Every Movie Releasing in Theaters in May 2026, Ranked

The big releases of April are done, with Michael creating records at the box office after its recent release. However, the month of May is a true box office showdown, and some of the major releases of the year are coming out this month. We also have a bunch of other smaller releases that could surprise you in theaters.

In this list, we have included all the wide theatrical releases of May, but sadly excluded the limited theatrical releases. A few of these movies have received critical acclaim from their festival releases. Here are the limited releases that didn’t make the cut in this ranked list.

Movies	Release Date	Production Company
American Agitators	May 1	Abramorama Films
Casa Grande	May 1	ESX Entertainment
One Spoon of Chocolate	May 1	36 Cinema Distribution / Variance Films
Swapped	May 1	Netflix / Skydance Animation
Affection	May 8	Brainstorm Media
Blue Film	May 8	Obscured Releasing
Couples Weekend	May 8	Vertical / Voltage Pictures
Influenced	May 8	Brainstorm Media / Menemsha Films
Linda Perry: Let It Die Here	May 8	KTF Films / Mercury Studios / Utopia Originals
The Neglected	May 8	Inaugural Entertainment / Latigo Films / CaliWood Pictures
Takeover	May 8	Firestorm Entertainment / Quality Control Trioscope
Magic Hour	May 15	Greenwich Entertainment / Duplass Brothers Productions
Forge	May 15	Utopia
Fucktoys	May 29	Trashtown Pictures / Atypical Day
Power Ballad	May 29	Lionsgate / 30West / Screen Ireland / Likely Story

With the limited releases out of the way, here are the wide theatrical releases of May, ranked from worst to best.

20 Animal Farm

Release Date: May 1

Animal Farm debuted at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and the reception was bad. It is the animated adaptation of George Orwell’s novella of the same name. A star-studded voice cast and Andy Serkis at the helm of the movie were two factors that should have guaranteed the movie’s success. However, many critics felt that this version diluted Orwell’s political message. Younger fans may still find this movie worth watching when it arrives in theaters on May 1.

19 Deep Water

Release Date: May 1

Deep Water comes at a time when survival movies are a bad gamble. With an over-the-top premise of an airplane landing in shark-infested waters, the movie is not likely to earn critical acclaim. But there are still audiences who might love these movies. And we have Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley leading the cast, which gives the movie some hope.

18 The Breadwinner

Release Date: May 29

Nate Bargatze has a very niche audience, who would love to see what the movie has to offer. But the premise of the movie isn’t exactly a money grabber. Bargatze plays a stay-at-home dad in The Breadwinner, who has “three kids” and “zero clue” after his wife lands a Shark Tank deal. Perhaps a wide theatrical release wasn’t the best way to go about this movie.

17 Tuner

Release Date: May 22

Leo Woodall’s Tuner has got a 92% RT score (as of April 26, 2026) after its premieres at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival and the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Woodall’s performance impressed the critics, who also loved the humor and characterizations in the movie. However, the movie could use a bit of marketing to reach a wider audience.

16 Corporate Retreat

Release Date: May 22

When a movie puts a bunch of corporate executives in an isolated environment for a retreat, things are bound to go wrong. This is exactly the premise of the movie, which stars Odeya Rush, Sasha Lane, Ashton Sanders, and Rosanna Arquette. Out of all the horror thrillers coming out in May, Corporate Retreat seems the least exciting. But we really hope the movie surprises us in theaters.

15 Pressure

Release Date: May 29

Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras’s war movie, Pressure, will be released by the end of May. Based on David Haig’s 2014 stage play of the same name, the movie stars Andrew Scott as Scottish meteorologist James Stagg and Brendan Fraser as 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is based on the real-life story of the role of Stagg in determining the date of the D-Day landing during World War II.

14 Driver’s Ed

Release Date: May 15

This teen road comedy has a very familiar premise. So, it could either impress you with its fresh approach or could go sideways entirely and bomb. With Bobby Farrelly, one of the Farrelly brothers, at the helm, we really hope that this Sam Nivola and Kumail Nanjiani-starrer clicks with the audience.

