Best On Netflix

The 13 Best Movies & Shows Coming to Netflix: May 2019

By Claire Spellberg @c_spellberg

Published May 2, 2019, 8:30 a.m. ET

Collage of Knock Down the House Moonlight Snowpiercer — Ranked by their Rotten Tomatoes Critic Scores!Photos: Everett Collection, NETFLIX; Illustration: Dillen Phelps

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Knock Down the House — ***Knock Down the House***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
What's been colloquially described as "Netflix's AOC documentary" is actually much, much more. A Sundance Film Festival darling, *Knock Down the House* follows four progressive female candidates, one of whom is Ocasio-Cortez, as they battle heavily-favored incumbents in the 2018 midterm elections. Of the four women profiled, only AOC went on to win her election, but regardless of the results, each has a powerful story to tell about the major shift coming to American politics.
[Stream Knock Down the House on Netflix]Photo: Netflix

Bathtubs Over Broadway documentary — ***Bathtubs Over Broadway***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Another award-winning doc, *Bathtubs Over Broadway* follows comedy writer Steve Young as he stumbles upon the strange world of industrial musicals -- Broadway-style shows made by and for employees of major corporations. Young embarks on a journey to learn everything he can about these productions, a task that leads him into the forgotten corners of vinyl stores and helps him forge unlikely friendships. With appearances from David Letterman, Martin Short, Florence Henderson, and more, *Bathtubs Over Broadway* is a feel-good doc you won't want to miss.
[Stream Bathtubs Over Broadway on Netflix May 9]Photo: Everett Collection

Ricki Lake in Hairspray (1988) — *Hairspray* (1988)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Before there was Nikki Blonsky, there was Ricki Lake. Set in 1960s Baltimore, John Water's *Hairspray* tells the story of Tracy Turnblad (Lake), a "pleasantly plump" teenager who dreams of becoming a dancer on a local TV station. Once she lands the role, Tracy learns that the program is rife with racism, and she begins using her newfound fame to fight for racial integration. While *Hairspray* didn't clean up at the box office, it has since become a cult classic that fans of the 2007 remake are sure to enjoy.
[Stream Hairspray on Netflix]Photo: Everett Collection

Mahershala Ali in Moonlight — ***Moonlight***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
If you've been waiting for Barry Jenkins' Oscar-winning drama to hit Netflix, you're in luck: *Moonlight*'s exclusive Amazon window ends this month. The 2016 Best Picture winner follows young man Chiron in three stages of his life: as a child (Alex Hibbert), as a teenager (Ashton Sanders), and as an adult (Trevante Rhodes). At each stage, Chiron grapples with his self-identity and sexuality, as well as what it means to be a black man growing up in America.
[Stream Moonlight on Netflix May 21]Photo: Everett Collection

Angelica Ross in Pose Season 1 — *Pose*: Season 1
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
Decider's fifteenth best show of 2018 is finally making its Netflix debut. Ryan Murphy's latest FX drama is set in 1980s New York in the LGBT world of African-American and Latino drag culture. The show's ensemble cast (a group that included Mj Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, and Angelica Ross, among others) helps shine an important light on an often-underrepresented era of queer history -- and one that is certainly not represented on cable. *Pose* will return to FX on June 11, so be sure to catch up on this glitter-filled drama before the Season 2 premiere.
[Stream Pose: Season 1 on Netflix May 10]Photo: Everett Collection

Chris Evans in Snowpiercer — ***Snowpiercer***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Is there anything Chris Evans can't do? In *Snowpiercer*, Bong Joon-ho's 2013 sci-fi action flick, Evans stars as Curtis Everett, a lower-class passenger aboard the Snowpiercer train. For over 15 years, the Snowpiercer has carried the last humans alive on Earth after an attempt to counteract global warming went awry, and now, in 2031, its passengers are starting to get restless. Tired of living in brutal conditions, Curtis leads a revolt against the elite at the front of the train -- a challenge that soon proves deadly. Will Curtis free his fellow lower-class passengers, or will the entire train meet their demise? Watch *Snowpiercer* to find out.
[Stream Snowpiercer on Netflix]Photo: Everett Collection

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf — ***Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Another Oscar-winning flick, *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton as Martha and George, a middle-aged couple with serious issues. When they invite another couple, Nick and Honey, over for a drink, chaos ensues as Martha and George begin hurling insults and verbally abusing each other. Mike Nichols' dramedy went on to be nominated for 13 Academy Awards (it won five, including Best Actress for Taylor), so if you're in the mood for some quality classic fare, look no further than this thought-provoking flick.
[Stream Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Netflix]Photo: Everett Collection

