It seems like 2019 will be the year of sequels, adaptations, and reboots, but with “Avengers: Endgame” and “The Lion King” on the horizon, we’re not complaining. Cinematic storytelling and special effects have never been stronger, so whether it’s family-friendly fare like “The Lego Movie 2” and “Frozen 2,” or darker vehicles like “Pet Sematary” and “Glass,” there’s a lot to look forward to at the movies this year.
Here are some of the most anticipated films of 2019:
“Glass”
Release Date: Jan. 18
Stars: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson
McAvoy reprises his role as Kevin Wendell Crumb, the terror with 24 personalities from “Split,” with M. Night Shyamalan returning as director. Taking place in a mental institution for those who believe they have superhuman abilities where McAvoy, Willis, and Jackson’s characters are being kept, Paulson plays the psychologist who tries to convince them that they’re just normal people as Willis’ character Dunn uses his abilities to track down Crumb.
“The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part”
Release Date: Feb. 8
Stars: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Tiffany Haddish
The film reunites our heroes of Bricksburg, five years after “The Lego Movie” smashed its way into the box office. Now, invaders from outer space are threatening to destroy everything, and to restore harmony to the LEGO universe, Emmet, Lucy, Batman, and their friends will have to trek to a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. The first “Lego” film was filled with stellar animation, fast-paced, smart storytelling, and nonstop gags, and we can’t wait to step back into a world that defiantly exudes optimism.
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World“
Release Date: Feb. 22
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, Kit Harington, Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera
Toothless and Hiccup return to the screen, fulfilling their vision of a peaceful utopia for dragon kind — but a wrench is thrown in when the Night Fury meets a cute lady dragon appropriately called Light Fury. As the future of dragons is threatened, a star-studded cast teams up to voice the characters responsible for keeping it safe.
“Captain Marvel”
Release Date: March 8
Stars: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou
It seems overdue that Marvel Studios’ first female-led superhero film comes in 2019, but we’re not mad that it’s Brie Larson fronting this blockbuster. Larson’s Carol Danvers is strong and fearless (she punches an old lady in the trailer!), and it’s encouraging that the writers are making sure Captain Marvel’s femininity is “part of that strength,” rather than taking away from her powers. And with Larson’s arresting turns in “Room” and “Kong: Skull Island,” we’re confident she can kick ass and take names like the best of them.
“Us”
Release Date: March 15
Stars: Elisabeth Moss, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Tim Heidecker
Fans of “Get Out” — and who wasn’t — are anxiously awaiting Jordan Peele’s second entry in his series of “social thrillers.” The story revolves around a family vacationing at their beach house who must confront some unexpected — and possibly terrifying — visitors.
“Dumbo”
Release Date: March 29
Stars: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin
It’s been nearly 80 years since “Dumbo” graced the big screen, so it seems time we had a visit from our favorite baby elephant. The upcoming adventure film is inspired by the original, but updates the story with fantastical visual effects and shines a bigger spotlight on the cast of characters tasked with taking care of Dumbo, like Farrell’s one-armed war veteran and DeVito’s ringmaster.
“Pet Sematary”
Release Date: April 5
Stars: John Lithgow, Amy Seimetz, Jason Clarke
Stephen King is en vogue again this year, with not one but two adaptations of his nightmare-inducing novels. Warm up for “IT: Chapter 2” with a whole different kind of scary: the classic story of an ill-fated family trying to escape city life by moving to a quiet house in the woods, only to find a “Pet Sematary” behind their house. They soon find out that the ancient graveyard belongs to much more malevolent forces than they could imagine.
“Shazam!”
Release Date: April 5
Stars: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Djimon Hounsou
When 14-year-old foster kid Billy Batson meets an ancient wizard at the end of a subway tunnel, he gets the power to turn into a superhero any time he wants by yelling “Shazam!” With the help of his foster brother Freddy Freeman, he learns to hone his powers in order to stop the villain Dr. Thaddeus Sivana from wreaking havoc with his own powers.
