17 best movies to watch on Netflix, Hulu before they leave (May 2022)

It’s getting warmer as summer approaches, which is affecting the quality of streaming movies. There are tons of movies leaving Netflix Prime Video, HBO Max and Prime Video this month. This makes it a great month for movie lovers of all kinds.

From all-time classics like Billy Wilder’s The Apartment and Stanley Kubrick’s The Paths of GloryTo discover new treasures such as Lady Bird and the Blade movies, there’s plenty to dig into before the end of the month. There’s also Ernst Lubitsch’s delightful 1933 thruple comedy Design for Living as well as Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s PulseOne of our all-time favorite horror films is “The Shining”,

Below are our recommendations for 17 movies that you need to see before they disappear from streaming sites at the end May. We’d love to hear what you think about them.


Apartment

Jack Lemmon looks at Shirley MacLaine in the company elevator in The Apartment.

Photo by United Artists

Billy Wilder’s 1960 rom-com is often considered one of the greatest films ever made. This reputation has been earned.

Bud Baxter is played by Jack Lemmon. He’s a single office worker and lets his apartment be used for his extramarital affairs. It is his belief that this will enable him to move up at the huge insurance company where he works. He does make some financial gains, but his superiors have more time and space than Bud, which leaves Bud unable or unwilling to get into his bed and access his house.

Bud is attracted to Shirley MacLaine, an elevator operator working in the building. His desire to have a meaningful relationship with her inspires him to regain control over his life. But when Bud discovers she’s been having an affair in The Apartment with his boss (Fred MacMurray), things get even more complicated.

Wilder’s romantic comedy is heartfelt. It also has a lot of laughs. Apartment It is one of the movies that every person should watch at least once. —Pete Volk

The ApartmentLeaves Prime VideoApril 30, 2010.

Army of Darkness

Ash Williams and Eric the Red in Army of Darkness.

Universal Pictures

The third movie in Sam Raimi’s delirious Evil Dead trilogy is by far the most ridiculous of the group, veering much further into the “comedy” part of “horror comedy.” After series protagonist Ash (Bruce Campbell) is accidentally sent back in time to the Middle Ages, he is imprisoned by King Arthur’s men, who think he is a spy. With a saw in one arm and a gun at his side, he is an espioneer.

This film features extended scenes of slapstick, funny time travel gags and extensive effects (including an army skeletons). Army of Darkness Enjoy a bizarre 90-minute horror comedy adventure. —Pete Volk

Army of DarknessLeaves HBO MaxOn May 31,

Blade and Blade II

Blade holding a pistol in Blade 2.

Image by New Line Home Entertainment

Superhero movies take up a disproportionate amount of box office space these days, but that’s a relatively recent phenomenon. Arguably the first true massive hit for the genre was 1998’s BladeThis sleek horror movie about vampires features Wesley Snipes, who is the most cool leading man of the time. Stephen Norrington, a former special effects animator who worked on Aliens) and written by superhero movie staple David S. Goyer (the Dark Knight trilogy, Man of SteelIn the opening movie, we meet the vampire-hunter Blade (a hybrid human-vampire). The movie’s opening vampire rave scene is an all-timer, dropping you instantly into the movie’s universe and delivering an unforgettable action sequence. Guillermo del Toro directs the second movie and adds Ron Perlman and Norman Reedus to the action. The new version includes Blade What better time than now to see one of the greatest superhero movies ever made? —PV

Blade Blade IINetflix will be gone by June 1

Clueless

Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd in Clueless.

Image by Paramount Pictures

With iconic quotes (“Do you prefer ‘fashion victim’ or ‘ensembly challenged’?”), iconic lead performances (Paul Rudd’s smile!These are some of the most iconic fashions. Clueless Iconic is what it stands for. Amy Heckerling is a writer and director.Ridgemont High – Fast TimesThis all-timer Hollywood high school film set was created by ). Loosely based on Jane Austen’s Emma, the movie stars Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz, a rich and popular student who takes the “tragically unhip” new girl Tai (Brittany Murphy) under her wing.

To be honest, I really doubt there’s anyone reading this who has not seen Clueless. This is a reminder to you that you need to be on the lookout for these things. Clueless again. We are grateful. —PV

CluelessLeaves HBO MaxOn May 31,

Design for Living

Miriam Hopkins against a painted background in Design for Living.

Image by Paramount Pictures

From 1934 until the 1960s, movies made in the United States abided by what was commonly known as the Hays Code, a set of conservative moral guidelines meant to restrict what people, stories, and events movies were allowed to depict on screen (examples of things that weren’t allowed include interracial relationships, gay people, and criticism of laws and people in power). If you’ve ever wondered why many old Hollywood movies have couples sleeping in separate beds, the Hays Code is why!

