For many people, summer is synonymous with going to the movies. There’s something about the big screen, the popcorn, and the communal experience that makes watching a movie in the theater so special.
In recent years, the rise of streaming services has led to some concerns about the future of the theatrical movie business. However, studio heads at CinemaCon, the annual convention where Hollywood shows theater owners what they have in store for the coming year, were quick to say that “Movies are back!”
There are a number of reasons to be optimistic about the future of theatrical movies. For one, the box office has been strong in recent years, with 2022 being the highest-grossing year at the box office since 2019. Additionally, streaming services have actually helped to boost the theatrical movie business by creating a larger audience for films.
With that said, here is a list of some of the most anticipated summer movies of 2023:
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (May 5)
The third time of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is finally here, and it’s sure to be a summer blockbuster. The film, directed by James Gunn, stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, and Karen Gillan.
The film has been praised by critics for its humor, action, and soundtrack. CNN’s Brian Lowry called the film “a rollicking good time” and said that it “packs an emotional wallop.”
Fast X (May 19)
The Fast & Furious franchise is back for its tenth installment, and it’s bringing some new faces along for the ride. Jason Momoa, Rita Moreno, and Brie Larson will all be joining the cast, along with returning favorites Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Jason Statham, John Cena, Helen Mirren, and Charlize Theron.
The film is being directed by Justin Lin, who helmed the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth installments of the franchise. The plot is still under wraps, but it’s sure to be full of action, suspense, and humor.
“The Little Mermaid” (May 26)
The buzz for the latest Disney live-action “reimagining” of The Little Mermaid has been building for a while now, as more and more is revealed. However, fans of the Oscar-winning 1989 animated classic have yet to deliver their final verdict. One thing is for sure, though: hordes of people will likely go see it, kids in tow, to decide for themselves if they want to make this new film part of their world.
The Little Mermaid is a beloved classic, and it will be interesting to see how the live-action version compares. The cast is certainly promising, with Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, and Javier Bardem as King Triton. The music is also sure to be a highlight, with Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda both contributing new songs.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2)
Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga. After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (June 9)
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the next chapter in the Transformers film franchise. Set in the 1990s, the film follows the Autobots and Decepticons as they battle for control of a new group of Transformers: the Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons.
The Flash (June 16)
The Flash is a superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film stars Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / Flash, and follows him as he travels back in time to prevent his mother’s murder. However, his attempt to change the past creates a new reality, one in which he must face the consequences of his actions.
Asteroid City (June 16)
Asteroid City is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Wes Anderson. The film stars an ensemble cast that includes Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Adrien Brody, Bryan Cranston, Harvey Keitel, Liev Schreiber, and Jason Schwartzman.
Asteroid City is set in a fictional American desert town circa 1955. The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
Asteroid City is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 16, 2023.
The Blackening (June 16)
The Blackening is a horror-comedy film about a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherf****** game.
The Blackening is directed by Tim Story and stars Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, with Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji. It is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 16, 2023.
Elemental (June 16)
Elemental is an upcoming American computer-animated comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Directed by Peter Sohn and produced by Denise Ream, it is written by John Hoberg and Kat Likkel, Brenda Hsueh, and Sohn, with Pete Docter serving as executive producer.
Elemental takes place in a world where fire, water, earth, and air residents live together. The film follows Ember, a fiery young woman, and Wade, a go-with-the-flow guy, as they discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.
Elemental is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 16, 2023.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June 30)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an upcoming American action-adventure film directed by James Mangold. It is the fifth and final installment in the Indiana Jones film series, and stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. The film follows Jones as he races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 30, 2023.
Joy Ride (July 7)
Joy Ride is an upcoming American comedy film directed by Lucia Aniello. It stars Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu. The film follows four unlikely friends who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure.
Joy Ride is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 7, 2023.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One (July 12)
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One is an upcoming American action spy film written, produced, and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. It is the sequel to Mission: Impossible – Fallout and the seventh installment in the Mission: Impossible film series. The film stars Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Rob Delaney, Cary Elwes, Indira Varma, Mark Gatiss, and Henry Czerny.
Dead Reckoning, Part One is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 12, 2023.
Barbie (July 21)
Barbie is an upcoming American live-action comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. The film is based on the Mattel toy line of the same name. It also stars America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Alexandra Shipp, Jamie Demetriou, Hari Nef, and Kingsley Ben-Adir.
Barbie is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 21, 2023.
Oppenheimer (July 21)
Oppenheimer is an upcoming American historical drama film directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Nolan and Matthew Orton. It stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who led the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb. The film also stars Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, Josh Hartnett, Dane DeHaan, Jack Quaid, Dylan Arnold, David Dastmalchian, and Jason Clarke.
Oppenheimer is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 21, 2023.
Haunted Mansion (July 28)
Haunted Mansion is an upcoming American supernatural comedy film directed by Justin Simien and starring LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, and Dan Levy. The film is inspired by the classic Disney theme park attraction of the same name.
Haunted Mansion is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 28, 2023.
The Meg 2: The Trench (August 4)
The Meg 2: The Trench is an upcoming American science fiction action film directed by Ben Wheatley from a screenplay by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, and Dean Georgaris, based on the 1999 novel The Trench by Steve Alten. Serving as the sequel to The Meg (2018), the film stars Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels, and Cliff Curtis.
The Meg 2: The Trench is scheduled to be released in the United States on August 4, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Gran Turismo (August 11)
Gran Turismo is an upcoming American action drama film based on the popular PlayStation video game series of the same name. The film is directed by Neill Blomkamp and stars Brian Tyree Henry, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Logan Lerman. It follows a young man who wins a chance to compete in the GT Academy, a competition that gives gamers the chance to become professional race car drivers.
Gran Turismo is scheduled to be released in the United States on August 11, 2023.
Blue Beetle (August 18)
Blue Beetle is an upcoming American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film is directed by Angel Manuel Soto and stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle. It follows Jaime, a young man who discovers an alien scarab that grants him superpowers. He must use his powers to protect his community from a dangerous threat.
Blue Beetle is scheduled to be released in the United States on August 18, 2023.
