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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton WRITTEN BY: Nick Spake
These are some of the most highly anticipated movies of 2019. Two killer clowns. Two automotive legends. Two Will Smiths. Oh, yeah— the second half of 2019 is going to double the fun. From long-awaited sequels, like Terminator: Dark Fate, Zombieland: Double Tap, Jumanji: The Next Level, and Doctor Sleep, to auteur-driven flicks like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Goldfinch, we've got the scoop on all the movies we can't wait to see before the year is up.

#10: Terminator: Dark Fate

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Release Date: November 1, 2019 “Terminator 3” didn’t live up to expectations, “Salvation” added little to the franchise’s mythos, and “Genisys” appeared to be the final nail in the coffin. So why should have faith in “Terminator: Dark Fate?” Because this sequel marks the return of producer James Cameron, who hasn’t been directly involved in this action series since “Terminator 2.” As such, “Dark Fate” ignores everything that happened after the second movie, picking up with Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor almost 30 years later. Arnie is also back as a T-800, along with new additions like Mackenzie Davis as a cyborg-human hybrid, Gabriel Luna as the villainous Rev-9, and Natalia Reyes as a woman who’ll play a vital role in the future. Can “Deadpool” director Tim Miller fix the timeline?

#9: Gemini Man

Release Date: October 11, 2019 “Gemini Man” entered development in 1997, but it’s taken over 20 years to bring the film to the silver screen, ultimately landing in the lap of visionary director Ang Lee. Back in the late 90s, Hollywood wasn’t quite at the point where technology could believably de-age an actor. Now, however, it’s starting to become a common practice. “Captain Marvel” already took a couple decades off Samuel L. Jackson and Will Smith is looking so youthful in “Gemini Man” that you’d swear he’d just walked off the set of “Fresh Prince.” In a dual performance, Smith plays Henry Brogen, an assassin who must face off against his younger clone. Gee, between “Aladdin” and this film, Smith has been getting the CG treatment a lot in 2019.

#8: The Goldfinch

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Release Date: September 13, 2019 In “Baby Driver,” Ansel Elgort played a troubled young man who turns to bank robbing after his parents are killed in a car accident. In “The Goldfinch” Elgort plays another lost soul who gets involved in art forgery after his mother is killed in a terrorist attack. Elgort is just on the cusp of super stardom and this adaptation of Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel may elevate him to A-lister territory. The acclaimed source material and Elgort’s rising star status aren’t the only reasons why “The Goldfinch” may emerge as a favorite come awards season. Director John Crowley already delivered a Best Picture nominee with 2015’s “Brooklyn” and his follow-up film is promised to be another deeply personal human drama.

#7: Ford v Ferrari

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Release Date: November 15, 2019 It’s not about speed, it’s about the racer behind the wheel and “Ford v Ferrari” has a reliable driver in director James Mangold. With previous credits that include “Walk the Line” and “Logan,” Mangold has the drive to kick this rousing true story into high gear. Matt Damon plays automotive designer Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale stars as race car driver Ken Miles, two men who would pave the way for the Ford GT40 to go the distance at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the title suggests, Ford’s main competitor was the Ferrari, which was considered unstoppable. Originally intended to star Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, “Ford v Ferrari” spent years parked in production hell and now it’s ready to burn rubber.

#6: Zombieland: Double Tap

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Release Date: October 18, 2019 After Jesse Eisenberg became an Oscar nominee and Emma Stone became an Oscar winner, it seemed increasingly unlikely that they’d ever star in the long-requested sequel to “Zombieland.” The two haven’t forgotten their roots, however, as they’re reprising their roles just in time for the original’s 10-year anniversary. Eisenberg and Stone are once again joined by Woody Harrelson and an all grown up Abigail Breslin. While we’re still waiting to see Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd in the new “Ghostbusters” movie, both comedians are set to appear in this sequel. Huh, if Murray regrets “Garfield,” we wonder if Aykroyd will share his thoughts on “Yogi Bear.” In any case, it’s great to have the gang together again for a few Twinkies more.

