New Netflix movies: the biggest films to stream in May 2023

Welcome to TechRadar’s new Netflix movies article. In this guide, you’ll find a collection of the greatest (and not-so-great, in some cases) new films to debut on the world’s best streaming service. So, if you’re looking for something new to watch this weekend, we’ve got you covered.

Netflix‘s movie library is absolutely packed with first- and third-party offerings, so the prospect of picking something to stream can be daunting. We’ve taken that choice anxiety away from you, though, by picking out the best movies to arrive on Netflix between February and May 2023. You can thank us later.

Want a more comprehensive breakdown of what’s definitely worth watching? Our best Netflix movies guide is the one for you. But, if you’re only bothered about streaming the best new Netflix films in recent memory, read on.

New Netflix movies: May 2023

The Austin Powers trilogy

Release date: May 1

An absolute must-see movie trilogy – albeit one you couldn’t get away with these days – the Austin Powers films are a satirical take on the oversaturated spy genre.

The film series stars Mike Myers as the titular British spy, who’s tasked with thwarting the increasingly hilarious attempts by Doctor Evil (also played by Myers) to extort large sums of cash from the world’s various governments.

A parody of legendary spy franchises like James Bond, Austin Powers is stuffed with outrageous plots, rampant sexual innuendo, humorously cringe-inducing jokes, tons of slapstick comedy (that luggage cart scene in International Man of Mystery will never get old), and ’60s-era one-dimensional characters. Each passing movie gets more repetitive and generic, but they’re still fun to watch.

Chicken Run

Release date: May 1

It’s high time this stone cold UK classic made its way onto Netflix. After all, its sequel – Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget – will debut exclusively on the streamer later this year.

Set on a British farm, Chicken Run stars Ginger (voiced by Julia Sawalha), a rebellious hen who constantly tries and fails to lead her fellow hens into breaking out of Tweedy Farm before they’re slaughtered by the evil partners who run the estate. The arrival of the seemingly flying rooster Rocky (voiced by, of all people, Mel Gibson) leads to a renewed effort on Ginger’s part to finally escape captivity. And, with the Tweedys enacting a new masterplan to turn Ginger and company into meat pies, Rocky appears to be the anthropomorphic hens’ last chance of success.

A stop-motion animated comedy that draws heavily from Steve McQueen’s iconic The Great Escape, Chicken Run is a seriously underrated flick that the whole family can enjoy. From its adult jokes to its kooky characters and original narrative, it’s designed to *ahem* fly high.

Léon: The Professional

Release date: May 1

Léon: The Professional is a storming urban action-thriller from acclaimed director Luc Besson. It follows the titular Italian hitman (played by Jean Reno), who becomes the surrogate protector of Mathilda (an extremely young Natalie Portman) after her family are murdered by the corrupt and drug-addicted DEA agent Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman). Léon winds up taking Mathilda under his wing and teaches her the ways of being a hitman.

A stylish, witty, graphically violent, and oddly-moving thriller, Léon: The Professional contains standout performances from Reno and Oldman. The pair are overshadowed by the clear natural talents of Portman, though, who shines on her acting debut.

Paranormal Activity

Release date: May 1

This supernatural horror – written, directed, and edited by Oren Peli – is often cited as the most profitable movie ever, thanks in part to its supposed $15,000 budget and eventual $194 million global taking. Unsurprisingly, its unprecedented success spawned one of the most beloved horror film franchises of all time.

Paranormal Activity focuses on a young couple who, after moving into their new San Diego-based home, are haunted by a supernatural presence. To catch the spirit in question, they set up a camera to document what’s going on, with suspense-filled and horrifying results.

A relentless and at-times pulsating watch, Paranormal Activity will make you question whether ghosts and ghouls are real. Oh, and it’ll ensure you’re sleeping with the light on for the foreseeable future, too.

