Films and TV Series not to miss this May A month of revivals, new releases and future cult classics
May is the month of the Cannes Film Festival. But even for those who will not be attending the event, there will still be a chance to watch some of the titles passing through the Croisette or to enjoy a few series while waiting for their release.
Here, then, are the best film releases of May 2026.
Eyes Wide Shut - in cinemas from May 4
Whenever Stanley Kubrick returns to theatres, it is an opportunity for everyone to rediscover the wonders of cinema. That happens again from May 4 with the theatrical re-release of his masterpiece Eyes Wide Shut, the final film by the American genius starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise. It is not the only classic returning to theatres this month: also back on screen are Stand By Me by Rob Reiner, Some Like It Hot by Billy Wilder and Space Jam by Joe Pytka.
Sheep Detectives - in cinemas from May 7
A little Hercule Poirot, a touch of Knives Out, and more than a dozen talking animals in the spirit of Peter Rabbit. Arriving in cinemas on May 7 is Pecore sotto copertura, a mystery for the whole family in which the farm animals try to uncover what lies behind the murder of their shepherd, played by Hugh Jackman.
Dracula - in cinemas from May 7
The wildest film of 2025 arrives in cinemas. Radu Jude is the most irreverent and unstoppable filmmaker of the new Romanian scene, and he proved it once again last year with his chaotic and uncontainable version of Dracula, a film that blends cinema, meta-cinema and even meta-meta-cinema. A present-day Dracula immersed in social media, remakes and merchandising, delivering a ruthless critique of contemporary culture with wicked and irresistible irony.
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft The Tour - in cinemas from May 7
There are many concert films, but how many are in 3D and directed by someone like James Cameron? That is the case with Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft - The Tour, an immersive musical experience that brings the young singer’s performances to the big screen. Billie Eilish herself co-directs the project alongside Cameron.
Non è un paese per single - on Prime Video from May 8
The title Non è un paese per single speaks for itself. The Prime Video comedy, arriving on May 8, is based on the novel by Felicia Kingsley and follows Michele’s return to his hometown, disrupting the life of protagonist Elisa, a single mother with a teenage daughter and manager of the estate Le Giuggiole. The leading roles are played by Matilde Gioli and Cristiano Caccamo.
In Utero - on HBO Max Italy from May 8
After Portobello, more original Italian productions are arriving on HBO Max Italy. It is now the turn of In Utero, a series set in Barcelona centred on a fertility clinic run by Sergio Castellitto. The lives of doctors, staff and patients intertwine in a story exploring love, family and identity.
Millennium Actress - in cinemas from May 11
Like Eyes Wide Shut, this is another cornerstone of world cinema, this time from Japan. After the re-release of Perfect Blue, the work of Satoshi Kon returns to the big screen with Millennium Actress, the story of an interview with fictional star Chiyoko Fujiwara, unfolding as a journey through memory and time.
The Punisher: One Last Kill - on Disney+ from May 12
While the world of Daredevil continues with its second season on Disney+, a special focused on The Punisher arrives on May 12. Played once again by Jon Bernthal, Frank Castle tries to live far from violence and revenge, until an unexpected conflict pulls him back in.
Off Campus - on Prime Video from May 13
Hockey stories are booming, and after Heated Rivalry comes Off Campus on Prime Video. Based on the bestselling books by Elle Kennedy, the series follows the elite players of a hockey team in a classic enemies-to-lovers storyline.
Mother Mary - in cinemas from May 14
Anne Hathaway continues her remarkable year. After the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, she returns in Mother Mary, the new project by filmmaker David Lowery. This horror drama set between fashion and music explores the tense relationship between a pop star and someone from her past, spiralling into passion, conflict and obsession.
In the Grey - in cinemas from May 14
With his now traditional yearly release, Guy Ritchie returns to cinemas with the action thriller In the Grey. Reuniting with Henry Cavill and welcoming Jake Gyllenhaal into his universe, the film follows a team of agents sent to recover a vast sum of money by any means necessary.
The Mandalorian & Grogu - in cinemas from May 20
Three years after the third season, The Mandalorian leaves Disney+ for the big screen. The Mandalorian & Grogu is set during the fall of the Empire, when warlords are scattered across the galaxy and the New Republic seeks help from Din Djarin, once again played by Pedro Pascal, alongside Grogu.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War - on Prime Video from May 20
The Prime Video series Jack Ryan becomes a film with Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War. Dragged back into the world of espionage, Jack Ryan must expose a dangerous conspiracy and save countless lives. John Krasinski returns in the lead role.
The Boroughs - on Netflix from May 20
The third 2026 series produced by the Duffer Brothers is arriving. After previous projects, it is now time for The Boroughs, a sci-fi series following a group of retirees in the New Mexico desert who discover an unknown threat and decide to stop it themselves.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed - on Apple TV+ from May 20
Tatiana Maslany, recently seen in She-Hulk, stars alongside Jake Johnson in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. She plays a mother trapped in a spiral of murders, blackmail, personal collapse and a custody battle over her daughter.
Amarga Navidad - in cinemas from May 21
Released in Spain and expected in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, Amarga Navidad is the latest feature from Pedro Almodóvar. The film unfolds across two narrative lines that communicate with one another, moving between the life of a commercial director and the filmmaker who wants to tell her story.
Obsession - in cinemas from May 21
Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, Obsession is the horror film written, directed and edited by Curry Barker. Through a magical object, the protagonist manages to make the girl he likes fall in love with him, but desire soon turns into a nightmare.
The 50 - on Prime Video from May 22
A new reality competition arrives on Prime Video. The 50 sees fifty contestants, including influencers and celebrities, competing inside a medieval castle and its arena. They will face physical and mental challenges, while the ultimate winner will be a viewer at home who backed the final champion.
Backrooms - in cinemas from May 27
From internet mythology to the cinema screen. That is the path of Backrooms, the highly anticipated horror film from A24 directed by Kane Parsons, born in 2005. Starring Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor, the film explores the liminal spaces of the backrooms universe.
Spider-Noir - on Prime Video from May 27
It has finally arrived. From May 27, Prime Video releases the animated series dedicated to Spider-Noir, voiced by none other than Nicolas Cage. Based on the comic book of the same name, the story follows Ben Reilly, a disgraced private investigator in 1930s New York forced to confront his former life as a superhero. The show will be available in two versions: “Authentic Black and White” and “True-Hue Full Color”.
Due Spicci - on Netflix from May 27
Zerocalcare returns with his third Netflix series. Titled Due Spicci, it follows Zero and Cinghiale as they try to run a venue overwhelmed by financial problems. This time, the story focuses on the pressures people face in both personal and professional life, balancing fragility and precarity.
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair - in cinemas from May 28
If you thought you knew Kill Bill by heart, think again. From May 28, cinemas will screen the long-awaited 281-minute version originally envisioned by the director. For the first time, audiences can experience the story in its intended form, including additional scenes such as the extended anime sequence on O-Ren Ishii and the Crazy 88 battle presented in colour.
Propeller One-Way Night Coach - on Apple TV+ from May 29
John Travolta makes his directorial debut with Volo notturno per Los Angeles, an Apple TV+ original selected for the Cannes Film Festival in the Cannes Premiere section. The film also introduces new lead actor Clark Shotwell, playing Jeff, a young aviation enthusiast crossing the United States with his mother on the way to Hollywood.