2023 Preview: 36 Movies That Have Me Excited

December 23, 2022

By:

Hunter Friesen

2022 marked another year of recovery for the film industry after the immense struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. And with a new year approaching, we should adopt a forward-thinking mindset that looks ahead to new possibilities. With its mixture of exciting new projects from both new and established talent, 2023 has the power to be even better than 2022.

To get you all excited as I am, this article will detail several of my most anticipated films expected to be released sometime in the next calendar year. Films will be listed in alphabetical order, with known release dates and distribution strategies (i.e. streaming or not) provided.

A Haunting in Venice (September 15)

Kenneth Branagh once again dons the famous mustache of detective Hercule Poirot, who must solve a murder that involves Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, and Kelly Reilly.

Air Jordan

Ben Affleck directs Matt Damon for the first time in this true story about how Sonny Vaccar was able to sign Michael Jordan to his Nike shoe deal.

Asteroid City (June 16)

Wes Anderson returns with Asteroid City, said to be set during an astronomy convention, with Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, and Jeff Goldblum being a few names within the starry cast.

Barbie (July 21)

Writer/director Greta Gerwig offers a presumably original story on the life of the plastic doll. Margot Robbie will play Barbie, with Ryan Gosling as Ken.

Blitz (Apple TV+)

Small Axe writer/director Steve McQueen shifts from Amazon to Apple for his World War II story about several Londoners during the Nazi blitzkrieg bombings. Saoirse Ronan and Stephen Graham star.

Challengers (August 11)

Luca Guadagnino directs Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist as three tennis players who reignite old rivalries on and off the court when they compete in a world-class tournament.

Chevalier (April 07)

Kelvin Harrison Jr. plays Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, who rises to heights in French society as a composer before an ill-fated love affair.

Civil War

Alex Garland continues his A24 relationship after Ex Machina and Men. Kirsten Dunst stars in his original epic action movie that is set in the United States in the not-so-distant future.

Creed III (March 03)

Michael B. Jordan pulls double duty as director and star in the conclusion of this trilogy. Jonathan Majors plays Damian Anderson, a long-lost friend of Adonis, who now seeks revenge for the sins of the past.

Disappointment Blvd.

Hereditary and Midsommar writer/director Ari Aster’s “nightmare comedy” on the life of a successful entrepreneur, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role.

Dune: Part Two (November 03)

Denis Villeneuve concludes the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.

Ferrari

Adam Driver continues to play Italians after House of Gucci, this time starring as the famed Enzo Ferrari. Michael Mann (Heat, The Insider) writes and directs, with Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, and Jack O’Connell filling out the supporting cast.

Flint Strong

Black Panther and Mudbound cinematographer Rachel Morrison steps into the director chair for the true story of Olympic boxer Claressa Shields. Barry Jenkins supplies the screenplay, with Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry topping the cast list.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 05)

Writer/director James Gunn finishes his trilogy about the most lovable misfits in the galaxy.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June 30)

Even at 80 years old, Harrison Ford continues to crank out the adventures of the titular archaeologist. Time travel is rumored to be a part of this James Mangold-directed film, with Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banders, and Phoebe Wall-Bridge along for the ride.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (March 24)

Keanu Reeves returns as the titular ass-kicker, who must continue his fight out of the violent world he finds himself in.

Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple TV+)

Martin Scorsese’s true-crime western surrounding the mysterious murders of the Osage tribe in the 1920s. Jesse Plemons, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro star.

Maestro (Netflix)

Bradley Cooper writes, directs, and stars in this retelling of the life of Leonard Bernstein, often considered the greatest American conductor ever. Carey Mulligan will play his wife Felicia.

May/December

Julianne Moore and director Todd Haynes reunite for the fourth time, bringing in Natalie Portman as an actress who arrives to do research for an upcoming role on Moore’s character’s life.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (July 14)

Tom Cruise (supposedly) closes his Mission: Impossible series with this first in a two-part story. Rogue Nation and Fallout writer/director Christopher McQuarrie is back at the helm, promising more unbelievable stunts.

Napoleon (Apple TV+)

Director Ridley Scott and writer David Scarpa reunite after All the Money in the World for this personal look at the immense life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Joaquin Phoenix stars as the French emperor, with Vanessa Kirby as his empress, Josephine.

Next Goal Wins (April 21)

Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok writer/director Taika Waititi tells the true story of the American Samoa soccer team, who suffered the worst loss in World Cup history, losing to Australia 31-0 in 2001.

Oppenheimer (July 21)

Christopher Nolan’s biopic of the father of the atomic bomb. Nolan veteran Cillian Murphy plays the titular figure.

Poor Things / AND

Weirdo writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos tells the story of Bella Baxter, a Victorian woman who is brought back to life by an eccentric scientist. Emma Stone stars as Ms. Baxter, with Willem Dafoe as the brilliant madman. Both Stone and Dafoe will feature in AND, a rumored anthology that will tell three separate stories; each letter representing a different tale.

Priscilla

Sofia Coppola responds to Ban Luhrman’s Elvis biopic with her own take on the life of Priscilla Presley. Relative newcomer Cailee Spaeny stars as the titular figure, with Euphoria star Jacob Elordi as the King of Rock and Roll.

Spaceman (Netflix)

Adam Sandler looks to maintain his dramatic streak by starring as the first Czech astronaut. Carey Mulligan and Paul Dano also star.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 02)

The multiverses collide again, and Spider-Man and Gwen Stacey must come together again to stop an even bigger threat than before.

The Bikeriders

Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Norman Reedus, Michael Shannon, and Jodie Comer lead writer/director Jeff Nichols’ story of a Midwestern motorcycle club.

The Brutalist

Vox Lux writer/director Brady Corbet recruits an all-star cast composed of Joel Edgerton, Vanessa Kirby, Marion Cotillard, Sebastian Stan, and Mark Rylance for his mysterious story of an architect immigrating to New York in 1947.

The Color Purple (December 20)

Fantasia Barrino takes over the role of Celie from Whoopi Goldberg in this musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s epic novel.

The Holdovers

Alexander Payne looks to make a comeback after the disappointment of Downsizing. He reunites with Sideways star Paul Giamatti for this small-scale story of several students and teachers who are stuck at school over the holidays.

The Iron Claw

Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson, and Jeremy Allen White star as the Von Erich brothers in Sean Durkin’s retelling of the family dynasty, and their impact on the world of wrestling.

The Killer (Netflix)

David Fincher (The Social Network, Gone Girl) directs Michael Fassbender as an assassin who slowly begins to lose his mind.

The Way of the Wind

Revered auteur Terrence Malick retells several episodes in the life of Jesus Christ.

The Zone of Interest

Under the Skin writer/director Jonathan Glazer returns to feature filmmaking with an adaptation of Martin Amis’ novel about a Nazi officer who becomes enamored with the wife of a concentration camp commander.