Three Netflix – From Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone’s alien-fueled thriller “Bugonia” to Keke Palmer and SZA’s rent-day buddy comedy “One of Them Days,” and the heartfelt new documentary “Marty, Life Is Short,” here are three movies to watch on Netflix this weekend—May 22-24.
On Netflix this weekend—May 22-24—it’s easy to get stuck scrolling. So instead of guessing, start with a trio that hits three very different moods: a unnerving dramatic thriller, a laugh-out-loud buddy comedy, and a celebrity documentary that’s built for the waterworks.
“Bugonia” (2025)
“Bugonia” is the kind of film you’re best served going into with as little as possible. Jesse Plemons plays a man who becomes convinced the CEO of a pharmaceutical company—played by Emma Stone—is secretly an alien who is harming humans. His belief turns into action when he and his cousin kidnap her.
What follows is unnerving, darkly funny, and packed with performances that land. It’s also directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who has worked with both Plemons and Stone previously. For viewers worried it might be as strange as “Poor Things” or as bleak as “Kinds of Kindness” or “The Lobster. ” there’s some balance here—less wildly off-kilter than “Poor Things. ” without drifting into the same kind of grimness seen in those other films.
The film earned major recognition too: it was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Stone. It also feels like the sort of title that could quietly build into an underrated classic.
“One of Them Days” (2025)
If your weekend calls for something lighter, “One of Them Days” leans hard into the buddy-comedy energy—no sci-fi, no superheroes, just people trying to survive their own mess.
Keke Palmer and SZA star as roommates who end up in a pickle when their landlord demands their rent be paid by the end of the day. The situation spirals when they surmise the boyfriend of SZA’s character must have run off with the money. From there. the movie turns into a race-against-the-clock setup in Los Angeles. with the two women constantly running into trouble while they try to get their rent money back.
The film released in theaters in January, and it made over $50 million at the box office—enough for the studio to greenlight a sequel. “One of Them Days” is also the directorial debut of Lawrence Lamont, with the screenplay written by Syreeta Singleton.
“Marty, Life Is Short” (2026)
For a documentary pick, Netflix has “Marty, Life Is Short” (2026), and if there’s one thing it promises, it’s a different angle on comedy legend Martin Short.
Directed by Short’s longtime friend and acclaimed filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan. the documentary uses home movies and candid interviews with Short’s friends and colleagues. including Steve Martin. Catherine O’Hara. and Eugene Levy. It traces his origins in the Canadian comedy scene, but it doesn’t stop at the laughs.
The film also digs into the tragedy that followed Short throughout his life. He lost his brother, mother, and father all before he was in his mid-20s. Then, decades later, his beloved wife died of cancer in 2010 after 30 years of marriage.
The documentary asks a real question through all of that: how does someone remain not just funny. but hopeful. in the face of so much loss?. Kasdan builds toward that answer with more than a few surprises—making it less of a career spotlight and more of a reminder that the heart of the joke is still human.
Between the alien-fueled dread of “Bugonia,” the rent-day sprint of “One of Them Days,” and the emotional honesty of “Marty, Life Is Short,” Netflix’s weekend lineup is offering a full spectrum—just press play and let the mood find you.
Netflix weekend May 22-24 Bugonia One of Them Days Marty Life Is Short Jesse Plemons Emma Stone Keke Palmer SZA Martin Short Lawrence Kasdan Lawrence Lamont