Everything New to Netflix in May 2015: Tarantino, Originals and More

By on April 27, 2015

Another month, another round of Netflix updates. Though many wonderful movies will leave us, many will join the daily lives of monthly subscribers. Here they are, spread about the month of May in a strategic bout for your everyday subjugation to internet videos. But first, the notables:

Fruitvale Station

Today’s headlines are in a constant state of eruption over the transgressions of the United States’ various police forces. However you feel about the controversy, you owe it to yourself to watch Fruitvale Station, a fact-based telling of Oscar Grant’s final day, leading up to and following the swift aftermath of his death at the hands of two police officers at the titular train station.

Little is disputed over the factual accuracy of the film, though first-time director Ryan Coogler works hard to evoke empathy for a young African American figure neither perfect nor deserving of an unjust death. Michael B. Jordan, acting in the role of Grant, is what makes the whole film work. He’s phenomenal.

Inglorious Basterds

On the opposite end of the truth-scale in historical retellings is Quenten Tarantino’s Nazi killathon Inglorious Basterds. Instead of empathy, we have psychosis on both sides of the battle. Instead of subtley, we have whatever Tarantino does on a regular basis, infusing every drawn-out scene with almost recklessly suspenseful dialogue, and always a violent payout.

Tarantinto is currently putting together his next project, The Hateful 8, which in title alone sounds like a culmination of Inglorious Basterds and his more recent release, Django Unchained. Get educated.

Grace and Frankie

Perhaps most notable about Netflix’s May is its severe lack of notability. While last month delivered us Daredevil, this month’s only Netflix original is Grace and Frankie, a reuniting of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in a very sitcomy set-up: the two golden girls are united in the shared revelations of their gay husbands, those two engaging in their own late-stage life-change, embracing as comically as possible a new public openness regarding their long-gestating love for each other.

It’s safe to say Netflix is going for a different audience with this one. Daredevil fans will have to settle with watching this over and over again:

Here’s the rest of the release schedule:

May 1

Longmire: Season 3

Beyond Clueless (2014)

Jimi: All Is by My Side (2013)

Legally Blonde (2001)

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)

No No: A Dockumentary (2014)

Shameless: Series 10

The Last Waltz (1978)

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005)

Underclassman (2015)

Witnesses: Season 1

May 2

Lalaloopsy: Festival of Sugary Sweets (2015)

LeapFrog Letter Factory Adventures: Amazing Word Explorers (2015)

May 3

Anita (2013)

D.L. Hughley: Clear (2014)

Royal Pains: Season 6

May 5

A Few Best Men (2011)

May 6

The Longest Week (2014)

May 8

Grace & Frankie: Season 1 (Netflix Original)

Puss in Boots: Season 1 (5 additional episodes)

Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (2013)

May 9

Jinn (2014)

The Liberator (2013)

May 12

Fruitvale Station (2013)

Extraterrestrial (2014)

Magical Universe (2013)

May 13

The Identical (2014)

May 14

American Restoration (new collection)

Counting Cars (new collection)

Dance Moms (new collection)

Duck Dynasty (new collection)

Hoarders (new collection)

Modern Marvels (new collection)

The Universe (new collection)

May 15

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Season 4

Cyber­Seniors (2014)

Dawg Fight (2015)

Give Me Shelter (2014)

Granite Flats: Season 1­-3

May 16

First Period (2013)

May 17

Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast (2015)

May 19

Before I Disappear (2014)

Girlhood (2014)

Zombeavers (2014)

May 21

Between: Season 1

May 22

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

H20 Mermaid Adventures (2015)

Jen Kirkman: I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine) (2015)

Richie Rich: Season 2

The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir

Transporter: The Series: Season 1 (2012)

May 23

The Boxtrolls (2014)

Antarctica: A Year on Ice (2013)

May 24

Love and Honor (2013)

Welcome to the Punch (2013)

May 26

Graceland: Seasons 1­-2

May 27

Before I Go to Sleep (2014)

May 29

Hot Girls Wanted (2015)

Mako Mermaids Season 3

About Trevor Ruben

Though I contribute to many online publications on a regular basis, including The Checkout, the crux of my writing lies in video games. When not writing, I'm often streaming a variety of games on Twitch.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *