The Look Ahead: May 2025

New Wes Anderson, Vince Vaughn and some Italian grandmas, and the next 'Girls?'

May isn’t just about Tom Cruise clinging to helicopters or Wes Anderson launching another star-studded caper—though, sure, it’s about that too. This month also features Alexander Skarsgård as a rogue murderbot, Julianne Moore as a cult leader, Natasha Lyonne sniffing out lies, and Trey Edward Shults (Waves) teaming up with The Weeknd for a bizarro thriller.

From stylish noirs and political slow burns to treasure hunts, buzzy indies, and the return of some of TV’s most addictive shows, May’s release slate has all the right ingredients to keep things unpredictable and exciting.

Below is what I’m most looking forward to in the following order:

• Mildly curious

• Okay, now you have my attention

• Now wait a second here…

• Need this yesterday

• I’m already sat

Let’s dig into it and be ready to save these recs!

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🎈 Mildly Curious

May 9 – Nonnas (Netflix) – Movie
Based on the true story of Enoteca Maria, Vince Vaughn opens a Staten Island restaurant staffed entirely by Italian grandmothers — think The Bear meets Chef by way of Moonstruck. Will this be groundbreaking? No. But Vaughn charming his way through a kitchen full of nonnas (including Susan Sarandon and Lorraine Bracco) sounds like a perfectly pleasant way to spend an evening.

May 9 – Summer of 69 (Hulu) – Movie
Chloe Fineman plays a stripper mentoring a high school senior on love and lust. I’m a huge Fineman fan. This debut from actress and comedian Jillian Bell feels like a bawdy, awkward, female-driven Superbad.

May 16 – Murderbot (Apple TV+) – TV
Alexander Skarsgård plays a killer security android who secretly disables its governor chip and becomes fascinated by humans. Based on the beloved Murderbot Diaries sci-fi series and created by Paul and Chris Weitz, this could be Westworld but funny — or a total tonal jumble. Either way, I’d watch Skarsgård in anything, and I think he’s a sneaky-good comedic actor.

May 26 – Rotten Legacy (Netflix) – TV
This 8-episode series is Spain’s answer to Succession, following a ruthless media family unraveling after the patriarch steps down. Expect power grabs, betrayals, secrets, and lies.

May 23 – Fountain of Youth (Apple TV+) – Movie
Natalie Portman and John Krasinski play estranged siblings racing to find the real Fountain of Youth in this Guy Ritchie direct-to-streamer. Looks kind of silly, but honestly, why don’t we get a treasure-hunting movie like this every year? If it even halfway scratches the National Treasure or Mummy itch, I’m in.

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👀 Okay, Now You Have My Attention

May 6 – A Nice Indian Boy – Movie
Jonathan Groff and Karan Soni star as a gay couple navigating family expectations, cultural clashes, and romance. This was a beloved hit out of SXSW last year and is finally getting a streaming release. Groff improves anything he’s in, and this sounds like a sweet, heart-forward indie gem.

May 9 – One to One: John & Yoko - Movie)
A documentary focusing on John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1972 Madison Square Garden concert during their activist years. With Sam Mendes’ Beatles films on the horizon, this feels like perfect prep.

May 15 – Secrets We Keep (Netflix) – TV
In this 6-episode series, a young Filipino au pair vanishes in a wealthy Danish enclave, and dark secrets start to surface. It promises icy, stylish Scandi noir vibes, elevated by Netflix’s big-budget sheen — brooding, mature, and primed for a binge.

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😳 Now Wait a Second Here…

May 15 – Duster (Max) – TV
Set in the 1970s, Josh Holloway (Lost) plays a getaway driver teaming up with an FBI agent to take down a crime ring. A J.J. Abrams-produced, pulpy throwback series with “Sawyer” behind the wheel, making dicey decisions.

May 16 – Hurry Up Tomorrow – Movie
Trey Edward Shults directing The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan in a moody, stress-drenched psychological thriller tied to The Weeknd’s album of the same name? I’ve heard next to nothing about this… whatever it is… which makes me a bit nervous, but I loved Waves and It Comes at Night. Just don’t ask my thoughts on The Idol.

There are a ton more recs ahead (13 more to be exact). Be sure to upgrade your Schmear Hunter subscription to see what makes it into the “Need this Yesterday” and “I’m Already Sat” categories.