Looking at the top movies that have ruled theaters domestically, a common theme has emerged. All that have cracked the top 20 have been part of an existing franchise, with the lone exception of Us and MAYBE Rocketman, if you want to get technical. Regardless of how you slice it up, original ideas have gone the way of the Dodo bird, extinct! But that’s the way of the world now that movie studios have become giant money-making conglomerates where shareholders value profit over originality. There are still many positives to this current business practice that should keep audiences entertained. You just have to sacrifice originality.
This trend will continue throughout the end of the year with the rare exception along the way. Expect to see more sequels and re-imaginings over the next few months. At least there are several upcoming titles that look as though they could be VERY interesting (I’m talking to you, Joker). Like it or not, we’re about to hit the home stretch of 2019 with more of the same. And with Fall knocking on the door, now’s as good a time as any to check out some movies that are sure to heat up the box office. I will say this to you, 2019. I hate to see you go but I’m going to enjoy watching you leave. Let the movie wars commence.
Joker (October 4)
Director Todd Phillips Joker centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone fictional story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fractured society. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic at night…but finds the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study.
Zombieland 2: Double Tap (October 18)
In the sequel, through comic mayhem that stretches from the White House and through the heartland, these four slayers must face off against the many new kinds of zombies that have evolved since the first movie, as well as some new human survivors. But most of all, they have to face the growing pains of their own snarky, makeshift family.
The Irishman (November 1)
Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci star in an epic saga of organized crime in post-war America told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a hustler and hitman who worked alongside some of the most notorious figures of the 20th Century. Spanning decades, the film chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history, the disappearance of legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa, and offers a monumental journey through the hidden corridors of organized crime: its inner workings, rivalries and connections to mainstream politics.
Terminator: Dark Fate (November 1)
Linda Hamilton (“Sarah Connor”) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (“T-800”) return in their iconic roles in Terminator: Dark Fate. Following the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Sarah Connor and a hybrid cyborg human must protect a young girl from a newly modified liquid Terminator from the future.
Ford v Ferrari (November 15)
The remarkable true story of the visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and the fearless British-born driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale), who 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 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.
Frozen 2 (November 22)
Why was Elsa born with magical powers? The answer is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she’ll set out on a dangerous but remarkable journey. In Frozen, Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In Frozen 2, she must hope they are enough.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (November 22)
A timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks), he overcomes his skepticism, learning about kindness, love and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbor.
Jumanji: The Next Level (December 13)
The gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own, they discover that nothing is as they expect. The players will have to brave parts unknown and unexplored, from the arid deserts to the snowy mountains, in order to escape the world’s most dangerous game.
Cats (December 20)
Over the course of a single night, a tribe of cats called the Jellicles make what is known as “the Jellicle choice” and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (December 20)
The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more as Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron’s journey continues. With the power and knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle commences.
