If you’re looking to discover what’s new on Netflix Ireland in May 2020 (that’s worth watching…), then you’re in the right place.
In the guide below, you’ll find a loooooad of shtuff that’s brand new to Netflix Ireland in May that’s actually worth having a nosey at.
I’ve whacked in the Rotten Tomatoes review score next to each of the new releases below so that you have an idea of what to expect. Dive on in!
Related reads: If you’re looking for more decent films that are worth the watch, nip into our guide to the best films on Netflix Ireland or hop into our guide to the best Irish movies on Netflix.
New on Netflix Ireland in May
You’ll find a mix of movies, documentaries and series below. Now, keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily new releases – they’re just new to Netflix Ireland.
Series wise, the pick of the bunch looks to be ‘Undercover’, which revolves around one of the largest ecstasy producers in the world.
Movie wise, ‘The Half of it’, according to the ridiculously good reviews online, is worth watching sharpish. Dive on in below.
1. I’m No Longer Here
After a misunderstanding with a violent drugs cartel, a young man has no other option but to go on the run, leaving behind his family, friends and everything that he holds sacred.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 100%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.4/10.
2. The Half of it
‘The Half of it’ is racking up some pretty damn good reviews online. This is a feel-good rom-com that was written and directed by Alice Wu and it stars Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, and Collin Chou.
The story centres on a clever teen called Ellie who writes a love letter on behalf of a boy for a girl that he’s fallen for. Things get complicated when Ellie falls for the same girl.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 94%. IMDB currently have it rated at 5.6/10.
3. Undercover
‘Undercover’ sounds like a solid watch. The story follows a lad called Ferry Bouman, one of the world’s largest producers of ecstasy.
Ferry lives a swanky existence in a villa on the Dutch-Belgian border. However, his life takes a turn when two undercover agents try to infiltrate his network.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 100%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.9/10.
4. Dead to Me
‘Dead to me’ is a dark comedy that stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. According to Netflix, the story follows a hotheaded widow searching for the driver of the car who killed her husband in a hit-and-run.
When the widow ‘befriends an eccentric optimist who isn’t quite what she seems’ at a grief counselling session, things start to get interesting.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 86%. IMDB currently have it rated at 8.1/10.
5. The Eddy (May 8th)
‘The Eddy’ is a French musical drama television miniseries that’s set in Paris. The story follows the owner of a jazz club in the city that gets mixed up with local criminals.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 80%. IMDB currently have it rated at 6.3/10.
6. Becoming (May 6th)
‘Becoming’ offers an insight into the life of the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. If the stellar reviews of her book by the same name are anything to go by, this should be well worth the watch.
Review scores: As this one is yet to land at the time of writing (due out on May 6th) there are no review scores.
7. The Society (May 10th)
This series sounds a little bit mental. The story follows a busload of kids from America who are due to head off on a camping trip. However, a storm hits and they’re forced to head home.
When they arrive back to their town, they discover that all of the adults have disappeared. They relish the freedom, at first, and then things get a little bit crazy.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 86%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7/10.
8. White Lines (May 15th)
This is another series on Netflix Ireland that looks like it’ll be well worth a binge. The story follows a woman who returns to Ibiza 20 years after her brother disappeared on the island.
She sets off on a journey to discover what really happened to him. Her investigation, which takes her through Ibiza’s bustling dance scene, uncovers lies, deceit and cover-ups
Review scores: As this one is yet to land at the time of writing (due out on May 6th) there are no review scores.
9. Snowpiercer
If you’re a fan of sci-fi, this should tickle your fancy. Snowpiercer follows a group that managed to survive Eath’s second ice age.
The survivors live on a powerful luxury train that can plough through the thickest of snow and ice. The poorest of the group live in squalor. But that’s all about to change.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 86%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7/10.
10. Shaun of the Dead (May 16th)
This is one of the older movies to arrive on Netflix Ireland in May. If you’re not familiar with this one, it’s a horror-comedy that was co-written by Simon Pegg.
The story follows two friends from London who are caught in an apocalyptic zombie uprising.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 92%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.9/10.
