2023 looks like it'll be a major return to theaters, thanks in part to a flood of promising movies hitting all year long. No matter what you crave, there's something sure to satisfying coming to cinemas. Want twisted horror movies? A slew of superhero adventures? Pulse-pounding thrillers? Adventures around the globe, through the skylines, and down under the sea? Whether you want spies, scares, whimsy, or all the wonder of Barbie's world, we've got you covered.
Here are the 23 films we can't wait to see in 2023, arranged by release date. Read up, mark your calendars, and don't forget the popcorn!
1. M3GAN (Jan. 6)
Imagine if Child's Play's Chucky hooked up with an American Girl doll. Their unholy spawn would probably look like M3gan, a pretty blonde robot designed to be the ultimate best friend to a lonely orphaned girl. It's all fun and games until the kid's caretaker (Get Out's Allison Williams) gets creeped out by the unblinking AI. Sure, the premise is solid murder-doll fun. But what really has us pumped for the latest from Blumhouse is that killer dance number from the trailer, an instant meme that has us screaming…in anticipation.
Who's in M3GAN? Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, and Jenna Davis
2. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Feb. 17)
The MCU is kicking off its new year with the third Ant-Man movie, and this time it's a family affair gone very, very small. Scott Lang and his intrepid daughter Cassie, along with Hope Van Dyne and her parents Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, get all caught up in an unplanned trip to the treacherous Quantum Realm. What's in store for them there? New worlds of adventure, which include curious cameos and the return of Loki's Boss Level baddie. Peyton Reed, who directed the first two Ant-Man outings, is back again, assuring big fun and ant-stonishing entertainment.
Who's in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania? Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfeiffer, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Bill Murray, Randall Park, Kathryn Newton, and Jonathan Majors
3. Scream VI (March 10)
Aside from the scene-stealing bravado of Wednesday's Jenna Ortega, Scream 5 (aka Scream) was a disappointment. But its writers (Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt) and directors (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) have a second chance to scare the hell out of us with this sixth Ghostface-centered installment. And while Neve Campbell has bowed out of this entry, this sequel is off to a good start with the news that Scream 4 fan favorite Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) is back in the mix. How did she survive? We're sure the rebootquel's answer to Randy Meeks, Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown), will break it down.
Who's in Scream VI? Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Courteney Cox, Tony Revolori, Dermot Mulroney, Samara Weaving, and She-Hulk's Josh Segarra.
4. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (March 17)
On the heels of Black Adam, the DCEU offers a sure-to-be lively sequel to Shazam! Billy Batson is back with his superpowers and his suped-up foster family, but there's some growing pains in learning how to be a team. Making matters worse, the powerful Daughters of Atlas, Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu), have a bone to pick with these children wielding "all the powers of the gods." Earth will be their battlefield. And with director David F. Sandberg returning to the helm, it's sure to be a good time.
Who's in Shazam! Fury of the Gods? Zachary Levi, Adam Brody, Rachel Zegler, Meagan Good, Jack Dylan Grazer, Helen Mirren, and Lucy Liu
5. John Wick: Chapter 4 (March 24)
Ready to sink deeper into a world of eccentric hitmen, intense intrigue, glorious globe-trekking, and eye-popping battle scenes? Sure, on its surface the fourth John Wick installment promises to be a brutal showdown between the assassin with a deep love of dogs and a stoic enemy, played by It's Pennywise Bill Skarsgård. But from the first trailer, stunt coordinator-turned-director Chad Stahelski has assured fans of the Wickverse that this road to a killer climax will be paved in violent spectacle with neon flare, familiar faces, and no punches pulled.
Who's in John Wick: Chapter 4? Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, Clancy Brown, Ian McShane, and Natalia Tena
6. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (May 5)
Like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Star-Lord and his crew are destined to deal with grief in their latest MCU adventure. Still reeling from the death of Gamora, Peter Quill, Groot, Nebula, Drax, Rocket, and Mantis set off on a new mission. Despite the dark jumping-off point, we can safely assume that returning director James Gunn will once more deliver bonkers action, madcap comedy, and a soundtrack that slaps.
Who's in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3? Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, and Will Poulter
7. Fast X (May 19)
Let's be frank: We have no idea what the plot of the tenth Fast and Furious movie is, and we don't care. Vin Diesel and his ass-kicking onscreen family never fail to thrill, whether they're racing around the streets of Los Angeles, outrunning a submarine, dragging a bank vault like a massive flail, driving a car off one skyscraper and into another skyscraper, or taking a revved up car into space. We love it all. The cherry on top of all this anticipated action is a growing ensemble that now also includes Captain Marvel's Brie Larson and West Side Story's Rita Moreno. How? Why!? That's the beauty of the Fast movies — you never can predict what's next.
