With 2018 behind us, it’s time to explore the slate of exciting movies opening in theaters over the next 12 months. The Disney Star Wars trilogy is ending alongside the current iteration of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Joker is getting his own movie, both Captain Marvels finally get their big screen debuts, and Jordan Peele's next horror movie is on the way. John Wick and Hellboy are coming back, there are new Frozen and Toy Story movies and much, much more make up our list of the 50 most anticipated movies of 2019.
How the 2019 most anticipated movies list was generated: 12 members of the Screen Rant team listed their top movies currently confirmed with wide theatrical release dates in 2018 at the time of writing (end of 2018) and is based on their interests at that time. Films listed by each staffer get points for being listed in their personal top 30 and additional points for where they were ranked. The scores by movie for all participants were tallied up to provide us the below listed ranking.
Related: Netflix Original Movies To Be Excited About In 2019
Keep in mind, many of these films have barely begun marketing at the time of publication and the starting list began at nearly 180 releases. This is a tally of multiple separate lists and no doubt yours will be different so before you ask “why is or isn’t _____ on this list?!” you know why. Share your most anticipated movies in the comments so we can compare! And here’s last year’s list of our 30 most anticipated movies of 2018.
50. Dumbo
Release Date: April 19, 2019
Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Helen Aberson, Ehren Kruger
Cast: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin, Finley Hobbins, Joseph Gatt, and Nico Parker.
Studios: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure “Dumbo” expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight. Circus owner Max Medici enlists former star Holt Farrier and his children Milly and Joe to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere, who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant, until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.
49. The Curse of La Llorona
Release Date: April 19, 2019
Director: Michael Chaves
Writers: Mikki Daughtry, Tobias Iaconis
Cast: Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Patricia Velasquez, Marisol Ramirez, Sean Patrick Thomas, Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen and Roman Christou.
Studios: Atomic Monster, Warner Bros.
La Llorona. The Weeping Woman. A horrifying apparition, caught between Heaven and Hell, trapped in a terrible fate sealed by her own hand. The mere mention of her name has struck terror around the world for generations. In life, she drowned her children in a jealous rage, throwing herself in the churning river after them as she wept in pain. Now her tears are eternal. They are lethal, and those who hear her death call in thenight are doomed. La Llorona creeps in the shadows and preys on the children, desperate to replace her own. As the centuries have passed, her desire has grown more voracious…and her methods more terrifying.
In 1970s Los Angeles, La Llorona is stalking the night—and the children. Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope to survive LaLlorona’s deadly wrath may be a disillusioned priest and the mysticism he practices to keep evil at bay, on the fringes where fear and faith collide.
Beware of her chilling wail…she will stop at nothing to lure you into the gloom. Because there is no peace for her anguish. There is no mercy for her soul.
48. Little Women
Release Date: December 25, 2019
Director: Greta Gerwig
Writer: Louisa May Alcott (novel), Greta Gerwig
Cast: Meryl Streep, Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, James Norton, Laura Dern, Emma Watson, Louis Garrel, Bob Odenkirk, Chris Cooper, Abby Quinn.
Studios: Columbia Pictures, New Regency Pictures
Little Women is a period piece from producer and ex-Sony boss Amy Pascal, the eighth adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel. In 2015, Sarah Polley was attached to write and direct until a year later Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) took over.
Little Women's story follows young adult sisters in 1860s Massachusetts as they leave their family home and will jump around in time to follow its main characters. Expect this one to bit a big player on the awards circuit.
47. Ford v. Ferrari
Release Date: June 28, 2019
Director: James Mangold
Writers: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, Jason Keller, James Mangold
Cast: Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Caitriona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Noah Jupe, Josh Lucas, JJ Feild, Tracy Letts, Ray McKinnon, Adam Mayfield, Marisa Petroro, Jonathan LaPaglia, Rudolf Martin
Studios: Chernin Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox
Ford v. Ferrari is a biopic drama based on the true story of the battle between Ford and Ferrari to win Le Mans, the oldest endurance race, in 1966. It's the first movie directed by Jim Mangold since he changed the superhero game with Logan, the last Hugh Jackman Wolverine movie.