13 Is God Is

Release Date: May 15

Debutant director Aleshea Harris brings this thriller movie about two twin sisters, based on a 2018 play of the same name. When their bedridden mother wants them to kill their abusive father, the sisters are torn over the decision. The movie stars Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Janelle Monáe, Vivica A. Fox, and Sterling K. Brown.

12 Passenger

Release Date: May 22

Norwegian director André Øvredal, known for his supernatural horror movies, is back with another mind-bending thriller to scare you. What happens when your van life adventure gets turned upside down by a demonic stalker who follows you everywhere? Passenger, starring Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, and Melissa Leo, is the hellish ride that will haunt you in theaters.

11 The Sheep Detectives

Release Date: May 8

In the new mystery comedy movie The Sheep Detectives, Hugh Jackman‘s character is a shepherd who is found dead mysteriously. His sheep then set out to solve the mystery behind his murder. During his appearance at the recent CinemaCon, Jackman shared that the movie will be funny but move you emotionally at the same time. The movie is coming to theaters on May 8, 2026.

10 In the Grey

Release Date: May 15

Guy Ritchie’s action thrillers haven’t been clicking the right way with the audience in recent years. The Covenant and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare became box office bombs, whereas Fountain of Youth was a critical disaster. He is currently reuniting with three of the stars of these three movies. Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza González play an elite team of agents who are tasked with stealing back billions from a ruthless tyrant.

The promotional materials from the movie promise Ritchie’s signature style of action filmmaking. With Cavill and Gyllenhaal in the leads, fans are already excited despite the reputation of the director’s past films. Ritchie hopes to break the box office curse with this star-studded movie.

9 Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour

Release Date: May 8

James Cameron‘s Hit Me Hard and Soft is Billie Eilish‘s concert movie, shot during her recent tour promoting her third album. The Cameron x Eilish collaboration had all eyes turn towards this project. The Oscar-winning director recently shared at CinemaCon that he produced the movie with a technology that hadn’t been used before. It aligns with the movie’s big promise: a unique 3D experience for fans.

This is not Eilish’s first stint with a concert movie. In 2023, her Live at the O2 concert movie had a limited release in theaters, grossing $1.29 million at the domestic box office. Moreover, Paramount has earlier produced Justin Bieber’s 2011 concert movie, Never Say Never 3D, which made close to $100 million at the box office.

8 Hokum

Release Date: May 1

Severance‘s Adam Scott leads this Neon horror drama, which is set to come out on May 1. It received critical praise after its debut at the 2026 SXSW Festival. He plays Ohm Bauman, who is tortured by a witch who haunts his rented accommodation in a remote part of Ireland.

With its unique Irish horror setting, the movie almost immediately appeals to all horror movie lovers. Scott plays a completely different character from his usual roles: far more serious than his Park & Rec role and much more complex than his AppleTV sci-fi show.

7 Obsession 

Release Date: May 15

A critical darling at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, Curry Baker’s horror movie Obsession is now ready to scare audiences on the big screen this May. Michael Johnston’s Bear buys a supernatural toy and wishes for his childhood friend Nikki to fall in love with him. However, his desire for Nikki’s love comes at a deadly cost.

Baker, Johnston, and Inde Navarrette (who plays Nikki) are all lesser-known names to fans, but they have brilliantly executed the film’s uniquely gripping horror plot. After its film festival release, the movie received a critical score of 96% on RT from 50 reviews (as of April 26, 2026).

6 Backrooms

Release Date: May 29

Backrooms is the film adaptation of YouTuber Kane Parson’s web series of the same name, which was based on the “Backrooms” creepypasta. Both in the creepypasta and Parson’s web series, the backrooms are portrayed as an out-of-reality extradimensional expanse of empty rooms. The 20-year-old’s work impressed many, with a film adaptation being announced in 2023.

A24, James Wan’s Atomic Monster, Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment, and Chernin Entertainment are co-producing this horror film. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve are the leads in the movie. The young blood behind the scenes, the big horror movie names involved, and the very unsettling nature of this internet folklore make this movie one of the anticipated horror movies of May 2026.

5 I Love Boosters

Release Date: May 22

Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, and Poppy Liu form the heist team in this crime comedy movie. Their target: the cutthroat fashion mogul, played by Demi Moore. Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, and Don Cheadle round out the talented bunch of cast. The movie debuted at the 2026 SXSW Festival in March and earned some great critical reviews. As of April 26, 2026, the critical score of the movie on RT stands at 97% from 32 reviews.

