Top 10 Most ANTICIPATED Movies of 2023

Happy New Year, everybody! 2022 is behind us and we’re looking forward to 2023. It’s another year for DC’s Take, and I’m here to tell you what I’m looking forward to the most throughout the calendar year. We’re anticipating the typical major blockbusters, Oscar front-runners, and heartfelt surprises, which I hope we’ll all appreciate. I’ll post my usual rounds of reviews not only here, but you can also check out my other content on Film Yap. Some of these might wind up being letdowns, and like every year, there will be a few I haven’t heard of yet that will likely be my favorites when I least expect around the fall. With that said, let’s dig down into what 2023 has in store what the ten movies I’m anticipating.

10) ‘Wonka’ (Release Date: December 15)

For some reason, Wonka could lead to disappointment based on the fact it’s a prequel to the classic Roald Dahl character Willy Wonka and how he discovered the Oompa-Loompa. However, that could work with also playing as a musical, with an incredible including Timothée Chalamet as the chocolate trier, Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, and Rowan Atkinson. But it’s also directed by Paul King of the wonderful Paddington franchise. So all Wonka has to do is be WAY better than Tim Burton’s terrible remake with Johnny Depp. 

9) ‘Creed III’ (Release Date: March 3)

Each installment in the Creed franchise gradually gets more impressive every time. The first was incredible, and the 2018 sequel gets little attention come to think of it. But Creed III will be a knockout (pun intended) because this will be Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut, which must’ve been a real challenge directing and reprising his role as Adonis Creed. His latest opponent in the ring is none other than his childhood friend, played by Jonathan Majors (who’s already the villain Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania). Even without including Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa, the third film will deliver the boxing action and drama.

8) ‘Scream VI’ (Release Date: March 10)

As a true fan who thought Scream (2022) brought the horror franchise back with a satisfying sequel (why people didn’t like it irks me), it didn’t take too long for Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett to come back for the sixth film. After surviving the recent killings in Woodsboro, Samantha, Tara, and the rest head to New York City, only to find somebody new wearing the Ghostface mask. Scream VI won’t be the same with Neve Campbell (over her pay dispute). However, we still got Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers returning, along with adding Dermot Mulroney and Hayden Panettiere back as fan-favorite Kirby Reed from 4. Rarely do sixth installments always work, especially for the genre. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

7) ‘Barbie’ (Release Date: July 21)

Usually, a guy in this his 20s shouldn’t be excited about the idea of a live-action movie based on the popular toy line. But have you seen who’s involved with Barbie? Not only is Greta Gerwig directing and co-writing it with her partner Noah Baumbach, but what an eye-opening cast with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, respectively. We’re going to see Barbie banished from her home and find herself in our world for not fitting in. We could be in for a colorful and funny adaptation if done right for all to enjoy. But, will Barbie be better than Lady Bird or Little Women? We shall see.

6) ‘Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part 1’ (Release Date: July 14)

What’s better than Tom Cruise returning as “Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick? Following up that masterpiece with another Ethan Hunt adventure we’ve been craving more of with Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part 1. Who knows if the seventh installment of the long-running action series, which director Christopher McQuarrie is returning to helm for the third time, will be more thrilling than 2018’s Fallout. Plot details are kept under wraps; all we know is that it will go even bigger with the stunts for our entertainment. Have you seen those set photos of Cruise on a motorbike and the train? Just know it’s a guarantee I’ll be seated in IMAX opening night for the first half of this two-part. 

5) ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ (Release Date: June 30)

Getting Harrison Ford to come back as Han Solo and Rick Deckard was a massive dream for fans. Now, it’s such an unreal feeling that we will see him wear the fedora and hold that whip again in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Unfortunately, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull wasn’t the movie everybody wanted, including, me. But after the first trailer, I strongly feel the fifth movie will be the perfect mulligan that’ll be more in line with the original three. Without Steven Spielberg in the director’s chair for the first time in this series, I put my trust in James Mangold to deliver an exciting adventure with what could be a fitting end to Ford’s run as the character. The cast also includes Phoebe-Waller Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Toby Jones, and John Rhys-Davies as Sallah. I’ll review the sequels leading up to the release (even four),and it’ll be bittersweet hearing John William’s score one last time.

4) ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ (Release Date: May 5)

2023’s expected to be another gigantic year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But out of all the projects set for release, my eyes are all on Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. James Gunn returns to give these out-of-this-world characters one final send-off, along with introducing Adam Warlock. If there’s anything to guarantee with a new Guardians adventure, it’s that it’ll make us laugh, have an awesome soundtrack (“In the Meantime” by Spacehog in the trailer was a nice touch), and will have us bring the tissues since I’m sure someone won’t make it out alive while saving the universe once more. I love the original and still think the sequel is underappreciated.

3) ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (Release Date: June 2)

While we were robbed out of getting this last fall, the fact that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is finally happening is unbelievable. Of course, everybody loves Into the Spider-Verse, as it’s one of the greatest animated/ superhero movies in the last few years. This sequel sees our own Miles Morales traveling through the multiverse, discovering more Spider-People and must fight against a new threat to protect it. There is still a fear that this movie could get too crowded for it’s own good. But that’s brushed away when the animation is gonna look spectacular in what I’ll predict will be the best comic book movie we’ll get this year. And best of all, for the fan I am, this will be Hailee Steinfeld’s first movie she’s a part of in four years.

2) ‘Oppenheimer’ (Release Date: July 21)

It’s Christopher Nolan. Enough said. There’s my $15 right there, which will add another $10 if pulling a double feature with Barbie. But Oppenheimer sees him taking a step back from science fiction to tell his first biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, ” the father of the atomic bomb.” With Cillian Murthy in the lead and a gigantic ensemble including Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon, this will likely be another hit in his filmography, and it’ll likely perform and improve upon Tenet. And there’s no way this will be missed in the IMAX format because it already looks breathtaking.

1) ‘Dune: Part Two’ (Release Date: November 3)

The shire luck that this sequel finally got greenlight and was made showed there’s still an attraction for sci-fi blockbusters. Dune was my favorite film of 2021, and it’s one I will not tolerate slander of any kind when it requires your attention. Director Denis Villeneuve will take us to Frank Herbert’s world of Arakis with another epic fantasy in Dune: Part Two, seeing Paul Atreides seek revenge on those who destroyed his family. Most of the cast from the original (Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya) is returning, with new faces joining in the second part, including Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Léa Seydoux, and Christopher Walken. will it be another dense viewing? Indeed, but it will all be worth it.

Other Upcoming Releases I’m Looking Forward To:

• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 17)
• Cocaine Bear (February 24)
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods (March 17)
• John Wick Chapter 4 (March 24)
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie (April 7)
• Renfield (April 14)
• Evil Dead Rise (April 21)
• Asteroid City (June 16)
• Challengers (August 11)
• Untitled Please Don’t Destroy Movie (August 18)
• Next Goal Wins (September 22)
• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (November 17)
• The Color Purple (December 20)
• Mastero (TBD)
• The Killer (TBD)
• Killers of the Flower Moon (TBD)
• Poor Things (TBD)