These aren’t just the most anticipated movies of 2023—but movies that will bring back the art of cinema and might redefine cinema’s future, with films from legendary filmmakers like David Fincher, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, and Denis Villeneuve. These legends have all proven to be innovative in the way they tell stories and create compelling characters, making them some of the most sought-after directors in the industry.
But it’s not just art-indie films, there’s a lot to get excited about in 2023, from the sequel to Dune to Oppenheimer to Killers of the Moon to The Killer, to blockbusters like Fast X, Mission Impossible, John Wick and the superhero breed of cinema, all of which contribute to making 2023 a year that could define some of the biggest milestones in the movie industry. Now, let’s delve into these 25 most anticipated movies of 2023.
25 Top Anticipated Movies in 2023:
25. Beau Is Afraid
Directed by: Ari Aster
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan, Kylie Rogers, Parker Posey, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Hayley Squires, Michael Gandolfini, Zoe Lister-Jones, and Richard Kind.
Movie Synopsis: Phoenix plays a “very worried but pleasant-looking man who has a problematic connection with his domineering mother and never met his father in the film, which has been described as a “decades-spanning surrealist horror film set in an alternate present.” When his mother dies, Joaquin embarks on a journey home that is fraught with mysterious dangers.
This surrealist comedic horror film Beau Is Afraid is written, and produced by Ari Aster. The film is the third collaboration between A24 and Aster, following Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019). Beau Is Afraid is scheduled to release on 21 April 2023.
24. The Little Mermaid
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Cast: Halle Bailey as Ariel, alongside Jonah Hauer-King, Art Malik, Noma Dumezweni, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy.
Movie Synopsis: “The Little Mermaid” follows Ariel (Halle Bailey), the youngest daughter of King Triton (Javier Bardem), ruler of the underwater nation Atlantica. Ariel, who is already attracted by the human world, falls hopelessly in love with the attractive Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) after rescuing him during a shipwreck and vows to meet him in the world above water. Her quest puts her at odds with her father and in the crosshairs of the cunning sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy)
The Little Mermaid is an official live-action adaptation of the 1989 Disney animated picture of the same name. The film is scheduled to release on 26 May 2023.
23. Knock at the Cabin
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint.
Movie Synopsis: It is based on Paul G. Tremblay’s 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World, which tells the story of a family of three held hostage by four strangers who demand they make the ultimate sacrifice to prevent the end of the world.
This psychological apocalypse horror film is set to release on February 3, 2023.
22. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of the Songbirds and Snakes
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, Burn Gorman, Peter Dinklage, and Viola Davis.
Movie Synopsis: No official synopsis released so far, but it will be based on Suzanne Collins’s 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
This science fiction action film is the fifth installment of The Hunger. Lionsgate is planning to release the picture in theatres in the United States on November 17, 2023.
21. Wonka
Directed by: Paul King
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Jim Carter, Matt Lucas, Natasha Rothwell, Olivia Colman, and Rowan Atkinson.
Movie Synopsis: Serves as a prequel to Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with Timothée Chalamet as the titular character, chronicling his early days as an eccentric chocolatier which makes it, one of the anticipated movies in 2023.
Warner Bros. Pictures is planning to release Wonka, a musical fantasy film on 15 December 2023.
20. Creed III
Directed by: Michael B. Jordan
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad.
Movie Synopsis: The movie takes place seven years after the events of Creed II (2018). Adonis “Donnie” Creed’s boxing career and family life are both doing well. When a boyhood buddy and previous boxing prodigy, Damian “Dame” Anderson, returns from prison after serving a lengthy sentence, he is desperate to prove that he is worthy of a crack in the ring. The confrontation between erstwhile buddies is more than just a brawl. To clear the score, Donnie must risk his future to face Dame, a warrior with nothing to lose.
This Michael B. Jordan’s feature directorial debut serves as the ninth chapter in the Rocky franchise and the sequel to Creed II (2018). This is also the first film in the Rocky Balboa franchise that does not star Sylvester Stallone. United Artists Releasing will release Creed III in the United States on March 3, 2023.
19. Scream 6
Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet
Cast: Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere, and Courteney Cox.
Movie Synopsis: The film follows the survivors of the last Ghostface killings, sisters Samantha and Tara Carpenter and twins Chad and Mindy Meeks, as they leave Woodsboro and begin a new chapter in their lives in New York City, only to be plagued by a new Ghostface killer’s string of murders.
Scream VI will be the sixth film in the Scream franchise and a direct sequel to Scream (2022). Franchise star Neve Campbell confirmed she will not return as Sidney Prescott owing to dissatisfaction with the offer, making this the first film in the franchise without her. Scream VI will be released in the United States on March 10, 2023.
18. The Flash
Directed by: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Ezra Miller, Ron Livingston, Michael Keaton, Kiersey Clemons, Michael Shannon, Antje Traue, Sasha Calle, and Ben Affleck (rumor).
