May 2026 is shaping up to be a quietly stacked month for Disney+, with a mix of emotional dramas, offbeat comedies, and genre-bending thrillers arriving across the platform and its Hulu hub. While blockbuster spectacle often dominates streaming headlines, this month’s lineup leans into something more compelling: character-driven storytelling with distinct creative voices behind the camera.
From heartfelt true-ish stories to gleefully twisted horror, there’s a surprising range of tones on offer. What makes this slate particularly interesting is how it balances familiar favorites with newer releases that may have flown under the radar in theaters earlier this year.
Whether it’s revisiting a deeply human story led by Matt Damon or diving into a delightfully unhinged survival thriller from Sam Raimi, Disney+ is offering something for nearly every type of viewer. Even better, several of these films bring strong critical reception with them, making them easy recommendations rather than risky picks.
For Disney+ subscribers looking to refresh their watchlist, these six additions represent the best of what’s new this month.
We Bought A Zoo (2011) — May 1
We Bought a Zoo arrives on Disney+ at the start of May, offering a warm, emotionally grounded story that continues to resonate years after its original release. Directed by Cameron Crowe, the film follows the true story of Benjamin Mee, played by Matt Damon, a grieving father who makes an impulsive yet life-changing decision to purchase and restore a struggling zoo alongside his children.
What unfolds is less about the logistics of running a zoo and more about healing, connection, and rediscovering joy after loss. Damon delivers a deeply felt central performance that anchors We Bought a Zoo’s emotional core, capturing both the uncertainty and quiet determination of a man trying to rebuild his family’s life.
Supporting turns from Scarlett Johansson and a strong ensemble add texture without overshadowing the story’s intimacy. While We Bought a Zoo occasionally shows its imperfections in pacing and tone, its sincerity ultimately wins out. Crowe’s direction emphasizes heart and humanity, allowing the story’s emotional beats to land with genuine impact.
The result is a film that may not be flawless but succeeds because of its empathy and its moving portrayal of resilience, making We Bought a Zoo a perfect comfort watch to kick off the month.
Send Help (2026) — May 7
One of the most exciting new additions to Disney+ this month is Send Help, a survival horror thriller that marks a return to form for director Sam Raimi. Released earlier this year, the film stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as two co-workers stranded on a deserted island after a devastating plane crash, where survival quickly becomes complicated by rising tension and mistrust.
At its core, Send Help is a stripped-down two-hander, but Raimi elevates the premise with his signature style. The film leans into a mischievous tone, blending psychological suspense with moments of dark humor that feel unmistakably Raimi.
From the playful yet eerie score by longtime collaborator Danny Elfman to the deliberately grotesque practical effects, Send Help embraces a kind of gleeful chaos that sets it apart from more conventional survival stories. What makes the film especially compelling is how it balances its tonal shifts.
The dynamic between McAdams and O’Brien evolves in unpredictable ways, keeping the audience constantly guessing about where loyalties lie. It’s tense, strange, and at times surprisingly funny, delivering a twisted survival tale that showcases Raimi at his most inventive and entertaining.
We Bury The Dead (2025) — May 8 (Hulu)
We Bury the Dead brings a more somber and introspective take on the zombie genre when it lands on Disney+ via Hulu. Written and directed by Zak Hilditch, the film stars Daisy Ridley as a woman searching for her missing husband in a devastated Tasmania overrun by the undead. While the premise may sound familiar, the execution is anything but typical.
Rather than focusing solely on survival or spectacle, We Bury the Dead uses its post-apocalyptic setting as a backdrop for a deeply personal story about grief, longing, and the emotional weight of loss. Ridley delivers a magnetic performance, grounding the narrative in raw vulnerability and determination that carries the film from start to finish.
Visually, the movie is striking, with haunting landscapes that reflect the protagonist’s internal state. The undead themselves are used sparingly but effectively, serving more as a thematic device than a constant threat.
