The Complete Guide to Hollywood Movies Opening in April 2019
The main event in April is, of course, Avengers: Endgame (opening 24 Apr). Shazam! (4 Apr) looks fun and I’ll probably watch it, but there’s no contest. Endgame is the end of the first 3 phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with its original iteration of the Avengers, and I’ll be there on the first showing of the opening day to bid it farewell.
Movies coming out in April 2019
(Click on the movie titles in the bullets to jump to that section if you don’t want to scroll through the entire list. You can also click on each movie’s heading to go to their IMDb pages. Release dates below are for Singapore, but if you’re outside Singapore, IMDb can tell you fairly accurately what’s the release date in your country.)
- Shazam! (4 Apr)
- Pet Sematary (4 Apr)
- Hellboy (11 Apr)
- Missing Link (11 Apr)
- Breakthrough (11 Apr)
- Captive State (11 Apr)
- The Curse of the Weeping Woman (17 Apr)
- Fighting with My Family (18 Apr)
- After (18 Apr)
- Penguins (18 Apr)
- Avengers: Endgame (24 Apr)
Opening on the week of 4 April
Shazam! (4 Apr)
Director: David F. Sandberg (“Lights Out”, “Annabelle: Creation”)
Cast: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Faithe Herman, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Synopsis: We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Zachary Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard (Djimon Hounsou). Still a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).
Pet Sematary (4 Apr)
Directors: Kevin Kölsch (“Scream: The TV Series”), Dennis Widmyer (“Scream: The TV Series”)
Cast: John Lithgow, Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Synopsis: Based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King, PET SEMATARY follows Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who, after relocating with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz) and their two young children from Boston to rural Maine, discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near the family’s new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his unusual neighbor, Jud Crandall (John Lithgow), setting off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unfathomable evil with horrific consequences.
Opening on the week of 11 April
Hellboy (11 Apr)
Director: Neil Marshall (“The Descent”, “Centurion”)
Cast: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, and Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, Penelope Mitchell, Daniel Dae Kim
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Synopsis: Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge.
Missing Link (11 Apr)
Director: Chris Butler (“Paranorman”)
Voice Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Timothy Olyphant, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Amrita Acharia, David Walliams
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Synopsis: Meet Mr. Link: 8 feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur, but don’t let his appearance fool you… he is funny, sweet, and adorably literal, making him the world’s most lovable legend. Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend.
Breakthrough (11 Apr)
Director: Roxann Dawson (TV’s “The Americans”, TV’s “House of Cards”)
Cast: Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, Marcel Ruiz, Sam Trammell, Dennis Haysbert
Genre: Biography, Drama
Synopsis: BREAKTHROUGH is based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds. When Joyce Smith’s adopted son John falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost. But as John lies lifeless, Joyce refuses to give up. Her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John’s recovery, even in the face of every case history and scientific prediction. From producer DeVon Franklin (“Miracles from Heaven”) and adapted for the screen by Grant Nieporte (“Seven Pounds”) from Joyce Smith’s own book, BREAKTHROUGH is an enthralling reminder that faith and love can create a mountain of hope, and sometimes even a miracle.
Captive State (11 Apr)
Director: Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, “The Gambler”)
Cast: John Goodman, Vera Farmiga, Ashton Sanders, Madeline Brewer, KiKi Layne, Machine Gun Kelly
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Synopsis: Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, CAPTIVE STATE explores the lives on both sides of the conflict – the collaborators and dissidents.
Opening on the week of 18 April
The Curse of the Weeping Woman (17 Apr)
Director: Michael Chaves (debut feature)
Cast: Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Patricia Velasquez, Marisol Ramirez, Sean Patrick Thomas, Roman Christou, Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen, Tony Amendola
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Synopsis: La Llorona. The Weeping Woman. A horrifying apparition, caught between Heaven and Hell, trapped in a terrible fate sealed by her own hand. The mere mention of her name has struck terror around the world for generations. In life, she drowned her children in a jealous rage, throwing herself in the churning river after them as she wept in pain. Now her tears are eternal. They are lethal, and those who hear her death call in the night are doomed. La Llorona creeps in the shadows and preys on the children, desperate to replace her own. As the centuries have passed, her desire has grown more voracious … and her methods more terrifying. In 1970s Los Angeles, La Llorona is stalking the night—and the children. Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope to survive La Llorona’s deadly wrath may be a disillusioned priest and the mysticism he practices to keep evil at bay, on the fringes where fear and faith collide. Beware of her chilling wail…she will stop at nothing to lure you into the gloom. Because there is no peace for her anguish. There is no mercy for her soul. And there is no escape from the curse of La Llorona.
Fighting with My Family (18 Apr)
Director: Stephen Merchant (TV’s “The Office”)
Cast: Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden, Vince Vaughn, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, Sports
Synopsis: Based on a true story, FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY follows reformed gangster Ricky, wife Julia, daughter Paige and son Zak as they make a living wrestling together in tiny venues. When Paige and Zak get the opportunity to try out for WWE, the family grabs a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn their wildest dreams into a dazzling future. However, brother and sister quickly discover that to become superstars, both their talent and their relationship will be put to the test. FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY is a heartwarming and smart comedy that proves everything is worth fighting for when it comes to family.
After (18 Apr)
Director: Jenny Gage (debut feature)
Cast: Peter Gallagher, Jennifer Beals, Selma Blair, Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin
Genre: Drama, Romance
Synopsis: AFTER follows Tessa (Josephine Langford), a dedicated student, dutiful daughter and loyal girlfriend to her high school sweetheart, as she enters her first semester in college. Armed with grand ambitions for her future, her guarded world opens up when she meets the dark and mysterious Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), a magnetic, brooding rebel who makes her question all she thought she knew about herself and what she wants out of life.
Penguins (18 Apr)
Directors: Alastair Fothergill (“Planet Earth”), Jeff Wilson (“Great Bear Stakeout”)
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: Disneynature’s all-new feature film PENGUINS is a coming-of-age story about an Adélie penguin named Steve who joins millions of fellow males in the icy Antarctic spring on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a life partner and start a family. None of it comes easily for him, especially considering he’s targeted by everything from killer whales to leopard seals, who unapologetically threaten his happily ever after. From the filmmaking team behind “Bears” and “Chimpanzee,” Disneynature’s PENGUINS opens in cinemas in time for Earth Day 2019.
Opening on the week of 25 April
Avengers: Endgame (24 Apr)
Read my Avengers: Endgame review here.
Directors: Anthony Russo (“Avengers: Infinity War”, “Captain America: Civil War”, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”), Joe Russo (“Avengers: Infinity War”, “Captain America: Civil War”, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”)
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Brie Larson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chadwick Boseman, Karen Gillan, Paul Rudd, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, Josh Brolin
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Synopsis: After the devastating events of “Avengers: Infinity War”, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and undo the chaos to the universe, no matter what consequences may be in store, and no matter who they face…