11. The Lovebirds (May 22nd)
The Lovebirds is a romantic comedy that follows a couple who accidentally end up involved in a murder. The pair head off to find the real killer in an attempt to clear their names.
Review scores: As this one is yet to land at the time of writing (due out on May 6th) there are no review scores.
Other stuff that’s relatively new to Netflix Ireland
Looking for other new stuff that’s only after arriving on Netflix Ireland? The 17 shows and movies below were introduced in April.
1. Three Identical Strangers
While there are plenty of movies that are new to Netflix Ireland in April, few have racked up a review score as high as Three Identical Strangers, a documentary that was released in 2018 and that stars Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 97%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.7/10.
In a nutshell: The story follows three identical triplets that were separated at birth and adopted into three different families.
The three reunite many years later. Sounds like a happy ending, right?! Well, it would have been, until a secret comes out that brings unexpected and radical repercussions.
2. I, Tonya
I, Tonya is an American comedy-drama that was directed by Craig Gillespie and it revolves around the life of figure skater Tonya Harding.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 89%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.5/10.
In a nutshell: Back in 1991, a talented figure skater named Tonya Harding became the first American woman to complete a triple axel in a skating competition.
Three years later, in 1994, Harding’s world came tumbling down when her ex-husband conspired to injure a young Olympic hopeful named Nancy Kerrigan in what was one of the biggest scandals in sporting history.
3. American Beauty
American Beauty is one of the older movies that’s new to Netflix Ireland in April. It’s an American drama that was released In 2009 and that stars Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening and Thora Birch.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 87%. IMDB currently have it rated at 8.3/10.
In a nutshell: Lester, an executive at an advertising agency is having a mid-life crisis. His wife doesn’t love him, he’s struggling with life and he’s infatuated with his daughter’s best friend.
4. The Platform (One of the Strangest New Movies on Netflix Ireland)
The Platform sounds a bit mad – it’s a Spanish science fiction thriller that was directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 83%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7/10.
In a nutshell: The story revolves around a prison in the future where inmates are held in a towering block of cells.
The inmates in the upper cells are fed while those unlucky enough to be housed in the lower cells are left to starve.
5. The Town
If you’ve yet to watch the Town, you’re in for a treat. This one was released in 2010 and was co-written, directed by and stars Ben Affleck.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 93%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.5/10.
In a nutshell: A group of thieves from the neighbourhood of Charlestown in Boston rob a bank and hold the manager, Claire, hostage.
The robbery goes to plan but things start to become complicated when Doug, played by Affleck, falls in love with Claire.
6. Ocean’s Eleven
I’m not even sure how to describe Ocean’s Eleven – it’s a heist/comedy film that’s a remake of the Rat Pack film of the same name from 1960…
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 82%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.8/10.
In a nutshell: The story follows Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney, as he assembles a group of eleven thieves in an attempt to rob three of the most popular casinos in Vegas.
7. Lost Girls
Lost Girls is one of a few new releases on Netflix Ireland from 2020. It’s a mystery drama that’s based on the book ‘Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery’.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 73%. IMDB currently have it rated at 6.1/10.
In a nutshell: The mother of a missing girl sets off on a mission to discover what happened to her daughter. Her investigation leads the police to discover unsolved cases of other missing girls.
8. Ladies in Black
I watched the trailer for this one a week or two ago and it didn’t appeal to me in the slightest. That being said, there’s a lot of chatter online about it being worth the watch.
Ladies in Black is an Australian comedy-drama that was released in 2018 and that stars Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Julia Ormond, and Ryan Corr.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 88%. IMDB currently have it rated at 6.7/10.
In a nutshell: The story follows a shy girl named Lisa as she starts a new job in a prestigious department store in Sydney during the summer of 1959. It’s here that Lisa meets the Ladies in Black and her life is changed forever.
9. The Post
The Post is a political thriller set in the US that was directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and stars Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 88%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.2/10.
In a nutshell: The Post follows a publisher and her editor-in-chief as they put their livelihoods (and their freedom) on the line to uncover a secret about the Vietnam War.
10. Extra Ordinary
This next one sounds a little bit mental. Extra Ordinary is the only movie new to Netflix Ireland that falls into the ‘Irish film’ category.