46. Rocketman
Release Date: May 31, 2019
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Writer: Lee Hall
Cast: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Gemma Jones and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Studios: Marv Films, Paramount Pictures
ROCKETMAN is an epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Sir Elton John’s breakthrough years, starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden and Bryce Dallas Howard.
45. Under The Silver Lake
Release Date: April 19, 2019
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Writer: David Robert Mitchell
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough
Studios: Vendian Entertainment, A24
From the dazzling imagination that brought you It Follows comes a delirious neo-noir fever dream about one man's search for the truth behind the mysterious crimes, murders, and disappearances in his East L.A. neighborhood.
Sam (Andrew Garfield) is a disenchanted 33-year-old who discovers a mysterious woman, Sarah (Riley Keough), frolicking in his apartment’s swimming pool. When she vanishes, Sam embarks on a surreal quest across Los Angeles to decode the secret behind her disappearance, leading him into the murkiest depths of mystery, scandal, and conspiracy in the City of Angels.
From writer-director David Robert Mitchell comes a sprawling, playful and unexpected mystery-comedy detective thriller about the Dream Factory and its denizens—dog killers, aspiring actors, glitter-pop groups, nightlife personalities, It girls, memorabilia hoarders, masked seductresses, homeless gurus, reclusive songwriters, sex workers, wealthy socialites, topless neighbors, and the shadowy billionaires floating above (and underneath) it all. Mining a noir tradition extending from Kiss Me Deadly and The Long Goodbye to Chinatown and Mulholland Drive, Mitchell uses the topography of Los Angeles as a backdrop for a deeper exploration into the hidden meaning and secret codes buried within the things we love.
44. Ad Astra
Release Date: May 24, 2019
Director: James Gray
Writers: James Gray, Ethan Gross
Cast: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, Ruth Negga, Greg Bryk, John Ortiz, Jamie Kennedy
Studios: New Regency Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox
In Ad Astra (which means “to the stars” in Latin), Pitt plays a slightly autistic space engineer Roy McBride. Twenty years after his father left on a one-way mission to Neptune in order to find signs of extra-terrestrial intelligence, McBride travels through the solar system to find him and understand why his mission failed.
Source: Deadline
43. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (You Are My Friend)
Release Date: October 18, 2019
Director: Marielle Heller
Writers: Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster
Cast: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Enrico Colantoni, Wendy Makkena, Chris Cooper, Sakina Jaffrey, Tammy Blanchard, Susan Kelechi Watson, Michael Masini.
Studios: Big Beach Films, TriStar Pictures
Two-time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in Untitled Mr. Rogers/ Tom Hanks Project, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor.
42. Sonic The Hedgehog
Release Date: November 8, 2019
Director: Jeff Fowler
Writers: Patrick Casey, Josh Miller
Cast: James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Natasha Rothwell, Tika Sumpter, Neal McDonough, Adam Pally and Jim Carrey.
Studios: Original Film, Paramount Pictures
This telling of Sonic's story sees him as a bit of a fish -- or hedgehog -- out of water. Sonic, voiced by Ben Schwartz, finds himself in our present-day world, wherein he develops a relationship with James Marsden's Tom Wachowski and also finds himself at odds with Jim Carrey's Dr. Robotnik. As expected, mayhem ensues.
The production team behind the movie opted to go for a more realistic take on Sonic -- down to his updated new kicks -- than the more cartoony version we've seen in the past. The filmmakers consider Ted to be an appropriate analog for the upcoming Sonic movie’s integration of a CG character into a real-world setting.
Source: IGN
41. Are You Afraid of the Dark
Release Date: October 11, 2019
Director: D.J. Caruso
Writers: Gary Dauberman, BenDavid Grabinski
Cast: N/A
Studios: Ace Entertainment, Paramount Pictures
As mysterious as the content of the film itself, we know little about Paramount's feature film based on the Nickelodeon series, 'Are You Afraid of the Dark?'
Page 2: Top 40 Most Anticipated Movies of 2019
40. Gemini Man
Release Date: October 4, 2019
Director: Ang Lee
Writers: David Benioff, Billy Ray
Cast: Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong.
