New movies 2023: release dates, casts, plots and everything we know about this year's most anticipated movies

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New movies 2023 — there's some huge movies coming out... (Image credit: Future)

Here's our new movies 2023 release dates calendar for all the upcoming big films. 

It promises to be an amazing year, with perhaps the biggest movie of 2023 being Harrison Ford's return for his fifth and final outing as Indiana Jones.

Other big movies being released include The Flash, the Barbie movie, and that man Tom Cruise again in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.

So, whether you're looking forward to seeing ... we've got you covered... also if you like a bit of cinema history check out our best movie posters of all time guide.

Our new movies 2023 calendar

January

M3GAN

M3GAN doll glancing off to the side

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
  • Stars: Jenna Davis, Allison Williams
  • Directed by: Gerard Johnstone
  • Release date: January 6 US, January 13 UK

M3GAN is the latest entry into the creepy doll genre, following in the footsteps of Annabelle. Fans were hyped about M3GAN after the doll had gone viral on Twitter, with many people reposting clips of the doll dancing...

A Man Called Otto

Tom Hanks in A Man Called Otto

(Image credit: Columbia Pictures)
  • Stars: Tom Hanks
  • Directed by: Marc Forster
  • Release date: January 13 US, January 6 UK (limited US release December 25, 2022)

Tom Hanks plays "the grumpiest man in America" in A Man Called Otto. It's based on the New York Times bestselling book by Fredrik Backman, and sees Hanks play a widower whose life is turned upside when a young family moves next door. 

Our A Man Called Otto review concludes: "While formulaic and sometimes eye rolling, Tom Hanks' latest will charm audiences, with a big hand from Mariana Treviño."

Plane

Gerard Butler and Mike Colter in Plane

(Image credit: Lionsgate)
  • Stars: Gerald Butler, Mike Colter
  • Directed by: Jean Francois Richet
  • Release date: January 13 US, January 27 UK

Gerard Butler headlines another action movie with Plane, alongside Mike Colter. The plot sees a plane crash on an island only for many of the passengers then to be taken hostage by dangerous rebels.

Our Plane review verdict was: "Plane is an unpretentious and dependable action film that might not be a first-class experience, but gets audiences from point A to point B with minimal hiccups."

February

Magic Mike's Last Dance

  • Stars: Channing Tatum, Salma Hayek
  • Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
  • Release date: February 10

As the title suggests, this movie sees Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) performing one last dance after going broke. He's tempted to London by an amazing offer by a rich socialite (Salma Hayek) in the comedy-drama. 

Our Magic Mike's Last Dance review said: "Magic Mike's Last Dance is all flash and no substance, a disappointing end for the surprise trilogy."

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania concept art

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
  • Stars: Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer.
  • Directed by: Peyton Reed
  • Release date: February 17

The third Ant-Man film sees the beginning of Marvel Phase 5 and boasts a top cast including Bill Murray and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Our Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania review concluded: "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is better at marketing the future of the MCU than executing an Ant-Man sequel."

March

Luther: The Fallen Sun

Luther (Idris Elba) in a tunnel

(Image credit: Netflix)
  • Stars: Idris Elba
  • Directed by: Jamie Payne
  • Release date: March on Netflix, exact date not yet announced

Luther: The Fallen Sun sees Idris Elba return as John Luther in the long-awaited movie version of the hugely popular TV series. He faces baddies played by Andy Serkis and Cynthia Erivo.

Scream VI

  • Stars: Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding 
  • Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olphin, Tyler Gillett
  • Release date: March 10

Scream 6 is going to see Sam, Tara, Mindy and Chad leave Woodsboro in an attempt to start fresh. We all can guess how well that’s probably going to go, as you just can’t keep Ghostface down. 

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
  • Stars: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan, Helen Mirren
  • Directed by: David F Sandberg
  • Release date: March 17

Shazam! Fury of the Gods continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!," is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam. Zachary Levi returns as Shazam, with Rachel Zegler and Lucy Liu joining the cast.

Our Shazam! Fury of the Gods review said: "For all its big-scale action, this sequel is very much in the original’s shadow."

John Wick: Chapter 4 

Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4

(Image credit: Lionsgate)
  • Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane
  • Directed by: Chad Stahelski
  • Release date: March 24

John Wick: Chapter 4 sees Keanu Reeves cheating death in a world packed with assassins. Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King, Lance Reddick as Charon and Ian McShane as Winston all return.

