Blockbusters, thrillers, comedies, and emotional dramas—this month’s cinematic lineup spans superhero comebacks, cult horror returns, and Tom Cruise’s high-stakes farewell in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
May brings with it a packed schedule of new releases, from franchise revivals to original indies and unexpected sequels. Whether you’re heading to the cinema or staying home to stream, here are 12 standout films you won’t want to miss.
1. Thunderbolts (Marvel, Disney – May 21–23)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe returns with Thunderbolts, a gritty team-up of misfit heroes on covert missions gone wrong. Florence Pugh’s Yelena, David Harbour’s Red Guardian, and Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier headline a cast of complex antiheroes trying to survive after being deemed expendable. Critics are calling it one of Marvel’s most surprising entries in years—imperfect but refreshingly bold.
2. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount – May 21–23)
Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt, possibly for the last time. While no one’s confirming if this is truly the end, the film promises a grand conclusion to a 30-year spy saga. Explosive stunts, emotional payoffs, and a full-circle story arc suggest this Mission may indeed be his final reckoning.
3. Karate Kid: Legends (Sony – May 28–30)
Ralph Macchio returns alongside Jackie Chan in a sequel that bridges the original Karate Kid films, the Cobra Kai series, and the 2010 reboot. Newcomer Ben Wang stars as a Chinese teen navigating bullies in New York. It’s a multiverse of martial arts—and fans are here for it.
4. Final Destination: Bloodlines (Warner Bros – May 14–16)
The beloved horror series returns with a twist: all the victims across previous films are now revealed to be descendants of survivors from a decades-old disaster. With tighter emotional stakes and gnarlier deaths, Bloodlines gives the franchise a clever and chilling refresh.
5. Another Simple Favour (Amazon Prime Video – May 1)
Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick reunite for a deliciously twisted sequel to 2018’s stylish noir comedy. Set in the luxe backdrop of Capri, the story blends crime, betrayal, and couture—this time with a mafia twist and even more killer outfits.
6. Bring Her Back (A24 – May 29–30)
Following the breakout success of Talk to Me, the Philippou brothers return with a personal and atmospheric horror story. Sally Hawkins plays a grieving foster mother dabbling in the supernatural. Deeply emotional and unsettling, Bring Her Back promises scares with soul.
7. Friendship (A24 – May 9, US)
Tim Robinson (Netflix’s I Think You Should Leave) makes his big-screen lead debut opposite Paul Rudd in this cringe-comedy about social awkwardness, bromance, and personal meltdowns. It’s weird, wild, and possibly the funniest film of the year.
8. Lilo & Stitch (Disney – May 21–23)
Disney’s live-action remake of the 2002 animated hit looks to be one of the studio’s more promising efforts. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell), and starring newcomer Maia Kealoha, this reimagining keeps the heart and chaos of the original while embracing the alien-meets-Hawaii weirdness.
9. The Surfer (Roadside Attractions – May 2 in US/Canada, May 9 in UK, May 15 in Australia)
Nicolas Cage is in full feral form in this Australian-set thriller about a man trying to reclaim his childhood beach—only to be harassed by locals and driven to the edge of sanity. It’s a hallucinogenic blend of revenge flick and psychological meltdown, wrapped in Cage’s signature unhinged style.
10. Deaf President Now! (Apple TV+ – May 16)
Co-directed by Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim, this powerful documentary chronicles the 1988 student protest at Gallaudet University demanding a deaf president. It’s a riveting and essential story about civil rights, activism, and the power of youth-led change.
11. Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (Sony – May 16–30, regionally)
A French romantic dramedy about a Parisian bookshop worker on a literary residency in England. Will she write her novel—or fall into a Jane Austen-style love triangle? It’s a sweet, self-aware love letter to Austen’s world with a European twist.
12. Mountainhead (Warner Bros – May 31 on HBO/Max, June 1 on Sky/NOW)
From Succession creator Jesse Armstrong comes a sharp satire of tech moguls and privilege. Set in a ski resort during a global crisis, Mountainhead is timely, darkly funny, and packed with star power—think The White Lotus with snowboards and server stacks.
