Phil Roberts 
The Future of the Force team unite to share our pick of the movies still to hit cinema screens in 2019
2019 has been another incredible year for Hollywood. Not only have we enjoyed three stellar additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man: Far From Home, Captain Marvel and Avengers Endgame, but DC continued to build upon the success of Aquaman with Shazam, Buzz Lightyear and Woody returned in Toy Story 4, Godzilla proved why he’s still the King of the Monsters and Sam Raimi delivered the mother of all Alligator movies in Crawl. And, with so many top quality movies still to hit cinema screens in 2019, it’s tough to make out which will be the biggest rival to Avengers Endgame’s monumental success. The culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe broke all records earlier in the year and it has continued to haul in the revenue after an incredibly lucrative home media release.
Of course, the obvious rival to Endgame’s crown arrives in the form of J.J Abrams’ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The movie is dubbed as the culmination of the franchise originated by George Lucas in 1977 and brings the legacy of the Skywalker family to a close. But aside from the juggernaut from the galaxy far, far away there are several hot properties still to make their way to the screen including Terminator: Dark Fate, Rambo: Last Blood, Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil, Jumanji: The Next Level, Downton Abbey, Joker, Knives Out and the Disney Pixar behemoth; Frozen 2.
But which of these incredible movies is tickling the pickle for team Future of the Force? In this post, we will look ahead to the rest of the theatrical calendar and share our top picks with you. The Rise of Skywalker has been sidelined because let’s face it … it would be at the top of the list for EVERY member of the team. But fear not, it will get the odd mention here and there! (Wink Wink!)
So, without further ado, let’s get down to business …
“Rambo Gets Terminated” | By Liam Bailey
2019 has been a great year for films with the likes of Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home and John Wick 3 amongst loads more to come during the remainder of the year. Other than Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, there are still a handful of films that I am excited to see such as Joker, Hustlers and Zombieland 2. With these films still to release, I think it’s fair to say that I will be making several more trips to the cinema in 2019, but there are two films, in particular, I am really excited to see.
Rambo: Last Blood – I love seeing Sylvester Stallone go all badass as John Rambo and the latest instalment looks set to impress. My personal favourite Rambo instalment was the last one he made and Last Blood looks as if it’s going to follow the same sort of style which is a bonus.
Terminator: Dark Fate – I grew up watching Arnold Schwarzenegger films as my Dad was a huge fan of his films which lead to me taking a particular interest in the Terminator franchise, and since then I have always enjoyed the films. With the addition of Gabriel Luna and the return of Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, I am extremely hyped for what’s to come.
“A Frozen Star War” | By Max Nocerino
I’m looking forward to Frozen 2 and of course, The Rise of Skywalker. Frozen was one of the best ‘10’s Disney movie of all time and I am very fascinated about where Elsa’s cyrokinesis came from. Also, I think I’m seeing it with my mentally disabled friend, so I’m looking forward to seeing him so happy. The Rise of Skywalker I want to see for obvious reasons. I think it will be better than TFA and TLJ because everybody expects JJ to work extra hard. I don’t have a preference for how it goes down; all I know is that whatever Rey and gang do; it MUST completely restore balance to the galaxy and the galaxy 35+ BBY must be a place of total peace and nirvana.
“Crossing 21 Bridges with Mr Rogers” | By Katelyn Mathis
I can safely say we have established Frozen 2 and The Rise Of Skywalker as two films we are all looking forward to, so let’s look at a few others. Knives Out, a Rian Johnson film, by the way, hits US theaters in November. This under-the-radar film has some big names, like Chris Evans, Daniel Craig, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The premise seems to be a new take on the classic Clue plot where one guest is murdered and everyone starts turning on each other to figure out who the killer is. Classic plot or not, I will definitely be seeing this film.
Another to watch for is 21 Bridges, staring the MCU’s Chadwick Boseman. In the story, Boseman is an NYPD detective on the search for a pair of killers. The search intensifies and the decision is made to close all of Manhattan’s 21 bridges in order to catch the killers. Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t have a critic score yet, but I certain that will change in a few weeks.
Lastly, I have to list my feel-good movie Won’t You Be My Neighbor. The film centers around Mr. Rogers of course through the eyes of a reporter sent to interview the tv star. Tom Hanks is playing the iconic Mr. Rogers and, after his performance as Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks, I am very curious to compare him to Rogers. The trailer made me smile and brought back many childhood memories of watching Daniel the tiger and hearing the chime of the trolley. The film won’t be the blockbuster of the year, but it will definitely be one worth seeing.
