My 23 Most Anticipated Movies For 2023
My 23 Most Anticipated Movies For 2023
Films I'm most looking forward to this year.
It’s a new dawn,
it’s a new year,
it’s a lot of new films for us, ooh,
and I’m feeling good.
Now that we’re in 2023 and already have the year’s first box office hit (M3GAN, surprisingly), it’s a good time to take out the telescope and see what exciting movies lie on the horizon.
Before we jump into it, a couple of disclaimers. Unknown indie arthouse directors tend to fly under the radar only to end up on Top 10 year-end lists (case in point: my #3 of 2022), so I’m sure there’ll be a lot of gems to discover in 2023 that I have no idea exist right now.
Secondly, that question that comes at the beginning of every year is back again: is this the year we’ll see Terrence Malick’s new film? If there were any certainty, The Way of the Wind would take top spot.1 It’s a similar story with Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, Andrew Haigh’s Strangers, Lynne Ramsay’s Stone Mattress, Bruno Dumont’s The Empire, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis and countless others that I’m anticipating far more than some of the films you’ll see below.
So, with that out of the way, below are the 23 films that I know of and have a 90% chance or above of being released in 2023 (with one notable exception).
23. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Expected: 2 June in Theaters.
Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson
Writers: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham
Principle Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld and Oscar Isaac
Screenwriting superstars Lord and Miller are back to take on the animated version of the web slinger. If we’re lucky, it’ll feel like another breath of fresh air in another year suffocated by superheroes.
Here’s hoping…
…the sequel to the exhilarating Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse doesn’t fall into the familiar trap of trying too hard to one-up its predecessor only to fall flat from lack of a greater purpose.
22. Nightbitch
Expected: TBD in Theaters and on Hulu.
Director: Marielle Heller
Writer: Marielle Heller, based on a book by Rachel Yoder
Principle Cast: Amy Adams, Kerry O’Malley, Scoot McNairy
I love to be surprised, and since I’m not familiar with Marielle Heller or with Rachel Yoder’s book, I’m going out on a limb with Nightbitch. Two reasons why: the wacky premise (a woman who thinks she’s turning into a dog!) and Amy Adams, who I’d watch in just about anything.
Here’s hoping…
…it’s as campy as it sounds without being so campy that it’s dogshit.
21. Cocaine Bear
Expected: 23 February in Theaters.
Director: Elizabeth Banks
Writer: Jimmy Warden
Principle Cast: Ray Liotta, Keri Russell, Margo Martindale, Matthew Rhys
Elizabeth Banks’s previous movies don’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence but the true story of a bear on the loose after ingesting ungodly amounts of cocaine, starring the late legend Ray Liotta in his final role and reuniting The Americans cast? I’m sold.
Here’s hoping…
…it’s the best movie Elizabeth Banks ever directed.
20. Maestro
Expected: TBD in Theaters.
Director: Bradley Cooper
Writers: Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer
Principle Cast: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Maya Hawke
I’m not usually keen on biopics that shamelessly beg for an Oscar, but Bradley Cooper has earned the benefit of the doubt. A Star Was Born was surprisingly good, mostly thanks to Cooper’s performance and direction, so yes, his biopic about legendary composer Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story) and his wife Felicia could be great.
Here’s hoping…
…it’s not your typical Oscar bait that’s all about its main performance.
19. Spaceman
Expected: TBD on Netflix.
Director: Johan Renck
Writer: Colby Day, based on a book by Jaroslav Kalfar
Principle Cast: Adam Sandler, Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan
Sandler is going through something of a resurgence. The Safdie brothers reminded people that underneath the surface of his D-rate goofiness lies an uncut acting gem, he just got nominated for a SAG for Hustle, and his latest for Netflix sounds intriguing enough to be another low-key treasure. An orphaned boy grows up to be Czech Republic’s first astronaut and in space meets an imaginary alien spider. WTF?
Here’s hoping…
…it doesn’t get too silly and sets another example of what a great actor Sandler can be.
18. Ferrari
Expected: TBD in Theaters.
Director: Michael Mann
Writers: Troy-Kennedy Martin, Michael Mann, based on a book by Brock Yates
Principle Cast: Adam Driver, Jack O’Connell, Shailene Woodley
It’s been seven years since his last feature film so the return of the Mann is always going to peak my interest, even if his latest story – a biopic of the man behind the wheel, Enzo Ferrari – doesn’t. It could really go either way, since not all of Mann’s films are hits (Public Enemies…), but there’s no denying that the Heat and The Insider director knows style, which should fit perfectly with a story about a famous Italian.
Here’s hoping…
…Adam Driver worked on his Italian accent since House of Gucci.
17. Argylle
Expected: TBD in Theaters (?) and on Apple TV.
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writer: Jason Fuchs, based on a book by Elly Conway
Principle Cast: Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell
If he’s not going to be the next James Bond, Henry Cavill can at least show the world why they’ll regret it (even with a weird LEGO-haircut). Vaughn is known for his charming Kingsman spy franchise, so this story about a world famous spy called Argylle should make for one of the easiest and most entertaining watches of 2023.
