Movie Trailer Roundup – A Preview of Some of 2019's Most Anticipated New Releases
2019 has gotten off to slow start at the cineplex (unless you were one of those people fired up about Tyler Perry's A Madea Family Funeral). But with Captain Marvel and Us arriving in the next few weeks, things are finally starting to heat up. There are tons of exciting movies headed our way in the coming months, and trailers are starting to drop and offer a preview of some of the year’s most anticipated films. Looking forward to the year in movies ahead, let’s do a rundown of the trailers that have been released for some of the most exciting and interesting films coming our way:
Triple Frontier (release date: March 13th)
This movie has had a pretty wild and meandering production path before finally getting made and arriving on Netflix this week. The script has been percolating and buzzed about since 2010 with Kathryn Bigelow originally pegged to direct, and with an insane list of actors previously attached to star (including Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Channing Tatum, Tom Hardy, and Mahershala Ali at various points). But the final cast they’ve assembled here is pretty awesome in its own right, and I’m all in for an action film starring Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac and Charlie Hunnam. A heist movie set in the world of South American cartels looks like a hell of a good time, and I’ll definitely be firing this one up on Netflix as soon as it drops.
Us (March 22nd)
Get Out was one of the best and most exciting debut movies ever for a first time filmmaker, and it certainly looks like Jordan Peele has avoided the sophomore slump with his second film Us. The great Lupita Nyong'o, terrifying doppelgängers, scary masks, and the weaponized scissors imagery makes this look like it’s destined to be another instant horror classic.
Dumbo (March 29th)
I can’t say I consider myself a big fan of the original Dumbo, and this looks like a pretty basic family film rendition. But the fact that this is directed by Tim Burton gives some hope that there will be some weirdness and surprises injected into the story (although Tim Burton’s recent work has not been very inspiring). But the elephant is cute, Danny DeVito and Colin Farrell are always a good hang, so why not?
The Beach Bum (March 29th)
Matthew McConaughey playing a beach bum poet named Moondog who loves booze, drugs, and playing bongos with snakes on them? Inject this shit straight into my veins. Harmony Korine’s follow up to the bonkers Spring Breakers looks equally insane, and the rest of the cast (including Jonah Hill, Zac Efron, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher, and Martin Lawrence) is crazy loaded. “I’m off to write the next great American novel. We may have a gang bang when I get back – I will invite your mother.” Yup, you can definitely count me in for this one.
Shazam (April 5th)
The DC superhero movies are notorious for being super dark and moody, but this one actually looks like a lot of fun. I’m not at all familiar with the character, but the “Big meets Superman” vibe seems like a great time. Zachary Levi brought tons of charm and humor to his role in Chuck, and this trailer has me optimistic that he’ll be able to bring the same level of charisma and deliver a fun take on the superhero genre.
High Life (April 5th)
Weird science experiments being conducted on criminals in space? Count me in. This looks like a super creepy and strange sci fi venture. French director Claire Denis is a renowned auteur whose films are beautiful and thought provoking, and Robert Pattinson has been doing really interesting work lately (The Rover, The Lost City of Z, and Good Time are all dope). This one is currently sitting at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes after its premiere at Toronto International Film Festival last year, so it is definitely worth checking out.
Hellboy (April 12th)
Guillermo del Toro brought his distinctive vision to the first two Hellboy movies last decade, but this revamped version looks like it will have its own unique style. This version promises to bring plenty of profanity, gore, and cool fantasy elements, and David Harbour looks like an excellent choice as the titular character. Plus, this trailer is a great reminder that Billy Idol’s “Mony Mony” is forever a banger.
Avengers: Endgame (April 26th)
This trailer is … weirdly dark and depressing? I guess that makes sense given how Infinity War ended, but it’s strange to have a trailer lacking Marvel’s signature levity and humor (other than the always great Paul Rudd throwing heat at the end of course). But ultimately, Marvel knows that 99% of humanity is going to see this movie no matter what, and it’s probably smart to keep the advertising footage sparse and save the surprises for the movie itself.
Long Shot (May 3rd)
The world can always use another great rom com, and this looks like it has the potential to be a really fun one. The premise (Charlize Theron as Secretary of State falling for a journalist played by Seth Rogen) is pretty silly and absurd. But it looks like Theron and Rogen actually have really great chemistry, and it seems like they could deliver on the classic mix of sweetness and humor that a great rom com provides. I’m a fan of director Jonathan Levine (50/50, Warm Bodies, The Night Before), so I have high hopes for Long Shot.
Tolkien (May 10th)
You can just picture some Hollywood exec saying “A Tolkien movie sounds great, but what if we made him young and hot??” Tolkien is a literary legend, and between his time at Oxford collaborating with C.S. Lewis and the Inklings and his service in World War I, his life is definitely interesting enough to merit the biographical movie treatment. This trailer makes it look like a pretty bland biopic, but I’m hopeful that the movie itself includes a more nuanced deep dive into Tolkien’s extraordinary imagination.
Detective Pikachu (May 10th)
Whether you were trading Pokémon cards back in grade school or got caught up in the recent Pokémon Go craze, I think it’s pretty safe to say that just about everyone under 35 is pro-Pokémon. It actually seems kind of crazy that it’s taken this long for there to be a Pokémon movie, but Detective Pikachu looks like it could be a fun way to bring the beloved characters to the big screen. I can’t say I ever imagined Ryan Reynolds’ voice coming out Pikachu’s little mouth, but his comic sensibilities seem like a great tonal fit. This one seems like it’s mostly for the kiddos, but given Pokémon’s massive popularity, I could definitely see this movie making a whole boatload of money at the box office.