“Last Christmas at Downton Abbey” | By Melissa Villy
Of course, I’m excited about The Rise of Skywalker. It’s the end of an era. But there are a lot of other movies releasing over the next few months. As a Downton Abbey fan, I’m super excited for the movie. I’m even planning a Tea at the library for the day it releases. The series is one of my favorites that I watch again and again and was my gateway into British TV.
I’m also looking forward to Harriet, about Harriet Tubman, the latest Little Women adaptation, and The Aeronauts with Eddie Redmayne and Star Wars’ own Felicity Jones. I’m guessing you can see a theme here. I like historical dramas. A lot.
As for modern set movies, I’m looking forward to the next Jumanji, which according to what I was able to find online, comes out near the end of the year. I loved the original growing up and the squeal/reboot a few years ago was hysterical. Finally, Last Christmas with Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, and Emma Thompson, who also wrote the screenplay. We haven’t had a decent romantic comedy in years. And Emma Thompson is a delight as an actress and screenwriter.
“A Star Wars Bombshell” | By Annlyel James
Christmas season is known to bring a lot of really good movies to the movie theaters fit for the entire family. As a ‘Star Wars’ fan, I’m of course looking most forward to seeing ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ but what else is coming this Christmas for those who may not want to join the ‘Star Wars’ party?
Well, have you seen ‘Bombshell‘; the movie that’s destined to send tremors through Hollywood and the internet this December? In the wake of the #MeToo phenomenon, ‘Bombshell‘ arrives to grasp the attention of movie critics looking for the next Oscar-worthy sensation with a scintillating look at the FOX News scandal that happened two years ago. Starring Oscar-winning Nicole Kidman, Oscar-winning Charlize Theron, and Oscar-nominated Margot Robbie this is the movie that could easily take this Christmas season by storm (if it turns out to be as good as it looks.)
“Knives Out for Marriage Story” | By Kat Schultz
Despite what amounts to a rather bleak year so far for non-franchise movies (to be expected as tentpole features increasingly eat up funds and attention), there are several movies I’m looking forward to this fall and winter.
The first is Lucy in the Sky, out October 4th. Natalie Portman stars as an astronaut desperate to get back into space after a transcendent experience among the stars. Directed by Noah Hawley, the television visionary behind Fargo and Legion, Lucy is sure to be a trip. The next on my list is Marriage Story, the tale of a disintegrating marriage starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. The story seems heartbreaking, but writer-director Noah Baumbach (Frances Ha) weaves love and compassion through every shot, according to the trailer. Marriage Story is out November 6, coming to Netflix a month later.
The final movie on my list is Knives Out, Rian Johnson’s new film. A comedic whodunnit, Knives Out features many of today’s most prolific actors as a family trapped in a house during the investigation of their patriarch’s murder. If the plot doesn’t sell you, maybe Chris Evans as a crass murder suspect will. Knives Out releases November 27th.
Honorable mentions: Ad Astra, featuring Brad Pitt in space discovering the meaning of humanity’s existence, out September 20th. Little Women, Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the iconic novel, out December 25th.
“Dark Fate For Rambo” | By Carl Roberts
And so, goodbye Summer blockbuster season and hello and welcome Autumn and winter movie season! What delights are you going to offer us this year? Everyone knows that the box office battle this Christmas is between Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker and Frozen II. And Disney can’t lose as both movies are in their stable. But there’s so much more to look forward to in the run-up to the battle of the year. We have Jumanji: The Next Level. IT: Chapter Two opened this past weekend hoping to scare the world into handing over their hard-earned cash. Renee Zellweger is hoping for success portraying Judy Garland in the film, Judy. Downton Abbey makes the leap from the small screen to big plus many more to tantalise us. However, being an action movie fan, I’m going to pick three movies which I’m desperate to go and see.
The first up is Rambo: Last Blood. Come on, it’s probably the final time Sylvester Stallone will appear as the character. Like him or loathe him, John J Rambo has been a cinematic staple since 1982 when the original First Blood made its bow. Ok, so the second and third movies went into the realms of mindless crowd-pleasing mayhem but the original and the fourth films both had valid points to make within their violent structure. This time around, the storyline incorporates the Mexican drug cartels. Again, this involves world events happening today set in the world of Rambo. The trailers and posters tease a violent and thrilling action movie which I’m going to be first in line to see come September 20th.
