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Popular Movies Set to Depart Netflix in May
Movie enthusiasts take note: Netflix is updating its content selection in May, resulting in the departure of several acclaimed films. Among the titles being removed from the streaming platform are Oscar-winning productions, gripping historical dramas, captivating science fiction, and chilling horror movies. For viewers eager to catch these cinematic gems before they vanish from the service, this month presents the final opportunity.
1917 (2019)
Sam Mendes directed this World War I epic, drawing inspiration from accounts shared by his grandfather, Alfred Mendes, a veteran of the conflict. 1917 immerses viewers in the harrowing journey of two young British soldiers, portrayed by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman. Their mission: to deliver a crucial message across enemy lines, potentially saving 1,600 fellow servicemen from a deadly ambush.
Renowned for its impressive “one-shot” visual style, achieved through extended takes and seamless transitions, the film also features a stellar ensemble cast, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, and Andrew Scott.
During the 2020 awards season, 1917 garnered widespread recognition, securing three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography (Roger Deakins), Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound Mixing. It also triumphed at the BAFTAs, winning seven awards, including Best Film and Best Director.
Fury (2014)
Fury, directed by David Ayer, unfolds in the closing stages of World War II and plunges viewers into the experiences of a hardened U.S. tank crew operating behind enemy lines in Nazi Germany. Brad Pitt stars as Staff Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier, leading a cast that includes Logan Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Peña, and Jon Bernthal.
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The film is celebrated for its raw depiction of armoured combat and its commitment to authenticity. Production utilized a genuine Sherman tank and a rare, operational Tiger I tank, on loan from The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.
While not a major contender during awards season, Fury earned praise for its performances and realistic portrayal of warfare, with some considering it among the most accurate depictions of tank battles in modern cinema.
The Death of Stalin (2017)
Armando Iannucci (known for The Thick of It and Veep) directed The Death of Stalin, a darkly comedic exploration of the power vacuum and ensuing chaos in the Soviet Union following Joseph Stalin’s demise in 1953. The film features Steve Buscemi as Nikita Khrushchev, Simon Russell Beale as Lavrentiy Beria, and Jeffrey Tambor as Georgy Malenkov.
Adapted from the French graphic novel La Mort de Staline, the movie masterfully blends satire with historical events, dramatizing the turbulent leadership transition within the USSR. It received critical acclaim and a BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, along with a further nomination. Notably, The Death of Stalin faced bans in Russia and several former Soviet nations due to its satirical portrayal of historical figures.
Legends of the Fall (1994)
Directed by Edward Zwick, Legends of the Fall is an expansive family saga featuring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, and Julia Ormond. The narrative follows three brothers and their father in Montana during the early 20th century, charting their lives across decades.
Adapted from Jim Harrison’s novel, the story encompasses World War I and the Prohibition era, intertwining romance with historical events against the breathtaking scenery of Alberta, Canada.
Legends of the Fall secured an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and received two additional nominations.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures, a historical drama inspired by Margot Lee Shetterly’s non-fiction book, recounts the remarkable true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, three brilliant African-American women who were instrumental to NASA’s success during the space race.
Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe headline the cast, joined by Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, and Jim Parsons.
The film earned three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and Octavia Spencer received a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Hidden Figures was recognized with the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
The Mauritanian (2021)
Kevin Macdonald directed The Mauritanian, a legal drama rooted in the memoir of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who endured 14 years of imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay without formal charges.
Tahar Rahim portrays Slahi, while Jodie Foster plays his defence attorney, Nancy Hollander – a role that earned her a Golden Globe award. Rahim also received a BAFTA nomination for his performance.
The film is distinguished by its exploration of post-9/11 justice and human rights concerns, drawing heavily from authentic transcripts and legal documentation.
Life (2017)
Life is a science fiction horror film helmed by Daniel Espinosa, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds. The plot centres on the crew of the International Space Station who encounter a rapidly evolving life form originating from Mars, which soon poses a lethal threat to their existence.
The screenplay, penned by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool), reportedly takes inspiration from classic space horror films like Alien.
The Adolf Eichmann Trial (2011)
This documentary, The Adolf Eichmann Trial, revisits the infamous trial of Adolf Eichmann, a central figure in the Holocaust, who was apprehended by Israeli agents in Argentina in 1960.
Directed by Michaël Prazan, the film incorporates archival footage, witness testimonies, and historical context surrounding Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem, a landmark event as one of the earliest televised trials.
Eichmann’s capture and subsequent prosecution elevated global awareness of the Holocaust and laid groundwork for international human rights law. His trial has served as inspiration for numerous films over the years.
Diana (2013)
Inspired by Kane Snell’s book Diana: Her Last Love and directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, Diana features Naomi Watts as the beloved Princess of Wales, concentrating on the final two years of her life, notably her relationship with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.
Naomi Watts described the role as one of her most demanding, stating: “It’s incredibly challenging to portray someone who had such a profound impact and remains so vividly remembered. Our recollections of her are still very present, demanding respect. My aim was to do her justice and convey her story with truthfulness.”
The Last Witch Hunter (2015)
The Last Witch Hunter stars Vin Diesel as an immortal tasked with hunting witches, blending fantasy, horror, and action elements. Breck Eisner directed the film, which also features Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood, and Michael Caine in its cast.
Although it did not achieve major awards or critical acclaim, the film has since cultivated a dedicated cult following.
Co-written by Cory Goodman, the character for Diesel reportedly incorporated elements from a character he developed for the game Dungeons & Dragons. Discussions of a potential sequel have been circulating since 2020.
Masterminds (2016)
Masterminds, a comedy crime film, draws from the real-life 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery in North Carolina. Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) directed the film, starring Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson, and Jason Sudeikis.
Masterminds attracted attention for its comedic approach to a genuine heist and the often unbelievable details of the actual event – many of which were sourced directly from court records and FBI documentation.
Complete List of Titles Departing Netflix UK in May:
May 1st
- 1917 (2019)
- The 5th Wave (2016)
- A Man Wanted (2017)
- The Adolf Eichmann Trial (2011)
- All We Had (2016)
- Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher (2013)
- Big Fat Liar (2002)
- The Bronze (2002)
- Calais, the End of the Jungle (2017)
- The Death of Stalin (2017)
- Diana (2013)
- Earth Playlist (Season 1) N
- Emma’s Chance (2016)
- Escorts (2015)
- From Russia with Cash (2015)
- Fury (2014)
- Get in (2019) N
- Hatton Garden (Season 1)
- Hidden Figures (2016)
- Legally High (2013)
- Legends of the Fall (1994)
- Life (2017)
- Maggie’s Plan (2015)
- Masterminds (2016)
- The Mauritanian (2021)
- Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times (2021)
- Murder in Successville (2017)
- The Paedophile Hunter (2014)
- Penelope (2006)
- Pixels (2015)
- The Possesion of Hannah Grace (2018)
- Proud Mary (2018)
- Psych (2014)
- Rough Night (2017)
- Sleepless (2017)
- Terror at the Mall (2014)
- Three Days of Terror: The Charlie Hebdo Attack (2016)
- The Throwaways (2015)