Following the massive arrival of Mortal Kombat, all eyes are on HBO Max this May. Warner Bros.’ adaptation of the beloved fighting game saw its most successful dual premiere yet, surpassing the opening stats of Godzilla vs. Kong. HBO Max doesn’t have more huge blockbusters coming in May, but that’s okay because the variety of new additions is still as fresh as ever. Still on a Mortal Kombat high? The first 1995 cult hit finally arrives, meaning that you can now binge all 3 movies along along with the fan-favorite Mortal Kombat: Legacy and Conquest shows.
Subscribers will also have two of Warner Bros’ biggest 2020 titles to stream, Tenet and Wonder Woman 1984. The latter makes its return after first debuting on the platform last December with a one month time limit. How long will WW84 stay this time? Definitely more than a month, but as HBO Max constantly recycles its library, don’t be shocked to see it leave again in the future. On a brighter note, the theatrical dual release of May looks to be an interesting one – a new thriller starring Angelina Jolie.
Check out more of our recs below along with everything coming to and leaving HBO Max in May. See what’s also in store for Netflix and Disney+!
Our Recs:
Those Who Wish Me Dead
This month’s go-to film for HBO Max, Those Who Wish Me Dead is packed full of talent. A veteran smoke jumper with survivor’s guilt (Angelina Jolie) puts her woodland survival skills to the test as she tries to save a child targeted by hit men. Jolie is joined by Jon Bernthal, Nicholas Hoult, Aiden Gillen, and Tyler Perry. This is the latest from Sicario and Yellowstone writer Taylor Sheridan.
Those Who Wish Me Dead debuts on HBO Max and in theaters May 14!
Adventure Time: Distant Lands – Together Again
Fans will have to wait no more for the latest Adventure Time special. The third hour-long segment in the ‘Distant Lands’ follow up to the original series finds Jake and Finn reunited, as the title suggests. There is still one more ‘Distant Lands’ segment on the way, titled Wizard City, which will surely be announced to release soon after fans find themselves in the feels with Together Again.
Adventure Time: Distant Lands – Together Again premieres on HBO Max May 20!
Tenet
Finally… Tenet in all of its confounding glory will be able to be misunderstood from the comfort of home. Christopher Nolan’s latest was met with divisive reactions, both from critics and long-time fans. Maybe a re-watch (with subtitles) can settle some of these debates? Either way, for the film being one of the earliest to release in theaters during the pandemic, it does feel a bit bittersweet to finally have it available to stream.
Tenet arrives on HBO Max May 1!
HBO Max’s Arrivals for May 2021
Coming May 1
17 Again, 2009
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, 2012 (HBO)
Anaconda, 1997
Anger Management, 2003 (HBO)
Baby Boom, 1987 (HBO)
Barry Lyndon, 1975
Black Hawk Down, 2001
The Cable Guy, 1996
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 2005
Cursed, 2005 (HBO)
Daddy Day Care, 2003
Darkest Hour, 2017 (HBO)
Darkness, 2004 (Extended Version) (HBO)
The Dirty Dozen, 1967
Dumb & Dumber, 1994
Employee Of The Month, 2006 (HBO)
Firehouse Dog, 2007 (HBO)
Flight Of The Intruder, 1991 (HBO)
Free Willy, 1993
Frida, 2002 (HBO)
Generation Por Que? (HBO)
God’s Not Dead, 2014 (HBO)
Good Morning, Vietnam, 1987 (HBO)
Happy Feet Two, 2011
Happy Feet, 2006
Harley Davidson And The Marlboro Man, 1991 (HBO)
Hercules, 1983 (HBO)
Igby Goes Down, 2002 (HBO)
Igor, 2008 (HBO)
Insomnia, 2002 (HBO)
The Interview, 2014
Jackie Brown, 1997
Kansas, 1988 (HBO)
Magic Mike, 2012
Menace II Society, 1993
Michael, 1996 (HBO)
Mortal Kombat, 1995
Movie 43, 2013 (HBO)
Muriel’s Wedding, 1995 (HBO)
My Baby’s Daddy, 2004 (HBO)
Mystery Date, 1991 (HBO)
Norbit, 2007 (HBO)
Para Rosa (Aka For Rosa) (HBO)
Precious, 2009 (HBO)
Rabid, 1977 (HBO)
Romance & Cigarettes, 2007 (HBO)
Rosewater, 2014 (HBO)
Rudy, 1993
Rush Hour 2, 2001
Rush Hour 3, 2007
Rush Hour, 1998
Save The Last Dance, 2001 (HBO)
Save The Last Dance 2, 2006 (HBO)
Senseless, 1998 (HBO)
Separate Tables, 1958 (HBO)
Serpico, 1974 (HBO)
Serving Sara, 2002 (HBO)
Summer Rental, 1985 (HBO)
Tenet, 2020 (HBO)
The Debt, 2010 (HBO)
The Immigrant, 2014 (HBO)
The Kingdom, 2007 (HBO)
The Last Of The Finest, 1990 (HBO)
The Perfect Man, 2005 (HBO)
The Tuxedo, 2002 (HBO)
The Wings Of The Dove, 1997 (HBO)
The Witches Of Eastwick, 1987 (HBO)
Tomcats, 2001 (HBO)
Trust Me, 2014 (HBO)