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (May 17th)
John Wick is great. John Wick: Chapter 2 is a masterpiece. And now you’re telling me John Wick 3 may be even more perfect?!? My dude is fighting bad guys on motorcycles with samurai swords, shoots somebody while riding a horse, and beats up 7’3” NBA star Boban Marjanović with a book. Take all my money Keanu, you had me at hello.
Aladdin (May 24th)
This trailer delivers some solid nostalgia vibes for everyone that loved the 1992 original, but the first peak of Will Smith as the genie is the real takeaway. What is going on here? Why did they make him look like Tobias Funke after he blue himself? The internet reacted with jokes and mockery galore after this trailer debuted during the Super Bowl, so I’m afraid that no matter how good the movie may ultimately be, the image of a bright blue Will Smith looking like a swole Avatar alien is going to be the only thing that people remember.
Rocketman (May 31st)
Elton John is one of music’s most iconic and colorful characters, with a personality and flamboyant style that sets him apart from anyone else in pop culture. So it’s kind of a bummer that this trailer comes across as a pretty basic biopic in the vein of Bohemian Rhapsody, rather than as the sort of “musical fantasy” that director Dexter Fletcher has described in interviews. Perhaps they’re purposely keeping the fantastical elements out of the trailer to appeal to a wider audience, but I’m hopeful that the film is more interesting than this trailer would indicate. Taron Egerton does appear to be a great fit for the role (and he’s actually singing the songs, unlike a certain Oscar winning actor from Bohemian Rhapsody!), and any movie featuring Elton’s amazing catalogue of hits is pretty much guaranteed to be an enjoyable movie experience.
Dark Phoenix (June 7th)
Oof, I’m worried about this one. The Dark Phoenix is one of the best and most beloved comic book storylines ever written. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) already tried and bungled the Dark Phoenix saga, and this trailer doesn’t make me optimistic that they’ve gotten it right this time either. For a movie chock-full of some of the biggest and most likable movie stars in the world, this trailer just totally lacks charisma and seems like a big dumb movie taking itself way too seriously. The outer space elements could bring some cool intergalactic aspects that we’ve never seen in a X-Men movie before, and the cast is still excellent (McAvoy and Fassbender are especially great in their roles, and I think Sophie Turner has the chops to be a really good Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix too). I’ll always happily welcome a new X-Men movie, but I think it’s probably best to go into Dark Phoenix with lowered expectations.
Late Night (June 7th)
This movie debuted at Sundance last month and has been generating a lot of positive buzz ever since. Mindy Kaling has proven herself to be one of today’s greatest comedic writers, and Emma Thompson is always just delightful. Mark this down as a perfect summer comedy to act as a palate cleanser in the midst of superhero movie overload.
Yesterday (June 28th)
I was very dubious when I read the premise (“man wakes up and discovers that he is the only person in the world who remembers The Beatles.”) But man, this trailer is so incredibly charming. It brings a great balance of heart, humor, and romance, and Himesh Patel looks like a breakout star. Plus, wild opinion here: The Beatles have really great songs and a movie full of their hits is going to be a whole lot of fun. I love this trailer, and I could definitely see this being the crowd pleasing hit of the summer.
The Lion King (July 19th)
This trailer is pretty much just literally a shot for shot remake of the original Pride Rock sequence. But you know what freaking rules? The original The Lion King. If this trailer and the movie’s incredible cast (Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar) doesn’t get you fired up, I’m worried you may not have a pulse. I really liked what director Jon Favreau did with The Jungle Book, so I can’t wait to see what he has in store for The Lion King.
Hobbs & Shaw (August 2nd)
Oh hell yes. Every summer needs a big dumb action film with a few laughs, and this trailer has me very confident that Hobbs & Shaw is up to the task. Any movie where The Rock delivers dialogue like “I’m what you call an ice cold can of whoop ass,” and drops an “eff you” to Jason Statham as he free falls off a building is already Oscar worthy in my book. Johnson and Statham have shown great chemistry in the Fast & Furious movies, and having Idris Elba and the great Vanessa Kirby in the cast as well is just icing on the cake. Get some popcorn, turn off your brain, and enjoy two hours of big dumb fun.
Midsommar (August 9th)
I’m a massive coward when it comes to all scary movies, but last year’s incredibly creepy and unsettling film Hereditary may have shook me more than any horror movie I’ve ever seen. Director Ari Aster’s follow up Midsommar looks equally creepy and terrifying, but in a very different and perhaps more palatable sort of way. The Scandinavian summer setting and bright colors are a really cool contrast for a horror film, and the cult-like characters and pagan symbolism are very intriguing. Plus, Chidi from The Good Place is in it! I continue to be a huge coward, but I’ll definitely be mustering the courage to see Midsommar.
Frozen 2 (November 22nd)
Is it just me, or does this trailer have a weirdly dark vibe for a children’s princess movie with a talking snowman? While I’d be totally down for an Empire Strikes Back style dark Frozen sequel, I’m guessing this trailer isn’t representative of the family friendly sing a long romp we’re almost certainly getting next holiday season. But hey, I have two nieces under the age of 9, so I’m definitely seeing this 10+ times whether I like it or not.
The Irishman (TBD - Fall 2019)
There’s no actual footage, so this is definitely more of a teaser than a trailer. But it’s a Martin Scorsese mob movie starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, so it’s impossible not to get excited even by just these 45 seconds of dialogue.
