2018 was kind of a down year for movies in my opinion (maybe because I had MoviePass and watched A LOT of bad movies with it…you know back when you could watch movies with MoviePass). But 2019 is shaping up to be one fo the best moviegoing years in recent memory. Let me tell you what I’m most excited to see in 2019.
PLEASE NOTE: You will NOT find any of the Disney live action reimagining of classic Disney animated masterpieces on this list. I saw Cinderella, Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland and they were very meh. And I haven’t seen any of the others (I don’t care how good they are) and I don't plan to. I’m a Disney animation purist and these movies are blatant cash grabs that play on nostalgia. I hated when Eisner made direct to video sequels to classic Disney animated features and even though these films are well made with gigantic budgets I have no interest in seeing them. Sorry but if I want to watch Dumbo, Aladdin or The Lion King I will just pop in the Blu-Rays. Thank you very much. I will get down off my soapbox now. LOL
Glass (January 18)
Can’t believe I’m (tentatively) excited for a film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The reason I write “tentatively” is because I’ve been let down by Shyamalan so many times that it’s hard to trust that this will live up to the hype. Split came out of nowhere for me. I waited until it was in a second run theater before I paid to see it. And I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I couldn’t believe M. Night Shyamalan made a movie I didn’t despise. It was also cool to see it tied into the same universe as Unbreakable, a movie I loved and I always thought was underrated. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Glass is good. Please please please be good.
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (February 8)
I adored The LEGO Movie. It was so fun and that theme song “Everything is AWESOME” toed the line between being delightful and driving me nuts. Looking forward to being in this world again.
Happy Death Day 2U (February 14)
If your favorite slasher flick and Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray had a baby it would be Happy Death Day, the surprise smash hit from 2017. Produced by my favorite horror movie factory Blumhouse, Happy Death Day had fantastic young cast, a great concept and clever storytelling. While it could be said that the follow-up, Happy Death Day 2U is just a shameless cash grab, I’m still excited to see what Blumhouse comes up with.
How to Train Your Dragon 3: The Hidden World (February 22)
I’m an animation junkie. I loved the first two films. And I have a four year old son…just take my money now.
Captain Marvel (March 8)
The monster money maker that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe keeps chugging along with Captain Marvel starring Brie Larson as the titular hero. Sure the latest trailer didn’t set my world on fire for this movie but Marvel is on such a roll right now that it’s hard to bet against them. I’ve always loved the Carol Danvers character. Excited to see a female lead (finally) spearhead a Marvel movie. Also love the idea of a 90s themed superhero movie. Okay….I’ve talked myself back into this movie.
Us (March 15)
Aside from a movie that takes place in a galaxy far, far away, Us is the movie I’m most excited to see in 2019. Get Out might have been my favorite movie of 2017 and writer-director Jordan Peele is back with another thriller called Us starring Lupita Nyong’o, Elizabeth Moss, and Winston Duke (who played my other favorite character not named Shuri in Black Panther). Very little is known about the plot of this movie outside of a family being tormented by creepy lookalikes of themselves. I’ve watched this trailer at least a dozen times just out of sheer excitement for this movie. March 15th can’t come fast enough for me.
Shazam! (April 5)
Okay wait hear me out…I know Warner Bros. has had a rough go of it with the DC Cinematic Universe. Wonder Woman was great. Justice League was a hurried mess of a movie and I can’t seem to drag myself to the theaters to see Aquaman. I’m sorry but a run time of 2 hours and 23 minutes is far too long for a guy that talks to fish. I’ll see it eventually but Shazam! just looks like a lot of fun. And fun is something we don’t usually get to see in the dark and moody DC Universe. I like the casting of Zachary Levi as Shazam and I’ve always loved the concept behind the character. It’s a cross between Superman and the movie Big. There’s no way it could be as bad as Suicide Squad, right? Right?!? RIGHT?!?!? Hello…?
Pet Sematary (April 5)
“Sometimes dead is better.”
Have I mentioned that I’m a horror movie junkie? Based on the terrifying novel by Stephen King, a man discovers a pet graveyard behind his home that possesses the power to bring the dead back to life but not without nasty consequences. The original Pet Sematary movie scared the shit out of me when I was a kid. Really looking forward to seeing this remake.
Hellboy (April 12)
Hellboy is getting a reboot. Not sure how to feel about that. I love the character. I love David Harbour from Stranger Things, who plays Hellboy. I do love director Neil Marshall because The Descent is one of the scariest movies ever made. And Mike Mignola is one of my artistic heroes and I’m glad he keeps getting those big Hollywood checks. But the trailer and no Guillermo Del Toro has me a little worried about this reboot. Fingers crossed.
Avengers: Endgame (April 26)
I’ve invested my time and money into the Marvel Cinematic Universe for over 10 years now. So of course I’m going to see how the journey ends with Avengers: Endgame. Nuff said. Shut up and take my money.