Who's in Fast X? Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, Jason Momoa, Michael Rooker, Michelle Rodriguez, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, and Rita Moreno
8. The Little Mermaid (May 26)
From the moment we heard that silky voice in the first teaser for Disney's live-action re-imagining of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, Halle Bailey had us hooked. Then came the flood of fan videos that followed, featuring excited Black children giddy to be a part of her world, and our hearts grew like a certain sea witch at full power. The first glimpse of this magical underwater realm has us swooning to dive in. And with Chicago and Into the Woods director Rob Marshall at the helm, we're expecting this movie musical to dazzle like a glistening dinglehopper.
Who's in The Little Mermaid? Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy
9. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (June 2)
The hotly anticipated sequel to Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse reteams Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) with his cross-dimensional found family, which includes the ever-cool Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and the ever-a-mess Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson). But joining this Spidey line-up are other exciting heroes who've worn the webbed mantle, including Jessica Drew (Issa Rae) and Miguel O'Hara (Oscar Isaac). Together, they'll battle against the deadliest foe Miles has yet faced. And thanks to this sensational cinema series' incredible animation aesthetic, they'll do it with plenty of whiz-bang and style.
Who's in Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse? Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, and Brian Tyree Henry
10. The Flash (June 23)
Dare we be excited for The Flash? This delayed DCEU entry has a thrilling ensemble cast, which includes Michael Shannon reprising his Man of Steel role as General Zod, Ben Affleck coming back as Batman, and the one and only Michael Keaton — the Batman of Tim Burton's '80s entries — also back in the cowl. It director Andy Muschietti will bring his spooky edge to the Justice League spinoff. But if the many disturbing allegations against headliner Ezra Miller have put you off this one, we get it.
Who's in The Flash? Ezra Miller, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Michael Shannon, and Kiersey Clemons
11. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June 30)
Harrison Ford is back in the hat for the fifth installment of the adventures of Indiana Jones. Sure, The Crystal Skull was underwhelming. But this vintage franchise is getting a fresh spin, thanks to Edge of Tomorrow screenwriters John-Henry Butterworth and Jez Butterworth, who are collaborating with writer/director James Mangold on the script. And if there's anyone we trust with resurrecting this character, it's the mind behind the soul-rattling X-Men reimagining that was Logan. The first teaser has us humming that classic theme song in anticipation. Plus, look at that cast list!
Who's in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny? Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Mads Mikkelsen, and Boyd Holbrook
12. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One (July 14)
Soaring high off the success of Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise is returning to summer movies with another action-packed sequel about one of his most iconic characters. Ethan Hunt is back in the spy game with a gorgeous crew of intrepid espionage agents. Director Christopher McQuarrie (Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, Mission: Impossible — Fallout) is back on board, and while the first trailer is a bit vague, it's already promising us eye-catching locations, high-suspense sequences, and plenty of that classic Cruise smolder.
Who's in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One? Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, Indira Varma, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Cary Elwes, Shea Whigham, and Mark Gatiss
13. Barbie (July 21)
There are two types of people in this world: those who squealed with childish delight when the first images of live-action Barbie and Ken (Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling) dropped like a violently pink megaton fashion bomb, and those who are immune to joy. Our sympathies to the latter, because director Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women) has us giddy with anticipation for this star-studded comedy. Just look at this cast, and you know this summer movie is going to be so much more than a glossy doll advertisement
Who's in Barbie? Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Hari Nef, Simu Liu, Emerald Fennell, Michael Cera, Will Ferrell, Nicola Coughlan, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, Alexandra Shipp, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Rhea Perlman
14. Oppenheimer (July 21)
Facing off against Barbie at the box office opening weekend is the latest from Christopher Nolan. His follow-up to the polarizing thriller Tenet is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus, a major project chronicling the life of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, aka the father of the atomic bomb. Expect Nolan's incredible ensemble to mine the depths of despair that come with looking back on The Manhattan Project.
Who's in Oppenheimer? Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Florence Pugh, Gary Oldman, Jack Quaid, and Kenneth Branagh
15. The Marvels (July 28)
This sequel to Captain Marvel will tie together some incredible heroines, including the titular Avenger (Brie Larson), WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Ms. Marvel's Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). The plot is still a mystery, but with Candyman director Nia DaCosta on board, we are ready for this sure-to-be-thrilling journey.