Studios: Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Paramount Pictures
Gemini Man is an innovative action-thriller starring Will Smith as Henry Brogan, an elite assassin, who is suddenly targeted and pursued by a mysterious young operative that seemingly can predict his every move. The film is directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Ang Lee and produced by renown producers Jerry Bruckheimer David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger. Also starring are Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong. Gemini Man opens in theaters October 4, 2019
39. 1917
Release Date: December 2019
Director: Sam Mendes
Writers: Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman
Studios: Amblin Partners, Universal Pictures
The plot is unknown for the next film from Mendes, who's coming off back-to-back 007 hits, Spectre and Skyfall. The film will be set in 1917 during World War I and its an original story.
38. The Woman in the Window
Release Date: October 4, 2019
Director: Joe Wright
Writer: Tracy Letts
Cast: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Julianne Moore, Wyatt Russell, Brian Tyree Henry, Anthony Mackie
Studios: Fox 2000 Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
An agoraphobic woman living alone in New York begins spying on her new neighbors only to witness a disturbing act of violence.
37. Untitled Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Sequel (Jumanji 3)
Release Date: A, 2019
Director: Jake Kasdan
Writer: Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg
Cast: Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Darin Ferraro, Sal Longobardo
Studios: Hartbeat Productions, Columbia Pictures
Plot under wraps but at this point, that's we don't need to to know the next Jumanji adventure's story - we all just want more of these characters. From my own interview with the cast in late 2017, Jack Black shared an idea he wants to see - an origin story of the Jumanji board game.
36. Chaos Walking
Release Date: March 1, 2019
Director: Doug Liman
Writers: Charlie Kaufman, Lindsey Beer, John Lee Hancock, Gary Spinelli, Patrick Ness, Andrew Gottlieb, David Rosen.
Cast: Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Cynthia Erivo, Mads Mikkelsen, Nick Jonas, Demián Bichir, Ray McKinnon, David Oyelowo, Kurt Sutter
Studios: Atomic Monster, Warner Bros.
A dystopian world where there are no women and all living creatures can hear each others' thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds called Noise.
35. Rambo 5: Last Blood
Release Date: 2019
Director: Adrian Grunberg
Writers: Matthew Cirulnick, Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Joaquín Cosio, Paz Vega, Marco de la O, Óscar Jaenada, Yvette Monreal.
Studios: Campbell Grobman Films, Lionsgate
Rambo goes up against a Mexican cartel in what's reported to be his last adventure. Nearly a decade ago, a fifth Rambo was in early development subtitled "The Savage Hunt" that would pull inspiration from the novel Hunter by James Byron Huggins to which Stallone as the rights to but it never came to be.
We do know that this one is supposed to be personal and emotion, and it sees Rambo attempting to save a friend's daughter.
34. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Release Date: August 9, 2019
Director: André Øvredal
Writers: John August, Marcus Dunstan, Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Patrick Melton, Guillermo del Toro, Alvin Schwartz (Book).
Cast: Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Austin Abrams, Gabriel Rush, Austin Zajur, Natalie Ganzhorn, Dean Norris, Gil Bellows, Lorraine Toussaint, Javier Botet.
Studios: 1212 Entertainment, Lionsgate
A group of kids face their fears in order to save their town.
33. Happy Death Day 2U
Release Date: February 14, 2019
Director: Christopher Landon
Writer: Christopher Landon
Cast: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard
Studios: Blumhouse Productions, Universal Pictures
Jessica Rothe leads the returning cast of HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U, the follow-up to Blumhouse’s (Split, Get Out, The Purge series) surprise 2017 smash hit of riveting, repeating twists and comic turns. This time, our hero Tree Gelbman (Rothe) discovers that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead.
Jason Blum once again produces and Christopher Landon returns to write and direct this next chapter, while Happy Death Day executive producers Angela Mancuso and John Baldecchi are newly joined by EP Samson Mucke (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse).
32. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
Release Date: February 8, 2019
Director: Mike Mitchell
Writers: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller,
Cast: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Charlie Day, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, Arturo Castro, Maya Rudolph.
Studios: Animal Logic, Warner Bros.
The much-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, global box office phenomenon that started it all, “The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part” reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are now facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than it can be rebuilt.
The battle to defeat the invaders and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are.
31. Pet Sematary
Release Date: April 5, 2019
Directors: Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer
Writer: Jeff Buhler
Cast: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, Jeté Laurence, Hugo & Lucas Lavoie and John Lithgow.
