A new year means many things but what it really means to us is new movies. Yes! All that time spent waiting for that sequel, that prequel, or a continuation of a story will finally be baring fruit. And, if we're lucky, there's even a few films on this most anticipated 2019 movies list that are wholly new and can create expectations for sequels and prequels in the future.
The list of 2019 must-see movies is strong. Chock full of new movies like Glass and Avengers: Endgame would be enough for many. Throw in Joker and a new Star Wars film and you have the makings of a truly incredible year at the box office. This says nothing of the behemoth that is Disney serving up Frozen 2, Captain Marvel, and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
27 Glass (January 18)
When M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable came out it was very much a success d'estime. People ultimately loved this tale of Bruce Willis coming to learn he was a superhero. However, based on the box office of The Sixth Sense, most felt that Unbreakable was a letdown. That was back in 1999. Flash forward to 2019 and we've been treated to Split, which turned out to be a sequel (of sorts) to Unbreakable. 2019 brings us Glass which is the third film in this series and, should the superhero craze hold up, certainly won't be the last. This new film focuses on how Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson) pits The Beast (James McAvoy) against David Dunn (Willis) in an epic battle of original superheroes. Anticipation? That isn't a strong enough word.
26 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (February 8)
Was there anybody who didn't like 2014's The Lego Movie? That whimsical tale of a hero trying to stop a super baddie from gluing Lego pieces together continues here. In The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part they have an even bigger thing to contend with... Duplo. Yes, the other Legos will be working against each other this time around. I could go into more about the plot of this highly anticipated sequel but do I really need to? With much of the same cast returning it seems that this is a solid movie to help kick off the New Year!
25 Alita: Battle Angel (February 14)
Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) and James Cameron... do we need to say anymore? Alita: Battle Angel is based on Yukito Kishiro's epic graphic novel and this film version has just as lofty aspirations. We follow Alita as she goes on a journey of self discovery and in the process realizes the purpose for her existence. This film is bold, brash, and filled with the sci-fi, dystopian elements that ultimately seem destined for it to be a classic. Considering how involved Cameron seemed to be on an auteur like Rodriguez's film, Alita: Battle Angel seems predestined for the same big things as the film's star.
24 Captain Marvel (March 8)
With Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame coming out less than 2 months apart, one wonders if movie-goers may suffer from superhero fatigue...? Nah. Alluded to being the only hope for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the wake of the ending of Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel seems poised to be a major player in the upcoming sequel. We will get to that later, in the meantime Captain Marvel finds herself with her hands full as she comes to realize the scope of the power she wields. This is made even more weighty when she finds that earth is the bounty in a battle between two alien factions. Marvel knows what they are doing and this seems like the perfect appetizer for the delectable Avengers: Endgame.
23 Us (March 22)
Jordan Peele follows up the spectacular, thought provoking, Academy Award winning Get Out with Us. This film focuses on a family who takes a vacation only to have it upended by some strange visitors. Based on the trailer, Us seems to be yet another film in 2019 about self-discovery. Making Us stand out is the fact that it seems to go beyond just about every film that is attempting this. Peele, through the genre of horror, seems to be asking deeper questions like, "Who are we? What is our relationship and duty to our culture?" Something tells me movie-goers will be lining up in droves to find out the answer.
22 Shazam! (April 5)
One might wonder if there really is a call for another superhero movie. In the case of Shazam! that answer would be, "Shazam yes!" This story follows Billy Batson (Asher Angel) as a young kid who can summon his superhero alter-ego Shazam (Zachary Levi) simply by invoking his name. As you can guess, Batson wants to use his powers for good while adults have other ideas. Call it high minded, youthful ideas vs. the cold hard reality of the real world. At a time when so many movies seem desperate to rise above the pack and connect with audiences, Shazam! is the sort of superhero movie that has an extra bit of that cachet going for it.
21 Pet Sematary (April 5)
For many people I know and for many readers the mere mention of this horror reboot, remake (whatever it is), is blasphemy. The story of Pet Sematary is well known. Basically, there is a spooky pet semetary in small, rural town that reanimates the dead that are buried there. For many, they may not really see a need for a reboot. After all, the first Pet Sematary in 1989 is pretty much a horror classic. However, 1989 was 30 years ago, and there's no way that all the good will in the world toward that film is going to match the grosses of what a new one could bring in. So, hide your animals and your other loved ones and get ready for this anticipated redux!
20 Hellboy (April 12)
The first Hellboy came out a scant 15 years ago so it makes sense to give this character, caught between the natural and supernatural realms, another go. Stranger Things David Harbour, an excellent choice, inhabits the role that Ron Perlman made so iconic. With a cast that also includes Milla Jojovich, interest in a reboot appears to be at an all time high. Hellboy is an interesting character because he occupies an ideal space amidst superheroes. He's a good/bad guy and that dichotomy is what makes the anticipation of Hellboy movies so eventful.
19 Avengers: Endgame (April 26)
This is arguably the biggest movie of 2019 and Avengers: Endgame is only coming out in April. Honestly, can you think of any of other film which has the power to effect an entire YEAR of films. I'm not even going to get into how Ironman, The Hulk (yes, THE HULK), Dr. Strange, and everybody else is going to beat the baddest being on the planet known as Thanos. Based on the releases of other Marvel movies, I think it's fairly apparent that those we lost in Avengers: Infinity War are going to return. The bigger question is can Avengers: Endgame satisfy audiences in a similar to way to it's predecessor? That will be the franchises greatest feat if it can pull it off.
