As we are now in 2023 and we hope that the worst of the pandemic is behind us, we are starting to see more trailers and hype for the movies that were not only expected to come out this year but some years prior as well. We have thrillers, romance, superhero movies, and absolutely gorgeous animated features. The best minds and talents of the film industry have still been hard at work, and we shall soon see the results.
Here are all of the most anticipated movies for 2023, divided by their anticipated month of release. Things may change, but the anticipation for these movies won’t:
January has likely come and gone by the time you read this, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t a few movies you might have missed. Here are a few to check out:
The Scream franchise is one been beloved by slasher and horror fans and is considered a series of classics (most of them, anyway). And after some production issues and delays, it was inevitable that we would see a return to the series. This year’s Scream was that return, and it has everything that people were hoping for. While the film was the first to not be directed by Wes Craven, it was praised by critics and was enough of a success to warrant a sequel.
The film itself is both a direct sequel to Scream 4 and something of a relaunch of the series, so old fans and newcomers alike have something to enjoy and be terrified at.
One of the biggest films to come out in January (a notably dry month when it comes to movies), The 355 is about five international spies (all female) who must stop a terrorist organization from starting WWIII. While the basis for the plot is hardly original, it has a lovely sense of style to it that many fans enjoyed, and others considered the casting a breath of fresh air. And there’s no shortage of action, with the film featuring non-stop pacing and a ton of fun.
And while the critics weren’t the biggest fans, audiences enjoyed it a lot more, making it something you may want to put on your list (it’s available on-demand now).
Moving into February, these films might be out by the time you read this, but that hasn’t stopped the discussion or the hype surrounding them.
While most video game adaptations are forgettable at best and everlastingly mockable at worst, Uncharted could very well be something else. Why? Because the Uncharted series of games is known for being heavily cinematic, plot-driven, and filled with amazing set pieces that would translate well to an adventure film. Featuring Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, and Antonio Banderas, the film is filled with action, fun, and twists and turns you at once expect and don’t see coming.
It's a return to adventure films we don’t see too many of, making it a must-watch for fans.
A sequel to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile is a modern take on the classic Agatha Christie story in a classic style, making it a treat for the eyes and a lot of fun, even if you have read the book a few times already. Featuring great characters and performances needed for a good mystery, Death on the Nile provides the drama, the thrills, and the story needed for a great time at the movies. It’s something people will want to see all the details of if only to judge how good of an adaptation it really is.
Something expected to be a little more light-hearted, Marry Me is a romantic comedy in theaters just in time for Valentine's Day. Featuring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson as the two leads, Marry Me is about an engaged starlet who finds out about her fiancé’s infidelity right before a performance. As a response, she spontaneously marries a fan in the crowd. There are plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments to be had in the film as the two navigate their new situation, and audiences both look forward to it and loved it.
Jackass is without a doubt a controversial franchise that inspired a generation of teens and young adults to put themselves in precarious situations, but that has never stopped the franchise before, and it’s not going to this time. Featuring the same raunchy comedy as its predecessors and a fair number of new cast members, Jackass Forever is more of what the fans wanted at a time when they weren’t expecting it, making it a highly anticipated “sequel” to parts of their youth. It wasn’t designed to be for everyone, but if you want to watch it, we don’t need to convince you.
There’s no shortage of Batman films. We can’t even remember all of them that have been released over the last two decades. Yet that doesn’t mean you should dismiss this one out of hand, as fans are heavily anticipating this version of the caped crusader. Featuring Robert Pattinson as Batman alongside Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, and Jeffrey Wright (among others), the star-studded cast is sure to make a splash in the realm of superhero movies and put a new twist and aesthetic on the character.
The Batman is expected to be released in theaters on March 4.
An adventure-romance film featuring some not so adventurous characters, The Lost City is about a reclusive author of romance-adventure novels who gets kidnapped to lead the villain to a reported lost treasure from one of her books. Her cover model, who has tried to embody the hero of the books, wants to rescue her. It is a bit of an absurd premise to be sure, but it’s also sure to be a ton of fun. The film stars Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in the lead roles, with other huge names in supporting roles.