This is a horror-comedy that stars Maeve Higgins, Barry Ward, Will Forte, Claudia O’Doherty, Jamie Beamish, and Terri Chandler.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 97%. IMDB currently have it rated at 6.4/10.
In a nutshell: Extra Ordinary is about a woman that has supernatural powers… she’s also a driving instructor… The story follows her as she sets off to save a possessed girl. This is never going to make it into the best Irish films, but it’s worth a watch.
11. Tully
Tully is an American drama starring Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, and Ron Livingston that follows the friendship between a mother and her nanny.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 86%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7/10.
In a nutshell: Set in New York, the story follows Marlo, a woman on the verge of giving birth to her third child. Her husband is loving and hard-working, but he doesn’t realise how demanding motherhood can be.
When the baby arrives, Marlo’s brother hires her a nanny (Tully) to help with the workload. A special friendship is formed.
12. Uncorked
Uncorked is another recent release, having debuted in 2020. This is an American drama starring Mamoudou Athie, Courtney B. Vance, Niecy Nash and Matt McGorry.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 90%. IMDB currently have it rated at 6.3/10.
In a nutshell: A youngfella upsets his dad by pursuing his dream of becoming a world-class sommelier, rather than taking up a job in the family BBQ business.
New Releases on Netflix Ireland: Series
Next up are the new shows. Now, as I mentioned in the section above for films, keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily brand new series – they’re just new to Netflix Ireland.
If you’re looking for loads more series to watch, dive into our guide to the best shows on Netflix Ireland.
- Tiger King
- White Gold
- Elite
- Caliphate
- The Mire
1. Tiger King (one of the Most-Watched new Releases on Netflix Ireland this month)
Good God this show is mental. I’m 4 episodes in and honestly… I don’t even know where to begin.
If you’re looking for something that’s new to Netflix Ireland that you won’t be able to stop watching, give this a lash.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 95%. IMDB currently have it rated at 8.1/10.
In a nutshell: Tiger King offers an insight into the big cat breeding industry in America and the many eccentric characters that operate within it. Expect everything from lies and back-stabbing to murder and more.
2. White Gold
I came across White Gold for the first time last week and I’ve been hooked ever since. This is a British sitcom about a group of UPVC window salesmen in the 1980s and stars two of the lads from the Inbetweeners.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 88%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.4/10.
In a nutshell: The story follows the goings-on at a double-glazing showroom in Essex in the mid-80s along with the interactions that the salesmen have with customers while going door-to-door.
3. Elite
Elite is a Spanish thriller that follows a group of wealthy students and their friends at an elite secondary school. Sounds a bit sh*t, I know, but bear with me.
Review scores: The Rotten Tomatoes review score at the time of writing, April 1st, is 97%. IMDB currently have it rated at 7.6/10.
In a nutshell: Three working-class kids are given scholarships to one of Spain’s most elite schools. They clash with the wealthy students and murder follows.
4. Caliphate
Caliphate was created by Wilhelm Behrman and Niklas Rockström and it stars Gizemm Erdogan, Aliette Opheim and Nora Rios.
Review scores: There doesn’t appear to be a Rotten Tomatoes review score for this one as of yet. IMDB have it at 7.9/10, at the time of writing (April 1st).
In a nutshell: This is an eight-episode Sweedish thriller that follows three very different people as they become entangled in an incoming attack on Sweeden.
I’ve had a flick through some of the reviews online for this one, and the majority are pretty good.
5. The Mire
If you’re looking for a watch that requires very little thinking, give The Mire a crack. This is a Polish drama that’s set in a quiet town with a less than average level of crime.
Review scores: There doesn’t appear to be a Rotten Tomatoes review score for this one as of yet. IMDB have it at 7.2/10, at the time of writing (April 1st).
In a nutshell: The show is set in the early 80s in a small Polish town where a woman and a youth leader have been killed.
Two journalists find the police’s handling of the case suspicious and they set off on a journey to uncover the truth.
What new releases on Netflix Ireland have we missed?
Have you binged on something new to Netflix Ireland over the last few days that you’d recommend?
Or have you wasted time watching something that was crap? Let me know in the comments section below!
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.