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May 2026 is shaping up to be a great month for streaming audiences, with a broad range of interesting new movies scheduled to arrive on all your favorite streaming platforms. From tender dramas to sharp comedies, political thrillers to gothic romances, there’s something for every kind of movie fan out there, and then some.
The most hotly anticipated movies of the month include exciting streaming originals and the streaming debuts of some of the year’s boldest new films, with an immense breadth of talent both in front of and behind the camera. So, without further ado, here’s a look at some of the biggest new movies coming to streaming in May 2026 across all the major platforms.
1
‘Swapped’ (2026)
Arriving On: May 1, Netflix
An animated comedy film directed by Nathan Greno and produced by Skydance Animation, Swapped follows a small woodland mammal and a majestic bird, two natural sworn enemies, cohabiting in The Valley. After crashing into a mysterious plant, the two creatures magically swap bodies and set off on an adventure that will change their lives forever. The film features the voices of Michael B. Jordan as Ollie and Juno Temple as Ivy, with Tracy Morgan, Cedric the Entertainer, and Justina Machado voicing other characters.
Swapped comes from the director of Tangled, a 2000s Disney classic, and marks Netflix’s second major animated project of 2026, following Cosmic Princess Kaguya! released in January 2026. With an all-star voice cast, a delightful animation style, and excellent character designs, the film looks sure to be another remarkable addition to Netflix’s ever-expanding animation library that includes several award-winning series, films, and shorts.
2
‘Wuthering Heights’ (2026)
Arriving On: May 1, HBO Max
A loose adaptation of Emily Brontë‘s novel, directed by the Academy Award-winning Emerald Fennell, Wuthering Heights is a gothic romance drama that follows the turbulent relationship of Catherine Earnshaw and adopted orphan Heathcliff. Growing up on the titular estate in the moors of England, the two develop a deep passion and romance that turns into a dark obsession that could destroy their lives and families for years. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star as the fateful pair, with Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, and Ewan Mitchell in supporting roles.
In the latest adaptation of Wuthering Heights, the narrative takes a more modern spin on the 19th-century classic with contemporary music and a bolder narrative. On its theatrical premiere, the film earned mixed reviews and was a box-office success, becoming the fifth highest-grossing film of the year so far. However, as popular as it is, Wuthering Heights has also been heavily critiqued for its exaggerated erotic interpretation of the novel, placing more emphasis on its sophisticated visuals rather than literary merit.
3
‘Greenland 2: Migration’ (2026)
Arriving On: May 8, HBO Max
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by Chris Sparling and Mitchell LaFortune, Greenland 2: Migration is a sequel to the 2020 film Greenland, also directed by Waugh. The sequel follows the surviving Garrity family in the aftermath of the apocalyptic comet strike, as they leave the safety of their Greenland bunker and set off on a death-defying journey across the frozen wasteland to find a new home. Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin reprise their roles from the 2020 film, with Roman Griffin Davis, Scott Glen, Amber Rose Revah, and William Abadie as new cast members.
On its theatrical premiere, Greenland 2: Migration was neither a critical nor a box office success and had fewer positive reviews than its predecessor. However, the film did earn praise for Butler’s strong performance and for emphasizing human drama more than action spectacle, unlike Greenland. While not one of Gerard Butler’s best disaster films, Greenland 2: Migration is a post-apocalyptic thriller that’s worth checking out for genre fans.
Arriving On: May 8, Netflix
Directed by Olivia Newman, Remarkably Bright Creatures is an upcoming mystery drama film based on the novel of the same name by Shelby Van Pelt. The Netflix original film follows Tova, an elderly widow who rediscovers joy in her life after she forms an unlikely friendship with a giant octopus named Marcellus at the local aquarium where she works. Tova also bonds with a wayward young man named Cameron, who arrives in the town looking for family, and together they uncover a mystery that changes their lives in significant ways.
Remarkably Bright Creatures stars two-time Academy Award winner Sally Field as Tova, Lewis Pullman as Cameron, and Alfred Molina as the voice of the octopus, with Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D’Elia, and Colm Meaney in other important roles. One of the most-awaited book-to-movie adaptations of 2026, Remarkably Bright Creatures is expected to be a touching story about finding meaningful connections in the most unexpected places and rediscovering joy in life.
