Apple TV+ had six new Apple Original premieres scheduled for May 2025. For documentary viewers, the month’s key releases were Long Way Home, Deaf President Now! and Bono: Stories of Surrender. The rest of the lineup covered science fiction, action adventure and family animation.
The release calendar ran from May 9 through May 30, with two series using weekly episode schedules and four one-off films or specials arriving on their listed premiere dates.
Apple TV+ May 2025 release schedule
| Date | Title | Format | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 9 | Long Way Home | Travel documentary series | Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman ride across Europe |
| May 16 | Murderbot | Science-fiction comedy-thriller series | A self-aware security construct tries to conceal its independence |
| May 16 | Deaf President Now! | Documentary film | The 1988 student protest at Gallaudet University |
| May 23 | Fountain of Youth | Action-adventure feature film | Estranged siblings search for the mythical Fountain of Youth |
| May 30 | Bono: Stories of Surrender | Documentary film | A filmed version of Bono’s one-man stage production |
| May 30 | Lulu Is a Rhinoceros | Animated family musical special | A rhino searches for acceptance and self-expression |
Long Way Home — May 9
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman returned for another motorcycle journey in Long Way Home. The 10-episode travel documentary follows the pair on refurbished vintage motorcycles, beginning in Scotland and continuing through England, Scandinavia, the Arctic Circle, the Baltics and continental Europe.
The route passes through 17 European countries. Although Apple lists it as Season 1, the program is the fourth motorcycle adventure featuring McGregor and Boorman under the Long Way banner. The first two episodes arrived on May 9, with subsequent episodes released weekly.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIt is the month’s most straightforward choice for viewers who enjoy observational travel documentaries, road stories and the practical problems of crossing borders and landscapes by motorcycle.
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Murderbot — May 16
Based on Martha Wells’ science-fiction book series, Murderbot stars Alexander Skarsgård as a security construct that has hacked its own governing system. Its immediate priorities are keeping its free will secret, avoiding human interaction and watching futuristic soap operas.
The 10-episode series combines science fiction with comedy and thriller elements. Apple released its first two episodes on May 16, followed by one episode every Friday through July 11, 2025.
This is not a documentary, but it was one of the month’s prominent Apple TV+ launches and a useful contrast to the factual programming arriving alongside it.
Deaf President Now! — May 16
Deaf President Now! examines the eight-day student protest at Gallaudet University in 1988. Students objected when the university’s board selected a hearing president instead of appointing a Deaf candidate. Their campaign ended with Dr. I. King Jordan becoming Gallaudet’s first Deaf president.
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The protest became a defining event in disability-rights history. The documentary uses interviews, archival footage and scripted material to reconstruct the campaign and its wider significance. Apple describes its approach as “Deaf Point of View,” placing Deaf experience and perspective at the center of the filmmaking.
It premiered globally on Apple TV+ on May 16. Among May’s releases, this is the strongest choice for viewers interested in social movements, higher education, political organizing and disability history.
Fountain of Youth — May 23
Guy Ritchie directed this action-adventure film, which stars John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as estranged siblings brought together by a search for the mythological Fountain of Youth.
The ensemble cast includes Eiza González, Domhnall Gleeson, Arian Moayed, Laz Alonso, Carmen Ejogo and Stanley Tucci. Fountain of Youth premiered globally on Apple TV+ on May 23.
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It is the month’s major scripted adventure release rather than a factual or documentary title.
Bono: Stories of Surrender — May 30
Directed by Andrew Dominik, Bono: Stories of Surrender is a filmed reimagining of Bono’s one-man stage show. The documentary combines stories about his family, faith, activism and career with performances of U2 songs and previously unseen tour footage.
The film premiered globally on May 30. Its format is closer to a cinematic concert and performance documentary than to a conventional chronological music biography: the stage material and personal narration are the organizing structure.
Apple also released Bono: Stories of Surrender (Immersive) for Apple Vision Pro on the same day. Apple described that version as the first feature-length film available in Apple Immersive Video. It uses 8K capture, Spatial Audio and a 180-degree viewing format, so it is a separate experience from the standard Apple TV+ film.
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Lulu Is a Rhinoceros — May 30
Lulu Is a Rhinoceros is an animated family musical special based on the children’s book by Jason and Allison Flom. It follows Lulu, a rhinoceros whose adventure explores kindness, acceptance and self-expression.
The special features original songs by Leland. Auliʻi Cravalho voices Lulu, with Alex Newell, Dulé Hill, Paul Rust and Utkarsh Ambudkar also among the voice cast. It premiered globally on May 30 and served as Apple TV+’s main children’s and family release for the month.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the May lineup broke down
- Documentaries: Long Way Home, Deaf President Now! and Bono: Stories of Surrender.
- Scripted series: Murderbot, which began with two episodes and then moved to a weekly Friday schedule.
- Feature film: Fountain of Youth, released in full on May 23.
- Family programming: Lulu Is a Rhinoceros, a standalone animated musical special.
For documentary fans, the releases cover three very different subjects: a long-distance motorcycle expedition, a landmark Deaf-rights protest and a musician’s autobiographical stage performance. That range made the documentary portion of Apple TV+’s May schedule more varied than the number of titles alone suggests.
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FAQ
What documentaries came to Apple TV+ in May 2025?
The three main documentary releases were Long Way Home on May 9, Deaf President Now! on May 16 and Bono: Stories of Surrender on May 30.
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When did Murderbot premiere on Apple TV+?
The first two episodes of Murderbot premiered on May 16, 2025. New episodes then arrived weekly on Fridays through July 11.
What is Deaf President Now! about?
It recounts the 1988 student protest at Gallaudet University, where students demanded the appointment of a Deaf president. The protest resulted in Dr. I. King Jordan becoming the university’s first Deaf president.
Is Bono: Stories of Surrender available in Apple Immersive Video?
Yes. Alongside the standard documentary, Apple released Bono: Stories of Surrender (Immersive) for Apple Vision Pro on May 30, using 8K capture, Spatial Audio and a 180-degree format.
The Bottom Line
May 2025’s Apple TV+ lineup was led by Murderbot, Fountain of Youth and Bono: Stories of Surrender, but documentary viewers had three substantial releases to choose from: the European motorcycle journey in Long Way Home, the disability-rights history of Deaf President Now! and Bono’s performance-led personal documentary.
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