Movies are a source of entertainment and a way to relieve the stress of our daily lives. In them we find succor and we put ourselves in the places of our heroes as they dazzle us with extraordinary feats.
2019 was a great year in terms of movies. There were blockbusters, tent poles, sequels, remakes, prequels, and reboots. There were films that made us cry and laugh, those that made us giddy with joy, and those that spoke to the child in us who just wants to have a little fun.
At Odu News, we have taken time to make a compilation of the best movies in 2019. Our criteria are box office returns and critical reception.
For a movie to make our list, it has to have made a huge impact at the global box office. Because that proves that a lot of movie fans around the world loved it and spread the news to others.
Secondly, what our critics had to say about the movies matters a lot as their opinion as experts in the field also acts as a determining factor in the success or failure of such films.
So, without further ado, let us take a look at the ten movies that made 2019 worth it for us.
- THE LION KING
Disney’s 2019 live-action/CGI remake of The Lion King turned out to be a visual delight though a lot of fans and critics pointed out that the creatures lacked emotions.
Well, the criticisms didn’t stop fans from storming the cinemas as the $1.656 billion it made at the global box office is a testimony to the quality of the film.
For a film that is purely meant for entertainment, The Lion King largely succeeds, thanks to Jon Favreau’s rendering of the hyper-realistic animals seen on screen. A few changes were made and while this version doesn’t match the original, it is still one of the year’s best.
- CAPTAIN MARVEL
Brie Larson stepped in to play Carol Danvers, the fighter pilot whose contact with one of the infinity stones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) made her one of the most powerful beings in the universe.
Captain Marvel is an origin story that works and Larson did a wonderful job of embodying the feisty and loyal character who becomes a future avenger. The action is commendable and the humor well-placed.
Making a total of $ 1.128 billion worldwide, Marvel’s heroine proved that she could hold her own with the guys wearing the capes! Definitely worth seeing several times.
- ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film is a tale of an actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) whose career in the 1950s takes a different turn as he tries to keep up with the changing climes of the industry.
The bromance between DiCaprio and Brad Pitt was the emotional core of the movie as the former stuntman and driver’s loyalty to his boss was unflinching in turbulent times.
Tarantino’s accurate depiction of the film industry at the time, the convincing costumes and set pieces added to what is no less than a great film.
With a critical score of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and a box office tally of $372.4 million against a budget of $96 million, no one can say that Once Upon A Time In Hollywood was not a success.
- DOLEMITE IS MY NAME
Eddie Murphy returned in a major way with a singularly noteworthy performance in the Netflix biopic Dolemite Is My Name.
The Craig Brewer film gave fans the raunchy and vulgar side of a movie star that Murphy played to perfection.
Rudy Ray Moore was no angel but he was a man who believed in something that had never been done and went out and achieved it, making the impossible possible.
Murphy made viewers believe that he could make money by simply talking trash and his efforts paid off as the movie got an incredible 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- THE NIGHTINGALE
Never has a revenge story seemed so personal and portrayed so vividly than in Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale.
Set in 1825, it stars Aisling Franciosi as a woman who goes after a Lieutenant who robs her of the only family she has. It also dealt with the theme of racism and segregation.
Shocking, provocative, thought-provoking, and filled with countless intense moments, the film is a testament to the sheer force of will to survive and the mesmerizing acting from the lead actress is one that is rare even in today’s world of highly-talented actors.
On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a rating of 87%.
- DOCTOR SLEEP
Based on the Stephen King novel, Doctor Sleep is the sequel to the 1980 horror film The Shining, focusing on the adult son of Jack Nicholson.
Starring Ewan McGregor as a man who must protect a little girl from evil forces, Doctor Sleep paid homage to its predecessor while creating something unique on its own.
Rebecca Ferguson’s role as the movie’s antagonist was a big plus as she took her acting skills to a whole new level to play a menacingly devious woman who would stop at nothing to get what she wants.
The movie was largely praised by critics who mentioned the lengthy runtime as its only downside.
- JOKER
It’s not every day we get to see the story of the bad guy being made and it’s even rarer for movie fans to show massive support for the said villain.
Todd Phillips’ Joker came and made such a resounding impact that led to both a critical and box office success. It became the highest-earning R-rated movie of all-time with a final box office haul of $1.063 billion.
What contributed to the film’s massive success was Joaquin Phoenix’s riveting portrayal of the mentally unbalanced DC character and the director’s skill in presenting a tale of a bad guy in such a good way that you would have no choice but to love it.
- ATLANTICS
For a movie that marked the directorial debut of Mati Diop, Atlantics showed no indication that it was the first feature film of the filmmaker as it was a cinematic experience that left a lasting impression.
With unknown actors, the director told the story of love lost and found again as the element of the unknown played a major part in the exposition of the plot.
From its haunting themes to the stark portrayal of an underdeveloped African country, Atlantics is a film that will leave the viewer breathless with awe.
Its 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating is no joke as critics know just how wonderful the movie is.
- THE IRISHMAN
No one does dramatic features and period pieces like the legendary Martin Scorsese and The Irishman was another way that the acclaimed director showed that he is still ahead of the game.
Boasting some of Hollywood’s most proficient actors, the film saw the rise of a truck driver from his lowly status to a prominent member of the society, alienating himself from his family as a result of his affinity for crime.
Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci gave the performances of their career and the use of de-aging technology in the movie is the best yet.
The Irishman has a near-perfect score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and a record number of viewers streamed it massively on the first day of release on Netflix. This shows that it is one in a million.
- AVENGERS: ENDGAME
You don’t have to be a fan of comic books or superheroes to be blown away by the phenomenon that is Avengers: Endgame. The concluding story in Marvel’s Phase 3 films turned out to be the best as it packed emotion, action, nostalgia, humor, spectacle, and the triumph of good over evil to deliver one of the greatest movies the world has ever seen.
The heroes went to places never before imagined and made the ultimate sacrifice in defeating the most powerful villain in the universe. It was a journey that was well delivered by the capable Russo Brothers and one that left us gasping, crying, and celebrating.
Endgame is more than a movie. It is the end of an era and the beginning of another. Its unprecedented worldwide box office figure of $2.7 billion and universal praise from movie critics prove beyond any reasonable doubt that it is the biggest of all of them out there.
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