Every yr, we expect, “Okay, we’re not doing 100 films this year. F that!” But after a lot consideration, we’re gluttons for punishment. The annual 100 Most Anticipated Films of [Insert Year Here], on this case 2023, is all the time an enormous beast, a herculean activity, and one which makes us lose our minds a bit of bit, tbh. And it’s all the time fascinating to see what we rank excessive or low, after which both turns into way more necessary a movie to that yr (“Top Gun: Maverick,” “Elvis,” “The Fabelmans” not ranked all that top in 2022, however a few of the most necessary movies of the yr) and or issues we rank actually excessive that end up to both be duds, or simply non-starters (now, after all, anticipating one thing and whether or not it’s truly nice are two various things).
But that’s the rub of this record, together with wishful considering of movies that truly gained’t seem till the next yr (which we strive our greatest to not do and never get overly bold with picks with some exceptions). This yr, there’s simply a number of mainstream stuff that didn’t curiosity sufficient to placed on the correct record. Sorry to “Fast X,” “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “Cocaine Bear,” “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” “Blue Beetle,” “Scream 6,” “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley,” “Evil Dead Rise,” “The Little Mermaid” and some others. We’re positive you’re completely high-quality and entertaining movies (perhaps) and all, however you don’t actually need our assist or promotion, proper? And hey, you’ve been talked about proper right here, in order that’s one thing (you might anticipate them proper now should you like!)
As common, our record appears to the auteurs of cinema and certain a number of movies you’ll hear about at a movie competition earlier than a correct U.S. launch. This may imply some debut at a TIFF or Venice and don’t seem onscreen to the general public in 2024, however hey, we’ll take our probabilities. As all the time, a particular due to The Playlist lifers Oliver Lyttelton and Kevin Jagernauth for his or her always-invaluable enter. Without additional ado, our Most Anticipated Films of 2023.
100. “Wonka”
Look, Paul King’s two “Paddington” movies are great (no, actually), however I dunno, Timothée Chalamet in a twee-looking retelling of Willy Wonka’s origins, plus these pictures simply appear and feel nightmarish, so we will’t bear to position this any increased, sorry. Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Jim Carter, Matt Lucas, Natasha Rothwell, Olivia Colman, and Rowan Atkinson co-star.
Release Date: December 15, 2023, by way of Warner Bros.
99. “Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom”
Arguably entertaining, James Wan’s “Aquaman” was additionally impossibly foolish and ludicrous, with a fantastic sense of scale and no sense of style. Maybe the sequel will likely be higher? Jason Momoa returns alongside Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman.
Release Date: December 25, 2023, by way of Warner Bros.
98. “Gran Turismo”
After a detour into low-budget, lo-fi with “Demonic,” Neill Blomkamp returns to studio filmmaking with Sony’s “Gran Turismo” racing online game adaptation. Archie Madekwe stars as a teenage Gran Turismo participant aspiring to be a race automotive driver. David Harbour, Darren Barnet, Thomas Kretschmann, Djimon Hounsou, and Orlando Bloom co-star.
Release Date: August 11, 2023, by way of Sony Pictures.
97. “Knock At The Cabin”
It’s a house invasion, however in the course of the apocalypse with parts of sacrifice to them, which is the sort of twist you may anticipate from director M. Night Shyamalan. Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint co-star.
Release Date: February 3, 2023, by way of Universal.
96. ”The Super Mario Bros. Movie”
20 years after the live-action catastrophe “Super Mario Bros.,” Hollywood tries once more with a collaboration between Nintendo, Universal Pictures, and Illumination Animation studios. Featuring the star-studded voice solid of Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, and lots of extra. Hell, it appears like low-key enjoyable.
Release Date: April 7, 2023, by way of Universal.
95. “A Good Person”
It’s been nearly 20 years since “Garden State” polarized cinema, however after two movies that didn’t actually chart, actor/filmmaker Zach Braff returns with a movie that might doubtlessly transfer the cultural needle once more, particularly because it stars his ex-girlfriend Florence Pugh. Co-starring Celeste O’Connor, Zoe Lister-Jones, Molly Shannon, and Morgan Freeman, the movie stars Pugh as a younger lady who types an unlikely relationship along with her would-be father-in-law years after she is concerned in a deadly accident.
Release Date: March 24, 2023, by way of United Artists Releasing.
94. “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”
C’mon, it’s Judy Blume, and all of us have a tender spot for her, no? Kelly Fremon Craig (“The Edge of Seventeen”) returns with an adaptation of the traditional coming-of-age center faculty id quest comedy. Abby Ryder Fortson (the little lady from the “Ant-Man” motion pictures) stars as Margaret, and sorry, I’m paying prime greenback reserved seats to see Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie play husband and spouse. Kathy Bates co-stars.
Release Date: April 28, 2023, by way of Lionsgate.
93. “65”
An upcoming American science fiction thriller movie produced, written, and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (the blokes who wrote the unique “A Quiet Place” movie), this one was shot in January of 2021, so it’s been a very long time. Adam Driver stars as an astronaut who crash-lands on a mysterious planet and discovers that he’s not alone. Ariana Greenblatt and Chloe Coleman co-star.
Release Date: March 10, 2023, by way of Sony Pictures.
92. “Argylle”
Matthew Vaughn has settled right into a spy movie grove. Following the favored ‘Kingsman’ sequence, he’s assembled one other stacked solid for “Argylle,” based mostly on writer Ellie Conway’s debut novel. Starring Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson, the film follows “a world-class spy suffering from amnesia, tricked into believing they are a best-selling spy novelist.” Fun premise! Vodka martini, please.
Release Date: TBD, by way of Apple TV – Andrew Bundy.
91. “The Flash”
After a bajillion totally different variations that obtained canned, Erza Miller’s “The Flash” lastly get his personal solo movie directed by Andy Muschietti (“IT”). One drawback—this time-traveling multiverse movie is about to introduce Supergirl, Michael Keaton’s Batman from the Tim Burton movies, Michael Shannon as Zod from “Man of Steel” once more, and a farewell to Ben Affleck’s Batman, and probably reset the whole DCEU and is led by a poisonous persona non grata due to all of Miller’s 2022 fiascos. Do they oust him on the finish with a brand new actor? Do they wait and see how the optics really feel subsequent summer season?
Release Date: June 23, 2023, by way of Warner Bros.