieres on May 22.
4
My Dearest Assassin
Love with a deadly twist
Just because you live in the United States does not mean you can’t enjoy films from other countries. Thailand’s action romantic drama, My Dearest Assassin, is a case in point. Lhan (Baifern-Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul) is born with a rare blood type, which makes her so valuable that hunters murdered her parents. Before they get their hands on her, Lhan is rescued by House 89, an enigmatic assassin club that teaches her how to fight back.
- Operating System
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Fire OS
- Integrations
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Alexa
The clan’s heir, Pran (Tor-Thanapob Leeratanakachorn), develops feelings for Lhan, the person he’s trying to protect. When the man who murdered her parents resurfaces, Lhan is ready for her revenge. After watching the trailer, My Dearest Assassin feels like the romance of The Bodyguard—a movie I thoroughly enjoy more than I should—mixed with the action of The Transporter. Fights and romance: what’s better than that?
My Dearest Assassin streams on May 7.
3
Swapped
A buddy comedy with animals
I don’t know what it is about buddy comedies with animals, but they continue to be winning over audiences everywhere. Look at 2025’s Zootopia 2, which became the second-highest-grossing animated movie ever with $1.9 billion worldwide. The formula—talking animals telling jokes while on an adventure—works.
Netflix is now getting in on the action with Swapped, a family comedy movie starring Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple. Ollie (Jordan) is a small otter-like creature. Ivy is a light green bird. After they come into contact with the magic pod, the two swap bodies. It’s the classic trope of learning how the other half lives in this heartwarming animated movie. Kids are going to love it, and I bet adults will enjoy it, too, because of Jordan and Temple.
Swapped premieres on May 1.
An unlikely duo finds common ground
Sally Field is a widow who rediscovers happiness from an unlikely place in Remarkably Bright Creatures, based on Shelby Van Pelt’s bestselling novel. Tova (Field) is an elderly woman working at the Sowell Bay Aquarium as a cleaner. Cameron (Lewis Pullman) moves to town and works at the aquarium alongside Tova. The two start as opposites, but these lost souls quickly realize they have much more in common. In the middle of this unlikely friendship is Marcellus (Alfred Molina), an octopus who narrates from his tank.
Field, a two-time Oscar winner, legitimizes this story for me, which could sway into made-for-TV territory without the right actress. Pullman, an emerging star in his own right, feels like a good match for the veteran Field. The trailer hints at a twist, so I’m definitely intrigued.
Remarkably Bright Creatures streams on May 8.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Release Date
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May 8, 2026
- Runtime
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111 Minutes
- Director
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Olivia Newman
1
Ladies First
Sacha Baron Cohen gets a reality check
I can’t say I’ve ever thought of Sacha Baron Cohen as a ladies’ man. This is the same guy who made me laugh so much in Borat that I cried. Again, I’m used to seeing him wear a mankini, not a perfectly tailored suit. In Ladies First, Cohen is Damien, the womanizing boss in a male-dominated world. After suffering a head injury, Damien’s toxic masculinity loses its power as women become the dominant gender. Plus, Damien is no longer leading the company.
That position belongs to his former underappreciated employee turned boss, Alex, played by Rosamund Pike. To reshape his future, Damien will need to make a change in his life and play by the rules. This movie feels more like a satire than a morality tale. With Cohen and Pike as the leads, Ladies First has a could go either way—but I’m optimistic it can work.
Ladies First streams on May 22.
Ladies First
- Release Date
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May 22, 2026
- Director
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Thea Sharrock
- Writers
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Natalie Krinsky, Cinco Paul, Katie Silberman
More Netflix movies and shows to stream
Thankfully, you don’t have to wait until these movies come out to enjoy what’s on Netflix. Stranger Things fans can return to Hawkins in a new animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. Plus, a new movie, Apex, is tearing up the Netflix charts thanks to the star power of Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
