50 Films Coming out in 2019 to Anticipate (or Avoid) Part III

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Some of these films lack full cast lists, any sort of images whatsoever, and plotline details and you have to solely rely on the few details given to pick and choose whatever tickles your heart, your mind, or that little voice deep within the recesses of your being that decides whether or not something is worth your time. The following is what spoke to me at first glance for 2019. Some big releases aren’t listed here and this is just a disclaimer stating that was on purpose.

Ang Lee’s new film about an aging hitman named Henry Brogen (Will Smith) on the verge of retiring but ends up going head to head with a younger clone of himself that can predict his every move sounds a lot like Looper. The sci-fi action thriller also stars Clive Owen, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Benedict Wong. Weta Digital will handle the visual effects and will be supervised by Bill Westenhofer (Life of Pi, Wonder Woman).

Writer/director Todd Phillips' first film to really dive into more serious territory. Joker is an origin story about the man who would eventually become Batman’s biggest and most recognized arch-nemesis. The film follows Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) as a failed stand-up comedian who goes insane and starts killing people. Co-written by Scott Silver (The Fighter, 8 Mile), Joker also stars Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Shea Whigham.

So yes, Terminator: Salvation and Terminator: Genesys are both God-awful films that practically derail the Terminator franchise, but this is the first film to be produced since James Cameron regained the rights to the franchise. Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning as The Terminator and Linda Hamilton finally comes back as Sarah Connor. Deadpool director Tim Miller is handling directing duties, James Cameron is producing, and Mackenzie Davis and Gabriel Luna are also a part of the cast. It will be a direct sequel to Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day while ignoring what occurred in the other films and The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Said to be a prequel, so Eggsy (Taron Egerton) won’t be returning. Writer and director Matthew Vaughn is saying this will be the last Kingsman film to round out a trilogy, but that a Statesman spinoff could be in the works afterwards. The film could be released as Part 1 and Part 2. Tequila (Channing Tatum) may have a bigger role this time around while Roxy (Sophie Cookson) and Merlin (Mark Strong) may return despite their supposed deaths.

Rian Johnson’s follow-up to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. “Described as a modern murder mystery in a classic whodunit style. Stars Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Christopher Plummer, Toni Collette, and Lakeith Stanfield.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was a huge surprise. It looked terrible and I had no interest at all, but ended up seeing it in theaters because of a family movie night. Welcome to the Jungle is a lot more creative and hilarious than it first lets on. The sequel will have the same director and screenwriters while Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black are all returning. Awkwafina and Danny DeVito have joined the cast.

The interest in this one is more of a pondering of what direction it’s going to go in next. I didn’t like J.J. Abrams’ previous directorial journey into a galaxy far, far away, so it’ll be intriguing to see if he does anything differently this time around. Billy Dee Williams is back as Lando Calrissian and unused footage from the previous two Star Wars films will allow Carrie Fisher to return despite her passing. The last film in the new Star Wars trilogy.

The remaining films are all set to be released in 2019, but currently don’t have a confirmed release date yet.

“Eve (Jessica Chastain) is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong she is forced to fight for her own survival.”

Also stars John Malkovich, Colin Farrell, Geena Davis, and Common. Directed by Tate Taylor (The Help).

The story of Wing Chun martial artist Ip Man (Donnie Yen) continues.

“The Kung Fu master travels to the U.S. where his student has upset the local martial arts community by opening a Wing Chun school.”

The third sequel is again directed by Wilson Yip while Scott Adkins joins the cast. I consider the original Ip Man film to be one of the best martial arts films of all time.

A new Martin Scorsese film about a hitman's possible involvement with the killing of Jimmy Hoffa that’s bringing Joe Pesci out of retirement and cost $100 million to make. Also stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Jesse Plemons, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Jack Huston, Harvey Keitel, Stephen Graham, and Ray Romano. It’s being distributed by Netflix. De-aging technology will be utilized for the actors in the film to portray their characters throughout their entire lifetime.

Taika Waititi’s follow-up to Thor: Ragnarok sounds like glorious madness.

“A World War II satire about a ten-year-old boy who, ridiculed by his peers and misunderstood by his mother, can't quite figure out how to fit in. As the naïve young German struggles to understand his place in an increasingly Fascist regime, he resorts to an imaginary friend (to be played by Taika) who can offer advice and help him cope.”

Stars Waititi as Hitler with Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell as part of the supporting cast.

“Follows a group of journalists who take part in unearthing 11.5 million files, linking the world's most powerful political figures to secret banking accounts to avoid taxes.”

The cast of Steven Soderbergh's latest film includes Gary Oldman, Meryl Streep, Matthis Schoenaerts, Antonio Banderas, David Schwimmer, James Cromwell, Alex Pettyfer, Robert Patrick, Jeffrey Wright, Chris Parnell, and Will Forte.

“Based on the non-fiction book "Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation of Illicit Money Networks and the Global Elite" by Jake Bernstein, that exposes the world revealed by the Panama Papers, a landscape of illicit money, political corruption, and fraud on a global scale.”

We’ve all been aching for something new from Robert Eggers ever since his 2015 film and first directorial effort The Witch. "Taking place in 20th Century Maine, Willem Dafoe portrays Old; an aging lighthouse keeper." Robert Pattinson also stars.

Legion’s Noah Hawley tackles sci-fi drama.

“The film tells the story of a female astronaut who, upon returning to Earth from a life-changing mission in space, begins to slowly unravel and lose touch with reality. Her psychological decline culminates in a fevered cross-country trip with violent intentions in this complex, thrilling and darkly comedic character study.”

Stars Natalie Portman, Dan Stevens, Jon Hamm, and Zazie Beetz.

Bong Joon-Ho’s (Okja, Snowpiercer) most recent film.

“A peculiar tale about two families who are worlds apart yet somewhat alike portrays a striking reality of the world we live in.”

Writer/screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (Contagion, Side Effects) is directing his first film in 13 years.

“In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, CIA agents begin using extreme interrogation tactics on those they think were behind it.”

The cast includes Jon Hamm, Jennifer Morrison, Adam Driver, Michael C. Hall, Tim Blake Nelson, Ted Levine, Annette Bening, Maura Tierney, and Ben McKenzie.

From Chinese director Zhang Yimou (Hero, Flowers of War), Shadow also played at 2018’s Fantastic Fest.

“Set during China's Three Kingdom's era (AD 220-280). The story of a great king and his people, who will be expelled from their homeland and will aspire to claim it. The king, violent and ambitious, of mysterious methods and motives; his general, a visionary who yearns to win the final battle but needs to prepare his plans in secret; the women of the palace, who struggle to find redemption in a world where they have no place; and a commoner called "Lord of all the world", will be the characters around who turn the inexorable forces of this story.”

Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, this comedy film stars Scarlett Johansson, Ray Liotta, Adam Driver, and Laura Dern. “The story follows an unfolding divorce that spans from New York City to Los Angeles.”