Some people spend their days arguing over the merits of Netflix and how it’s “killing cinema” as we know it, but the rest of us know better. It’s just one more way to re-watch the movies we already love and find new ones to cherish. This month sees plenty of both hitting the service.
The complete list of movies and shows hitting Netflix this month — May 2018 — is below, but first I’m going to highlight a few that stand apart from the bunch.
Netflix Pick of the Month
Cambodia isn’t exactly known for action cinema, but with any luck last year’s Jailbreak should change that. It’s a simple setup — cops having to fight their way out of a prison during a riot — and it’s more than a little goofy at times with some flat acting, but you come for the action and will not be disappointed. The cops are played by professional martial artists and MMA champions (hence the rough acting), and it shows in the fight choreography and execution.
Horrors!
Cargo (2018) takes place in a world overrun by zombies, but its horror elements may be taking a backseat to the dramatic adventure of trying to survive the Australian outback with an infant. Martin Freeman takes the lead here, and we’re excited to take this journey with him when the film lands on the 18th. Folks looking for more familiar horror thrills can check out the slasher stylings of Wes Craven’s Scream 2 (1997) and the supernatural shenanigans of The Reaping (2007).
Action!
Jailbreak isn’t the only new action film from Asia hitting Netflix this month as the legendary John Woo is bringing his latest to the service too. Manhunt (2017) is Woo’s first modern-day action film since 2000’s Mission: Impossible II, so yeah, we’re pretty stoked for it. Those wanting an action film guaranteed to thrill can check out The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) for fights, gun play, and car stunts. May 16th brings two solid films from the last decade — Peter Berg’s The Kingdom (2007) is fantastically underappreciated with stellar set-pieces and real suspense, and Wanted (2008) is a stylized slice of bullet-bending fun.
For the Little Ones!
Two CG-animated gems come to Netflix this month including the beautiful and warmly affecting Coco (2017) on the 29th. It’s the latest from Pixar and is easily their best in years. It’s still a few weeks away, though, so you can make the wait a bit easier with a re-watch of Shrek (2001). The sequels may have made the characters a bit too ubiquitous for a while, but this first film is still a funny and charming flick.
The Complete List
May 1
27: Gone Too Soon (2018)
A Life of Its Own: The Truth About Medical Marijuana
Amelie (2001)
Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures (Season 1)
Beautiful Girls (1996)
Darc (2018)
God’s Own Country (2017)
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous Live at Radio City
Mr. Woodcock (2007)
My Perfect Romance (2018)
Pocoyo & Cars
Pocoyo & The Space Circus (2009)
Queens of Comedy (Season 1)
Reasonable Doubt (2014)
Red Dragon (2002)
Scream 2 (1997)
Shrek (2001)
Simon (Season 1)
Sliding Doors (1998)
Sometimes (2018)
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
The Carter Effect (2017)
The Clapper (2017)
The Reaping (2007)
The Strange Name Movie (2017)
Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V (Season 2)
May 2
A Little Help with Carol Burnett (2018)
Anon (2018)
Busted! (Season 1)
Dear White People: Volume 2
End Game (2018, Netflix Original)
Forgive Us Our Debts (2018, Netflix Original)
Jailbreak (2017)
Kong: King of the Apes (Season 2)
Lo más sencillo es complicarlo todo
Manhunt (2017)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Tina Fey
No Estoy Loca (2018)
The Rain (Season 1)
May 5
Faces Places (2017)
May 6
The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (streaming every Sunday, Season 1 finale on May 13)
May 8
Desolation (2017)
Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives
May 9
Dirty Girl (2010)
May 11
Bill Nye Saves the World (Season 3)
Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist
Spirit Riding Free (Season 5)
The Kissing Booth (2018)
The Who Was? Show: Season 1
May 13
Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife
May 14
The Phantom of the Opera
May 15
Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (Season 4)
Grand Designs (Seasons 13–14)
Only God Forgives (2013)
The Game 365 (Seasons 15–16)
May 16
89 (2017)
Mamma Mia! (2008)
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
The Kingdom (2007)
Wanted (2008)
May 18
Cargo (2018, Netflix Original)
Catching Feelings (2017)
Inspector Gadget (Season 4)
May 19
Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
Scandal (Season 7)
Small Town Crime (2017)
May 20
Some Kind of Beautiful (2014)
May 21
Señora Acero (Season 4)
May 22
Mob Psycho 100 (Season 1)
Shooter (Season 2)
Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 2
Tig Notaro: Happy To Be Here
May 23
Explained
May 24
Fauda (Season 2)
Survivors Guide to Prison (2018)
May 25
Ibiza (2018, Netflix Original)
Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life
The Toys That Made Us (Season 2)
Trollhunters: Part 3
May 26
Sara’s Notebook (2018)
May 27
The Break with Michelle Wolf
May 29
Coco (2017)
May 30
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Season 4)
May 31
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Howard Stern
Follow all of our monthly streaming guides.
Related Topics: Netflix