New Netflix movies: April 2023

The Hateful Eight

Release date: April 25

It’s surreal to think that The Hateful Eight launched in theaters in 2015. Eight years on from doing so, though, it’s finally available on Netflix.

Starring the likes of Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell, Tim Roth, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight is a Western mystery thriller that tells the tale of eight strangers who seek shelter from a blizzard some time during the American Civil War. This being a Tarantino movie, you can expect plenty of political and cultural paranoia to exist among the octet, as well as plenty of gratuitous violence.

The Hateful Eight isn’t the best Tarantino movie around – read our Quentin Tarantino movies ranked piece to see where we placed it among its brethren – but it’s still damn good fun. There are plenty of characters to love to hate, underrated humor to be had, and multiple twists to keep you guessing about where its plot will go.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Release date: April 22

Musical biographical dramas are becoming an increasingly common fixture on the big screen – and, in late 2022, it was the iconic pop diva Whitney Houston’s turn to get the theatrical treatment.

Naomi Ackie plays the world-famous singer/actress in this retelling of the highs and lows of Houston’s life and career. As has become the norm, it’s a movie that’s based on real events, but one sprinkled with more outlandish drama and some creative deviations from what actually transpired. If you plan on watching I Wanna Dance With Somebody, then, it’s best to take certain aspects of its story with a pinch of salt.

The Sony Pictures-developed flick wasn’t a critical or commercial hit upon release. Fans of Houston’s, though, are sure to enjoy what’s on offer. (NB: I Wanna Dance With Somebody is only on Netflix in the US. UK and Australian viewers can rent or buy it from the Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Microsoft, Rakuten, and YouTube stores).

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die

Release date: April 14

The feature film-length swansong of Netflix’s popular The Last Kingdom TV show, Seven Kings Must Die brings the curtain down to the Saxon era-based tale that’s run for seven seasons.

Somewhat expectedly, the movie sees multiple Lords and Kings – includes series protagonist Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) vie for the English throne following the death of King Edward. Expect plenty of brutal action, historical drama, and (hopefully) a fitting end to one of the best history-positioned Netflix shows of recent times.

Chupa

Release date: April 7

Billed as a fantasy adventure film, Chupa tells the tale of US-Mexican teenager Alex (Evan Whitten), who discovers a young chupacabra living in his grandfather’s shed. Unsurprisingly, it isn’t long before the authorities get wind of a magical creature living out in the sticks, forcing Alex, his family, and his friends to protect the creature dubbed ‘Chupa’ at all costs.

Chupa looks like it’ll be another by-the-books family-friendly flick, but there’s sure to be enough charm and heart-warming story beats to make it worth streaming.

New Netflix movies: March 2023

Kill Boksoon

Release date: March 31

This Korean crime drama movie raked in almost 20 million hours viewed in its first week on Netflix. And, by all accounts, it’s another East Asian winner for the world’s most popular streamer.

The flick focuses on the titular Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-yeon), a contract killer with a 100% success rate in the field. However, the secret agent has had to marry her job with being a mother in recent years, causing numerous splits in her relationship with her boss Cha Min-Kyu. When Bok-Soon refuses to complete a specific assignment, an major confrontation is inevitable, leading the titular character to fight for her survival.

Critics have hailed Kill Boksoon as a highly satisfying thriller in the mould of John Wick. So, if you’re a fan of the gun-fu genre, you should check it out.

Murder Mystery 2

Release date: March 31

A sequel to one of Netflix’s most popular original comedy films ever, Murder Mystery 2 sees A-listers Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler return as married couple Audrey and Nick as they look to thwart another whodunnit from going down. Unsurprisingly, a plethora of comedy capers ensue.

Like its 2019 predecessor, Murder Mystery 2 is a pretty derivative take on the murder mystery formula, and some of its humor leaves a lot to be desired. Even so, Murder Mystery 2 has been a sure fire hit for Netflix, with over 120 million hours streamed since it debuted on the platform. Expect a third Murder Mystery movie to be greenlit sometime soon, then.

