2019 is here, and with it comes excitement for a new year of movies! There are tons of interesting movies for fans of every genre which made it incredibly difficult to narrow this list down to ten, but we made it happen. Here are our Ten Most Anticipated Movies of 2019!
Honorable Mentions
AVENGERS: ENDGAME
RELEASE DATE 04.26.2019
Though the Marvel movies have grown a bit stale to some of us, the fact that Avengers: Endgame will finally wrap up the loose ends and answer all of our questions is enough to pique our interest at least a little bit.
DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE
RELEASE DATE TBA 2019
The latest movie from S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99) was slated for release in 2018. It’s been circling the whole film festival circuit so, not only has it not been released, but we haven’t even been given a trailer!!! The long wait has tampered our excitement, but Zahler and stars Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn are enough to earn an honorable mention
UPDATE: We now have a trailer. See above!
10)POKEMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU
RELEASE DATE 05.10.2019
This one was mostly overlooked by us until the trailer came out of nowhere and vaulted it onto this list. Ryan Reynolds doesn’t exactly seem to be stretching his acting range, but the fun tone and the great looking CGI renditions of the Pokemon are enough to get us interested.
UPDATE: Our Score - 4.13/10 (D-)
The story made little sense, the humor was inconsistent, and there wasn't nearly enough fun pokemon action to keep us engaged. CLICK HERE to hear our full thoughts.
10 - tied) GREYHOUND
RELEASE DATE 03.22.2019
A relatively unproven director, Aaron Schneider (Get Low) helms this WWII Naval Drama. No plot details are known at this time, but Tom Hanks is attached to star and his name carries enough weight around here to secure Greyhound a spot on our list.
UPDATE:
This movie's release date was pushed back all the way to May of 2020, so look for this to make an appearance on our Most Anticipated Movies of 2020 list.
9) JOKER
RELEASE DATE 10.04.2019
Everything about Joker points to it either being a massive hit, or a horrible disaster. The casting of Joaquin Phoenix is interesting in its own right. Then you tell us the guy behind movies like Old School, The Hangover, and Due Date is directing this, and you throw in Robert De Niro in a supporting role. We don’t know what that all adds up to, but we promise you it won’t be dull.
8) THE IRISHMAN
RELEASE DATE TBA 2019
Martin Scorsese is directing Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel. I could stop right there, and you’d already want to see this. De Niro plays a mob hitman involved in the murder of Jimmy Hoffa. There’s no way The Irishman won’t be amazing!
7) THE LION KING
RELEASE DATE 07.19.2019
Jon Favreau’s success directing 2016’s The Jungle Book, gives us hope that The Lion King will turn out fantastic. Let’s be honest though. It’s The friggin Lion King! We grew up in the 90s. We would be pumped for this movie no matter who was sitting in the director’s chair.
6) HOBBS AND SHAW
RELEASE DATE 07.26.2019
Hobbs and Shaw is going to battle John Wick 3: Parabellum for best action movie of the year. The star characters of The Fate of the Furious (2017) have trimmed the fat (i.e. everything else form the Furious franchise) and are starring in their own movie. No details are known about the story yet, but we’re getting David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2) directing Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham with a bonus of Idris Elba as the villain. Who needs a story?!
5) US
RELEASE DATE 03.15.2019
Jordan Peele impressed audiences and critics alike with his 2017 directorial debut Get Out. Peele’s name was already more than enough to secure his upcoming movie, Us, a spot on this list, and the newly released trailer has only added to the hype. Based on the trailer, we can expect of the insightful, creative, and unique brand of horror that Peele gave us in Get Out.
UPDATE: Our Score - 8.13/10 (A-)
Us is yet another unique and innovative contribution to the horror genre from Jordan Peele. While the story might fall apart a bit upon close inspection, the visuals, acting, music, tone, and camerawork combine to make this an amazing and tense thriller. CLICK HERE to hear our full thoughts.
4) TRIPLE FRONTIER
RELEASE DATE 03.15.2019 (NETFLIX)
Writer/director J.C. Chandor (Margin Call, All is Lost, A Most Violent Year) helms this thrilling Netflix original about five former Special Forces members attempting a massive heist in South America. The impressive cast, which includes, Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, and Garrett Hedlund, the track record of Chandor, and the explosive trailer make this a must see of 2019.
UPDATE: Our Score - 6.34/10 (C)
Chandor's direction is spot on and the actors do their best with what they're given to work with, but the endless poor and illogical decisions and actions by the characters really hurt the overall viewing experience. CLICK HERE to hear our full thoughts.
3) TOY STORY 4
RELEASE DATE 06.21.2019
Everybody’s favorite toys are back! The old gang returns for a new adventure alongside some new friends. Not many details have been released yet, but the additions of Keanu Reeves, Patricia Arquette, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, and Tony Hale certainly are interesting. If the previous movies are any indication, Toy Story 4 is sure to be a massive hit.
2) JOHN WICK 3: PARABELLUM
RELEASE DATE 05.17.2019
Keanu Reeves returns to kick ass as the titular character, this time with the help of Halle Berry. We can only hope that this movie will keep up the momentum of the first two movies, and that director Chad Stahelski, returning from the previous installments, will continue to raise the bar with fast-paced, creative action sequences. John Wick cemented Keanu as an action legend, let’s hope Parabellum adds to that legend.
UPDATE: Our Score - 8.67/10 (A-)
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum did not disappoint as it delivered not only some of the best action of the year, but some of the best of the decade (and maybe of all time). The action is almost nonstop throughout its run time, yet it never grows stale. An absolute must watch! CLICK HERE to hear our full thoughts.
1) GLASS
RELEASE DATE 01.18.2019
M. Night Shyamalan continues his real world superhero story in Glass. We’re expecting another career defining performance from James McAvoy who returns as Kevin Wendell Crumb from Split (2016), (hopefully) a return to form for Bruce Willis who reprises his role of David Dunn from Unbreakable (2000), and some major scene chewing from Samuel L. Jackson who also returns from Unbreakable. If Glass can match the quality of the previous two movies, this will easily be one of the best movies of 2019.
UPDATE: Our Score - 4.25/10 (D-)
Boy, what a disappointment. Shyamalan took a huge step back with this follow up to Split. McAvoy is amazing again, Bruce and Sam Jackson are fine, but they're all stuck in a story that drags and ends up going nowhere. CLICK HERE to hear our full thoughts
That wraps up our list. What movies are you looking forward to in 2019? Let us know your thoughts and your most anticipated movies in the comments. Check back in here throughout the year to see if these movies live up to our high hopes. Thanks for reading!