Whether you’re looking for the next series to binge or a feel-good comfort film, the month of May arrives with a remarkable selection of on-screen entertainment for you to choose from. The good old rom-com is having a revival, with two new movies to look forward to from the genre. Mother of the Bride makes for a perfect Mother’s Day watch, in which Lana discovers that her daughter’s fiancé is the son of her former lover, leaving her to navigate complicated, resurfacing emotions. Meanwhile, Anne Hathaway-led romance flick, The Idea of You, features the unlikely relationship between a 40-year-old single mum and a 24-year-old boy band singer.
Bridgerton fans rejoice—the third and newest addition to the popular period drama universe is set to arrive this month. This season, the beloved Netflix series will spotlight a growing romance between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington—despite Colin’s disparaging comments about the latter towards the end of the prior season. Apart from scandals and soirées, viewers can also anticipate charming newcomers to the cast.
For other options, look to thrillers such as Dark Matter. Using science to explore themes of parallel realities, this series sees a physics professor struggling to reunite with his family after being abducted to an alternate world. On the K-drama front, there is gameshow-based drama The 8 Show, which stars Ryu Jun-Yeol and Park Jeong-min, and is based on Bae Jin-Soo’s webcomic ‘Money Game’.
Below, find our full curation of what to watch this May—all available on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+ and Prime Video.
1 / 8
Bridgerton Season 3
At last, the Shonda Rhimes hit returns for another highly-anticipated season filled with whimsical romance, elaborate costumes and scintillating scandals. In this third instalment of the cult favourite period drama, the spotlight shines on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington’s slow burn relationship and the beginnings of Kate and Anthony Bridgerton’s marriage. Whilst most of the last season’s beloved cast will be reprising their roles—including Simone Ashley as Kate, stepping into the title of viscountess—new, charismatic additions include Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton, Daniel Francis as Marcus Anderson, Sam Phillips as Lord Debling and James Phoon as Harry Dankworth.
Watch Bridgerton Season 3 on Netflix from 16 May.
2 / 8
The 8 Show
Based on the popular webcomic ‘Money Game’, the K-drama realm takes on an adaptation to present The 8 Show, starring Reply 1988’s Ryu Jun-Yeol, Hellbound‘s Park Jeong-min, Rich Ting and Anzu Lawson, amongst others. This dark comedy thriller series follows eight desperate, financially-challenged contestants taking part in a dangerous reality competition show with 44.8 billion won up for the win. Trapped in a mysterious eight-story building, the players find their mental fortitude challenged as stakes heighten alarmingly.
Watch The 8 Show on Netflix from 17 May.
3 / 8
Atlas
Jennifer Lopez is Atlas, a brilliant counterterrorism analyst with a deep distrust of people and AI in this sci-fi action thriller film. When a mission to capture a defector robot fails to go according to plan, the titular character is forced to confront her fear of technology by joining forces with it while stranded in space. Beyond the quest to save the future of humanity in high-tech, mechanical battle armour, Atlas conveys the importance of letting people into our lives to form meaningful relationships, told through a female lens.
Watch Atlas on Netflix from 24 May.
4 / 8
Mother of the Bride
This charming rom-com drama features doting mother Lana who, upon hearing of her daughter Emma’s sudden wedding announcement, jets off to Thailand for the island ceremony. Played by Brooke Shields and Miranda Cosgrove respectively, things take a complicated turn for the mother-daughter duo when Lana discovers that her son-in-law to be is the offspring of none else but the ex who left her heartbroken decades ago. Brought to you by the director of He’s All That, Mean Girls, and Freaky Friday, this film is sure to be a heartwarming yet amusing walk down the aisle.
Watch Mother of the Bride on Netflix from 9 May.
5 / 8
Dark Matter
Telling the story of the New York Times bestseller of the same name, Dark Matter is a mind-bending watch which follows a man who has been abducted into an alternate version of his life. While he embarks on the tumultuous journey to be reunited with his true family, Jason comes to the shocking realisation that he is also their most fearful enemy. This nine-episode series starring Joel Edgerton and Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly will be nothing short of a riveting sci-fi adventure.
Watch Dark Matter on Apple TV+ from 8 May.
6 / 8
The Big Cigar
Introducing another biographical drama to your watchlist, The Big Cigar takes us back in time to witness the wild, true story of how Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton made a run from the FBI, assisted by famed Hollywood producer Bert Schneider whose daring, elaborate escape plan included a fake movie production. André Holland takes on the lead role in this entertaining thriller series, along with Tiffany Boone, Alessandro Nivola and Moses Ingram to re-enact this unbelievable tale of revolution.
Watch The Big Cigar on Apple TV+ from 17 May.
7 / 8
Let It Be
More than half a century since its original release, this 1970 documentary film about rock sensation The Beatles is meticulously restored and will be launched exclusively on Disney+ this month. Let It Be, named after the group’s Grammy Award-winning final studio album, contains never-before-seen footage of The Beatles before their split and complements other biographical works surrounding the artists, such as the 2021 Get Back docuseries. Showcasing moments of unbridled joy, excitement and camaraderie as they produced and performed together for the final time, the re-release invites fans to appreciate the band’s revitalised history in brighter light.
8 / 8
The Idea of You
Solène (Anne Hathaway) is a poised, unapologetic 40-year-old single mother who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old boyband heartthrob Hayes Campbell, played by Nicholas Galitzine. Still emotionally wounded by her ex-husband’s infidelity and the divorce that followed, Solène encounters a unique set of challenges as she gives in to this unlikely whirlwind romance. Fairytale ending or not, this love story adapted from Robinne Lee’s contemporary novel is more than just crowd-pleasing chemistry between two irresistible individuals—emphasising the empowering message that women of any age deserve the right to romantic fulfilment.
Watch The Idea of You on Prime Video from 2 May.
