Netflix May 2021 - The Best New Movies And TV Shows To Watch

Each month, Netflix rewards its subscribers with brand-new titles — while getting rid of others to make room — that offer something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a gut-busting escapist comedy, a swoon-worthy romantic comedy, a deep-dive documentary, a stand-up special from an emerging talent, a new series, or something else entirely, Netflix probably has you covered.

This May, there's a ton of new content coming to the streaming service. From buzzy literary adaptations to fresh seasons of beloved original shows to some of your favorite non-Netflix films and series, here are the best new movies and TV shows to watch in May of 2021 — as the movies and shows leaving in May that you should catch before the month ends.

If you're hoping for something new to binge-watch in May 2021, Netflix has plenty of series and seasons to pick from. Some highly anticipated shows — including the Ewan McGregor fashion miniseries "Halston," from creator Ryan Murphy, and a new season of Aziz Ansari's vaguely autobiographical series "Master of None" – don't have a release date just yet, but there are a bunch of others to check out in the meantime.

On May 4, fans of "Selena: The Series" can pick up on the doomed pop star's story in its second season, and on May 7, fans of shows like "The Boys" and "Watchmen" will definitely want to catch "Jupiter's Legacy," a superhero drama based on Alan Moore's graphic novels and led by star Josh Duhamel. May 14 brings the second season of the beloved Emmy Award-winning series "Love, Death & Robots," as well as the new series "Move to Heaven," in which an unlikely duo helps people grieve their loved ones in an unexpected way.

Both "Lucifer" and "The Kominsky Method" return on May 28; "Lucifer" will air the second part of its fifth season, while "The Kominsky Method" comes back for Season 3. On May 31, anyone aching to travel again can check out the unscripted series "The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties," which delves into the opulent and pricey real estate world in the city of Paris. Outside of Netflix Original series, the last day of the month will also see "Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story" landing on the streaming platform. The second season of the true crime anthology series gives a dramatized recounting of real-life gaslighting, infidelity, and murder most foul, with Amanda Peet and Christian Slater in the lead roles. 

Coming Soon 

"AlRawabi School for Girls"

"Halston"

"Mad for Each Other"

"Master of None"

"Racket Boys"

"Ragnarok": Season 2

May 4

"Selena: The Series": Part 2

May 7

"Girl from Nowhere": Season 2

"Jupiter's Legacy"

May 8

"Mine"

May 12

"The Upshaws"

May 14

"Haunted": Season 3

"Love, Death & Robots": Volume 2

"Move to Heaven"

May 19

"Who Killed Sara?": Season 2

May 20

"Special": Season 2

May 21

"The Neighbor": Season 2

May 27

"Black Space"

May 28

"Lucifer": Season 5, Part 2

"The Kominsky Method": Season 3

May 31

"Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story"

"The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties"

Netflix has become known for its original films, many of which have become critical darlings and major awards contenders. The streamer is showing no signs of stopping this trend, and will bringing to audiences some exciting original movies in May 2021.

On May 7, those looking for a dramatic watch can catch "Milestone," about an aging distance truck driver, and "Monster," an adaptation of Walter Dean Myers's 1999 multi-award-winning novel of the same name that follows the grim realities of being a young Black man in the American criminal justice system. True crime fans can also look forward to the Belgian drama "Ferry" and South Africa's "I Am All Girls."

Netflix has some other incredible foreign films arriving in May 2021, including "Dance of the 41," which follows a real-life scandal affecting gay men in 1901 Mexico. Other foreign films include "Sadar Ka Grandson," a heartwarming Indian family flick, and "Baggio: The Divine Ponytail," about legendary Italian soccer star Robert Baggio. Horror fans can also look forward to the Chinese film "The Strange House" and the French sci-fi film "Oxygen."

In the middle of the month, Netflix subscribers can also catch Amy Adams in "The Woman in the Window," based on the hit crime novel of the same name. And on May 21, Zack Snyder's eagerly anticipated zombie-heist film "Army of the Dead" will hit Netflix.

May 12

"Oxygen"

"Dance of the 41"

May 14

"Ferry"

"I Am All Girls"

"Jungle Beat: The Movie"

"The Strange House"

"The Woman in the Window"

May 18

"Sadar Ka Grandsom"

May 21

"Army of the Dead"

May 26

"Baggio: The Divine Ponytail"

"High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America"

May 27

"Blue Miracle"

Netflix has a treasure trove of documentaries and live performances coming in May 2021.

To start things off, we have "Framing John DeLorean," a unique look at the life of the automobile entrepreneur. The movie is one part documentary and one part reenactment, with top name actors portraying real-life people, including Alec Baldwin as John DeLorean. There's also a Netflix Original documentary called "Money Explained," which takes an in-depth look at what makes the world go 'round.

