Every year, as we approach the holidays and begin to prepare for the new year to come, it is fun to exercise our anticipation and look forward to the year in cinema that is to come. 2023 is shaping up to have one of the more memorable release calendars in recent years, with projects big and small, new and re-imagined, set to hit our local theaters throughout the year. So ease back, get relaxed, and let’s examine the most anticipated movies of 2023.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

10 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (March)

     Paramount Pictures

The world of Dungeons & Dragons returns in 2023 with, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, and a long anticipated action role for Hugh Grant. This action adventure looks to have all the makings of an epic fantasy while appealing to casual moviegoers and hardcore D&D fans.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

9 Haunted Mansion

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 

Not much is known as of this writing about the Disney’s Haunted Mansion, other than that it is a remake and boasts a stellar cast. A cast that includes the likes of; Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny DeVito, Jared Leto, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, and a list longer than we have words to type! With an all-star cast, and an acclaimed director, Justin Simien, at the helm, it is certain to be a spooky good time in 2023.

8 Barbie (July)

Barbie is shaping up to be a movie that exceeds anyone’s wildest expectations. Written by two Academy Award nominees, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, and directed by one of whom is an Academy Award Winning director, Gerwig. The cast and crew assembled for this movie is as top tier as you can get in Hollywood these days. With Margot Robbie starring as the titular Barbie and Ryan Gosling as her Ken, Barbie is without a doubt a standout film in 2023.

7 Wonka (December)

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Gene Wilder’s performance as Will Wonka in the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, is a timeless performance that any actor would have a hard time topping, and one some have failed to match. Timothée Chalamet will get his chance to dawn the top hat in the prequel musical, Wonka, slated to dazzle audiences in December.

6 MCU 2023 (February, May, July)

     Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios has a big year ahead of them in 2023, with many of the stories sure to kick into motion the next big event in Phase 5 of the MCU. February brings up the anticipated debut of Jonathon Majors’ Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. May will feature the final chapter for this group of guardians with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and July will see Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel team up with Kamala Khan and Monica Rambo in The Marvels. Marvel rarely disappoints with their features and 2023 should be no different.

5 Elemental (June)

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/ Pixar 

A movie calendar year would not be complete without a fresh new offering from Pixar. 2023 will bring us Elemental, the story of fire and water elementals coming together to learn they have more in common than they thought. Sure to be chocked full of humor and heart, as is Pixar’s style, we can’t wait to see what this new movie has to offer for kids (and adults) of all ages.

4 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June)

     Disney

2023 will see the return of one of the greatest action adventure heroes to ever grace the big screen. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will see the iconic archeologist by day, adventurer by night back in action. Joined by newcomers to the franchise, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen, and directed by James Mangold. The fifth entry in the Indiana Jones saga looks to return to the roots of the franchise and is sure to promise a fun ride.

3 The Little Mermaid (May)

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The next Disney classic to receive the live-action remake makeover is The Little Mermaid. Starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, this iconic Disney story looks to dazzle an entirely new generation of children and adults alike as director Rob Marshall brings the sea floor to life. As with other live-action Disney remakes, this one is being met with reserved optimism, especially with the perceived agenda by some surrounding the film. However, all signs point to it being a highlight of 2023.

2 The Super Mario Bros. Movie (April)

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is positioned to be the animated event of 2023. With an all-star cast and stunning visuals, the world of Mario and his friends will be brought to life like never before on the big screen. With a potential Nintendo Shared Universe in the works, it is imperative that the first entry performs well, and all indications point to a successful run down rainbow road for this movie.

1 Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse (June)

     SpiderVerse/Twitter

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse was one of the biggest surprises of 2018, and its long-awaited sequel finally arrives in 2023. Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse, is set to bring back Miles Morales as the web slinger as he and countless spidey variants travel across the Spiderverse. Set to be even bigger and bolder than its original, this sure-to-be visually stunning follow-up could end up being the best of 2023.