Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
This week’s update sees Netflix movie original Unfrosted and everyone’s favorite green ogre’s first film outing – that being 2001’s Shrek – join their April 2024 brethren in this guide. We’ve removed the last entries for March as we don’t consider them to be new anymore, too, and updated our coming soon section with the latest announcements.
Welcome to TechRadar’s new Netflix movies guide. Below, we’ve compiled a short list of the biggest new movies that have landed on the service – Netflix Originals and licensed films – since the start of April. So, if you’re looking for a new film to stream this weekend on the world’s most popular streamer, you’ve come to the right place.
So, what’s new on Netflix this week? The start of any new month brings a whole host of first- and third-party offerings, but we’d be here all day if we listed them all. Instead, we’ve picked out two options for you – one great, one not so good – to watch that’ll have you laughing for all the right or wrong reasons.
Want more suggestions? Check out our best Netflix movies article for a rundown of what films are definitely worth seeing on the world’s best streaming service. Bookmark that page for later, though, and read this one first.
New Netflix movies: May
Unfrosted
Release date: May 3
Runtime: 96 minutes
Age rating: PG-13 (US) / 12 (UK)
Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Hugh Grant, Jim Gaffigan, and Amy Schumer
Director: Jerry Seinfeld
RT score: 20% (critics); TBC (audience)
Netflix’s penchant for releasing terrible comedies continues apace with Unfrosted, a film that satirizes the creation of the world-famous Pop-Tart brand. No, really, that’s what it’s about.
With an all-star cast and a wild take on the story behind the beloved toaster pastry’s development, you might expect this to be a decent watch. Unfortunately, Unfrosted is as stale as an uneaten Pop-Tart that’s been left on a plate for a day or two. We’re sure it’ll appeal to fans of slapstick and childishly silly comedy films, but Unfrosted is a not-so-delicious addition to Netflix’s original movies library. Devour one of this guide’s other new Netflix movies instead.
Shrek
Release date: May 1 (US and Australia only)
Runtime: 89 minutes
Age rating: PG (US) / 12 (UK)
Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow
Directors: Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson
RT score: 88% (critics); 90% (audience)
One of the best animated movies released this century, 2001’s Shrek is must-see for film fans of all ages. With its hilarious subversion of fairy tales, iconic voice cast performances, smooth animation, banging licensed soundtrack, and more than its fair share of crudeness that only adults will pick up on, it’s a bona fide classic that’s also written itself into meme *ahem* folklore.
For the uninitiated: Shrek stars Myers as the titular green, reclusive ogre, whose swamp gets overrun by fairy tale creatures after they’re turfed out of their homes by the villainous Lord Farquaad (Lithgow). With the aid of his annoying new bestie Donkey (Murphy), Shrek makes a pact with Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona (Diaz) in return for getting his swamp back. Cue all manner of ridiculously over-the-top set-pieces, narrative twists, and plenty of laugh-out-loud, awkward and innuendo-based jokes.
Watch Shrek on Netflix. (NB: UK users can stream Shrek on Sky/NOW TV).
New Netflix movies: April
Rebel Moon – Part 2: The Scargiver
Release date: April 19
Runtime: 123 minutes
Age rating: PG-13 (US) / 12 (UK)
Cast: Sofia Boutella, Ed Skrein, Djimon Hounsou, Michiel Huisman, Doona Bae, Anthony Hopkins, and Fra Fee among others
Director: Zack Snyder
RT score: 15% (critics); 50% (audience)
After the lackluster reception to its forebear – read our spoiler-light review of Rebel Moon Part 1 before watching Snyder’s new Netflix duology – Rebel Moon Part 2 had the opportunity to completely change people’s opinions on the filmmaker’s burgeoning sci-fi epic universe.
Unfortunately, The Scargiver fails to give Snyder’s Rebel Moon franchise a vital shot in the arm. Sure, it’s more action-packed than its predecessor – indeed, Rebel Moon Part 2 sees Kora (Boutella) and her merry band of freedom fighters take on the tyrannical Imperium in a frantic, David versus Goliath, last stand battle on the idyllic moon of Veldt. But, while it makes us for lost time on the frenetic spectacle front, it similarly lacks compelling melodrama, fully rounded characters, or anything that we haven’t seen from a sci-fi film of this scope and scale before. One for Snyder fanatics to enjoy, but there’s little else here to enjoy for many other viewers. Watch one of these three sci-fi epic sagas instead of Rebel Moon Part 2.
Watch Rebel Moon – Part 2: The Scargiver on Netflix.
Scoop
Release date: April 5
Runtime: 102 minutes
Age rating: R (US) / 15 (UK)
Cast: Billy Piper, Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, Keeley Hawes, and Romola Garai
Director: Philip Martin
RT score: 78% (critics); 62% (audience)
The British royal family has a tendency to capture the headlines (and audience imagination), regardless of whether said press is positive or not. Just look at Netflix’s The Crown as proof of how eager we all are to know every minute detail about them.
This dramatized take on Prince Andrew’s infamous 2019 BBC interview, then, is sure to pique the interest of royalists and monarchy bashers alike. Based on Sam McAlister’s Scoops memoir, it follows the aforementioned publicist (played by Piper) as she secures an audience with Prince Andrew (portrayed by Sewell) for BBC reporter Emily Maitlis (played by Anderson) – an explosive, awkward, and tension-fueled interview that would go down in history.
With top-tier performances from the likes of Piper, Anderson, and Sewell, and Martin’s smart direction that captures the car-crash interview in all its stunning glory, Scoop must be seen to be believed.
New Netflix movies: what’s coming in 2024?
Want a brief rundown on all of the new Netflix movies that’ll arrive between now and the end of 2024? Read on to see which ones have been announced so far:
- Mother of the Bride (May 9)
- Thelma the Unicorn (May 17)
- Atlas (May 24)
- My Oni Girl (May 24)
- A Part of You (May 31)
- Baki Hanma vs Kengan Ashura (June 6)
- Hit Man (June 7)
- Ultraman: Rising (June 14)
- Trigger Warning (June 21)
- Drawing Closer (June 27)
- A Family Affair (June 28)
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (July 3)
- Blame the Game (July 12)
- Find Me Falling (July 19)
- Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (August 2)
- The Union (August 16)
- Incoming (August 23)
- Family Pack (Q3 2024)
- Carry-On (Q4 2024)
- The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (Q4 2024)
- The Electric State (expected 2024)
- Joy (expected 2024)
- Spellbound (expected 2024)
- That Christmas (expected 2024)
- Untitled Wallace and Gromit movie (expected 2024)
For more Netflix-based coverage, read our best Netflix shows and best Netflix documentaries guides. Alternatively, find out how to sign up to Netflix or get the lowdown on whether it’s worth cancelling your Netflix subscription.
