May brings a varied run of releases to cinemas, moving from a major local crime prequel and high-impact action sequel to quieter, character-driven work and conceptual horror. Whether you’re drawn to spectacle or something more reflective, these films stand out as key titles on the big-screen release calendar this month
Cold War 1994 (May 1)
Opening the month with a local blockbuster, Cold War 1994 returns to one of Hong Kong cinema’s defining crime franchises with a prequel set before the Handover. Moving between 2017 and 1994, a kidnapping case pulls police, political elites, triads and the British government into a widening power struggle. Led by Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka-fai, alongside Daniel Wu, Louis Koo and the recent Best Actress winner Fish Liew, the film traces the early rivalries that would later define the series.
Mortal Kombat II (May 8)
Following the 2021 reboot, Mortal Kombat II returns with its long-awaited sequel, this time moving fully into the official tournament. Earthrealm’s champions are drawn into a decisive battle against the forces of Shao Kahn, whose rise threatens their world. Much of the action unfolds in the hostile realm of Outworld, raising both scale and stakes. With Karl Urban joining as Johnny Cage, alongside returning fighters, the film leans further into its mythology while delivering the brutal, high-impact combat the franchise is known for.
Silent Friend (May 14)
Mid-month turns more contemplative with Silent Friend, directed by Ildikó Enyedi and led by Tony Leung Chiu-wai. Set in a botanical garden in a German university town, the film unfolds across three timelines – 1908, 1972 and 2020 – each following individuals drawn to the natural world. At its centre is a centuries-old ginkgo tree, quietly observing these intersecting lives. In the present, Leung plays a neuroscientist whose research into human consciousness gradually shifts toward understanding the inner life of plants.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22)
Continuing to expand the Star Wars universe, The Mandalorian and Grogu follows Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice Grogu after the Empire’s fall. Now working with the New Republic, they are tasked with tracking down dangerous Imperial warlords, including a mission to rescue Rotta the Hutt in exchange for key intelligence. Set across the Outer Rim, the film brings a broader, more cinematic scale while keeping its focus on the evolving bond between the two.
Passenger (May 22)
Also arriving mid-month, Passenger builds its horror around the isolation of the open road, framed by the chilling line, “130 million people take road trips every year. 15,400 of them are never seen again.” Directed by experienced genre filmmaker André Øvredal, the film follows a young couple whose van-life journey turns into a nightmare after witnessing a fatal accident. Soon, they realise they did not leave the scene alone, as a relentless demonic presence begins to follow them wherever they go, turning open roads into a space of constant, inescapable dread.
Backroom (May 29)
Closing the month, Backrooms arrives as one of the most anticipated releases for horror and urban legend audiences. Directed by Kane Parsons, the creator behind the viral “Backrooms” found-footage series on YouTube, and produced by A24, the film follows a therapist (Renate Reinsve) who enters an otherworldly dimension in search of a missing patient, Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor). It brings to life the unsettling maze of fluorescent-lit rooms imagined by fans, translating that eerie familiarity into a cinematic experience that could stand among the year’s most distinctive horror releases.
