It’s time for a look at the Netflix Originals due to hit the service globally (unless stated otherwise) throughout May 2021. It’s going to be a busy month with blockbuster movies and the start of Netflix’s big superhero universe.
Missed our previous Netflix Original roundups? You can find all the Netflix Originals due out for April 2021 and March 2021. If you want to see what else is set to hit this year, check out our huge 2021 TV and movie previews.
This is an ongoing preview meaning we’ll be updating this on a weekly basis up until mid-April when we’ll give it one final update with the official unveiling of the new titles that lie ahead.
English Netflix Originals Coming in May 2021
Selena: The Series
Coming to Netflix: May 4th
Netflix will be wrapping up its biopic series on the world-famous Selena Quintanilla in mid-May. Although the series has attracted its fair share of criticisms often drawing comparisons to previous biopics, it still scored big when the first part dropped in early December 2020.
Was originally scheduled to on May 14th but moved up.
Trash Truck (Season 2)
Coming to Netflix: May 4th
One for the kiddies. More animated adventures from Hank and his best buddy, the giant trash truck.
The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness
Coming to Netflix: May 5th
Limited series covering the events of the hunt for the “Son of Sam” that rocked the news agenda in the late 70s and was led by reporter Maury Terry.
Four episodes will drop in total and is directed by Joshua Zeman who is known for Cropsey, The Killing Season and Killer Legends.
Jupiter’s Legacy
Coming to Netflix: May 7th
At long last, Netflix will be releasing its first title within the Millarworld license that Netflix bought in 2017.
Here’s how Netflix is describing the series:
“Based on the graphic novels by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, Jupiter’s Legacy is an epic superhero drama that spans decades and navigates the complex dynamics of family, power, and loyalty.”
We’ve got a lot more on Jupiter’s Legacy in our big preview for the first season including all the cast members and who they’ll be playing, production timeline, episode titles, and more!
Monster (2018)
Coming to Netflix: May 7th
Having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival three years ago, Monster is one of two movies that will finally see the light of day in May.
The feature previously known as All Rise adapts the novel by Walter Dean Myers by telling the story of a 17-year-old honor student who is suddenly charged with felony murder.
Money, Explained (Season 1)
Coming to Netflix: May 11th
After tackling the mind, sex, and the coronavirus, Vox returns with another Explained documentary series. This time, they’re taking a deep dive on the world of finance, explaining everything you didn’t already know (or you thought you knew) about money.
The Upshaws
Coming to Netflix: May 12th
Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes headline this new sitcom about a working-class family in Indianapolis.
Castlevania (Season 4)
Coming to Netflix: May 13th
Castlevania returns for (most likely) its final season. Check out our full preview of what to expect from season 4 of Castlevania.
Haunted (Season 3)
Coming to Netflix: May 14th
Netflix’s chilling true-horror series returns for a spooky third season. People who claim to have experienced supernatural events, such as ghosts, poltergeists, and monsters, tell what happened to them in their own words.
I Am All Girls (2021)
Coming to Netflix: May 14th
This dark and twisty thriller from South Africa sees a police investigator form an unlikely bond with a serial killer to bring down a global child sex trafficking syndicate.
Jungle Beat: The Movie (2021)
Coming to Netflix: May 14th
Feature-length follow-up to the popular animated kids series, Jungle Beat. The animals are surprised to wake up and find that they can all speak, but they are even more surprised to discover an alien in the jungle.
Love, Death, & Robots (Season 2)
Coming to Netflix: May 14th
Get ready for another batch of creative, animated shorts. Just like season 1, each standalone episode is the work of a different director and tells a different short sci-fi story. A third season has also been confirmed for 2022.
The Woman in the Window
Coming to Netflix: May 14th
Amy Adams features in this feature film that was originally due to be released in theaters by Fox in May 2020 however was let go to Netflix for an early Summer release.
The movie follows a woman living alone in New York City who witnesses some disturbing violence.
Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie, Fred Hechinger, Wyatt Russell and Brian Tyree Henry also star.