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection, 2012
Varsity Blues, 1999 (HBO)
Welcome To Sarajevo, 1997 (HBO)
When Harry Met Sally, 1989
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, 1971
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, 2018 (HBO)
Words And Pictures, 2014 (HBO)
Coming May 2
Uri and Ella, Season 1
Coming May 3
300: Rise of an Empire, 2014
Pray, Obey, Kill, Docu-Series Finale (HBO)
Coming May 6
Hunger, 2008
Legendary, Max Original Season 2 Premiere
- This season features ten new houses igniting the catwalk to battle for the legendary trophy and the $100,000 cash prize. Each episode is a themed extravaganza to see who will be named superior house and move one step closer to becoming “Legendary.”
Take Me Out To The Ball Game, 1949
That Damn Michael Che, Max Original Series Premiere
West Side Story (TCM CFF Opening Night), 1961
Coming May 7
La Boda De Rosa (Aka Rosa’s Wedding) (HBO)
Coming May 8
Greenland, 2020 (HBO
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 2 , (Subtitled, Episodes 14-25) (Crunchyroll Collection)
Coming May 9
Axios (HBO)
Coming May 10
Jujutsu Kaisen – Season 1, (Subtitled, Episodes 13-24) (Crunchyroll Collection)
Race for the White House, Season 2
The Crime of the Century, Two Part Documentary Premiere (HBO)
- A two-part documentary directed by Emmy® and Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney (HBO’s “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” “Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief”), is a searing indictment of Big Pharma and the political operatives and government regulations that enable over-production, reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates.
Coming May 13
Hacks, Max Original Series Premiere
- “Hacks” explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old (Hannah Einbinder). In addition to Smart and Einbinder, “Hacks” stars series regular Carl Clemons-Hopkins and recurring guest stars Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Paul W. Downs, Mark Indelicato, Poppy Liu, Johnny Sibilly, Meg Stalter and Rose Abdoo. The series is created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky. It is executive produced by Downs and Aniello via their Paulilu banner, Statsky via First Thought Productions, as well as Emmy® winners Michael Schur via Fremulon, David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment and Morgan Sackett. The studio is Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Wonder Woman 1984, 2020 (HBO)
Coming May 14
Those Who Wish Me Dead, Warner Bros. Film Premiere, 2021 (Available on HBO Max for 31 days from its respective theatrical release in the U.S. included at no additional cost to subscribers.)
Coming May 15
The Personal History Of David Copperfield, 2020 (HBO)
The Nevers, Part 1 Finale (HBO)
Coming May 19
Apple & Onion, Season 2A
Coming May 20
Adventure Time: Distant Lands – Together Again, Max Original
The Big Shot with Bethenny, Max Original Season Finale
Ellen’s Next Great Designer, Max Original Season Finale
Territorio (Aka Close Quarters) (HBO)
This Is Life with Lisa Ling, Season 7
Comng May 23
In Treatment, Season 4 Premiere (HBO)
- The reimagining of the series is set in present-day Los Angeles and brings a diverse trio of patients in session with Brooke to help navigate a variety of modern concerns. Issues such as the global pandemic and recent major social and cultural shifts are a backdrop to the work Brooke will undertake – all while she deals with complications in her own personal life.
Coming May 25
Cinderella Man, 2005 (HBO)
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)
Coming May 26
Curious George, 2006 (HBO)
Coming May 27
Friends: The Reunion
Coming May 28
A Black Lady Sketch Show, Season 2 Finale (HBO)
Coming May 30
Mare of Easttown, Limited Series Finale (HBO)
Leaving HBO Max in May
There is a good-sized list of titles leaving HBO Max this May. Some notables films include West Side Story (1961) and Cats (2019). Watch the first classic to prepare for Steven Spielberg’s upcoming remake and watch the second if you hate yourself. Also note that Mortal Kombat‘s streaming exclusivity ends on May 23, and prepare to say goodbye to the original films this month as well. The Matrix and Scream trilogies are also leaving, but will surely be back at another time. Recent period piece gems like Emma and Phantom Thread are also, unfortunately, making their way out for the time being.
