11 Best Movie Recommendations to Watch in May 2024

Kapanlagi.com - In May, there are many film choices in theaters ranging from horror, animation, to action-packed ones. Watching movies can be a fun option to fill your free time on weekends.

In May 2024, there are various blockbuster films offered that can be watched with family and friends. Here are the movie recommendations for May along with their synopses.

1. IF

(Source: Instagram @ifmovie)

What if children's imaginary friends are not just imagination? What if they are real beings who have to wander in limbo after the children who used to play with them have grown up? That is the premise of IF, a family comedy written and directed by John Krasinski.

Ryan Reynolds and Cailey Fleming play two of the few people in the world who can see these outdated IFs; Krasinski's former co-star from The Office, Steve Carell, voices a big furry IF named Blue. Krasinski said he was inspired by his two daughters' games, but also by his wife, Emily Blunt, who was happy to see him switch from the dark atmosphere in his directorial debut, A Quiet Place.

"I remember Emily saying to me, 'I'm so glad you're doing this,'" Krasinski said in Entertainment Weekly. "And I said, 'Why?' And she said, 'Because living in darkness, darkness is really hard for too long.' And coming from Mary Poppins, I thought, she definitely knows what she's talking about." Starts airing on May 17th.

2. Robots Dreams

(Source: Instagram @neonrated)

Spanish-French animated film nominated for an Oscar by Pablo Berger, adapted from Sara Varon's graphic novel, tells the delightful story of a dog named Dog who lives alone in 1980s New York. His life changes when he buys a mail-order robot named Robot and discovers how enjoyable it is to have a best friend.

However, the rusty Robot gets stuck on the beach, behind locked gates. Can Dog survive without him? Robot Dreams is filled with refreshing jokes, brilliant ideas, and touching truths, all done without dialogue. Wendy Ide in The Observer said that this film is "one of the best animations in recent years."

"There is an incredible tenderness in storytelling, empathy, and emotional depth, which expands the potential audience of this film from children, who will respond to the cute characters and gentle intelligence, to teenagers and adults, who will recognize the anxiety and awkwardness of trying to function alone."

Released on May 9th in Germany and May 31st in the United States.

3. The Garfield Movie

(Source: Instagram @garfieldmovie)

One of the funniest moments in Zombieland occurs when the severely injured Bill Murray, playing himself, is asked if he has any regrets. With his last breath, he replies, "Maybe, Garfield." Murray may not have liked the two live-action Garfield movies where he voiced the CGI cat, but this new film is different. Directed by Mark Dindal (The Emperor's New Groove), The Garfield Movie is a full-action cartoon.

Chris Pratt voices Garfield, although, considering that he also voiced the main character in The Lego Movie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it's not the most imaginative voice casting choice for a cartoon with the word 'movie' in its title. Samuel L Jackson voices Garfield's father, Vic; Nicholas Hoult is the owner, Jon; and Snoop Dogg plays a character named, well, Snoop Catt.

"There's mischief, curiosity, and humor, mischief at the core [of Garfield]," says Pratt. "I got lost in it. I really just ate and slept, and the doctors were worried... But I built an authentic relationship. I'm pretty sure the audience will feel it. And the Academy." It will be released on May 24th.

4. Back to Black

(Source: Instagram @backtoblackfilm)

Amy Winehouse is one of the most important singer-songwriters of her generation, but she died in 2011 at the age of 27, after years of struggling with addiction and avoiding tabloid photographers. In 2015, Asif Kapadia adapted her life story into an emotional documentary titled Amy.

Now comes the inevitable biopic, Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Matt Greenhalgh, the creator of the drama about John Lennon's early years, Nowhere Boy. Marisa Abela plays Winehouse alongside Jack O'Connell as her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, and Eddie Marsan as her father, Mitch Winehouse. Taylor-Johnson's film is described as "tender and forgiving" and is said to be her "best work so far," according to Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian.

"There is a truly captivating and loving performance from Marisa Abela as Amy [who] conveys her gentleness, and perhaps the most touching of all is her youthfulness, which is so at odds with the tough image and strangely mature voice." Released on May 17 in the US and Canada.

5. The Fall Guy

(Source: Instagram @thefallguymovie)

At this year's Oscars, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt presented a video tribute to Hollywood stunt performers. Honestly, the actors had an ulterior motive: their new film is a comedy-action about Hollywood stunt performers.

Based on the 1980s television series, and directed by David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2), The Fall Guy features Gosling as Colt Seavers, a stuntman recruited by his ex-girlfriend (Blunt) when a film star (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) goes missing. "I was genuinely smiling from start to finish watching The Fall Guy," said Perri Nemiroff at Collider.

"It's a very skillful action film that is truly full of energy and charm throughout its 125-minute runtime... Yes, it's a fun romantic comedy thriller, but first and foremost, it's a big praise to the artists responsible for the magic of film." It will be released in theaters on May 3rd.

6. Unfrosted

(Source: Instagram @jerryseinfeld)

In the past year, we've had movies about the development of Air Jordan shoes, BlackBerry phones, Flamin' Hot Cheetos, and Beanie Baby toys - and now we have a movie about the development of Pop-Tarts. But don't worry if it sounds like a silly idea: it's supposed to be.

