40 New Movies We’re Looking Forward to in 2023
Courtesy of Warner Bros./Lionsgate/Disney/Amazon Studios/Sony
Right now, at the top of the new year and start of awards season, many of us are probably still playing catch-up with 2022’s best films. But don’t let that stop you from looking ahead to what 2023 has to offer. The coming months will welcome a fresh lineup of titles, from international films and festival darlings that are finally reaching theaters in 2023 to sure-fire blockbusters that will pile on the childhood nostalgia (we’re looking at you, Little Mermaid and Barbie). Horror lovers can anticipate new projects from Ari Aster and M. Night Shyamalan, while rom-com fans can expect new flicks from Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lopez. Directing heavyweights like Martin Scorsese and Wes Anderson also have new releases coming.
There’s so much heading to screens big and small this year. And—like Timothée Chalamet in Little Women—we’ll watch.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
This tender Brazilian film follows each member of the Martins family following the election of an extremist president. The mother, Tércia, believes she is cursed; father Wellington has high expectations for his son Devinho’s soccer career, even though the kid is more interested in astrophysics; and daughter Eunice falls in love with another young woman and contemplates leaving home.
Now streaming on Netflix. Watch Now
The Golden Bear winner at last year’s Berlin Film Festival is Carla Simón’s Alcarràs, which follows a rural family facing great change on their rural peach farm in Catalonia.
In theaters January 6. Get Tickets
M3gan is both a viral icon and the stuff of nightmares. (If you’ve seen her dancing in the trailer, you know.) She’s an AI robot designed to be a playmate and protector for kids, but when her creator Gemma (Allison Williams) brings a prototype home as a companion for her orphaned niece, things take a terrifying turn.
In theaters January 6. Get Tickets
Writer Rama (Kayije Kagame) observes the trial of Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanga), a Senegalese woman who’s charged with killing her own baby and, although she doesn’t deny it, blames the act on sorcery. As Rama follows the court proceedings for her next book, she begins to spiral, overwhelmed by Coly’s testimony, memories of her own mother, and anxiety about welcoming her own child. Alice Diop’s unconventional courtroom drama is France’s official submission to the Oscars and is on the Best International Film shortlist.
In theaters January 13.
Pen15’s Anna Konkle stars as Lex, who’s happily married to husband Mani (Jermaine Fowler) and looking forward to starting a family. But when they head to a tropical destination wedding, things get awkward when Lex accidentally drops their friend’s baby in front of everybody. It’s all downhill from there.
On Hulu January 13.
Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard play mother and son Evelyn and Ziggy, who struggle to get along and try to form bonds elsewhere. For Evelyn, it’s with a teen at the shelter where she works, and for Ziggy, it’s the activist he pursues at school. This one from A24 is written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, and Emma Stone is a producer.
In theaters January 20.
While Sarah Polley’s awards contender saw a limited release in December, it finally gets its wide release in January. Adapted from Miriam Toews’ book and based on a true story, the women of a rural religious colony congregate in secret to discuss how to respond to the ongoing abuse by the men in their community. Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Sheila McCarthy, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand make up the cast behind this powerful drama.
In theaters everywhere January 27.
J.Lo is back in her rom-com bag. After 2022’s Marry Me opposite Owen Wilson, she and Josh Duhamel lead this action flick/romance/comedy as a couple hosting a destination wedding that goes awry when the whole party is taken hostage. We’re expecting another scene-stealing performance from Jennifer Coolidge here, too.
On Prime Video January 27.
This film from Belgian director Lukas Dhont won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes last year. A touching story about love and friendship, Close follows two 13-year-old best friends ,Léo and Rémi, whose lives are unexpectedly ripped apart.
In theaters January 27.
After 2022’s salacious Pam & Tommy, this documentary from director Ryan White promises to be an “intimate and humanizing portrait” of Pamela Anderson. (And it arrives the same day as her new memoir, Love, Pamela.) Her son, Brandon Thomas Lee, is one of its producers.
On Netflix January 31.
Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno, and Lily Tomlin are girls’ trip goals as they set out to watch their all-time fave, Tom Brady, play at the Super Bowl. The comedy is based on a true story of four BFFS and diehard Patriots fans who took the trip of a lifetime. Love that for them!
In theaters February 3.
M. Night Shyamalan’s next film revolves around a young girl and her parents (Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge) who are siezed by a group of armed strangers (led by Dave Bautista) during their stay at a remote cabin. Their peculiar captors force them to make an impossible choice that will supposedly prevent the apocalypse.
In theaters February 3.
Channing Tatum is back as “Magic” Mike Lane for one last strip tease. This time, Salma Hayek co-stars as a wealthy socialite who offers him the chance to headline and choreograph a dance show in London. Director Steven Soderbergh says it all ends with a massive, 30-plus-minute dance sequence. Sign us up.
In theaters February 10.
Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher in a rom-com? Yes, please. The duo play Debbie and Peter, two friends and polar opposites who swap homes and lives for a week. We wonder where things go from there…
On Netflix February 10.
Have you ever wondered what happens when a bear accidentally consumes an exorbitant amount of cocaine? Don’t worry, someone already has. Loosely inspired by true events, this Elizabeth Banks-directed dark comedy stars Keri Russell and Ray Liotta in one of his final roles.
In theaters February 17.
Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off with this Ant-Man sequel set in the quantum realm, starring Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly as the titular superduo, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne, and Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang. Jonathan Majors’ Kang makes his big-screen debut following his Loki cameo.
In theaters February 17.
Sex Education‘s Emma Mackey is Emily Brontë in this imagining of the story behind Wuthering Heights. The film finds the author grieving her mother’s death and as she channels her emotions into creating the now-famous literary masterpiece.
In theaters February 17.
This 2022 Cannes selection from writer and director Davy Chou is on the Oscars short list as Cambodia’s official entry in the Best International Film race. Park Ji-min stars as Freddie, a 25-year-old who travels back to Korea for the first time since being adopted and growing up in France. Her impulsive visit sends her down a years-long journey of coming to terms with her identity and family.
In theaters in New York and Los Angeles February 17. Wide release to follow.
Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut (based on a story from Ryan Coogler) in the latest installment of his Rocky spin-off series. Jordan’s Adonis Creed faces off with a former friend, Damian (Jonathan Majors), who re-emerges after serving time in jail. Tessa Thompson also stars.
In theaters March 3.
Jenna Ortega is rising as Gen-Z’s scream queen after appearing in Scream V, X, and Wednesday last year, and it seems her reign will continue in 2023 in another Scream installment. She co-stars with Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Hayden Panettiere, and Courtney Cox as survivors of Ghostface killings seeking a fresh start.
In theaters March 10.
One for the true crime lovers: Kiera Knightley and Carrie Coon star as journalists Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, respectively, who investigated the Boston Strangler murders of the 1960s.
On Hulu March 17.
Real-life 18th century composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges was the illegitimate son of an enslaved person and a French plantation owner but rose societal ranks to become a virtuoso violinist, composer, and expert fencer. He even made it to Marie Antoinette’s court and was rumored to have romanced the queen, which ultimately led to his downfall. Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as the accomplished musician and Lucy Boynton plays Marie Antoinette.
In theaters April 7.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Now 30% off
Previously called Disappointment Blvd, this marks the latest from Midsommar and Hereditary director Ari Aster. The surrealist A24 film stars Joaquin Phoenix and is said to center on a successful entrepreneur over multiple decades of his life. Other specifics are mostly unknown, but Aster previously joked that he’s making a “nightmare comedy” that would be “four hours long.” So, expect the unexpected.
In theaters April 2023.
Disney’s live-action remake will soon be part of our world. The film stars Halle Bailey as Ariel (with angelic vocals to boot), Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, and Awkwafina as Scuttle.
In theaters May 26.
J.Lo plays an assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she had to abandon years ago. Joseph Fiennes, Gael García Bernal, Omari Hardwick, and Lucy Paez also star in the Niki Caro-helmed film.
On Netflix May 2023.
