We’re at the mid-way point for 2019, so let’s take a look back at some of the best and worst of the first half of the year. So far seven of 2019’s releases have earned a score of at least 87/100 (minimum threshold for an A- movie). And that’s just below 10% of the new movies I’ve seen this year. That tracks a little behind the full year of 2018, which finished with about 15% of movies rating at least an 87. Only one movie so far this year has scored a 94+, for a solid A score, which is just above a 1% rate. Last year saw 4.5% receive a score of 94 or better.
Where we see a bigger drop off is in the more middle of the road, good not great movies. In 2018, 43.5% rated at least a 75 (minimum score for a B-) and 70% rated at least a 60 (minimum score for a C). In 2019 so far, those rates are 26% and 55%, respectively.
None of this is to say 2019 will definitively be a worse year for movies than 2018. They were simply some interesting comparisons to make. And obviously the 2018 numbers are against an entire year, and there are still six months for 2019 to catch up. There are a number of big releases still to come, and that should help even the numbers out a bit. I don’t think 2019 will quite match 2018, but I do think the final numbers will be closer than they are right now.
Before we get going, a quick note to mention some movies I have not yet seen that either may have cracked the top 10: The Last Black Man in San Francisco; Her Smell; Fast Color; The Souvenir; Transit; High Life; Birds of Passage; Ash is Purest White; Shadow; Apollo 11
Top 10 Movies Through June
1. Avengers: Endgame – Review
Incredible. Astonishing. Awe-inspiring. I don’t have enough good things to say about Endgame. What Marvel and the Russo brothers were able to pull off was beyond impressive. Endgame is a perfect ending to the last 10+ years of world-building work Marvel has put together.
2. Toy Story 4 – Review
An unnecessary movie? Probably. But another gem from Pixar? Absolutely. Not quite as emotional as the first three, but it is probably the funniest of the quadrilogy. The usual suspects all return, and the new characters all knock it out of the park. The lesson here: never doubt Pixar.
3. Spider-Man: Far From Home – Review
4. Booksmart – Review
A whip-smart comedy from first-time director Olivia Wilde. While Superbad is a fair comparison, it’s much more than “Superbad, but with girls.” The cast isn’t incredibly deep, but those that are featured are dynamite. There are tons of people involved in this movie – both in front of and behind the camera – that I’m excited to see where they go next.
5. Us – Review
Did Jordan Peele do it again or did he do it again? His follow-up directorial effort to 2017’s smash hit Get Out is another fantastic mind-bender. A unique story, coupled with strong acting performances up and down the board, Peele is now 2/2 on making must-see films.
6. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum – Review
It’s almost offensive how fun this movie is. It takes the outrageous violence and fight sequences from its two predecessors and ramps it up to a new extreme. Keanu Reeves is in top form again, and the fights are as well choreographed and shot as ever. Could easily end up being my favorite movie of the year when it’s all said and done.
7. Fyre Fraud
The Hulu one. Provides good insight into the Fyre Festival disaster and exposes how big of a tool Billy McFarland is. Better than the Netflix documentary on the topic, and that’s in no small part due to the fact that Netflix produced theirs in conjunction with Jerry Media aka fuckjerry aka the company that handled promotions for the Fyre Festival.
8. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – Review
Much like the first two in the series, Hidden World is visually stunning and that again helps carry the weight. One of the series’ more underrated aspects is how fantastic the scores have been, and that continues here again. Combine that with the signature humor of the series and an emotionally resonant ending, and you’ve got a hit on your hands.
9. Rocketman – Review
Thank goodness this movie was good. Taron Egerton needed this movie to be good, and he needed to be good in it. I’ve been a big fan of his since the first Kingsman movie, but its sequel and last year’s Robin Hood weren’t exactly critical successes. His turn as Elton John should plant him firmly on the award season radar and hopefully signals a sustained run of strong roles.
10. Captain Marvel – Review
Yes, it suffers from some of the usual origin story issues, but ultimately is another Marvel hit. Brie Larson is fantastic as the titular character, and Ben Mendelsohn finally gets a role worthy of his talent. Plus, it takes place in the 90s. Who doesn’t love some good old fashioned nostalgia?
Just missed the cut:
- Shazam – 85/100 (Review)
- Long Shot – 84/100
- Pokemon Detective Pikachu – 83/100 (Review)
- Giant Little Ones – 83/100
Bottom 5 Movies Thru June
1. The Intruder – 5/100 (Review)
What a mess. Dumb characters making dumb decisions. This snippet from my review sums it all up pretty well:
“The worst thing about the movie is how incredibly stupid Scott and Annie are. And this is stupid as in unintelligent. As in they are not smart. They’re dumb. The decisions they make are astonishing in their level of stupidity.”
