Most Anticipated Films of 2023: I love watching films. Mainly in theaters. Watching movies on Big Screen is Magic to me. Even if the reviews are bad, I don’t care, I still give it a shot. But last few years (Covid) I’m watching selected movies in the theater. There are two reasons – 1. The financial problem, and 2. OTT. In 45 days all movies are available in OTT.
Here are a few movies you want to watch in Theater and OTT:
- CREED 3
- LUTHER: THE FALLEN SUN
- JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4
- AIR
- THE COVENANT
- THE FLASH
- INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
- MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING, PART ONE
- OPPENHEIMER
- THE EQUALIZER 3
- DUNE: PART TWO
- THE KILLER
- REBEL MOON
1. CREED 3 (March 3rd)
I’m a big fan of the Rocky franchise and I love the spin-off Creed franchise too. Creed 3 is the third installment of the Creed Franchise, and it is directed by Michael B Jordon in his directorial debut.
Synopsis:
Still dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed is thriving in his career and family life. When Damian, a childhood friend, and former boxing prodigy resurfaces after serving time in prison, he’s eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian — a fighter who has nothing to lose.
March 3rd in Theaters – Worldwide
2. LUTHER: THE FALLEN SUN (March 10th)
After watching the trailer on YouTube, immediately I add this film to my watch list but the sad part is – releasing on Netflix. Luther TV Series is one of my favorite shows.
When they announced they are making One lengthy Luther film. I thought they going to pick their favorite scenes from the shows and make One length film because exactly what they did in Ray Donovan: The Movie (2022). Trailer gave me high expectations of the film.
Synopsis:
A serial killer terrorizes London while disgraced detective John Luther sits behind bars. Haunted by his failure to capture the cyber psychopath who now taunts him, Luther decides to break out of prison to finish the job by any means necessary.
March 10th – Netflix – Worldwide
3. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 (March 24th)
After a two-year delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, finally, Chapter 4 is soon in theaters. No one can pull off a John Wick character other than Keanu Reeves. Every fight is realistic and breathtaking. I have high expectations for this film because director Stahelski has said that there is a possibility that chapter 4 will not be a “happy ending” for its central character (John Wick).
Synopsis:
With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hitman John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin.
March 24th – Theater – Worldwide
4. AIR ( April 5th)
Air is directed by Ben Affleck. I love “The Town ” “Argo ” and “Gone Baby Gone ”. These films showed that Ben is not only good at acting and also at Directing. The air trailer was released a few days back on YouTube, and it got me hooked.
The cast is amazing. Matt Damon, Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, Gustaf Skarsgard, and Marlon Wayans, with Ben Affleck. Air is 4th film directed by Ben Affleck.
Synopsis:
Sonny Vaccaro and Nike pursue basketball rookie Michael Jordan, creating a partnership that revolutionizes the world of sports and contemporary culture.
April 5th – Theater – Worldwide
5. THE COVENANT (April 21st)
Frankly, I didn’t know a new film is coming and it is directed by Guy Ritchie. I’m even didn’t watch Ritchie’s last film “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre ”. Now they released The Covenant trailer on YouTube.
Only there are a few directors in the world, who can pull audiences into the theater – Just their name is enough in the poster. Guy Ritchie is one of them. I watched The Gentlemen thrice in theater, Wrath of Man, and King Arthur: Legend of The Sword twice in the theater.
“The trailer felt similar to Jarhead, End Of Watch, American Sniper, etc… but this is Guy Ritchie film. I still watch it in the theater. And Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the unlucky actors in Hollywood. He did two or three big production house projects but nothing helped or put him under the spotlight.
Synopsis:
During the war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter risked his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain.
April 21st – Theaters – Worldwide
6. THE FLASH (June 16th)
The reason I watch this film in the theater is only because of Ben Affleck as Batman (continuation to Snyder Verse ). After James Gunn took over DC studio, I lost all hope in upcoming films from DC. Even the Flash trailer is okay, It looks like fruit salad.
After Christopher Nolan’s Batman, Zack Snyder’s Batman is Sad, Angry, and Brutal. This makes him something special. I loved the way he looks at the sky in the Prologue sequence of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, The warehouse fight is brutal and breathtaking. Batman is not a character, It’s an Emotion. His Character Arc in Zack Snyder’s films is sometimes related to our day-to-day life.
Synopsis:
The Flash travels through time to prevent the murder of his mother, but unwittingly causes changes that result in the creation of a multiverse.
June 16th – Theater – Worldwide
7. INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (June 30th)
For the first time ever, a person not named Steven Spielberg is helming an Indiana Jones film. It is the fifth installment of the Indiana film series. The film directed by James Mangold (Ford V Ferrari, Logan, 3:10 to Yuma fame).
Synopsis:
In 1969, American archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones lives against the backdrop of the Space Race. Indiana Jones is uneasy over the fact that the U.S. government has recruited former Nazis to help beat the Soviet Union in the competition to make it to space.
His goddaughter, Helena, accompanies him on his journey. Meanwhile, Jürgen Voller, a NASA member, and ex-Nazi involved with the moon-landing program wish to make the world a better place as he sees fit.
June 30th – Theater – Worldwide
8. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING, PART ONE (July 14th)
Last year Tom Cruise came with Top Gun: Maverick and the film became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise’s career – $1.489 billion.
