May 2026 is holding nothing back, releasing a total of thirty-nine movies, with a large portion of them being new IPs. When a movie is considered a new IP, it means it does not draw from other works for characters, story, setting, etc. In film, being new Intellectual Property means the idea is not a spinoff, sequel, or remake, and as audiences grow increasingly frustrated with the steady stream of revivifications and continuations, this wave of original films feels like a beacon of hope.
The sentiment surrounding the current state of film releases can be summarized by how fans have begun to describe their favorite franchises online. Marvel– once known for having a fan base willing to support them through nearly any decision– has started to show signs of “multiverse fatigue,” a phrase coined within the fandom that gained traction during Marvel’s phases four and five. This era of movies, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, marks the steady decline in the studio’s revenue. These films, along with Marvel’s subsequent projects, began to ask the audience for more and more. Suddenly, viewers did not just need to watch the most recent Ant-Man film to understand the upcoming one, but also to be caught up on Disney+’s Loki. While the phrase is closely tied to “superhero fatigue,” it still captures the growing public sentiment of sequels.
(Superhero fatigue refers to the audience’s exhaustion with the sheer quantity of superhero films, which are often criticized for feeling repetitive, formulaic, and designed primarily to sustain franchises, rather than tell compelling stories.)
Despite all of this, studios seem to have started listening to the audiences by creating more original content, and this month’s releases reflect that shift. With thirty-nine film releases this month and twenty-seven of them being original stories, it seems audiences may finally be receiving the antidote.
The Refashioned:
Animal Farm | May 1st
May first opened with the third attempt at George Orwell’s Animal Farm, this time through Andy Serkis’s animated film of the same name. The PG-rated adaptation opened to mixed reviews and currently sits at 25% on Rotten Tomatoes (53 reviews), alongside a 60% on the popcorn meter, with most audience members feeling mixed-to-slightly positive. The National Review argues that the film “flattens” Orwell’s ideas. Slate, however, acknowledges that the film, while the adaptation is not perfect, it still succeeds in “[illustrating] how easily Orwell’s novel can be bent to apply” to current politics.
Sheep Detectives | May 8th
A week later, Sheep Detectives opened in theaters. Adapted from the German novel Three Bags Full, the film follows a herd of sheep as they attempt to solve the mystery of their shepherd’s murder alongside the human investigators on the case.
The Shepherd, played by Hugh Jackman, reads detective novels to his sheep every night. When he is murdered, the sheep become convinced that they have the necessary tools to solve the mystery themselves.
Many critics note that despite its PG rating, the film captivates both adult and child audiences. While the murder mystery drives the plot, it primarily serves as a backdrop for the larger themes of mortality, grief, and what it means to be alive.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu | May 22nd
May also marks the twelfth installment of the Star Wars franchise, with The Mandalorian and Grogu. Originally a Disney+ exclusive series, the duo now moves from television to the silver screen.
The Mandalorian series began as a space western that followed the titular character as he completed bounty-hunting missions throughout the galaxy. The first season centers on the Mandalorian attempting to protect Grogu from the client who initially hired the bounty hunter to kill him. Once Grogu is safe from that initial threat, season two follows the duo as the Mandalorian searches for others of Grogu’s kind due to the danger of the man’s current lifestyle. In the season two finale, Luke Skywalker arrives to take Grogu for Jedi training, and the Mandalorian removes his helmet to say goodbye to his companion. By revealing his face, the Mandalorian breaks the strict religious code of his people. This moment sets up the plot for the third season, which follows the Mandalorian’s attempt to regain his status while also expanding the audience’s understanding of Mandalorian culture.
The film’s premise centers around another bounty as the namesake’s pair work for the New Republic. Grogu is no longer a Jedi-in-training, but a Mandalorian apprentice. The film picks up directly after the show’s third season, focusing on the duo’s relationship and their navigation of the post-Empire galaxy.
At the time of writing, the film currently has no official reviews or a critic score.
The Contemporary:
Obsession | May 15th
Blumhouse’s latest horror film follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, as he struggles with his feelings for his childhood friend Nikki, portrayed by Inde Navarrette. Bear purchases a “One Wish Willow” and wishes that Nikki would love him more than anyone else in the world. The wish is granted, but Nikki becomes increasingly clingy and obsessive. Currently sitting at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics are excited to see something fresh in the horror genre. The film strays from the conventional portrayal of women in horror, where they are often the victims of male whims. Instead, the protagonist is a frail, sensitive man navigating the morally grey.
I Love Boosters | May 22nd
Starring Kiki Palmer, Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters tells the story of a group of professional shoplifters as they resell the clothing they steal. The story is a nod to the similar underground resale practices that reached the height of their popularity in 2006. The film makes multiple comments about the fashion industry, housing, and race without crowding the storyboard.
Currently sitting at a 94% on the Tomatometer, the film has received widespread praise from critics. The Hollywood Reporter describes the world of I Love Boosters as “a blunter” version of reality rather than a heightened one. The film leaves nothing on the table in its costume design, being filled with brightly colored, intricate outfits that capture the surreal elements of the story’s world.
Tuner | May 22nd
Following a highly talented piano tuner with an impeccable ear, Tuner is a new heist movie that utilizes sound as its central storytelling element.
The protagonist, Nikki, possesses highly sensitive hearing and perfect pitch, making him the ideal piano-tuning apprentice. When his teacher falls ill and accumulates a massive hospital bill, Nikki discovers that his heightened hearing abilities allow him to crack safes.
Leo Woodall, known for his work on White Lotus, turns the traditional heist genre on its head. Instead of relying on loud, multi-layered, action-heavy scenes, Tuner builds suspense through silence, as Nikki requires it to complete each job successfully.
Despite the genre’s saturation, many critics have praised the film’s fresh approach and its unique use of sound and silence as sources of tension.