New Film Releases: The Most Important Movies To Watch In 2019

The Rise Of Skywalker

by Team Empire |
Updated on

October

Joker

Director: Todd Phillips

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy

An all-new take on Batman’s most famous adversary, this time set outside of the DC Extended Universe with Joaquin Phoenix playing the maniacal mastermind. Director Todd Phillips – primarily known for comedies like Old School, Starsky & Hutch and The Hangover – has pitched this one as a Scorsese-inspired crime drama: part Taxi Driver, part The King Of Comedy, with some influence from Alan Moore’s Killing Joke comic. An origin story for the traditionally mysterious character, this is an ‘80s-set story of failing comedian and clown Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) who turns to a life of crime.

Joker release date 4 October 2019

Judy

Director: Rupert Goold

Starring: Renee Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell

Zellweger plays the acting and singing legend as Garland nears the end of her career. It's 1968 as she arrives in chilly, swinging London to perform at a sell-out run of her show. It's 30 years since she appeared in The Wizard Of Oz, and if her voice isn't quite the same, her intensity has grown. She faces battles with her management and charms the musicians she works with, while also starting a romance with Mickey Deans (Finn Wittrock), who will go on to be her fifth husband. Yet she's also haunted by memories of a childhood lost to Hollywood and struggling with the desire to be back home with her kids.

Judy release date 4 October 2019

Gemini Man

Director: Ang Lee

Starring: Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, Benedict Wong

An idea that’s been circulating Hollywood since 1997, Ang Lee is bringing this Jerry Bruckheimer-produced sci-fi action thriller to fruition. Will Smith is an ageing assassin attempting to outrun his younger clone (thanks to that nifty youthful digital double tech), while the cast also includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, and Benedict Wong.

Gemini Man release date 11 October 2019

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

Director: Vince Gilligan

Starring: Aaron Paul, Charles Baker, Matt Jones

Vince Gilligan revisits the world of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and co, tracing the events that occur after the end of the series and Walt's death. The focus is on Aaron Paul's Jessie Pinkman, who must figure out his next step after escaping his capture by the Nazis. Shot in secrecy and headed straight to Netflix, the big challenge will be doing justice to one of the most popular shows in recent years.

El Camino release date 11 October 2019 (Netflix)

The Day Shall Come

Director: Chris Morris

Starring: Marchánt Davis, Anna Kendrick, Kayvan Novak

Scathing satirist Chris Morris turns his attention to the FBI's activities identifying (or mis-identifying potential terror threats. An impoverished preacher who brings hope to the Miami projects is offered cash to save his family from eviction. He has no idea his sponsor works for the agency, and who plan to turn him into a criminal by fueling his madcap revolutionary dreams.

The Day Shall Come release date 11 October 2019

Zombieland: Double Tap

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin

Ruben Fleischer’s zom-com is somehow a decade old this year, and he’s re-assembling that top cast – Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson and Abigail Breslin – for a sequel. Time has moved on for our heroes in the story too, and the dysfunctional family has to deal with new breeds of zombies and some annoying/weird humans they encounter, some of whom are distinctly familiar...

Zombieland: Double Tap release date 18 October 2019

Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil

Director: Joachim Rønning

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michelle Pfeiffer

This sequel picks up a few years after 2014's Maleficent, in which we learned of the events that hardened the heart of Disney’s most notorious villain (Angelina Jolie) and drove her to curse a baby Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning). The film continues to explore the complex relationship between the horned fairy and the soon to be Queen as they form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within. Michelle Pfeiffer here plays Queen Ingrith, soon to be Aurora's mother-in-law, and a powerful figure who clashes with Maleficent.

Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil release date 18 October 2019

Official Secrets

Director: Gavin Hood

Starring: Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode, Ralph Fiennes

Eye In The Sky's Gavin Hood directs here, writing a script alongside Gregory Bernstein and Sara Bernstein which adapts Marcia and Thomas Mitchell's book_The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War: Katharine Gun And The Secret Plot To Sanction The Iraq Invasion_. It focuses on Gun (Keira Knightley), a young British intelligence officer who was arrested when she leaked classified information to Observer reporter Martin Bright (Matt Smith), alleging that America's National Security Agency was illegally trying to pressure the UN security council into approving the resolution to fight Iraq in 2003. But when Bright tries to have her freed, they learn just how far people will go to stop such leaks in future.

Official Secrets release date 18 October 2019

Terminator: Dark Fate

Director: Tim Miller

Starring: Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Gabriel Luna, Arnold Schwarzenegger

He’ll be back, again. But more importantly, so will_she_– Linda Hamilton is reprising her role as Sarah Connor in a sequel imagined as a direct follow-up to_Terminator 2_, ignoring all the other entries.Deadpool_director Tim Miller is also introducing a new cast, including_Blade Runner 2049’s Mackenzie Davis, Gabriel Luna and Natalia Reyes. The story reveals that Judgment Day may not have been the final say in the war between man and machine, and that Sarah, Mackenzie's Grace and Arnie's legacy Terminator will have to save Reyes' Dani Ramos from an advanced new killer (Luna).

