May is finally here and with it comes everything from refreshing romcoms and big budget sequels to live-action mermaids. Kicking off the month is Love Again starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and featuring Céline Dion playing herself in her first feature role, along with the highly anticipated third installment of The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. The pace picks up with Fast X, the tenth movie in the Fast saga featuring both new cast members Jason Momoa, Brie Larson and Rita Moreno, along with returning “family” Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. Rounding out the month is the highly-buzzed The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy.
See everything that’s coming to theatres this month below!
Love Again
Starring: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sam Heughan, Céline Dion
Directed by: Jim Strouse
Release date: May 5, 2023
Romcoms have returned and we can’t wait to see the next film to give us all the feels, Love Again. It stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mira, a woman who sends romantic texts to her late fiancé not knowing that his phone number has now been reassigned to a journalist named Rob (Sam Heughan). When Rob starts to fall for Mira he enlists the help of his latest assignment, none other than Canadian superstar Céline Dion (playing herself in her first feature film role). And if we needed even more reasons to see Love Again, the film also features five new original songs by Dion and a cameo by Chopra Jonas’ real life husband Nick Jonas.
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper
Directed by: James Gunn
Release Date: May 5, 2023
It’s been six long years since the last time The Guardians of the Galaxy starred in their own movie, and while it was a bit of a rocky road to get to this highly anticipated third installment, the day is finally, almost here. After being fired and then rehired as writer and director of GotGVol3, James Gunn will hopefully go out with a bang, on what will be his last Marvel film. The drama that unfolded back in 2019 feels like a distant memory now, and Gunn’s new gig as the co-CEO of the DCEU means that he’ll be done with Guardians, and Marvel, for the foreseeable future. Picking up after the events of Thor: Love and Thunder, Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 sees Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), as he rallies his team to defend the universe – in a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if they fail.
Blackberry
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson
Directed by: Matt Johnson
Release Date: May 12, 2023
Canadian writer/director/actor Matt Johnson already has made a name for himself with indie films The Dirties, Operation Avalanche and his cult hit TV show Nirvanna the Band the Show, but with Blackberry – he may have just made the best Canadian film in recent memory. Telling the little-known story of Canadian tech company Research in Motion and how they essentially invented the smartphone as we know it today, the rise and fall of the Blackberry is a great Canadian story that deserves its moment in the spotlight. Jay Baruchel plays inventor Mike Lazaridis and Glenn Howerton from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is brilliantly and unexpectedly cast as Jim Balsillie, the businessman Mike and his best friend Doug hire to help them market the Blackberry. The film manages to simultaneously be a comedy, thriller, and tech drama that’s drawing comparisons to The Social Network and Succession – but it’s so uniquely Matt Johnson’s voice that it feels like a totally fresh vision, and the next great Canadian film.
Book Club 2: The Next Chapter
Starring: Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Andy Garcia, Mary Steenburgen, Don Johnson
Directed by: Bill Holderman
Release date: May 12, 2023
Next up in the feel-good category is Book Club 2: The Next Chapter. The sequel to 2018’s Book Club has the four friends (Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen) take their book club on the road to Italy. The first film was a huge hit with audiences for its refreshing take on a group of older women who spice things up after reading Fifty Shades of Grey and we expect this one to be just as entertaining. After Fonda’s character Vivian gets engaged, the gang heads to the Bel Paese for her bachelorette. The film promises plenty of laughs, adventure and romance and a perfect pic to see with the gals.
Knights of the Zodiac
Starring: Sean Bean, Famke Janssen, Madison Iseman, Nick Stahl
Directed by: Tomasz Baginski
Release Date: May 12, 2023
Based on the popular Japanese manga Saint Seiya, Knights of the Zodiac promises to be an epic live-action re-telling. Author Masami Kurumada always envisioned his manga as a feature film, and his vision is finally coming to life after the film was announced back in 2017. Starring a cast of up-and-coming actors, including Japanese star Mackenyu, Madison Iseman, Diego Tinoco, as well as recognizable faces like Famke Janssen, Nick Stahl and Sean Bean, Knights of the Zodiac is a must-see action adventure for fans of the manga and newcomers alike. When a goddess of war reincarnates into the body of a young girl, Seiya The Pegasus Knight learns that he is meant to protect her and save the world – but he must face his own fears and become a Knight of the Zodiac first.
