Some of the biggest movies of 2019 include remakes of “The Lion King,” “Dumbo,” and “Pet Sematary.” Here are the animal-themed movies you won’t want to miss.
“A Dog’s Way Home” (January 11)
“St. Bernard Syndicate” (January 18)
Two Danish entrepreneurs try and make their fortune in the lucrative Chinese Pet industry by breeding Saint Bernard dogs in this comedy mockumentary. (In theaters January 18, 2019 and On Demand February 5, 2019)
“Tigerland” (Premieres at the Sundance Film Festival)
This documentary (aka “Taken by the Tiger”) from Oscar-winning director Ross Kauffman follows the efforts to save the last Siberian tigers in the world.
“Patrick” (February 15)
In this British comedy, Sarah (Beattie Edmondson)’s life changes when she inherits her grandmother’s prized possession, a spoiled Pug named Patrick. Ed Skrein and Jennifer Saunders costar. In select theaters and on VOD on February 15. (Read the review.)
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” (February 22)
In this sequel, Hiccup the dragon falls in love with an elusive white dragon.
“Captain Marvel” (March 8)
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) (aka Captain Marvel) is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. She’s aided by her ginger cat, Goose, who’s really an alien known as a Flerken. (Read: All About Goose the Cat in ‘Captain Marvel’)
“The Mustang” (March 15)
Violent convict Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts) participates in a rehabilitation therapy program training wild mustangs.
“Us” (March 22)
Those shots of dozens of bunnies in the trailer? A good hint that Jordan Peele’s follow-up to “Get Out” is about cloning. Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke star as husband and wife trying to defend their family from evil doppelgangers. (Read: Rabbits Really Freak Out Jordan Peele And Other ‘Us’ Bunny Facts)
“Dumbo” (March 29)
Tim Burton’s live-action remake of the Disney classic stars Colin Farrell, Eva Green, Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton. (Read the review).
“Pet Sematary” (April 5)
In this new adaptation of the Stephen King novel, a family lives near a pet cemetery that magically bring dead things back to life. (Watch the trailer.)
“Penguins” (April 19)
Disneynature’s latest documentary follows Steve, an Adélie penguin, on a quest to find a life partner and start a family. (Read the review.)
“Biggest Little Farm” (May 10)
This charming film festival favorite is about a couple who’ve spent eight years creating an environmentally friendly farm near Los Angeles. (Read the review).
“John Wick: Chapter 3” (May 17)
The third installment of the franchise features assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) riding a horse and teaming up with an old friend (Halle Berry) and her Belgian Malinois.
“A Dog’s Journey” (May 17)
Bailey the dog’s story continues in this sequel to the 2017 film “A Dog’s Purpose.”
“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (May 31)
Godzilla battles Mothra, Rodan and the three-headed King Ghidorah. Millie Bobby Brown, Sally Hawkins, and Vera Farmiga star.
“The Secret Life of Pets 2” (June 7)
In the sequel “The Secret Life of Pets,” Max (voiced by Patton Oswalt) is taken to a vet who specializes in behavioral disorders, where he meets a number of disturbed pets, including twin cats who start fires.
“Crawl” (July 12)
“Stuber” (July 12)
A detective (Davd Bautista) recruits his Uber driver (Kumail Nanjiani) into an unexpected night of adventure in this action comedy. A pit bull is along for the ride.
“The Lion King” (July 19)
Jon Favreau (“The Jungle Book”) directs this new version of “The Lion King,” featuring the voices of Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Seth Rogen, Amy Sedaris, and James Earl Jones.
(See the entire voice cast here). (Read the review.)
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (July 26)
The pit bull who plays Brad Pitt’s dog in the film just won the Palm Dog!
“The Art of Racing in the Rain” (August 9)
“47 Meters Down: Uncaged” (August 14)
Four teenage divers discover that the sunken ruins of a Mayan city are also a hunting ground for deadly great white sharks in this sequel to the 2017 film.
“The Angry Birds Movie 2” (August 16)
Red, Chuck, Bomb and the rest of their feathered friends are surprised when a green pig suggests that they put aside their differences and unite to fight a common threat.
“The Elephant Queen” (October 18, on Disc and Streaming on November 1)
This documentary follows elephant matriarch Athena, who leads her herd on an epic journey across the African savannah. Chiwetel Ejiofor narrates.
“Lady and the Tramp” (November 12)
The live-action remake of the Disney classic will be available on Disney+, Disney’s new streaming service, on the day it launches.
“A Reindeer’s Journey” (November 15 in theaters, Nov 19 on disc and streaming)
“Togo” (December 20)
Telling the same story as the animated film “Balto,” in which a heroic sled dog brings diphtheria antitoxin serum through harsh conditions over nearly 700 miles to save the Alaskan town of Nome from an epidemic. Willem Dafoe stars in this film, which is only on Disney+
“Cats” (December 20)
Idris Elba, Ian McKellen, James Corden, Judi Dench and Taylor Swift star in the movie version of the hit Broadway musical. Meet the Characters In the First ‘Cats’ Trailer (Which Is Utterly Bonkers)
Spies in Disguise (December 25)
When the world’s best spy (Will Smith) is turned into a pigeon, he must rely on his nerdy tech officer (Tom Holland) to save the world in this animated film.
“Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” (Bumped to January 10 in the U.S.)
Shaun the Sheep, Bitzer the dog, and the rest of the flock tangle with an adorable alien in this sequel to “Shaun the Sheep.”
“Call of the Wild” (December 27: This movie has been moved to February 2020)
Harrison Ford and Dan Stevens star in this remake of the classic Jack London tale.
“Sonic the Hedgehog” (November 8 –– This movie has been bumped to 2020)
Ben Schwartz (“Parks and Rec”) voices the video game star who must defeat the villainous Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) in this live-action film.
“The Queen’s Corgi” (March 27, 2020)
Rex, the Queen’s favorite dog, gets lost in London and has a series of adventures before being reunited with the Royals. Voices include Julie Walters as Queen Elizabeth and Jack Whitehall as Rex.
Movie Paws 
Animal Rescue Squad (2019) is the greatest animal-themed fiction movie I ever saw, aside from Okja. It far surpasses any other pro-animal and pro-environment movie I can think of right now.
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