Terminator: Dark Fate release date 23 October 2019

The Addams Family

Directors: Conrad Vernon, Greg Tiernan

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard

The directors of_Sausage Party_will presumably be toning down the sexualised food puns for this animated_Addams Family_, arriving just in time for Halloween. Oscar Isaac and Charlize Theron will voice Gomez and Morticia, with Chloë Grace Moretz and Finn Wolfhard as Wednesday and Pugsley.

The Addams Family release date 25 October 2019

November

The King

Director: David MIchod

Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Robert Pattinson, Joel Edgerton, Lily-Rose Depp

Director David Michod goes back in time for the story of Hal (Timothee Chalamet), wayward prince and reluctant heir to the English throne, who has turned his back on royal life and is living among the people. But when his tyrannical father dies, Hal is crowned King Henry V and is forced to embrace the life he had previously tried to escape. Now the young king must navigate the palace politics, chaos and war his father left behind, and the emotional strings of his past life — including his relationship with his closest friend and mentor, the ageing alcoholic knight, John Falstaff (Joel Edgerton, who co-writes). Robert Pattinson, Ben Mendelsohn and Lily-Rose Depp all appear.

The King release date 1 November 2019 (on Netflix)

The Aeronauts

Director: Tom Harper

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones

_The Theory of Everything_duo Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones reunite on screen as balloonists fighting for survival in the skies, in a drama from director Tom Harper and writer Jack Thorne.

The Aeronauts release date 4 November 2019

The Irishman

Director: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel

Martin Scorsese is back with a hugely ambitious crime saga from Netflix. Making full use of de-ageing tech and a considerable budget, the filmmaker has assembled a stupendous cast – Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel to name but four – for this tale of trade union official Frank ‘The Irishman’ Sheeran and his ties with the mob. Based on Charles Brandt’s biographical book_I Heard You Paint Houses_, with a script from_Gangs Of New York_co-writer Steven Zaillian.

The Irishman release date 8 November 2019 (in cinemas) and 27 November 2019 (on Netflix)

Midway

Director: Roland Emmerich

Starring: Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans

Having already depicted 10,000 BC and 2012, Roland Emmerich turns to 1942 – specifically, the Battle of Midway in World War II, a key naval conflict between the US and Japan that turned the tide of combat. The film will star Darren Criss, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Aaron Eckhart, Dennis Quaid and more.

Midway release date 8 November 2019

Le Mans '66

Director: James Mangold

Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale

From_Logan_director James Mangold,_Le Mans '66_follows the rivalry that scorched around the track of the famous 24-hour racing competition between the Ford and Ferrari teams. Christian Bale plays Ken Miles and Matt Damon is Carroll Shelby on the Ford side. Visionary American car designer Shelby and the fearless British driver Miles together battled corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari in 1966. Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Josh Lucas and Tracy Letts also feature in the cast. And yes, we're aware it's known by the slightly less clunky title_Ford V Ferrari_in the States.

Le Mans 66 release date 15 November

The Report

Director: Scott Z. Burns

Starring: Adam Driver, Annette Bening

Written and directed by Scott Z. Burns,_The Report_is a new thriller based on actual events. Idealistic staffer Daniel J. Jones (Adam Driver) is tasked by his boss Senator Dianne Feinstein (Annette Bening) to lead an investigation of the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program, which was created in the aftermath of 9/11. Jones’ relentless pursuit of the truth leads to explosive findings that uncover the lengths to which the nation’s top intelligence agency went to destroy evidence, subvert the law, and hide a brutal secret from the American public.

The Report release date 15 November (in cinemas) and 28 November (on Amazon)

Last Christmas

Director: Paul Feig

Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson, Michelle Yeoh

Paul Feig is coming for_Love Actually_’s crown as the definitive festive rom-com. He’s reuniting with_A Simple Favour_’s Henry Golding (already a proven rom-com star thanks to_Crazy Rich Asians_), in a mysterious romantic entanglement with co-lead Emilia Clarke, whose character has battled health issues. With Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh also on board, and the music of George Michael involved, we could have a new Christmas staple on the way.

Last Christmas release date 15 November 2019

Frozen II

Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

Starring: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad

Just when the original_Frozen_generation had finally let it go (sorry), in comes the sequel – but can it out-do the surprise mega-smash business of the previous film? The full cast is back, as are directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, with new additions in Evan Rachel Wood and Sterling K. Brown. Good luck trying to out-do_that_earworm ballad, everyone.

Frozen 2 release date 22 November 2019

Motherless Brooklyn

Director: Edward Norton

Starring: Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw

A passion project for writer/director/star Edward Norton, who saw it through 20 years of cinematic development after discovering Jonathan Lethem's novel. He's shepherded it since then, switching up the time period to the 1950s. The story focuses on Lionel Essrog (Norton), a lonely private detective living with Tourette Syndrome, who ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend, Frank Minna (Bruce Willis). Armed only with a few clues and the engine of his obsessive mind, Lionel unravels closely guarded secrets that hold the fate of New York in the balance. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin and Willem Dafoe help bolster the cast.