For true crime fanatics, "The Son of Sam: A Descent into Darkness" follows journalist Maury Terry on a search for the truth behind the horrendous murders — including the theory that David Berkowitz didn't act alone. Later in the month, Netflix will release "Nail Bomber: Manhunt," which tells the disturbing story of a far-right extremist who set off a series of bombs targeting minorities in London in 1999.

Heading away from grimmer subjects, Netflix will also be premiering a special of singer-songwriter Sam Smith's only live performance in 2020. "Sam Smith: Love Goes — Live at Abbey Roads Studio" will allow fans to view footage from the soulful artist's October 2020 livestream, wherein they were accompanied by a full band and a number of talented guest performers. And for fans of magic, music, and comedy, Agustin Aristaran will return for his second Netflix special, "Soy Rada: Serendipity."

May 5

"Framing John DeLorean"

May 11

"Money Explained"

May 22

"Sam Smith: Love Goes — Live at Abbey Road Studios"

May 26

"Nail Bomber: Manhunt"

May 27

"Soy Rada: Serendipity"

If you love movies about teenagers going back in time to solidify their friendships with elderly men and help unwittingly turn their fathers and Chuck Berry into bonafide plagiarists, then you're in luck: Netflix is bringing "Back to the Future" back to the platform. It's not just the first one, either: All three entries in the trilogy will be available to stream starting on May 1, giving you a little under six hours of buttheads, hoverboards, and inescapable manure transport vehicles to peruse at your convenience.

And that's not all. "Due Date," the 2010 Zack Galifianakis-Robert Downey Jr. road trip comedy from the director of "The Hangover," also lands on Netflix at the beginning of the month — as do "Scarface," "Under Siege," and "The Lovely Bones."

Ever wondered what dinosaurs were like back before they got all sad and meteor-ed? The first two "Land Before Time" movies are both scheduled to pop up at the beginning of May. Want a roughly accurate depiction of what it's like to live next to Bruce Willis? "The Whole Nine Yards" will be there too — plus a whole bunch of other movies ranging from "Notting Hill" to "Resident Evil: Afterlife" to "Zombieland" and more.

May 1

"Aliens Stole My Body"

"Back to the Future"

"Back to the Future Part II"

"Back to the Future Part III"

"Best of the Best"

"Dead Again in Tombstone"

"Due Date"

"Fun with Dick and Jane" (2005)

"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra"

"Green Zone"

"Hachi: A Dog's Tale"

"JT LeRoy"

"Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted"

"Mystic River"

"Never Back Down"

"Notting Hill"

"Open Season"

"Resident Evil: Afterlife"

"Resident Evil: Extinction"

"S.M.A.R.T Chase"

"Scarface"

"SITTING IN LIMBO"

"Stargate"

"State of Play"

"The Land Before Time"

"The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure"

"The Lovely Bones"

"The Pelican Brief"

"The Sweetest Thing"

"The Whole Nine Yards" (2000)

"Under Siege"

"Waist Deep"

"Your Highness"

"Zack and Miri Make a Porno"

"Zombieland"

May 6

"Dead Man Down"

May 8

"Sleepless"

May 13

"Layer Cake"

May 16

"Sleight"

May 19

"The Last Days"

"Sabotage"

"Small Town Crime"

May 20

"Spy Kids: All the Time in the World"

May 25

"Home"

"The Clovehitch Killer"

While we're getting some great Netflix additions in May 2021, we do have to pay for them by losing a decent chunk of the streamer's current catalog. It's a give-and-take business, this streaming world, but there's still some time left to get in those shows and movies you've been meaning to watch before Netflix strips them from you like a bandaid on unshaven legs.

Prepare to bid adieu to movies like "War Horse," "The Chosen Ones," "House at the End of the Street," "Trumbo," and "My Week with Marilyn" before the end of May 2021. A heavy-hitter we'll be losing in the middle of the month is the first four seasons of BBC's "Sherlock." At the end of the month, a huge bundle of movies and TV shows will get booted from Netflix: "50 First Dates," "Brokeback Mountain," "The Blair Witch Project," "Julie & Julia," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," "Soul Surfer," and more.

You can find the full list of departures below, so plan accordingly to ensure you don't miss out.

May 1

"Hoarders": Season 10

May 3

"War Horse"

May 5

"Hangman"

May 6

"City of God: 10 Years Later"

"Lockout"

May 7

"The Chosen Ones"

"House at the End of the Street"

May 10

"Quartet"

May 14

"Sherlock": Seasons 1-4

May 18

"Trumbo"

May 29

"American Crime": Seasons 1-3

"My Week with Marilyn"

"The One I Love"

May 31

"50 First Dates"

"Act of Valor"

"All Dogs Go to Heaven"

"The Blair Witch Project"

"Brokeback Mountain"

"The Boy"

"Deliver Us from Eva"

"The Help"

"I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry"

"Julie & Julia"

"Marauders"

"Milk"

"Miracle"

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"

"Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz"

"The Pursuit of Happyness"

"The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior"

"The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption"

"Soul Surfer"

"Striptease"

"Waiting..."