The Magician’s Elephant

Release date: March 17

This heart-warming, family-friendly tale doesn’t immediately stand out from the pack. After all, its official trailer (see above) depicts it as a fairly average film. But The Magician’s Elephant is a wonderful watch. Sure, it contains familiar themes about family and destiny, and its plot is pretty basic at times. Children, though, will love it and adults are sure to get a kick out of its beautiful animation (it’s that, or they’ll be pleased that it’ll keep the kids quiet for a bit).

Based on the Kate DiCamillo’s novel of the same name, it stars Noah Jupe as Peter, a boy searching for his long lost sister. A chance encounter with a fortune teller puts Peter on a collision course with a magician who, well, owns an elephant, with the latter pair seemingly holding the key to Peter locating his sibling.

Luther: The Fallen Sun

Release date: March 10

Luther: The Fallen Sun transforms the hit BBC crime drama series into a franchise capable of telling thrilling tales in the movie medium. Or, rather, that was the goal from its cast and crew. Unfortunately, Luther‘s metamorphosis into a big-budget theatrical offering leaves a lot to be desired, with its janky plot, rushed pacing (especially early on), and lack of captivating villain (Andy Serkis does his best with what he’s given, though) ensuring The Fallen Sun is nothing more than an average watch.

Still, Luther fans are sure to enjoy what’s on offer. With the disgraced detective (Idris Elba) locked up for the various illegal acts he committed in the TV show, Serkis’ antagonistic David Robey has free reign to carry out his serial killer masterplan. That’s until Luther unceremoniously breaks himself out of jail, however, and reluctantly teams up with Inspector Odette Raine (Cynthia Erivo) to put an end to Robey’s murderous ways.

New Netflix movies: February 2023

We Have a Ghost

Release date: February 24

Despite its evident star-powered cast – Marvel actor Anthony Mackie and Stranger Things‘ David Harbour among them – We Have A Ghost doesn’t live up to its spookily lofty heights.

The supernatural comedy, which is based on Geoff Manugh’s short story ‘Ernest’, sees Frank Presley (Mackie) and his family move into their new home, only to find it’s haunted by a spirit called Ernest (Harbour). Rather than being scared, though, the Presleys begin recording Ernest for a new YouTube channel, turning him and them into overnight sensations. It isn’t long, though, before the authorities become involved. Uh-oh.

We Have a Ghost should have been a knock-out for Netflix, but it doesn’t wrangle its talented cast and its plot into a meaningful film. Sure, there are some humorous moments and plenty of sentiment within but, like many new Netflix movies before it, We Have a Ghost struggles to make a compelling argument to make it worth recommending.

The Strays

Release date: February 17

Essentially, The Strays is Netflix’s take on Jordan Peele’s winning formula for crafting unsettling horror-infused thrillers. Surprisingly, it does a pretty good job of emulating Peele’s directorial catalog of work, too, albeit it’s a suspense-filled film with a somewhat frustrating ending.

This Nathaniel Martello-White flick tells the story of Neve (Ashley Madekwe), a biracial upper-class woman who leads an idyllic life with her loving family and holds down a well-paying job as a deputy head teacher at a prestigious private school. However, Neve’s life is upended when elements from her troubled pass resurface and threaten to undermine everything she’s built for herself. 

If you’re a fan of Get Out, Nope, and Us, The Strays is worth streaming. More casual viewers might not be as enthralled as Peele’s established fanbase or psychological thriller devotees, though.

True Spirit

Release date: February 3

Feel like an uplifting (but sugary sweet) family adventure? True Spirit will fit the bill. The fact it’s based on a true story helps the film out immensely, and it’s an impressive story that critics have dubbed “an empowering tribute to a magnificent achievement.”