“Hellboy”
Stars: April 12
Stars: David Harbour Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Daniel Dae Kim, Sasha Lane, Thomas Haden Church
Harbour once again fulfills his role as the hero we didn’t know needed as Hellboy, a being caught between the supernatural and human worlds. This R-rated remake of the 2004 cult favorite follows the storyline of the graphic novel series by Mike Mignola. In this chapter, Hellboy battles the Blood Queen, an ancient sorceress hell-bent on revenge.
“Avengers: Endgame”
Release Date: April 26
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch
The heart-wrenching loss we suffered as our heroes (spoiler alert) turned to dust at the end of “Avengers: Infinity War” may have been for nothing, as rumors surface that many may return for the final chapter of the Avengers saga. Though the trailer showed us the remaining Avengers mourning the loss of their fallen comrades, it also confirmed the suspicion that Ant-Man somehow survived the wrath of Thanos. With new “Dr. Strange” and “Spider-Man” movies also imminent, it seems highly likely that they, and perhaps others, will be resurrected to fight the final battle against Thanos.
“Pokemon Detective Pikachu”
Release Date: May 10
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Ken Watanabe, Kathryn Newton
We never knew we needed a neo-noir Pokemon crime drama, but that was before we saw the trailer, which has racked up more than 50 million views since its release in November. Detective Pikachu (voiced by Reynolds) has to solve the mystery of his former partner’s disappearance, aided by Smith’s Tim Goodman. With “Deadpool,” Reynolds has basically cornered the reluctant-hero-with-a-dry-wit market, and this film looks to inject some of that edge into an iconic brand and resonate with aspiring Pokemon trainers of all ages.
“Aladdin”
Release Date: May 24
Stars: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari
It’s a whole new world for the Aladdin universe, with Smith reprising Robin Williams’ role of the Genie in Guy Ritchie’s live-action retelling of the 1992 film. The quest for the magic lamp continues, following Disney’s recent trend of creating live action versions of classic animated movies like with “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Jungle Book.”
“Godzilla: King of The Monsters”
Release Date: May 31
Stars: Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Ken Watanabe
The stakes are higher than ever, with the Monarch agency up against Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, and a litany of god-sized monsters battling for supremacy. With the most ancient and ferocious species the world’s ever seen unleashed, this could be a “Godzilla” film for the ages.
“Rocketman”
Release Date: May 31
Stars: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard
It’s lonely out in space for Egerton, who stars as Elton John in a new fantasy re-imagining of the famous rock star’s rise to stardom. Interwoven with original songs written for the film, Egerton insisted on doing his own vocals, instead of using a composite-vocal mixed with John’s voice as Rami Malek did in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The result takes us through John’s wild life, from his days as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music to his musical partnership with Bernie Taupin.
“Dark Phoenix”
Release Date: June 7
Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Evan Peters, Jessica Chastain
The sequel to Marvel’s “X-Men: Apocalypse” saga returns for a reboot, with the all-star cast from the X-Men franchise including McAvoy, Fassbender, and Lawrence. In this installment, the X-Men are forced to recon with the Phoenix, played by Turner, whose powers are triggered after a solar flare hits her during a mission to space.
“Men In Black International”
Release Date: June 14
Stars: Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth, Rebecca Ferguson
Seeing as filming took place in New York, Italy, Morocco, and London, the new film will see the global operations of the secretive alien agency and have the agents romping across the globe to take down bad guys. Thompson and Hemsworth already showed that they’re a formidable pair on “Thor: Ragnarok,” so if anyone can fill the shoes of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, it’s Thor and Valkyrie.
“Toy Story 4”
Release Date: June 21
Stars: Patricia Arquette, Tom Hanks, Keanu Reeves, Tim Allen, Michael Keaton, Joan Cusack
Shrouded in secrecy and plagued with troubles after John Lasseter left Disney, the film has seen its release dates moved around, gained and lost directors, and been rewritten several times. Now in the hands of Josh Cooley, the full ensemble cast of the original film will return to voice the classic characters, except for the late Don Rickles and R. Lee Ermey as Mr. Potato Head and the Army Sergeant. It’s confirmed that Randy Newman will write the music once again (it wouldn’t be the same without him), but the plot remains a mystery.
