Some of these names put themselves on the map as actors long before they ventured into more behind-the-scenes roles of filmmaking like screenwriting and directing. Others entries herein are established directors (and sometimes tandem screenwriters) who have been putting out Hollywood hits for the past several years — and in some cases, even the past several decades.

This list will be omitting popular franchise films like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), Dune: Part II (2023), and Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (2023). Those franchises almost inarguably transcend the recognition of their respective directors: James Mangold, Denis Villeneuve, and James Gunn. Those are big-name directors, make no mistake. Just not quite as big as the franchises they’re helming. At least not with regard to general household value.

But all of that said: bring out your calendars, save up some money, and prepare to frequent your closest movie theater throughout this promising year. These are twenty big-name directors with films in 2023.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

19 Jesse Eisenberg – When You Finish Saving the World

     A24

In his feature debut, Jesse Eisenberg wrote and directed When You Finish Saving the World (2023). It released on January 20th by A24, which is usually a good sign. However, while it did receive decent-enough reviews from critics, it didn’t at all make waves at the box office.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

This could be one of those projects that propels itself into the mainstream headspace once it releases on a given streaming site like Netflix or Hulu. For now, though, the first project under Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial belt is among the more underwhelming releases of 2023, especially for such a big name. Here’s hoping for more success in his next outing.

18 M. Night Shyamalan – Knock at the Cabin

     Universal Pictures

In his first film since Old (2021), M. Night Shyamalan is teaming up with former-wrestler and current movie star Dave Bautista to release Knock at the Cabin (2023). It’s adapted from a horror novel from 2019 called The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay.

And like the book, the film follows a family of three who spend a vacation in a remote cabin. Out of nowhere, though, they’re held hostage by four strangers and are forced to sacrifice one of their own. The reason? The strangers insist it’s the only way to avoid the apocalypse. It’s a typical off-the-wall premise for a Shyamalan film, but it received great public attention just before release.

17 Elizabeth Banks – Cocaine Bear

Shockingly based on events that legitimately took place in Blairsville, Georgia, this film by movie star Elizabeth Banks marks one of the most bizarre premises in recent years. It follows a bear who, as woodland creatures often do, ingests 75 pounds of cocaine, which was later valued at $2 million. For obvious reasons, the volume of drugs has been reduced in the film to the size of a single duffel bag.

This is the third directorial effort from Banks following Pitch Perfect 2 (2016) and Charlie’s Angels (2019), and while neither film particularly resonated with critics, the former did perform well at the box office. It will be interesting to see the success that such an absurd horror-comedy as Cocaine Bear(2023)can reach.

16 Ben Affleck – Air

     Warner Bros. Pictures

For some audiences, Ben Affleck films can be hit or miss. Perhaps the most important contribution he’s made to cinema from behind the camera was his script for Good Will Hunting (1997) over twenty-five years ago. But he does have some solid films under his belt nonetheless, such as The Town (2010) and Argo (2012).

And now, he’s releasing Air (2023) — in which he is also costarring with his longtime friend and frequent on-screen collaborator Matt Damon. It will be the pair’s eighth official appearance alongside one another since showing up in School Ties (1992) over thirty years ago. If you’re a fan of their previous works such as Good Will Hunting (1997), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), and The Last Duel (2021), then keep your eye on their upcoming Air.

15 Guy Ritchie – The Covenant

     Entertainment Film Distributions

One of the biggest English filmmakers of modern times, Guy Ritchie is known for his early works like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000). But pretty much every film under his belt was significant to some extent or another, like Sherlock Holmes (2009) at the box office. Now, Ritchie is releasing an action-thriller called The Covenant (2023).

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Sergeant John Kinley, other cast members from Ritchie’s latest production include actor and country singer Alexander Ludwig, along with Antony Starr — Homelander from the television show The Boys (2019 – present). If anything, that cast should be a sign of positivity for this one.

14 Greta Gerwig – Barbie

It may be a tad jarring for film fans to see a director of such renown as Greta Gerwig attach her name to a children’s property like this. But something about Barbie (2023) sort of feels necessary. It stars Margot Robbie as the titular Barbie, with Ryan Gosling playing her love interest Ken. And perhaps this is why it seems so perfect.