Grant Gustin in The Flash Season 5 — *The Flash*: Season 5
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Like its fellow CW counterparts, *The Flash* hits Netflix eight days after wrapping its fifth season. The *Arrow* spin-off centers on Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), a crime scene investigator who uses his super-human speed to fight crime. In Season 5, Barry's daughter from the future, Nora, inadvertently unleashes a serial killer named Cicada who is obsessed with killing metahumans (essentially superheroes). If you're a fan of *The Flash*, don't miss the drama's critically-acclaimed fifth season when it hits Netflix on May 22. If not, now's the perfect time to catch up before Season 6 debuts in the fall.
[Stream The Flash: Season 5 on Netflix May 22]Photo: Everett Collection

Jake Johnson in Easy Season 3 — *Easy*: Season 3
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Joe Swanberg's anthology returns to Netflix this month for its third and final season. In *Easy* Season 3, fan-favorite characters return for one last attempt at diagnosing their relationship woes. Elizabeth Reaser, Zazie Beetz, Marc Maron, Dave Franco, and more are back as part of the stacked ensemble cast, so be sure to binge-watch your way through the anthology comedy when it premieres May 10.
[Stream Easy: Season 3 on Netflix May 10]Photo: Netflix

Nailed It! Season 2 contestant baking — *Nailed It!*: Season 3
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
Are you ready for more fabulous baking fails? Baking competition *Nailed It!* returns to Netflix this month with a new batch of episodes. In Season 3, expect to see a Marvel episode, a Michelangelo challenge, and edible fashion moments, as well as guests appearances from actress Felicia Day, YouTube baking sensation Rosanna Pansino, and more.
[Stream Nailed It!: Season 3 on Netflix May 17]Photo: Netflix

Sarah Wayne Callies in Colony Season 1 — *Colony*: Season 3
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Have you already binge-watched your way through Netflix's sci-fi Originals? Next, check out *Colony*, USA Networks' drama series set in a dystopian, near-future Los Angeles that has been taken over by alien forces. Amid the chaos, FBI special agent Will Bowman (Josh Holloway) and his wife Katie (Sarah Wayne Callies) attempt to locate their son, who was separated from them the day that the extraterrestrial forces first arrived. *Colony* was canceled after its third season on USA, but now that it's on Netflix, viewers who missed out will get to enjoy the entire series in one addicting chunk.
[Stream Colony: Season 3 on Netflix May 2]Photo: Everett Collection

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan in Outlander Season 2 — *Outlander*: Seasons 1 and 2
Season 1 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
Season 2 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
Time traveling sex fans, rejoice! On May 27, the first two seasons of Starz drama *Outlander* will be available to stream on Netflix in all their sexy glory. Watching Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan get it on in various time periods is sure to satisfy any viewer, but be forewarned: the drama is so good that it may convince you to purchase a Starz subscription to finish watching Seasons 3 and 4.
[Stream Outlander: Seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix May 27]Photo: Everett Collection

Jesse Eisenberg in Zombieland — ***Zombieland***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
Young Emma Stone! Mad cow disease! Road trips! *Zombieland* has it all. This 2009 zombie comedy follows a college kid nicknamed Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) as he travels home through a zombie apocalypse to see if his parents are still alive. Along the way, Columbus meets three other survivors, Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), and the group decides to head out for a supposedly zombie-free amusement park near Los Angeles. What follows is a hilarious and bizarre take on the zombie comedy genre with a surprisingly sweet ending. Stream it now before the sequel, *Zombieland: Double Tap*, premieres in October 2019.
[Stream Zombieland on Netflix]Photo: Everett Collection

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Get ready for a Netflix overload. In May, Netflix is releasing over 50 Original shows and movies, as well as a stacked slate of critically-acclaimed films, addicting series, and riveting docs. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed staring up at this mountain of great content, you’re in luck. We’ve searched through all of Netflix’s May offerings and found the top-rated titles hitting the platform this month.

No matter your streaming needs, Netflix’s May offerings will not disappoint. In the mood for some award-winning fare? 2016 Best Picture winner Moonlight and Elizabeth Taylor’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? will both be available to stream on Netflix this month. If you’re looking to get educated, don’t miss Knock Down the House, a documentary about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and three other progressive female candidates who battled heavily-favored incumbents in the 2018 midterm elections. After that, do a complete 180 by queuing up Snowpiercer, a sci-fi action flick supremely worthy of Chris Evans’ talents.

Netflix has got you covered on the TV front, as well. The first season of Ryan Murphy’s Pose will be hitting the platform ahead of its Season 2 premiere, and you know what that means: now is the perfect time to catch up. Feeling something a bit lighter? Check out baking competition series Nailed It! or anthology series Easy, both Netflix Originals. With all these great series to choose from, you should have no problem binge-watching your way through May.

What else is hitting Netflix this month? Here are the 13 highest-rated movies and shows coming to Netflix this May, ranked by their Rotten Tomatoes Critic Scores.