Lights, Camera, Action! Action Movies in 2019
Hollywood has finally realized that female action heroes are a big draw at the box office and is releasing a slew of female-led action films in 2019. The Marvel Comic Universe’s most powerful superhero hits the big screen on March 6th with the release of Captain Marvel, the story of US Air Force pilot Carol Danvers, whose DNA becomes fused with an alien, giving her superhuman strength, the power of flight, and other abilities.Moviegoers who like this character will be pleased to know that she will play a big part in the highly anticipated Avengers: Endgame, which opens on May 3rd. Fans will finally find out if the universe can be saved and if any of their favorite characters can come back from being vaporized. Once those questions have been answered, MCU fans can head to the theater on July 5th for Tom Holland’s next turn as everyone’s favorite web-slinger in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
More girl power comes to the theater on February 14th with the opening of Alita: Battle Angel. This female-led action movie features a computer-enhanced performance by Rosa Salazar as a cyborg looking for the truths of her past. And the X-Men franchise is also getting into the world of female action leads: Dark Phoenix opens on June 7th and features yet another female lead – Sophie Turner as Jean Grey aka Phoenix. Men in Black, too, jumps on the bandwagon with its franchise reboot on June 14th. Rebecca Ferguson and Chris Hemsworth team up to save the world from alien invaders in Men in Black: International. And another light-hearted female-led action movie opens on November 1st with a Charlie’s Angels sequel.
Female characters even lead in the very dark Miss Bala, a February 1st release in which a young woman is forced to cooperate with a drug cartel. Despite its PG-13 rating, we expect intense violence in this film.
The anticipated Christmas action blockbuster of the year – again with a female lead – Is Star Wars, Episode IX which opens on December 20th. Viewers will finally learn the fates of Rey and Kylo Ren.
Family-friendly action movies are coming to the multiplex this year. Disney’s live action Aladdin opens on May 24th. Can Will Smith match Robin Williams’ tour de force performance as the genie?
Other action movies suitable for kids include Shazam, which we expect to be goofier than the average super flick. It opens on April 5th. Another action film aimed at younger viewers opens on January 25th. The Kid Who Would Be King moves the tales of King Arthur to modern day England in a film that is either going to be funny or ridiculous. But with a PG rating, it should at least be kid-safe.
Young viewers are also the target audience for Artemis Fowl which opens on August 9th. Based on the Eoin Colfer novels and directed by Kenneth Branagh, this Disney movie about a brilliant and morally challenged anti-hero should intrigue kids and launch some interesting conversations.
An action film about families, Fighting With My Family¸ stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and opens on February 14th. This wrestling movie features two siblings who both dream of following their dad’s footsteps in World Wrestling Entertainment. But only one will make it…
Dwayne Johnson stars in another action film this year: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw opens on August 2nd.
Audiences looking for something darker can circle March on their calendar. Chaos Walking opens on March 1st and features a world without women where all creatures constantly hear each other’s thoughts. On March 29th, Captive State imagines a world which has been conquered by aliens. The film tells the story from the perspective of those who have collaborated and those who continue to resist the invaders. This is a PG-13 movie, but we expect a fair bit of violence.
Fans of monster movies can look forward to May 31st and the release of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. As always, with Godzilla movies, we’re not sure if this will be scary or silly. Or both.
Viewers who enjoyed the last Jumanji film can mark December 13th on their calendars. All we know about this film is its release date. We will add more information as it becomes available