From the hotly anticipated new sci-fi mystery series from Stranger Things‘ Duffer Brothers to the much-awaited return of The Chestnut Man, Netflix has a lot of things in store for its audience this May, just like every month of the year. While there are a lot of great licensed films that will be making their way to Netflix this month, and we have made a separate list for that, in this article, we have compiled a list of the seventeen must-watch new titles coming to Netflix in May 2026
Swapped (May 1)
Swapped is an upcoming animated comedy film directed by Nathan Greno from a screenplay co-written by John Whittington, Christian Magalhaes, and Robert Snow. The Netflix film is set in the wild, and it follows sworn enemies, a brown sea-otter and a light green Kākāpō-like bird who magically swap bodies, after which they must work together to survive. The voice cast of Swapped includes Michael B. Jordan, Juno Temple, Tracy Morgan, Cedric the Entertainer, and Justina Machado.
You, Always (May 1)
You, Always is a romantic comedy film directed by Christine Luby from a screenplay co-written by Ansley Gordon, Yasmin Kassim, and Adam C. Sherer. The 2025 film follows best friends Ethan and Jen, but they begin to realize that they have feelings for each other after they start dating other people. You, Always stars Adrian Grenier, Jessica De Gouw, Desmond Chiam, Aria Burton, Spencer McLaren, and Yasmin Kassim.
Jennifer’s Body (May 1)
Jennifer’s Body is a horror dark comedy film directed by Karyn Kusama from a screenplay by Diablo Cody. The 2009 film follows Anita, a socially awkward high school girl who is best friends with the popular girl, Jennifer. Things take a turn after Jennifer is possessed by a demon and begins devouring her classmates. Jennifer’s Body stars Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, J.K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris, and Adam Brody.
Lord of the Flies Season 1 (May 4)
Lord of the Flies is a folk horror drama series created by Jack Thorne. Based on William Golding’s 1954 novel of the same name, the BBC series is set in the early 1950s, and it revolves around a group of young boys as they find themselves stranded on a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean, but things soon turn dangerous as they get more and more desperate. Lord of the Flies stars Winston Sawyer, Lox Pratt, David McKenna, and Ike Talbut.
The Chestnut Man Season 2 (May 7)
The Chestnut Man is a Danish crime thriller series co-created by Dorte Warnøe Hagh, David Sandreuter, and Mikkel Serup. Based on Søren Sveistrup’s 2019 novel of the same name, the upcoming Season 2 of the Netflix series follows detectives Mark Hess and Naia Thulin as they investigate a missing woman who was stalked for months. The Chestnut Man stars Danica Curcic, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Sofie Gråbøl, and Katinka Lærke Petersen.
Legends Season 1 (May 7)
Legends is an upcoming crime thriller drama series created by Neil Forsyth. The Netflix series is set in the 1990s in the United Kingdom, and it chronicles the true story of a group of customs officials who take a massive risk by going undercover to catch dangerous drug gangs. Legends stars Steve Coogan, Tom Burke, Hayley Squires, Aml Ameen, Jasmine Blackborow, Charlotte Ritchie, Douglas Hodge, and Tom Hughes.
Remarkably Bright Creatures (May 8)
Remarkably Bright Creatures is an upcoming mystery comedy-drama film directed by Olivia Newman, who also co-wrote the screenplay with John Whittington. Based on Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 novel of the same name, the Netflix film follows Tova, an elderly woman working at an aquarium, as she decides to help her replacement, Cameron, in trying to find his father. Remarkably Bright Creatures stars Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D’Elia, and Alfred Molina.
Devil May Cry Season 2 (May 12)
Devil May Cry is an adult animated fantasy action series created by Adi Shankar. Based on the Japanese video game franchise of the same name developed by Capcom, the upcoming Season 2 of the Netflix series follows elite demon hunter Dante as he must confront his traumatic past to face off against his estranged twin brother. Devil May Cry’s voice cast includes Johnny Yong Bosch, Scout Taylor-Compton, Hoon Lee, Chris Coppola, and Kevin Conroy.
