(In order of release)
1-5 🔥 Hype Scale
1.Glass 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Split was one of the biggest pleasant surprises of 2016 and I hadn’t even seen Unbreakable at the time. (And then, I didn’t even like Unbreakable that much, go figure) But if it’s anything like Split, and the trailers have been promising, I am ReADY for this to come to the superhero climax the first two movies were setting up.
2. This One’s for the Ladies 🔥🔥 Why is a documentary about male strip clubs in your top 20? I just think it’s Neat. While there is a special place in my heart for Magic Mike (XXL only!), it’s still a fairly white perspective of the world. I can’t think of any films or shows that intersect race *and* female sexuality like that, and the fact that this is a documentary makes it all the more interesting.
3. The Lego Movie 2: The Second One 🔥🔥🔥 The original Lego Movie was a masterpiece, Lego Batman is maybe the best Batman movie ever made and…I think we all agreed to ignore Lego Ninjago. My point is, what isn’t to be hype about? The Lego movies are insanely creative, funny, and visually stunning- I’m ready for more.
4. How to Train Your Dragon 3 🔥🔥🔥🔥 HTTYD is probably one of my favorite animated series ever. The first time I saw the movie was at home on DVD; my mom and I spent so long talking that the movie just restarted itself and we watched it again. Literally 10 minutes after completing it the first time. I saw the sequel on my 18 birthday. While I’m always a little wary of movies introducing new female animal counterparts (too many anthropomorphic boobs have scarred me for life), and the plot does look a bit overly similar to that of the second film- I just love the first two movies so much that I’m setting aside my reservations and just being hype instead.
5. Captain Marvel 🔥🔥🔥🔥 If you haven’t seen the fan-edited version of the trailer set to “God is a Woman”- it’s a must. I think it got me more excited than the official trailer did. I was less than excited about Brie Larson’s casting initially but if this movie delivers the way I’m hoping it will- I am ready to watch Carol Danvers come into her own (And eventually save the rest of the Marvel universe).
6. Us 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Jordan Peele has earned my trust. Obviously Get Out was excellent, but that trailer?! He made “I got 5 on it” creepy! It only has 4 flames and not 5 because I’m punishing Jordan for making me want to see a horror movie. I hate horror movies!
7. The Beach Bum 🔥🔥🔥 Alright confession: I really like Spring Breakers. I understand the arguments against it but I was deeply entertained. And from what I’ve seen in the trailer, Harmony Korine is keeping that same chaotic energy in a film starring Matthew McConaughey (the most on-brand casting of all time). I can’t help but be excited.
8. Aftermath 🔥🔥🔥 The world is absurd and constantly changing but one thing in this crazy messed up life will always be the same- Keira Knightley starring in period dramas. I’m not usually one for war films (or even post-war films, as this is) but Keira and Alexander Skarsgard together is enough to get my attention- especially since the trailer was giving some strong Anna Karenina vibes.
9. Shazam 🔥 I’m excited…but wary. I enjoyed the trailer but I do still think the Shazam costume looks ridiculous. Being excited for DC films hasn’t panned out too well for me but I’m not cool enough to pretend I won’t see it opening night.
10. Avengers Endgame 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Do I really need to explain this one?
11. Detective Pikachu 🔥 It looks ridiculous! An uncanny valley nightmare filled with LSD animals and Ryan Reynolds’ voice. I’m so excited.
12. Rocketman 🔥🔥🔥🔥 I have been singing an Elton John medley since the first trailer dropped. All the still shots of Taron as Elton have been incredible and I really hope this movie delivers on all the magical-realism elements we’ve been promised.
13. Men In Black International 🔥🔥 I didn’t want a new Men in Black movie, but Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson teaming up again? A new, Non-American perspective on the MIB agency? They know just what to say to keep me coming back.
14. Spider-Man: Far from Home 🔥🔥 I admit following Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man isn’t at the top or my Marvel priority list. And I’m still a bit peeved that it’s mere existence served to undercut the dramatic tension at the end of Infinity War. But despite that, I love Tom Holland’s rendition of Peter Parker and I will follow Jake Gyllenhaal anywhere so if he’s playing Mysterio, I’m showing up to the theater.
15. The Lion King 🔥 This is the only one of the Disney “Live actions” of 2019 to be on this list- and it was a close one. I admit I’m not a fan of this new wave of Disney remakes- with so many thousands of people dying to have their original ideas see the light of day, these remakes feel like the worst possible combination of laziness and greed. (And while not a remake, I’m talking to you too Toy Story 4) However, the Lion King is in my top 3 favorite Disney movies and is a huge part of my childhood so grumpy or not I’m still going to go see it. Plus CGI baby Simba is Adorable.
16. Joker 🔥 I feel like this movie will either be a masterpiece or a subway car filled with the urine of abused extras. Google it.
17. The Addams Family 🔥🔥🔥🔥 They lose one flame for being animated. The cast they assembled is exceptional- Charlize Theron? Oscar Isaac? HOW DARE YOU NOT LET ME SEE THIS IN LIVE ACTION! But that complaint aside, animation allow for them to get really weird with it and I really hope they do- It’s the Addams Family after all.
18. Queen and Slim 🔥🔥 Written by Lena Waithe, and co-starring Daniel Kaluuya (who thus far has made nothing but excellent role choices) and Jodie Turner-Smith, Queen and Slim got my attention. It’s a love story with two dark-skinned leads that also seeks to comment on the overpolicing of Black people in America. There’s quite a few ways it could go wrong but I will definitely be in theaters to see it either way.
19. Star Wars IX 🔥 Am I hype or am I morbidly curious? I’d actually never seen the original Star Wars movies until the beginning of 2017 and despite my nerd credentials…I didn’t really like them. They were fine but it’s hard to live up to twenty years of hype. As for the new series, The Last Jedi is probably my second favorite Star Wars movies yet according to many passionate fans it was the worst thing to ever happen to the Star Wars mythos. So…morbid curiosity it is.
20. The Woman King 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Viola Davis is playing the head of an all-female military unit of a 19th century African nation fighting against French colonization. Viola is co-starring with Lupita Nyong’o who plays her daughter. This movie could be shot on an iPhone with a budget of $17 and I’d still be lining up to see it.