2018 was a fantastic year for films. With superheroes galore with the likes of Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and the highly anticipated The Incredibles sequel and music biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, there was no shortage of great film hits for cinema goers to indulge in last year.
And 2019 looks to be continuing this trend. With the recent release of Avengers: Endgame, 2019 has already proven to be an exciting year for film. Here is a look at some of the upcoming cinema releases expected for 2019 that we just can’t wait for:
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
It seems incredible that we’ve had to wait until 2019 for a live action Pokémon film, but we’re finally going to see those cuddly, and occasionally deadly, creatures come to life on the big screen. Starring Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Pikachu, this fantasy mystery film is about a Pokémon trainer meeting a talking Pikachu that once belonged to his father. Together they set about solving the mystery of what happened to him. Based on a 2016 game, the trailers have proved to be popular with fans who can’t wait to see these wonderful creatures in all their live action glory.
The release date for Pokémon: Detective Pikachu is 10th May 2019.
Aladdin
The next in a string of Disney animated films to be given a live action re-boot, the tale of Aladdin is about an Arabian street urchin who finds a magic lamp containing a genie. Starring relatively unknown actor Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Hollywood superstar Will Smith as the genie, the newest live action film from Disney’s line-up finished filming in January 2018 and is directed by Guy Ritchie.
The release date for Aladdin is 24th May 2019.
Men in Black: International
Sequels are certainly the film flavour for 2019 it seems with this upcoming addition to the Men in Black franchise. Men in Black: International takes us back to the world of agents in suits investigating aliens and flashing away people’s memories, but this time it’s set in London and stars Chis Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. It’ll be the first time we’ve revisited this franchise since Men in Black 3 released in 2012.
The release date for Men in Black: International is 14th June 2019.
Toy Story 4
It’s the sequel that arguably no one was asking for; the Toy Story franchise is one of the most successful animated film series, with the first instalment being widely regarded as one of the greatest animated films of all time. However, the recent release of the Toy Story 4 trailer suggests that this series is not in danger of going the way of Shrek or Ice Age.
This adventure will tell the tale of Forky, a plastic spork brought to life by Bonnie, the child Woody and the gang are now in the procession of, who struggles with an existential crisis about being a toy. Along the way, we encounter a beloved character that was missing from the last instalment: Bo Peep, who has been given a chic, updated makeover and new outlook on life. Whilst Toy Story 3 seemed like the perfect end to the film series, this newest addition looks set to be a thrilling instalment we can’t wait to see.
The release date for Toy Story 4 is 21st June 2019.
It: Chapter Two
Back in 2017 we were treated to the first part of the It re-boot. Based on Stephen King’s 1986 horror novel of the same name, the story of It follows a group of kids, known as the Loser’s Club, as they are terrorised by an ancient evil that preys on the children of Derry, Maine, using the powers of shapeshifting. It primarily appears as the creepy Pennywise the Dancing Clown.
Part two follows the same children, now adults, in their second encounter with It on their return to Derry as they set about to put an end to the evil once and for all. The first instalment was a hit, grossing over $700 million worldwide and ranking as the highest-grossing horror film of all time; this year we’ll find out if the part two is just as well received.
The release date for It: Chapter Two is 6th September 2019.
Joker
In this new re-telling of the story of Batman’s most infamous rival, Joaquin Phoenix is set to play the Joker in this tale of his origin. Details are scarce, but this version of the Joker appears to be a failed stand-up comedian turned psychotic anarchist. It is set to be a stand-alone film and the first in a series of DC-based films separate from the DC Extended Universe.
The release date for Joker is scheduled for 4th October 2019.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
The third instalment to the Star Wars sequel trilogy and the ninth and final episode of the main Star Wars film franchise, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is set to be an exciting addition to 2019’s line-up of films to watch this year. Approximately one year after the events of The Last Jedi, the remnants of the Resistance face the First Order once again, bringing the Skywalker saga to a definitive end.
The release date for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is scheduled for 20th December 2019.