It isn’t surprising, as the movie is helmed by rapper and filmmaker, Boots Riley. His directorial debut in 2018, Sorry to Bother You, garnered $18 million against a $3 million budget and earned praise from critics. He is also the creator of Prime Video’s critically acclaimed miniseries, I’m a Virgo. Riley’s signature style gives us a lot to look forward to in this new movie.

4 That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea

Release Date: May 1

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime franchise’s second movie dropped in Japanese theaters back in February. Crunchyroll is taking the movie international, with a U.S. release date set on May 1, 2026. Tears of the Azure Sea will be made available in U.S. theaters in two options: Japanese version with English subtitles and English-dubbed version. The movie takes place between the events of Seasons 3 and 4.

The movie explores a side quest for Rimiru and his friends, after they get invited to a private resort a month after the Tempest Founder’s Festival. Rimiru meets Yura, a priestess from the undersea nation Kaien, who asks for his help. Rimiru and his friends embark on a deep-sea adventure, as fans get ready to celebrate their favorite anime characters on the big screen for a second time.

3 Mortal Kombat II

Release Date: May 8

Mortal Kombat II, the sequel to the 2021 reboot, is set to be released on May 8, 2026. The new film will feature Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, alongside returning cast members Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, and Lewis Tan. Many fans of the game and the movie franchise were skeptical about Urban playing the role of Cage.

However, the actor has delivered a surprisingly strong performance in all the promotional material that we have seen so far. He not only captures the charisma and the cool catchphrases like “It’s showtime!”, but also replicates his fighting style and kicks straight from the games. He even brings a bit of Billy Butcher in the recent CinemaCon teaser, when he called his opponent a “giant f**king pu**y.”

2 The Mandalorian and Grogu

Release Date: May 22

The Mandalorian and Grogu has secured a Memorial Day release on May 22, 2026. Lucasfilm’s sequel to Disney+’s The Mandalorian is the first Star Wars movie to hit the theaters since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. The success of the show and the appeal of the two titular characters give both Disney and Lucasfilm high hopes. The bounty hunter Din Djarin and Grogu (Baby Yoda) arrive in a new land for new adventures in this movie.

The duo fights multiple enemies in this action-packed movie, which stays true to the tone and setting of its prequel series. New footage from CinemaCon revealed Djarin using his skills to fend off stormtroopers and chase the warlords. Sigourney Weaver’s Colonel Ward was also featured in this clip. There’s a lot to expect from this movie, even though some fans are skeptical due to the Star Wars brand’s recent reputation.

1 The Devil Wears Prada 2

Release Date: May 1

The Devil Wears Prada 2 arrives in theaters to add some glamor to the screen in May 2026. The iconic characters, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), Andy (Anne Hathaway), Emily (Emily Blunt), and Nigel (Stanley Tucci), are coming back after 20 years. In the new sequel, Andy returns to work for Miranda. The original remains one of the sharpest workplace comedies ever made, which means people have high expectations for the sequel.

Streep and Hathaway delivered brilliant performances in the original film. The movie touched upon themes of ambition, identity, and the hidden cost of chasing success at someone else’s pace. Fans now hope the sequel will deliver an equally powerful message while recapturing the enthusiasm and snark of the original.

Here’s a summary of all the movies releasing in theaters in May.

Rank	New Movies	Release Date
1	The Devil Wears Prada 2	May 1
2	The Mandalorian & Grogu	May 22
3	Mortal Kombat II	May 8
4	That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea	May 1
5	I Love Boosters	May 22
6	Backrooms	May 29
7	Obsession	May 15
8	Hokum	May 1
9	Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour	May 8
10	In the Grey	May 15
11	The Sheep Detectives	May 8
12	Passenger	May 22
13	Is God Is	May 15
14	Driver’s Ed	May 15
15	Pressure	May 29
16	Corporate Retreat	May 22
17	Tuner	May 22
18	The Breadwinner	May 29
19	Deep Water	May 1
20	Animal Farm	May 1

Still have questions? Here are the answers to a few of them.

What do you think of the theatrical release slate of May? Let us know in the comments below!