Movie Synopsis: Barry (Flash) travels back in time to prevent his mother’s murder, which has unintended effects.
Despite multiple controversial occurrences and arrests involving Ezra Miller during 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery began to feel increasing pressure to examine alternate possibilities for the project. However, David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery (the newly established parent company of Warner Bros. Pictures), stated that he had watched The Flash, that it had garnered strong comments from the studio, and that the studio was committed to releasing it in theatres. The Flash is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 16, 2023.
17. Maestro
Directed by: Bradley Cooper
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Jeremy Strong, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, and Sarah Silverman
Movie Synopsis: The biographical drama of Leonard Bernstein.
Cooper, together with renowned filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Todd Phillips, are producing this film. Netflix is slated to release the film in 2023.
16. The Marvels
Directed by: Nia DaCosta
Cast: Brie Larson plays Carol Danvers, Iman Vellani plays Kamala Khan, and Teyonah Parris plays Monica Rambeau in the film, which also stars Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
Movie Synopsis: Danvers, Khan, and Rambeau start trading places every time they need to use their powers together, and must team up to figure out why.
The Marvels is intended to be a sequel to Captain Marvel (2019), a continuation of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel (2022), and the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film will hit the theatres on 28 July 2023.
15. The Super Mario Bros
Directed by: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
Cast: Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Sebastian Maniscalco, Charles Martinet, and Kevin Michael Richardson.
Movie Synopsis: It is the story of our fan-favorite plumber, Mario, who with his brother, Luigi, travels through an underground labyrinth in order to save a captured princess from the clutches of evil.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the third feature film adaptation of a video game, following the Japanese anime film Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986) and the American live-action film Super Mario Bros. (1993). The Super Mario Bros. Movie is set to be released on April 7, 2023, in the United States.
14. Fast X
Cast: The original cast returns, with new additions including John Cena, Jason Momoa, and Brie Larson.
Movie Synopsis: The film follows Toretto and his crew as they seek assistance in their fight against Cipher (Theron) after she recruits Dante (Momoa), a mysterious new enemy.
Fast X (Fast & Furious 10) serves as the sequel to F9 (2021), the tenth main installment, and the eleventh full-length film in the Fast & Furious franchise. It will be released in the United States on May 19, 2023.
13. Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Directed by: David F. Sandberg
Cast: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, Meagan Good, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou, and Helen Mirren.
Movie Synopsis: A family of young heroes leads by Billy Batson / Shazam battles the Daughters of Atlas.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is the follow-up to Shazam! (2019) and the twelfth entry in the DC Extended Universe. It is scheduled to release on 17 March 2023 in the United States.
12. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Directed by: James Wan
Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman.
Movie Synopsis: The world is about to suffer irreversible devastation when a powerful ancient power is unleashed upon Atlantis and Aquaman must forge an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally to protect the world from destruction beyond repair.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to be the follow-up to Aquaman (2018), the 15th film in the DC Extended Universe. It is set to be released on December 25, 2023, after multiple delays due to the COVID-19 epidemic, making this DC Film one of the most anticipated movies of 2023.
11. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Cast: Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne, and Jonathan Majors as Kang, along with Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors, David Dastmalchian, and Randall Park.
Movie Synopsis: In the movie, Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, along with Hope’s parents Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne and Lang’s daughter Cassie, go on a new adventure exploring the Quantum Realm that pushes them to their limits and pits them against Kang the Conqueror.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the sequel to Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). It is scheduled to release on 17 February 2023.
10. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Directed by: James Gunn
Cast: Will Poulter as the Adam warlock and Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Revolutionary are fresh additions to the original cast.
Movie Synopsis: The story will revolve around the Guardians of the Galaxy’s attempt to make Knowhere a safe haven for alien refugees. However, following a heinous assault, Peter Quill must lead the Guardians on one more perilous expedition to defend one of its members, which could result in the team’s dissolution.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the most anticipated movie of 2023, according to Fandango Survey. It is another upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero installment that picks up after the events of Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022). The film will be released in the United States on May 5, 2023.
9. The Killer
Directed by: David Fincher
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Kerry O’Malley, Dolores, Charles Parnell, Hodges, and Lacey Dover.
Movie Synopsis: Based on Alexis Nolent’s French graphic novel series of the same name about an assassin who develops a conscience, resulting in a psychiatric breakdown as his talents are sought more and more.
After Mank (2020), Veteran Filmmaker David Fincher is returning with The Killer, a neo-noir action thriller film that marks Fincher’s second collaboration with Se7en screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker. The release date has not yet been confirmed.
8. Killers of the Flower Moon
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Lily Gladstone, and Brendan Fraser.
Movie Synopsis: The film is adapted from the best-selling 2017 non-fiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann, which is based on the series of 1920s Oklahoma murders committed in the Osage Nation when oil was discovered on tribe territory.
