2019 Summer Movie Preview
By Peyton Schultze
Pixar’s Toy Story 4 is one of the most anticipated films that is slated to hit theatres this summer (via BestMovie).
With the upcoming release of one of the decade’s most anticipated films in Avengers: Endgame, our summer movie preview comes quite early in mid-April. However, make no mistake about it; this summer is full of blockbuster films that are sure to stack up huge amounts at the box office. Here’s our look at some of the best coming to a theatre near you over the next several months:
April 26th: Avengers: Endgame
The movie event of the past ten years comes together on April 26th for the hyped-up and exciting new film, Avengers: Endgame. Following the events of last year’s Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame is expected to follow Earth’s mightiest heroes in their fight against Thanos, the Mad Titan who wiped out half of human existence on Earth. There has been little word on what is actually supposed to happen in the film, but we do know that all six of the original Avengers, in addition to newcomers such as Ant-Man and Captain Marvel, are expected to play a large role in the film.
After breaking Fandango’s presale ticket record on the first-day of ticket sales, the hype train begins to build even larger for the final installment in the Avengers franchise. In the end, we do not have much of a clue what will happen, but there are sure to be plenty of thrills and surprises along the way in the concluding episode of Marvel Studios’ first ten years of their own cinematic universe. Get your ticket as soon as possible, because this is one film that you surely will not want to miss.
May 24th: Aladdin
Although it’s largely being overshadowed by Disney’s upcoming superhero release, Aladdin, starring Mena Massoud and Will Smith, is set to hit theatres in late May. As a live-action remake of one of Disney Animation’s prized possessions, there is a lot at stake behind the upcoming rendering of the classic animated film. After it was announced that Will Smith had taken the role as the Genie after Robin Williams’ iconic performance in the cartoon, there was a lot of heat thrown in Disney’s direction. However, Smith has been loved in many other previous roles such as in Men in Black and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, so it would be foolish to doubt his ability to please a crowd.
After Dumbo opened up to several negative reviews earlier this year, Disney has a lot on the line with their next live-action remake of an all-time classic. Will the House of Mouse deliver for fans once again, or will there be signs of fatigue for fans of this new generation of Disney films? We’ll soon see, as Disney readies up for the May release that follows the adventures of Aladdin, Jasmine, Jafar, and of course, The Genie.
June 14th: Men in Black: International
Although many of us are used to seeing Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones suit up in prior Men in Black films, audiences will get to see a new type of addition to the franchise when Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson suit up in the black and white. After our first look at the official trailer, there are still many unanswered questions about what is happening in the film. What we do know, however, is that the film will not take place in the New York City headquarters from prior films, and will instead largely take place in Europe and around the world.
As with prior Men in Black films, there is sure to be plenty of alien encounters where the protagonists will have some wild situations. Another encouraging sign for this film is the great chemistry that Hemsworth and Thompson have that they were able to show in Thor: Ragnarok, which could make this film quite funny and silly throughout. It’s no guarantee that this film will be able to reboot the franchise after several years of hiatus, but the early signs have the film trending upward as we move closer to its upcoming summer release for Sony Pictures.
June 21st: Toy Story 4
It’s been nine years since Woody and Buzz said goodbye to Andy in Toy Story 3, but the toys are back once again this year for an all-new adventure. However, this time will certainly involve the return of Woody’s own love interest, Bo Peep. Bo was notoriously missing from the third installment in the franchise, and this film looks to clear up any sort of confusion in that regard. Many expect this film to follow the storyline of a road trip, where new toys such as Sporky are heavily involved within the plot among the already-established characters that currently reside with Bonnie. However, the toys will once again have to overcome a lot, especially in the case of another kid growing up quickly again.
Expect the film to be another example of Pixar’s emotional whirlwinds, which may find Woody at crossroads between staying with Bo Peep or continuing to live his life with the rest of the toys. After a crushing end to Toy Story 3, it’s hard to imagine a scenario more heartbreaking and powerful than that, but never count out the animators at Pixar to create another touching story with their most famous characters. Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, and the rest of the toys all return to theatres this June, in what is expected to be the best animated film of the summer.
July 5th: Spider-Man: Far From Home
Coming right after April’s Avengers:Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home is expected to generate a ton of cash while it follows the next adventure of everyone’s favorite webslinger. The last time we saw Spider-Man, he was turned into dust via Thanos’ snap, so we know very little about the entire plot of Far From Home and even the time period. Based off the trailer, however, we can expect to see SHIELD agents such as Nick Fury and Maria Hill play a major role in Spidey’s European travels that may see him come into contact with villains such as Mysterio and The Elementals.
In Far From Home, we do know that Peter Parker will be traveling with a group of school friends to Europe for a field trip to places such as London and Venice. After the events of Spider-Man: Homecoming, we know that Peter will be with friends like Ned and MJ, who may face some circumstances with danger if Spider-Man happens to run into some select villains while on the trip. Marvel’s final film of 2019 is slated to hit theatres on the 4th of July weekend, so expect a ton of fireworks this summer when Far From Home hits theatres.
July 19th: The Lion King
After an official trailer debuted just yesterday, Disney’s The Lion King is one of the most anticipated films not only this summer, but throughout 2019. As a new edition of perhaps Disney Animation’s best animated film in their history, the 2019 version of The Lion King has plenty at stake in terms of meeting its sky high expectations. However, the film will receive a major boost with an all-star cast featuring names such as Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Oliver, Beyoncé, and James Earl Jones as Mufasa, with several voices returning from the 1994 animated classic.
Although many people already know the basic story of The Lion King, it surely will not keep audiences from purchasing tickets for the film this July. It should be an incredible sight seeing characters such as Simba, Scar, Mufasa, Nala, Timon, and Pumba reimagined in a live-action format that will follow the plot of Simba’s rise to king of the jungle following his father’s death. Disney expects to roar through the box office once again this summer, headlined by the release of the epic new film, The Lion King.
July 26th: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino has always directed hit films that have been successful at the box office and during awards season, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood may follow that trend once again. Starring A-list actors with Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, in addition to Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate, the new film expects to follow a storyline centered around Hollywood in 1969 and the Manson murders that ruled the headlines in that year. Tarantino has always had a knack for brutally violent films that somehow establish some light comedy with creative dialogue and sensational soundtracks, so expect this new film to follow that same traditional Tarantino format.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be Tarantino’s first film since 2015’s The Hateful Eight, and he has been on record saying that his new film is the closest thing he has made to Pulp Fiction. With a great cast that rivals that of Pulp Fiction, this new film should have no problem being a hit this summer when it slashes its way into a theatre near you.
August 2nd: Hobbs & Shaw
Another year and another new installment within the Fast and the Furious franchise for Universal Pictures. This film, however, will instead be a spin-off of the traditional films, following a storyline that heavily includes the rivalry/friendship between Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) that developed over previous films. Although it will certainly be full of action, adventure, and car chases with a new villain played by Idris Elba, Hobbs & Shaw will be a unique take on a buddy-cop style of film within the Fast and the Furious universe.
If any of the Fast and the Furious films are any indication of how this film will do at the box office, then Hobbs & Shaw should have nothing to worry about whatsoever. However, one has to wonder if this franchise will begin to show any signs of regression and fatigue with audiences now that it is beginning to tail off from the traditional films. Hobbs & Shaw should face little competition at the box office near the end of summer in August, so we will soon find out about what to make of Universal’s newest thrill.