The new year is finally upon us and with it comes yet another 12-month slate of brand-new movies. And although the box office is still in recovery mode, there are still plenty of unique and thrilling experiences coming to a big screen near you in 2023. From psychotic killer robot dolls to plenty more superhero showdowns, a new John Wick killing spree, to Magic Mike’s Last Dance, the new year has plenty to offer moviegoers of all tastes. With that said, let’s take a look at the most exciting films we know are coming down the pike!
*As always, these release dates are liable to change at the discretion of their studios. The following release dates are accurate as of the publishing of this article.
JANUARY
M3GAN
Directed by: Gerard Johnstone
Release date: January 6
Synopsis: M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to. When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House), Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.
MISSING
Directed by: Will Merrick & Nick Johnson
Release date: January 20
Synopsis: From the minds behind Searching comes Missing, a thrilling roller-coaster mystery that makes you wonder how well you know those closest to you. When her mother (Nia Long) disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s (Storm Reid) search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers…and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.
YOU PEOPLE
Directed by: Kenya Barris
Release date: January 27
Synopsis: You People is an upcoming American buddy comedy film directed by Kenya Barris, which he co-wrote with Jonah Hill. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Eddie Murphy, Hill, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lauren London, Sam Jay, Molly Gordon, Mike Epps, Nia Long, Deon Cole, Rhea Perlman, and David Duchovny.
FEBRUARY
KNOCK AT THE CABIN
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Release date: February 3
Synopsis: While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.
MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Release date: February 8
Synopsis: “Magic” Mike Lane (Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus,
following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking
bartender gigs in Florida. For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads
to London with a wealthy socialite (Hayek Pinault) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse… and an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he—and the roster of hot new dancers he’ll have to whip into shape—be able to pull it off?
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Release date: February 17
Synopsis: Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, along with Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, explore the Quantum Realm, where they interact with strange creatures and embark on an adventure that goes beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.
COCAINE BEAR
Directed by: Elizabeth Banks
Release date: February 24
Synopsis: An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converge in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.
MARCH
CREED III
Directed by: Michael B. Jordan
Release date: March 3
Synopsis: After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan 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.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES
Directed by: John Francis Daley & Johnathan Goldstein
Release date: March 3
Synopsis: A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a long lost relic, but their charming adventure goes dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.
SCREAM VI
Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Release date: March 10
Synopsis: The four survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.
SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS
Directed by: David F. Sandburg
Release date: March 17
Synopsis: Shazam takes on the villainous Hespera and Kalypso, daughters of the Greek titan Atlas.
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Release date: March 24
Synopsis: John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.
APRIL
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE
Directed by: Aaron Horvath & Michael Jelenic
Release date: April 7
Synopsis: A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, trying to save a captured princess.
RENFIELD
Directed by: Chris McKay
Release date: April 17
Synopsis: Dracula’s henchman, Renfield, wonders what life would be like without serving his dark master.
EVIL DEAD RISE
Directed by: Lee Cronin
Release date: April 21
Synopsis: Two sisters find themselves in a fight for their lives when an ancient book gives birth to bloodthirsty demons that run amok in a Los Angeles apartment building.
NEXT GOAL WINS
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Release date: April 21
Synopsis: Directed by Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok), NEXT GOAL WINS follows the infamously terrible American Samoa soccer team, known for a brutal 2001 FIFA match they lost 31-0.
MAY
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOL. 3
Directed by: James Gunn
Release date: May 5
Synopsis: Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own – a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.
FAST X
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Release date: May 19
Synopsis: TBA
THE LITTLE MERMAID
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Release date: May 25
Synopsis: The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
JUNE
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE
Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers & Justin K. Thompson
Release date: June 2
Synopsis: Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga, an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the Multiverse to join forces with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-People to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered.
TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS
Directed by: Steven Caple Jr.
Release date: June 9
Synopsis: 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 with the Autobots and introduce a whole new breed of Transformer – the Maximals – to the existing battle on earth between Autobots and Decepticons. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback.
ELEMENTAL
Directed by: Peter Sohn
Release date: June 16
Synopsis: Disney and Pixar’s Elemental is an all-new, original feature film set in Element City, where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. Directed by Peter Sohn, produced by Denise Ream, and featuring the voices of Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie as Ember and Wade.
THE FLASH
Directed by: Andy Muschietti
Release date: June 23
Synopsis: The Flash travels through time to prevent the murder of his mother, but unwittingly causes changes that result in the creation of a multiverse.
INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
Director: Peter Sohn
Global Release: June 30
Synopsis: Harrison Ford returns as the legendary hero archaeologist in the highly anticipated fifth installment of the iconic “Indiana Jones” franchise, which is directed by James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari,” “Logan”). Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”), Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”), John Rhys-Davies (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”), Shaunette Renee Wilson (“Black Panther”), Thomas Kretschmann (“Das Boot”), Toby Jones (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”), Boyd Holbrook (“Logan”), Oliver Richters (“Black Widow”), Ethann Isidore (“Mortel”) and Mads Mikkelsen (“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”). Directed by James Mangold, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 1981, is once again composing the score.
