2023 might prove to be another massively successful year for Hollywood. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is still lingering in the movie industry, but 2022 proved that the appetite to watch movies in a theatre or stream them online had not gone away.
Billion-dollar box office hits like Top Gun: Maverick and Spiderman: No Way Home were the game changers, while James Cameron’s Avatar 2 proved to be worth the wait. The audience sure turned up to watch the latest installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe.
Pandemic-related delays carried over to change the 2023 movie slate, resulting in a packed and exciting lineup of blockbusters, original movies, and adaptions from high-profile talents.
The next year will see the potential release of delayed biggies like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, followed by Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Timothée Chalamet-starring Dune sequel.
Phew! Surely looks like an exciting lineup, and fans are already excited and looking forward to 2023. Without further ado, here are the most anticipated movies of 2023.
10Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
MCU’s domination in the movies continued in 2022, as their three releases made just under $2.5 billion globally.
The next addition to the franchise comes from the third installment of the Ant-Man films, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, once again directed by Peyton Reed. The movie stars returners Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Michael Douglas. It also sees newcomers to the MCU, like Bill Murray and Kathryn Newton.
The biggest reason for the tremendous buzz around the movie is the appearance of Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. The movie will kickstart MCU Phase 5 and explore more of the Quantum Realm. The fans need not wait longer as the movie has a February 17 release date.
9Barbie
Barbie has garnered the audience’s attention, ever since its unique casting of Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as the iconic Mattel doll was announced.
Directed by Little Women’s Greta Gerwig, who also co-wrote the script with partner Noah Baumbach, the film features a spectacular supporting cast of Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, and more.
The fans are already excited to witness a film about Barbie interacting with the real world and have welcomed the first trailer. The colorful costumes, artsy sets, and unique story promise a big surprise when Barbie hits the screens on July 21.
8John Wick: Chapter 4
John Wick: Chapter 4 will mark the return of Keanu Reeves as John Wick in 2023.
Directed once again by stunt-actor-turned-director, Chad Stahelski, JW4 sees the return of Ian McShane as Winston Scott and Laurence Fishburne as The Bowery King with his deadly history with the High Table.
New introductions to the franchise include formidable names like Donnie Yen as the blind assassin Caine, Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu, Scott Adkins as Killa, and Bill Skarsgård as The Marquis de Gramont, a high-ranking High Table member who Wick challenges.
John Wick is scheduled for a March 24 release.
7Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese fans, assemble!
Legendary director Martin Scorsese finally returns in 2023 with his long-awaited adaption of Killers of the Flower Moon. The movie adaption of David Grann’s novel revolves around a murder investigation in the 1920s. The movie has been in development since 2017, generating buzz since the day it was announced.
The movie stars Jesse Plemons as the lead detective, while Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, John Lithgow, and Brendan Fraser are also part of the cast. Yes, the casting is enough to make us impatient for its release. Already been touted as an Oscar contender, it is expected to release by early 2023.
6Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
The legendary Harrison Ford returns one last time in the iconic role of Indiana Jones for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Steven Spielberg is not returning to direct the movie, with James Mangold taking control instead.
The Steven Spielberg upset is compensated by the stellar cast of Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Indy’s goddaughter Helena, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook, Antonio Banderas, Toby Jones, and others.
Set in the 1960s, Indian Jones 5 promises to be an action-packed finale for Ford, who will be pitted against the Nazis in another attempt to save the world. The June 30 release could be precisely the type of send-off that audiences wanted back in 2008.
5Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Before James Gunn completely takes over DC studios as the new creative head, he has to wrap up the story of the Guardians with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The team, which was briefly seen in Thor: Love and Thunder, will be back for their third film as they deal with the consequences of Thanos on Knowhere.
After a big gap, fans got a one-two punch with the recent Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) and the first trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 shortly after.
The trailer for Vol. 3 promises one last emotional adventure for the band of the space-traveling misfits as the film is slated to release on May 5.
Don’t forget your tissues!
4Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One
Despite repeated delays, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One continues to be one of the most anticipated movies of 2023. Directed again by Christopher McQuarrie, the movie marks the return of Tom Cruise in his most iconic role as IMF agent Ethan Hunt.
Like every other Mission: Impossible movie, the mysterious seventh installment of the action series has Tom Cruise performing some of the most dangerous stunts ever on screen.
The film also features Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny), the former director of the IMF from 1996’s Mission: Impossible, who is back to antagonize Ethan Hunt (Cruise). It’s a sign that Ethan’s past is catching up to him in ways he never imagined.
There is also a thrilling crop of new cast members—Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Cary Elwes, Indira Varma, and more. And with the sequel’s cliffhanger climax setting up Mission: Impossible 8, this could be a special entry once it releases on July 14.
3Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The wait is finally over, guys.
The sequel to the Oscar-winning hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse promises to dazzle its fans with groundbreaking animation, and is the most anticipated Marvel movie of 2023.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse once again features Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfield), and Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson). The exciting premises revolves around a multiverse incident that pits them against other Spider-Men, presumably led by Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Issac).
With its spectacular animation and amazing storytelling, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse promises to be a magical ride for its fans. The movie will continue the story of Miles Morales and will release on June 2.
2Oppenheimer
Every time Christopher Nolan announces a movie, fans gear up for another masterpiece by the legendary director.
The highly anticipated Oppenheimer follows the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who is largely responsible for creating the atomic bomb.
If the story hasn’t already excited you, the spectacular cast surely will. Nolan-favorite Cillian Murphy stars as J. Robert Oppenheimer, and he’s surrounded by an all-star cast that includes Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, and many others.
Touted as the first black-and-white IMAX film ever made, Oppenheimer could earn Christopher Nolan his long-awaited Best Director or Best Picture Oscar after the film’s July 21 release.
1Dune: Part Two
Dune was able to intrigue the fans and received enormous praise for its brilliant casting, direction, and breathtaking cinematography. So, it’s no surprise that the sequel to the 2021 Oscar-nominated movie was able to generate massive buzz ever since it was announced.
Based on Frank Herbert’s magnum opus, the sequel will continue with Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, now united with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen people, embarking on a warpath to challenge the status quo of the universe.
With Villeneuve at the helm again, fans can only expect more from the acclaimed director who brought the story of Dune so successfully to the big screen.
There is little reason to doubt that Villeneuve will pull off another stunning-looking, sounding, and executed adventure on Arrakis. We all trust him, and the fans are impatiently waiting for the sequel to hit the screens.
Dune 2 includes more returning cast members and characters, with Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica, Javier Bardem’s Stilgar, Josh Brolin’s Gurney Halleck, Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron Harkonnen, Dave Bautista’s Glossu Rabban, Charlotte Rampling’s Reverend Mother, and Stephen McKinley Henderson’s Thufir Hawat.
The sequel also brings several exciting new characters into the mix, with Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan, Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha, Léa Seydoux’s Lady Margot, and Christopher Walken’s Emperor Shaddam IV. The casting is enough to keep the anticipation of the fans sky-high.
People have high expectations from the second movie due to the massive success of the first one. Villeneuve has already teased a third Dune Movie as he is a lifelong fan of Herbert’s work. Dune 2 is slated to release on November 3.
The list promises a diversified combination of brilliant films coming in 2023, catering to fans of different genres and promising to be an amazing year for movies. We hope you’ve noted down all your faves!
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