The best films to see in May: from ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ to ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’

A strong dose of noughties nostalgia will seize our screens very soon. The highly anticipated sequel to the generation-defining comedy The Devil Wears Prada sees Anne Hathaway reprise her role as Andy Sachs, former assistant to Meryl Streep’s iconic and somewhat nightmarish Miranda Priestly. The pair take on the fashionable streets and chic offices of New York City once more, but with a digital-age twist: together, they must navigate the looming death of print media. With Doechii and Lady Gaga on the soundtrack – ‘Runway’ is a certified unskippable track – hopes are high for a promising film of the year. 

In cinemas May 1

Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson and some talking sheep… meet the exact midway point between Babe and Knives Out. Based on Leonie Swann’s 2005 novel Three Bags Full, this wacky detective story adds to director Kyle Balda’s growing corpus of family films (see: The Lorax, Minions and Despicable Me 3). It follows a beloved shepherd’s flock wrapped up in the woolly mystery of their shepherd’s (Jackman) untimely death. They’re anything but sheepish as they step out into the real world, dealing with amateur detectives and headbutting cars.

In cinemas May 8

Kikuo Tachibana’s Oscar-nominated drama has become Japan’s highest-grossing live-action film of all time, and it’s easy to see why. Starting in post-war Japan, the film chronicles five decades in the country’s fierce traditional theatre scene. The son of a yakuza boss is taken in by a kabuki actor, and what follows is an intricate character study against a backdrop of ambition and identity. The real grit of the film is its dedication to the raw art of theatre, and kabuki’s most provocative tradition: men taking on the role of women. Tachibana firmly embraces all kabuki’s complexities and brazen flaws, and the stunning costume design and cinematography are just the cherry on top.

In cinemas May 8

Following her captivating performance in Mother Mary, Emmy-winning Michaela Coel returns to our screens with Steven Soderbergh’s tantalising art drama. Coel lays a forger hired for a small fortune to finish the abandoned works of Ian McKellen’s once-celebrated artist – all so his children can guarantee a weighty inheritance. Digging into conversations around ethics, artistry and identity, this humble gem of a film is bound to sit with you long after the credits roll.

In cinemas May 15

Don’t be fooled by the title – Ben Wheatley’s latest action-packed crime thriller is anything but ordinary. The off-beat mystery sees Bob Odenkirk and Nobody writer Derek Kolstad join scintillating storytelling forces yet again, the latter stepping into his usual leading man role. With a plot littered with conspiracies, bank robberies and sheriff stand-offs, fans of Better Call Saul and Odenkirk’s two Nobody films, can buckle in for a familiarly brash yet unexpected ride. 

In cinemas May 15

How about some summer loving? In this quintessentially adorable British romcom, a young musician (Alien: Romulus’s Spike Fearn) becomes obsessed with finding his ‘dream girl,’ after realising the phone number she gave him was a digit short. His zeal attracts the attention of a psychology student (The Nice Guys’ Angourie Rice), who’s overjoyed at the prospect of a perfect test subject. Rife with emotional twists, turns and surprising truths, this one goes out to the yearners.

In cinemas May 22

It’s a big year for Star Wars fans. Pedro Pascal resumes his role as lone bounty hunter Din Djarin, embarking on a new intergalactic adventure with his adorable apprentice Grogu, better known as ‘baby Yoda.’ It’s the first Star Wars movie to land on the big screen since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, so it’s definitely something to make an occasion out of. No need for a Disney+ subscription to catch this major flick, though the couch potatoes among us will have to peel away from the small screen.

In cinemas May 22

Reddit-dwellers will know about this one. Paying homage to the namesake hall-of-fame creepypasta, Backrooms conjoins sci-fi and analogue horror to induce a cryptic, dread-filled atmosphere. 20-year-old Kane Parsons is A24’s youngest director with this feature-film debut, while Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sentimental Value’s Renate Reinsve take on the leading roles. When the US indie studio pushes the boundaries of experimental film like this, it’s worth seeing if it sticks the landing. 

In cinemas May 29

Nick Jonas is at home in his role as a boy-band star Danny Wilson, though the film paints his fictional prospects fairly dim compared to his success with the Jonas Brothers. Paul Rudd plays washed-up wedding singer Rick, who gets screwed over when the song he writes for Danny becomes a global hit. Tales of music and ambition tend to go hand-in-hand, so it’ll be interesting to see what comes of this take starring two of Hollywood’s leading men. 

In cinemas May 29

Another tuneful drama to round off the list. Reminiscent of Baby Driver with a different musical twist, Leo Woodall plays a piano technician mentored by Dustin Hoffman who finds himself falling in with some major wrong’uns. Apparently, apt piano tuning skills can be quite handy when it comes to cracking safes. Drama naturally ensues in the Oscar-winning director Daniel Roher’s (Navalny) first narrative feature – a life of crime doesn’t pair all that well with budding romance, unsurprisingly. 

In cinemas May 29