Special (Season 2)
Netflix Release Date: May 20th
Special will be returning for a second and final season. The disability-focused LGBTQ comedy was well-received and is returning for 8 final expanded episodes.
Army of the Dead
Coming to Netflix: May 21st
Zack Snyder is having one heck of a year in 2021 with the release of the Snydercut of Justice League on HBO Max and the arrival of Army of the Dead on Netflix in late May to kick off Netflix’s run of summer blockbusters.
The zombie heist movie is about a group of mercenaries that are looking to perform a heist during the apocalypse in Las Vegas.
The movie has a budget reportedly between 70 and 90 million.
Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera, Omari Hardwick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tig Notaro and Matthias Schweighöfer are among the cast.
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (Season 3)
Coming to Netflix: May 21st
The next installment in the animated series based on Universal’s Jurassic Park/World franchise.
Lucifer (Season 5B)
Coming to Netflix: May 28th
We’ve finally got our date with the devil who will be returning a year later after the first half of season 5 dropped. The next set of episodes were originally supposed to be the last but the show was given a surprise sixth season renewal.
The Kominsky Method (Season 3)
Coming to Netflix: May 28th
Chuck Lorre’s hidden gem series The Kominsky Method will be wrapping up for the final time in late May 2021 with Michael Douglas returning but sadly Alan Arkin will not be participating.
High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (2021)
Coming to Netflix: May 26th
Documentary on African American cuisine. Part travelogue, part cookery show, High on the Hog is sure to make you feel hungry just watching it.
Nail Bomber: Manhunt (2021)
Coming to Netflix: May 27th
Follow up to the Original documentary Manhunt: Unabomber, this new true-crime piece explores the far-right extremist who killed three people and injured over 140. David Copeland detonated three nail bombs in London’s East End in 1999, targetting the local Black, gay, and Bangladeshi communities.
Blue Miracle (2021)
Coming to Netflix: May 27th
The moving true story of Casa Hogar, the Mexican boys’ home that entered the world’s biggest fishing tournament to save their orphanage.
Dog Gone Trouble (2020)
Coming to Netflix: May 28th
Another animated family-friendly movie. Spoilt pooch, Trouble, is faced with some big life changes. Previously released as Trouble.
Halston (Limited Series)
Coming to Netflix: May TBC
One of the most hotly-anticipated Originals landing in May is Ryan Murphy’s latest biopic, Halston. The series explores the life of iconic fashion designer, Roy Halston Frowick, known simply as ‘Halston’. Although he started life as a small-town milliner, Halston’s designs ended up in Vogue, on the catwalk, and even on Jackie Kennedy.
Ewan McGregor stars as the hard-living designer, who mixed with stars and starlets such as Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Master of None (Season 3)
Coming to Netflix: May TBC
After a bit of hiatus, Aziz Ansari is back with his semi-autobiographical comedy series.
Season 2 closed on a dramatic note, with Dev and Francesca on the verge of calling off their engagement. We expect season 3 will quickly explain whether the couple has survived, and see Dev explore a new chapter in his life on a new continent. You can read our full preview of Master of None season 3 here.
Non-English Netflix Originals Coming in May 2021
Lava Ka Dhaava (Season 1)
Language: Hindi
Coming to Netflix: May 5th
Want more Floor is Lava hilarity? Check out this Indian spin-off series, hosted by actor Jaaved Jaafferi.
And Tomorrow the Entire World (2020)
Language: German
Coming to Netflix: May 6th
A political thriller that tests how far one person is willing to go for what she believes in after becoming involved in increasingly violent ordeals.
Received glowing reviews from critics when it released in Germany at the start of March 2021.
Milestone (2020)
Language: Hindi
Coming to Netflix: May 7th
Originating out of India comes this hour and a half long drama about a trucker facing the prospect of losing his job after already losing the love of his life in recent weeks.
Directed by Ivan Ayr and stars Lakshvir Saran and Suvinder Vicky.
Also known as Meel patthar.