Between when “talkies” fully burst onto the scene in 1929 and when the code was first widely enforced in 1934 (also known as the pre-Code era), there was a lot more freedom in terms of what Hollywood was allowed to depict. One of the best examples is Ernst Lubitsch’s 1933 romantic comedy Design for Living, adapted from the Noël Coward play.

It is the story of Miriam Hopkins, an artist who encounters Fredric March (Gary Cooper) while on a train trip to Paris. She falls for both of them, and they fall for her — a classic love triangle situation. This pre-Code film is different from modern versions. It shows what happens next. They attempt to have a three-person relationship.

This clever comedy features charismatic, attractive film stars as the lead roles. Design for Living This is an entertaining romp from one of our all-time greatest directors. —PV

Design for LivingCriterion Channel will be closed on May 31,

John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars

Ice Cube’s Desolation Williams holds a knife to the neck of Clea Duvall in John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars.

Sony Pictures Releasing

An all-star cast of movie stars (including Ice Cube, Pam Grier, and Jason Statham) shine in John Carpenter’s pseudo-Western set on Mars. You will be blown away by it.

It is 2176, and 640,000 people live on Mars in a matriarchal society. Mars has almost been terraformed. The freight train that was sent to collect Desolation (or Ice Cube) a prisoner is returned with just one survivor, Natasha Henstridge.

Ghosts of Mars Carpenter shows his B-movie skills in the most effective ways possible for this genre-mashup. Carpenter has a great cast, beautiful Martian scenery, Ice Cube dual-wielding Ice Cube and spooky Ghosts. —PV

John Carpenter’s Ghosts of MarsLeaves HuluOn May 31,

Lady Bird

Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) and her mother (Laurie Metcalf) in Lady Bird

Image: A24

Saoirse Ronan stars in Greta Gerwig’s directorial 2017 debut as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, an artsy, angst-ridden teenager eager to escape her obsessive mother and repressive Catholic high school in search of opportunity and adventure in college. It was during her senior years. Lady Bird follows her first romance with her classmate Kyle (Timothée Chalamet), her role in the school play, and her evolving relationship and begrudging appreciation for her mother. Beautifully written, shot and edited, it is touching, funny, and heartfelt. Lady BirdThis is a classic modern coming-ofage story. —TE

Lady BirdNetflix will be gone by June 1

Land of the Dead

A zombie in Land of the Dead.

Universal Pictures

George Romero, horror master George Romero is perhaps best known for his early zombie films like Night of the Living Dead Dawn of the Dead, but don’t sleep on this excellent 2005 entry to his filmography and the zombie subgenre of horror.

Fourth movie in the Night of the Living Dead Series. Land of the DeadIt takes place in Pittsburgh, well after the zombie apocalypse. The feudal society is now run by Dennis Hopper. He lives in an apartment tower.

Land of the DeadThe zombies, however, are very different. The first we see of them, they’re gathered in a gazebo and playing musical instruments (although not very well). The first two lines spoken by human characters are “They’re trying to be us” followed by “They used to be us, learning be us again.” These zombies have evolved to communicate with each other and are organizing an assault on the city. Like Romero’s other films, Land of the Dead isn’t satisfied with just using that as a scare device; instead, it’s an opportunity to further engage with what makes us human, and what divides us. —PV

Land of the DeadLeaves HuluOn May 31,

The Paths of Glory

Timothy Carey testifies in Paths of Glory

Photo by United Artists

One of the greatest anti-war movies is this Stanley Kubrick early movie. Kirk Douglas plays Colonel Dax in the film, which is about a French officer who refused to lead his troops into an unproven attack. This will certainly result in their death. Dax defends his group’s decision before the cruel members of court martiale.

His filmography is often overlooked, but it’s not hard to see why. The Paths of Glory is one of Kubrick’s finest films, featuring unforgettable performances by the lead actors and stunning use of long takes, wide shots, and close-ups. For the film’s emotional ending, make sure to bring tissues. —PV

The Path of GloryLeaves Prime VideoApril 30, 2010.

The Princess Bride

Andre the Giant holds a large rock while smiling in The Princess Bride.

Image by 20th Century Fox

Rob Reiner’s fantasy comedy romance The Princess BrideThe film is as fascinating today as it was in 1987 when it first premiered. It is told through the eyes of Westley (Cary Elwes), an affable farm boy who became a pirate. He embarks on a long and dangerous journey to find his true love Buttercup, (played brilliantly by Peter Falk). Featuring a host of memorable supporting characters such as the flamboyant sword fighter Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), the gentle giant Fezzik (André the Giant), and the loquacious schemer Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess BrideIt is both an enduring testament to storytelling’s transformative power and a thoroughly enjoyable film. —TE

The Princess BrideLeaves HuluOn May 31, but will continue on Disney Plus.