Studios: Alphaville Films, Paramount Pictures
Based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King, Pet Sematary follows Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who, after relocating with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz) and their two young children from Boston to rural Maine, discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near the family’s new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his unusual neighbor, Jud Crandall (John Lithgow), setting off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unfathomable evil with horrific consequences.
Page 3: Top 30 Most Anticipated Movies of 2019
30. Frozen 2
Release Date: November 22, 2019
Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Writer: Jennifer Lee, Allison Schroeder
Cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff, Evan Rachel Wood, Sterling K. Brown.
Studios: Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
This is the sequel to Walt Disney Pictures' 53rd full-length animated motion picture, Frozen.
First look photo revealed an older Anna and Elsa, confirming a significant passage in time.
29. Kingsman 3
Release Date: November 8, 2019
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writer: Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Unknown.
Studios: Marv Films, Twentieth Century Fox
A prequel to the first two Kingsman films that will help setup a larger, expanded Kingsman universe that will include spinoffs. This untitled project isn't really Kingsman 3 but that will still come later.
28. Untitled Annabelle Film (Annabelle 3)
Release Date: July 3, 2019
Director: Gary Dauberman
Writer: Screenplay by Gary Dauberman. Story by Gary Dauberman & James Wan.
Cast: Mckenna Grace, Madison Iseman, Katie Sarife, with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
Studios: Atomic Monster, Warner Bros.
Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her “safely” behind sacred glass and enlisting a priest’s holy blessing. But an unholy night of horror awaits as Annabelle awakens the evil spirits in the room, who all set their sights on a new target—the Warrens’ ten-year-old daughter, Judy, and her friends.
27. Alita: Battle Angel
Release Date: February 14, 2019
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Writer: James Cameron, Laeta Kalogridis, Robert Rodriguez
Cast: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley and Keean Johnson..
Studios: Twentieth Century Fox
From visionary filmmakers James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez, comes ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, an epic adventure of hope and empowerment. When Alita (Salazar) awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido (Waltz), a compassionate doctor who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg shell is the heart and soul of a young woman with an extraordinary past. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious history while her street-smart new friend Hugo (Johnson) instead offers to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and corrupt forces that run the city come after Alita that she discovers a clue to her past – she has unique fighting abilities that those in power will stop at nothing to control. If she can stay out of their grasp, she could be the key to saving her friends, her family and the world she’s grown to love.
26. Aladdin
Release Date: May 24, 2019
Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: John August, Guy Ritchie
Cast: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen and Numan Acar.
Studios: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
“Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. Directed by Guy Ritchie, who brings his singular flair for fast-paced, visceral action to the fictitious port city of Agrabah, the film is written by John August and Ritchie based on Disney’s “Aladdin.”
“Aladdin” stars Will Smith as the larger-than-life Genie; Mena Massoud as the charming scoundrel Aladdin; Naomi Scott as Jasmine, the beautiful, self-determined princess; Marwan Kenzari as Jafar, the powerful sorcerer; Navid Negahban as the Sultan concerned with his daughter’s future; Nasim Pedrad as Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s free-spirited best friend and confidante; Billy Magnussen as the handsome and arrogant suitor Prince Anders; and Numan Acar as Hakim, Jafar’s right-hand man and captain of the palace guards.
Page 4: Top 25 Most Anticipated Movies of 2019
25. Zombieland 2
Release Date: October 11, 2019
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Writer: Dave Callaham, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Cast: Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Avan Jogia, Zoey Deutch.
Studios: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family.
24. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (How To Train Your Dragon 3)
Release Date: February 22, 2019
Director: Dean DeBlois
Writer: Dean DeBlois, Cressida Cowell
Cast: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harrington, Craig Ferguson, F. Murray Abraham.
Studios: DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures
From DreamWorks Animation comes a surprising tale about growing up, finding the courage to face the unknown…and how nothing can ever train you to let go. What began as an unlikely friendship between an adolescent Viking and a fearsome Night Fury dragon has become an epic adventure spanning their lives. Welcome to the most astonishing chapter of one of the most beloved animated franchises in film history: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
Now chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid, Hiccup has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. As their true destines are revealed, dragon and rider will fight together—to the very ends of the Earth—to protect everything they’ve grown to treasure.
