With so many movies to look forward to in 2023, it’s hard to know which ones to invest your time in. Murphy’s Multiverse has curated a list of must-see movies that should be on your list, including some that may surprise you.
February
17th-Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
The ageless Paul Rudd and his crew are back for the witty, action-packed franchise that is Ant-Man. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania features some new faces including Jonathan Majors as “Kang the Conqueror” and (checks notes) Bill Murray as a character from Janet Van Dyne’s past.
March
3rd-Creed III
Jonathan Majors has been a busy man! He plays another villain, this time in the boxing ring as Adonis Creed’s opponent in Creed III. Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad are also back in this installment alongside Michael B. Jordan, who reprises his role and makes his directorial debut.
10th-Scream VI
Scream VI is the sequel to 2022’s Scream, but this storyline is a bit different for the franchise: there is a new killer, a new city, and new rules. Some names to keep an eye out for include Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere, Melissa Barrera and Courtney Cox. Unfortunately, franchise staple Neve Campbell won’t make an appearance after contract negotiations broke down.
17th-Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Zachary Levi is back to give us more Shazam. Levi will bring along a star-studded cast this time that includes Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler joining returners like Asher Angel, Adam Brody, and Megan Good. New villains played by Liu and Mirren will give the Shazamly all it can handle.
24th-John Wick: Chapter 4
Like fine wine, Keanu Reeves gets better with age. After a two-year pandemic-related delay, Reeves is front in center in John Wick: Chapter 4. Fans will see John Wick in the throws of a war with the High Table, one that could prove to be costly.
31st-Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
If you’ve played the game Dungeons & Dragons, this movie is the stuff dreams are made of. Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page, Michelle Rodriguez, Sophia Lillis, and Justice Smith will star in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves dropping Spring 2023.
April
7th-The Super Mario Bros. Movie
From the producer who created Despicable Me, The Super Mario Brothers Movie is also hitting screens this spring. Chris Pratt stars as Mario and Charlie Day will play Luigi. Keegan-Michael Key will voice Toad with Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach. Finally, the crew rounds out with the hilarious Jack Black and Seth Rogen voicing the characters of Bowser and Donkey Kong.
May
5th-Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Chris Pratt is back as the beloved character Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Franchise staples Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klmentieff are also back for one more ride. Quill is still mourning the loss of his Gamora and asks the crew to help him defend the universe as their fate could depend on it.
19th-Fast X
“I don’t have friends. I got family,” says Dominic Toretto. Family has been the theme of the Fast and Furious franchise and Fast X will likely be no different. The tenth installment brings back Toretto’s crew in an assumed two-part franchise finale that is sure to thrill.
26th-The Little Mermaid
Singer Halle Bailey stars in The Little Mermaid as the red-headed mermaid beauty and is sure to bring a soulful and powerful twist to this endearing classic. Joining her is Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Awkwafina as Scuttle, and Javier Bardem as King Triton. The Little Mermaid becomes part of your world Memorial Day Weekend.
June
2nd-Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
What’s better than one Oscar-winning movie? Two! Well, we’re probably a bit early in predicting that, but there are high hopes for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfield, and Oscar Isaac are back as Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy and Miguel O’Hara. The thrilling Issa Rae from HBO’s Insecure is also joining the cast as Spider-Woman.
16th-The Flash
DC Comics is joining the plunge into multiverses with Andy Muschietti’s The Flash.
30th-Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
James Mangold will direct Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the follow-up to Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Harrison Ford is joined by Antonio Banderas, Mads Mikkelsen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Shaunette Renée Wilson.
July
14th-Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One
Does Tom Cruise age? The man has matured as Ethan Hunt for nearly 30 years. Cruise returns to the big screen in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One with some familiar faces. Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Czerny, and Vanessa Kirby are all back, with Esai Morales playing the film’s main villain.
21st-Barbie
There isn’t anything Margot Robbie can’t do and that includes playing Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation. Ryan Gosling joins Robbie as her character is expelled from Barbieland and joins the real world in search of happiness.
28th-The Marvels
In case you didn’t get enough of the phenomena that is Brie Larson, she returns to the big screen in The Marvels. Larson will be joined by Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani and the incomparable Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in the sequel to Captain Marvel.
November
17th-The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is the prelude to the original film franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutchinson. The film details the life of Coriolanus Snow before he became the brutal dictator of Panem. Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Tom Blyth, and Jason Schwartzman round out the cast.
December
15th-Wonka
In a world of pure imagination, Timothée Chalamet plays a young Willy Wonka as his world collides with the Oompa-Loompas. The cast of Wonka also includes Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Keegan Michael-Key, and Rowan Atkinson.
20th-The Color Purple
The Color Purple was originally released in 1985, featuring a star-studded cast. The 2023 adaptation has some serious shoes to fill, but it’s off to a good start. Pulling in a smorgasbord of talent, the cast features Danielle Brooks, Halle Bailey, Fantasia-Taylor, Taraji P. Henson, Louis Gossett Jr., Corey Hawkins, Deon Cole, and H.E.R.
25th-Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom-December 25th
More Jason Momoa? Yes, please! Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom should be a treat for fans as it’s slated to debut on Christmas Day. Momoa will reprise his role and will be joined by Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Amber Heard as Mera.