As odd as it sounds: those two pretty much personify the dolls from which their characters are based. And while this may seem like a strange premise for a movie, it’s worth noting for those unfamiliar with Gerwig’s work that she’s a three-time Oscar nominee. If anyone is fit to make a Barbie film of actual quality, it’s likely they’re already attached to the project.

13 Kenneth Branagh – A Haunting in Venice

     Sony Pictures Releasing

As one of the more credentialed filmmakers on the list, Kenneth Branagh has been nominated for the most diverse set of categories in the history of the Academy Awards, from Best Live Action Short Film and Best Actor to Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.

And he’s coming off perhaps the most important film of his career. Though widely known for his Shakespeare adaptations like Henry V (1989) and Hamlet (1996), Branagh’s most recent outing Belfast (2021) was nominated for both Best Picture and Best Director, while also garnering him the first win of his career: one for Best Original Screenplay. Now, he’s releasing A Haunting in Venice(2023), based on Agatha Christie’s novel Hallowe’en Party. And it’s set to hit theaters in September.

12 Dave Franco – Somebody I Used to Know

However, while Somebody I Used to Know also features Alison Brie in a leading role, this upcoming film will be of the romantic comedy variety in lieu of horror. It chronicles Brie’s character Ally as she reunites with her ex-boyfriend after returning to her hometown. The verdict is still out with regard to critical reception, but its release is just around the corner. Not much longer now.

11 Zack Snyder – Rebel Moon

     Netflix

Co-written with Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, Rebel Moon (2023) is the upcoming film from blockbuster director Zack Snyder. An original science fiction property, it stars Sofia Boutella as a young woman named Kora who is chosen to save the galaxy from a despotic force called Balisarius. It also features many other talented names among the cast, none more important than Sir Anthony Hopkins.

But perhaps what’s most interesting about Rebel Moon is that its sequel has already been announced — the crew actually filmed both projects back-to-back. So, not only has the sequel been revealed, but it also already exists. This first entry better not miss.

10 F. Gary Gray – Lift

Releasing exclusively on Netflix come August 25th, Lift (2023) by F. Gary Gray was written by Dank Kunka and Jeremy Doner as an action-comedy heist thriller. General audiences may or may not recognize Gray for his prior works such as Friday (1995), The Italian Job (2003), and Straight Outta Compton (2015). And there’s almost no way that anyone has heard of the screenwriting duo unless you recognize Doner from his script for the biopic Elvis (2022).

However, nearly every film fan in today’s climate would undoubtedly recognize the lead actor: Kevin Hart. He stars here in Lift as a professional thief, and given F. Gary Gray’s past penchant for heist films, this one should be something to keep your eye on.

9 Eva Longoria – Flamin’ Hot

     Hulu

Up there with Cocaine Bear as the film with perhaps the most off-the-wall premise of the year, Flamin’ Hot (2023) marks the directorial debut of famous television actress Eva Longoria. She’s helmed several episodes of television shows such as The Mick (2017 – 2018) and Grand Hotel (2019), but again: she’s mostly known for her acting roles in other programs like The Young and the Restless (2001 – 2003) and Desperate Housewives (2004 – 2012).

However, she of course returns to the big screen here with Flamin’ Hot. Now, back to its premise. The film chronicles a janitor who worked at Frito-Lay, the PepsiCo subsidiary known for its production of corn and potato chips. The janitor’s name is Richard Montañez, and as the name suggests, he claimed to have invented the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto. If that doesn’t intrigue you for a debut, perhaps nothing will.

8 Steven Soderbergh – Magic Mike’s Last Dance

As the name suggests for those familiar with the two previous movies, Magic Mike’s Last Dance (2023) will serve as the final outing in Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike franchise. Aside from the Ocean’s Trilogy (2001 – 2007), this is the only series of Soderbergh’s career. And while it isn’t quite as popular as the George Clooney-led heists, this Channing Tatum project still features tremendous name value.

Soderbergh’s last three projects — Let Them All Talk (2020), No Sudden Move (2021), and Kimi (2022) — were all tremendous successes with critics. However, theatergoers may have been disappointed, as they all released on HBO Max. Magic Mike’s Last Dance will thankfully be a return to theatrical form.

7 Ari Aster – Beau is Afraid

With another A24 production, Ari Aster is once again releasing a horror film — this time, it’s in the form Beau is Afraid (2023). It blends surrealist comedy with elements of horror in a tale that chronicles a man — played by Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role — who travels home after learning of his mother’s death.