5
‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War’ (2026)
Arriving On: May 20, Prime Video
A political action thriller directed by Andrew Bernstein and written by Aaron Rabin and John Krasinski, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War, or simply Jack Ryan: Ghost War, is a film continuation of the Prime Video show, Jack Ryan. In the film, the titular CIA analyst reconnects with his fellow operatives and new allies to embark on a high-stakes mission to face an enemy from the past. Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, and Betty Gabriel reprise their roles from the show, with Sienna Miller, Douglas Hodge, and Max Beesley joining the cast.
Ghost War marks the sixth installment in the Jack Ryan film series and the third reboot following Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. The film picks up from the end of the fourth and final season of the Prime Video series, where Jack leaves espionage to live a civilian life, but as is to be expected, his past soon comes knocking again. Billed as “a major movie event,” Jack Ryan: Ghost War is a much-anticipated sequel that will surely thrill fans.
6
‘Ladies First’ (2026)
Arriving On: May 26, Netflix
Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike, Ladies First is a romantic comedy directed by British theater and film director Thea Sharrock of Wicked Little Letters fame. The movie follows a chauvinistic man named Damien (Cohen), who wakes up one day in an alternate world where the social power dynamic between men and women is reversed. He faces his biggest challenge when he encounters an invincible female version of himself (Pike).
Apart from Cohen and Pike, Ladies First’s ensemble cast also includes Richard E. Grant, Emily Mortimer, Fiona Shaw, Charles Dance, Tom Davis, and Kathryn Hunter in supporting roles. The movie is loosely inspired by the 2018 French film I Am Not an Easy Man by Éléonore Pourriat, which was the second French-language Netflix original feature following Blockbuster. The film’s trailer hints at an entertaining take on the gender role reversal trope, sharing a similar core premise with the 1991 fantasy comedy Switch, and it appears to take a lot of inspiration from classic comedies of the 2000s.
7
‘Miss You, Love You’ (2026)
Arriving On: May 28, HBO Max
Written and directed by Jim Rash, Miss You, Love You follows Diane, a recently widowed woman who is forced to plan her husband’s funeral with her estranged son’s assistant, Jamie. With a stranger instead of her son at her side, Diane navigates grief and fumbles through the oddity of her circumstances, unearthing long-buried personal secrets and emotions. Allison Janney stars as Diane and Andrew Rannells as Jamie, with Bonnie Hunt, Suzy Nakamura, Oscar Nunez, and Lisa Schurga in supporting roles.
Miss You, Love You is essentially a slice-of-life drama exploring themes of grief, loss, healing, and connection, with subtle dark humor and emotional moments interspersed in the narrative. The film comes from Jim Rash, best known for his role in the hit NBC sitcom Community and co-writing the film The Descendants alongside Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon, for which they received an Academy Award. Following its screening at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, Miss You, Love You will premiere on HBO and HBO Max in May 2026.
8
‘The Moment’ (2026)
Arriving On: May 29, HBO Max
Directed by Aidan Zamiri, The Moment is a mockumentary film featuring British singer, songwriter, and actress Charli XCX as a fictionalized version of herself. It follows the popstar, caught up in the success of her breakout summer album, as she prepares for her arena tour debut and navigates the struggles of stardom. The mockumentary also features Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, and Isaac Powell, with Alexander Skarsgård co-starring as a concert film director.
Winner of three Grammy Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, five Brit Awards, and an MTV Video Music Award, Charli XCX is a successful pop artist with six studio albums, several television shows, and film roles to her credit. The Moment is essentially a dramatized and fictionalized reimagination of her 2024 Brat Tour, in the aftermath of her 2024 hit album Brat, which became a cultural phenomenon. The film also marks Charli XCX’s first film role of 2026. She will be seen next in the films Faces of Death, The Gallerist, and I Want Your Sex.
- Release Date
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February 6, 2026
- Runtime
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103 minutes
- Director
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Aidan Zamiri
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https://collider.com/streaming-movies-may-2026-biggest/
Remus Noronha
Almontather Rassoul
