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Smile – Picture: Paramount Pictures
A brand new month is simply across the nook, and it’s going to be a surprisingly busy month for brand new and returning films on the platform, with nicely over 60 films and docs on the best way, along with all the brand new TV collection. What new films ought to be in your radar and added to your Netflix queue? We’ve gone via the listing and picked out the 9 we’re wanting ahead to catching.
As all the time, we’ll cut up this text up into two sections: we’ll cowl the Netflix Original films heading to the streamer globally at the beginning, after which cowl a few of the many licensed films which can be on the best way to Netflix particularly within the US (different areas’ availability will differ) all through the month. You can discover a full listing of every thing coming to Netflix US in May 2025 right here. What’s on Netflix contributor Ashley has already run via his picks for one of the best new collection on the best way.
Most Anticipated New Netflix Original Movies Coming in May 2025
Nonnas (2025)
Releasing on Netflix: May ninth
Nonnas. (L-R) Lorraine Bracco as Roberta, Talia Shire as Teresa, Brenda Vaccaro as Antonella and Vince Vaughn as Joe Scaravella in Nonnas. Cr. Jeong Park/Netflix © 2025.
Netflix quietly picked up this new Vince Vaughn comedy late final 12 months, and it’ll be dropping on our screens on May ninth as one among two main English-language films of the month. Vaughn performs Joe, a person who dangers every thing each personally and professionally by opening a restaurant with a twist: all of the meals is cooked by precise grandmothers. Among that lineup of grandmas: Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, and Talia Shire. Inspired by the lifetime of Jody Scaravella, this comedy seems to have the potential to tug at a couple of heartstrings upon its international launch on Netflix.
Interestingly, this film has been blowing up on Facebook, so we suspect many followers of the distinguished solid will likely be turning out right here. Watch this area.
Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025)
Releasing on Netflix: May twenty third
We’re arising on 4 years since Netflix’s Fear Street summer time, when it ambitiously launched three films over a number of months to moderately good success. As you might know, the supply materials for the trilogy comes from R. L. Stine, who, let’s say, has a couple of extra books in his arsenal to direct, and that’s precisely what Netflix has capitalized on. Featuring a model new solid filled with each up-and-comers and actors very a lot on the rise, the newest horror thriller sees us returning to Shadyside High, the place it’s promenade season, and the ladies competing for the consideration of promenade queen (and one outsider) are in for a really tough night.
From what we’ve seen to this point, the film very a lot captures the spirit of the primary three movies and has one thing new to say, too. Matt Palmer, who labored on the extremely ignored Netflix Original movie Calibre, is taking on directing duties with a few of the solid we referred to earlier, together with Ella Rubin, Katherine Waterston, Ariana Greenblatt, Lili Taylor, Chris Klein, and India Fowler.
Lost in Starlight (2025)
Releasing on Netflix: May thirtieth
Picture: Netflix
South Korea is maybe greatest recognized for its TV lineup of dramas, romantic comedies, and, more and more, on Netflix, its lineup of actuality reveals. What they’re in all probability not recognized for is animated films, and certainly, that is the primary time Netflix itself has ever launched an animated title from the area solely. Hoping to kick off a brand new increase is Lost in Starlight, a film we’ve been monitoring intently since its preliminary reveal in June 2023, and it appears extremely formidable.
Director Han Ji-won is behind the undertaking, with Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung lending their voices. The sci-fi title is about 25 years sooner or later and tells the story of two misplaced souls who miraculously discover one another throughout the celebs.
If we haven’t satisfied you, maybe one of the vital distinguished South Korean administrators in historical past will. Bong Joon-ho, greatest recognized for movies like Okja, Mickey 17, and Parasite, has described the movie as “This visual masterpiece takes you around the universe.”
A Widow’s Game (2025)
Releasing on Netflix: May thirtieth
LA VIUDA NEGRA. Tristán Ulloa as Salva, Ivana Baquero as Maje in LA VIUDA NEGRA. Cr. Manuel Fernández Valdes/Netflix © 2024
Finally, on the Netflix Original entrance, we transfer to Spain with this new thriller titled La Viuda Negra (or A Widow’s Game in English) dropping proper on the finish of the month. Headlined by Ivana Baquero, Carmen Machi, and Tristán Ulloa, the crime drama is predicated on a shocking true story, with the group behind the hit collection The Asunta Case adapting. The synopsis reads, “When a man is found dead, the investigation shatters his widow’s perfect facade and exposes a hidden double life in this thriller based on real events.”
