The 32 Most Anticipated Films of 2023
We’ve got a whole new year ahead of us filled with lots of exciting movies that we can’t wait to see! This is the time when we movie geeks collectively lose our minds over the latest and greatest movies coming to theaters. And let me tell you, the lineup for this year has got all kinds of movies for everyone. From highly-anticipated sequels to groundbreaking original stories, to comic book movies, this year is certainly going to keep us coming back to the theater for more. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and get ready to dive into the wild world of cinema. These are the films that have movie fans counting down the days until their release.
Here is a list of the 32 most anticipated movies of 2023 and they are listed in order of their release dates.
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonathan Majors, Bill Murray
Opening on: February 17, 2023
Super-Hero partners Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.
Directed by: Michael B. Jordan
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Phylicia Rashad
Opening on: March 3, 2023
After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian – a fighter who has nothing to lose.
Directed by: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Starring: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, Chloe Coleman
Opening on: March 10, 2023
After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth…65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures in an epic fight to survive.
Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Starring: Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Hayden Panettiere, Courteney Cox, Samara Weaving, Tony Revolori
Opening on: March 10, 2023
The next chapter of the horror saga “continues with the four survivors of the Ghostface killings as they leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.” As you might expect, this next chapter is going to be just as horrific as the last chapter, maybe even more horrific!
Directed by: David F. Sandberg
Starring:Z achary Levi, Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, Jack Dylan Grazer, Asher Angel Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Megan Good
Opening on: March 17, 2023
The movie will continue the story of teenage Billy Batson, who upon reciting the magic word ‘SHAZAM!’ is struck by the Living Lightning of the gods and transformed into his adult superhero alter ego, Shazam. He has the powers of six gods: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury.
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada
Opening on: March 24, 2023
With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hit man John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Directed by: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Starring: Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page, Michelle Rodriguez, Sophia Lillis, Smith
Opening on: March 31, 2023
A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.
Directed by: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Starring: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Charlie Day, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Keegan-Michael Key
Opening on: April 7, 2023
A Brooklyn Plumber named Mario, travels through the Mushroom Kingdom with a Princess named Peach and an Anthropomorphic Mushroom named Toad to find Mario's Brother, Luigi, and to save the world from a ruthless fire breathing Koopa named Bowser.
Directed by: Lee Cronin
Starring: Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan, Gabrielle Echols, Morgan Davies, Neil Fisher
Opening on: April 21, 2023
In the fifth Evil Dead film, \a road-weary Beth pays an overdue visit to her older sister Ellie, who is raising three kids on her own in a cramped L.A apartment. The sisters’ reunion is cut short by the discovery of a mysterious book deep in the bowels of Ellie’s building, giving rise to flesh-possessing demons, and thrusting Beth into a primal battle for survival as she is faced with the most nightmarish version of motherhood imaginable.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klmentieff, Will Poulter, Elizabeth Debicki
Opening in: May 5, 2023
In Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel
Opening on: May 19, 2023
Dominic "Dom" Toretto is reunited with his family for another insane high-octane adventure that involves fast cars, crazy car chases, insane action, and lots of explosions. As for the story, does anyone even watch these films for the story?
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Starring: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina
Opening on: May 26, 2023
A rebellious 16-year-old mermaid Ariel is fascinated with life on land. On one of her visits to the surface, which are forbidden by her controlling father, King Triton, she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with her new love, Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human for three days. But when plans go awry for the star-crossed lovers, the king must make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos
Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Issa Rae
Opening on: June 2, 2023
The film follows Miles Morales as Brooklyn’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, “plunged into the multiverse where he joins forces with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-folks to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered.” After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, “Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.”
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Directed by: Steven Caple Jr.
Starring: Ron Perlman, Anthony Ramos, Peter Cullen, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Velez
Opening on: June 9, 2023
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure and introduce the Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons to the existing battle on earth between Autobots and Decepticons.
Directed by: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Ezra Miller, Ben Affleck, Sasha Calle, Billy Crudup, Michael Keaton
Opening on: June 23, 2023
The Flash travels through time to prevent the murder of his mother, but unwittingly causes changes that result in the creation of a multiverse. And Michael Keaton returns as Batman, which is the most exciting thing about the movie!
