Top 10 Releases Coming to and Leaving Netflix in May 2019

The waters around Amity Island just got a little bit safer, but cinephiles with a Netflix subscription are a little worse off for it. Spielberg's seminal thriller about a killer shark gave birth to the concept of the summer blockbuster, and is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. Sure, the practical effects may feel dated, but the film, as a whole, has aged with grace. The sequels may be an exercise in diminishing returns, but we’d be remiss not to warn you that as Jaws swims off of Netflix, it’s taking Jaws 2, 3-D and The Revenge with it.

It’s a scary time in American politics. Rarely before has the voting population seemed so fiercely divided. Though it might feel like the end of days, from these tumultuous times, we’re also seeing the birth of a new generation of strong-willed, outspoken politicians. These are individuals who aren’t content to navigate the system - they want to fundamentally change it. “Knock Down The House” follows four such women, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, and Paula Jean Swearengin through their primary campaigns. The documentary, which won the U.S. Documentary Audience Award and Festival Favorite Award at Sundance, explores what drove these progressive Democrats to run for office, and their respective journeys on the campaign trail.

#4: “Watchmen” (2009) Leaving: May 1st, 2019

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For years, Alan Moore’s groundbreaking and hugely influential graphic novel, “Watchmen” was deemed unfilmable. Great filmmakers, including Terry Gilliam, tried, only to walk away from the project feeling that they’d fail to do the story justice. Darren Aronofsky and Paul Greengrass would both become attached to the project, only for it to fall through. Finally, in 2009, filmmaker and comic book lover Zack Snyder made it a reality. The film proved polarizing with audiences and critics alike, but given the pressure of adapting such a high profile property, that was always somewhat inevitable. Love it or hate it, Zack Snyder’s “Watchmen” is one of a kind and a commendable effort, making it’s removal from Netflix a notable loss.

If the animation style of this new Netflix original series looks familiar, that’s because it comes from members of the same creative team as “BoJack Horseman”. Based on that piece of information alone, you can guarantee that a fair number of people are going to be giving this show a shot. That being said, creator Lisa Hanawalt, who serves a producer on Bojack, is really looking to do something different with “Tuca & Bertie” - an adult animated series geared more towards a female audience. With Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun making up the regular cast, this series about anthropomorphic birds looks poised to soar.

#3: “Bill Nye, the Science Guy” (1993-98) Collection 1 Leaving: May 15th, 2019

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In the 90s, Bill Nye took all manner of scientific principles and made them fun and digestible for kids. The series may have only lasted five seasons for a total of 100 episodes, but during that time it won 19 Emmy Awards and established Bill Nye as a pop culture icon. The show’s legacy speaks for itself; it’s very hard to find a 90s kid who doesn’t have fond memories of this quirky yet informative series. We’ve been enjoying catching up with Bill on Netflix. Sadly, as of May 15th, we’ll have to look elsewhere for our fix.

#3: “When They See Us” (2019) Coming: May 31st, 2019

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From filmmaker Ava DuVernay comes this Netflix original series exploring the Central Park jogger case. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, in 1989 five teens of color from Harlem were arrested in connection with the assault and rape of a jogger. What followed was a problematic and lengthy legal battle spanning decades, which saw the teens incarcerated for years. With a stellar cast in tow, DuVernay uses the miniseries to retells a horrifying tale of racial prejudice and the failure of criminal justice system. For Netflix subscribers who can’t get enough crime-related content, this drama is sure to appeal, while also introducing a new generation to the important true story of the Central Park Five.

The work of John Hughes has some of the best replay value a streaming service could ask for. His unique insight into the lives of high school teenagers continues to resonate, even decades later, while its influence is still felt in contemporary coming-of-age films across a range of genres. Now, it bears noting that some elements of “Sixteen Candles” have aged extremely poorly, particularly the character of Long Duk Dong and the question of consent between Ted and Caroline. While that’s an important conversation to have while watching the film, “Sixteen Candles” still makes for a nostalgic viewing, and it’s a shame to see it go.

Netflix is clearly on a mission to compete with the box office, and with original comedies like this, the streaming service is well on its way. For her directorial debut, SNL alum Amy Poehler has assembled an all-star cast of familiar faces including Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey, Jason Schwartzman, and Tina Fey. To celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday, a group of friends get together for a girls weekend in Napa Valley. It promises to be both heartfelt and freaking hilarious. So break out an oversized wine glass, get your friends together and enjoy the ride!

Pierce Brosnan’s time as James Bond may not have resulted in quite as many solid films as we would have liked, but there’s no denying that his first outing as Agent 007 was a whole lotta fun. Bolstered by a rock solid performance courtesy of Sean Bean, it was sexy, thrilling, and just a bit silly, making for an altogether rewatchable film. Unfortunately, as of May 1st it will officially be retired from active duty on Netflix. Not only will GoldenEye be departing the streaming service, but it will be taking a number of its peers along with it, including, “Dr. No”, “Tomorrow Never Dies”, “For Your Eyes Only”, “Licence to Kill”, “From Russia With Love” and “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions “Lucifer (2016-) Season 4 Coming: May 8th, 2019 “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion” (2006-07) Coming: May 1st, 2019 “8 Mile” (2002) Leaving: May 1st, 2019

Netflix subscribers sure do love them some killer content. The platform is jam-packed with true crime series and documentaries and the library just keeps on growing. On May 1st, we’re getting a second season of “Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer” which, as the title suggests, takes you on a deep dive into the “psyches of the world’s most infamous serial killers”. Then, just two days later, Netflix is releasing their highly anticipated biographical crime thriller about Ted Bundy, starring, in a compelling casting move, Zac Efron. For everyone who tore through The Ted Bundy Tapes, this is sure to be a must-watch.