Best New Movies on Netflix May 2023

The 7 Best New Movies to Netflix in May 2023

Ridley Scott and Steven Soderbergh fans, rejoice.

“Léon: The Professional” (Now streaming)

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Luc Besson is a messy filmmaker, and his boundless creativity has paved the way for some real duds in his filmography. But when he hits, he absolutely nails it — and “Léon: The Professional” remains the best example of his distinct style. Anchored by standout performances by frequent collaborator Jean Reno as the eponymous hitman and a young Natalie Portman as his far-too-young apprentice, the stylish film blends violence and sentimentality in a way that only Besson can.
“Traffic” (Now streaming)

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Steven Soderbergh’s filmography is arguably more interesting for the endless hidden gems it contains than his biggest hits — but “Traffic,” his consensus critical high point, is still pretty great. Soderbergh won his first (and to date, only) Oscar for directing this sprawling ensemble piece about various fictional characters impacted by America’s War on Drugs in different ways. As a political statement, it’s clearly a product of its time, but the humanity captured by Soderbergh and his A-list cast ensures that it will always be a captivating watch.
“Starship Troopers” (Now streaming)

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Like so many Paul Verhoeven movies, “Starship Troopers” was criminally misunderstood when it hit theaters in 1997. The adaptation of Robert Heinlein’s landmark novel was always designed as a satire of war-hungry politicians and the military-industrial complex that enjoys a symbiotic relationship with them, but many audiences mistook its deliberately campy propaganda as a failed attempt at crafting genuine sci-fi thrills. Fortunately, we’re finally catching up to where Verehoven already was 25 years ago, so it’s a great time to revisit the film.
“This Is the End” (Now streaming)

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One of those “this worked infinitely better than it should have” movies, “This Is the End” sees Seth Rogen and an ensemble of his famous friends playing themselves in this comedy about celebrities responding to a fictional apocalypse. Like eating pufferfish at a sushi bar, meta-comedy is a genre that quickly turns disastrous in the hands of anyone but an expert. But Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Emma Watson, and the rest of the cast thread a perfect needle by playing against type and having a great time while doing so.
“American Graffiti” (Now streaming)

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Though George Lucas spent the better part of the last half-century focusing on his “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchise, his early works prove that he had the filmmaking chops to work in any genre he wanted. “American Graffiti,” his nostalgic account of his 1950s California adolescence, remains a stellar slice-of-life comedy with a killer soundtrack. It also marked the first time that Lucas worked with Harrison Ford, which seems pretty important in hindsight.
“American Gangster” (Now streaming)

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Ridley Scott and Denzel Washington teamed up to riff on the “Scarface” formula in this fictionalized account of heroin mogul Frank Lucas’ life. While they take plenty of creative liberty with the actual story, a stellar cast including Russell Crowe and Chiwetel Ejiofor and Scott’s clear understanding of the gangster genre make for a pulpy good time. “American Gangster” is basically an example of a bunch of elite artists trying their hand at the “movies your dad enjoys rewatching on a Sunday afternoon” genre, so it’s a perfect fit for Netflix.
“Black Hawk Down” (Now streaming)

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If “American Gangster” didn’t scratch your itch for Ridley Scott fare, his military classic “Black Hawk Down” is also hitting Netflix this month. The film tells the story of a disastrously botched helicopter raid at Mogadishu during the Somali Civil War and the hell that the American soldiers endured when the chopper crashed in enemy territory. The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced movie is more notable for its jaw-dropping spectacle and meticulous recreations of war than for any incisive commentary, but it remains a marvelous filmmaking achievement.