If someone asked you, “What are the most anticipated movies of 2023,” what would you say off the top of your dome? Some CBMs and maybe a drama? Would you stammer because you can’t remember what number we are on for John Wick, Fast & Furious, or Scream? The problem is there is so much rich and noteworthy content coming in 2023, it’s difficult to narrow it all down to only 10.
Good thing we specialize in Top 10 listicles. We do the research at GVN. We do the arm wrestling for what goes where on a list of this importance. That’s the thing about movies: It’s a talking sport!
With the bevy of theater lollapalooza coming, the cinephiles at GVN may have torn a rotator cuff with all the arm wrestling being done over here. Yet, we’re a committed gaggle of geeks, so the list is done. You’re welcome!
Here are the Top 10 most anticipated movies of 2023!
Author’s Memo: In case you’re wondering, 2023 definitely looks like the “Year of the Sequel.”
It’s up to you if that’s a good thing or not. There are several fantastic ideas being reconsidered, revised, and reshuffled for the 2023 landscape. To do that doesn’t always mean directors and screenwriters don’t have “any new ideas.” To be fair, it may imply that there is another bucket of cash to grab. So, they got distracted, but the numbers won’t lie if the bang was worth the hype.
Get ready because some of those eagerly anticipated sequels are not on this list. Why? Because other projects have more intrigue, created more chatter, or–quite frankly–have the potential to lose the air out of their balloon within minutes of the opening credits. (Fast X, Indiana Jones 5, Transformers 6, Aquaman 2, we’re all looking at you!) If you have some absolution to discuss, holler at us in the comments. We double-dog dare you.
What’s clear is many movies are coming back for another chance at box office domination. Will they gain your dollars? Will they even make sense? You will be the judge, much like you did last time.
Back to the show…
HM. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (November 17)
How good is that teaser? Not one clue about what you will see and still, the odds are ever in their favor that this prequel will crush the box office. The movie will be set in the 10th Hunger Games. For perspective, Katniss offered a tribute for the 74th Hunger Games.
In this film, Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) is 18 years old and not close to becoming the fascist of Panem. Guess who is going to become a snake? The fascinating part is we get to see it happen. There’s no way a Hunger Games prequel doesn’t belong as one of the most anticipated movies of 2023.
10. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part One (July 14)
Tom Cruise is surfing a mighty wave of momentum of the likes that tiny Thetan has never seen before. On the heels of an unprecedented sequel that no one believed would reach $1.5 billion, even casual fans are clamoring for the penultimate Mission Impossible to see what the daring and death-defying actor will do next.
Only two film franchises are known for upping the ante in every movie–James Bond and all these missions. And, in this mission, there is a stunt so daring, Paramount is promoting a featurette with the “biggest cinematic stunt ever.” This movie will not disappoint; if it does, the bad feeling will probably be only because the movie stopped halfway through.
9. Creed III (March 3)
When you grow so tired of Rocky Balboa, here comes a new twist on an old underdog. Life through the eyes of Apollo Creed’s son was captivating, and the journey continues through Russia, and now faced with his past in the form of Damian Anderson (a jacked Jonathan Majors).
Adonis (Michael B. Jordan, also the film’s director) is faced with the demons of his past trying to swallow up his future. The trailer was a compelling glimpse at theater, which has gripped many fans of this franchise for another trip in the ring. And if you think Ryan Coogler and Jordan don’t realize the dichotomy of an avenging angel cloaked in demon’s clothes in this film and Rocky III, you may have to see the movie twice to figure that out.
8. The Flash (June 16)
Here is DC’s attempt at traveling the multiverse and the weight of whatever world is riding on the legs of Ezra Miller. The mere fascination with this nitwit will earn this movie a couple hundred million. We lose Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, and most likely Ben Affleck. Jason Momoa is getting a second trip to Atlantis. But no one from the Snyderverse created more negative headlines than Miller. And yet, there he is, still with an eight-figure payday in waiting. Isn’t Justice blind (and dumb)?
What makes all the promotion and hype for The Flash seem worthless is that we know Gunn and Safran will throttle the movie and probably recast the characters. So, why kill Batgirl, light $90 million on fire, but stand strong with this dude? Because we are getting up to three different Batmen? Is that enough of a risk? I guess we’ll see…maybe.
7. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2)
Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is back proving that an animated film can be just a great film–no qualifiers necessary. This trek into the multi-…er, Spider-Verse will take Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and a refreshing gaggle of Spider-Peeps deep into worlds unimagined before. The psychedelic makeup and cinematography are hypnotizing. But, it is the acting that makes this movie what it is. The illuminated artwork is a bonus for this franchise stepping it up a few flights of stairs. It should be an “amazing” trip.
