The 42 Most Anticipated Films of 2019

By Akhil Arora | Updated: 2 January 2019 10:11 IST

Photo Credit: Marvel, Disney, Lucasfilm

(L-R): Captain Marvel, The Lion King, Star Wars

Highlights

Avengers: Endgame is out April 26 in India
Star Wars: Episode IX is slated for December 20
The Lion King releases July 19 in theatres

It's been a big year for movies and 2019 promises to be no different, thanks to final chapters in the Avengers and Star Wars saga, new entries in the world of Toy Story, Men in Black, and Terminator, and the return of The Lion King, The Lego Movie, X-Men, Godzilla, and Hellboy. Here at home, we have several period dramas to look forward to, from award-winning directors and stars such as Ashutosh Gowariker, Alia Bhatt, and Akshay Kumar. Meanwhile, India's historic mission to Mars is also getting the big-screen treatment. Here are the most anticipated films of 2019:

January

Glass

Release date: January 18, 2019

M. Night Shyamalan concludes his superhero thriller trilogy — following on from 2000's Unbreakable and 2016's Split — with Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, and James McAvoy reprising their respective roles.

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

Release date: January 25, 2019

Kangana Ranaut turns co-director and stars as the lead in this biopic of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, who stood up to the British Raj and was one of the leading figures of the 1857 rebellion.

February

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Release date: February 8, 2019

In this sequel to the hit 2014 original, Chris Pratt is back as Emmet and dons the new role of Rex Dangervest, a spoof of several of Pratt's characters, as they try to rescue the kidnapped Lucy (Elizabeth Banks).

Alita: Battle Angel

Release date: February 8, 2019

Nearly two decades after James Cameron fell in love with the manga, Alita (Rosa Salazar) is finally coming to life from director Robert Rodriguez, with Oscar-winners Mahershala Ali, Christoph Waltz, and Jennifer Connelly in supporting roles.

Alita: Battle Angel Trailer Introduces the Cyborg Heroine of Its Futuristic World

Gully Boy

Release date: February 14, 2019

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt lead the cast of this Zoya Akhtar-directed musical drama, following the rise of Mumbai-based rappers Divine and Naezy, behind the famous hit song “Mere Gully Mein”.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Release date: February 22, 2019

The final entry in the trilogy finds the dragon Toothless running away after he discovers a mate, which puts his human friend Hiccup's home in danger and drives them into a mythological world.

How to Train Your Dragon 3 Trailer Introduces Toothless' Dragon Friend

March

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar

Release date: March 1, 2019

The first feature in four years for National Film Award-winning director Dibakar Banerjee is a romantic black comedy about two people from contrasting worlds, played by Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra.

Badla

Release date: March 8, 2019

Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu (Manmarziyaan), Abhishek Bachchan, and Shah Rukh Khan star in this remake of the 2016 Spanish thriller Contratiempo, from Kahaani director Sujoy Ghosh.

Captain Marvel

Release date: March 8, 2019

Brie Larson joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the titular hero, a half-human and half-alien former Air Force pilot who's at the center of an inter-galactic conflict. Samuel L. Jackson returns as a digitally de-aged, younger Nick Fury.

Captain Marvel's New Trailer Shows Off Brie Larson at Her Superhuman Best

Us

Release date: March 15, 2019

Oscar-winner Jordan Peele returns with a second horror thriller — after Get Out — that follows a family confronted by a group of doppelgängers on a holiday. Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke (Black Panther), and Elisabeth Moss star.

Kesari

Release date: March 21, 2019

Akshay Kumar plays one of 21 Sikh soldiers who gave their lives in the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi against several thousands of Afghan soldiers, in what is considered as one of history's greatest last-stands.

Dumbo

Release date: March 29, 2019

Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, and Eva Green (Casino Royale) lead the cast of this Dumbo remake — it's said to be loosely inspired by the 1941 original — from veteran director Tim Burton.

April

Shazam!

Release date: April 5, 2019

The DC film universe gets a new superhero of its own in Shazam! — originally known as Captain Marvel, no kidding — who is a 14-year-old orphan who can turn into a godlike adult by uttering the name of his alter ego. No kidding.

