Most anticipated films of 2023

As we say our goodbyes to 2022, it’s time to turn our gaze into 2023 and what next year might be offering. For films, it looks like a year full of exciting sequels, high-octane action and a couple of tearjerkers. Here are our most anticipated films of 2023.

The Fabelmans (27 January)

Credit: Universal Pictures

A new Steven Spielberg film is always an event and we have it on good authority that The Fabelmans is indeed excellent. Starring Gabriel LaSalle as Sammy (based on Spielberg himself), The Fabelmans is both a love letter to cinema itself as well as Spielberg’s own family. Michelle Williams plays Sammy’s eccentric mother Mitzi and Paul Dano his gentle father, while Seth Roger is their close family friend. The film will explore Sammy’s coming of age and his love for filmmaking, giving us a rare glimpse into Spielberg’s own mind and upbringing.

M3GAN (13 January)

Credit: Universal Pictures

M3GAN is already the most viral film of 2023. When the first trailer was released, social media was flooded with people pointing out the titular doll’s uncanniness and the dance moves we see in the bizarre trailer. The film will explore the dangers of artificial intelligence as a child is gifted M3GAN, the perfect best friend that quickly turns on its owners. It’s giving us Malignant vibes and we can only hope M3GAN is as ballsy and wild as James Wan’s shocker from 2021. 

Babylon (20 January)

Credit: Paramount Pictures

Damien Chazelle is Hollywood’s wunderkind. After becoming the youngest best director winner a few years back with La La Land, Chazelle is back with a zany, wild and chaotic new film about Hollywood’s golden days. With a stacked all-star cast, Babylon has divided critics so far, definitely making it the must-see film of January. There’s also plenty of Oscar buzz for Margot Robbie who plays a young starlet Nellie.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (30 June)

Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Harrison Ford transforms into Indiana Jones one last time in James Mangold’s new adventure. Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays Indy’s relative and the trailer also gave us a glimpse of the digital de-aging done on Ford for flashbacks. After being burned by Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, we’re cautiously hopeful for a new Indy film. 

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (17 March)

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The future of the DCEU is in the hands of James Gunn and Peter Safran and while Shazam’s future is on very uncertain ground, the sequel still looks like a riot. David F. Sandberg returns to direct the second Shazam film which brings back Zachary Levi as the titular superhero and also gives us Helen Mirren in a DC movie. What a time to be alive.

The Whale (3 February)

Credit: A24

The Whale has already made the rounds at various film festivals and we awarded it the full five stars after catching Darren Aronofsky’s masterpiece at the London Film Festival. Brendan Fraser is an early favourite to win every Best Actor award for his performance as Charlie, a morbidly obese teacher who is ready to give up on life but fights to reconnect with his estranged daughter. 

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (29 December)

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Like Shazam, no one knows what will happen to Jason Momoa’s Aquaman as Gunn and Safran are reshuffling the entire DCEU but we are ready to dive back into Atlantis with director James Wan. Amber Heard will also be back as Mera. Aquaman aka Arthur Curry must form an unlikely alliance in order to save his home as well as the rest of the planet in this deep sea sequel.

Dune Part II (3 November)

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The first Dune was a visually ravishing, surprisingly profound sci-do adventure in which Timothee Chalamet plays Paul Atreides who is seeking revenge against the oppressors who murdered his father. Paul and his mother form an alliance with the Fremen, the natives to the spice planet Arrakis. Florence Pugh, Austin Butler and Christopher Walken join the cast for the sequel and Denis Villeneuve is back on directing duties. Villeneuve is one of the most visually striking directors working right now so Dune Part II will surely look incredible. 

John Wick Chapter 4 (24 March)

Credit: Lionsgate

Is there anyone cooler than Keanu Reeves? Probably not, judging by the explosive trailer for John Wick Chapter 4, in which Reeves’ titular anti-hero takes on the High Table. As per usual, John Wick 4 will feature breathtaking action sequences and probably a few good one liners from Reeves. The John Wick franchise has created a solid reputation for itself for great action and tight writing, so hopefully Chapter 4 keeps this up. 

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One (14 July)

Credit: Paramount Pictures

It was just revealed that Tom Cruise completed one of the most dangerous stunts of his career for the upcoming Mission Impossible sequel. And with Cruise’s record, that’s saying something. Although we have a flashy trailer for the film, we don’t actually know a whole lot about the plot. We do know that this is the first of two films and apparently, this one ends on a massive cliffhanger. Colour is intrigued. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One is definitely one of our most anticipated films of 2023.

Barbie (21 July)

Credit: Warner Bros Pictures

After the first teaser trailer was released, our hype for Greta Gerwig’s new film has only grown. Margot Robbie stars as one of the most famous toys in the world and is joined by Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Ncuti Gatwa as various Kens. From the dance sequences glimpsed in the trailer, we think the film might have some musical elements and honestly, we can’t wait.

Oppenheimer (21 July)

Credit: Universal Pictures

Christopher Nolan’s new film will go head to head against the aforementioned Barbie in July. The film stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer who would go on to lay the foundations for what would become one of the deadliest weapons in human history, the atomic bomb. At this point, we expect only excellence from Nolan so the hype around Oppenheimer is strong.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (5 May)

Credit: Marvel Studios

I don’t know about you, but I have watched the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 trailer approximately 92 times since it dropped. The ragtag team of heroes unites for one last adventure, at least under the guidance of James Gunn. The trailer has us believe the film will delve deeper into Rocket’s backstory and we fear this might be the end of the line for everyone’s favourite trash panda. But we’ll find out in May where Gunn leaves the Guardians before he fully leaves Marvel for DC.