Cinema guide: new films in Australia this week

From Furiosa to Radical, here are all the new films in Australian cinemas from 20 to 26 May.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Image: Warner Bros Pictures

Your guide to new films in cinemas across Australia this week, 20 to 26 May 2024.

For our monthly cinema guide for new films in May, head to this article.

New films in cinemas

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (23 May)

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Synopsis: Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) is Furiosa, the one-armed renegade warrior from George Miller’s Oscar winner Mad Max: Fury Road, in this story taking place before she met Max.

Director: George Miller.
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth.
Classification: CTC.
Runtime: 2h 20m.

Read: Cinema guide: new films in Australia May 2024

Radical (23 May)

Synopsis: In a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, a frustrated teacher tries a radical new method to break through his students’ apathy and unlock their curiosity, their potential… and maybe even their genius. 

Director: Christopher Zalla.
Cast: Eugenio Derbez. 
Classification: CTC.
Runtime: 127m.

NT Live: Nye (25 May)

Synopsis: Michael Sheen plays Nye Bevan in this surreal journey through the life and legacy of the creator of the NHS, from the National Theatre’s 2024 season of live recordings direct from the London stage. Written by Tim Price and directed by Rufus Norris.

Director: Rufus Norris.
Cast: Michael Sheen.
Classification: E.
Runtime: 185m.

Read: The 12 fantastic features in Official Competition at Sydney Film Festival

Recent new film releases

After Death (15 May)

Synopsis: Based on the true accounts of New York Times Bestselling authors, survivors give us a peek into life’s biggest question: What happens when we die?

Director: Stephen Gray, Chris Radtke
Cast: Michael Jovanovski, Koko Marshall
Classification: MA
Runtime: 108m

Fight to Live (15 May)

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Synopsis: This documentary looks at a young woman’s journey from victim to conqueror; from a troubled young kid in Launceston, to a terrified mother protecting herself and her children from an abuser, Bec has been through hell and come out a woman comfortable in her own skin, living on her own terms, and dominating in one of the world’s toughest sports.

Director: Tom Haramis
Cast: Bec Rawlings
Classification: CTC
Runtime: 80m

Transformers: 40th Anniversary Event (15 May)

Synopsis: Special screenings celebrating The Transformers, the original ’80s animated series. Promises to ‘take you back to the very beginning as the original voice actors team up for the first time in decades to revisit their characters and recreate the enduring magic of The Transformers.’

Director: John Gibbs
Cast: Frank Welker, Peter Cullen
Classification: G
Runtime: 96m

Read: What to watch this week on streaming: the shows we love

John Singer SargentFashion and Swagger (15 May)

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Synopsis: Documentary on the life and work of John Singer Sargent, one of the great portrait artists of his era.

Director: John Singer Sargent
Classification: PG
Runtime: 1h 30m

Greatest Days (16 May)

Synopsis: A feature adaptation of The Band musical, following five best friends who have the night of their lives seeing their favourite boy band in concert. Twenty-five years later their lives have changed in many different ways as they reunite for one more epic show by their beloved band, to relight their friendship and discover that maybe their greatest days are ahead of them.

Director: Coky Giedroyc
Cast: Aisling Bea, Lara McDonnell
Classification: M
Runtime: 112m

The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan (16 May)

Synopsis: Young D’Artagnan arrives in Paris, trying to find the attackers who left him for dead. He instead finds a real war brewing and joins the king’s three musketeers – Athos, Porthos and Aramis – as they work to ensure the future of France.

Director: Martin Bourboulon
Cast: Eva Green, Vincent Cassel
Classification: M
Runtime: 121m

IF (16 May)

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Synopsis: Ryan Reynolds stars in this family film as a man with the ability to talk to other people’s imaginary friends and discovers that some of them are harbouring a resentment and anger after being forgotten and left without any friendship or love. 

Director: John Krasinski
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Classification: PG
Runtime: 90m

The StrangersChapter 1 (16 May)

Synopsis: Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale) stars in this first entry of a trilogy in The Strangers horror franchise. In Chapter I, a young woman starts a new life with her fiancé. Suddenly, during a road trip stop in a remote vacation rental in the woods, they become the prey of a mysterious gang of masked strangers who attack without warning or reason.

Director: Renny Harlin
Cast: Madelaine Petsch, Emma Horvath
Classification: CTC
Runtime: 91m

The Way, My Way (16 May)

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Synopsis: The true story of a stubborn, self-centred Australian man who decides to walk the 800-kilometre-long Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route through Spain. He doesn’t know why he’s doing it… but one step at a time, it will change him and his outlook on life forever. Based on Bill Bennett’s best-selling memoir of the same name.

Director: Bill Bennett
Cast: Chris Haywood, Jennifer Cluff
Classification: PG
Runtime: 100m

MetOpera: La Rondine (18 May)

Synopsis: Puccini’s bittersweet love story makes a rare Met appearance, with soprano Angel Blue starring as the sophisticated French courtesan Magda, opposite tenor Jonathan Tetelman in his company debut as Ruggero, an idealistic young man who offers her an alternative to her life of excess.

Director: Speranza Scappucci
Cast: Angel Blue, Jonathan Tetelman
Classification: CTC
Runtime: 170m


Silvi Vann-Wall is a journalist, podcaster, and filmmaker. They joined ScreenHub as Film Content Lead in 2022. Twitter: @SilviReports