Screen time – May 2023 –

It’s almost summer, which no doubt means many of you are starting to enjoy the brighter nights, but we’re here to give you nine reasons why you should trade sunlight for blue light, because May has a slew of exciting movies and TV series all coming to theaters and streaming services.

But before we get to them, a quick reminder: we based our choices on a UK release calendar, so be sure to check local cinemas and streamers for accurate dates and listings. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s take a look at the latest installment of Screen Time.

Star Wars Visions – Part 2 [Disney+] – May 4

To mark this year’s Star Wars Day, Disney and Lucasfilm have teamed up with an array of animation studios from around the world for a collection of unique shorts set in A Galaxy Far, Far Away. Volume 2 of Star Wars Visions will see acclaimed studios such as Aardman, El Guiri, Studio La Cachette, Punkrobot, Studio Mir, Triggerfish and more, all bringing their own personal take and flair to the wider Star Wars world.

Silo [Apple TV+] – May 5

In the big Apple TV+ addition of the month, Rebecca Ferguson stars as an engineer who begins to question her own livelihood in a live-action adaptation of Hugh Howey’s books. Known as Silo, this series takes viewers on a ride through a post-apocalyptic world defined by the walls of the massive underground structure that houses humanity’s remains from a supposedly toxic and ruined outside world.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – May 5

Perhaps the biggest movie of the month, the next Marvel Cinematic Universe film will wrap up the story of many of the famous cosmic superheroes that make up Guardians of the Galaxy. Watching Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill and the gang once again save the galaxy while searching for and being reunited with an emotionally distraught Gamora will be director James Gunn’s last Marvel film, now that he is co-boss at DC.

The Muppets Mayhem [Disney+] – May 10

Although they are not the entertainment titans they once were, The Muppets are still iconic, which is why it’s great to see them back and headlining their own series. The Muppets Mayhem will see the cast of puppets that make up the Electric Mayhem band looking to record their very first studio album, all with the help of many stars from the music world, be it Weird Al Yankovic, Tommy Lee, Ziggy Marley, Kesha and more.

The Mother [Netflix] – May 12

Netflix has a few big projects lined up for May, but the first film is undoubtedly the Jennifer Lopez-led, The Mother. In this film, J-Lo stars as a former hitman who is dragged back into the cutthroat world of contract killing to protect the daughter she gave up many years earlier. This world-changing film is designed to be action-packed and will test J-Lo’s acting talents.

Beau Is Afraid – May 19

Ari Aster has become quite a commodity in Hollywood, as the director’s last two works became pretty big hits. But can Aster grab gold for the third time in a row? That’s exactly what the director wants to achieve with the Joaquin Phoenix headline Beau Is Afraid, which revolves around an anxious man who must confront his darkest fears on a journey back home.

Fast X – May 19

If Guardians Vol. 3 might be the biggest movie of the month, Fast X is what it struggles with. In the penultimate installment in the high-octane action series, Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto and his extended family take on Jason Momoa’s Dante, in a world-changing adventure in which a number of former enemies-turned-allies are called to action to take down this overwhelming threat.

FUBAR [Netflix] – May 25

Although many would assume Arnold Schwarzenegger’s days of kicking ass as a movie star are over, the star behind Terminator, Predator, Conan and countless other great action movies, is looking to make his TV debut in Netflix’s action series, FUBAR. Fubar sees Arnie shine as an ex-CIA agent dragged back into the field to save a troubled asset, and explores what happens when a mission finally reveals deep family secrets and brings father and daughter together as neither expected.

The Little Mermaid – May 26

Disney’s trend of creating live-action versions of its beloved animated films continues in May, when The Little Mermaid returns to the big screen. This film retells the iconic story of love and loss and sees Halle Bailey play the conflicted mermaid Ariel, while Melissa McCarthy is tapped to bring Ursula to life, Jonah Hauer-King cast as Prince Eric and Javier Bardem as the stern King Triton. Will this remake be able to capture the magic of the original? Time will tell.

There we have it. Another month in the books. Be sure to check back at the end of May to see what June 2023 has in store for moviegoers and streaming fans alike.