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Lucy Buglass

3 thrilling new Netflix shows you shouldn't miss in May 2026

Tom Burke as Guy, Jasmine Blackborow as Erin, Steve Coogan as Don, Aml Ameen as Bailey, Hayley Squires as Kate, in Legends.

Netflix is adding three great new thrillers in May, with the best streaming service being the ideal choice if you need a gripping new series to watch.

This month, we've got a new show by the executive producers of Stranger Things, Courtney A. Kemp's new crime drama, and a series inspired by the true story of British customs employees who went undercover in the '90s to infiltrate drug smuggling gangs.

That's quite the lineup. Here's everything you need to know about my top 3 Netflix thriller picks this month.

Legends 

When: May 7

Legends is based on a real-life story of UK customs officials in the 1990s, as they went undercover to infiltrate criminal gangs. Across the episodes, we'll follow this group of amateurs as they put their lives on the line to bring these gangs to justice.

The series stars Steve Coogan, Tom Burke, Hayley Squires, Aml Ameen, and Charlotte Ritchie, so we've got a great British cast here to bring the story to life. I'm really excited to dive into this one, and we don't have long to wait now.

Nemesis

When: May 17

Nemesis follows two men on different sides of the law: an expert criminal and a brilliant police detective. Tudum has teased it's a "subversion of the heist genre, amped by thrilling life-or-death stakes, family dynamics, and explosive action".

Abbott Elementary's Matthew Law and Lady in the Lake's Y’lan Noel lead the cast of the new series, which was created by Courtney A. Kemp. This feels like a promising new addition to Netflix's gripping TV library.

The Boroughs

When: May 17

Finally, The Boroughs is a new sci-fi thriller series executive-produced by The Duffer Brothers. Set in a seemingly picturesque retirement community, the story centers on a group of unlikely heroes who must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing time.

The Sinner's Bill Pullman leads the cast and is joined by Geena Davis, Clarke Peters, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Denis O'Hare, and Jena Malone. It's being teased as Stranger Things but with retirees, and I can't wait for it.

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