Shazam! Trailer Shows DC's Funny, Lighter Side

The Zoya Factor

Release date: April 5, 2019

Based on the book of the same name, Sonam Kapoor stars in the eponymous role of Zoya, an ad executive who turns out to be a lucky charm for the Indian cricket team and ends up travelling with them to the World Cup.

Hellboy

Release date: April 12, 2019

Stranger Things' David Harbour steps into the titular demon role for this reboot, who must stop an ancient sorceress (Milla Jovovich) from destroying all of mankind.

Hellboy Trailer: David Harbour Is Here to Smash Things in Reboot

Kalank

Release date: April 19, 2019

Produced by Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala, this period drama has an ensemble cast of Madhuri Dixit, Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Sanjay Dutt.

Avengers: Endgame

Release date: April 26, 2019

The follow-up to the shocking Infinity War, with the original Avengers coming together with the few remaining survivors — and Captain Marvel — to take on the all-powerful Thanos.

Avengers: Endgame Trailer: Iron Man's in Trouble, Hawkeye's Back

The Avengers: Endgame Trailer Showed Very Little, and That's Good

May

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu

Release date: May 10, 2019

Deadpool's Ryan Reynolds is voicing Pikachu — who woulda' thunk it — in the first-ever live-action Pokemon movie, which is based on the 2016 video game of the same name.

Detective Pikachu Trailer: Ryan Reynolds as the Adorable Pokemon Is Weird

John Wick 3: Parabellum

Release date: May 17, 2019

Keanu Reeves' dog-loving legendary hitman is back for more action scenes loosely stitched together with a plot, with original director Chad Stahelski back at the helm.

Aladdin

Release date: May 24, 2019

Will Smith stars as the Genie in this live-action remake of the 1992 animated original, with Disney and director Guy Ritchie promising to update the stereotypical parts of the Middle Eastern story.

Aladdin Teaser Trailer Introduces Agrabah, Mena Massoud, and the Magic Lamp

Ad Astra

Release date: May 24, 2019

Brad Pitt travels through the solar system in the search of his father (Tommy Lee Jones), who once set out for Neptune to find alien life. James Gray (The Lost City of Z, The Immigrant) directs.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Release date: May 31, 2019

Godzilla goes up against three god-sized monsters — Mothra, Rodan, and the three-headed King Ghidorah — in this sequel to the 2014 original. Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown stars.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters Trailer – a Kaiju Fest with Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah

June

Dark Phoenix

Release date: June 7, 2019

The X-Men are back — belatedly — for another chapter in the endless saga, which finds them having to deal with one of their own: Sophie Turner's Jean Grey turning into Phoenix, who is being manipulated by an alien shapeshifter (Jessica Chastain).

Dark Phoenix Trailer — Sophie Turner's Jean Grey Is at the Centre of It All

Men in Black: International

Release date: June 14, 2019

Thor: Ragnarok duo of Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson lead this MIB spin-off that's set (mostly) in London, tasked with figuring out a mole in their agency.

Men in Black: International Trailer: Hemsworth, Thompson Are Here to Deal With the Scum of the Universe

Toy Story 4

Release date: June 21, 2019

Nine years after the last one, Pixar digs up its best-known property for new adventures, with a new reluctant toy called Forky (Tony Hale) joining Woody and Buzz Lightyear's gang.

Toy Story 4 Trailer Introduces Newest Character, Forky

July

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Release date: July 5, 2019

The only known post-Endgame MCU entry is set immediately after, which finds Peter Parker (Tom Holland) on a summer holiday in Europe. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Mysterio.

Spider-Man: Far From Home Wraps Filming, Tom Holland Shows Off New Suit

The Lion King

Release date: July 19, 2019

Disney's photorealistic remakes of its beloved animated originals continues with the tale of Simba (Donald Glover), from the director of the previous one, Jon Favreau (The Jungle Book).

The Lion King's First Trailer Recreates the Most Iconic Scenes

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Release date: July 26, 2019

Quentin Tarantino's next has a terrific cast — Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Damian Lewis, Dakota Fanning, Al Pacino, Lena Dunham, and Kurt Russell among others — and is set around the time of the Manson Family murders in 1969 Los Angeles.

