Movie roundup: Support cinema this February
February always lands with a strange mix of holiday timing and post-holiday restlessness. Studios and streamers alike pack the calendar with titles that range from family animation to foreign crime sagas, and 2019 delivered a particularly eclectic slate. Some of those films still circulate on home screens, while others quietly found new audiences years later.
Velvet Buzzsaw (Netflix)
Dan Gilroy’s third feature arrived on Netflix February 1, 2019 as an original. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the art critic Morf Vandewalt, whose professional and romantic circles collapse once a dead artist’s work begins to exert its own will. The film earned a 61 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and remains available on the platform today.
Arctic (Armory Films)
Mads Mikkelsen anchors this survival tale of a pilot stranded in the far north. The limited U.S. release opened February 1, 2019 and ultimately grossed roughly 4.1 million dollars worldwide.
Miss Bala (Columbia Pictures)
Gina Rodriguez stars as a makeup artist pulled into cartel violence after a trip to Tijuana. Catherine Hardwicke directed the remake, which also features Anthony Mackie and Ismael Cruz Córdova.
Then Came You (BCDF Pictures)
Asa Butterfield plays a hypochondriac whose life shifts when a terminally ill teen, portrayed by Maisie Williams, enlists him for a bucket-list adventure.
Piercing (Borderline Films)
Nicolas Pesce directed this lean thriller adapted from Ryū Murakami. Christopher Abbott and Mia Wasikowska lead the cast in a story that begins as a calculated murder plot and spirals into something far more unhinged.
Everybody Knows (Memento Films Production)
Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem headline Asghar Farhadi’s Spanish-language drama about buried family secrets that surface during a wedding trip. The film screened widely in arthouse theaters after its February 8 release.
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (Warner Animation Group)
Chris Pratt returned as Emmett for the February 8 sequel. The film collected 105.8 million dollars domestically and added new voices including Stephanie Beatriz and Tiffany Haddish.
The Prodigy (Orion Pictures)
Taylor Schilling plays a mother who suspects her young son may be harboring a violent past life. The February 8 horror release leaned on familiar jump-scare rhythms and unsettling child performances.
Untogether (Stirling Road Films)
Emma Forrest made her directorial debut with this February 8 drama about two writers navigating addiction, ambition, and an unexpected romance. Jemima Kirke and Jamie Dornan star.
Cold Pursuit (StudioCanal)
Liam Neeson plays a snowplow driver turned vigilante after his son’s murder. The February 8 release leaned into self-aware tone while still delivering the expected action beats.
High Flying Bird (Netflix)
Steven Soderbergh’s February 8 Netflix release examines the business side of professional basketball through the eyes of a young player and his agent. The iPhone-shot film earned praise for its performances and insider perspective on league politics.
What Men Want (Will Packer Productions)
Taraji P. Henson leads this gender-swapped remake of the 2000 comedy. Adam Shankman directed the February 8 release, which pairs Henson with Tracy Morgan in a sports-agency setting.
Isn’t It Romantic (New Line Cinema)
Rebel Wilson plays an architect who wakes up inside a romantic-comedy universe after a subway mugging. The February 13 film pokes fun at genre tropes while still delivering the expected happy endings.
Birds of Passage (Snowglobe)
Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego’s Colombian crime epic follows a Wayuu family caught in the early days of the drug trade. The film made the December shortlist for the Academy’s Best Foreign Language Film and later won Best Ibero-American Film at the Ariel Awards.
Alita: Battle Angel (20th Century Fox)
James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez finally brought Yukito Kishiro’s manga to screens on February 14. Rosa Salazar stars as the cyborg warrior. The film grossed 405 million dollars worldwide and has a sequel in development.
Happy Death Day 2U (Blumhouse Productions)
Jessica Rothe returns for another time-loop slasher on February 14. The sequel expands the rules of the original while keeping the Valentine’s Day release slot firmly in the horror lane.
Fighting With My Family (Film4)
Florence Pugh plays wrestler Paige in this February 22 comedy-drama based on the real Bevis family. The film premiered at Sundance and later grossed 41.5 million dollars worldwide.
How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (DreamWorks Animation)
The trilogy concluded February 22 with Hiccup and Toothless discovering a hidden dragon sanctuary. The film earned 160.8 million dollars domestically and is currently streaming on Netflix.
Paddleton (Netflix)
Mark Duplass and Ray Romano star in this February 22 mumblecore road trip about two friends facing terminal illness. The Duplass Brothers production balances quiet humor with heavier emotional turns.
Paris is Us (Netflix)
This French romantic thriller arrived on Netflix February 22 after a successful Kickstarter campaign. The film mixes hallucinatory visuals with a story of grief and connection in contemporary Paris.
Run the Race (Reserve Entertainment)
Tim Tebow executive-produced this February 22 faith-based sports drama drawn from his own early career. The film targets family audiences with a straightforward inspirational arc.
Box Office Highlights from February 2019
Three titles dominated the month’s earnings conversation. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part finished with 105.8 million dollars domestically. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World reached 160.8 million dollars in the same market. Alita: Battle Angel crossed 405 million dollars worldwide, proving the strongest international performer of the group.
Where to Watch February 2019 Releases Today
Several February titles remain easy to locate. Velvet Buzzsaw and High Flying Bird are still on Netflix. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World also streams there. Most other entries from the month can be found on physical media or rotating library catalogs in 2026.
Critical Reception and Legacy
Velvet Buzzsaw settled at 61 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Alita: Battle Angel built a dedicated following after its theatrical run, with fans continuing to campaign for the announced sequel. High Flying Bird drew consistent praise for Soderbergh’s direction and its clear-eyed look at sports-business maneuvering.
Award Recognition for February Releases
Birds of Passage moved from the Oscar shortlist to a win for Best Ibero-American Film at the Ariel Awards. Fighting with My Family premiered at Sundance before its wider release, giving the wrestling biopic an early festival platform.
Animated Blockbusters of February 2019
Two major animated franchises closed chapters that month. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World both opened in February and posted strong domestic numbers. Family audiences had clear options on consecutive weekends.
Looking back, February 2019 offered a snapshot of how wide the industry’s reach had become. Streaming originals sat beside studio tentpoles, foreign dramas found arthouse screens, and animated sequels still delivered reliable box-office muscle. Many of those titles continue to surface on home platforms, giving new viewers a chance to catch up on a month that balanced spectacle with smaller, stranger stories.