A joyfully absurd comedy with almost no connection to the real story, Unfrosted is directed and co-written by Jerry Seinfeld, who also stars as an executive at Kellogg's. When rival company Post launched a dehydrated breakfast pastry in 1964, Kellogg's raced to make their own version.

Seinfeld's co-stars include Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer, Peter Dinklage, and James Marsden, along with Hugh Grant as a frustrated Shakespearean actor portraying Tony the Tiger in Frosted Flakes commercials. "I don't think anyone has ever done it before," says Seinfeld in Total Film magazine. "I feel like we're ready for colorful, silly, and absurd comedy."

7. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

(Source: Instagram @empiremagazine)

It has been 45 years since the release of the first Mad Max film, and nine years since George Miller revived his post-apocalyptic series with the action-packed 2015 film, Mad Max: Fury Road. However, the 79-year-old director is not done yet.

His latest film is a prequel to Fury Road, featuring Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa, the bald-headed, one-armed heroine previously portrayed by Charlize Theron. "This is different," said Miller, as reported by IndieWire. "You don't want to repeat what you've just done, it has to be uniquely familiar, as I like to say."

The uniquely villainous character is played by Chris Hemsworth, who is heavily disguised with prosthetic makeup, almost unrecognizable as the mighty Thor actor. It will be released in theaters on May 24.

8. Kidnapped

(Source: Instagram @cohenmediagroup)

This grand period drama by Marco Bellocchio tells the terrifying true story of Edgardo Mortara, a six-year-old Jewish boy who was kidnapped from his home by authorities one night in Bologna in 1858. His parents (Fausto Russo Alesi, Barbara Ronchi) were told that when Edgardo was still a baby, he was secretly taken by a maid to be baptized, and therefore he must now be raised as a Catholic.

Pope Pius IX (Paolo Pierobon) continues to ignore the family's efforts to save Edgardo, but as time goes on, the scandal threatens to bring down the Pope's political reign. "Marco Bellocchio is the last man standing from Italy's golden generation of filmmakers," says Jason Solomons in The New European. "What's most remarkable about this career is not just its length or its continued productivity, but that the films keep getting better."

Kidnapped is beautifully told and captivating, filled with all the dark drama and human details of one of the great canvases of the Renaissance found in grand galleries, like Titian or Caravaggio or Tintoretto." Released on May 24 in the United States.

9. Ezra

(Source: Instagram @bleeckerstfilms)

Bobby Cannavale, who always excels in rare leading roles in this heartfelt comedy-drama directed by Tony Goldwyn. Cannavale portrays a single New Jersey comedian raising his 11-year-old autistic son, Ezra (William A Fitzgerald), with the help of his father (Robert De Niro).

His ex-wife (played by Bobby Cannavale's real-life partner, Rose Byrne) wants the child to attend a school for children with special needs, but when the comedian is offered a chance to appear on a famous talk show in Los Angeles, he decides to take Ezra on a cross-country journey in the United States. "Cannavale knows he's got a great role and really makes the most of it," says Michael Rechtshaffen in The Hollywood Reporter.

"[However], the remarkable combination and sensitive direction never overshadow the tender screenplay by Tony Spiridakis, inspired by the challenges of raising his own neurodivergent child." Released on May 31st in the United States.

10. Kingdom of the Planet of The Apes

(Source: Instagram @apesmovies)

Following the Planet of the Apes franchise can be complicated. The first film was released in 1968, followed by four sequels. Tim Burton made an unsuccessful attempt at a reboot in 2001. Then, the series was revived in 2011 with a prequel trilogy, which concluded with War of the Planet of the Apes in 2017. But now it's time for some monkey business.

In this latest Ape-isode, directed by Wes Ball, intelligent chimpanzees and orangutans have ruled the Earth for 300 years, and talking humans are a rarity. "We are a new chapter in the legacy of this film since 1968, but still respect what came before us," said Ball in ScreenRant. "We are an extension, a continuation of the [previous trilogy], but we have our own new characters and story, and it opens up new opportunities."

It will be released on May 9th.

11. The Beach Boys

(Source: Instagram @thebeachboys)

A three-part documentary series, The Beatles: Get Back, by Peter Jackson about the Fab Four has been available on Disney+ since 2021, and Jackson has been overseeing the restoration of a classic 1970 documentary, The Beatles' Let It Be, which will appear on the streaming service on May 8. But what about The Beach Boys, the American counterparts of The Beatles?

A new documentary delves into the history of the pop pioneers founded by three brothers from California, Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson. Brian was the musical genius in the family, but he was traumatized by his abusive father, Murry Wilson, who was also the band's first manager.

"I am thrilled with the final result of this documentary, they did an amazing job," said Brian Wilson. "It really takes me back to the times with the boys, the fun, and the music. And of course, the incredible harmonies." It will be released on May 24 on Disney+.

12. Netizens Also Search for This

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What is the title of the first film?

The film they released in 1895 was titled Sortie de l'usine Lumière de Lyon (Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory). Their first film was only 46 seconds long and featured scenes of workers leaving the Lumiere Factory.

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