Remarkably bright creatures – cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026.
Welcome to your first comprehensive preview of the new movies, series, documentaries, and live events coming to Netflix globally in May 2026.
The summer blockbuster season is getting an early start on Netflix! May is absolutely packed with highly-anticipated returning favorites, including the next chapter of the Money Heist universe, the long-awaited second season of Nordic noir hit The Chestnut Man, and the return of Tina Fey’s star-studded comedy The Four Seasons. Add a brand new sci-fi epic from the Duffer Brothers, a major live MMA event, and an annoying new adaptation of Lord of the Flies, and your watchlist is complete!
Note: This is an early preview based on the current lineup. Netflix release dates are subject to change, and we’ll publish a full look at the May 2026 schedule later this week.
Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine (season 2)
coming to netflix: 15 May
Style:robbery crime drama
“Level two, please!” money heist (la casa de papel) The cinematic universe continues to expand with the highly anticipated second season of the hit spin-off, berlin. Not only are we getting a season 2, but the series is following a number of international shows getting subtitles – Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine – this season promises another grand, impossibly complex heist conducted by Pedro Alonso’s iconic, suave jewel thief. If it’s anything like the first season, expect romance, high stakes, and lots of European flair.
The title of this season is a big clue to the plot. The Lady with an Ermine is a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci currently housed in Kraków, Poland. Expect the crew to head to Eastern Europe to complete an impossible museum extraction. Fan favorites Michelle Jenner (Kiala) and Tristan Ulloa (Damien) are confirmed to return with a new rival played by Jean Reno.
Lord of the Flies (narrow range)
coming to netflix: May 24 (except Netflix UK)
Style: Psychological Drama/Survival Thriller | episode:4
William Golding’s famous 1954 novel has received a breathtaking, harrowing modern update. After a horrific plane crash, a group of schoolchildren find themselves stranded on a remote, uninhabited island. What begins as a structured effort to survive quickly turns into brutal, primitive barbarity as the boys split into warring factions.
Produced by Eleven Film (the team behind Sex Education) and adapted by acclaimed writer Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials), this BBC co-production will stream globally on Netflix. The creators have promised a completely faithful, in-depth take on the source material. The cast consists of a stellar group of entirely unknown child actors, selected after a massive global casting search to bring raw authenticity to the psychological lineage of Ralph, Jack and Piggy. Don’t also forget that this particular mini-series is also being helmed by Netflix’s upcoming Narnia film: David McKenna.
The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek (Season 2)
coming to netflix:7 May
Style: Nordic crime drama/thriller
Fans of gripping, atmospheric Nordic noir have been waiting patiently, and the time has finally come. The acclaimed Danish thriller The Chestnut Man is returning for a highly anticipated second season (again, with a new subtitle, Hide and Seek). Prepare yourself for another dark, twisted and incredibly over-the-top mystery that will keep you guessing right to the end.
four seasons (season 2)
coming to netflix: 28 May
Style: Romantic Comedy | episode:8
Tina Fey’s hit romantic comedy series is back for its second year! After a stellar debut, the series returns with a powerful comedic ensemble that includes Tina Fey, Will Forte, and Colman Domingo. If you’re looking for laughs and great chemistry, this 8-episode follow-up is guaranteed to be one of the biggest comedy drops of the summer.
borough (Season 1)
coming to netflix: 21 May
Style: science fiction drama | Episode: 8
Image Credit: Netflix
If you’re missing Stranger Things, this could be your next obsession. Created by the Duffer Brothers and executive produced by the minds behind The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, borough is an 8-episode supernatural sci-fi drama. Expect a stellar cast (including Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard and Bill Pullman) to tackle an all-new mystery. It’s more akin to Duffer’s work on Stranger Things than more horror-skewing. something very bad is going to happenWhich has fallen recently.
