Top 7 Upcoming Movies to Add to Your Watch List in 2023
It’s no news that when a film turns out to be a hit at the box office, chances are we can anticipate an equally awesome sequel. Not only that, but it’s become the norm for many movie franchises to take their soaring success as a cue to expand into other forms of entertainment! Fans can enjoy a huge range of merchandise featuring their favourite movie characters and actors.
What’s more, for those who like playing the occasional online slot, there’s an array of titles to choose from, whether based on the characters, actors or even the plotline itself. The choice games reflect that of the endless promotional offers, which include the freshest free spins for existing players by NoDeposit365 and so many more bonuses!
The following films are definitely worth adding to your watch list this year. We’ve included movies from various genres but don’t hesitate to venture into an unfamiliar genre…you might discover something that actually strikes you!
1. Scream 6
After the success of last year’s Scream, Radio Silence will release the sixth instalment of this great work which ingeniously combines elements of the psychological thriller and mystery genre.
The plot follows the previous massacre’s survivors in the city that never sleeps. We witness Tara, our final girl, desperately trying to be a normal college student, only to be hampered by a manic psychological breakdown which causes her to see the ghosts of past killers. Tension builds up between Tara and her sister, Sam, who pretends to be Ghostface as a way of manipulating her. But hell breaks loose when three new masked killers enter the plot, leaving us second guessing who will make it out alive and who the final victim will be.
Although Neve Campbell has starred in the previous five entries as Sidney Prescott with a look inspired by Munch’s painting The Scream, she will not be returning for this sixth instalment due to a salary dispute with Paramount.
2. John Wick: Chapter 4
This time round John Wick is set on defeating The High Table. But until he eradicates a new enemy, he cannot earn his freedom.
The fight scenes are this film’s highlights. Skilfully directed by fight choreographers, the use of gun fu techniques are inspired by Hong Kong action cinema. Director Chad Stahelski — a former stuntman — uniquely directs action with a steady camera that captures the moves so elegantly.
And here’s to the video game lovers who’d like to experience the thrill of being John Wick, hitting without wasting a single bullet: you should definitely try the video game John Wick Hex and games that will give you a similar thrill, such as Max Payne 3, Cyberpunk, and Superhot!
3. Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Fans of sci-fi and superheroes will definitely love this candy-colored Marvel space saga.
The director James Gunn intended to break the threequel curse by venturing this third entry which sees the Guardians attempting to repair the extreme damage done by Thanos on Knowhere, to make it a safe haven for alien refugees. But after a brutal attack, Peter Quill is forced to lead the Guardians on one last dangerous mission, protecting one of their members to ensure that the team remains intact.
Thus, the movie revolves around the theme of loss and taps into the power of mutual support and teamwork for a greater cause. The film has a longer runtime than the its two prequels and it also has some dark undertones when compared to the previous light-hearted movies in this saga. But its vibrant colour palette and its ability to keep you on your toes remains a constant.
4. Barbie
Featuring the gorgeous Margot Robbie and the famous Notebook star Ryan Gosling, the film centres on a doll living in Barbieland, who is expelled for being less-than-perfect. This sets her off on a journey to the human world on a quest for true happiness where she gets to redefine what perfection really is.
Penned and directed by Greta Gerwig (with input from her partner Noah Baumbach) who is known for her sensitivity to women’s issues and relationships in her films, Barbie moves away from the one-dimensional classic blonde archetype. Instead, it includes different body types, races and ethnicities, as seen in the varied cast which features Rae, Gatwa, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, and Hari Nef who play different versions of Barbie and Ken. It also features plus-size actresses Nicola Coughlan and Sharon Rooney, making the movie a delectable celebration of different kinds of beauty.
5. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
This science action film, directed by Francis Lawrence, is “very much a story about love”. Quoting the director himself, it is “a very intimate love story…set in a different kind of world in a different time”. It is in fact set roughly 64 years before the saga told in the original Hunger Games quadrilogy and it delves deeper into the mythology of Panem that the original films and novels were built upon. The story follows Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) decades before he becomes the most powerful man in this dystopian land, as he struggles between two forces: the charming Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) and the villainous Dr. Volumnia Gaul. The film is scheduled to hit the theaters worldwide in November 2023. The Hunger Games is the 21st-highest-grossing film franchise of all time, having grossed over US$2.97 billion worldwide.
6. The Little Mermaid
To describe this highly-anticipated film as a brilliant remake of the 1989 animated Disney movie fails to fully reflect the richness of this computer-generated and live-action rendering.
The highlight of this movie is its diverse and inclusive element, which is currently the talk of the town. Director Rob Marshall’s move of casting Halle Bailey for the starring role has been received differently. While some lauded this move as promoting greater representation and inclusivity, others are so enraged by the artistic liberty taken by the creative directors, that the hashtag #notmyariel went viral.
“The Little Mermaid” also stars Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy, Awkwafina, and Daveed Diggs. Apart from the classic songs, get ready for new ones, co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken. The film is set to premiere May 26, 2023.
7. Oppenheimer
This movie features the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man behind the development of America’s atomic bomb project which went on to win World War II, at a devastating cost on civilian lives in Japan. The fact that the movie is in black and white did not reduce the audience’s hype about it. We shall see Peaky Blinders’ actor Cillian Murphy as Robert Oppenheimer, alongside a Nolanesque ensemble, featuring Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Rami Malek and Florence Pugh. Nolan recently revealed that he has shot the ‘Trinity test’ scene — which is the first nuclear weapon detonation held in New Mexico — without CGI. Nolan collaborated with visual supervisor Andrew Jackson to create this feat, and audiences can’t wait to see how this duo’s spectacle has turned out
