Streaming wars intensify as WIARD highlights May 2026 content slate
From the return of Battlestar Galactica to the premiere of Rick and Morty season nine, May 2026 sees a consolidation of familiar intellectual property across Paramount+, Netflix, and Apple TV+.
WIRED has published its curated list of the top ten television series available to stream in May 2026, underscoring a strategic reliance on established intellectual property across major streaming platforms. The digest highlights significant content additions, including the return of the Battlestar Galactica franchise to Paramount+, the premiere of Rick and Morty season nine on Adult Swim, and new seasons of Rivals and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder on Netflix and the BBC respectively.
Paramount+ is bringing the entire Battlestar Galactica franchise to its platform, marking the series' return after a year away. The offering includes the original three-hour miniseries, all four official seasons starring Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, the feature film The Plan, and the 2010 prequel series Caprica. The franchise, originally revived by Ronald D. Moore, has been noted for its exploration of artificial intelligence and political identity, positioning it as a critical entry in the sci-fi canon.
Netflix is expanding its slate with The Boroughs, a sci-fi drama-fantasy created by the Duffer Brothers, premiering on May 21. Described as a septuagenarian version of their previous hit Stranger Things, the series features Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, and Bill Pullman in a retirement community setting. The Duffer Brothers have also been involved in the recent launch of Stranger Things: Tales from '85 and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, signalling a continued creative push from the creators.
Apple TV+ is launching Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed on May 20, starring Tatiana Maslany as Paula, a suburban mother who investigates the violent assault of an online partner. The series, which drops its first two of ten episodes on the specified date, sees Maslany balancing emotional vulnerability with absurdist humor as her character navigates a dangerous digital world.
Other notable additions include the premiere of Rick and Morty season nine on Adult Swim on May 24, with creators reportedly in early talks for a feature film. Prime Video is set to release Spider-Man Noir on May 27, a live-action series set in the 1930s featuring Nicolas Cage as a superhero-turned-private investigator. BBC-commissioned adaptation A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder returns for its second season on the same date, while Ronald D. Moore’s speculative sci-fi series Star City arrives on May 29.