Our John Wick: Chapter 4 review's verdict was: "John Wick: Chapter 4 is a blast. The best action movie of the year, and perhaps the best in the genre since Mad Max: Fury Road."

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

The core cast of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves ready for a fight

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures/Hasbro)
  • Stars: Regé-Jean Page, Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, Sophia Lillis
  • Directed by: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
  • Release date: March 31

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves sees the world's greatest role-playing game returning to the big screen in a movie that is packed full of famous faces and evil monsters in equal measure. The makers tease the plot sees: "A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people".

Our Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves review said: "Honor Among Thieves' killer cast carries the D&D movie across the finish line in a silly swords and sorcery action-comedy that exceeds all expectations."

April

Super Mario Bros: The Movie

Super Mario Bros Movie

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
  • Stars: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black
  • Directed by: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
  • Release date: April 7

Parents who sat through Sonic might have mixed feelings about the prospect of another video game film. But here's Super Mario Bros: The Movie, an animated adventure about our plumber hero and its proved a monster hit!

Here's our Super Mario Bros review verdict: "The movie is a little too afraid to stray from the brothers' origins for its own good but delivers an entertaining adventure all the same".

AIR

Ben Affleck wearing sunglasses at a desk in AIR

(Image credit: MGM)
  • Stars: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck
  • Directed by: Ben Affleck
  • Release date: April 7

AIR focuses on one of the most important events in Nike's history, which would help them become the globally recognized brand they are today: their pursuit of Michael Jordan as a spokesperson and the creation of the Air Jordan sneaker line.

Our Air review concluded: "In the goal of not using a basketball analogy, let's just say that AIR is a homerun."

The Pope's Exorcist

Father Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto) and Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe) in THE POPE’S EXORCIST.

(Image credit: Jonathan Hession/Sony Pictures Entertainment)
  • Stars: Russell Crowe
  • Directed by: Julius Avery
  • Release date: April 7 (UK), April 14 (US)

Russell Crowe’s latest movie, The Pope's Exorcist, casts him in the role of a high-level priest in the Vatican whose job is to investigate claims of demonic possession. 

Renfield

Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult in Renfield

(Image credit: Michele K. Short/Universal Pictures)
  • Stars: Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult
  • Directed by: Chris Mckay
  • Release date: April 14

In Renfield, Nicholas Hoult is the beleaguered assistant to Nicolas Cage's Dracula.

Our Renfield review said: "Cage shines as an exaggerated Prince of Darkness opposite Hoult's tender, self-reflective Renfield who just wants freedom."

Beau is Afraid

Beau is Afraid star Joaquin Phoenix

(Image credit: A24)
  • Stars: Joaquin Phoenix
  • Directed by: Ari Aster
  • Release date: April 21 (US), May 19. (UK)

The surrealist comedy horror film follows Joaquin Phoenix's Beau character as he embarks on an epic journey following the sudden passing of his mother.

May

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
  • Stars: Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Sylvester Stallone
  • Directed by: James Gunn
  • Release date: May 5

Director James Gunn promised an “epic conclusion to the series” and Guardians Vol. 3 delivered. In this third outing for Marvel's spacefaring superhero team, Peter Quill rallies his squad to protect one of their own from a would-be tyrant. Our Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 review called it a 'fond and fitting finale' for the gang.

Fast X

Michelle Rodriguez and Vin Diesel drive in a car in F9

(Image credit: BFA / Universal Pictures)
  • Stars: Vin Diesel, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron
  • Directed by: Louis Letterier
  • Release date: May 19

Fast X is the 10th entry of the Fast & Furious franchise. It is the first of what is being billed as a two-part conclusion to the series that has now spanned more than 20 years, though our Fast X review called this penultimate installment 'a disappointing start' to the franchise's finale.

The Little Mermaid

Halle Bailey as Ariel underwater in Disney's The Little Mermaid

(Image credit: Disney)
  • Stars: Halle Bailey
  • Directed by: Rob Marshall
  • Release date: May 26

Disney's The Little Mermaid was long overdue a live-action revamp. The media empire had already brought to "life" the stories of Cinderella, Dumbo, The Lion King, Pinocchio, and, most recently, Peter Pan and Wendy, and Halle Bailey got to bring Ariel to the big screen for the latest remake in May. 