The Lost City will be released in theaters in the United States on March 25.
Pixar has hundreds of millions (if not more) of fans across the globe, so people are eagerly anticipating what comes next from the studio. That will be Turning Red. This film is about Meilin Lee or “Mei”, who is a 13-year-old Chinese Canadian who happens to turn into a giant red panda when she gets extremely excited or stressed out. It’s a fun premise, but as with most Pixar films, we can likely expect some emotional depth from the film as well. And the animation quality and production of the film will be a given.
Turning Red is interesting in that it will be primarily released on Disney+ on March 11, as opposed to a worldwide theatrical release. This is in line with some previous releases. It will still get released in theaters where Disney+ is not available.
Based on a novel from 1957, Deep Water will nonetheless be a thrilling experience for viewers. It features a married couple, now out of love, who try to mess with each other. However, their games with each other lead to the deaths of those around them, increasing the stakes. It’s the perfect film for many viewers looking for something a little more thrilling, and it is the return of Adrian Lyne to directing after two decades of absence.
Deep Water is expected to be released on Hulu on March 18.
If you want something to shake up your April, you may want to check out The Northman, which is a film directed by Robert Eggars (who directed The Witch and The Lighthouse). It is an epic Viking revenge saga set in tenth-century Iceland, with a Viking prince seeking to avenge the death of his father. Just from the trailers, it looks amazing already, and future audiences are looking forward to the direction, writing, effects, and everything else about this film.
The Northman will be released in theatres in the United States on April 22.
While the first Sonic the Hedgehog went through some interesting developments, twists, and turns in its development (you just need to see the original character designs), the film was successful enough to warrant a sequel, and after what feels like no time at all we get Sonic the Hedgehog 2. This outing will feature Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, but otherwise will likely be more fun than you would expect.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will be out on April 8.
In something a little more international, Beast is a widely anticipated Indian Tamil-language film. Starring superstar Vijay in his 65th film, it is expected to be both a black comedy and a thriller, putting a bit of spice into the usual fare coming out in August. It features a father and his two teenage daughters as they fend off a lion, though there is more to it than that. You might not see as many movie posters or trailers in the United States for this one, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less worth watching.
Beast comes out on April 14 to most theaters.
Despite some controversy regarding J.K. Rowling and the original films being done for some time now, the Harry Potter universe keeps on going and with that, we have the anticipated Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The screenplay is by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, and is the third installment in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, proving that it will keep going. We can expect Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law to put in great work as the leads, and the magical thrills to continue.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is scheduled for release on April 15 after some previous changes to the release date.
While there were huge fans and people with middling options about the first Doctor Strange film, the one thing everyone agreed on was that it was visually mind-bending and spectacular. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will take this even further if the trailers and even the movie posters are anything to be believed. Sam Raimi will be taking the reins as the film builds what happens in the first movie while exploring strange new territory. It’s sure to be a treat for Marvel fans and people who want something a little different.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness comes out on May 6.
It has been a while, but lately, we’ve been getting a ton of movies riding the nostalgia wave to new heights. And Legally Blonde 3 is both parts of that and yet a movie many people are looking forward to. While it’s experienced quite a few production delays (it was originally planned for 2018) and we worry whether there will be more, there will be laughs to be had when it does release, and fans will love to spend more time with the characters.
Legally Blonde 3 is planned to be released on May 20.
Speaking of nostalgia, Top Gun is back and it is eagerly (it cautiously) awaited by fans. Taking place far after the original with a new generation of characters, Top Gun: Maverick still features Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, but they are now in more advanced roles. There is an important and dangerous mission to perform, and new pilots must be prepared. Whatever happens in the film, it will be a thrilling ride and will hopefully be a worthy sequel.
Top Gun: Maverick is scheduled for release on July 12.
Bob’s Burgers is currently one of the biggest animated franchises in the world, if not in history. There is merchandise everywhere, the television series provides no signs of slowing down, and there is now a movie coming out. The Bob’s Burgers Movie features the full cast and will be a big musical comedy adventure with multiple plotlines. It’s sure to bring a lot of laughs and will be a great time for fans.