23. Brightburn
Release Date: May 24, 2019
Director: David Yarovesky
Writers: Mark Gunn & Brian Gunn
Cast: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones and Meredith Hagner.
Studios: The H Collective, Sony Pictures Entertainment
What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister?
With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.
22. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs And Shaw
Release Date: August 2, 2019
Director: David Leitch
Writers: Chris Morgan, Gary Scott Thompson
Cast: Eiza González, Vanessa Kirby, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba.
Studios: Universal Pictures
A spinoff of The Fate of the Furious, focusing on Johnson's US Diplomatic Security Agent Luke Hobbs forming an unlikely alliance with Statham's Deckard Shaw.
We hope so much that Luke Evans returns, especially after this appearance alongside Statham in Furious 7.
21. The New Mutants
Release Date: August 2, 2019
Director: Josh Boone
Writers: Josh Boone, Knate Lee
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Antonio Banderas, Alice Braga, Charlie Heaton, Happy Anderson, Blu Hunt, Henry Zaga.
Studios: Marvel Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox
With the Disney acquisition looming and reshoots potentially not even started yet, The New Mutants is in a unique position of whether it'll become more of a horror movie as reported, or if it'll release at all. This is the story of the New Mutants, a team of mutant heroes comprised of the first graduates from Charles Xavier's school.
Page 5: Top 20 Most Anticipated Movies of 2019
20. Knives Out
Release Date: November 27, 2019
Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Lakeith Stanfield, Michael Shannon, Ana de Armas, Don Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Lakeith Stanfield, Don Johnson.
Studios: FilmNation Entertainment, Lionsgate
From the director of The Last Jedi and creator of unique and original hits Brick and Looper comes a new star-studded mystery crime film that jut finished shooting last month in Boston. Craig plays the lead and Johnson's pal Noah Segan, who appears in most of his films, also has a role in this one but little is known of the plot.
19. It: Chapter 2
Release Date: September 6, 2019
Director: Andy Muschietti
Writer: Screenplay by Gary Dauberman, based on the novel IT by Stephen King
Cast: James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Teach Grant, and Bill Skarsgård, Andy Bean, Jaeden Lieberher, Wyatt Oleff, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer.
Studios: KatzSmith Productions, New Line Cinema
Because every 27 years evil revisits the town of Derry, Maine, “IT CHAPTER TWO” brings the
characters—who’ve long since gone their separate ways—back together as adults, nearly three decades after
the events of the first film.
18. X-Men: Dark Phoenix
Release Date: June 7, 2019
Director: Simon Kinberg
Writer: Simon Kinberg
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Tye Sheridan, Jessica Chastain, Olivia Munn, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Sophie Turner, Evan Peters, Nicholas Hoult, Evan Jonigkeit, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Daniel Cudmore
Studios: Twentieth Century Fox
Like New Mutants and debatably, Gambit, the next mainline X-Men film was delayed out of 2018 to a time when the franchise's future seems uncertain with the Disney acquisition looming over. Still, having spoken to the cast, producer Hutch Parker, and Simon Kinberg - who makes his directorial debut with Dark Phoenix - we can't help but feel excited and curious. Having seen a chunk of the film at NYCC and seeing the cast absolutely praise Kinberg's style and work ethic helps too.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix is Kinberg's change to tell the Phoenix Saga the right way, and it's the first X-Film to introduce aliens. Will it lead to crossover with the Marvel Cinematic Universe or is this the end for the current iteration of the live-action X-Men?
17. Hellboy
Release Date: April 12, 2019
Director: Neil Marshall
Writer: Andrew Cosby, created by Mike Mignola
Cast: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Daniel Dae Kim, and Sasha Lane.
Studios: Nu Boyana FX, Lionsgate
This action-packed story sees HELLBOY called to the English countryside to battle a trio of rampaging giants. There he discovers The Blood Queen, Nimue (Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil series), a resurrected ancient sorceress thirsting to avenge a past betrayal. Suddenly caught in a clash between the supernatural and the human, HELLBOY is now hell-bent on stopping Nimue without triggering the end of the world.