The show flips the usual “kid on a bike” sci-fi trope by focusing on a group of retirees in a picturesque New Mexico retirement community. This unlikely group of heroes must band together to stop a supernatural threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have left: time. Alfred Molina also plays a heavily artificial, villainous role.
coming to netflix:8 May
Style: Mystery Drama | Order: 1 hour 51 minutes
Based on Shelby Van Pelt’s wildly popular, heart-wrenching novel, this feature film adaptation is sure to deliver goosebumps. Directed by Olivia Newman (where the crawdads sing) and starring the famous Sally Field alongside Lewis Pullman, this mystery-drama is easily one of the biggest releases of the month.
The story follows Tova Sullivan (Field), a widow who works the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She forms an unlikely relationship with a misanthropic, highly intelligent giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. Marcellus’ visual effects are handled by Wētā FX, who use unprecedented CGI to bring the creature to life as it is emotional and lifelike as he helps Towa uncover the truth about her son’s disappearance thirty years ago.
Nemesis (Season 1)
coming to netflix: 14 May
Style:Action Heist | episode:8
Slavery. Y’Lan Noel as Coltrane Wilder in episode 103 of Nemesis. Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
From Power creator Courtney Kemp comes a brand-new, high-stakes action heist series. Starring Matthew Law and Ylan Noel, the show promises a tense, cat-and-mouse game of cops and robbers that should be perfect for your weekend entertainment.
Set against the neon-lit backdrop of modern-day Atlanta, Nemesis focuses on a brilliant but struggling heist mastermind (Noel) who is forced to perform one final, impossible task to repay his brother’s debt. He finds himself hunted by a relentless, unconventional detective (Law) who shares a tragic past with him. Expect wildly practical car chases and intense, tactical shootouts.
cloudy
coming to netflix: 1 May
Style: CGI Animated Buddy Comedy | Order: 1 hour 41 minutes
CR: Skydance Animation/Netflix ©2026 Skydance Animation
The month starts off with a brand new family feature from Skydance Animation! After making the jump from Apple to Netflix, Skydance is bringing us this second animated buddy body-swapping comedy that sounds perfect for family movie night.
Created by animation veteran John Lasseter, Swapped follows a tight-fisted, aristocratic show poodle and a street-smart, trash-loving raccoon who magically switch bodies after coming in contact with a cursed artifact at a natural history museum. The A-list voice cast includes Awkwafina, Jack Black and John Mulaney, boasting dazzling, Pixar-level visual fidelity.
Other Netflix Originals Coming to Netflix in May 2026
english language movies
- ladies First – May TBA – Romantic comedy directed by Thea Sharrock and starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike.
english language series
- Devil May Cry (Season 2) – May 12 – Season 2 of the dark fantasy anime series based on the hit video game.
- Mating Season (Season 1) – May 22 – An adult animated comedy from the creators of Big Mouth.
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (Season 2) – 27 May – The hit BBC co-production returns for a second mystery starring Emma Myers!
International films and series
- My dearest senorita (Spain) – May 1 – Spanish romantic drama anti-hero film.
- My 2 Cents (Season 1) (Italy) – May 27 – New Italian adult animated comedy.
- Murder Mindfully (Season 2) (Germany) – May 28 – The German dark comedy returns for more delightfully wicked hijinks.
- Viral Hit (Season 1) (Japanese) – When a brawl after he accidentally goes viral, a vulnerable and broken teen realizes that livestreaming battles against criminals could change his life.
- Brazil 70: The Third Star (Brazil) – May 29 – A historical sports drama miniseries.
Documentaries and specials
- Roast of Kevin Hart – May 10 – There will be no dearth of jokes in this live roast.
- Accident – May 15 – A new true-crime documentary focusing on a murderous teen driver.
- Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano – May 17 – Live MMA sports event.
- Wanda Sykes: Legacy – May 19 – Stand-up comedy special.
What are you most looking forward to watching on Netflix in May 2026? Let us know in the comments below!
