Top 5 Movies That Might Surprise You in 2019

Keep an Eye on These

You never know what’s going to catch your interest, especially when it comes to the big screen. While most moviegoers have marked the next big blockbuster and superhero flicks on their calendars, there are always hidden gems that manage to sneak their way in sooner or later. In our minds, these five are the ones to watch out for!

#5: “Brightburn” 
Release Date: May 24, 2019

People have mixed feelings about Zack Snyder’s interpretation of Superman, with many arguing that he came off as more reckless than heroic. Imagine if Clark Kent explicitly used his powers for evil, though. Then you’d get something along the lines of “Brightburn.” Elizabeth Banks and David Denman star as a couple who adopt an alien child after he crash-lands on Earth. Although they raise him to protect humankind, little Brandon Breyer is essentially Damien Thorn if you gave him Kryptonian abilities. Director David Yarovesky previously worked with producer James Gunn on the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. Much like how those films flipped the sci-fi genre on its head, we imagine that “Brightburn” will do something similar for the basic Man of Steel origin story. 

#4: “Knives Out”
Release Date: November 27, 2019

Although Rian Johnson divided audiences with “The Last Jedi,” his career is showing no signs of slowing down. If anything, it’s only gaining momentum. We’re all well aware that Johnson is helming a new “Star Wars” trilogy, but fewer people likely know about this modern murder mystery he’s both writing and directing. Johnson commands an all-star cast that includes Daniel Craig, Lakeith Stanfield, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Toni Collette, Michael Shannon, Ana de Armas, Katherine Langford, Don Johnson, and Christopher Plummer, amongst others. While little is known about the plot, the project has drawn comparisons to classic whodunits like “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Clue.” For anyone who loves a good mystery, this ensemble piece should definitely hit its target. 

#3: “Yesterday”
Release Date: June 28, 2019

The premise for this musical comedy has genius written all over it, which shouldn’t come as a surprise when you have the director of “Slumdog Millionaire” and the writer of “Love Actually” onboard. Newcomer Himesh Patel plays Jack Malik, a down on his luck musician who wakes up from an accident to find nobody else knows who the Beatles are. With the rest of the world having no recollection of the Fab Four, Jack sets out to recreate their greatest hits and pass them off as his own. The immortal music of John, Paul, George, and Ringo has provided the basis for numerous films, although it’s hard to think of one with a more original setup than this. “Yesterday” can’t come soon enough. 

#2: “Doctor Sleep”
Release Date: November 8, 2019

Over three decades after writing “The Shining,” Stephen King revisited the Torrance family in a sequel. This adaptation of King’s 2013 novel will be directed by Mike Flanagan, who previously brought us “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Ouija: Origin of Evil,” and “Gerald’s Game,” the latter of which was also based on a Stephen King book. Ewan McGregor plays a grown-up Danny Torrance, who inherits many of his father’s demons. What remains unclear is if the film will take more inspiration from the original source material or from Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic interpretation of “The Shining,” which King has frequently criticized. Either way, “Doctor Sleep” should be anything but dull. 

#1: “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” 
Release Date: August 9, 2019

Audiences got their first glimpse of this horror film during Super Bowl LIII and the haunting imagery displayed has stuck with us ever since. Guillermo del Toro’s name alone is enough to pique our interests, having previously directed modern masterpieces like “Pan’s Labyrinth” and the Best-Picture winning “The Shape of Water.” We can’t think of a more qualified visionary to bring Alvin Schwartz’s book series to the big screen. While del Toro serves as a writer and producer, he hands directorial duties over to André Øvredal, who made the acclaimed “Trollhunter” and “The Autopsy of Jane Doe.” We’re anticipating a film that brings out the scared child in all of us, reminding audiences of a time when we were all afraid of the dark. 

Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Most Anticipated Shows of 2019.