“I Love Boosters”
Director Boots Riley returns for his first film since his critically acclaimed 2018 debut, “Sorry to Bother You.” Written and directed by Riley, the film takes place in a surreal version of the San Francisco Bay Area. It follows a group of shoplifters, “boosters,” who go after a high-profile fashion maven after she steals their designs. Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore star.
Release Date: In theaters May 22 via NEON.
“Tuner”
Premiering at the 2026 Sundance, the crime thriller “Tuner” stars Leo Woodall as a young man with an extraordinary gift. Directed by Daniel Roher (“Navalny”) and written by Roher and Robert Ramsey, the film follows a piano tuner who discovers he can use his skills to crack safes, throwing his life into a state of unsteady balance. Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Jean Reno, Lior Raz, and Tovah Feldshuh also star.
Release Date: In theaters May 22 via Black Bear Pictures.
“Backrooms”
Inspired by the “creepypasta” story of the same name, “Backrooms” follows a therapist as she enters an otherworldly dimension to search for her missing patient. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell star in the film directed by Kane Parsons (whose web series was based on the “Backrooms” story) and adapted by Will Soodik.
Release Date: In theaters May 29 via A24.
“Pressure”
Directed by Anthony Maras (“Hotel Mumbai”), “Pressure” is a historical drama set 72 hours before D-Day, following General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they’re forced to make an impossible choice. Andrew Scott stars as Stagg and Brendan Fraser as Eisenhower in the film written by Maras and David Haig, the latter of whom wrote the 2014 stage play on which the film is based. Kerry Condon, Chris Messina, and Damian Lewis star in supporting roles.
Release Date: In theaters May 29 via StudioCanal.
“The Breadwinner”
Stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze stars in “The Breadwinner,” which he also wrote along with Dan Lagana. Marking Bargatze’s film debut, “The Breadwinner” is directed by Eric Appel and stars Mandy Moore, Colin Jost, Zach Cherry, Martin Herlihy, Kumail Nanjiani, and Will Forte. The story follows Bargatze as he becomes a stay-at-home dad after his wife’s success on Shark Tank.
Release Date: In theaters May 29 via Sony Pictures Releasing.
Honorable Mention: May is packed with new releases. The start of the month features two animated features, the adaptation, “Animal Farm” from director Andy Serkis, and the Netflix family film, “Swapped,” an action thriller from RZA, “One Spoon of Chocolate,” the second shark disaster movie in as many months with “Deep Water,” and the documentary “Our Land.”
May 8th sees the release of the Netflix adaptation of the book of the same name, “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” with Sally Field and Lewis Pullman, along with comedy drama “Couples Weekend,” and the horror sci-fi, “Affection.” Fans can watch Billie Eilish onstage from home in “Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft – The Tour Live in 3D.”
The Martin Short documentary, “Marty, Life is Short,” hits Netflix on May 15. There’s also the feature film debut from playwright Aleshea Harris with “Is God Is,” a drama based on her own play. “Magic Hour” offers a nice romance cleanse, directed by Katie Aselton. May 15 also sees the premiere of the cyberheist film “LifeHack,” and then the art heist/forgery movie “Forge.”
Horror director André Øvredal returns with “Passenger,” out May 22, alongside body horror drama “Saccharine.” Thea Sharrock directs Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike in “Ladies First,” a loose interpretation of the French film “I Am Not An Easy Man.”Closing out the month, there’s the debut film from Annapurna Sriram, the surrealist comedy “Fucktoys.” Allison Janney and Andrew Rannells star in the latest from Jim Rash (“Fly Me to the Moon”) with the drama “Miss You, Love You.” And Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Mads Mikkelsen star in the black comedy “The Last Viking” from “Riders of Justice” director Anders Thomas Jensen.
