What to stream this week: May 13–27, 2026

Twenty-plus new titles landed across Netflix, HBO/Max, and Apple TV+ in the past two weeks. Most of them don't need your time. A handful genuinely do. Below is a scored guide to everything that arrived in the window — spotlights on the titles worth talking about, quick tables for the rest.

Quick-pick table

All titles with available Rotten Tomatoes scores, sorted by tier then platform.

Title	Platform	Format	RT Critic	RT Audience	Tier
Rick and Morty S9	HBO/Max	Animated Series	100%	92%	★★★ Must-Watch
Widow's Bay	Apple TV+	Comedy/Horror Series	97%	91%	★★★ Must-Watch
Marty, Life Is Short	Netflix	Documentary	97%	90%	★★★ Must-Watch
The Boroughs	Netflix	Sci-Fi Series	96%	80%	★★★ Must-Watch
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed	Apple TV+	Comedy Series	93%	87%	★★★ Must-Watch
The Crash	Netflix	Documentary	91%	62%	★★☆ Worth It*
Remarkably Bright Creatures	Netflix	Film	83%	90%	★★★ Must-Watch
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder S2	Netflix	Mystery Series	80%	68%	★★☆ Worth It
Mating Season	Netflix	Series	67%	—	★★☆ Worth It
Ladies First	Netflix	Film	24%	66%	✗ Skip

*The Crash has a 29-point critic/audience gap — see the full entry below for what that split means in practice.

Netflix

Netflix released 18+ titles in this two-week window across film, series, documentary, stand-up, and — for the first time — live MMA. Three films and series land in Must-Watch territory; a further two are Worth It with caveats.

The Boroughs ★★★ Must-Watch

Premiered: May 21 · Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery · Format: Series (Season 1) RT: 96% Tomatometer (52 reviews) / 80% Audience Score 1

In a sun-drenched retirement community, something is stealing time — literally. A group of unlikely residents has to band together to stop an otherworldly force before it takes the one thing they have least of. The series comes from the creators of Stranger Things (Netflix, 2016–2025, the supernatural ensemble drama that ran five seasons), and the cast is the closest thing to an ensemble flex this year: Bill Pullman, Jena Malone (Donnie Darko), Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters (The Wire), and Alfre Woodard. 2

96% across 52 critics is not a small sample. The 80% audience score — solid but noticeably below the critical consensus — suggests the show is more measured and atmospheric than crowd-pleasing, which is exactly the right trade-off for this kind of material.

Similar titles: Stranger Things (same creators, supernatural mystery with ensemble cast), Cocoon (1985 — elderly community confronts an alien phenomenon), The Resort (2022 Peacock mystery).

Marty, Life Is Short ★★★ Must-Watch

Premiered: May 12 · Genre: Documentary, Comedy · Format: Documentary film RT: 97% / 90% Audience Score 3

Martin Short — comedian and actor — turns his own life into the documentary it apparently always was. Told through classic clips, fresh interviews, and home movies never shown publicly before, the film is less a career retrospective than a portrait of how Short built a life of genuine joy through periods of genuine grief. At 97% critical / 90% audience, the numbers are unusual for a doc of this kind.

Similar titles: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023, Apple TV+), Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces (2024, Apple TV+), Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (2018).

Remarkably Bright Creatures ★★★ Must-Watch

Premiered: May 8 · Genre: Drama · Format: Film RT: 83% / 90% Audience Score 4

Based on Shelby Van Pelt's bestselling novel, the film stars Sally Field as a widow who works at a local aquarium and forms an unlikely bond with both a giant Pacific octopus and a wayward young man in town searching for family. Together, the three unravel a mystery that turns out to be personal.

The audience score (90%) running 7 points above the critical score (83%) is a meaningful data point: this is a film that audiences find more affecting than critics are willing to admit, which usually indicates something warm and specific doing its job without showboating. Worth your Saturday evening.

Similar titles: A Man Called Otto (2022), My Octopus Teacher (2020), The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2023).

The Boroughs series poster — *The Boroughs* (2026) — the week's standout new series 1

The Crash ★★☆ Worth It — with a caveat

Premiered: May 15 · Genre: True Crime Documentary · Format: Documentary film RT: 91% Tomatometer / 62% Audience Score 5

A teenager drives into a building, killing her boyfriend and his friend. What appears at first to be a terrible accident becomes, according to prosecutors, a murder case. The Crash follows the investigation and trial.