16. Toy Story 4
Release Date: June 21, 2019
Director: Josh Cooley
Writer: Will McCormack, Stephany Folsom
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Jeff Pidgeon, Blake Clark, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele.
Studios: Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy.
Page 6: Top 15 Most Anticipated Movies of 2019
15. The Lion King
Release Date: July 19, 2019
Director: Jon Favreau
Writers: Jeff Nathanson, Brenda Chapman (story)
Cast: Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, James Earl Jones, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph, John Kani, John Oliver, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Florence Kasumba, Eric André and Keegan-Michael Key.
Studios: Fairview Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
From Disney Live Action, director Jon Favreau’s all-new “The Lion King” journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Billy Eichner as Timon and Seth Rogen as Pumbaa.
14. Untitled Terminator Project (Terminator 6)
Release Date: November 1, 2019
Director: Tim Miller
Writer: Josh Friedman, David S. Goyer, Billy Ray, Justin Rhodes, with a story by Tim Miller and David Ellison
Cast: Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Gabriel Luna, Diego Boneta and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Studios: Skydance Media, Paramount Pictures
After bringing Deadpool to life, special effects and action guru Tim Miller is teaming with James Cameron to bring back the Terminator franchise the right away. After multiple failed attempts without Jim's involvement, he's back now and aiming to it right, and he's bringing Linda Hamilton back to make it happen.
Little is known about the plot of the untitled sixth Terminator film but we can only hope it ignores all of the non-Cameron movies. How it handles this while retaining some semblance of continuity with its confusing time-travel plots remains to be see, but we couldn't be more excited to see everyone back together with new additions like Gabriel Luna who was an absolute star in his role as Ghost Rider in Agents of SHIELD.
13. Men In Black International
Release Date: June 14, 2019
Director: F. Gary Gray
Writer: Matt Holloway, Art Marcum
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Rafe Spall, Kumail Nanjiani.
Studios: Columbia Pictures Corporation
The upcoming Men in Black is not a reboot, as Sony stressed to me personally. It's a continuation of what came before so here's hoping for some great cameos in the action comedy which re-teams Thor: Ragnarok's stars.
The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.
12. Pokémon: Detective Pikachu
Release Date: May 10, 2019
Director: Rob Letterman
Writers: Nicole Perlman, Rob Letterman
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, and Ken Watanabe.
Studios: Legendary Entertainment, Warner Bros.
The story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon characters and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.
11. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Release Date: August 9, 2019
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Timothy Olyphant, Lorenza Izzo
Victoria Pedretti, James Marsden, James Remar, Scoot McNairy, Tim Roth, Emile Hirsch, Damian Lewis, Luke Perry, Bruce Dern, Michael Madsen, Clifton Collins Jr., Zoë Bell, Lena Dunham..
Studios: Heyday Films, Columbia Pictures Corporation
The next epic from Quentin Tarantino brings back a few familiar faces alongside new stars for a story about a faded TV actor and his stunt double embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the film industry during the Helter Skelter reign of terror in 1969 Los Angeles.
Page 7: Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2019
10. Joker
Release Date: October 4, 2019
Director: Todd Phillips
Writers: Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais, Shea Whigham.
Studios: BRON Studios, Warner Bros.
“Joker” centers around the iconic arch-nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before
on the big screen. The exploration of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not
only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.
9. Glass
Release Date: January 18, 2019
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Sarah Paulson, Bruce Willis, James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Samuel L. Jackson, Luke Kirby.
Studios: Blinding Edge Pictures, Universal Pictures
The ultimate twist of Split established a larger universe for the fan-fave Shyamalan hit, Unbreakable and now we finally get the long-awaited sequel that brings back security guard David Dunn (Willis) who uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb (McAvoy), a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities. But how does super villain Mr. Glass fit into this?
8. Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Release Date: May 31, 2019
Director: Michael Dougherty
Writers: Michael Dougherty, Zach Shields
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Aisha Hinds, Zhang Ziyi.
Studios: Legendary Entertainment, Warner Bros.
The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super- species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.
7. Captain Marvel
Release Date: March 7, 2019
Directors: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Writer: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Jac Schaeffer, from a story by Nicole Perlman, Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse
Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Rune Temte, Algenis Perez Soto, Mckenna Grace, with Annette Bening, with Clark Gregg and Jude Law.