“Spider-Man: Far From Home”
Release Date: July 5
Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Marisa Tomei, Zendaya, Michael Keaton, Jake Gyllenhaal
Peter Parker packs for vacation to Venice, Italy in this latest installment, with Holland returning as Spider-Man. His vacation is cut short by a visit from Nick Fury (Jackson), who recruits him for a new mission in which he is rumored to be teaming up with an unlikely ally, the villain Mysterio.
“The Lion King”
Release Date: July 19
Stars: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Billy Eichner, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key, Beyonce, James Earl Jones
We know, we know: Nothing can top the original “Lion King,” but if you’ve caught a peek at the trailer for the upcoming remake, you’ll see just how breathtaking the film looks. Made with photorealistic computer-generated animation, every blade of grass, every gradient in the open sky is visible, and the movie promises to envelop you in a heart-soaring visual experience like no other. And with the likes of Rogen and Beyonce lending their voices to the big screen, you’ll see Pumbaa, Nala, and the various members of the Pride Lands in a different light.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Release Date: July 26
Stars: Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Kurt Russell
The upcoming Quentin Tarantino film is set in 1969 Hollywood during the Helter Skelter reign of terror at the hands of the Manson family. The story follows a former TV star and his stunt double who set out on a quest to make a name for themselves in the industry. With an ensemble full of Oscar winners and nominees, the star power alone is bound to draw moviegoers to the theaters.
“IT: Chapter 2”
Release Date: Sept. 6
Stars: James McAvoy, Bill Skarsgard, Jessica Chastain, Sophia Lillis, Bill Hader
The sequel to the first chapter of Stephen King’s famed horror story follows up the disturbing events that plagued a group of misfit kids in Derry, Maine, over one long summer, resulting in a string of unsolved murders. Twenty-seven years later, the adults versions of The Losers Club must dig deep to recapture their childhood bravery by returning to their hometown to finish off Pennywise the Dancing Clown once and for all.View image on Twitter
“Joker”
Release Date: Oct. 4
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz
Enough with all these superhero movies — it’s time for a villain to take the spotlight. For the first time since the loss of Heath Ledger, the Joker returns Written and directed by Todd Phillips, prepare for a departure from the Christopher Nolan Batman universe — Phillips is best known for “The Hangover” and was also a producer on “A Star Is Born.” Though little is known about the plot, the origin story of DC’s favorite villain should shed light on how the Joker came to be.
“You Are My Friend”
Release Date: Oct. 18
Stars: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Susan Kelechi Watson
The Marielle Heller-directed film stars Hanks as Mr. Rogers, but it’s not a biopic — rather it’s based on Tom Junod’s famous Esquire interview, “Can You Say…Hero?” with the children’s show star. The story goes that Junod was reluctant to profile Rogers, thinking it would be little more than a puff piece — but surprise, surprise — everyone’s favorite neighbor ended up changing his life.
“Frozen 2”
Release Date: Nov. 22
Stars: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff
Fans of “Frozen,” rejoice! Parents of young children, good luck! The 2013 animated musical film took the world by snow storm, and audiences praised the film’s gorgeous visuals, touching themes surrounding sisterhood, and of course, the catchy songs that invaded our brains and households for weeks after. With the voice actors and songwriters from the first film on board, we can’t hold our excitement back anymore.
“Star Wars: Episode IX”
Release Date: Dec. 20
Stars: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Keri Russell, Richard E. Grant
Get your high-waisted pants ready, because Kylo Ren and the gang are back to finish the Skywalker story that began decades ago. It has been confirmed that Poe Dameron, Rey, and Finn are coming back to the Resistance, and Carrie Fisher will return in the form of footage from the past two films. Returning to the director’s chair, J.J. Abrams will pick up the last episode of the trilogy, with John Williams completing what will likely be his final Star Wars score.