Fast X
Starring: Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Helen Mirren, Jason Statham
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Release date: May 19, 2023
It’s almost time to live our lives a quarter mile at a time (again). Fast X, which marks the second last film in the massive Fast saga, will hit the big screen May 19 and we expect it to be nothing short of an epic event. The series is known for referencing past characters and events and star Vin Diesel (Dom Toretto) is promising the latest installment will have ties to one of the most beloved films of the series, Fast Five. (Jason Momoa will play Dante, the son of villain Hernan Reyes who was taken down in the fifth movie). Fan-favourite character Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) will also return for the tenth film, along with John Cena’s Jakob Toretto, Helen Mirren’s Magdalene Shaw, Charlize Theron’s Cipher and Cardi B’s Leysa, along with the usual gang of “family” Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris. Brie Larson will also join the cast as well as Rita Moreno as Dom’s grandmother. Fast X promises to have even more epic car chases, outrageous stunts, and familial bonding (but hopefully) no more trips to space.
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Starring: Lily James, Emma Thompson
Directed by: Shekhar Kapur
Release date: May 19, 2023
If you’re in the mood for another heartwarming romantic comedy this month look no further than What’s Love Got to Do With It? The cross-cultural film stars Lily James as Zoe, a documentary filmmaker in London who makes her neighbour and friend Kaz (Shazad Latif) her next project as she films his journey to find a partner through an arranged marriage. Along the way she’ll discover that as unconventional as the method seems to her, the way she’s been looking for love might be all wrong. The story is based upon British writer/producer Jemima Khan’s own experience about her “love marriage” to then husband Imran Khan, who went on to become prime minister of Pakistan in 2018.
What’s Love Got to Do With It? comes from the same film studio as Bridget Jones’s Diary and Love Actually, which gives us hope that the film is going to be as delightful and memorable as those two iconic films. Emma Thompson also stars as Zoe’s mom, which pretty much guarantees it.
Master Gardener
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, Quintessa Swindell
Directed by: Paul Schrader
Release Date: May 19, 2023
Paul Schrader has been having something of a Schradaissance if you will, ever since 2017 when his film First Reformed became an indie sensation. The writer/director best known for writing Taxi Driver and Raging Bull has brought a unique directorial vision to his new films, and Master Gardener looks like another haunting entry. The film follows horticulturist Narvel Roth who has created a pristine and idyllic sanctuary for his employer Mrs. Haverhill – but when her great-niece comes to visit, Narvel’s secrets and past-life become revealed and could threaten the perfect life he’s built.
The Little Mermaid
Starring: Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Release date: May 26, 2023
Rounding out the month is Disney’s highly anticipated live-action film The Little Mermaid, based on the classic 1989 animated movie. Halle Bailey stars as Ariel with Melissa McCarthy as the young mermaid’s evil aunt Ursula. The film also stars Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Awkwafina as Scuttle and Jacob Tremblay as Flounder. We’re excited to see this modern re-telling of the classic story and hear Halle Bailey’s beautiful voice sing such classics as Part of Your World.
About My Father
Starring: Sebastian Maniscalco, Robert De Niro, Leslie Bibb, Kim Cattrall
Directed by: Laura Terruso
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Popular Italian comedian Sebastian Maniscalco is bringing his brand of comedy to the big screen in his new film, About My Father, which he also co-wrote. The film is loosely based on his own relationship with his father – and how cool must it be for him to have Robert De Niro playing his dad?! Maniscalco stars as a version of himself, whose fiancé convinces him to bring his father to a weekend getaway with her family. It of course leads to a culture clash, and hilarity ensues. Whether you’re Italian or not, About My Father will surely be relatable for anyone who’s ever tried to bring their in-laws together – it usually doesn’t go as planned.
Mission Kandahar
Starring: Gerard Butler, Navid Negahban, Ali Fazal, Travis Fimmel, Elnaaz Norouzi
Directed by: Ric Roman Waugh
Release date: May 26, 2023
If you’re like us anytime we see Gerard Butler headlining an action flick, we’re automatically sold. Mission Kandahar is his latest film in the genre and this time he plays an undercover CIA operative who must escape Afghanistan after his cover is blown. The story is based on writer Mitchell LaFortune’s own experience as an intelligence officer stationed in Afghanistan following the explosive leak of top-secret documents by Edward Snowden in 2013. With plenty of action, suspense and Butler at the helm, we’re putting this on our must-watch list for May.
The Machine
Starring: Bert Kreischer, Mark Hamill, Jess Gabor, Mercedes De La Cruz
Directed by: Peter Atencio
Release date: May 26, 2023
Comedian Bert Kreischer put himself on the map for his standup set about his experience with Russian mobsters during a college trip – a story that has now being turned into a feature film. The Machine stars Kreischer playing himself more than 20 years later as he and his father (Mark Hamill) are kidnapped by the Russian mob for something that allegedly happened on the trip. The estranged pair will have to find a way to figure out what he did all those years ago and repair their relationship to get out of the mess.
