Netflix’s May 2026 calendar is packed with a mix of gritty new thrillers, returning fan favorites, and offbeat comedies.
The month kicks off with a new take on a literary classic before diving into secret undercover operations, desert mysteries, and the animalistic side of romance. From the high-stakes survival of schoolboys in a tropical wilderness to the supernatural mysteries lurking in a sun-drenched retirement community, the upcoming slate offers a bit of everything.
Whether you’re looking for a tense undercover thriller, a raunchy animated comedy about animal instincts, or a heartfelt look at long-term friendships, these are the English language drama and comedy highlights hitting the platform this month.
Lord of the Flies (May 4)
Lord of the Flies is the story of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island with no adults, following a deadly plane crash. In an attempt to remain civil they organise themselves, led by Ralph and supported by the group’s intellectual, Piggy. But when Jack becomes more interested in hunting and vying for leadership, he soon begins to draw other boys away from the group and, ultimately, from hope to tragedy. This BBC thriller lands on Netflix in May 4, 2026.
Legends (May 7)
In the early 1990s, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise was losing its battle with illegal drug smuggling across Britain’s borders. The solution was extraordinary. In a top-secret operation, a small team of Customs employees were sent undercover. Their task – to infiltrate Britain’s most dangerous drug gangs.
But these were not trained spies. They were normal men and women, plucked from ordinary lives around the UK, put through a basic training regime and tasked with building new identities in the criminal underworld. These identities were called Legends.
Starring Tom Burke, Steve Coogan, Hayley Squires, Tom Hughes, Aml Ameen, Jasmine Blackborow, Douglas Hodge, Johnny Harris, Gerald Kyd, Numan Acar, Charlotte Ritchie,
Joshua Samuels, Kem Hassan and Thomas Coombes.
The Boroughs (May 21)
In the sun-drenched expanse of the New Mexico desert lies The Boroughs, a picturesque retirement community promising its residents the time of their lives. But for new arrival Sam Cooper, paradise feels more like a prison.
Everything changes when a terrifying nighttime encounter reveals that something monstrous is stalking the manicured cul-de-sacs. Dismissed by the powers that be as just another confused old man, Sam finds unlikely allies in a band of neighborhood misfits: a sharp-witted former journalist, a spiritual seeker, a cynical music manager, and a brilliant doctor running out of options.
Overlooked and underestimated, these unlikely heroes must band together to unravel the dark truth at the heart of The Boroughs before their time runs out.
The series stars Alfred Molina as Sam, Geena Davis as Renee, Alfre Woodard as Judy, Denis O’Hare as Wally, Clarke Peters as Art, and Bill Pullman as Jack.
Mating Season (May 22)
From the creators of BIG MOUTH comes MATING SEASON, an adult animated romantic comedy – set in the animal world – about love, sex, relationships, and the universal need to find a partner and perpetuate the species – starring bears, raccoons, deer, foxes and a host of other horny, lovable forest critters.
The series stars Zach Woods as Josh, Sabrina Jalees as Penelope, Nick Kroll as Ray, and June Diane Raphael as Fawn.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 2 (May 27)
After solving the Andie Bell case, Pip (Emma Myers) is determined to fix the fallout – and stay away from any more investigations. But as Max Hastings’ (Henry Ashton) trial approaches, Connor’s (Jude Morgan-Collie) brother Jamie (Eden H Davies) suddenly disappears, and Pip finds herself in a race against time to find him.
The Four Seasons Season 2 (May 28)
Six old friends head for a relaxing weekend away only to learn that one couple in the group is about to split up. The three couples, Kate (Tina Fey) and Jack (Will Forte), Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), and Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani), are completely upended by the news.
Over the course of a year, we follow the friends on four vacations, and watch how this shake-up affects everyone’s dynamic — sending old issues and new bubbling to the surface. Co-created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield, The Four Seasons is a hilarious and heartfelt love letter to long marriages and old friendships.
Based on the 1981 feature film of the same name.