Next up we have Gemini Man. Will Smith here plays a double role as one character, the seasoned veteran assassin and his younger clone, battling against each other. The trailers are impressive and Smith has great support from Clive Owen and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Considering the director is Academy Award winner Ang Lee and we could yet be in for a visual and thrilling treat. All I hope is the film doesn’t go the same way as Lee attempted with 2003s ‘Hulk’. To say that the film didn’t impress me would be a massive understatement.
To end my three picks, I’m going for another return of another classic and much-loved character in Terminator: Dark Fate. This time though, we are treated to TWO classic and much-loved characters returning in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-101 assisted this time around by the much mooted and brilliant return of Linda Hamilton as Sarah Conner. To see these two back together on screen possibly one final time is going to be one for the ages. And Hamilton has top billing this time around, leading us to believe that the focus of this new film is on her more than Schwarzenegger, who has second billing. What we’ve seen so far has me sweating in anticipation due to the fact that the returning James Cameron looks like he has instructed the filmmakers exactly HOW to make a good Terminator film. The film looks like it should carry on from Cameron’s two Terminator films and has the ability to blow away all the box office competition around it.
I’ll be lining up on opening day for these three films as they are the ones that interest me the most heading towards the final climax of the Star Wars saga. The next four months look like being a whole lot better than most of the summer fare we’ve just left behind.
“Gemini Man’s Last Christmas” | By Thomas Storai
September: In September, there are 3 movies that I think are worth looking out for. The first is The GoldFinch adapted from the best steller and starring Nicole Kidman and Ansel Elsgort among others. It looks like it’s going to be a wonderful and powerful movie with what could be Elsgort’s best performance, is there anything else to add? You can expect Oscars noms for this one! Then there is Ad Astra, Brad Pitt, Liv Tyler and Tommy Lee Jones in a sci-fi space movie, that’s an exciting pitch! And the last one is A Rainy Day In New York by Woody Allen, what is exciting here is the cast – Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Jude Law, Diego Luna, Liev Schreiber. I think it’s worth seeing just for this incredible cast. These movies will be released on September 18th in French cinemas.
October: Gemini Man is the first movie in October that is for me worth checking out. Will Smith vs Young Will Smith directed by Ang Lee, you know it’s going to be incredible! In cinemas, October 2nd in French cinemas. Then, there is Joker, a new take on the iconic villain starring Joaquin Phoenix who from the looks of the trailer seems to nail it! Marc Maron and Robert DeNiro sharing scenes together? I can’t wait for this! In French cinemas October 9th. If you have Netflix, then there is also Dolemite Is My Name on October 25th, the return of the legend Eddie Murphy, you don’t want to miss this! There is also The Laundromat on October 18th, Steven Soderbergh is often very good with biographical comedy-dramas so I think this one will be good.
November: In November, there is Last Christmas starring Emilia Clarke, directed by Paul Feig and written by Emma Thompson. It’s going to be a must-watch romcom! In French cinemas, November 13th. Then on November 20th, the long-awaited sequel to Frozen, the trailers are teasing quite a different story and has this great adventure feel. The last worth checking movie in cinemas this month is Knives Out by Rian Johnson, the genius behind The Last Jedi, with an all-star cast. It’s a whodunnit movie. On the Netflix side, there is on November 1st, The King with the brilliant Timothée Chalamet, it’s going to be an amazing historic movie!
December: We’re kicking off December with Motherless Brooklyn in French cinemas December 4th, directed by and starring Edward Norton, it seems to be a crime drama like I love them! On December 18th in French cinemas, the obvious one – Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker, the conclusion to the Skywalker saga, what else could I say about it? It’s the second biggest event of the year after Avengers Endgame. On Christmas day, Little Women, based on the book (there were already several movies based on that book, the most famous being Little Women (1994) starring Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, Susan Sarandon, Christian Bale, it was an excellent movie, I definitely recommend it if you haven’t seen it yet). This new iteration has an all-star cast as well – Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Laura Dern. We all know the story by now but it’s going to be interesting to see what this cast brings to the story.
“Frozen Fever” | By Darcie Gray
We may be over halfway through 2019 by now but we still have some pretty awesome movies to look forward to!! There’s one film that I cannot wait for and that is Frozen 2. In 2013 Frozen fever struck and if I’m honest it never really went away. This November, I’m ready for Frozen fever round two! From the footage and images, we’ve seen it’s clear that Frozen 2 is going to look and feel different from the first film which is incredibly exciting! It looks like there is going to be a little more magic, perhaps Elsa is not the only person gifted with powers (it is certainly possible considering Rapunzel has powers and they are cousins). Tone-wise the film looks darker and I think we are in for some more Hanz style twists which would be exciting. I am looking forward to new songs, new characters and new adventures. Frozen 2 is certainly one to watch considering the success of other Disney films so far this year, I don’t think Disney is ready to let go of its impressive box office takings just yet. I’m pumped to re-join Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven on another adventure and you should be too!