Girl From Nowhere (Season 2)
Language: Thai
Coming to Netflix: May 7th
The mysterious Nanno returns for a second season of Girl From Nowhere. After trasferring schools in season 1, will she settle down, or will she continue to uncover the truth and bust mysteries wherever she goes?
Super Me
Language: Mandarin
Coming to Netflix: May 9th
Regions Excluded: Netflix India
In this rags to riches tale from China, you follow a struggling writer who develops insomnia after becoming plagued by nightmares when eventually he develops a superpower to turn dreams into reality.
The movie premiered in cinemas in China on April 9th.
Oxygen
Language: French
Coming to Netflix: May 12th
Looking for your next sci-fi import? Oxygen fits the bill with plenty of involvement from the US too.
Here’s what you can expect from the new feature:
“A woman suffering from severe memory loss wakes up inside of a cryogenic chamber. Trapped inside and rapidly losing oxygen, the key to her survival is remembering who she is.”
Dance of the 41 (2020)
Language: Spanish
Coming to Netflix: May 12th
This LGBT+ arthouse movie takes a look at one of the lesser-known parts of Mexican history. In 1901, police raided the home of a Mexico City aristocrat, where an elaborate ball was taking place. Inside, they found a group of male revellers, some of whom were dressed in femal clothing. At the time, this scandal rocked Mexican society, despite the government’s best efforts to keep it hushed up.
Ferry
Language: Dutch
Coming to Netflix: May 14th
A film spin-off to the Belgian series Undercover which has run for two seasons between 2019 and 2020.
Move to Heaven (Season 1)
Language: Korean
Coming to Netflix: May 14th
We predict this new K-Drama will be a big hit. A young man with Aspergers Syndrome goes into business as trauma cleaner with his uncle, following the death of his father. Together, they uncover the stories of the scene left behind.
Sardar Ka Grandson (2021)
Language: Hindi
Coming to Netflix: May 18th
This Hindi rom-com follows a dedicated grandson, on a mission to make his grandma happy.
Who Killed Sara?
Language: Spanish
Coming to Netflix: May 19th
This Mexican-based series has dominated the top 10s since its release in March 2021 and will be coming back for a second season just a couple of months late in mid-May.
If you haven’t checked out the show just yet, here’s what you can expect:
Discovering the truth behind the death of Sara, his sister, will lead Alex Guzmán to discover the darkest secrets of the Lazcano family.
The Neighbor (Season 2)
Language: Spanish
Coming to Netflix: May 21st
Unlikely superhero, Javier, relies on the support of his neighbor to help him manage his newfound abilities.
The Divine Ponytail
Language: Italian
Coming to Netflix: May 26th
As part of a five-picture deal with Mediaset, this biopic on legendary soccer player Roberto Baggio sets to recount the athlete’s life on and off the pitch.
EDEN
Language: Japanese
Coming to Netflix: May 27th
This new anime series comes from director Yasuhiro Irie (Fullmetal Alchemist), and concept designer Toshihiro Kawamoto (Cowboy Bebop) and has been in development for a number of years and has been long teased.
EDEN is set 1000s of years into the future where only robots exist but all of a sudden, their world is disrupted with the arrival of a young human girl entering the city.
Blackspace (Season 1)
Language: Hebrew
Coming to Netflix: May 27th
Netflix acquired the rights to this eight-part thriller, first shown on Israeli television. A school shooting conducted by mysterious masked figures leaves four students dead. Investigators believe the key to solving the case is Blackspace: a new app that the students use to communicate anonymously. The show proved popular when it aired and has already been greenlit for a second season.
Soy Rada: Serendipity (2021)
Language: Spanish
Coming to Netflix: May 27th
Argentinian comedian, Agustín Aristarán (aka Soy Rada), is back for a comedy special. In the spotlight are topics such as magic, music, and family.
Racket Boys (Season 1)
Language: Korean
Coming to Netflix: May TBC
This new K-Drama follows a group of high-schoolers who are members of a failing badminton club. Fortunately, a new, ex-professional coach (played by Oh Na-ra), believes she can turn their fortunes around.
What are you looking forward to catching on Netflix in May 2021? Let us know in the comments down below.
