15 Movies to Watch in May

      If you have already explored our extensive summer movie preview, then our closer look at May should not come as much of a surprise. While the Hollywood lineup for the season's start is rather bleak, the arthouse and international selections present a diverse mix. Additionally, we will offer comprehensive coverage from the Cannes Film Festival, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.

      15. Tuner (Daniel Roher; May 22)

      Following the release of the unsettling The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, Oscar-winning director Daniel Roher will debut his narrative film this month. The TIFF and Telluride selection Tuner is a brisk exploration of a troubled piano tuner who delves into a criminal underworld. Although it takes several cues from Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash, including a similarly implausible script, it serves as a strong showcase for both Leo Woodall and Roher’s rhythmic direction.

      14. Magic Hour (Katie Aselton; May 15)

      Kate Aselton attended SXSW this year with Their Town (our review here), and her earlier feature Magic Hour, which had its festival debut last year, is set for a theatrical release this month. Co-written by Aselton and her husband, Mark Duplass, this drama stars Aselton, Daveed Diggs, Brad Garrett, and Susan Sullivan, focusing on two individuals who escape to the desert to face an unforeseen and challenging new phase in their relationship.

      13. Backrooms (Kane Parsons; May 29)

      In a summer dominated by sequels and reboots, one intriguing piece of intellectual property is Kane Parson’s directorial debut Backrooms, inspired by his “creepypasta” web series and featuring a cast that includes Renate Reinsve, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, and Avan Jogia. The trailers suggest a significant evolution from his previous works to something that promises a truly unsettling experience on the big screen.

      12. Been Here Stay Here (David Usui; May 15)

      Watch an exclusive clip above.

      A vivid depiction of a community facing displacement due to climate change, David Usui’s Been Here Stay Here intimately explores a small group of the few hundred residents of Tangier Island in the Chesapeake Bay. This film would pair well with the recent Sundance standout The Lake, as Usui takes a compassionate, rational approach to a significant environmental issue that poses the risk of genuine catastrophe if no action is taken.

      11. The Misconceived (James N. Kienitz Wilkins; May 8)

      James N. Kienitz Wilkins’ 3D-rendered feature The Misconceived, a highlight at Rotterdam earlier this year, offers a fresh and humorous take on the state of the creative industry. Rory O’Connor noted in his IFFR review that “Seven years after their collaboration on The Plagiarists, writers James N. Kienitz Wilkins and Robin Schavoir return with The Misconceived—another inventive film addressing the anxieties experienced by the elusive creative class. Directed by Peter Parlow, the previous film cleverly used found-footage horror conventions to comment on untested urban liberalism, alongside the challenges of artistic authenticity and writer's block. The Misconceived—described in promotional materials as a scathing satire—can be visually challenging, but it delves into similarly rich themes without skimping on formal experimentation."

      10. Renoir (Chie Hayakawa; May 29)

      Returning to Cannes a few years after her praised feature debut Plan 75, Chie Hayakawa showcased her Tokyo-set period drama Renoir in the competition section, and it is set to hit U.S. theaters this month. Rory O’Connor observed in his Cannes review that “With its everyday details (captured in beautiful, muted tones by DP Hideho Urata), the presence of veteran actor Lily Franky, and a slow pace, Renoir presents a coming-of-age story reminiscent of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s work, yet lacks his sentimental touch. Hayakawa’s perspective remains consistent and observant, highlighting both the joys and challenges of a formative summer. The narrative follows Fuki (Yui Suzuki), an introverted 11-year-old striving to navigate adolescence while her father (Franky) battles cancer in a hospital bed and her mother, Utako (Hikari Ishida), faces work-related stress. Frequently left alone, Fuki retreats into her imagination and becomes interested in hypnosis, practicing on both an upstairs neighbor and a new friend from her language school. Set against the backdrop of Japan’s economic bubble in 1987, the film reflects elements of Hayakawa’s own experience of losing her father at a similar age."

      9. The Wizard of the Kremlin (Olivier Assayas; May 15)

      Following one of his smaller films, Susp