It will be Aster’s third collaboration with production company A24, an independent entertainment company. And for what it’s worth: Aster has only directed three films, which means they were all produced by A24. Hereditary (2018) was one of the biggest horror releases in recent years, and his 2019 follow-up Midsommar (2019) impressed critics to a similar degree. Here’s hoping Beau is Afraid will continue Aster’s string of high-quality horror.

6 Michael B. Jordan – Creed III

In another directorial debut, Michael B. Jordan will be taking over the realms in this third entry of the Rocky spinoff series. Picking up directly after its predecessor, Creed III (2023) follows the titular Donny as he rides the high of his most recent victory in the ring, when his childhood friend and fellow boxer Damian “Dame” Anderson gets released from prison. As one might expect, they must engage in battle.

It will be the first film in the entire franchise — six Rocky movies and three Creed entries for nine projects total — that won’t feature Sylvester Stallone. However, along with Jordan as the lead character, Creed III will also feature Tessa Thompson reprising her role as Bianca Taylor, along with Jonathan Majors as the aforementioned antagonist. The film is set to release in March.

5 Wes Anderson – Asteroid City

     Touchstone Pictures

Coming off one of the more so-so releases of his career with The French Dispatch (2021), acclaimed American auteur Wes Anderson is looking to rebound with Asteroid City (2023). It’s said to feature a larger ensemble cast than any Anderson film that came before. And if you’re familiar at all with his filmography like The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and The French Dispatch (2021), you know how grand of a statement that is.

Asteroid City will feature frequent Anderson collaborators such as Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Jeff Goldblum, and Edward Norton, along with newcomers like Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Steve Carrell, and Matt Dillon. Those are some huge names, and it’s not even half of the cast. Be sure to tune in come June to relish in the rapport of the rest.

4 David Fincher – The Killer

In his first film since chronicling the life of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz — Mank (2021) — David Fincher is set to release The Killer (2023) later this year in November. Starring Michael Fassbender, the film is adapted by Andrew Kevin Walker from a French graphic novel series of the same name.

Fassbender will be playing an assassin, the film will co-star Tilda Swinton, and Andrew Kevin Walker is said to have penned the script. And for those unfamiliar with Walker’s previous works: he also wrote the script for famous 90s movies like Se7en (1995) and Sleepy Hollow (1999). The former of which was also directed by David Fincher, and went down as one of the most lauded thrillers of its decade. Here’s hoping The Killer can reach similar praise.

3 Taika Waititi – Next Goal Wins

     Searchlight Pictures

A sports comedy drama, this marks the second film on the list that’s led by Michael Fassbender. But here with Taika Waititi’s upcoming project Next Goal Wins (2023), he’ll be in a greatly different role. While he portrays a hitman in David Fincher’s film, he’ll be playing real-life coach of the American Samoa national team Thomas Rongen here for Waititi.

And if that athletic group doesn’t exactly ring any bells, don’t be deterred from seeing the film: it’s a fairly interesting premise, as during the time in which it’s set, the team is considered the worst in the football world — or soccer, for American audiences. Fassbender’s character Rongen miraculously leads them to qualify in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. A chronicle of true underdogs.

2 Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer

Based off the biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, this upcoming Christopher Nolan film will star Cillian Murphy in the titular role. Known as the Father of the Atomic Bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer was a theoretical physicist who led the Manhattan Project during World War II. And the film will chronicle his life at the Los Alamos Laboratory during the stages of said Project.

Although he’s coming off one of the more modestly-received films of his career, Christopher Nolan is hoping for an explosive rebound with Oppenheimer(2023). This will be the director’s sixth collaboration with actor Cillian Murphy following their work in The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012), Inception (2010), and Dunkirk (2017).Their technical rapport will undoubtedly be a highlight of the film.

1 Martin Scorsese – Killers of the Flower Moon

     Paramount Pictures

There’s one, slight issue with the upcoming biopic from Martin Scorsese: it still doesn’t have a release date. Odds are that it will release this year, as it was actually slated at one point to release in 2022.

Based off a book of the same name (subtitled The Osage Murders and the Birth of theFBI) by David Grann, Killers of the Flower Moon(2023) will feature Scorsese’s two most famous collaborators: Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. It will be the former’s tenth collaboration with the director, and the latter’s seventh. But what’s also worth noting is that it will be the trio’s first time all working together. That should be a milestone in itself.