Happy Memorial Day weekend. It’s the unofficial start of summer, even though the weather doesn’t seem to cooperate. Hopefully, you have some time off and can stream some of the new movies that arrived last week, including Ladies First on Netflix and One Battle After Another on Prime Video.
It’s now the last weekend of May, so the list of new movies arriving on the major streaming services is a little light. However, there are two HBO Max movies that occupy our first and second spots. One is a new drama about grief starring an Oscar-winning actress, and the other is a mockumentary headlined by a top pop star. All five of these movies can be streamed in the U.S.
5
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
The underwater action comedy
It’s actually a shame what happened to the Aquaman franchise. 2018’s Aquaman, which starred Jason Momoa as the titular hero, unexpectedly grossed $1.2 billion worldwide. Then, COVID-19 and multiple rounds of reshoots delayed the film even further. The final nail in the coffin came when Warner Bros. hired James Gunn and Peter Safran, who, unsurprisingly, wanted to completely reboot the DC universe.
For lack of a better word, WBD essentially “dumped” Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in December 2023. Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) still wants to kill Aquaman, and this time, he has a powerful Black Trident to do it. To stop Black Manta from destroying Atlantis and the rest of the underwater world, Aquaman must team up with his brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson). Yes, the same half-brother who tried to kill him. This movie is a lot funnier than it should be, and that’s a testament to the strong chemistry between Momoa and Wilson.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom begins streaming on Prime Video on May 27.
4
The Theory of Everything
Eddie Redmayne’s Oscar moment
Eddie Redmayne achieved acting immortality when he won Best Actor at the 2015 Oscars for playing Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. To play Hawking, Redmayne underwent a complete physical transformation, a hallmark of many Best Actor winners. The movie begins in the early 1960s when Hawking meets Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones) and instantly falls in love. However, Hawking’s muscles begin to fail him after being diagnosed with motor neuron disease.
The rest of the movie chronicles Hawking’s academic achievements along with his marriage to Wilde. James Marsh’s drama is not a traditional biopic — it really hones in on the love story between Hawking and Wilde. Personally, I was pulling for Michael Keaton to win the Oscar for Birdman. It’s nothing personal, Mr. Redmayne.
The Theory of Everything premieres on Netflix on May 31.
3
Propeller One-Way Night Coach
John Travolta’s directorial debut
I need PR teams to study what John Travolta is doing right now to promote his directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach. The legendary actor cannot stop wearing a beret and glasses. He flexed the new look on the Cannes steps and brought it over to the States on The Tonight Show. I pray Travolta keeps this look for a long time.
As for his movie, Propeller One-Way Night Coach is based on the children’s book of the same name written by Travolta. The 61-minute movie follows Jeff (Clark Shotwell), a young boy who boards a cross-country flight to Hollywood with his mother, Helen (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett). It’s a personal film for Travolta, a pilot himself, as he highlights the wonders and awe of aviation.
Apple TV will release Propeller One-Way Night Coach on May 29.
Propeller One-Way Night Coach
Release Date
May 29, 2026
Runtime
61 Minutes
Director
John Travolta
2
The Moment
It’s Charli XCX’s world
It’s rare for pop stars to break out after spending over a decade in the business. Charli XCX has been around since 2008, and during the 2010s, she had some hits with “Fancy” and “Boom Clap.” She was like your pop star’s favorite pop star — someone on the cusp of mainstream stardom. Then, Brat came along in 2024 and launched her into superstardom.
You could say that Charli is having a moment, so naturally, the singer poked fun at herself and the entire Brat Summer movement in A24’s The Moment. In this mockumentary, Charli XCX plays a fictionalized version of herself as she prepares for a highly anticipated arena tour. Charli grapples with the pressures of fame and her reluctance to play into the Brat character she created for herself. The Moment has garnered a polarizing reaction from fans and critics. Is Charli a brilliant entertainer in on the joke, or is it a misguided attempt at comedy? Regardless of your opinion, Charli is never boring, and I love her for it.
The Moment heads to HBO Max on May 29.
1
Miss You, Love You
Grief takes on a new meaning
Jim Rash knows a thing or two about grief. Rash co-wrote The Descendants, an Oscar-winning movie about a man forced to reconcile with his comatose wife’s likely death and its impact on his relationship with two daughters. Miss You, Love You has a different premise compared to The Descendants, but the idea of grief and finding answers in unlikely places is a common thread in both movies.
Diane Patterson (Allison Janney) is a grieving widow who must now plan for her husband’s funeral. Diane thought her estranged son, Tyler, would help with the process. Much to her surprise, Tyler sends his assistant, Jamie Simms (Andrew Rannells), to help Diane with the funeral. It’s an odd pairing at first, but over time, Diane and Jamie find solace in each other. It’s definitely the kind of movie that will force you to call your parents when it’s over.
Miss You, Love You premieres on May 29 on HBO Max.
More movies to stream this week
Tom Clancy’s iconic CIA analyst returned to Prime Video last week in Jack Ryan: Ghost War. It’s essentially a supersized version of the TV show, which I thoroughly enjoy. Elsewhere, try one of Netflix’s war movies, including Unbroken and Hacksaw Ridge.