The Bob’s Burgers Movie comes out on May 27.
By any standard, Elvis Pressley was an interesting figure worthy of a movie, and in June we are getting a great biographical musical drama directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring both Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. It will feature the life of Elvis, as one can expect, from his childhood to his days as a rock and movie star. The project has been a long time coming, and we can expect to find a lot of effort and love put into the film.
Elvis comes out on June 24.
There likely won’t be any more Toy Story films, at least for some time. But that doesn’t mean the characters need to be left alone. And perhaps the biggest character is Buzz Lightyear, an astronaut-adventurer who was so inspirational that he got a toy made of him. Pixar is creating an amazing looking film this time, and while we don’t know too much, it will be filled with adventure and a great, if thrilling, time for the family.
Lightyear comes to theaters on June 17.
Jordan Peele has made a huge name for himself, and the writer and director has his next film, Nope, coming out on July 22. As of this writing, we surprisingly don’t know much about it yet, expect it will concern the supernatural, a town, and feature the commentary Peele is known for. It will certainly be a work with a singular vision, and one that makes you think. Fans are hyped, and it’s worth keeping on your radar.
Nope is scheduled to be released on July 22.
While there are tons of superheroes with name recognition, both before and after the huge wave of superhero movies that came over the last two decades, you might not have heard of Black Adam. Yet you will soon. Black Adam is a spinoff of Shazam! and part of the DCEU, making it the eleventh film in the franchise. Black Adam himself is something of an anti-hero played by Dwayne Johnson, and it will be interesting to see how they set up the character in the film. There is a future role to play as well as a great movie to come, so keep your eyes peeled.
Black Adam is scheduled for release on July 29.
Thor: Ragnarok was a breath of fresh air for the film series and the Marvel Universe in general, being one of the most fun entries and a huge hit. After a few years, we now have Thor: Love and Thunder. The series has certainly found its stride with Taiki Waititi at the helm, and he is bringing Natalie Portman back as well as bringing in most of the Guardians of the Galaxy to be part of this story. We expect a few twists and turns, but just as much fun as the last film.
Thor: Love and Thunder is planned for release on July 8.
A thriller based on the popular book, Bullet Train seems like a simple enough premise from the start: five assassins are on a bullet train, and they learn their assignments are interconnected. Yet it's all in the execution, and we expect director David Leitch to do an amazing job with the source material and deliver something audiences will love. Starring, Brad Pitt, Joey Kind, Andrew Koji, and other amazing talents, there will be plenty of things to watch out for when this film comes to theatres.
Bullet Train is expected to release in the United States on July 15.
At this point, we think that as long as Tom Cruise stays alive we are going to get more Mission: Impossible films, and that he is going to do his own stunts (for better or for worse). Mission: Impossible 7 will have a director and writer Christopher McQuarrie behind it, keeping the franchise in good hands. It will feature your favorite characters from the franchise and the last film and all of the crazy action you hope for and expect. There’s not much to say about the plot yet, but have you been disappointed before?
Mission: Impossible 7 is expected to come out in September, though there may be delays that push it back into 2023. We hope it comes out sooner rather than later.
Out of all of the Spiderman films in recent years, the one with the most fervent fans was certainly the animated and profoundly creative Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. And with good reason, consider it was highly acclaimed and one of the most interesting films of the year outright. And we are getting more with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One). While in the first film Miles Morales has the strangeness of the Spider-Verse come to him, now he is adventuring out with Gwen Stacy (Spider-Woman) into it. We already know that there’s going to be a ton of cross-dimensional shenanigans, tons of creativity, and some surprises in store for new people and super-fans alike.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) is expected to come out on October 7.
The Halloween series of slasher or horror films is one of the best known in cinema, and in recent years there have been a few films seeking to revitalize it and bring it to a new audience. Halloween Ends is the last film in the current cycle (though unlikely the last we will see of the franchise. It features some of the same characters in the franchise, and naturally, Michael Myers is back to causing trouble for Haddonfield. As for the rest, we would hate to spoil the scares and surprises.
Halloween Ends is appropriately planned for release on October 14.