The legendary director Martin Scorsese returns to cinema with the Western murder drama- Killers of the Flower Moon, easily making it one of the most anticipated movies in 2023. This is the 10th time Scorsese has worked with De Niro, and the 6th time he has worked with DiCaprio.
7. John Wick: Chapter 4
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Cast: Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, and Hiroyuki Sanada join the original cast as newcomers.
Movie Synopsis: The film follows John Wick as he discovers a way to overcome the High Table. But before he can earn his liberty, Wick must battle a new foe with tremendous affiliations around the globe and powers that transform former allies into foes.
Boogeyman returns! It is the fourth entry in the John Wick film series and the sequel to John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019). The film will be released in theatres on March 24, 2023.
6. Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning — Part One
Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Cast: Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, Shea Whigham, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Rob Delaney, Henry Czerny, and Cary Elwes.
Movie Synopsis: Dead Reckoning – Part One picks up after the events of “Fallout,” in which Hunt and his IMF crew prevented a nuclear holocaust through a series of double-crosses, including a standout performance from Henry Cavill (as August Walker). This film will further dive into the adventures of Ethan Hunt.
Following the great box office success of Top Gun Maverick, Tom Cruise returns in 2023 with Dead Reckoning Part One which is the seventh entry in the Mission: Impossible film series and the sequel to Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018). It is set for release on July 14, 2023, in the United States.
5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Directed by: James Mangold
Cast: Harrison Ford, John Rhys-Davies returns as Sallah, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Olivier Richters, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen.
Movie Synopsis: The film is set in 1969, American archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones lives against the backdrop of the Space Race. Jones is troubled by the idea that the U.S. government has recruited former Nazis to assist in the space race against the Soviet Union. Helena, his goddaughter, travels with him on his adventure. In the meantime, Jürgen Voller, a NASA employee and ex-Nazi involved in the moon-landing effort, desires to improve the world as he sees fit.
Classic Indiana Jones returns in 2023 with Dial of Destiny, the fifth episode in the Indiana Jones film series after Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). Being one of the most anticipated movies in 2023, it is scheduled for release on June 30, 2023.
4. Barbie
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Cast: Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, with an ensemble cast including Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Alexandra Shipp, Michael Cera, Issa Rae, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, and Kate McKinnon.
Movie Synopsis: The film will revolve around a Barbie (Margot) who is exiled from Barbieland for her perceived flaws, and who embarks on an adventure in the real world to learn that true beauty can be found only within herself. While (Gosling) Ken is the show-stopping idiot of the piece, he is Barbie-obsessed and loves the real world for all the reasons that Barbie despises (beauty standards, sexism, etc)
Barbie is based on Mattel’s Barbie fashion dolls and the first live-action Barbie film following previous computer-animated direct-to-video and streaming television films. Warner Bros. Pictures plans to release Barbie on July 21, 2023.
3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Directed by: Joaquim Dos, SantosKemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Cast: The original cast returns with new additions Daniel Kaluuya as Spider-Punk, Jessica Drew as Spider-Woman, and Oscar Isaac as Spider-Man 2099.
Movie Synopsis: The film follows Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy on their trip into the Multiverse, where they encounter other Spider-People tasked with defending it. However, as a new threat develops, Miles finds himself at odds with the other Spider-People on how to deal with it.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), the Oscar-winning superhero picture, is getting a sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part one and it is set for release on June 2, 2023. For all marvel and Spider-Man fans out there, this is one of the most anticipated movies in 2023.
2. Oppenheimer
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Florence Pugh, Benny Safdie, Michael Angarano, Josh Hartnett, and Kenneth Branagh.
Movie Synopsis: The official synopsis from Universal calls it a “epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it.” The film chronicles the efforts of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his fellow scientists on the Manhattan Project, which ultimately resulted in the creation of the atomic bomb.
Christopher Nolan, a modern master of cinema, comes back with Oppenheimer, based on American Prometheus, a biography written by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin about J. Robert Oppenheimer, an American theoretical physicist known as the “father of the atomic bomb” for his role in the Manhattan Project, the World War II operation that created the first nuclear weapons. This is Nolan, which means for all cinephiles, and the cinema community, Oppenheimer is one of the most anticipated movies in 2023. Oppenheimer is set to be released on July 21, 2023.
1. Dune: Part 2
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem are among the cast members reprising their roles from the original film. New cast members are Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Léa Seydoux, and Christopher Walken.
Movie Synopsis: This sequel will chronicle Paul Atreides’s continued quest for vengeance against the conspirators who slaughtered his family, as he travels alongside Chani and the Fremen. Faced with a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he attempts to avert a dreadful future that only he can predict.
The epic science fiction Dune (2021), which should have won Best Picture last year, is receiving its sequel Dune: Part Two, directed by Denis Villeneuve, another modern movie genius. The film is a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune and will cover around the second half of the novel. Dune: Part Two will be released on November 3, 2023. This is personally one of my most anticipated movies of 2023.
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