34 Netflix Movies To Get Excited For In 2019
2018 was the year we finally grasped the purpose of a Netflix movie. They're there to create unforgettable internet moments, experienced together. To All the Boys I Loved Before and Set It Up reminded us, after a long drought, that we do indeed love the romantic comedy. Bandersnatch had us waking up at seven in the morning to try out all the different possible endings before work. After a flurry of memes, Bird Box eventually inspired an ill-advised real world challenge. And that's not even touching on Netflix's award show hopefuls, like Roma and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
If all of that happened in 2018, then what does 2019 hold for the Netflix Original Films front? At least two romantic comedies are on the lineup. We'll also see new movies from Dee Rees, Michael Bay, and Martin Scorsese, and a movie starring all your favorite Saturday Night Live women.
Here are the originals coming to an account near you.
Lionheart
January 4
Netflix is kicking off its 2019 with Lionheart, its first-ever Nigerian original film. Lionheart is also Nollywood star Genevieve Nnaji's directorial debut (she stars in the movie as well).
As Nnaji told Essence, " Lionheart stemmed from my desire and hunger to shed light, and to speak the truth of what it’s like to be a young [woman] trying to make it in a world that is dominated by men. That being said, it was equally important to me that the movie was light-hearted and warm, so the environment in which it was told was crucial as well."
Close
January 18
Calling all fans of Bodyguard : Close was made for you. The character Sam (Noomi Rapace) takes inspiration from real life bodyguard Jacquie Davis. Sam is hired to protect Zoe (Sophie Nelisse), an heiress. The job should be easy — then, Zoe is threatened by kidnappers. A woman-led, woman-directed action movie? Sign us up.
IO
January 18
Sam Walden (Margaret Qualley) is one of humanity's few survivors — and she's the only one who might be able to fix the planet. But can she do it before everyone boards the next space shuttle out of there?
Matt Baron/REX/ShutterstockAnimas
January 25
A teen movie in which a young girl travels to hell.
Polar
January 25
In 2018, Vanesa Hudgens' starred in the Netflix Christimas movie A Princess Switch. She's making a complete pivot in 2019, starring instead in the arctic set thriller Polar. Mads Mikkelson is serving up a look as the world's top assassin, Duncan Vizla.
Velvet Buzzsaw
February 1
We can't tell you what Velvet Buzzsaw means, but we can tell you what it's about: It's a supernatural thriller set in the contemporary art world scene in Los Angeles, where buyers drop millions on cutting-edge art. After seeing the cast, it'll come as no surprise that Velvet Buzzsaw is going to get a theatrical release. The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal, John Malkovich, Daveed Diggs, Toni Collette, and Tom Sturridge. Velvet Buzzsaw will make its debut at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
High Flying Bird
February 8
Steven Soderbergh keeps saying he's retiring, and then keeps making movies and shows. His latest? High Flying Bird, a basketball movie starring Andre Holland of Moonlight. The twist? Like the movie Tangerine, High Flying Bird is shot an iPhone.
Erik Pendzich/REX/ShutterstockThe Breaker Uppers
February 15
This quirky comedy is about two women who are paid to break couples up for them.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
March 1
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind tells the remarkable true story of a 13-year-old boy (played by Maxwell Simba) from Malawi who saves his village from famine. Chiwetel Ejiofor wrote the screenplay and also stars as the boy's father. Ejiofor also starred in last year's Netflix movie Come Sunday.
James Gourley/BAFTA/REX/ShutterstockWalk. Ride. Rodeo.
March 8
This movie tells the incredible true story of Amberley Snyder, an award-winning barrel racer who lost function in her legs after a terrible accident — and then got back on the horse to race again.
Triple Frontier
March 15
Triple Frontier is based on a provocative premise. Five former Special Forces operatives (Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal) reunite dangerous mission — this time, though, they plan to benefit directly. The group is going to rob a cartel. Not on a mission for United States, but for themselves (and their bank accounts). As Narcos shows, Netflix is good at cartel-related content that also stars Pedro Pascal, so we're hopeful for this heist thriller.
The Dirt
March 22
With the release of the Mötley Crüe biopic, Netflix is about to get sexier, druggier, and rock and rollier. And you know who's excited? Motley Crue. After leaving a screening, frontman Vince Neil tweeted: “Wow!!! Just left Netflix offices. Just saw The Dirt movie!! Fuckin’ awesome!! Can’t wait for everyone to see it! Released March 22!! Yea!!!”
Ilpo Musto/REX/ShutterstockThe Highwaymen
March 29
We've seen the story of Bonnie and Clyde from the criminals' perspective. The Highwaymen is set to tell the law enforcement side of things. Two former Texas rangers (Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson) go after the duo when conventional avenues fail.
The Perfect Date
April 12
Another year, another rom-com in which Noah Centineo plays a fake boyfriend. How did we get so lucky? According to Netflix's "See What's Next" Twitter account, The Perfect Date is about "an enterprising young man who, to make money for college, creates a dating app & stands in for non-existent boyfriends." He meets Camila Mendes' character. If he keeps it up, Centineo will become the official leading man of the Netflix Star System.
Someone Great
April 19
You want it, you got it. Netflix is bringing us another romantic comedy — this time, starring Gina Rodriguez. She plays a newly single woman who decides to go on one last New York adventure before moving for her dream job. The movie is produced by Rodriguez and Bridesmaids director Paul Feig, and directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.
Otherhood
TBA
What happens when you combine Angela Bassett, Felicity Huffman, and Patricia Arquette? You get Otherhood, a movie about three mothers tired of their lazy adult sons (played by Jake Lacy, Jake Hoffman, and Sinqua Walls).