Leaving May 11
Mud, 2013
Leaving May 13
Bullitt, 1968
The Searchers, 1956
Take Me Out To The Ball Game, 1949
West Side Story, 1961
Leaving May 16
Annabelle Comes Home, 2019 (HBO)
Leaving May 23
Mortal Kombat, 2021
Leaving May 28
The Operative, 2019 (HBO)
Leaving May 31
All About My Mother, 1999
All the President’s Men, 1976
Amistad, 1997 (HBO)
The Avengers, 1998
The Beguiled, 2017 (HBO)
The Bishop’s Wife, 1947
Black Christmas, 2019 (HBO)
The Blind Side, 2009 (HBO)
Blood Work, 2002
Blue Streak, 1999
Bombshell, 1933
The Book Of Henry, 2011 (HBO)
Book Of Shadows: The Blair Witch 2, 2000
The Bridges Of Madison County, 1995
Butterfield 8, 1960
Captain Blood, 1935
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, 1958
Cats, 2019 (HBO)
The Cider House Rules, 1999 (HBO)
Cinema Paradiso, 1990 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Cradle 2 The Grave, 2003
Critical Care, 1997 (HBO)
Cruel Intentions, 1999 (HBO)
The Dancer Upstairs, 2003 (HBO)
Dangerous Liaisons, 1988
The Dead Don’t Die, 2019 (HBO)
The Dead Pool, 1988
Death Becomes Her, 1992 (HBO)
Defending Your Life, 1991
Dirty Dancing, 1987 (HBO)
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, 2004 (HBO)
Dolores Claiborne, 1995
Doubt, 2008 (HBO)
Downhill, 2020 (HBO)
Driving Miss Daisy, 1989
Drop Dead Gorgeous, 1999
East Of Eden, 1955
Emma, 1996 (HBO)
Emma., 2020 (HBO)
A Face In The Crowd, 1957
Father Of The Bride, 1950
Flipped, 2010
Giant, 1956
Heartbreak Ridge, 1986
Hot Fuzz, 2007 (HBO)
Hunger, 2008
Jaws, 1975 (HBO)
Jaws 2, 1978 (HBO)
Jetsons: The Movie, 1990 (HBO)
Justice League: Gods And Monsters, 2015
A Kiss Before Dying, 1991 (HBO)
The Last King Of Scotland, 2006 (HBO)
The Last Kiss, 2006 (HBO)
Lego: Justice League: Attack Of The Legion Of Doom!, 2015
Life As We Know It, 2010
Life With Father, 1947
Little Women, 1949
Living Out Loud, 1998
The Long Kiss Goodnight, 1996
Magnum Force, 1973
March Of The Penguins, 2005
The Matrix Reloaded, 2003
The Matrix Revolutions, 2003
The Matrix, 1999
Maverick, 1994
Misery, 1990 (HBO)
Mortal Kombat, 1995
Mortal Kombat Annihilation, 1997
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge, 2020
Nell, 1994 (HBO)
Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always, 2020 (HBO)
Papillon, 1973
A Patch Of Blue, 1965
Phantom, 2013 (HBO)
Phantom Thread, 2017 (HBO)
Project X, 2012 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Ray, 2004 (HBO)
Richie Rich (Movie), 1994
A Room With A View, 1986 (HBO)
Sanctum, 2011 (HBO)
Scream, 1996
Scream 2, 1997
Scream 3, 2000
Se7En, 1995
Selena, 1997
Shaun Of The Dead, 2004 (HBO)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows, 2011 (HBO)
Skyline, 2010 (HBO)
Snakes On A Plane, 2006
Snow White And The Huntsman, 2012 (Unrated Version) (HBO)
Stuart Little, 1999
Stuart Little 2, 2002
The Thin Man, 1934
Tightrope, 1984
True Grit, 2010 (HBO)
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family, 2011
Unforgiven, 1992
Veronica Mars, 2014
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, 2007
Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, 1966
X-Men: Dark Phoenix, 2019 (HBO)
X-Men: First Class, 2011 (HBO)
You Can’t Take It With You, 1938