#5: Doctor Sleep

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Release Date: November 8, 2019 When Stephen King wrote a sequel to “The Shining,” Warner Bros. didn’t hesitate to green light an adaptation. Since King was never a fan of 1980 film, we were all curious to see if “Doctor Sleep” would borrow any cues from Stanley Kubrick. The trailer answered our question, showcasing a young Danny Torrance riding his tricycle through the Overlook Hotel, blood surging out of the elevator, and even a snippet of the original film’s musical score. Ewan McGregor plays an adult Dan Torrance, who if forced to confront his past upon encountering a young girl with the shine. Alcoholism is also at the forefront of Dan’s psychological torment and it’ll take more than a spoonful of red rum to make the medicine go down.

#4: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

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Release Date: July 26, 2019 Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film hasn’t had the easiest journey to theaters. After cutting ties with The Weinstein Company due to the sexual abuse allegations against co-founder Harvey Weinstein, Tarantino scrambled to find a new distributor and secure a sizable budget. On top of that, actor Burt Reynolds passed away before his scenes were shot, requiring Bruce Dern to step in. If the response following the film’s premiere at Cannes is any indication, though, Tarantino has pulled off another triumph. Tarantino transports audiences back to 1960s Los Angeles with an all-star cast headlined by Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed up Western star, Brad Pitt as a stunt double, and Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate. It also features the late Luke Perry in his final film role.

#3: It Chapter Two

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Release Date: September 6, 2019 The Stephen Kingaissance continues with a sequel to the highest-grossing horror movie of all time. Just as the 1990 miniseries was split into two halves, this second chapter picks up with a grown-up Losers’ Club roughly 27 years after their initial run-in with Pennywise. The adult cast is a dream come true with James McAvoy as Bill, Bill Hader as Richie, and Jessica Chastain as Beverly. We can’t help but wonder if they’ll also cross paths with an adult Danny Torrance. Now there’s a cinematic universe Warner Bros. should invest in! Even if that crossover isn’t in the cards, the Losers are all returning to Derry to settle the score with the Dancing Clone. Who will get the last laugh?

#2: Joker

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Release Date: October 4, 2019 Pennywise isn’t the only clown who’ll scar audiences in 2019. After Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance as the Joker, we never thought there would be a more complex, disturbing, or grounded portrayal of the iconic villain. Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips could take the Clown Prince of Crime to unprecedented places in this standalone movie, though. “Joker” shares no connection to the DCEU and doesn’t even classify as a superhero movie. It’s a psychological thriller that mixes elements of “Taxi Driver” and other Martin Scorsese pictures. The film even co-stars Robert De Niro as a talk show host who antagonizes struggling stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck. For anyone who’s seen “The King of Comedy,” it would appear the clown shoe is on the other foot now. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Ad Astra” Release Date: September 20, 2019 “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Release Date: November 22, 2019 “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” Release Date, August 2, 2019 “Jumanji: The Next Level” Release Date: December 13, 2019 “Frozen 2” Release Date: November 22, 2019

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

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Release Date: December 20, 2019 The “Star Wars” franchise has dominated popular culture for over 40 years and “The Rise of Skywalker” is the culmination of everything, from George Lucas’ original trilogy, to the prequel trilogy, and Disney’s sequel trilogy. The pressure is on director J. J. Abrams to stick the landing, especially after “Solo” underperformed at the box office and “The Last Jedi” became the most divisive blockbuster since… well, ever. As the end of the Skywalker Saga, “Episode IX” is inclined to be the final curtain for Mark Hamill and the late Carrie Fisher, who will be featured in the film through previously unused footage. Even if this is indeed the end, no one’s ever really gone… including Emperor Palpatine. Oh yeah, Ian McDiarmid is back, baby!

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