The 29-point gap between critics and audiences is the main thing to understand about this film before you watch it. That split typically emerges when critics are responding to the filmmaking — the restraint, the structure, the way the film builds its case — while general audiences find the pacing slow or the resolution emotionally unsatisfying. If you came to Netflix true crime through American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020) or similar lean, journalistic docs, you're more likely to land on the critics' side of this divide.

Similar titles: American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020, Netflix), The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson (2026, Netflix), Worst Ex Ever (2024–, Netflix).

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder — Season 2 ★★☆ Worth It

Premiered: May 27 · Genre: Mystery, Crime · Format: Series RT: 80% (47 reviews) / 68% Audience Score 6

Pip Fitz-Amobi continues investigating whether schoolgirl Andie Bell was really killed by her alleged boyfriend Sal Singh five years ago — or whether the accepted story is wrong. Season 2 extends Holly Jackson's bestselling YA thriller series, following on from a first season that built a strong audience following.

The 80% Tomatometer and 68% audience score represent a slight softening from the first season's reception. The consensus emerging from early viewers: the adaptation is faithful and well-acted, but Season 2 doesn't expand the formula meaningfully. If Season 1 worked for you, Season 2 is a solid continuation; first-timers should start at the beginning.

Similar titles: The Crow Girl (2025, 88% RT), DI Ray (2022–), Bergerac (2025 reboot, 100% RT).

Other Netflix titles this window

Title	Release	Format	RT	Notes
Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine	May 15	Heist Series	—	Money Heist/Berlin spinoff; Pedro Alonso returns to steal a Leonardo da Vinci painting in Seville
Lord of the Flies	May 4+	Series	—	First TV adaptation of William Golding's novel about boys stranded on an island
Devil May Cry S2	May 12	Animated Series	—	Dante vs. twin brother Vergil; continuation of the game-based anime
Wanda Sykes: Legacy	May 19	Stand-Up Special	—	New stand-up special from comedian and actress Wanda Sykes
Untold UK	May 12–26	Documentary Series	—	Three episodes: Jamie Vardy's rise; Liverpool's 2005 Champions League comeback; Vinnie Jones
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano (LIVE)	May 16	Live MMA	N/A	Netflix's first live MMA broadcast; Rousey's first fight in nearly a decade; also features Diaz vs. Perry
Perfect Match S4	May 13	Reality Series	—	Love Is Blind universe crossover
Black Phone 2	May 16	Horror Film	—	Sequel to the 2022 Ethan Hawke horror; the Grabber returns
The Bus: A French Football Mutiny	May 13	Documentary	—	France's controversial 2010 World Cup bus strike
Abraham Lincoln / FDR / Grant / The Great War	May 18	Historical Docudramas	—	Four-title historical programming block
Ladies First	May 22	Film	24% / 66%	Skip — Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike in an alternate-reality comedy where women hold all power; critics panned it, most audiences agree 2

HBO / Max

Rick and Morty — Season 9 ★★★ Must-Watch

Premiered: May 24 · Genre: Animated Sci-Fi Comedy · Format: Animated Series (Season 9) RT: 100% Tomatometer (9 early reviews) / 92% Audience Score 7

Rick Sanchez — the genius, chaotic, morally unmoored scientist — is back for a ninth season, opening with Episode 1: "There's Something About Morty." The 100% Tomatometer is from a small early sample (9 reviews); scores will stabilize as more critics weigh in. The 92% audience score from early viewers is the more meaningful signal at this stage.

Context that matters: Rick and Morty lost co-creator Justin Roiland in 2023 following legal proceedings. Season 9 is the third season produced without him. The critical consensus from early reviews is that the show has found its balance — but viewers who tuned out during the post-Roiland transition may need to decide for themselves whether the version that arrives in Season 9 is the show they want back.

Similar titles: Solar Opposites (2020–, Hulu — originally Roiland-adjacent sci-fi comedy), Futurama (1999–, the original animated sci-fi comedy series), Inside Job (2021–2022, Netflix).

Rick and Morty Season 9 poster — *Rick and Morty* Season 9 — back on Max with a 100% early Tomatometer 7

Other HBO / Max releases this window

Title	Date	Format	RT	Notes
Wuthering Heights	May 2026 (exact date unconfirmed)	Film	—	New film adaptation of Emily Brontë's novel; reported for HBO/Max May release (exact date not confirmed)
Ravalear: Not for Sale	May 22	Drama Limited Series	—	Synopsis not available at time of writing

Note: The HBO/Max research data for this window is partial. The full May slate for Max originals and licensed titles may include additional releases not listed here.

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ had a strong window — three series with RT scores in the 93–97% range, plus one newcomer that's a direct spinoff of an acclaimed existing universe.

