The 7 Best New Movies Streaming in May 2025

May 10, 2025 - 10:25

Some months, the additions to the film library are so barren that you’re simply paying for the privilege to rewatch old “Stranger Things” episodes. But other times, the streaming giant comes through and delivers a smorgasbord of cinematic delights to feast on. Fortunately, May 2025 is one of the latter cases.

“Past Lives” (Streaming now)

One of the most exciting directorial debuts of the 21st century, “Past Lives” turned playwright Celine Song into the kind of auteur who gets name-dropped in Charli XCX Coachella sets. The heartbreaking film follows the relationship between two childhood friends whose external circumstances prompt a series of missed connections that cause them to wonder how their lives could have gone differently if they were together. Song’s sophomore feature, the A24 rom-com “Materialists” starring Pedro Pascal, Dakota Johnson, and Chris Evans, hits theaters in June, so this is a perfect time to prepare yourself by revisiting her work.

“Burn After Reading” (Streaming now)

May brings an embarrassment of riches to Netflix subscribers who love George Clooney and Brad Pitt, including one of the laugh-out-loud funniest films of both men’s careers. “Burn After Reading” finds the Coen brothers exploring their all-time favorite topic: what happens when incredibly stupid people fall backwards into power and influence that they don’t know what to do with. The filmmakers are at their absolute silliest in “Burn After Reading,” which follows an intelligence crisis that arises after a CIA analyst accidentally leaves classified information with two dim-witted gym employees. Come for the witty writing, stay for Pitt’s incredible himbo performance that can put Gosling’s Ken to shame.

“The Mule” (Streaming now)

Clint Eastwood has enjoyed a singular longevity in Hollywood, continuing to direct acclaimed movies like “Juror #2” into his mid-90s. And while his directorial skills remain sharp, it’s hard to think of a better farewell to his acting career than “The Mule.” (We choose not to acknowledge the pandemic-shot “Cry Macho,” which came after.) Eastwood’s 2018 film sees him adapting the true story of Leo Sharp, a 90-year-old man who found work as a drug mule for the Sinaloa cartel thanks to his unassuming appearance. Eastwood’s take on the material is a surprisingly sensitive portrait of a workaholic (in this case, an award-winning florist) who struggles to balance his constant need for achievement with a family that wants a closer relationship with him. It’s not hard to find the autobiographical parallels, and Eastwood manages to deliver an introspective film that never loses the meat-and-potatoes Hollywood entertainment value that he has doled out for half a century.

“Ocean’s” Trilogy (Streaming now)

Sometimes the true value of Netflix is the easy accessibility of comfort movies and shows you want to watch again and again. And few movies are more rewatchable than Steven Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s Eleven” remake and its sequels. George Clooney steps into the role played by Frank Sinatra in the ridiculous 60s heist movie, which proves to be one of the best vehicles for his unmatchable charm. Flanked by an elite supporting cast, the Vegas-set crime saga is twisty, sexy studio filmmaking at its absolute best. All three of Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s” movies hit Netflix this month, giving you a chance to catch up before David Leitch’s rumored sequel, which may see Clooney return as Danny Ocean.

“Train to Busan” (Streaming now)

Sometimes we all come down with an itch that can only be scratched by an exhilarating South Korean action movie. Luckily, one of the greatest ones ever made is coming to Netflix this month: “Train to Busan.” Yeon Sang-ho’s modern classic takes place almost entirely on a high speed train as passengers try to survive a zombie apocalypse. Unlike some lethargic zombie movies, these undead invaders move almost as fast as the train, turning things into an unforgettable thrill ride that’s always ready to be rewatched.

“The Sugarland Express” (Streaming now)

A serious contender for the most underrated entry in Steven Spielberg’s filmography, “The Sugarland Express” contains all the elements that would go on to make him one of Hollywood’s most celebrated blockbuster directors. Telling the story of a young mother (Goldie Hawn), who breaks her husband out of prison and forces a convoy of police officers to drive her to the foster family that took her baby, Spielberg’s first theatrical film overflows with heart, humor, and immaculately crafted car chase shots. Scenes of Hawn watching Looney Tunes clips through the window of an RV are filled with shades of “The Fabelmans,” while larger roadside scenes balance spectacle with emotional depth to make unforgettable movie magic. The film still holds up after half a century (a brand new 35mm print was recently screened in Los Angeles), and serves as a reminder that Spielberg’s career was filled with plenty of excitement before “Jaws” changed the industry forever.

“Pig” (Streaming May 26)

Michael Sarnoski’s feature directorial debut was perfectly timed to land in the center of the reappraisal of Nicolas Cage’s madcap post-2000 indie film career. It’s the kind of movie that might have fallen through the cracks when the actor was still a punchline, but fans and critics alike fortunately recognized it as both one of Cage’s best performances and a promising directorial debut. Cage plays a lonely truffle hunter who goes on a quest to find his lost foraging pig, but the film has far more to say about the impossible nature of grief than any kind of mushroom.

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MBARUSHIMANA Elia MBARUSHIMANA Elia joined journalism as a volunteer in 2018. Currently an Entertainment Journalist & News Reporter. I worked for NEWSWITHIN, MAXIMED TV, and Ukwelitimes.com as well as imirasiretv.com & bigezwehotv.com | Contact Me: +250781087999 or mbarushimanaelia50@gmail.com