August

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

Release date: August 2, 2019

The endless popularity of the franchise has given rise to its first spin-off, centred on the respective characters of Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. Idris Elba plays the villain, while Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible – Fallout) is an MI6 agent.

The New Mutants

Release date: August 2, 2019

Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams leads the cast of this X-Men horror film, which finds five young mutants trying to escape a secret facility while discovering the extent of their abilities.

Artemis Fowl

Release date: August 9, 2019

Eoin Colfer's 2001 novel of the same name is getting the big-screen treatment 17 years after it was first announced. It involves a 12-year-old criminal mastermind, fairies, and a possible robbery.

Mission Mangal

Release date: August 15, 2019

The behind-the-scenes story of ISRO's mission to Mars, also known as Mangalyaan, starring Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, and Nithya Menen.

October

Gemini Man

Release date: October 4, 2019

Will Smith plays an ageing assassin and a younger clone of himself in this globe-trotting sci-fi thriller from Life of Pi director Ang Lee. Clive Owen (Children of Men), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane), and Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange) also star.

Joker

Release date: October 4, 2019

Joaquin Phoenix steps into the role made iconic by Heath Ledger, for a standalone entry that will be an origin story for Batman's nemesis and will bear no connection to the DC film universe.

November

Terminator 6

Release date: November 1, 2019

Though the franchise has never come close to the heights set in 1991, it continues with Arnold Schwarzenegger set to reprise his role, once again. The good news? James Cameron is back as producer, while Deadpool's Tim Miller is in the director's chair.

Charlie's Angels

Release date: November 1, 2019

Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Stewart, and Patrick Stewart star in this reboot of the film franchise based on the TV show of the same name, with Banks also in the role of co-writer, producer, and director.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Release date: November 8, 2019

Sega's fast-running mascot is facing the tall order of being an enjoyable live-action adaptation of a video game, with history set against it. Ben Schwartz (Parks and Rec) voices Sonic, with Jim Carrey as his nemesis Doctor Eggman.

Westworld's James Marsden Will Star in Sonic the Hedgehog Movie: Report

Kingsman: The Great Game

Release date: November 8, 2019

The third film in the Kingsman series is a prequel origin story of the fictional spy agency set in the early 1900s, starring Daniel Brühl (Inglorious Basterds), Ralph Fiennes, and Charles Dance. Matthew Vaughn is still director.

Frozen 2

Release date: November 22, 2019

The highest-grossing animated film of all time — with the earworm song “Let It Go” — returns for a second round that we know little about, except that Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Josh Gad will be back as Anna, Elsa, and Olaf, respectively.

December

Panipat

Release date: December 6, 2019

Lagaan director Ashutosh Gowariker goes back to the 18th-century with his next venture, focusing on the Third Battle of Panipat between the Maratha Empire and the Afghani Durrani Empire. Arjun Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt are on opposing sides.

Brahmastra

Release date: December 20, 2019

Intended to be the first chapter of a trilogy, Ranbir Kapoor stars as a superhero alongside gods played by Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, and Dimple Kapadia, in what has been described as a ‘contemporary setting with ancient elements' by director Ayan Mukerji (Wake Up Sid).

Star Wars: Episode IX

Release date: December 20, 2019

The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams returns for the final chapter of the trilogy — and the Skywalker saga — which is set one year after The Last Jedi. Billy Dee Williams returns as Lando Calrissian, while Keri Russell and Matt Smith join the cast.

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Further reading: The Lego Movie, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Lego, Alita Battle Angel, How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon 3, How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World, Captain Marvel, MCU, Marvel, Disney, Shazam, DCEU, Warner Bros, DC Comics, Hellboy, Avengers, Avengers Endgame, Pokemon, Pokemon Detective Pikachu, Aladdin, Godzilla, Godzilla King of the Monsters, Dark Phoenix, X Men, X Men Dark Phoenix, Men in Black, Men in Black International, Toy Story, Toy Story 4, Spider Man, Spider Man Far From Home, The Lion King, Fast and Furious, The New Mutants, Joker, Terminator, Sonic the Hedgehog, Star Wars, Star Wars Episode 9, Star Wars Episode IX