See everything that’s coming to theatres this month below!
Love Again
Starring: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sam Heughan, Céline Dion
Directed by: Jim Strouse
Release date: May 5, 2023
Romcoms have returned and we can’t wait to see the next film to give us all the feels, Love Again. It stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mira, a woman who sends romantic texts to her late fiancé not knowing that his phone number has now been reassigned to a journalist named Rob (Sam Heughan). When Rob starts to fall for Mira he enlists the help of his latest assignment, none other than Canadian superstar Céline Dion (playing herself in her first feature film role). And if we needed even more reasons to see Love Again, the film also features five new original songs by Dion and a cameo by Chopra Jonas’ real life husband Nick Jonas.
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper
Directed by: James Gunn
Release Date: May 5, 2023
It’s been six long years since the last time The Guardians of the Galaxy starred in their own movie, and while it was a bit of a rocky road to get to this highly anticipated third installment, the day is finally, almost here. After being fired and then rehired as writer and director of GotGVol3, James Gunn will hopefully go out with a bang, on what will be his last Marvel film. The drama that unfolded back in 2019 feels like a distant memory now, and Gunn’s new gig as the co-CEO of the DCEU means that he’ll be done with Guardians, and Marvel, for the foreseeable future. Picking up after the events of Thor: Love and Thunder, Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 sees Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), as he rallies his team to defend the universe – in a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if they fail.
Blackberry
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson
Directed by: Matt Johnson
Release Date: May 12, 2023
Canadian writer/director/actor Matt Johnson already has made a name for himself with indie films The Dirties, Operation Avalanche and his cult hit TV show Nirvanna the Band the Show, but with Blackberry – he may have just made the best Canadian film in recent memory. Telling the little-known story of Canadian tech company Research in Motion and how they essentially invented the smartphone as we know it today, the rise and fall of the Blackberry is a great Canadian story that deserves its moment in the spotlight. Jay Baruchel plays inventor Mike Lazaridis and Glenn Howerton from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is brilliantly and unexpectedly cast as Jim Balsillie, the businessman Mike and his best friend Doug hire to help them market the Blackberry. The film manages to simultaneously be a comedy, thriller, and tech drama that’s drawing comparisons to The Social Network and Succession – but it’s so uniquely Matt Johnson’s voice that it feels like a totally fresh vision, and the next great Canadian film.
Book Club 2: The Next Chapter
Starring: Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Andy Garcia, Mary Steenburgen, Don Johnson
Directed by: Bill Holderman
Release date: May 12, 2023
Next up in the feel-good category is Book Club 2: The Next Chapter. The sequel to 2018’s Book Club has the four friends (Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen) take their book club on the road to Italy. The first film was a huge hit with audiences for its refreshing take on a group of older women who spice things up after reading Fifty Shades of Grey and we expect this one to be just as entertaining. After Fonda’s character Vivian gets engaged, the gang heads to the Bel Paese for her bachelorette. The film promises plenty of laughs, adventure and romance and a perfect pic to see with the gals.
Knights of the Zodiac
Starring: Sean Bean, Famke Janssen, Madison Iseman, Nick Stahl
Directed by: Tomasz Baginski
Release Date: May 12, 2023
Based on the popular Japanese manga Saint Seiya, Knights of the Zodiac promises to be an epic live-action re-telling. Author Masami Kurumada always envisioned his manga as a feature film, and his vision is finally coming to life after the film was announced back in 2017. Starring a cast of up-and-coming actors, including Japanese star Mackenyu, Madison Iseman, Diego Tinoco, as well as recognizable faces like Famke Janssen, Nick Stahl and Sean Bean, Knights of the Zodiac is a must-see action adventure for fans of the manga and newcomers alike. When a goddess of war reincarnates into the body of a young girl, Seiya The Pegasus Knight learns that he is meant to protect her and save the world – but he must face his own fears and become a Knight of the Zodiac first.