Here’s hoping…
…it’s as fun as its premise and cast (which includes Bryan Cranston and Samuel L. Jackson) suggest.
16. Infinity Pool
Expected: 27 January in Theaters.
Director and Writer: Brandon Cronenberg
Principle Cast: Alexander Skarsgard, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman
After Possessor, I’ll take anything Brandon Cronenberg does seriously. Not only does the horror filmmaker’s latest have a spicy premise - a couple vacationing on a beautiful island with strange hosts, only to discover an ugly subterranean culture - but it’s got Mia Goth (of Pearl and X fame) with a weird accent!
Here’s hoping…
…it has a good ending. Good, mindfuck horror films can be completely destroyed by a crap ending.
15. The Iron Claw
Expected: TBD in Theaters.
Director and Writer: Sean Durkin
Principle Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Lily James
I’ve loved everything Sean Durkin has directed so far, from his chilling debut Martha Marcy May Marlene to his moody The Nest. How his sophisticated and atmospheric tendencies will handle the story of the Von Erichs, a family that created a professional wrestling dynasty, is mighty intriguing.
Here’s hoping…
…it’s similar to the The Wrestler in how it balances emotional depth with the ridiculousness of wrestling.
14. Challengers
Expected: 11 August in Theaters.
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Writer: Justin Kuritzkes
Principle Cast: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist
Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All featured great performances but it also romanticized cannibalism which was kinda gross. His next feature will also be a love story (a love triangle, it seems) but a far less disgusting one, and will be set in the world of tennis – a.k.a. the greatest sport in the world - so I’m all over it.
Here’s hoping…
…it does the sport justice in a way that doesn’t just make it background setting for a soapy drama.
13. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1
Expected: 14 July in Theaters.
Director and Writer: Christopher McQuarrie
Principle Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby
Put aside the long-winded eye-roller of a title, the trailer for Tom Cruise’s latest impossible mission that will ultimately prove possible promises much thrilling action. If it’s anything like MI: Fallout, it’ll be one of the best times in the theatres. Also, let’s be real. After Top Gun 2: Maverick, I’m just gonna go ahead and never bet against crazy Cruise.
Here’s hoping…
…Cruise’s freak-out on the London set of the film was for a worthy cause.
12. How Do You Live?
Expected: 14 July in Japanese Theaters.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki, based on a book by Genzaburô Yoshino
Retirement doesn’t suit everyone, and thankfully for us it didn’t suit Hayao Miyazaki, arguably the GOAT of animation. Spirited Away broke all kinds of barriers and is rightly regarded among the greatest films of all time (animation or not). While it’s doubtful that his upcoming coming-of-age story about a boy growing up amongst friends and an uncle will reach the same heights, if it comes a quarter of the way it’ll be a success.
Here’s hoping…
…Miyazaki’s still got his mojo.
11. Poor Things
Expected: 12 December (rumoured) in Theaters.
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Writer: Tony McNamara, based on a book by Alasdair Gray
Principle Cast: Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo, Margaret Qualley
The mercurial Greek director apparently has two projects in the can, the other one weirdly titled And, and also starring Stone, Dafoe and Qualley. Hmm. Anyway, pretty much nothing is known about that one, whereas Poor Things is an adaptation of a book set in Victorian times about a woman who is brought back to life and will more than likely be released this year after a festival run.
The book’s been called “magnificently brisk, funny, dirty, brainy” which is exactly how I’d describe Lanthimos’s wheelhouse.
Here’s hoping…
…it doesn’t get too esoteric and makes for a refreshing Frankenstein impression.
10. May/December
Expected: TBD in Theaters.
Director: Todd Haynes
Writers: Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik
Principle Cast: Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Charles Melton
One of the more hopeful entries on the list since it’s a little uncertain whether May/December will be released this year, but chances are high with shooting wrapped two months ago. The story follows a famous couple whose past is unearthed when an actress seeks them out about a role she’s researching, and I expect nothing less than another polished, mature and quiet emotional earthquake from the Carol and Mildred Pierce director.
Here’s hoping…
…it’s half as good as Far From Heaven and twice better than Wonderstruck, the other two Haynes-Moore collabos.
9. Napoleon
Expected: TBD in Theaters and Apple TV.
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: David Scarpa
Principle Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Ben Miles
Feels like forever since we heard that Ridley Scott will take on the most famous French military leader in history, but it looks like 2023 will finally be the year we’ll see Napoleon (formerly known as Kitbag). Scott’s hit or miss with me, but when he goes big, epic and historical (Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, The Last Duel) it’s more often a hit. Plus, I cannot wait to see one of the greatest working actors as Napoleon friggin Bonaparte.
Here’s hoping…
…it lives up to the hype because the hype is very real.
8. Havoc
Expected: TBD on Netflix.
Director and Writer: Gareth Evans
Principle Cast: Tom Hardy, Luis Guzman, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whitaker
There’s corruption, there’s drug deals gone wrong, there’s Tom Hardy playing a gritty detective taking on a criminal underworld, and there’s not much more I need to hear to know that I cannot wait to see this. I’ve never seen anything from Gareth Evans, but I heard good things about Gangs of London and I trust Tom Hardy. That’s enough.
