New Netflix Movies in May 2026 — Here Are My Top 3 Picks to Stream

Netflix is the world’s most popular streaming service for a reason — it constantly premieres new movies and beloved shows that make it impossible to hit that unsubscribe button.

May 2026 is no exception, as the streamer is set to roll out a slew of new content that’s worth the arguably high monthly fee.

As part of the Watch With Us team, I’ve looked at all the films Netflix is offering in May and have selected the three best movies you should absolutely watch.

From a Sally Field drama to a ‘90s crime classic, these pictures should satisfy any cinematic craving you have before the summer season starts.

‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ (2026)

Sally Field is one of the greatest actresses still working today, and her next film happens to be one of Netflix’s most high-profile original movies of the season. In Remarkably Bright Creatures, she plays Tova, a kind widow who enjoys her simple life as a cleaner for the Sowell Bay Aquarium in Puget Sound. She’s kinda lonely, though, which is why she instantly bonds with Marcelleus. They don’t have much in common — Tova is an old lady, while Marcelleus is an orange octopus that inhabits the aquarium. But they share a unique bond that attracts the attention of Cameron (Lewis Pullman), a drifter who is even more lonely than Tova.

Adapted from the bestselling novel by Shelby Van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a cute drama about several strangers who have been pushed aside by their respective communities. The key to making it all work is Field: anyone who has seen her in Norma Rae or Steel Magnolias knows the two-time Oscar winner has the dramatic chops to pull off a role like Tova.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is streaming on May 8.

‘Marty, Life Is Short’ (2026)

One of the best things about the success of Only Murders in the Building was that it spurred a new appreciation for Martin Short, the veteran comedian who has been making them laugh for nearly a half-century. Now Short is getting his flowers in a new Netflix documentary directed by Lawrence Kasdan, who helmed such classics as The Big Chill, Grand Canyon and Silverado.

The 100-minute documentary includes archival footage of Short’s early work in the influential sketch comedy show SCTV and, later, SNL, and in movies like Three Amigos, to new interviews with people who have worked with him over the years, like Steve Martin. The doc is a lot like Short himself — funny, a bit nonsensical, and surprisingly moving.

Marty, Life is Short streams on May 24.

‘True Romance’ (1993)

It’s been seven years since Quentin Tarantino’s last movie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and it doesn’t look like the controversial director’s self-imposed drought is ending anytime soon. That’s as good a reason as any to rewatch some of his earlier classics, particularly ones that didn’t get the love later films like Inglourious Basterds received.

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True Romance is one of those movies. While Tony Scott directed the movie, Tarantino wrote the screenplay, and it bears the director’s signature snappy dialogue and affinity for profanity and violence. After newly-in-love couple Clarence (Christian Slater) and Alabama (Patricia Arquette) inadvertently steal a lot of cocaine belonging to the mob, they flee to California to avoid getting caught. But danger has a way of finding them, and their love affair could end as quickly — and violently — as it started.

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True Romance is the epitome of early ‘90s cinema, with quick, MTV-style editing, lots of references to ‘90s pop culture and a Hans Zimmer soundtrack that continues to be referenced today in shows like Euphoria. It’s somehow both very derivative and wholly original at the same time, which makes it all the more enjoyable to watch. Look out for an almost unrecognizable Brad Pitt as a stoned, out-of-work actor who unwittingly helps the mob help find Clarence.

True Romance is now streaming on Netflix.