From what we’ve seen to this point, the film is a combination between Good Nurse, the Eddie Redmayne film, and a number of other Spanish-language crime drama collection which have dominated the charts over the previous few years.
Best New Licensed Movies Coming to Netflix in May 2025
The Wild Robot (2024)
Releasing on Netflix: May twenty fourth
Picture: DreamWorks Animation
Some, together with me, suppose The Wild Robot was robbed on the Oscars this 12 months, provided that it’s simply one of the best and most authentic film that DreamWorks Animation has produced in its latest historical past. Thankfully, it did mop up a bunch of different awards elsewhere, so it did get a few of the recognition it really deserved.
Showcasing gorgeous visuals and voice performances, the film follows Roz, a robotic who finds himself stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the cruel setting, he groups up with a few of the island’s wildlife. Scooping up rave evaluations throughout the board and doing comparatively nicely on the field workplace, the film now heads to Netflix.
The streamer will carry “The Wild Robot” now for a 10-month stint, via to early 2026, earlier than the film returns to Peacock. Coming up subsequent from the Illumination/Dreamworks deal will likely be Dog Man, scheduled to reach this Summer.
The Match (2025)
Releasing on Netflix: May ninth
I don’t deal with our (excellent, if you happen to don’t thoughts me saying) protection of Korean films and collection coming to Netflix, however I do know one title that’s seemingly been on indefinite delay is The Match. Due to some controversies, coated in-depth right here, the film was by no means launched on Netflix as initially scheduled again in 2023. However, it will definitely got here out and have become a field workplace juggernaut in South Korea earlier this 12 months, and it is going to be making its technique to Netflix within the US and different territories halfway via May.
Featuring Lee Byung-hun, who’s greatest recognized for his iconic function because the Frontman on Netflix’s soon-to-be returning beloved present Squid Game, the film follows two legendary GO gamers who’ve been buddies for years however now discover themselves competing in opposition to one another.
Smile (2022)
Coming to Netflix: May 14th
Another horror on our listing is Smile, one of many many breakthroughs within the style over the previous few years with this one specifically being a standout for me primarily due to that creepy ass baseball advertising and marketing marketing campaign they did. “After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient,” the synopsis reads, “Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.”
While some discovered it just a little trivial, I used to be instantly hooked from the outset with Sosie Bacon specifically placing in a single excellent efficiency.
Pig (2021)
Coming to Netflix: May twenty sixth
We haven’t seen a film from the indie distributor Neon arrive on Netflix in fairly a while, so it was a shock to see that Pig, the 2021 indie darling, was added to the May 2025 lineup fairly late on. In one among his many roles during the last 5 years, which sees Nicolas Cage changing into an increasing number of self-aware, Pig might be one which many cite as being the film that kicked off this new Cage renaissance. He performs a humble truffle hunter on this weird but considerate movie, the place his atypical life takes a twist when his pig is kidnapped and he should go on the hunt to convey her house.
Certified contemporary on RottenTomatoes, the film picked up glowing evaluations from all over the world together with the UK’s Mail on Sunday who mentioned, “It’s easy to underestimate Michael Sarnoski’s low-key picture but Cage’s performance is a dishevelled joy and it does eventually have some quietly powerful things to say about loss, grief and livestock.”
Past Lives (2023)
Coming to Netflix: May 1st
Picture: A24
One of two A24 releases originally of the month consists of the Oscar-nominated romantic drama Past Lives from director/author Celine Song, with Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro starring. It’s a sombre movie with a little bit of a gradual burn, nevertheless it pays off spectacularly with convincing performances all spherical, proving why A24 can convey to life movies that the standard studio system would have in any other case handed on. Beloved by critics and audiences alike, the film obtained specific reward for the chemistry between its two leads and the complicated bond explored in a mature approach.
Those are our picks of one of the best new films arising in May 2025 – what are yours? Sound off within the feedback.