We’re closing in on the midpoint of the year, which means a fresh wave of films is heading to Netflix.
In the US next month, the platform is set to add popular titles such as 13 Going on 30, Borat, Jumanji and Meet The Parents.
But as always, new arrivals come with departures. A large batch of well-loved movies is scheduled to leave on May 1, giving viewers less than a week to squeeze in a few essential watches before they disappear from the service.
To help you spend less time scrolling and more time watching, here’s a round-up of standout films worth prioritising before the deadline.
The acclaimed 2013 drama 12 Years a Slave is due to leave Netflix right at the start of May.
Directed by Steve McQueen, the film follows Solomon Northup, a free man who is abducted and forced into slavery in the American South.
With multiple Academy Awards and a powerhouse cast that includes Lupita Nyong’o, it’s frequently cited as one of the most significant films made about American slavery. If it’s been a while since you watched it—or you’ve never seen it—this is the moment to do it before it’s removed.
A lot of younger viewers associate Dune with Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, but Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel first hit the big screen in 1984 in David Lynch’s adaptation.
Unlike Denis Villeneuve’s multi-film approach, the 1984 version compresses the story into a single long feature. With Dune: Part III still on the horizon, it’s a good chance to revisit (or discover) the earlier interpretation and decide which take works best for you.
Last July, US subscribers were thrilled to see all four Jaws films return to the platform as part of the original movie’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic didn’t just make an impact—it reshaped blockbuster cinema, becoming the highest-grossing film ever at the time (until Star Wars took the crown two years later).
Now, less than a year after arriving, the first three Jaws films are set to leave. If you’re planning a rewatch, start with the original and keep going while you still can.
Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of George A. Romero’s 1978 zombie classic Dawn of the Dead is also on the way out at the start of May.
Remakes often struggle to match the originals, but Snyder’s version earned strong reactions for its pace, intensity, and updated approach.
His take leans into a more frantic, volatile apocalypse—and for anyone in the mood for a horror-action watch this weekend, it’s worth catching before it leaves the catalogue.
Jaws isn’t the only franchise heading out in May—several Mission: Impossible films are leaving too.
Tom Cruise’s first five entries in the series will only remain on Netflix for a few more days. These include:
The original Mission: Impossible launched 30 years ago and quickly became a major hit. While the second instalment didn’t land quite as well with everyone, the series soon found its stride again and grew into a run of eight huge blockbusters.
If you’ve never done the full run, now’s an ideal time to begin with the first film and build your own ranking. And if you’ve already seen them, it’s a solid excuse to revisit the early chapters before they vanish.