The only (potential) good thing that could come from this movie is that it would make for an excellent episode of How Did This Get Made?
2. After – 9/100 (Review)
Laughably bad, and I mean that literally. My theater actually started laughing at the end of After. Legitimate laughter. That’s nothing I’ve ever experienced before. And make no mistake, this movie deserved it. Bad script, bad acting, bad directing, just bad all around.
3. Serenity – 10/100
F*ck this movie.
4. Drunk Parents – 13/100
Big time bad. That is all.
5. Little – 15/100
I was surprised Little was as bad as it was. I usually love Regina Hall and Marsai Martin is going to be a superstar. But this movie just missed on all levels. Hall’s character is so over-the-type unlikable that you can’t – and don’t want to – root for her redemption.
Best/Favorite Performances
I honestly don’t believe there have been enough strong acting performances to do a full (far too early) Oscars preview for the acting category. I think the nominations will be heavily represented from the second half slate.
- Robert Downey Jr – Avengers: Endgame
He has a legitimate shot at a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. He was fantastic in his final (?) outing as Tony Stark. RDJ brought a real emotional depth in a way that permeated throughout the rest of the movie. A nomination would be more than deserved. - Taron Egerton – Rocketman
Probably my current front runner for Lead Actor. And even though the competition to this point isn’t exactly fierce, it’s absolutely an Oscar-worthy turn, and one I was thrilled to see. A big question is whether or not voters will see this performance as too similar to Rami Malek’s Oscar-winning turn as Freddie Mercury just last year. Would that be unfair? Yes. But is a distinct possibility? Yes. - Keanu Reeves – Always Be My Maybe (Review)
Yes, that’s right, not going the John Wick route here. His cameo in the Netflix-original rom-com just might be my favorite single performance on the year. And I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m saying the same thing on December 31. I was rolling with the laughter the entire time; absolutely incredible. - Lupita Nyong’o – Us
She played two characters and she nailed each one. Give her two Oscar noms here; they would both be deserved. She continues to prove she’s one of the top talents working today. - Emma Thompson – Late Night
Just a delight. But with a legend like Thompsons, what else would you expect? - Lily James – Yesterday
I’m in for anything Lily James. Her character had some definite problems, sure. But I can’t put any of that on James’ performance. - Halle Berry’s dogs – John Wick 3
Give these good boys some award consideration. They were a major part of a balls-to-the-wall action sequence and everyone is better off for it. - Haley Lu Richardson – Five Feet Apart (Review)
A true bright spot in an otherwise completely “eh” movie. - Adam Driver – The Dead Don’t Die
This movie has really divided fans and critics alike, but I don’t think anyone can deny that Driver was pitch perfect here. One of the low-key funniest performances of the year so far.
Most Anticipated Movies for the Rest of the Year
1. Once Upon a time in Hollywood
This is getting all the hype, and expectations are for it to be one of the best movies of the year, a serious Best Picture contender. Anything less will be a disappointment. But with Tarantino, Pitt, DiCaprio, and Robbie, I believe we’ll get a great movie.
2. Hobbs and Shaw
I’m going to laugh with joy all the way through this movie. I cannot get enough of this franchise.
3. Lion King
Duh.
4. Ford v Ferrari
Everything about this movie screams multiple Oscar nominations.
5. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
6. Good Boys
If Booksmart is Superbad with girls, then Good Boys seems to be Superbad with 6th graders, though the comparison plays a little better here. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg – who co-wrote and produced Superbad – are on as producers for Good Boys. I was somewhat hesitant about this movie when I first heard about it but the trailers immediately won me over. In a year that’s only had a couple true comedy hits so far, it will be a big boon for this movie to be good.
7. Little Women
This movie is STACKED. Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, starring Florence Pugh, Meryl Streep, Emma Watson, Laura Dern, Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Bob Odenkirk. Give me this group for any movie, and I’m going to be excited.
8. Knives Out
A loaded cast for a murder mystery? Yes please. I was hyped about this movie as soon as I read about it when looking ahead at 2019 at the end of last year. The first trailer solidified that feeling.
9. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
I like the Star Wars movies just fine. I’m not a huge fanboy like I am with the MCU. But Rise of Skywalker is more than just a movie; it’s going to be a massive cultural event, similar to what happened with Endgame.
10. Frozen 2
What can I say, I’m a sucker for Disney musicals. Give me a decent enough story and another banging soundtrack, and I’m all the way in.
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