It’s been almost five years since we met Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) in the gorgeously animated Into the Spider-Verse. In this sequel, he reunites with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and swings across the multiverse, where he encounters Spider-Man 2099, voiced by Oscar Isaac.
In theaters June 2.
Next up from Wes Anderson: Asteroid City is set in a fictional desert town in the ’50s as stargazing convention gets derailed by major events. The cast includes Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Ed Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Jeff Goldblum, and Rita Wilson.
In select theaters June 16 with a wider release June 23.
A group of friends gather for Juneteenth weekend and end up trapped in a cabin with a killer. This horror-comedy directed by Tim Story (Barbershop) and written by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip) and Dewayne Perkins (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) aims to challenge genre tropes and ask, “if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?” Antoinette Robertson, Dewayne Perkins, Sinqua Walls, Grace Byers, X Mayo, Melvin Gregg, Jermaine Fowler, Yvonne Orji, and Jay Pharoah star.
In theaters June 16.
After bringing toys, cars, monsters, and even human emotions to life, Disney and Pixar are taking on the elements. This film is set in Element City—home to air, water, earth, and fire dwellers—where the fiery Ember strikes up an unlikely friendship with the watery Wade.
In theaters June 16.
Harrison Ford, now 80, shows no signs of slowing down. This summer, he’ll pick up Indiana Jones’ iconic hat and whip once again in a new adventure co-starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas, Jon Rhys-Davies, and Shaunette Renee Wilson. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are executive producing and John Williams will provide the score again.
In theaters June 30.
This quite possibly may be the cinematic event of the year. Margot Robbie stars as the famous toy doll opposite Ryan Gosling as her partner Ken in this live-action extravaganza directed by Greta Gerwig (and co-written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach). Plot details are still under wraps, but Robbie promises this story is not what you think it is. Based on the cast alone, we’re expecting a real treat: Helen Mirren, Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa, and many more.
In theaters July 21.
Another star-studded title arriving on Barbie weekend is Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which stars Cillian Murphy as the father of the atomic bomb. He’s joined by Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, Josh Hartnett, Dane DeHaan, Jack Quaid, Matthew Modine, and many others.
In theaters July 21.
While this is technically a Captain Marvel sequel, Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers will share the screen with Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) for a “cosmic adventure.” Candyman and Little Woods‘ Nia DaCosta directs.
In theaters July 28.
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune sequel picks up with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) joining forces with Chani (Zendaya, finally getting more screentime!) and the Fremen as he plots his revenge on those who destroyed his family. Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, and Stephen McKinley Henderson are returning, joined by new additions Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Léa Seydoux. (We don’t have any stills or teasers yet, but Zendaya and Timmy’s behind-the-scenes Instagrams are just as good.)
In theaters November 3.
This prequel takes place long before Katniss Everdeen’s time. Instead, this adaptation of Suzanne Collins 2020 book follows a young Coriolanus Snow (played by Donald Sutherland in earlier movies and Benediction’s Tom Blyth here) and tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) for the 10th Hunger Games. The cast also includes Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, and Viola Davis.
In theaters November 17.
Timothée Chalamet stars as a young Willy Wonka in this origin story from Paddington director Paul King. Prepare for Timmy’s singing and dancing skills in this sweet musical also starring Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, and Jim Carter.
In theaters December 15.
Fantasia Taylor, Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., and more star in this screen adaptation of Tony-winning musical, which of course is based on Alice Walker’s 1982 novel. Blitz Bazawule, the filmmaker behind Beyoncé’s Black Is King, is directing, while Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, and Quincy Jones are producers.
In theaters December 20.
Regina King is Shirley Chisholm, the first Black Congresswoman and the first Black woman to run for president in the U.S. Written and helmed by John Ridley (Jimi: All Is by My Side director and 12 Years a Slave screenwriter), Shirley will be an “intimate portrayal” of the trailblazer, based on accounts from the real Chisholm’s family and friends.
On Netflix in 2023.
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio team up once again in this adaptation of David Grann’s nonfiction book, which revolves around a string of murders of Osage Nation members in 1920s Oklahoma. Killers of the Flower Moon also features Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, and Lily Gladstone in the cast.
In theaters and Apple TV+ in 2023.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below