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Harrison Ford, Antonio Banderas, Mads Mikkelsen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook
Opening on: June 30, 2023
The story is set 1969, and Indiana Jones is living against the backdrop of the space race – but the American effort to beat the Russians to the moon brings with it some uncomfortable truths for Indy. The moon-landing program was run by a bunch of ex-Nazis. How ‘ex’ they are is the question. And it gets up Indy’s nose…” Pitching Indiana – a man always looking to the secrets of the Earth rather than the stars – into the era of the astronaut finds him even more a man out of time.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One
Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Kirby, Henry Czerny, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Esai Morales
Opening on: July 14, 2023
There’s not much known about the plot, but it sure is gonna be fun to watch Tom Cruise do some of his death-defying stunts again! As far as the story goes, Ethan Hunt and his team are going to embark on one of their most intense missions yet!
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Rami Malek, Josh Hartnett, Benny Safdie
Opening on: July 21, 2023
The story centers on J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who ran the Manhattan Project that led to the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II. The film has been described as an \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.
Directed by: Nia DaCosta
Starring: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Samuel L. Jackson
Opening on: July 28,2023
Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol's estranged niece Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team-up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as 'The Marvels'.
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio
Opening on: July 14, 2023
Roosevelt had an eventful life filled with military exploits, and a political track where he moved from New York Governor to vice president to become at 42 the youngest president when President William Mckinley was assassinated in 1901. His most enduring achievements though came in the area of conservation, including his work around reserves, preserves, national parks and forests. That is of particular interest for DiCaprio and why he is resurrecting playing the subject after a previous attempt at the film years ago didn’t pan out.
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Starring: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling
Opening on: July 21, 2023
For over 62 years, Barbie has led girls on a path to self-discovery and helped them to imagine the possibilities. After over 180 inspirational careers, Barbie—along with her friends and family—continues to inspire and encourage the next generation of girls that they can be anything.
Directed by: Angel Manuel Soto
Starring:Xolo Maridueña, Susan Sarandon, Harvey Guillen
Opening on: August 18, 2023
The story for the movie centers on Jamie Reyes, the alter ego of the Blue Beetle, a vigilante who has a scarab grafted onto his spine that gives him tremendous powers and the ability to emit blue energy. It’s also confirmed that the movie will feature a good amount of Spanish dialogue with subtitles.
Directed by: Michael Chaves
Starring: Bonnie Aarons
Opening on: September 8, 2023
The movie is set in France, 1956. A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading. The sequel to The Nun follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face to face with the demonic force Valak, the Nun.
Untitled A Quiet Place Spinoff
Directed by: Michael Sarnoski
Starring: TBD
Opening on: September 22, 2023
There aren’t many details on the project other than it will be a spinoff of the films. It’s also based on an idea from John Krasinski, who directed and starred in the first two films. The studio is hoping to build on and expand the franchise with this upcoming spinoff movie. Don’t expect Krasinski or Emily Blunt to appear in the film.
Directed by: J.C. Chandor
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Opening on: October 6, 2023
Kraven The Hunter was described as being of Russian origin, with superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, and reflexes." It goes on to say that this "maniacal big-game hunter seeks to defeat Spider-Man to prove that he is the greatest hunter in the world." He’s also described as a "Bourne-like bounty hunter.
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: Leslie Odom Jr., Ellen Burstyn, Ann Dowd
Opening on: October 13, 2023
Green said of the film: “I want to make a movie that works for both [audiences]. I want to make a movie for people that know and love the first Exorcist and are furious that we’re doing this, but somehow drag themselves to the theater. I want them to come out happy. And I want to make a movie that people who’ve never heard of The Exorcist really enjoy. I think David did that with Halloween. I think he’ll do that with The Exorcist also.”
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård
Opening on: November 3, 2023
Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Tom Blyth, Jason Schwartzman
Opening on: November 17, 2023
Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the girl tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy Gray’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.
Directed by: Paul King
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Keegan-Michael Key
Opening on: December 15, 2023
The new film is based on the classic characters created by Roald Dahl, and the story will focus on a young Willy Wonka and his adventures prior to opening the world’s most famous chocolate factory.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Sequel - Firehouse
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: TBD
Opening on: December 20, 2023
The film has been previously described as “the next chapter in the Spengler family story.” It will officially be heading back to New York City and it’s also expected to take place in the Firehouse headquarters that has been featured in the first two Ghostbusters films.
Directed by: James Wan
Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison
Opening on: December 25, 2023
Aquaman forges an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally in a bid to save Atlantis and the rest of the planet.