Who's in The Marvels? Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, and Samuel L. Jackson
16. Blue Beetle (August 18)
You know Superman and Batman and Wonder Woman and Aquaman, Shazam and Black Adam and The Flash. But do you recall the most Blue Beetle hero of all? This summer release will center on Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña), a teenager whose life changes forever when an alien scarab latches onto him and gives him superhuman powers. It's unclear how bound to the DCEU this adventure will be. Perhaps Warner Bros. will take a cue from HBO Max shows like Harley Quinn or Doom Patrol, and this DC property will be allowed to flourish into something as weird and wild as it wants to be. We can dare to dream.
Who's in Blue Beetle? Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Harvey Guillén, and George Lopez
17. Kraven the Hunter (Oct. 6)
First there was Venom, and then Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Then came Morbius. Now, Sony's Spider-Man Universe expands with Kraven the Hunter, which is sure to be an action-packed adventure about a fiendish big game hunter on a mission to become the greatest the world has ever seen. The MCU's Quicksilver, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, stars as Kraven, and he is joined by an all-star cast, which you can peep below.
Who's in Kraven the Hunter? Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, Christopher Abbott, Alessandro Nivola, and Academy Award-winner Ariana DeBose
18. The Exorcist (Oct. 13)
First, David Gordon Green resurrected Halloween with his brutal retconned trilogy. Now, he's focusing his dark energy on a sequel to William Friedkin's hair-raising horror classic, The Exorcist. Similar to the way DGG dealt with the differing bits of Halloween lore by simply excising them, his Exorcist picks up 50 years after the first film left off, with nary a sequel in sight. Leslie Odom Jr. plays a parent struggling with a demonically inclined kiddo who seeks out advice from someone who's been there before — none other than Chris MacNeil, Regan's mama. Are you ready?
Who's in The Exorcist? Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, and Ellen Burstyn
19. Dune: Part Two (Nov. 3)
Denis Villeneuve's Dune was an electrifying sci-fi epic that did justice to Frank Herbert's classic novel. And in 2023, we get even more of it. Our return to Arrakis will see Paul Atreides, now allied with the Fremen, square off against the Harkonnens and Padishah Emperor himself…with galaxy-wide consequences. There's a lot to look forward to here, from stunning visuals to new characters to even more glorious sandworms. Plus, as any book fan will tell you, this is when Dune truly starts to get weird. Can we just ingest some spice and see into next November already? —Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Who's in Dune: Part Two? Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Stellan Skarsgård, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Charlotte Rampling, and Stephen McKinley Henderson
20. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Nov. 17)
You know the story of Katniss Everdeen, but what about the origins of her nemesis, Coriolanus Snow? Following the success of the Hunger Games trilogy, author Suzanne Collins explored this question with the prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Set 64 years before the novels (and their movie adaptations), this story follows young Snow (Tom Blyth) as he falls hard for a tribute he's mentoring for the 10th Hunger Games. Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games Mockingjay — Part 1 & 2) directs this curious new chapter in this dystopia adventure franchise. And he's brought a compelling cast along for the ride.
Who's in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes? Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Rachel Zegler, Burn Gorman, Jason Schwartzman, and Tom Blyth
21. Wonka (Dec. 15)
The director behind the absolute sunshine cinema that was Paddington and Paddington 2 has teamed with It Boy Timothée Chalamet to explore the origins of Roald Dahl's quirky confectioner. How did Willy Wonka meet the Oompa-Loompas? Where'd he develop that dapper sense of style? We'll find out with this star-stuffed romp.
Who's in Wonka? Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, Sally Hawkins, and Jim Carter
22. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Dec. 25)
The DCEU plans to finish off 2023 with a wave of superhero hotness, courtesy of Jason Momoa's return in the sequel to 2018's Aquaman. At this time, no plot details have been revealed. In addition to the burly leading man and director James Wan, we can expect the return of Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lungren, Willem Dafoe, and Amber Heard — so, expect high-seas adventure and plenty of sex appeal.
Who's in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom? Jason Momoa, Ben Affleck, Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
23. Killers of the Flower Moon (TBD)
Martin Scorsese reunites with two of his most heralded leading men: Leonardo DiCaprio (Shutter Island, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street) and Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Irishman, Casino, Cape Fear). That should be enough to sell you on his latest. But you want more? Scorsese is returning to crime dramas with an intriguing adaptation of the celebrated non-fiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. Homicide, conspiracy, and greed come into play when wealthy members of the Osage people were killed after big oil deposits were discovered on their land. It's sure to be a disturbing and enlightening drama. And adding even more gravitas to Scorsese's cast is critically acclaimed actors Lily Gladstone (Certain Women, First Cow), Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog, I'm Thinking of Ending Things), and Brendan Fraser (Doom Patrol, The Whale).
Who's in Killers of the Flower Moon? Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, and Brendan Fraser