Mission Impossible franchise is the biggest Action franchise in the world and getting better with its sequels. Mission Impossible films are famous for Tom Cruise’s own, Unique, and daredevil stunts. My favorite films in the franchise are Mission Impossible:3 and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.
This year, Tom coming with another sequel to a long-running franchise of Mission Impossible franchise. It is the seventh installment of the Mission Impossible Franchise and is directed by Christopher McQuarrie.
Synopsis: Not-Yet released.
July 14th – Theater – Worldwide
9. OPPENHEIMER (July 21st)
Christopher Nolan is my favorite director. Nolan’s name is enough to pull audiences to the theater. Nolan is one of few directors who have a worldwide fan following and he is known for his complex storytelling and Nonlinear structure.
Oppenheimer is a biographical film based on American Prometheus by Kai Brd and Martin J. Sherwin. This is the first film not distributed by Warner. Bros since insomnia.
When Nolan’s films are released, no one cares about who the actors are or anything. Just they walk into the theater to experience something they never did. That’s Nolan films. Flipping a truck in The Dark Knight (2008), Crashing a plane in Tenet (2020), Creating a black hole, or planting 500 acres of Corn in Interstellar (2014) is only can pull by Christopher Nolan.
A lot of filmmakers today acknowledge Nolan’s works. Quentin Tarntino said, “he watched thrice to understand Dunkirk and calls it a Masterpiece “. Sam Mendes said, The Dark Knight inspired him to create Skyfall and Spectre “. Denise Villeneuve said, “He is by far one of the best filmmakers working in the world today because people don’t realize the eye-level of his cinematic mastery, it’s crazy. It’s crazy! Every time Chris puts a movie on-screen, I have to [see it in theaters]. Of course, I saw ‘Tenet’ in the theaters. You can’t watch a Nolan movie at home, that’s like, that makes absolutely no sense. You have to, at first, receive the full impact of a Nolan movie in a theater. It’s really fascinating to see him evolving from one movie to another and always pushing the envelope, technically, narratively, and always reinventing himself. For me, it’s deeply inspiring to see that master at work.”
“I was blown away by ‘Tenet,’” he says, “I think it’s a masterpiece. I think it’s a movie that’s an incredible cinematic achievement.” “I had so much fun, I saw it several times and each time it was a blast and I think the level of mastery of Christopher Nolan is unmatched.”
Now all the eyes are on Oppenheimer. Because on the same day, Warner Bros. Released their “Barbie” film. But recently they released their first teaser but it didn’t come 1% close to Oppenheimer Trailer. Barbie is directed by Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Woman)
Synopsis:
Physicist J Robert Oppenheimer works with a team of scientists during the Manhattan Project, leading to the development of the atomic bomb.
July 21st – Theater – Worldwide
10. THE EQUALIZER 3 (September 1st)
Equalizer s 3rd installment of the Equalizer Series and directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Synopsis: Not-Yet released.
September 1st – Theater – Worldwide
11. DUNE: PART TWO (November 3rd)
Denis Villeneuve is one hell of a director who is best at adapting novels to big screens. Dune: Part One was a surprise hit even a day-and-date release on HBO Max. Dune is based on the 1995 novel Dune by Frank Herbert.
Synopsis:
Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
November 3rd – Theater – Worldwide
12. THE KILLER (November 10th)
The killer is directed by David Fincher. It’s a neo-noir thriller based on a French graphic novel series. The killer is another Fincher film not released in a theater-like Mank (2020)
Synopsis:
Solitary cold, methodical, and unencumbered by scruples or regrets, a killer waits in the shadows, watching for his next target. Yet, the longer he waits, the more he thinks he’s losing his mind, if not his cool.
November 10th – Netflix – Worldwide
13. REBEL MOON (December 22nd)
Rebel Moon is the second most anticipated film of the year after Oppenheimer (directed by Christopher Nolan). Rebel Moon is directed by Zack Snyder. I love Snyder films.
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice ultimate edition is his all-time favorite movie for me. Rebel Moon is a space epic film based on an original story of Snyder’s own.
After coming out from Warner Bros. Netflix offered a new beginning with them. Later Zack Snyder came with Army of The Dead and it was a huge success. Net he came with the Army of THIEVES, credited for Story and Producer. Army of THIEVES was a prequel to Army of The Dead. Both films were huge successes internationally.
Later, Snyder announced he going to work on his dream project similar to Star Wars. Rebel Moon is inspired by the works of Akira Kurosawa and the Star Wars films. The film also began development as a Star Wars film that Snyder had pitched to Lucasfilm, in the time period between the conclusion of the prequel trilogy in 2005 and the sale of Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. This pitch was to be a more mature take on the Star Wars universe. Following the acquisition, the project was redeveloped by producers Eric Newman and Snyder, first as an original television series, before settling on a film.
First, Rebel Moon is a single film but later Snyder felt he can’t convey the whole story in one film. So, he decided to make two films.
Snyder shot both films back-to-back with 152 days of filming. Netflix planned a limited theatrical release.
Synopsis:
When a colony on the edge of the galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius, they dispatch a young woman with a mysterious past to seek out warriors from neighboring planets to help them take a stand.
December 22nd – Netflix – Worldwide
Conclusion:
These are my watch list of films for 2023. You may ask, why I left so many movies like –Fast X, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Evil Dead Rise, Guardians of the galaxy 3, Spider-Man Across the spider-verse, Transformers: Rise of the beast, Barbie, The Marvels, Aquaman, and The Lost Kingdom – can watch a few movies in the theater from these leftovers but after the reviews.
