15 Movies To See In May: ‘Happening,’ ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ ‘Men’ & More

“Firestarter”
Yet another Stephen King adaptation is getting the remake treatment with “Firestarter,” a reboot of the 1984 film that was based on King’s novel of the same name. Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, and Sydney Lemmon star with Keith Thomas (“The Vigil”) directing and a screenplay from Scott Teems (“Halloween Kills.”) “Firestarter” follows a father who must protect his daughter from a secret government agency hunting her due to her developing pyrokinesis.
Release Date: May 13 in theaters and via streaming through Peacock via Universal Pictures.

“The Innocents”
Filmmaker Eskil Vogt is likely best known for his work with Joachim Trier, having written the scripts for “Oslo, August 31st,” “The Worst Person in the World,” and more. In “The Innocents,” which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, he directs the story which follows a group of children in the bright days of a Nordic summer, who reveal their mysterious powers while the adults aren’t looking. Our critic who saw the film commended the world-building, writing  “…Vogt constructs an elaborate visual playground that befits the story, one of both urban living spaces and an almost magical forest, both of which the children inhabit with equal wonder.”
Release Date: May 13 in theaters via IFC Midnight.

“Montana Story”
Haley Lu Richardson is one of the most interesting actresses working today and she is given ample room to shine in the familial Western “Montana Story,” which explores the trauma shared between brother and sister as their father inches closer to death. Owen Teague stars as her estranged brother as they come together to deal with their father’s ailing health. Written and directed by Scott McGhee and David Siegel, our critic shined a light on Richardson, writing “It’s a subtle and poignant performance that makes you eager for Richardson to have an even bigger spotlight in her endeavor.”
Release Date: May 13 in theaters via Bleecker Street.

“Monstrous“
The suburbs, an abusive husband, and then supernatural horrors on top of that. A terrifying new horror awaits Laura (Christina Ricci) and her seven-year-old son Cody when they flee her abusive ex-husband and try to settle into a new life in an idyllic and remote lakeside farmhouse. Still traumatized, their physical and mental well-being are pushed to the limit as their fragile existence is threatened. Directed by Chris Sivertson.
Release Date: May 13, via Screen Media Films.

“Emergency”
Premiering at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, “Emergency,” directed by Carey Williams (“R#J”) is based on his own 2018 short film. Written by KD Dávila, the film follows three college students who must grapple with whether or not they should call the police after finding an unconscious woman in their apartment, worried they’ll be suspected of the wrongdoing. Our critic praised the central relationship, writing “…it’s the unbreakable friendship between Kunle and Sean, the ways their time together, good or bad in college, will mark how they see the world, and how the world sees them, forever, that makes Williams’ “Emergency” an elaborate, chaotically hilarious, intensely terrifying journey worth taking.” RJ Cyler along with newcomers Donald Elise Watkins and Sebastian Chacon star.
Release Date: May 20 in theaters followed by streaming release on May 27 via Amazon Studios.