“Rambo’s A Joker” | By Phil Roberts
2019 has been another hit and miss year for movies. Some have been absolutely incredible (Crawl/John Wick: Chapter 3) while others have been utterly loathsome (Hobbs and Shaw/Hellboy) and leading the charge as the best of the best was Avengers Endgame … the culmination of the MCU still sets my pulse racing when I envisage Captain America wielding Mjölnir and unleashing hells fury upon Thanos. And don’t get me started on the moment the Avengers finally assembled! But the rest of the year is shaping up to be just as awesome.
Naturally, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be a shoo-in to dominate the hectic Christmas box office period despite an ill-timed challenge from Jumanji: The Next Level. I truly hope J.J Abrams’ conclusion to the Skywalker saga is a massive crowd-pleaser. No pressure JJ! But aside from Star Wars, there is plenty to wax lyrical about as we speed towards the latter half of the year.
The return of James Cameron is sure to rejuvenate the Terminator franchise in Dark Fate. And, with Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger back to reprise their iconic roles, we could be set up for another classic Cameron adventure … and it’s about time if you ask me. Rian Johnson’s contemporary whodunnit; Knives Out looks incredible. Even though his work on The Last Jedi proved to be utterly divisive, the visionary director looks to have found his niche with this one and with its all-star cast looks to be a solid box office hit.
Ang Lee’s Gemini Man is another flick that looks pretty damn cool. Dubbed as the battle of the clones, Will Smith faces off against his younger doppelganger in a movie which will undoubtedly bring the ethical argument of cloning back to the fore.
Another movie I cannot wait to see is Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Angelina Jolie slips into the iconic dark robes of Disney’s Mistress of Evil once again to menace Princess Aurora’s meddling royal family. If Disney can recapture her evilness and avoid the irksome anti-hero vibe that dogged the first outing, everything will be peachy in Disney’s thicket of thorns.
But, call me old fashioned … the two movies I am most excited for (aside from Star Wars of course … let’s not get crazy) are Rambo: Last Blood and Joker. Being a child of the eighties, I was reared on the adventures of John Rambo and I cannot wait to immerse myself in the all-out war Sylvester Stallone will unleash upon the drug cartels of Mexico. Seriously guys, do your homework. Don’t mess with Rambo! The over-the-top machismo and chiselled bravado of the eighties has been toned down for the modern audience and if Rambo: Last Blood can capture the magic of the original movies and harness the brilliance of the previous outing, Rambo: Last Blood is sure to give us once last thrill ride before the character walks off into the proverbial sunset.
And finally … Joker. As a mega Batman fan, I cannot wait for this one. Gotham’s clown prince of crime is my all-time favourite comic book villain and I am intrigued to see what characteristics Joaquin Phoenix has injected into the character. So far, the trailers have teased us with glimmers of the traditional Joker iconography and with its hard R-Rating, we could be in for a very surreal experience when the lights dim and Arthur Fleck takes centre stage. Can Phoneix live up to Mark Hamill’s definitive Joker from Batman: The Animated Series or Heath Ledger’s breathtaking interpretation from The Dark Knight? That remains to be seen.
Joaquin Phoenix may not raise the laughing stocks, but he is more than capable of catapulting the Joker to new levels of darkness and depravity and I cannot wait to enter the mindset of his clown prince of crime. Anything less would be criminal.
Have Your Say:
With so many fantastic movies to choose from, 2019 looks set to be going out on a high. Avengers Endgame, Crawl, Captain Marvel, Shazam and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum all raised the bar at the start of the year but with Joker, Rambo, the Terminator, Knives Out, Frozen 2, Gemini Man, Last Christmas, Jumanji: The Next level and Ad Astra all still to come, the battle at the box office is far from over. Will Joker be a cinematic masterpiece? Will James Cameron lead the Terminator franchise out of the depths of despair? Will Jumanji get an extra life? Or will Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker defy all expectations and dethrone Avengers: Endgame at the top of the all-time box office standings?
Drop us a line and share your thoughts.
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Phil Roberts is the Owner, Daily Content Manager, and Editor-In-Chief of The Future of the Force. He is passionate about Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Follow him on Twitter where he uses the force and babbles frequently!
