5 new Netflix shows to watch (and 2 to skip) in May 2026

Even though it feels like the year just started, when we were all still mourning Stranger Things, we're somehow already halfway through 2026. It's been a great year for Netflix originals so far, with hit shows like Bridgerton, The Night Agent, Virgin River, Running Point, and more returning with new seasons and lots of exciting debut series becoming our latest favorites.

This spring has brought some thrilling titles to Netflix, like the cult drama Unchosen and the crime comedy Big Mistakes, among many others that have taken up residence on the Top 10. But Netflix might have its biggest month of new releases coming in May 2026. The month boasts a few returning series but packs each week with new series that will be binge-worthy must-watches.

But are they actually must-watches? Like each month, we're running down the list of new releases coming to Netflix in May 2026 and sharing which titles should take the express lane to your watch list and which ones can be saved for later—or skipped altogether!

Lord of the Flies

Watch! Netflix kicks off May with its latest limited series, and it's quite the limited series to start a new month with. Based on the book of the same name by William Golding, Lord of the Flies comes from Emmy Award-winning Adolescence co-creator and writer Jack Thorne, who wrote all four of the show's episodes.

The series centers on a group of young boys who become stranded on an island after a plan crash as they fight for survival and navigate the complexities of leadership and its downfalls. Lord of the Flies already made its premiere in the UK back in February, but it's finally making its global streaming debut on Netflix on May 4, and it's not to be missed.

Perfect Match season 4

Skip! When it comes to reality series, this year has been a big one, especially for Netflix reality shows. Between Love is Blind and Age of Attraction, viewers still can't get enough of the drama. Once again, Netflix heats things up with Perfect Match, the dating competition series that brings back former contestants from other reality shows and pushes these singles to find their, well, perfect match. The fourth season debuts on May 13 and will surely be the talk of the town among reality fans, but if this show isn't quite your cup of tea, feel free to skip until the next one strikes your fancy.

Nemesis

Watch! If there's one thing you can always count on Netflix to provide, it's an excellent crime drama to escape into. On May 14, the streamer drops the new series Nemesis, which comes from creators Courtney A. Kemp, who created Power, and Tani Marole and stars Matthew Law and Y'lan Noel.

In the eight-episode series, a criminal and a police detective find themselves at odds with each other and paving the way to a greater understanding of both characters. Nemesis flips the script on crime and heist shows, and it's primed and ready to become one of the biggest surprise hits on Netflix in the coming month!

The Boroughs

Watch! For those still missing Stranger Things and wanting a show that hits some of the same notes, leave it to the Duffer Brothers to give you exactly what you're looking for. The creators of the Upside Down are back again on Netflix with their latest production as executive producers, the sci-fi series The Boroughs from creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews.

Similarly to Stranger Things, this series bands together a group of unlikely heroes, this time at a retirement community, as they investigate and battle a dangerous threat that's seemingly from beyond this world. The Boroughs stars familiar faces like Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O'Hare, and many more and isn't to be missed when it drops on May 21.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder season 2

Watch! It's been two years since we first met Pip Fitz-Amobi in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder on Netflix, but she's finally back with a new season and another murder mystery. Wednesday star returns in the leading role of the series based on the books by Holly Jackson. The second season picks up after the first season's conclusion as Max's trial looms overhead, but Pip's pulled into another investigation when a friend's brother goes missing and she must track him down. If you loved the first season, you have tune into season 2 on May 27. And new fans can binge both seasons!

The Four Seasons season 2

Watch! The most dysfunctional group of friends on television are back for another year full of vacations and gatherings, and it's going to be another hilarious and emotional occasion. The Four Seasons season 2 arrives on May 28 and picks back up with the gang after the shocking season 1 finale, which included Nick's (Steve Carell) death and Ginny's pregnancy announcement.

Beyond those openings from the previous season, Netflix hasn't shared many details about The Four Seasons season 2 ahead of its release, and that's honestly for the best. We know that the season contains eight episodes, with two episodes devoted to each of the year's four seasons, and Tina Fey, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, and Erika Henningsen are all back for more laughs and surely unexpected plot twists!

Calabasas Confidential

Skip! While Netflix has carved out a reality television niche in the dating competition and real estate spaces, the streamer's still trying to find its voice in the more general reality series genre. Enter Calabasas Confidential, a new reality series that follows recent college grads and old friends who return to the wealthy Los Angeles enclave to confront relationships, feuds, and other personal issues that a rife for entertainment. It's part Laguna Beach, part Housewives, and will surely strike a chord with a certain audience. But if that's not you, pass on the series when it premieres on May 29.

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