By reworking familiar zombie tropes into something more reflective and emotionally driven, We Bury the Dead stands out as a thoughtful and beautifully crafted entry in the genre. We Bury the Dead uses horror as a meditation on what it means to hold on when everything else has fallen apart, making it one of the month’s most compelling releases.
Alien: Romulus (2024) — May 21 (Hulu)
Alien: Romulus lands on Disney+ via Hulu as one of the month’s biggest draws, and for good reason. Directed by Fede Álvarez, this latest entry in the long-running Alien saga returns to the series’ horror roots, placing its story squarely between Alien and Aliens. The result is a tense, stripped-down survival story that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly intense.
Alien: Romulus follows a group of struggling young space colonists, led by a standout performance from Cailee Spaeny, who board a derelict space station in search of a better future – only to encounter something far more terrifying. Álvarez leans heavily into claustrophobic horror akin to the original, using tight corridors, flickering lights, and relentless pacing to create a sense of dread that rarely lets up.
Visually, Alien: Romulus is striking, balancing practical effects with modern filmmaking techniques to deliver gruesome, visceral set pieces. At the same time, Romulus never loses sight of its characters, grounding the horror in their desperation and fear.
Spaeny’s performance anchors the chaos, giving the film an emotional throughline that elevates it beyond pure spectacle. With its blend of tension, gore, and atmosphere, Alien: Romulus stands as one of the strongest entries in the franchise in decades and arguably the most effective since Aliens.
Arco (2025) — May 22 (Hulu)
Arco offers something completely different for Disney+ viewers this May, delivering a visually imaginative and emotionally rich animated experience. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, this French science fantasy film quickly stood out for its originality and heartfelt storytelling.
Set in the year 2075, Arco follows a young girl who witnesses a mysterious boy in a rainbow suit fall from the sky – only to discover he comes from a distant, utopian future where time travel exists. As she takes him in and vows to help him return home, the story unfolds into a touching journey about friendship, sacrifice, and the unknown possibilities of time itself.
Arco effortlessly blends a variety of artistic influences, weaving them together into a vibrant, cohesive visual style that mirrors its themes of connection and discovery. Its world-building is both clever and inviting, offering glimpses of a future that feels hopeful without losing emotional depth.
At its core, Arco is driven by lovable, well-crafted characters whose bond feels genuine and earned. It’s a film that balances spectacle with sincerity, resulting in a story that resonates long after the credits roll – and one of the most unique additions to Disney+ this month.
Descendent (2025) — May 26 (Hulu)
Descendent closes out the month with a more subdued but intriguing entry into the sci-fi genre. Written and directed by Peter Cilella and produced by the creative duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, the film premiered at South by Southwest 2025 and quickly drew attention for its atmospheric approach.
The story centers on a troubled school security guard in Los Angeles who begins experiencing strange visions after a mysterious light appears in the sky. As he grapples with past trauma and mounting paranoia, the situation becomes even more urgent with the impending birth of his child.
Descendent uses this personal ticking clock to heighten its tension, blending intimate character drama with unsettling sci-fi elements. Rather than leaning into traditional genre thrills, Descendent takes a more restrained and ambiguous route. Its storytelling is deliberate, prioritizing mood and psychological depth over clear answers.
This approach results in a film that feels carefully crafted and immersive, even if its ambiguity may frustrate viewers expecting a more straightforward narrative. Still, that commitment to atmosphere and character makes Descendent stand out. It’s a slow-burn sci-fi thriller that lingers in the mind, offering a different kind of experience for Disney+ audiences this May.
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Arco
8/10
- Release Date
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October 22, 2025
- Runtime
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88 minutes
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Alma Jodorowsky
Jeanne / Mikki (voice)
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Swann Arlaud
Tom / Mikki (voice)
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Descendent
- Release Date
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March 8, 2025
- Runtime
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93 minutes
- Director
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Peter Cilella
- Writers
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Peter Cilella
- Producers
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Aaron Moorhead, Arianne Fraser, Henry Winterstern, Justin Benson, Mark Ward, Delphine Perrier