18 John Wick: Chapter 3 (May 17)
The character of John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is a lot like Chuck Norris. He may not be the most gregarious person in the room. However, when John Wick is in a fighting mood, and thankfully this is often, we get some of the best butt kickin' the silver screen has to offer. John Wick: Chapter 3 continues to follow this modern day samurai as he takes on all manner of bad people. This time around he's joined by the dreamy Halle Berry and it's pretty amazing to think that this whole franchise started because somebody killed Wick's dog!
17 Rocketman (May 31)
With the unmitigated success of Bohemian Rhapsody there seems to be an audience for films about larger than life singers. Freddie Mercury was such a complicated character that it really gave a lot to actor Rami Malek to sink his teeth into. All of this makes us super excited to see Taron Egerton's turn as Elton John in Rocketman. The film follows John's early years when he attended the Royal Academy of Music, all the way through his fruitful relationship with co-writer Bernie Taupin. Thus far, Rocketman seems more like a tone poem than a straight up biopic, however, Egerton has some amazing acting chops (check out 2015's Eddie the Eagle) and this film seems ripe to push him to over the top.
16 Godzilla: King of the Monsters (May 31)
At first glance one may wonder if we really need another rendition of Godzilla? However, in a year of special films there seems to be something extra special about Godzilla: King of the Monsters. With a "cast" that features not only Godzilla, but Mothra, Rodan and King Ghidorah, this is the Godzilla: King of the Monsters that we have been waiting for. Add to this that we're also getting Millie Bobby Brown, Sally Hawkins and Vera Farmiga and that is certainly saying something. There have been recent Godzilla films but they were too focused on just Godzilla. This film sounds like a battle royale of the highest order and my interest is piqued!
15 Dark Phoenix (June 7)
X-Men movies are special. There's a gravitas that we don't get in even The Avengers movies. Dark Pheonix focuses on Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) and how she's got to manage her powers that seem intent on consuming her. She is joined by such characters as Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Dr. Xavier, Magneto, and the like. X-Men films are all about big choices and Jean Grey faces many of them as she tries to live with what it means to truly be marginalized in society. Dark Pheonix appears to ask even bigger questions this time around and we just can't wait to hear what the answers are.
14 Men In Black: International (June 14)
It's one thing for the Men in Black to be taking on all sorts of outer worldly creatures. It's a whole other thing entirely when the subversion to the planet comes in the form of one of their own. Men In Black: International appears to be rebooting the franchise with the likes of Liam Neeson, Chris Hemsworth, and Tessa Thompson. These films are always fun, always interesting, and feature some of the best FX you're going to see on any movie screen. What a great film to kick off the summer season!
13 Toy Story 4 (June 21)
Just when you thought that was it for Woody and Buzz, along comes talk of another Toy Story film and low and behold we've got, Toy Story 4! With a cast that sees Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprising their iconic roles as Woody and Buzz, the cast also sees the addition of Patricia Arquette, Jordan Peele and Keanu Reeves. This fourth installment sees the characters taking a walk down memory lane, as they go on a road trip and instead of discovering the effects they have on others, they come to see the effects others have on them. Many franchises lose it after awhile, something tells us Toy Story 4 will show that this one has gotten better with age.
12 Annabelle 3 (July 3)
Who doesn't love being scared in the summer? The Untitled Annabelle Film features everybody's favorite creepy doll bringing about murderous mayhem. Okay, we really don't know much about the plot of this film. However, it's a horror movie, it's got Annabelle in it, so chances are we aren't going to see a rendition of Little Women. That said, this doesn't mean that the third film in the Annabelle canon is going to be a turkey. All it means is that we may know what to expect (death, dismemberment, etc), how we get there is going to be the interesting (and anticipation-filled) part.
11 Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 5)
With the amount of box office and critical love that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has garnered, it seems like a pretty good bet that Spider-Man: Far From Home is going to do alright. Despite spilling the beans a little bit regarding Avengers: Endgame, we follow Peter Parker as he takes a vacay in Europe. Of course superheroes can't just rest and relax especially when Parker (Tom Holland) finds himself up against Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal). Spider-Man movies, for the most part, deliver. The team behind this film seems to have gotten this casting right and Jake Gyllenhaal really ups the ante in this very anticipated superhero romp.
10 Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (July 26)
Quentin Tarantino has cast Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Kurt Russell, Al Pacino, and that isn't even all the stars in what has to be the most anticipated drama of the year. It doesn't have any superheroes or monsters. However, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood comes to us from a monster of a director. For that reason alone this crime tale set in the late 1960s has us very interested. So strong are Tarantino's films that it doesn't matter what they are about. It doesn't even matter what the plot is. We know we are going to see something we've never seen before. For that reason alone it's worth the price of admission.
9 The New Mutants (August 2)
This highly anticipated film has been talked about for some time. Well, on August 2 The New Mutants will finally be unleashed. This tale from the X-Men universe shows how five young mutants come to understand who they are and what they possess. They are being held in a top secret place and it may just the be the "powers" they don't understand that are ultimately going to save them. Marvel seems to have it's hand in just about everything nowadays, and this new tale brings in a fresh coterie of actors with which to continue spinning the X-Men lore. It's no wonder people have been as excited for as long as they have.
8 It: Chapter Two (September 6)
It would seem that by the end of It that Pennywise would've been gone forever. Well, we all know that the best killers never die and that's what brings us back for this sequel. And what a grand film It was. That film, set in 1989, followed a group of kids banding together to defeat the evil Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard). {It: Chapter Two) flash forwards things by 27 years and we see how just how tied to their past, and Pennywise, they are. Alright, I will admit it, I think this is going to be a great film. It's got a solid team behind it, the subject matter is always up my alley, and with a cast that now includes James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain and Bill Hader it's hard not to be super psyched. Bring it on, Pennywise!