Nemesis Season 1 (May 14)
Nemesis is an upcoming crime drama series co-created by Courtney A. Kemp and Tani Marole. The Netflix series is set in Los Angeles, and it revolves around a cat-and-mouse chase between a relentless police detective and a criminal mastermind trying to pull off his final heist. Nemesis stars Matthew Law, Y’lan Noel, Cleopatra Coleman, Tre Hale, and Domenick Lombardozzi.
Berlin Season 2 (May 15)
Berlin is a Spanish heist thriller drama series co-created by Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato. The Netflix series serves as a spin-off of Money Heist, and in its upcoming Season 2, it follows Berlin and his team as they reunite to pull off a heist to steal the Lady with an Ermine, but Berlin has hidden motives. Berlin stars Pedro Alonso, Samantha Siqueiros, Tristán Ulloa, Michelle Jenner, Begoña Vargas, Julio Peña Fernández, and Joel Sánchez.
Black Phone 2 (May 16)
Black Phone 2 is a supernatural horror film written and directed by Scott Derrickson. The 2025 sequel film follows siblings Finney and Gwen as they head to a winter camp to investigate the first victims of the Grabber after Gwen begins receiving calls from a black phone and sees disturbing visions. Black Phone 2 stars Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, Demián Bichir, and Ethan Hawke.
The Boroughs Season 1 (May 21)
The Boroughs is an upcoming sci-fi thriller comedy-drama series co-created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews. The Netflix series is set in an idyllic retirement community, and it revolves around a group of retirees who must work together to face off against an unknown threat that is stealing the time they have left. The Boroughs stars Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Jena Malone, and Carlos Miranda.
Ladies First (May 22)
Ladies First is an upcoming romantic comedy film directed by Thea Sharrock from a screenplay by Natalie Krinsky, Cinco Paul, and Katie Silberman. Based on the 2018 French film I Am Not an Easy Man, the Netflix film follows Damien Sachs, a chauvinist whose entire world turns upside down after an accident, as he wakes up in a world where men are treated like women. Ladies First stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Emily Mortimer, Charles Dance, Fiona Shaw, and Tom Davis.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 2 (May 27)
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a British mystery thriller series created by Poppy Cogan. Based on Holly Jackson’s 2019 novel of the same name, the upcoming Season 2 of the Netflix series follows Pip as she decides not to get involved in any more investigations, but things take a turn after Connor’s brother Jamie suddenly disappears, and she has to find him. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder stars Emma Myers, Zain Iqbal, Asha Banks, Raiko Gohara, Jude Morgan-Collie, and Yali Topol Margalith.
Dead Man’s Wire (May 28)
Dead Man’s Wire is a true-crime thriller film directed by Gus Van Sant from a screenplay by Austin Kolodney. The 2026 film revolves around the 1977 real-estate developer Tony Kiritsis hostage crisis, as he took a mortgage broker hostage with a sawed-off shotgun pointed at his chest. Dead Man’s Wire stars Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Myha’la, Colman Domingo, and Al Pacino.
The Four Seasons Season 2 (May 28)
The Four Seasons is a comedy-drama series co-created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield. Based on Alan Alda’s 1981 film of the same name, the upcoming Season 2 of the Netflix series continues the story of the couples as they gather for their seasonal vacations while trying to contend with Nick’s death. The Four Seasons stars Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, Erika Henningsen, Colman Domingo, and Mark Brett.
Murder Mindfully Season 2 (May 28)
Murder Mindfully is a German dark comedy crime thriller series created by Konstantin von Carlowitz. The upcoming second season of the Netflix series continues the story of criminal defense attorney turned secret mob boss, Björn Diemel, as he struggles to control his sudden bursts of rage and discovers that the real problem is his unresolved issues from childhood. Murder Mindfully stars Evan Peters, Niecy Nash, Richard Jenkins, Molly Ringwald, and Michael Learned.