JULY
INSIDIOUS: FEAR THE DARK
Directed by: Patrick Wilson
Release date: July 7
Synopsis: The Lamberts 10 years after the last installment, as Dalton begins college.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING
PART ONE
Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Release date: July 14
Synopsis: TBA
BARBIE
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Release date: July 21
Synopsis: After she’s expelled from Barbieland for being a less than perfect-looking doll, Barbie (Margot Robbie) sets off for the human world to find true happiness.
OPPENHEIMER
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Release date: July 21
Synopsis: The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
THE MARVELS
Directed by: Nia DaCosta
Release date: July 28
Synopsis: TBA
AUGUST
MEG 2: THE TRENCH
Directed by: Ben Wheatley
Release date: August 4
Synopsis: Meg 2: The Trench is an upcoming science fiction action film, directed by Ben Wheatley with a screenplay by Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, and Erich Hoeber, based on the 1999 book The Trench by Steve Alten. Serving as a sequel to the 2018 film, The Meg, the film stars Jason Statham, Sienna Guillory, and Cliff Curtis.
LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER
Directed by: André Øvredal
Release date: August 11
Synopsis: Based on a single chapter, the Captain’s Log, from Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel Dracula, the story is set aboard the Russian schooner Demeter, which was chartered to carry private cargo – twenty-four unmarked wooden crates – from Carpathia to London.
HAUNTED MANSION (2023)
Directed by: Justin Simien
Release date: August 11
Synopsis: A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and a historian to help exorcise their newly bought mansion; after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts.
GRAN TURISMO
Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Release date: August 11
Synopsis: The ultimate wish fulfilment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver.
BLUE BEETLE
Directed by: Angel Manuel Soto
Release date: August 18
Synopsis: A Mexican teenager finds an alien beetle that gives him superpowered armor.
SEPTEMBER
THE EQUALIZER 3
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Release date: September 1
Synopsis: TBA
THE NUN 2
Directed by: Michael Chaves
Release date: September 8
Synopsis: TBA
UNTITLED ‘A QUIET PLACE’ SPIN-OFF
Directed by: Michael Sarnoski
Release date: September 22, 2023
Synopsis: We don’t know much yet about this film besides its scheduled release date and the fact that Michael Sarnoski, who made his feature directorial debut with the acclaimed Nicolas Cage film Pig, will be behind the camera. We also know the story will be based on an idea from John Krasinski, who will serve as producer on the film.
OCTOBER
KRAVEN THE HUNTER
Directed by: J.C. Chandor
Release date: October 6
Synopsis: Russian immigrant Sergei Kravinoff is on a mission to prove that he is the greatest hunter in the world.
THE EXORCIST (2023)
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Release date: October 13
Synopsis: TBA
SAW X
Directed by: Kevin Greutert
Release date: October 27
Synopsis: TBA
NOVEMBER
DUNE: PART 2
Directed: Denis Villeneuve
Release date: November 3
Synopsis: TBA
THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Release date: November 17
Synopsis: 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.
DECEMBER
WONKA
Directed by: Paul King
Release date: December 15
Synopsis: TBA
UNTITLED ‘GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE’ SEQUEL
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Release date: December 20
Synopsis: TBA
AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM
Directed by: James Wan
Release date: December 25
Synopsis: TBA
RELEASE DATE TBA
CIVIL WAR
Directed by: Alex Garland
Release date: TBA
Synopsis: Little is known about the film’s plot, save for the fact that the epic film takes place in the United States in the not-so-distant future.
POOR THINGS
Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Release date: TBA
Synopsis: Poor Things centers on a woman, who is brought back from the dead via the brain of her unborn child after she drowns herself to escape an abusive relationship.
THE KILLER
Directed by: David Fincher
Release date: TBA
Synopsis: An assassin begins to psychologically crack as he develops a conscience, even as his clients continue to demand his skills.
DISAPPOINTMENT BLVD.
Directed by: Ari Aster
Release date: TBA
Synopsis: Described as “an intimate, decades-spanning portrait of one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time,” Aster has referred to his movie as “a nightmare comedy.”
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Release date: TBA
Synopsis: Martin Scorsese’s $200 million dollar-costing crime drama centers on Native American tribe members murdered under mysterious circumstances in the 1920s, sparking a major F.B.I. investigation involving J. Edgar Hoover.
Those are the movies I’m most excited to see next year! What do you make of my picks? Do our interests cross over at all? Which films are you looking forward to that aren’t on my list? Sound off in the comments below to let me and the rest of the movie-loving world know your thoughts!
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