After Chadwick Boseman’s tragic death, everyone was wondering what would happen to the sequel to Black Panther, which inspired many and was one of the top-grossing films of all time. After some years, we have Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film will continue the story of Black Panther but will not recast the role of T’Challa. It will instead explore the world and other characters left behind and likely do so in a way that pays tribute to and moves forward from the original film. It’s too early to know much else, but with the creative team involved audiences are confident it will be amazing.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever comes out on November 11.
On the DC side of things in November we have The Flash, which is the first solo film for Ezra Miller’s portrayal of the character. Given the history of the character and the mood whenever he is on-screen, this is likely to be a somewhat lighter affair compared to previous entries, and we cannot wait to see what they come up with. And while this is certainly The Flash’s film, we can expect characters from other films and parts of the DCEU to show up, making things more interesting than we might first expect.
The Flash is scheduled to release in the United States on November 4 after some delays.
While the Rocky movies are older, they still have a significant following and a loyal fanbase. Creed took up the torch with Michael B. Jordan playing Adonis Creed. Creed III is to be a sequel to the first two films in this new franchise. And while Sylvester Stallone will not be in the film, he is still serving as a producer to keep the spirit of the Rocky movies alive while moving things on to the next generation. We don’t know too much else yet, but fans will have plenty to look forward to.
Creed III is expected to come out on November 23.
Rounding out the year on the superhero front is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, featuring Jason Momoa returning as Aquaman. This film is expected to focus a bit more on worldbuilding and the more insular characters in Aquaman’s circle, and yet still be one of the most action-packed movies of the year. That being said, we’d be surprised if there weren’t some allusions and hints to the rest of the DCEU.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has a scheduled release date of December 16.
After what feels like forever, Avatar 2 is here, and James Cameron has put a lot of work into it. Most of the main cast returns, and the film will feature a further exploration of Pandora after an old threat returns and is about this new family’s struggle to survive and stay together. It will likely take place some years after the first film, so fans are excited to see what comes next and what the creative team dreamed up for this beautiful world.
Avatar 2 currently has a release date of December 16.
In something of a stretch for Nintendo compared to its usual conservative nature, there is going to be a Super Mario animated feature-length film. It isn’t going to reach the same levels of infamy as the previous movie based on the franchise, given the talent involved and the fact that the creator of the character, Shigeru Miyamoto, is involved as a producer. As of now, we do not know too much yet, but we are certain that Chris Pratt, Anna Taylor Joy, Charlie Day, and others are going to make it something to remember.
The current planned release date is December 21.
TBD
While we are still waiting on an exact release date, based on the information we have we can still expect a 2022 release for the following anticipated films:
Based on a best-selling book about the 1920’s Oklahoma murders in the Osage Nation, Killers of the Flower Moon is an upcoming Western crime drama. It is partially about the birth of the FBI and will star Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, and Lilly Gladstone. If you’ve read the book you know you’re in for an interesting time. Given the fact that it is directed by Martin Scorsese, you also know that it could be the best film of the year.
Marilyn Monroe is one of the most recognized figures of the 20th century, and for good reason. There was practically no one with her level of star power, and her life’s story is profoundly interesting. That makes it perfect for a movie. Ana de Armas will play the star in this new movie to be released on Netflix about her life. Blonde is interesting in that it isn’t necessarily a biopic as we know it: from what we can tell it will be a partially fictional take on the star’s life. Whatever the end result, many people are looking forward to what they will find from the film.
A retelling of Pinocchio would normally go into the bin with all of the other cash grabs and unoriginal movies that come out every year. Most people wouldn’t even know it exists. Yet this film is being directed by Guillermo Del Toro, who has wanted to do this for some time. Fans don’t need any other details, and they’ll wait as long as needed to see this likely stunning film on the big screen.
As you can tell, there will be no shortage of interesting movies to watch in 2022. Whether you want something light or something deep, there is an option for you. You get to see beloved franchises return and the birth of new franchises that you’ll love over the next decade to come. We doubt you’ll see all of these, but we do hope that you’ve added a few items to your calendar or future watchlist and that you have lots of fun at the theater (or home theater) this year.