6. John Wick 4 (March 24)
New year. New puppy. Same old assassin. The trailer featuring Keanu Reeves and the closest thing to Bruce Lee we have on film in Donnie Yen (yes, he is that good) was action-packed. Keanu has a charmed life with two of the most prolific film franchises of all time (The Matrix, John Wick) and two more that have their place in motion picture folklore (Bill & Ted, Speed). No one knows how he does it, but as long as he keeps doing it, fans will be in tow. And for this? They’ll bum-rush the theaters.
5. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania (February 17)
The Conqueror is here. All hail Kang (another appearance from Jonathan Majors)! Paul Rudd reprises his role as Scott Lang, and yet another trek into the Quantum Realm awaits. Only this one is a bit more treacherous because of what they discover, who they run into, and how it involves Scott, Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson), and his family.
This is the beginning of Phase 5 in the MCU, following Wakanda Forever’s bold achievement. Yes, this was supposed to be the date for The Marvels, but we get Kang, so no one has a problem with that. And, let’s not forget, MODOK is confirmed to show up with his big ass head. This should not disappoint!
4. Oppenheimer (July 21)
It’s Christopher Nolan. Period. That’s why this thrilling biopic about the man who discovered how to create Armageddon (Cillian Murphy) is worth seeing and so highly anticipated. The movie’s all-star cast features one of the most complex inventions ever. Murphy appears vexed with emotion and puzzled about what he is doing.
We know how the story concludes on August 6 and 9 of 1945. More than 100,000 innocent people were vaporized in seconds, and both prominent cities in Japan–Hiroshima and Nagasaki–were put back into the Stone Age. Twenty years later, the theoretical physicist reflected upon his invention, quoted Vishnu, and applied it to himself, saying this…
Put Murphy’s visceral acting in front of that quote, and we may talk about Oscars 2024. You heard it here first.
3. Dune: Part Two (November 3)
What Denis Villeneuve created from the iconic Frank Herbert source material was an evocative force of nature. Last year’s trailer is still powerful enough to convey emotions felt more than a year ago. Now that Paul is getting closer to his Messianic legacy as a Fremen, the Harkonnen will stop at nothing to quell his force on Arrakis.
Easily one of the most perplexing and deep science fiction books in history, Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya will lead this movie into the stratosphere now that people understand what they missed the first go-round. Dune: Part Two will dwarf the first half in terms of world-building and vision casting. And if anyone will do Herbert’s world of Shai Hulud and sand dunes the justice it richly deserves, it’s Villeneuve!
2. Rebel Moon (TBD 2023)
Earlier this summer, we released some enthralling insight about what to expect from Zack Snyder’s new “space opera,” as he calls it. Later, that story was followed up with Zack’s video address with Sofia Boutella (Kingsmen: The Secret Service, The Mummy, Star Trek: Beyond) where the boss hyped everyone at Netflix Geeked Week into quite a balmy lather.
His characters look like they just left a vacation in Hell and are primed to kill anything that moves. The hype is real, because, well…it’s Zack! The Snyderverse acolytes and other throngs of fans will flock to whatever he creates. Add to his genius the thick wallets at Netflix and this film will be poised for intergalactic success. Imagine Star Wars, a generous helping of nerd bravado, and that mind and Rebel Moon could destroy anyone’s initial perception.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (May 5)
It’s the end of two eras–James Gunn‘s vision of what is easily one of the most popular sub-franchises in MCU history and James Gunn’s working for Marvel. When Gunn started toying with a relatively unpopular character group like the Guardians, people weren’t too sure about it. Ask anyone now, and they’ll deny that straight to your face, but hopes weren’t high. And then it showed all geeks just how little they know about making movies.
It was a fantastic trip through the cosmos, and we wanted more. Now, as we approach the end of the team, we know people will die, and they’ll fade into the ethos as easily as the snap, blip, or whatever the hell we’re supposed to call it now.
We will be introduced to the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), who, of course, was instrumental in the creation of Adam Warlock (Will Poulter). And that will not disappoint at all! There will be laughs and tears, moans and jeers, and all of us will know we saw something historic. (Then, maybe, the DC stans will stop talking for a minute.)
Since he saw ‘Dune’ in the $1 movie theater as a kid, this guy has been a lover of geek culture. It wasn’t until he became a professional copywriter, ghostwriter, and speechwriter that he began to write about it (a lot).
From the gravitas of the Sith, the genius of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, or the gluttony of today’s comic fan, SPW digs intelligent debate about entertainment. He’s also addicted to listicles, storytelling, useless trivia, and the Oxford comma. And, he prefers his puns intended.