Pulse

A woman with a bag on her head and a gun in her hand in a warehouse in Pulse.

Image: Toho

In Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 2001 horror film PulseThe past is not dead. It haunts those who live, and not through cringe inducing Myspace profiles and abandoned AO3 accounts. Rather, it is a ghostly presence that invades our lives daily via technology. These are two stories that tell of an inexplicable otherworldly evil. PulseIt is still as scary in concept and execution today as it was twenty years ago. —TE

PulseLeaves HBO MaxOn May 31,

Speed

Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock on the bus in Speed

Image by 20th Century Fox

How would it be if a film was written that revolves around high-speed chases? Jan de Bont (director) and Graham Yost (screenwriter) took the idea from the kernel and made it into SpeedKeanu and Sandra Bullock star in the high-octane action car, called. Reeves portrays a young cop who meets a disgruntled Bomber (Dennis Hopper), who equips a bus to explode if it speeds below 50 MPH. What follows is a pulse-pounding and extremely ’90s action thriller that confidently secures its place in the canon of dumb movie ideas executed brilliantly. —TE

Speed Leaf HBO MaxOn May 31,

Stoker

Mia Wasikowska looks out a window in Stoker

Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Park Chan-wook’s 2013 film StokerMia Wasikowska plays India, an 18 year-old girl who’s plain exterior conceals the darker underworld. Left in the care of her unstable mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) in the wake of her father’s death, India is unsettled by the sudden arrival of her estranged uncle, Charlie (Matthew Goode), whom she never knew of and who proceeds to seduce his way into their household. Park’s English-language debut unfolds much in the same way as the director’s previous psychological thriller, coiling around the audience like a serpent with an aura of menace and intrigue before pouncing in a show of violent catharsis and revelation. It’s a masterful film that’s too often forgotten when talking about Park’s work and absolutely deserves appreciation. —TE

StokerLeaves HBO MaxOn May 31,

The Movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Donatello and Michelangelo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Image by New Line Cinema

Cab Passenger: [after Raphael jumps over the cab hood]Is that what you were talking about?

Cab Driver: Looked a lot like a large turtle dressed in a trench coat.

[pause]

Cab Driver: You’re going to LaGuardia, right?

Delightfully silly and overwhelmingly ’90s (for better and worse), the original TMNT It’s a great time for everyone. The movie follows intrepid TV reporter April O’Neil (Judith Hoag) as she works with the turtles to stop a crime ring from taking over New York City. The suits — designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, one of the Muppet master’s last projects — look incredible and bring a real tangibility to this appropriately comic book-like adaptation. The real suit allowed for talent specialty (different artists were used to perform puppetry, voice-acting, and stunts in the martial arts), which made the show more accessible for different audiences without compromising immersion. The film was produced by the legendary Hong Kong studio Golden Harvest, and distributed by New Line Cinema. TMNT The surprise hit at the box office, it held the record of highest-grossing independent films until now Blair Witch Project. It’s also got a very young Sam Rockwell in a minor role! —PV

The Movie Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesNetflix will be leaving Netflix effective June 1, but it will still exist HBO Max.

Warrior

Tom Hardy as Tommy Conlon in Warrior.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Hollywood is not known for producing quality sports dramas. In Warrior, two estranged brothers — one a former Marine and one-time wrestling prodigy (Tom Hardy), the other a former MMA pro turned high school physics teacher (Joel Edgerton) — compete in a massive MMA tournament with more at stake than just the big cash prize. Gavin O’Connor’s heartfelt siblings-destined-to-collide story features terrific central performances, terrific MMA fight scenes (second unit director J.J. Perry is a modern action legend), and a strong tournament narrative structure that holds the whole thing together. —PV

WarriorNetflix will be gone by June 1

The Warriors

David Patrick Kelly clinks three bottles in the iconic scene from The Warriors.

Image by Paramount Pictures

Walter Hill’s 1979 action crime thriller The Warriors is a film whose status as a cult classic touchstone of late-’70s cinema is matched only by the controversy of its release. A fictional New York City street gang is framed in the murder of a respected leader. They are then forced to travel 30 miles to Coney Island from the Bronx while trying to evade rival gangs who want to steal the bounty. Like Sol Yurick’s original novel, Hill’s film taps inspiration from the war chronicles of Xenophon of Athens and transplants it into a seedy exaggeration of late-20th-century New York. It is violent, thrilling, and memorable. The WarriorsThis is an absolute must-see. —TE

The WarriorsLeaves Prime VideoOn May 31,

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