for HBO Max viewers, May 2026 isn’t just about new content – it’s about experiencing stories that span not just continents and cultures, but lived experiences, all in one row. From a grand historical drama rooted in Japanese history to a contemporary sports journey with global appeal and intimate reflections on identity and society, HBO Max offers some standout films this month, including films that combine literary romance, large-scale disasters and smaller, more enigmatic originals.
Our top picks are an HBO Original Movie about grief and a mockumentary with a pop star. Here are 8 new shows and movies streaming on HBO Max in the US this May
8
Samurai song
Great fight choreography mixed with historical fact
Based on the popular manga series Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem, Samurai song is an ambitious, vivid wartime drama that explores the tense and passionate lives of the Shinsengumi, a legendary samurai police force tasked with protecting a crumbling shogunate or feudal military dictatorship.
Set in Kyoto during the final years of Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868), the story centers on a street fighter who finds purpose and belonging among fellow warriors fighting against enemies and ideals as bonds of loyalty are tested by betrayal, disease, and war. The series features an epic blend of historical grounding and dramatic stylization with large-scale action that promises intimate character arcs.
Samurai song It will debut on Saturday, May 9. New episodes will be released every week.
7
USA vs. the World: Four Years with the Men’s National Soccer Team
Exploring the pressures of representing a nation
Taken over four years, USA vs. the World: Four Years with the Men’s National Soccer Team It offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important periods in American football.
Five episodes sports documentaries exclusively chronicles the USA Men’s National Team as it prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America this June. Following key players such as Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, the series explores their professional pressures and personal journeys rather than focusing solely on match highlights, highlighting the emotional and psychological stakes of representing a nation on a global stage.
USA vs. the World: Four Years with the Men’s National Soccer Team It will debut on Tuesday, May 12. New episodes will be released every week.
6
List A: 15 stories from the Asian and Pacific diasporas
Voices silenced in the mainstream media
Shifting the focus from competition to identity, List A: 15 stories from the Asian and Pacific diasporas Offers a deeply personal, culturally significant tapestry of personal vignettes from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.
The documentary weaves together the personal stories of both celebrities like Sandra Oh and everyday people like retired New Jersey nurse Madelyn Yu to showcase the varied experiences that reflect the diversity within these broad identity labels. Intimate first-person accounts focus on these communities while also inviting the audience to question umbrella terms such as “Asian American” and “AAPI” (Asian American Pacific Islander).
List A: 15 stories from the Asian and Pacific diasporas It debuts on Wednesday, May 13.
5
Wuthering Heights
Gothic romance reimagined
In case you missed it Emerald Fennell’s bold new love story commentary Wuthering Heightsyou can finally see what all the fuss is about when it premieres on HBO Max this month. Margot Robbie (Barbie) and Jacob Elordi (Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein) is starring in the watery period drama.
More than a serious, faithful adaptation of the classic tale, Fennell’s film reimagines the story of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff with a modern, stylized edge, emphasizing the emotional intensity and youthful obsession. The visually daring literary adaptation brings to life the visceral experience of first encountering the novel’s forbidden passion, which quickly transforms from romance and intoxication to a grand tale of lust, love and utter madness.
Wuthering Heights It starts airing on Friday, May 1.
Wuthering Heights
- Release date
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February 13, 2026
- Execution time
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136 minutes
- Director
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Emerald Fennell
4
Greenland 2: Migration
A large-scale disaster
Gerard Butler returns for the 2020 disaster sequel Greenlandand this time it follows his family’s life in a post-apocalyptic world filled with violent radiation storms and crumbling infrastructure. Greenland 2: Migration gives us more focus on a high-stakes location filled with action-based stories around survival and resilience.
After a comet strikes most of Earth, the Garrits are forced to leave the safety of their Greenland bunker in search of a new home. Viewers follow a family man as he takes his loved ones on a perilous journey where danger is against them and the family’s sense of love, self-sacrifice and survival instinct will be tested.
Greenland 2: Migration It starts airing on Friday, May 8.
3
Lurker
Psychological shadows of celebrity worship
Love and obsession are two sides of the same coin Lurker gritty thriller by writer and producer Alex Russell (Bear). 2025 Mubi boasts a well-earned 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and stars rising star Archie Madekwe (Look) and Theodore Pellerin (The First Family).
After meeting a rising pop star, a 20-year-old retail worker seizes the opportunity to infiltrate the crowd and blur the line between friend and fan. As that line becomes unrecognizable, she learns the hard way that access and intimacy can be a matter of life and death. Set in glitzy Los Angeles where social currency reigns supreme, the film revels in the tension and dark irony of celebrity worship.
Lurker It debuts on Friday, May 15.
2
The Moment
The pressures of rapid fame
Alexander Skarsgård and Charli XCX lead the cast of the film The Momenta sly, self-aware satire that captures the thrill of momentum and the pressures of what it costs to stay on top. Kylie Jenner and Rachel Sennot (I love LA) also star.
As her arena tour debut approaches, a pop star finds herself in the spotlight of a whirlwind summer. She faces increasing pressures to do whatever it takes to stay relevant while also navigating and dealing with the complexities of fame.
The Moment It debuts on Friday, May 29.
The Moment
- Release date
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February 6, 2026
- Execution time
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103 minutes
- Director
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Aidan Zamiri
1
I miss you, I love you
A poignant exploration of a painful breakup
Oscar and Emmy winner Allison Janney stars as a blunt, grieving widow in the HBO Original. i miss you i love you with Andrew Rannells (Girls).
Forced to plan her husband’s funeral with a complete stranger after her estranged son sends his assistant (Rannells) in his place, Diane Patterson (Canney) navigates her grief through darkly funny situations, hidden secrets and long-held grudges. This unlikely partnership becomes an unlikely channel for connection, laughter and healing for this grieving mother and surrogate son.
I miss you, I love you It debuts on Friday, May 29.
Check out our list for the full lineup It’s all coming to HBO Max in May 2026.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $10.99 per month
- Synchronous streams
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2 or 4
