Best films released in the UK this month: May 2026
Highlights include Obsession, Backrooms and The Mandalorian and Grogu.
May is upon us – which means we're gearing up for the start of what looks like being a pretty special summer blockbuster season.
Of course, there are major new films from Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan to come later in the summer, but we're kicking things off in May with one of the year's most hotly anticipated sequels: The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Meanwhile, blockbuster properties don't get much bigger than Star Wars, but after something of a dip for the franchise when it comes to cinematic success, it will be interesting to see if The Mandalorian and Grogu can return it to the glory days.
There are plenty of other great options throughout the month, including a quartet of buzzy one-word horror titles: Hokum, Obsession, Passenger and Backrooms – all of which look worth your time.
Plus there's a new thriller starring Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman, a family film that sees a flock of sheep solve a murder mystery and a great showcase for the always brilliant Sir Ian McKellen, among many other new films.
To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices.
Best films released in the UK this month: May 2026
The Devil Wears Prada 2
Release date: Friday 1 May in cinemas
The main cast of the hit 2006 fashion industry comedy-drama The Devil Wears Prada – including Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt – are all back for this well-received sequel set 20 years later.
This time round, Hathaway's Andy has returned to Runway magazine while her old boss Miranda Priestly (Streep) is navigating a new media landscape – with Blunt's Emily now head of a luxury brand that possesses crucial funding.
Hokum
Release date: Friday 1 May in cinemas
Adam Scott stars in this horror film from Irish director Damian McCarthy (Oddity), playing an American writer named Ohm Bauman who travels to Ireland to scatter his parents' ashes at the eerie hotel they had honeymooned in many years ago.
Upon his arrival, it becomes immediately clear that all is not well – including talk of a witch haunting the old honeymoon suite. And although Ohm is a resolute sceptic, he gets pulled into a terrifying mystery surrounding a missing person.
The Sheep Detectives
Release date: Friday 8 May in cinemas
A flock of sheep team up to help local authorities in their English countryside village solve the murder of their farmer (played by Hugh Jackman) in this fun family film written by Chernobyl scribe Craig Mazin.
The starry voice cast includes Sir Patrick Stewart, Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Chris O'Dowd, while there are also live-action appearances from the likes of Emma Thompson, Nicholas Galitzine, Nicholas Braun and Molly Gordon.
Mortal Kombat II
Release date: Friday 8 May in cinemas
The latest Mortal Kombat film is a sequel to the 2021 movie, with several returning cast members from that previous video game adaptation.
The synopsis this time around reads: "Johnny Cage joins other fighters in the ultimate, no-holds-barred battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn, a powerful tyrant who threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders."
The Christophers
Release date: Friday 15 May in cinemas
Sir Ian McKellen is in fine form as a cantankerous artist in this comedy-drama from prolific director Steven Soderbergh, which also stars Michaela Coel, James Corden and Jessica Gunning.
Corden and Gunning play the children of McKellen's character, who hire young artist Lori Butler (Coel) to forge their father's unfinished series of paintings titled The Christophers in order to boost their inheritance when he passes away.
Obsession
Release date: Friday 15 May in cinemas
This buzzy horror film from former YouTuber Curry Barker explores events after a young man (Michael Johnston) wishes for his crush (Inde Navarrette) to fall madly in love with him – only for it to backfire when she develops an extreme obsession.
As her behaviour becomes increasingly erratic, and the pair's friends notice that something is not quite right, things increasingly escalate leading to an inevitably gory climax.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Release date: Friday 22 May in cinemas
The first Star Wars movie since the much maligned The Rise of Skywalker in 2019 is a spin-off from Disney+ series The Mandalorian, with Pedro Pascal's title character returning with Baby Yoda.
Jon Favreau is back on directorial duties, with the synopsis reading: "As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they enlist the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu."
Passenger
Release date: Friday 22 May in cinemas
A young couple – played by Jacob Scipio and Lou Llobell – are pursued by a demonic stalker when they witness a fatal car accident shortly after beginning a van life adventure in this horror film from director André Øvredal.
The synopsis teases that this stalker is "impossible to outrun and follows them wherever they go" – with some pretty terrifying consequences.
Finding Emily
Release date: Friday 22 May in cinemas
Angourie Rice and Spike Fearn lead this romcom from first-time feature director Alicia MacDonald about a lovesick musician who teams up with a driven psychology student to find his dream girl, after she gave him the wrong number.
The synopsis teases: "Together, they spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way."
Tuner
Release date: Friday 29 May in cinemas
Leo Woodall takes the lead in this entertaining thriller about a piano tuner with a debilitating hearing condition who is drawn into a world of crime that threatens to derail his relationship with new girlfriend Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu).
The impressive supporting cast includes roles for Dustin Hoffman and Jean Reno, while former documentary maker Daniel Roher directs with a jazzy flair – complete with great editing and sound design.
Backrooms
Release date: Friday 29 May in cinemas
Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor star in this horror from 20-year-old filmmaker Kane Parsons – adapted from his own 'creepypasta'-inspired YouTube series.
The synopsis reads: "A therapist ventures into an otherworldly dimension in search of her missing patient."
Power Ballad
Release date: Friday 29 May in cinemas
The latest film from Once and Sing Street filmmaker John Carney stars Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas as washed-up wedding singer Rick and fading boy-band star Danny respectively.
According to the synopsis: "When Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves."
Want to see this content?
This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.
Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