Fast X
Starring: Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Helen Mirren, Jason Statham
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Release date: May 19, 2023
It’s almost time to live our lives a quarter mile at a time (again). Fast X, which marks the second last film in the massive Fast saga, will hit the big screen May 19 and we expect it to be nothing short of an epic event. The series is known for referencing past characters and events and star Vin Diesel (Dom Toretto) is promising the latest installment will have ties to one of the most beloved films of the series, Fast Five. (Jason Momoa will play Dante, the son of villain Hernan Reyes who was taken down in the fifth movie). Fan-favourite character Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) will also return for the tenth film, along with John Cena’s Jakob Toretto, Helen Mirren’s Magdalene Shaw, Charlize Theron’s Cipher and Cardi B’s Leysa, along with the usual gang of “family” Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris. Brie Larson will also join the cast as well as Rita Moreno as Dom’s grandmother. Fast X promises to have even more epic car chases, outrageous stunts, and familial bonding (but hopefully) no more trips to space.
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Starring: Lily James, Emma Thompson
Directed by: Shekhar Kapur
Release date: May 19, 2023
If you’re in the mood for another heartwarming romantic comedy this month look no further than What’s Love Got to Do With It? The cross-cultural film stars Lily James as Zoe, a documentary filmmaker in London who makes her neighbour and friend Kaz (Shazad Latif) her next project as she films his journey to find a partner through an arranged marriage. Along the way she’ll discover that as unconventional as the method seems to her, the way she’s been looking for love might be all wrong. The story is based upon British writer/producer Jemima Khan’s own experience about her “love marriage” to then husband Imran Khan, who went on to become prime minister of Pakistan in 2018.
What’s Love Got to Do With It? comes from the same film studio as Bridget Jones’s Diary and Love Actually, which gives us hope that the film is going to be as delightful and memorable as those two iconic films. Emma Thompson also stars as Zoe’s mom, which pretty much guarantees it.
Master Gardener
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, Quintessa Swindell
Directed by: Paul Schrader
Release Date: May 19, 2023
Paul Schrader has been having something of a Schradaissance if you will, ever since 2017 when his film First Reformed became an indie sensation. The writer/director best known for writing Taxi Driver and Raging Bull has brought a unique directorial vision to his new films, and Master Gardener looks like another haunting entry. The film follows horticulturist Narvel Roth who has created a pristine and idyllic sanctuary for his employer Mrs. Haverhill – but when her great-niece comes to visit, Narvel’s secrets and past-life become revealed and could threaten the perfect life he’s built.
The Little Mermaid
Starring: Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Release date: May 26, 2023
Rounding out the month is Disney’s highly anticipated live-action film The Little Mermaid, based on the classic 1989 animated movie. Halle Bailey stars as Ariel with Melissa McCarthy as the young mermaid’s evil aunt Ursula. The film also stars Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Awkwafina as Scuttle and Jacob Tremblay as Flounder. We’re excited to see this modern re-telling of the classic story and hear Halle Bailey’s beautiful voice sing such classics as Part of Your World.
About My Father
Starring: Sebastian Maniscalco, Robert De Niro, Leslie Bibb, Kim Cattrall
Directed by: Laura Terruso
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Popular Italian comedian Sebastian Maniscalco is bringing his brand of comedy to the big screen in his new film, About My Father, which he also co-wrote. The film is loosely based on his own relationship with his father – and how cool must it be for him to have Robert De Niro playing his dad?! Maniscalco stars as a version of himself, whose fiancé convinces him to bring his father to a weekend getaway with her family. It of course leads to a culture clash, and hilarity ensues. Whether you’re Italian or not, About My Father will surely be relatable for anyone who’s ever tried to bring their in-laws together – it usually doesn’t go as planned.
Mission Kandahar
Starring: Gerard Butler, Navid Negahban, Ali Fazal, Travis Fimmel, Elnaaz Norouzi
Directed by: Ric Roman Waugh
Release date: May 26, 2023
If you’re like us anytime we see Gerard Butler headlining an action flick, we’re automatically sold. Mission Kandahar is his latest film in the genre and this time he plays an undercover CIA operative who must escape Afghanistan after his cover is blown. The story is based on writer Mitchell LaFortune’s own experience as an intelligence officer stationed in Afghanistan following the explosive leak of top-secret documents by Edward Snowden in 2013. With plenty of action, suspense and Butler at the helm, we’re putting this on our must-watch list for May.
The Machine
Starring: Bert Kreischer, Mark Hamill, Jess Gabor, Mercedes De La Cruz
Directed by: Peter Atencio
Release date: May 26, 2023
Comedian Bert Kreischer put himself on the map for his standup set about his experience with Russian mobsters during a college trip – a story that has now being turned into a feature film. The Machine stars Kreischer playing himself more than 20 years later as he and his father (Mark Hamill) are kidnapped by the Russian mob for something that allegedly happened on the trip. The estranged pair will have to find a way to figure out what he did all those years ago and repair their relationship to get out of the mess.
