We know we’re not the only ones who plan out our moviegoing schedule a year in advance. Are we? With so many good films on the horizon in 2023, we’re already booking our calendars now. Here are some films we’re eagerly anticipating in the year ahead:
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Ant-Man movies haven’t had the biggest box office draw of all the Marvel properties. However, due in large part to the sheer charm and likability of actor Paul Rudd, they’ve always been fun. The third movie in the franchise will add actors Jonathan Majors, William Jackson Harper, and Bill Murray to the cast (alongside returning stars Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Michael Douglas). Having watched the trailer, we’re not quite sure what to make of the film just yet. Other than to say it looks like it’ll be a fun way to spend a few hours. And, honestly, what more could you ask for?
Argylle
We don’t know a lot about this upcoming film on Apple TV+. But what we know has us intrigued. For one thing, it’s a spy film. Who doesn’t like spy films? It also has a star-studded cast, including Henry Cavill, Catherine O’Hara, Bryce Dallas Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, and John Cena. A cast alone isn’t usually enough to get us to tune in. (Heaven knows there have been plenty of movies with big names that were absolute flops.) But CODA proved that Apple TV can put out fantastic movies, and this one has our interest piqued enough to make it on the list.
Barbie
There are no two ways about it: Barbie is either going to be amazing, or it’ll be a car wreck. One way or another, it’s almost certainly going to be pink. Very, very pink. Still, we have high hopes for this one. If for no other reason than, regardless of whether or not all her movies have been good, star Margot Robbie has been fantastic in every movie she’s done. So we’re willing to give this one a chance.
Cocaine Bear
We’re not even sure what to say about this one. Are we expecting Cocaine Bear to be an award-winning cinematic masterpiece? No. But it’s a movie about a bear getting up to (homicidal) shenanigans while tripping balls on a metric ton of cocaine. I don’t even know that we need to know anything else about this film. We’re sold already.
The Color Purple
Of all the films on this list, the upcoming musical, The Color Purple, may have the most to live up to. After all, the 1985 film starring Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey set a high bar. Still, if anyone can do it, we’re confident it will be the cast of the 2022 film – which includes H.E.R., David Alan Grier, Taraji P. Henson, and Halle Bailey.
Detective Knight: Independence
We’ll be honest: there’s really only one reason we’re looking forward to this movie. It’s actually the third part of a trilogy, and we have yet to see the first two installments (which received mixed reviews). But Bruce Willis recently announced his intention to retire from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia (a condition that impacts your ability to communicate verbally and/or through writing). That makes Detective Knight: Independence one of his final films. True, Willis’s filmography hasn’t always been filled with blockbuster hits, but he’s consistently entertained audiences as an action star since Die Hard in 1988. (And he proved his comedic chops even earlier, with Blind Date and Moonlighting.) Simply put: we’re going to miss having him on our screen.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Frankly, we’re as surprised as you are that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has landed a slot on our Must See 2023 Movie list. But one look at the trailer, and we were sold. If nothing else, Chris Pine and Regé-Jean Page look like they’re just having a hell of a lot of fun. And there’s no doubt that DnD players will have plenty of Easter eggs to keep them laughing throughout.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
We know, we know. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull wasn’t exactly a high mark for the franchise. And actor Harrison Ford is getting a little too old for this sh…series. But we can’t help but be excited about the fourth Indiana Jones film. We may be riding high on nostalgia, but nostalgia will still get us into a theater seat…almost every time.
John Wick: Chapter 4
Who knew that a movie about a man seeking revenge for the death of his dog would launch such a successful – and graphic – franchise? Not only are we getting John Wick: Chapter 4 in 2023, but The Continental, a series set in the same world, is also set to release next year. We don’t know what launched the Keanu Reeves renaissance. We’re just glad to see it.
The Little Mermaid
True, live-action Disney adaptations have been a little hit-or-miss. But we grew up on The Little Mermaid, and Halle Bailey shines already in the first glimpse clip of the film. This live-action adaptation looks promising to invite a whole new generation of children into Ariel’s world, and we couldn’t be happier about it. Plus…that voice.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Whatever you think of Tom Cruise, he knows how to make entertaining films. He also takes his job seriously and will strap his ass to the outside of a real plane to sell a special effect. Are you entertained now, audience? Are you? Because he will raise that bar if he has to! The Mission: Impossible films have at times been a bit repetitive, with Cruise’s character Ethan Hunt either being disavowed or having to track down those previously disavowed. But he’s willing to strap his ass to a plane to get the money shot. We think that warrants the price of a bucket of popcorn. (But, seriously, are his insurance adjustors okay?)
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
The films in the DC cinematic universe may be met with more mixed reviews than one typically sees from Marvel. We’re still not entirely certain The Flash will release next year, no matter what the studio says. And we frankly don’t know where the studio is even headed, given the recent announcements that there will be no third Wonder Woman movie starring Gal Gadot, and Henry Cavill won’t be starring in another Superman movie, after all. One thing we do know is that Shazam! Fury of the Gods is set to release in 2023. If the 2019 Shazam! film is anything to go by, this one promises to have humor and heart. Plus, Zachary Levi is perfectly cast as a kid in an adult’s body. (We mean that completely as a compliment.) Which makes it a no-brainer to put this film on our 2023 watch list.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was something of a surprise hit in 2018, blowing audiences away with its visual art style and message that anyone can be Spider-Man. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse takes Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) into the Multiverse, to team up with other spider-people and take on an even greater threat. We didn’t even need to see the trailer for this one to know we were going to line up to see the film. Just like we already know we’re going to see the third movie in the franchise, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, tentatively scheduled for release in 2024.
Wonka
Like so many Roald Dahl characters, we’re not quite sure if Willy Wonka is supposed to be childish and endearing, or abso-freaking-lutely terrifying. (That boat scene Gene Wilder? Straight-up nightmare fuel.) The character is getting yet another chance to shine in Wonka, an upcoming musical fantasy starring Timothée Chalamet as a young version of the titular character. So whether he’s supposed to be lovable or a cautionary tale, this film should show us how he got to be that way.
What movies are you looking forward to in 2023? Let us know in the comments below!
