FAMILY OUTING
TOM CRUISE STARS IN “TOP GUN: MAVERICK.”
Group helps families volunteer.
Yes, 2020 promises more of the same at the movies: sequels, superheroes, remakes, lather, rinse, repeat.
But there are more than a few flashes of originality that could be a harbinger of better things. Whether it’s Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield playing against comedic type and going all romantic in “The Photograph” or the new, very-much-under-wraps Christopher Nolan epic, “Tenet,” about which all we know is that it revolves “around international espionage, time travel and evolution,” there is much to be excited about in the new year. Here are just some of the highlights with release dates, though those are subject to change. JANUARY
1917: One of the best films of 2019 opened in some markets on Christmas, but Houston is not getting Sam Mendes’ powerful, suspenseful WWI drama — in which two young British soldiers have to get behind enemy lines to deliver an urgent message — until January. Though the plot falls heavily on the shoulders of actors George MacKay and DeanCharles Chapman, the cameo roster includes Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch and Richard Madden. Jan. 10.
Just Mercy: As with “1917,” this earnest based-on-a-true-story legal drama — starring Michael B. Jordan as an attorney helping wrongfully convicted death row inmates get new trials — opened in New York and LA in December to qualify for Oscar consideration. Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson costar. Jan. 10.
Underwater: An earthquake in the ocean devastates an underwater lab but the scientists have something else to fear beyond aftershocks. Kristen Stewart stars. Jan. 10.
Bad Boys for Life: Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return to enforce the law while driving way over the speed limit. Unlike the previous two films in the franchise, this one is not directed by Michael Bay. Instead, it’s helmed by relative newcomers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who worked together on a couple episodes of the drug drama “Snowfall” and the Belgian film “Gangsta,” which made some noise on the festival
circuit. Jan. 17.
Doolittle: Robert Downey Jr. trades his Iron Man suit for the ability to talk to animals in the “Doctor Doolittle” reboot directed by Stephen Gaghan, whose résumé (the dramas “Syriana,” “Gold”) wouldn’t seem to make him an easy fit for this. Jan. 17.
The Rhythm Section: Cinematographer Reed Morano continues to show off her directorial skills with this revenge drama about a woman who goes up against those who had her family murdered in a plane crash. Blake
Lively, Sterling K. Brown and Jude Law star. Jan. 31. FEBRUARY
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One
Harley Quinn: The last time we saw Harley Quinn on the big screen it was in the execrable “Suicide Squad.” She returns (without The Joker this time) by teaming up with a group of female superheroes — Huntress, Black Canary, Renee Montoya — to save a young girl. Margot Robbie is back as Harley, and she’s helped by Ewan McGregor, Ali Wong, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Rosie Perez. Feb. 7.
The Photograph: Relative newcomer Stella Meghie writes and directs this romantic drama starring LaKeith Stanfield and Issa Rae that is set in the present and the past. Courtney B. Vance and Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“Waves”) co-star. Feb. 14.
Sonic the Hedgehog: The internet went crazy (and not in a good way) when it first saw renderings of how the video-game character Sonic would look in this movie starring Jim Carrey. Subsequently, the character was redesigned, but will that be enough? Feb. 14.
The Call of the Wild: Jack London’s classic book about a sled dog is turned into a film starring Harrison Ford and Dan Stevens. Feb. 21.
Emma: With the success of “Little Women,” there may be more appetite than expected for this Jane Austen-based tale starring Anay Taylor-Joy (“Peaky Blinders”) as the title character. Feb. 21 MARCH
Onward: The next Pixar animated movie follows two suburban elf brothers who travel to see if there’s still magic in the world. Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are among the voice cast. March 6.
Bloodshot: Another comic book makes the trek to the big screen with Vin Diesel playing the title character, a soldier killed in action who comes back to life with superpowers. It’s the first feature for director Dave Wilson, who made his name as a visualeffects honcho for video games. March 13.
A Quiet Place Part II: Following the surprise success of the first film, director John Krasinski returns to put the Abbott family through more hell from the invading aliens who hunt by sound — and, apparently, they’re not the only dangers they need to deal with this time. Emily Blunt, Djimon Hounsou and Noah Jupe co-star. March 20.
Mulan: There’s already been a lot of controversy over this liveaction take on the Disney title, as star Crystal Liu Yifei has publicly backed the Hong Kong government against the protesters. Some are calling for a boycott. How this affects the fate of the film will be one of the more intriguing stories of the spring. Gong Li (“Farewell My Concubine”) and Jet Li also star. March 27. APRIL
The New Mutants: A new generation of X-Men comes to life from director Josh Boone (“The Fault in Our Stars”). Anya TaylorJoy, Maisie Williams and Henry Zaga play some of the new characters. This was originally set to come out in 2018 and has been postponed a couple of times. Make of that what you will. April 3.
No Time to Die: This could be a very cool Bond. Directing is Cary Joji Fukunaga (“True Detective”) and the cast includes Ana de Armas (“Knives Out”), Rami Malek, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris,