Next month looks to be good on Netflix, especially for those curious about what The Duffer Brothers’ next project is. Although they are not helming the work, what’s offered in these five genre picks for May looks solid.
Whether you’re in the mood for a Thai action film with some serious John Wick energy, a slow-burn supernatural series from the team behind Stranger Things, or an anime adaptation manga readers have been waiting years to see, there’s real variety here. We’ve rounded up five picks worth circling on your calendar.
My Dearest Assassin
(Film) | Streaming May 7
Thailand has been quietly building a reputation for punchy, emotionally grounded genre cinema, and this Netflix Original leans right into that. Lhan was born with a rare blood type that made her a target from childhood. After her parents are murdered, she’s taken in by House 89, a secretive assassin clan that becomes her found family. Years later, the man who killed her parents returns, and this time she’s not running.
The film blends close-quarters action choreography with a genuine romance between Lhan and Pran, the heir to House 89. Director Taweewat Wantha (Death Whisperer) brings a horror filmmaker’s instinct for tension to the fight sequences. One-time film drop, no waiting.
Swapped
(Film) | Streaming May 1
When a tiny woodland creature and a majestic bird suddenly find themselves in each other’s bodies, they have to team up to survive. Whether viewers are reminded of PIXAR’s Hoppers depends. This body-swap comedy comes from Skybound (Luck, Spellbound), though it’s unclear if there’s any larger connective thread between projects. How original this tale feels will likely come down to who the intended audience is.
The WONDERfools
(Limited Series) | Streaming May 15
Set in South Korea at the tail end of 1999, this K-drama takes a nostalgic, comedic swing at the superhero genre. A group of awkward neighbourhood residents unexpectedly develop powers like telekinesis and teleportation just as Y2K panic sets in. No, they are no K-pop group and with luck, maybe this upcoming export will reshape what comedies look like when made abroad.
Instead of a sleek origin story, you get would-be heroes who don’t quite have it together, trying to protect their community anyway. All episodes drop at once, so it’s an easy weekend binge if the tone lands.
Akane-Banashi
(Season 1, Anime) | Streaming May 17 (Weekly)
One of the more anticipated Shonen Jump adaptations in a while, and a genuinely unusual premise for the format. Akane grew up watching her father perform rakugo, the traditional Japanese art of solo comedic storytelling, and dreamed of following in his footsteps. When he was disgraced and expelled from the prestigious Arakawa School, she began training in secret with his former master.
Now she’s ready to aim for the rank of shin’uchi and clear her father’s name. It carries the drive of a classic battle shonen, just with storytelling competitions instead of fights. Two episodes launch on May 17, then it goes weekly, wrapping May 27.
The Boroughs
(Season 1) | Streaming May 21 (Full Season Drop)
Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) create this strange sci-fi series. How much influence The Duffer Brothers have is still a bit of a question, and it raises who’s really steering the ship.
Set in a picturesque New Mexico retirement community, a group of residents faces an otherworldly threat that is literally stealing their time. The cast alone makes it worth a look, with Geena Davis, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Bill Pullman, and Clarke Peters. All eight episodes drop on May 21.
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