Studios: Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Set in the 1990s, Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. While a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom.
6. Shazam
Release Date: April 5, 2019
Director: David F. Sandberg
Writers: Screenplay by Henry Gayden, Story by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke
Cast: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Djimon Hounsou, Faithe Herman, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews.
Studios: Warner Bros.
We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Zachary Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard (Djimon Hounsou). Still a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).
Page 8 of 8: The 5 Most Anticipated Movies of 2019
5. John Wick: Chapter 3
Release Date: May 17, 2019
Director: Chad Stahelski
Writer: Derek Kolstad
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Jason Mantzoukas, Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick, Robin Lord Taylor, Asia Kate Dillon, Mark Dacascos.
Studios: Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment
John Wick (Reeves) is on the run, hunted for a global $14 million dollar open contract on his life, and for breaking a central rule: taking a life on Continental Hotel grounds. The victim was a member of the High Table who ordered the open contract. John should have already been executed, except the Continental’s manager, Winston, has given him a one-hour grace period before he’s “Excommunicado” – membership revoked, banned from all services and cut off from other members. John uses the service industry to stay alive as he fights and kills his way out of New York City.
And there's a rumor that Hiroyuki Sanada may make an appearance in this one, someone director Stahelski's 87Eleven partner David Leitch told us is a legendary martial artist in real life when we met him on the set of The Wolverine
4. Spider-Man: Far From Home
Release Date: July 5, 2019
Director: Jon Watts
Writers: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Michael Keaton, Jacob Batalon, Angourie Rice, Martin Starr, Tony Revolori, J.B. Smoove.
Studios: Sony Pictures Releasing
Director Jon Watts (Cop Car) returns again to helm the next Spider-Man adventure for Sony, but set within the MCU, and this time Mysterio finally makes his debut as an ally... and a villain?
Perhaps the most interesting part of this film is how S.H.I.E.L.D. is involved and how Parker is all of a sudden back after being dusted at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. That sure presents an interesting marketing paradox since trailers will debut before Avengers: Endgame does.
3. Us
Release Date: March 15, 2019
Director: Jordan Peele
Writer: Jordan Peele
Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Anna Diop.
Studios: Monkeypaw Productions, Universal Pictures
A mother (Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o from Black Panther, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and 12 Years a Slave) and a father (Winston Duke from Black Panther) take their kids to their beach house expecting to unplug and unwind with friends (including Emmy winner Elizabeth Moss from TV series The Handmaid’s Tale). But as night descends, their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some shocking visitors arrive uninvited.
2. Avengers: Endgame
Release Date: April 26, 2019
Director: Anthony and Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt, Jeremy Renner, Evangeline Lilly, Jon Favreau, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson.
Studios: Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Originally part two of a larger story, the development of Avengers 3 and 4 saw them split into two massive independent projects when scheduling and the story got as big as it is. Everyone is back again for the final chapter of Phase 3 of the MCU - and most importantly, Hawkeye with a new look - to undo the universe-shattering damage caused by the Mad Titan, Thanos.
1. Star Wars: Episode IX
Release Date: December 20, 2019
Director: J.J. Abrams
Writers: J.J. Abrams, Chris Terrio
Cast: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher.
Studios: Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The saga comes to a conclusion by the end of the year, as fans return to the galaxy far, far away a year or so after the events of The Last Jedi where the Resistance was nearly crushed for good by The First Order. With Abrams back in the director's chair, it's unclear which threads from The Force Awaken will be picked up for the final chapter in Disney's Star Wars trilogy.
After Solo's financial woes, and polarizing responses to Episode 8, there's a lot riding on Episode 9 to reset hype in the brand and future movie plays may rely on the outcome. The movie is such a massive and exciting event however, seemingly tied to the opening of Galaxy's Edge theme parks at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and we couldn't be more anxious to see it all play out.
Hopeful Bonus: West Side Story
Release Date: Maybe in 2019?
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Tony Kushner
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Rita Moreno
Studios: Amblin Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox
Steven Spielberg's next directorial gig is a bit of an exception for this list since it's currently in pre-production, and should be shooting this summer. It therefore may not make it out in 2019 holiday season for that Oscar push. Since so many of our staff are excited for it, we're including it as a special mention.