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 anticipated2019 movieslist 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 ofnew movieslikeGlassandAvengers: Endgamewould be enough for many. Throw inJokerand a newStar Warsfilm and you have the makings of a truly incredible year at the box office. This says nothing of the behemoth that is Disney serving upFrozen 2,Captain Marvel, andSpider-Man: Far From Home.
27Glass(January 18)
When M. Night Shyamalan’sUnbreakablecame 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 ofThe Sixth Sense, most felt thatUnbreakablewas a letdown. That was back in 1999. Flash forward to 2019 and we’ve been treated toSplit, which turned out to be a sequel (of sorts) toUnbreakable. 2019 brings usGlasswhich 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.
26The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part(February 8)
Was there anybody who didn’t like 2014’sThe Lego Movie? That whimsical tale of a hero trying to stop a super baddie from gluing Lego pieces together continues here. InThe LEGO Movie 2: The Second Partthey 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!
25Alita: Battle Angel(February 14)
Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) and James Cameron… do we need to say anymore?Alita: Battle Angelis 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 Angelseems predestined for the same big things as the film’s star.
24Captain Marvel(March 8)
WithCaptain MarvelandAvengers: Endgamecoming 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 ofAvengers: Infinity War,Captain Marvelseems poised to be a major player in the upcoming sequel. We will get to that later, in the meantimeCaptain Marvelfinds 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 delectableAvengers: Endgame.
23Us(March 22)
Jordan Peele follows up the spectacular, thought provoking, Academy Award winningGet OutwithUs. This film focuses on a family who takes a vacation only to have it upended by some strange visitors. Based on the trailer,Usseems to be yet another film in 2019 about self-discovery. MakingUsstand 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.
22Shazam!(April 5)
One might wonder if there really is a call for another superhero movie. In the case ofShazam!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.
21Pet 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 ofPet Semataryis 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 firstPet Semataryin 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!
20Hellboy(April 12)
The firstHellboycame out a scant 15 years ago so it makes sense to give this character, caught between the natural and supernatural realms, another go.Stranger ThingsDavid 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.Hellboyis 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 ofHellboymovies so eventful.
19Avengers: Endgame(April 26)
This is arguably the biggest movie of 2019 andAvengers: Endgameis 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 inAvengers: Infinity Warare going to return. The bigger question is canAvengers: Endgamesatisfy audiences in a similar to way to it’s predecessor? That will be the franchises greatest feat if it can pull it off.
18John 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 3continues 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!