Here’s hoping…
…Hardy has a new funny-sounding accent that still manages to be cool af.
7. The Bikeriders
Expected: TBD in Theaters.
Director: Jeff Nichols
Writer: Jeff Nichols, inspired by a photo-book by Danny Lyon
Principle Cast: Michael Shannon, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy
Nichols is one of my favorite American directors working today so anything new from him will always be among my most anticipated. That it’s a Nichols-takes-on-Sons of Anarchy movie about the rise of a biker gang, starring Michael Shannon and Tom Hardy, only wets the appetite more.
Here’s hoping…
…it’s something of a return to form for Nichols. I want Take Shelter and Mud-level greatness!
6. Beau is Afraid
Expected: 21 April in Theaters.
Director and Writer: Ari Aster
Principle Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Parker Posey, Amy Ryan, Nathan Lane
The trailer makes the Hereditary and Midsommar director’s latest look like something out of Charlie Kaufman’s wildest nightmare, which is unexpected. Aster is a master of bone-chilling horror, but Beau is Afraid is more about one man’s anxieties crushed under the weight of massive mommy issues. Seems like a role tailored for Phoenix, but my gut says the movie will walk a thin line between genius and complete mess.
Here’s hoping…
…this isn’t Aster’s first misstep in his short but frightfully excellent filmography.
5. Killers of the Flower Moon
Expected: TBD in Theaters and Apple TV.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, based on a book by David Grann
Principle Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser
It’s Martin Scorsese, one of the last remaining vestiges of a time when Hollywood wasn’t mired in identity politics and overrun by people in tights, slapping each other in front of green screens. Every film the iconic director releases is more than a film, it’s an event. With his two acting muses leading an exceptional ensemble, the story inspired by true events of how the FBI was born through its first serial homicide case in the 1920s will undoubtedly be one of the hottest tickets in town this year.
Here’s hoping…
…it’s shorter than The Irishman.
4. On Barren Weeds
Expected: TBD in Theaters.
Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Writers: Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Ebru Ceylan, Akin Aksu
Principle Cast: Merve Dizdar, Deniz Celiloglu, Musab Ekici
The purest arthouse entry on this list symbolizes all my anticipated arthouse (and non-English Language2) films of the year that I hope will grace public silver screens in 2023.
Nuri Bilge Ceylan, whose novelistic films are immeasurably profound, is a dead cert to appear in Cannes with his latest, a story about a young teacher who dreams of leaving his forced station at a village for the big city. It’s possible that On Barren Weeds gets a theatrical release in 2023 just like Winter Sleep did in 2014 (after winning the Palme that year), so I’m crossing my fingers and keeping the faith.
Here’s hoping…
…it gets released this year.
3. The Killer
Expected: TBD in Theaters (?) and on Netflix.
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker, based on a graphic novel by Alexis Nolent
Principle Cast: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell
Everything about this project has me panting like a cartoon dog. Fincher is an all-time great, Fassbender is perfectly suited to play a professional hitman with a sudden crisis of conscience, the source material is a celebrated French graphic novel, and Fincher has re-teamed with his Seven writer for the script. Inject this into my veins right now.
Here’s hoping…
…that it’s half as good as I’ve built it up to be in my mind.
2. Oppenheimer
Expected: 21 July in Theaters.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Christopher Nolan, based on a book by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
Principle Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh
Like with Scorsese and Fincher, a Nolan film is an event. And Nolan’s events bridge big blockbuster with high art like none other. Cillian Murphy leads a stellar cast in this story about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atom bomb. In true Nolan spirit, the film also takes a new technological leap by featuring the first-ever black-and-white footage shot with IMAX cameras. My excitement knows no bounds.
Here’s hoping…
…the balance between present day (in colour) and flashbacks (in black-and-white) doesn’t get tonally disorienting.
1. Dune: Part Two
Expected: 3 November in Theaters.
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writer: Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, based on the book by Frank Herbert
Principle Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Florence Pugh
The film that keeps me up at night in the most fervent sweats of anticipation is undeniably Villeneuve’s continuation of one of the greatest sci-fi stories ever told.
The first Dune was one of the best films of 2021, an epic space opera spectacle worthy of its epochal source material where absolutely everything just clicked in perfect harmony. This year we’ll get the second part, with an even more impressive cast, and there’s no reason to believe that it will lose any of its masterful luster.
November can’t come soon enough.
Here’s hoping…
…it picks up exactly where it left off and completes a whole that will, when viewed as one, be the vintage wine to Star Wars’s flat soda.
World of Reel reported in late December that Malick’s new film won’t even be ready for Cannes 2023, where everyone is expecting him to unveil it once it’s done. So, at this stage, it may be making a festival appearance in the fall, which more than likely means that it’ll have a theatrical release in 2024.
The Dumont’s, the Kore-Eda’s, the Alonso’s, the Bellocchio’s and so forth. World of Reel has a good list of potential candidates for Cannes 2023 that’s as good a list as any I’ve seen containing a fistfull of arthouse and foreign films I can’t wait to watch.