Widow's Bay ★★★ Must-Watch

New episodes through June 3 · Genre: Comedy/Horror · Format: Series RT: 97% / 91% Audience Score 8

Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Perry Mason) plays Tom Loftis, the mayor of a small New England island trying to boost tourism — which is complicated somewhat by mounting evidence that the island might be cursed. Widow's Bay is a comedy-horror series created by Katie Dippold (writer of Ghostbusters: Answer the Call) and directed by Hiro Murai (whose credits include Atlanta and the Childish Gambino "This Is America" video) and Ti West (X, Pearl, MaXXXine). Also starring Stephen Root (Barry, Office Space) and Kevin Carroll.

The combination of Murai and Ti West as directing collaborators is immediately interesting — both have built reputations for genre work with a strong visual sensibility. 97% critical / 91% audience on a comedy-horror is not a common combination; the genre split usually forces a choice between the two audiences.

Similar titles: The Good Place (NBC, 2016–2020, comedy in an unusual setting with dark underpinnings), Schitt's Creek (2015–2020), What We Do in the Shadows (2019–, FX, vampire comedy with deadpan horror).

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed ★★★ Must-Watch

Premiered: May 20 · Genre: Comedy · Format: Series RT: 93% / 87% Audience Score 9

Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) plays Paula, a newly divorced mother whose already-complicated life accelerates into blackmail, a murder investigation, and the chaos of competitive youth soccer — all while trying to maintain a custody arrangement and figure out who she is post-divorce. Created by David J. Rosen and directed by David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, the recent Halloween trilogy). Jake Johnson (New Girl, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) co-stars.

93% Tomatometer and 87% audience score for an Apple TV+ comedy is a strong read. Maslany has previously shown the ability to carry a show on her own (she played nine roles simultaneously in Orphan Black); combining her with Rosen and Gordon Green suggests something that knows its own register.

Similar titles: Bad Sisters (2022–, Apple TV+, dark comedy about a family dealing with murder), Fleabag (2016–2019, Amazon, solo female protagonist in controlled chaos), Dead to Me (2019–2022, Netflix).

Widow's Bay — Apple TV+ comedy-horror series

Apple TV+ delivered three 90%+ RT-scored series in the May window — the platform's strongest showing this year.

Star City

Premiering: May 29 · Genre: Drama, Alternate History · Format: Series (Season 1) Platform: Apple TV+ · RT: No reviews yet 10

A spinoff of For All Mankind (Apple TV+, 2019–, the alternate-history drama about a world where the Soviet Union beat the US to the Moon), Star City explores the same universe from the Soviet side. Created by Ronald D. Moore (who developed For All Mankind and is best known for reimagining Battlestar Galactica), along with Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert. Stars Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, Elementary), Adam Nagaitis (The Terror), and Agnes O'Casey (Bad Sisters).

No reviews are in yet at time of writing — the premiere is May 29. For All Mankind fans will want this on the queue regardless. Newcomers to the universe can likely jump in here independently, though the parent show is worth watching first if you have time.

Similar titles: For All Mankind (2019–, Apple TV+), The Americans (2013–2018, FX, Soviet Cold War agents), Deutschland 83 (2015, AMC, Cold War thriller from the German perspective).

Other Apple TV+ releases this window

No additional Apple TV+ releases with confirmed details were identified in the May 13–27 window beyond the titles above. A note on a well-reviewed show that aired nearby but on a different platform:

The Other Bennet Sister (BritBox, premiered May 6) — 97% RT (36 reviews) / 89% Audience Score 11 — tells the story of Mary Bennet, the overlooked middle daughter from Pride and Prejudice, in her own full narrative. Stars Richard E. Grant. BritBox subscribers should put it at the top of the queue.

Disney+

Disney+ had the sparsest confirmed new-release slate of the four platforms this window. No new titles with available scores or confirmed details were identified for the May 13–27 period beyond what entertainment listings noted. The full Disney+ May slate — including any Marvel, Star Wars, or Pixar content — may include titles not captured here.

Cross-platform shortlist

Three titles from the past two weeks that belong at the top of any queue:

The Boroughs (Netflix) — the strongest new scripted series of the window
Rick and Morty S9 (HBO/Max) — early 100% Tomatometer; easiest entry point in years for lapsed fans
Widow's Bay (Apple TV+) — comedy-horror with a standout creative team; the most underreported title in the window

If you want a film night instead of series commitments: Marty, Life Is Short and Remarkably Bright Creatures are both on Netflix and both sit above 83% on both RT scores.

Cover photo: Person pressing the button of a remote control by kaboompics.com via Pexels