Motherless Brooklyn release date 22 November 2019

Knives Out

Director: Rian Johnson

Starring: Ana De Armas, Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Chris Evans

Rian Johnson has assembled an astonishing cast for his original murder-mystery thriller, channelling his inner Agatha Christie with long-time producer Ram Bergman. Daniel Craig. Chris Evans. Jamie Lee Curtis. Christopher Plummer. Toni Colette. Lakeith Stanfield. Michael Shannon. The list goes on as Craig's detective aims to solve the murder of a crime writer and family patriarch (Plummer).

Knives Out release date 29 November 2019

Charlie’s Angels

Director: Elizabeth Banks

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska

The spy series gets a McG-free reboot from writer-director-producer-star Elizabeth Banks. This time the Angels are Kristen Stewart,Power Rangers’ Naomi Scott, and British actor Ella Balinska, backed up by Patrick Stewart, Djimon Hounsou and Sam Claflin.

Charlie's Angels release date 29 November 2019

The Nightingale

Director: Jennifer Kent

Starring: Aisling Francis, Sam Claflin

_The Babadook_director Jennifer Kent is back with a period drama-thriller – the grueling tale of a young Irish convict, played by Aisling Francis, who ventures across the Tasmanian wilds with an Aboriginal tracker to seek revenge on Sam Claflin’s violent British officer.

The Nightingale release date 29 November 2019

December

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Director: Marielle Heller

Starring: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys

Another potential Oscar hit – American TV icon Mr. Rogers get the biopic treatment, with Tom Hanks playing the beloved star. He’s being interviewed by Matthew Rhys’ journalist Lloyd Vogel, who finds himself inspired by his meeting with the great man._Diary Of A Teenage Girl_and_Can You Ever Forgive Me?_filmmaker Marielle Heller directs.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood release date 6 December 2019

Lucy In The Sky

Director: Noah Hawley

Starring: Natalie Portman, Jon Hamm

_Legion_and_Fargo_writer/producer Noah Hawley makes his directorial debut with the film, which is loosely based on real events. Lucy (Natalie Portman) is so impacted by her time in orbit that when she touches down she starts to lose touch with reality in a world that seems too small. Married to Dan Stevens' Drew, she starts an affair with fellow NASA type Mark Goodwin (Jon Hamm), and the story spirals from there. Soon, she's skipping psychological consultations and driven to return to space even at the expense of her sanity.

Lucy In The Sky release date 6 December 2019

Jumanji: The Next Level

Director: Jake Kasdan

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Kevin Hart

The surprisingly great_Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle_caught plenty of people off guard – and the box office power of Dwayne Johnson is so strong that he’s going up against the might of_Star Wars_for the sequel. Also back are Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan, teaming up once again for returning director Jake Kasdan.

Jumanji: The Next Level release date 11 December 2019

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

Director: JJ Abrams

Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac

Rey’s embraced her Jedi powers and helped the remaining Resistance fighters live another day. Kylo Ren has made his power grab as new Supreme Leader of the First Order. Luke Skywalker is one with the Force.The Last Jedi’s final reel set a thrilling stage for the final part of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and_The Force Awakens_director JJ Abrams is returning to bring it all safely home. Expect the conclusion of the galactic conflict to bring fireworks of both spectacle and emotion – especially with Carrie Fisher set to complete her role as Leia using previously unused_Episode VII_footage. Oh, and more Porgs please.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker release date 19 December 2019

Cats

Director: Tom Hooper

Starring: Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift, Ian McKellen, Idris Elba

Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats will hit the big screen under the direction of Tom Hooper. What’s a Jellicle Cat? Honestly, we haven’t the foggiest. It’ll be fascinating to see how the Les Mis director handles the hazily-plotted narrative of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical – a trippy T. S. Eliot-inspired story about a group of cats making the ‘Jellicle choice’, choosing which of them will ascend to the ‘Heaviside Layer’ and be reborn. Ignore that and focus on the fact that Jennifer Hudson will be singing ‘Memory’, in a cast that also includes Taylor Swift, Ian McKellen, Idris Elba, Judi Dench, James Corden, Rebel Wilson, and Jason Derulo.

Cats release date 20 December 2019

Little Women

Director: Greta Gerwig

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Timothee Chalamet

With the likes of Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet and Eliza Scanlen starring, Greta Gerwig's take on Little Women also boasts the considerable thesping power of Meryl Streep, Laura Dern and Bob Odenkirk, as Gerwig directs her own adaptation. Alcott's book takes in the girls' governessing, learning the piano, ice skating, having snowball fights, catching scarlet fever and getting married during the Civil War. Headstrong Jo (Ronan) wants nothing to do with boring traditional gender roles even as she finds love, with Amy (Pugh) as her dramatic sibling. Watson's Meg sees her life as one of duty, particularly to Aunt March (Streep), while Scanlen's Beth is the shyer, more introverted of the four. But as with the original tome, there's much more to them than that, and we have faith Gerwig will dig into the layers.

Little Women release date 26 December 2019

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