At just 16-years old, Jessica Watson began a quest to become the youngest person to complete a non-stop solo sail around the globe. And though this isn’t going to be one of our favourites, it’ll be great for family movie night. Teagan Croft, Anna Paquin, and Cliff Curtis all star.

New Netflix movies: what’s coming in 2023?

Want to know what other new Netflix movies are coming in 2023? Below, we’ve picked out some of the most eagerly anticipated films set to be released in the coming months.

The Mother

Release date: May 12

Cue generic Netflix thriller plot: in The Mother, a deadly female assassin (Jennifer Lopez) comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men. A bit of a change of pace for Lopez after glitzy 2022 romcom Marry Me, then. This one was scheduled to release last year, but has since been delayed until May 2023.

Extraction 2

Release date: June 16

As its name suggests, Extraction 2 is a direct sequel to Sam Hargrave’s 2020 Netflix original movie, and will see Chris Hemsworth’s seemingly indestructible hero – Tyler Rake – returning for another high-stakes and invariably globe-trotting special ops mission. 

The streamer finally showed off its first trailer, which reveals Rake will be tasked with rescuing the battered family of a ruthless Georgian gangster from the prison they’re being held in. Expect Rake to be double-crossed at some point again, then.

They Cloned Tyrone

Release date: July 21

Not too much is known about They Cloned Tyrone, but its synopsis reads as follows: “A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper.” By the sounds of things, then, this new Netflix movie – from first time director Juel Taylor – has more than a few tricks up its sleeve. Its cast looks pretty great, too.

Heart of Stone

Release date: August 11

With her time as Wonder Woman seemingly coming to an end in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), Gal Gadot needs a new headline-making film franchise to lead.

Luckily for Gadot, Heart of Stone could be that movie series. Positioned as Mission: Impossible-style franchise, this action thriller stars Gadot as Rachel Stone, a CIA agent who “is the only woman standing between her powerful, global peace-keeping organization and the loss of its most valuable – and dangerous – asset”.

Unsurprisingly, little else is known about this one, but we know it’ll co-star Jamie Dornan (50 Shades of Grey), Matthias Schweighofer (Army of the Dead), Alia Bhatt (RRR), and Sophie Okonedo (The Wheel of Time). Peaky Blinders and Misfits director Tom Harper helms this entry in our new Netflix movies guide.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

Release date: November 10 

Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. This long-awaited sequel is being helmed by Flushed Away director Sam Fell.

Rebel Moon

Release date: December 22

Army of the Dead director Zack Snyder is returning to Netflix this year with Rebel Moon, an epic space opera reportedly inspired by both Star Wars and Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. The film’s official synopsis reads as follows: “A peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy is threatened by the armies of a tyrannical regent named Balisarius. The desperate civilians dispatch Kora, a young woman who has a mysterious past to seek out warriors from nearby planets to help them challenge the regent.”

Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Ray Fisher, Djimon Hounsou, Jena Malone, Corey Stoll, Ed Skrein, and Anthony Hopkins are all confirmed to star, which we expect will enjoy a limited theatrical release before it lands on Netflix.

Maestro

Release date: TBA (2023 confirmed)

Produced by Todd Phillips, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and leading man Bradley Cooper (who also directs the film), Maestro centers on the life and legacy of West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein. Judging by the prosthetics used to transform Cooper into the much older Bernstein, we expect this entry in our new Netflix movies list to be a shoo-in for next year’s Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar (release date depending). 

The Mothership

Release date: TBA (2023 confirmed)

The Mothership is a sci-fi adventure that follows Sara Morse (Halle Berry) one year after her husband (Omari Hardwick) mysteriously vanishes from their rural farm. When she discovers a strange, extraterrestrial object underneath their home, Sara and her kids embark on a race to find their husband, father, and – most importantly – the truth. Sounds ominous. 

For more Netflix-based coverage, read our best Netflix documentaries guide. Alternatively, check out these seven spy shows while we wait for The Night Agent season 2, or find out what the best Netflix VPN is.