Film Fix – Streaming

If April felt like a content dump, the month of May plays more like a reshuffle. There’s
no single streaming title that’s a must see, no obvious cultural center pulling everything
toward it. Instead, there’s a scattering of platform offerings—prestige here, franchise
maintenance there, and a whole lot of “more of the same” in between.

Netflix:

Netflix continues to operate on quantity sometimes also delivering quality, but even
within their sprawl, a couple of titles stand out.
Lord of the Flies (May 12) — This one arrives as yet another adaptation of William
Golding’s classic work of literature, this time migrating from the BBC. The material is
durable, but familiarity cuts both ways. We know where it’s going. The only question is
whether this handsome looking series finds a new angle into the psychology of collapse
or simply retraces the same bleak path.
The Boroughs (May 21) — Produced by the Duffer Brothers, “The Boroughs” could be
the month’s more intriguing option in the streamer’s sizable library. The premise—a
supernatural story unfolding within a retirement community—suggests a tonal pivot away
from the adolescent nostalgia that powered by the Duffer’s blockbuster “Stranger
Things.” There’s potential here for something more reflective, even melancholy, couple
with entertaining fantasy elements. Or it could just be the same formula with older faces.
Here’s hoping that this doesn’t feel entirely recycled.

Apple TV+:

Apple continues to act less like a streamer and more like a boutique studio, with fewer
releases, but each positioned as an event.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (May 20) — Actress Tatiana Maslany (see “She-Hulk:
Attorney at Law” and “Orphan Black”) gets a showcase playing a suburban mother
pulled into a blackmail scheme through a cam-boy connection. It’s a premise that could
tilt toward satire or suspense, and Maslany’s ability to navigate tonal shifts should make
this one worth watching.
Star City (May 29) — This is a spinoff of Apple’s epic “For All Mankind,”using an

unique POV play. By shifting the space race perspective to the Soviet side, “Star City”
expands its parent show’s alternate-history conceit in a way that appears to be organic
and personal rather than opportunistic and action driven. Apple has been careful with its
IP, and this looks like a continuation of that strategy.

HBO Max:

HBO Max lands one of the month’s most visually striking releases with Emerald
Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights.”
Wuthering Heights — (May 1) Fix Rating: 6/10
Fennell doesn’t make gentle films, and she doesn’t start here. Her take on Emily Brontë’s
novel is lush, abrasive, and ultimately exhausting—a story of doomed love told with such
relentless misery that it begins to work against itself.
The first third of the film is strong. The childhood connection between Cathy and
Heathcliff carries real emotional weight, and the film’s visual language—courtesy of
cinematographer Linus Sandgren—does much of the storytelling. But as the characters
age, the narrative stalls. What begins as tragedy hardens into repetition, with scene after
scene reinforcing the same dour emotional beat without deepening it.
There’s undeniable craft on display. The production design is sumptuous, the
performances committed, and Fennell’s stylistic confidence never wavers. But the film’s
refusal to offer even a flicker of relief leaves it feeling more punishing than profound.

Greenland 2: Migration (Mid May) — Fix Rating: 6/10
Gerard Butler returns to his increasingly reliable niche: mid-budget disaster films that
move just fast enough to keep you from asking too many questions. The original
“Greenland,” a COVID era release, succeeded on urgency, tracking a family’s desperate
race toward survival as the world collapsed. The sequel widens the scope but loses some
of that immediacy.
This time, the Garritys are forced out of a vast, but collapsing underground bunker and
into a cross-continental migration through a landscape still reeling from catastrophe. The
journey—by land, sea, and whatever else gets them forward—becomes repetitive, even
exhausting. And yet, Butler’s grounded presence and the film’s efficient runtime keep it
from completely wearing out its welcome.

It’s not an escalation so much as a continuation. Another solid entry in Butler’s run of
dependable, unpretentious actioners.

Peacock:

Peacock’s approach remains simple: offer one reason to show up and surround it with
familiarity.
That reason could be “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” available to stream on
Peacock starting on May 22. Quentin Tarantino’s long-gestating two film action revenge
saga has been combined with added footage into one marathon viewing experience. For
fans, it’s an easy proposition—a four-hour immersion into a story that was already
designed to feel operatic in scale.
Everything else on the platform appears to be what you’d expect: reality programming,
true crime, and library titles designed to fill time rather than command it.

Hulu:

Hulu continues to split the difference between curation and volume.
Deli Boys (Season 2, May 28) — The popular crime series returns after a first season that
introduced the show’s central concept. The series followed two Pakistani American
brothers navigating their late father’s hidden criminal empire. If it can maintain its unique
momentum, “Deli Boys” will remain one of the more distinctive offerings in Hulu’s
lineup.
Beyond that, the platform leans heavily on its usual mix of reality programming and
catalog additions. It’s less about discovery than it is about availability.

Disney+:

Disney+ stays exactly where you’d expect—firmly within its franchise ecosystem.
The Punisher: One Last Kill (May 12) — Jon Bernthal is back as Frank Castle,
continuing Marvel’s incremental push toward more character-focused storytelling. The
appeal is direct: if you’re already invested, you’ll be watching. If you’re not, this isn’t
likely to change your mind.
Bottom Line:

May’s streaming slate feels less like a statement and more like maintenance. Sequels,
spinoffs, reinterpretations—variations on what’s already proven to work.
There are highlights. “Wuthering Heights” for those willing to endure its bleakness but
will be enchanted by the visual style. “Greenland 2” for viewers looking for something
straightforward and kinetic, while giving viewers another gruff Gerard Butler starring
vehicle. “Star City” and “The Boroughs” for high-concept television with at least the
promise of something new.
But this is a month built on familiarity. Whether that’s comfort or complacency depends
on what you’re looking for.