By Billy Jiang
May is usually the warm-up before the full summer box office explosion.
This year, though, the 'warm-up' feels suspiciously intense: game adaptations return, Star Wars expands (again), and a few legendary classics step back onto the big screen.
Old fans, new fans… everyone gets fed this month.
The Mortal Kombat 2
May 8
Let’s be honest—the first Mortal Kombat movie didn’t exactly win critics over.
But for audiences chasing R-rated violence, pure action spectacle, and game nostalgia, even 'bad' can still be very watchable.
And clearly, the studio agrees.
Actor Joe Taslim has already revealed he signed on for four films, which tells you everything—this franchise is going all-in on its brutal identity.
This time, fan-favorite Johnny Cage (played by Karl Urban) joins the fight, bringing a much-needed dose of humor and personality.
As for expectations?
Same as everyone else: less censorship in the China release… and just make it better than the first one.
That would be more than enough.
Goodbye Julia
May 13
A rare entry from Sudan... and a historic one.
Goodbye Julia is the first Sudanese film ever selected at Cannes, earning three nominations and winning the Freedom Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
There’s a line in the film: “Here, war never ends.”
From a single car accident unfolds a story of two women, two families, and two nations, intertwined through lies, guilt, and the fragile possibility of redemption.
The film explores marriage and freedom, hatred and reconciliation—painting a deeply human portrait against the backdrop of a turbulent society.
It’s intimate, but never small.
*Screened in Arabic with Chinese subtitles.
Jaws
May 15
It took 50 years, but it’s finally here.
Originally released on June 20, 1975, Jaws now arrives in the Chinese mainland with a full IMAX restoration.
And this isn’t just a classic.
It’s the blueprint.
Made on a USD9 million budget and earning over USD470 million worldwide, it became the first true blockbuster and essentially invented the summer movie season.
More importantly, it rewrote how fear works on screen.
Instead of showing the monster, it lets music, framing, and suggestion do the work—a technique still copied today.
In fact, most creature and disaster films since have simply followed the same formula:
Change the animal, keep the structure.
The 50th anniversary version features full restoration upgrades: sharper resolution, richer color, deeper contrast, and cleaner visuals.
For a film built on atmosphere, that matters.
The Sheep Detectives
May 16
A shepherd dies under mysterious circumstances.
The police are clueless.
So naturally… the sheep take over.
Raised on the works of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle, this group of 'sheep detectives' steps out of the pasture to solve a GBP30 million inheritance mystery where everyone is a suspect.
They may look like fools, but they see right through human hypocrisy.
Directed by Minions filmmaker Kyle Balda, with visual effects from the Paddington team and writing from Craig Mazin ( Chernobyl , The Last of Us ), plus Hugh Jackman in the cast—this is a seriously stacked creative lineup.
Cute on the surface.
Sharp underneath.
Potential dark horse of the year ( baa baa ? )
Oh My Girl
May 20
China’s '520' Valentine’s Day gets exactly one international entry this year.
And it’s a Thai romance.
In recent years, Thai films have quietly built a strong following in China, thanks to their delicate emotional storytelling and grounded, relatable characters.
This one is already being called 'the best Thai romance of the past decade.'
Starring two of Thailand’s most popular young actors, the film captures the awkward, sweet, and sometimes ridiculous inner world of teenage crushes.
Light, funny, sincere, and just the right amount of heartache.
*Screened in Thai with Chinese subtitles.
The Mandalorian & Grogu
May 22
This is the way.
The galaxy’s most beloved duo—Din Djarin and Grogu—make the jump from TV to the big screen.
Built by the original Mandalorian team, the film keeps its signature tone: a mix of space western, action, and surprisingly warm 'father-son' storytelling.
The chemistry between the armored bounty hunter and the tiny, Force-sensitive Grogu remains the emotional core.
Bigger scale, stronger visuals, same heart.
Even if you haven’t seen the series, this is one of the most accessible entries in the Star Wars universe in years.
Fun fact : this movie wasn’t originally planned—it came out of production shifts during the Hollywood strikes, replacing what would have been Season 4.
Also, Grogu?
Still a practical puppet.
Not fully CGI.
Memento
May 29
To this day, many still argue this is Christopher Nolan’s best film.
Memento is not just told backwards—it’s built to break how you process narrative.
Fragments of memory.
Distorted perception.
Time that refuses to behave.
This isn’t a puzzle you solve once.
It’s one you keep returning to.
Watching it feels like your own memory is falling apart: scenes scatter, timelines blur, and only after piecing it all together (sometimes multiple times) does the full picture emerge.
The new IMAX version upgrades the visual quality, but here’s the real question:
Does it make the story easier to understand?
Probably not.
Ozi: Voice of the Forest
TBC
This marks Leonardo DiCaprio’s first time producing an animated feature.
And, unsurprisingly, it’s rooted in environmental storytelling.
Blending years of real-world advocacy with accessible animation, the film delivers its message through a vibrant cast of characters, lush visuals, and a warm, adventurous tone.
Set in a rainforest world, it tells a story of courage, family, and protection—planting the seeds of environmental awareness in younger audiences.
With its family-friendly approach and meaningful core, it’s an easy pick for parents and kids alike.
Likely to land around Children’s Day (Jun 1).
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[Cover image by That's]
Source: ThatsGuangzhou
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