John Salangsang/Invision/AP/REX/ShutterstockWine Country
May 10
Netflix is billing Wine Country as "your new favorite movie," and we are wont to agree. Take a look at the cast, which is essentially an SNL greatest hits reunion: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer. And it's Poehler's directorial debut. Let's fast forward to the spring.
The Perfection
May 28
If we had to guess which Netflix thriller would turn into a viral sensation, our bet would be on The Perfection. The movie's synopsis is admittedly opaque: Two cello prodigies reunite in Shanghai. But the cast (Logan Browning and Allison Williams) combined with the movie's hype has us hopeful.
Murder Mystery
June 12
Adam Sandler's production company, Happy Madison, has an exclusive deal with the streaming service. With Murder Mystery, Sandler is bringing Jennifer Aniston aboard the Happy Madison train. Murder Mystery is about a couple (Sandler and Aniston) who take a long-awaited European vacation. On their way, they somehow become embroiled with a mysterious billionaire and his shady dealings.
Broadimage/REX/ShutterstockThe Pope
TBA
The Pope is a high-stakes drama about, you know. Popes. Specifically, the course of Pope Benedict's (Anthony Hopkins) election and later resignation from the papacy. Jonathan Pryce plays Pope Francis, Pope Benedict's successor.
RexElisa & Marcela
May 31
Talk about star-crossed lovers. Elisa & Marcela tells the true story of a woman named Elisa Sánchez Loriga who a male identity in order to marry another woman, Marcela Gracia Ibeas, in 1901 Galicia.
Always Be My Maybe
May 29
Keep the romantic comedies coming, Netflix, keep 'em coming. Nahnatchka Khan directs this movie about two childhood sweethearts who reunite as adults. The spark is still there, but circumstances aren't conducive for an easy relationship. Sasha (Ali Wong) is a celebrity chef. Marcus (Randall Park) is a struggling musician who lives at home. What's next?
John Salangsang/Variety/REX/ShutterstockSextuplets
TBA
There's no easy way to say this, but Marlon Wayons is playing sextuplets in this upcoming Netflix movie, which seems like a comedy version of Three Identical Strangers. In Sextuplets, Alan discovers he's one of six and goes on a road trip to track down his brothers. Looks like The Princess Switch has just been blown out of the competition in the "actors playing more than one character" category.
Broadimage/REX/ShutterstockDolemite Is My Name!
TBA
Eddie Murphy stars in this biopic of Rudy Ray Moore, a 1970s comedian best known for his Blaxploitation films.
The King
TBA
Timothée Chalamet fans and English majors, get excited for this one: Chalamet stars as King Henry V — known to his friends as Hal — in this Netflix period drama. After his brother is unexpectedly killed, Hal ends up on the throne in his early 20s. He faces a tough transition from wayward prince to king. Chalamet is joined by an exciting cast: Joel Edgerton, Robert Pattinson, Ben Mendelsohn, and Lily-Rose Depp.
Earthquake Bird
TBA
If you're desperate to know what an "earthquake bird" is before the Netflix movie comes out, check out the novel o n which it's based. In Japan, Lucy Fly (Alicia Vikander) is suspected of murder after her friend (Riley Keough) goes missing following her affair with a local photographer (Naoki Kobayashi).
REX/ShutterstockTigertail
TBA
Alan Yang wrote, directed, and produced this movie, which is based on his own family's experiences emigrating from Taiwan to the U.S. John Cho will star.
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/REX/ShutterstockThe Last Days of American Crime
TBA
This thriller seems like the opposite of The Purge. The American government plans to transmit a signal that will make it impossible for anyone to commit crime. Just before a signal is sent out, a group of criminals bands together for one last heist. The movie stars Edgar Ramirez, Michael Pitt, Anna Brewster, and Sharlto Copley.
Jim Smeal/REX/ShutterstockThe Laundromat
TBA
Remember what we said about Steven Soderbergh retiring? Forget it. He's directing another Netflix movie that comes out this year. The Laundromat looks into the Panamanian law firm that allowed wealthy individuals and corporations to launder money in tax havens around the world. It starts Meryl Streep and Antonio Banderas.
The Last Thing He Wanted
TBA
High-brow alert — Dee Rees of Mudbound directs this adaptation of a Joan Didion novel. Elena McMahon (Anne Hathaway) quits her job as a reporter covering the 1984 presidential election to care for her ailing father.
Xavier Collin/PictureGroup/REX/ShutterstockAll Day and a Night
TBA
This wrenching movie looks at three phases in an incarcerated man's (Ashton Sanders) life: His childhood, his time in prison, and how he got to prison in the first place. All Day and a Night was written by Black Panther 's writer, Joe Robert Coe.
Matt Baron/REX/ShutterstockThe Irishman
TBA
It's happening: The ninth collaboration between Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, 10 years in the making. And it's happening on Netflix. De Niro plays Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran, a labor union official with mafia connections. On his deathbed, he claims responsibility for the death of labor organizer Jim Hoffa (Al Pacino).
Todd Williamson/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock6 Underground
TBA
Thought Bright was big? Think again. 6 Underground is a high-budget action movie directed by Michael Bay and starring Ryan Reynolds. It's about six billionaires who form their own vigilante squad.
Jim Smeal/REX/ShutterstockThe Devil All The Time
TBA
An absolutely all-star cast — Chris Evans, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgard, Mia Wasikowska, and Eliza Scanlen — star in this movie based on a Western novel.
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