35 best new Netflix movies and shows coming in May 2020

29. Soul Surfer

Release Year: 2011

Directed By: Sean McNamara

Starring: AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, Carrie Underwood, Kevin Sorbo, Ross Thomas, Chris Brochu, Lorraine Nicholson, Jeremy Sumpter, Sonia Balmores Chung, Craig T. Nelson, Cody Gomes, Branscombe Richmond

Release Date: Sunday, May 17

Somehow, the rapid passage of time has brought us to the almost 10-year anniversary of every movie released in 2011, even though 2011 feels like it was just last week. Soul Surfer will celebrate its 10th anniversary next spring, but it’s never to soon to start the party early. After watching AnnaSophia Robb turn in an excellent performance as a younger Reese Witherspoon in Little Fires Everywhere, parlay that praise into a necessary watch of the erstwhile Bridge to Terabithia and The Carrie Diaries star’s most underrated movies.

Based on the 2004 memoir Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board by surfer Bethany Hamilton, Soul Surfer stars AnnaSohpia Robb as teenaged surfing prodigy Bethany Hamilton. While surfing with her best friend, a shark attacks Bethany and bites off her left arm below the shoulder. Bethany finds her faith and passion briefly shaken by the attack, but with the love of her parents (Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid) and a desire to help others in the wake of the 2004 tsunami in Thailand, Bethany works to return to competitive surfing.

Soul Surfer comes from director Sean McNamara, who also directed such movies as The Even Stevens Movie, Raise Your Voice, The Suite Life Movie, Bratz and Casper Meets Wendy. Upon release, the film earned middling reviews from critics, as reflected by its 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it’s a charming and inspirational watch that’s perfect for these times. While it wasn’t a major blockbuster, Soul Surfer found its audience, and it will surely continue to find its audience when it begins streaming on Netflix. Add it to your watch list beginning on May 17.