Being that I am a huge film fan, it stands to no doubt that there is always numerous film being released throughout the year that I want to watch in theaters when they are released. These films range the gamut from horror to animation, superhero to sci-fi, comedy to drama, and just about every genre you can think of. I’m not kidding when I say that you can find me at the movie theater every weekend checking out at least one film, two if I’m feeling frisky. But I see films as a major form of escape for me, especially since I started dealing with these mental disorders that I have been diagnosed with. The movies are a welcome and entertaining distraction for me and one that I can also share with family and friends. They are one of the ways that I entertain myself to no end and enjoy immensely.
All that being said, 2019 is no different with no less than forty different films being released throughout the year that I want to see in theaters. That’s almost one film per week. But I like that. It makes it so that I can really get out to the theater and enjoy something new each and every week. Obviously, this list is full of superhero films because I am still a huge comic book fan, but there are also a lot of animated films being released that I am anxious to see, hoping to rekindle that sense of childhood wonderment. Sprinkle in some drama, some kaiju action, and a couple of laughs here and there, and you have the forty films I am anxiously anticipation this year.
Now, because the list here is no less than forty entries long, I will be splitting this list into four parts. Also, this list will be presented in order of the film’s release date (release dates subject to change). So, without further ado, here is Part 1 of “The 40 Films I Want to See in 2019”.
A Dog’s Way Home
Release date: January 11
Directed by: Charles Martin Smith
Produced by: Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, Pariah
Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Genre: Family Drama
Starring: Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos, Alexandra Shipp, Bryce Dallas Howard, Wes Studi, Barry Watson, Tammy Gillis
Okay, admittedly, I only want to see this film so much because my youngest son is a real fan of these dog films because, well, he really loves dogs. So, because he wants to see A Dog’s Way Home that much, I really want to watch it with him – because there is nothing better than watching and enjoying a film with your family.
Glass
Release date: January 18
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Produced by: Blinding Edge Pictures, Blumhouse Productions
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Genre: Superhero Drama
Starring: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, James McAvoy, Anya Taylor Joy, Sarah Paulson
Unbreakable is one of my favorite films of the past 20 years. Split added to the mystique and awe of the universe Unbreakable created. Now, we are getting what is believed to be the end of the Unbreakable trilogy in Glass, and it pits the villainous pair of Samuel L. Jackson and James McAvoy against the reluctant hero played by Bruce Willis – and I am super eager to see how this trilogy ends.
The Kid Who Would be King
Release date: January 25
Directed by: Joe Cornish
Produced by: 20th Century Fox, Working Title Films, Big Talk Productions
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Genre: Action Fantasy
Starring: Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Tom Taylor, Rebecca Ferguson, Angus Imrie, Patrick Stewart, Dean Chaumoo, Rhianna Doris, Denise Gough
Be it what it be, I am still a fan of the Arthurian legend and the tales it has inspired – even if Hollywood has shown it doesn’t know what to do with the stories regarding King Arthur since 1981’s Excalibur. Still, I am intrigued by the trailers for The Kid Who Would be King. It just looks like a fun take on the legend. Now, what I would really like to see is a live-action film based early 1990s cartoon series King Arthur and the Knights of Justice.
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part
Release date: February 8
Directed by: Mike Mitchell
Produced by: Warner Animation Group, Lord Miller Productions, Vertigo Entertainment, Rideback
Distributed by: Warner Bros Pictures
Genre: Computer-Animated Sci-Fi Comedy
Starring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Tiffany Haddish, Will Arnet, Stephanie Beatriz, Charlie Day, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Maya Rudolph
Okay, I really loved the first The LEGO Movie because it was so unique and entertaining. And while I am not sure how much more innovative The LEGO Movie 2 can be, I am excited to see what new kind of story the film can produce to entertain us this time. But from what I am seeing in the trailers for the film, I think the family and I will be just as entertained as we were with the first film.
Alita: Battle Angel
Release date: February 14
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Produced by: 20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Entertainment, Troublemaker Studios
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Genre: Cyberpunk Action
Starring: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley, Keean Johnson
While I may not be hearing a lot of buzz for Alita: Battle Angel, I am super thrilled to see this film because Battle Angel was one of my favorite anime OVA series when it debuted in the early 1990s. I am only hoping that director Robert Rodriguez can do the story and the characters justice because it would be a huge shame if this series were to fall flat because of misuse or misguided direction.
Happy Death Day 2U
Release date: February 14
Directed by: Christopher Landon
Produced by: Blumhouse Productions
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Genre: Slasher Comedy
Starring: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Suraj Sharma, Sarah Yarkin, Ruby Modine, Rachel Matthews, Phi Vu, Steve Zissis
Serious talk here, Happy Death Day was one of my favorite horror films to be released in 2017, and I really started crushing on Jessica Rothe pretty hard after seeing her in the film. It was a darkly humorous approach to the horror film genre and I am excited to see how they continue the story in Happy Death Day 2U… even the name of this sequel is pretty dope. Well, at least to me.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Release date: February 22
Directed by: Dean DeBlois
Produced by: DreamWorks Animation
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Genre: Computer-Animated Action Fantasy
Starring: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchet, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Kit Harrington, Justin Rupple, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, F. Murray Abraham, Gerard Butler
While some other computer-animated films have come and gone in the past couple of decades, none of them outside of the Disney umbrella have entertained or wowed me as much as the How to Train Your Dragon series. Each film in the series seems to be better than previous, and I do believe that How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is poised to be the best in the series.
Fighting with My Family
Release date: March 1
Directed by: Stephen Merchant
Produced by: Film4, The Ink Factory, Seven Bucks Productions, Misher Films, WWE Films
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Biographical Sports Comedy Drama
Starring: Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Vince Vaughn, Dwayne Johnson
Just to get this out of the way, Paige (real name Saraya Bevis) is one of my favorite wrestlers of the past five years. Too bad an injury shortened her career and forced her retirement at the age of 25. I think that makes me want to see this biographical film based on her life even more. I am really interested in what director and writer Stephen Merchant is bringing to the WWE Universe with Fighting with My Family and how he weaves together the story of Paige and her rise to the highest peaks within the WWE Universe.
Captain Marvel
Release date: March 8
Directed by: Anna Bowden, Ryan Fleck
Produced by: Marvel Studios
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Genre: Superhero Action
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Honsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Annette Benning, Clark Gregg, Jude Law
Finally, Marvel is giving fans their first female led superhero film, and they couldn’t have chosen a better character than Carol Danvers – aka Captain Marvel. Well, I mean, they could have given us that Black Widow film we’ve all been asking for, but in terms of characters and their importance to the Marvel Universe, Captain Marvel is one hell of an excellent choice to bring to fans. And with the promise of what she can do once introduced into the MCU, I am more than excited to see this film.
Us
Release date: March 15
Directed by: Jordan Peele
Produced by: Blumhouse Productions, Monkeypaw Productions, QC Entertainment
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Genre: Psychological Horror Thriller
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Anna Diop
Seriously, after watching what Jordan Peele did with Get Out, and after watching the first trailer for Us, I am seriously excited to see this film. It has Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke and looks like this film is going to be a real mind-trip. I mean, hell, that remix of “I Got 5 On It” by the Luniz that was featured in the trailer already gave me a real creepy vibe for this film – and that isn’t even taking into consideration the visuals that we saw in the trailer.