John Wick: Chapter 3 (May 17)
Keanu Reeves is back as John Wick, the hitman with a heart of gold and never ending ammunition. I loved the first two John Wick films and I’m excited to see what happens because Chapter 2 left us in a very exciting place for the franchise.
Dark Phoenix (June 7)
The X-Men are back with my favorite classic X-Men comics story with Dark Phoenix. Sure X-Men Apocalypse was a HUGE step backwards in X-Men franchise but I’m trying to be more positive in 2019 and I will hope for the best for this franchise. And if it’s lousy, here’s hoping that Disney will reboot the entire franchise and incorporated them into the MCU. POSITIVITY!
Men in Black: International (June 14)
Do we need another Men in Black movie? Probably not. Do I need more Tessa Thompson in my life? OHH HELL YEAH!
Toy Story 4 (June 21)
Do we need another Toy Story movie? Probably not. Was Toy Story 3 the perfect send-off for Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang? Hold on…I’m still crying. YES IT WAS! [sobbing] Is Toy Story 4 an unapologetic excuse to print more money for Disney/Pixar? DEFINITELY YES!! Will I go see it? Shut up and take my money.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 5)
Man, Disney is taking a LOT of my money in 2019. Tom Holland is back as Spider-Man in this upcoming sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming. I have no idea what it is about besides Michael Keaton being back as the Vulture and Jake Gyllenhaal joining the cast as Mysterio. Shut up and take my money.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (August 9)
Quentin Tarantino, one of my favorite writer/directors of all time, is making a movie, set in Los Angeles in 1969 about the Manson Family murders starring Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie and Al Pacino. Seriously though…shut up and take my money.
It: Chapter 2 (September 6)
“You’ll float too!”
Pennywise is back in IT: Chapter Two following the massive horror movie hit that I guess should now be called Chapter One. Andy Muschetti is also back in the director’s chair for the sequel. The story takes place 27 years later with a now grown-up Losers Club cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader and James McAvoy among others as they look to take down the Dancing Clown (played by Bill Skarsgård) for good. I loved the TV movie of IT with Tim Curry as Pennywise and loved the latest version. I’m excited to see if this film can live up to the hype of the 2017 hit.
Zombieland 2 (October)
It’s been 10 years! since Sony gave us the hit horror comedy Zombieland. All four leads Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin along with director Ruben Fleischer are back for the sequel. I loved the first film. Curious to see what they plan on doing for the sequel.
Joker (October 4)
There is a Joker movie coming out starring Joaquin Phoenix (as the Joker) and Robert DeNiro directed by the guy who made the Hangover Trilogy. On paper this movie looks like another train wreck for Warner Bros. but I think Phoenix is a phenomenal actor and I’m curious to see what he does with the character in what is essentially an origin story. I guess we’re going to find out “how he got those scars” after all.
Untitled Terminator Film (November 1)
This is the movie franchise that refuses to die. The Terminator is back. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton are also back in a reboot brought to you by Deadpool director Tim Miller. This film like 2018’s Halloween is looking to retcon all the horrible Terminator films out of existence. The film will take place where the first two movies in the series left off. The good news here is that James Cameron is on board as a producer (very similar to how John Carpenter returned to the Halloween franchise as a producer). So fingers crossed we finally get a good Terminator movie.
Frozen 2 (November 27)
Apparently Disney wasn’t ready to let Frozen go without a sequel. See what I did there. Anyways, Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee are back in the director’s chairs along with the original voice talent of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad. I loved the first film even though the song drove me insane it was played so much. I love Disney Animation and I will see everything they produce so I’m ready to return to Arendelle.
Masters of the Universe (December 18)
“I HAVE THE POWER!!!”
Hold on….wait a minute…while I’m thrilled to return to Eternia as a child of the 80s, why is this film coming out two days before Star Wars: Episode IX?!?!? Do they want this movie to succeed because I certainly want it to? Anyways, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe are making their second attempt at success on the big screen. The first film was a disaster of a movie that I loved because I was young and irrational when I saw it. Leave me alone. I have one request from the filmmakers: Please have Orko in it this time. Thank you.
The Irishman (TBA)
Scorsese. DeNiro. Pacino. Pesci. You already have my money, Netflix. Shut up and give me the movie.
Star Wars: Episode IX (December 20)
So a little movie is coming out for Christmas, you might have heard of it, it’s called Star Wars and apparently this is the ninth one of the series. Outside of the Rose and Finn storyline being too new trilogy, I loved The Last Jedi. That throne room scene alone was worth the price of admission. Glad to see JJ Abrams back at the helm. What’s not to love?!? I know I know it’s the internet and they bitch about everything but I’m ready to see how Rey’s story ends.
So that’s what I’m excited to see in 2019. Leave me a comment and let me know what you’re excited about in 2019. Thanks for reading!