In our The Little Mermaid review, we said Bailey impressed, but argued that 'not every element of the remake was a watertight success.

June

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 

Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse.

(Image credit: Sony)
  • Stars: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Issa Rae
  • Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
  • Release date: June 2, 2023

Miles Morales and Gwen Stacey headed back into the Spider-Verse in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse for the first part of a dimension-hopping adventure that saw Miles crossing paths with the Spider Society, spearheaded by Miguel O'Hara (Oscar Isaac) for what our Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse review said was 'a filling visual feast' that 'evolves into an even more visually stunning' flick than its predecessor (even if the story suffers as the set-up for the sequel coming in 2024).

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)
  • Stars: Michelle Yeoh
  • Directed by: Steven Caple Jr.
  • Release date: June 9

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the latest installment of the Transformers franchise. Unlike it's predecessors, the movie takes more of an ancient and beastly approach to the world of robots with new characters for the first of a new trilogy of movies.

The Flash

Ezra Miller in The Flash

(Image credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Stars: Ezra Miller
  • Directed by: Andy Muschietti
  • Release date: June 23

Based on the titular long-running comic book character, it’s The Flash's most popular variant, Barry Allen, who fronts this flick. Ezra Miller reprised his role in The Flash as the titular hero after meeting audiences in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Indiana Jones 5

Indiana Jones 5 with Harrison Ford as Indiana wearing his famous hat

(Image credit: Disney)
  • Stars: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen
  • Directed by: James Mangold
  • Release date: June 30 in US, June 28 in UK

He's back for one final adventure! Yes, Indiana Jones 5 saw Harrison Ford leap — or perhaps creak, the poor guy is 80 — back into action for a final crack of the whip. Boasting an all-star cast and plenty of stunts, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny finds our hero in the year 1969, where he battles with ex-Nazis in a plot set against the backdrop of the space race. Our Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny review called it 'a touching and fun farewell' for the adventuring archaeologist.

July

Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One

Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)
  • Stars: Tom Cruise
  • Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
  • Release date: July 14

After the amazing success of Top Gun: Maverick, here comes the Hollywood star again as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, the seventh entry in the long-running franchise and the first in a thrilling two-part adventure. In our five-star Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One review, we said the film was 'the summer blockbuster we've all been waiting for. One with all the action, stunts and globetrotting that we expect, but also with its finger unexpectedly on the pulse.'

Barbie

Margot Robbie as Barbie in a bright pink Corvette

(Image credit: Warner Bros)
  • Stars: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling
  • Directed by: Greta Gerwig
  • Release date: July 21

Greta Gerwig's live-action Barbie movie transported us to Barbieland as Oscar-nominated actress Margot Robbie takes on the iconic role in this summer satire that became one of the most-hyped movies of the year. In our Barbie review, we called the film 'the perfect summer comedy' and a dose of 'boisterous and hilarious Kentertainment.'

Oppenheimer

Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
  • Stars: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh
  • Directed by: Christopher Nolan
  • Release date: July 21

Oppenheimer tells the story of the famed American physicist J. Rober Oppenheimer, the man who held a key role in the Manhattan project during World War II and is often referred to as the father of the atomic bomb; Nolan also wrote the script. 

In our Oppenheimer review, we said that the film 'is probably Nolan's masterpiece'.

Haunted Mansion 

Danny DeVito, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson and LaKeith Stanfield in Haunted Mansion

(Image credit: Disney)
  • Stars: Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chase W. Dillon, Jared Leto.
  • Directed by: Justin Simien
  • Release date: August 

Disney's turned to the iconic Haunted Mansion theme park ride for a second movie adaptation (after the 2003 movie with Eddie Murphy). This time around, Rosario Dawson and Chase W. Dillon enlist a team to try and rid their home of its spiritual residents. 

August

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

The turtles of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)
  • Stars: Seth Rogen
  • Directed by: Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears
  • Release date: August 2

Cowabunga! Yes, the hero turtles are back for a new computer-animated adventure. Seth Rogen's involvement is down to him being a big fan of the original TV series.

The Meg 2: The Trench

  • Stars: Jason Statham, Wu Jing
  • Directed by: Ben Wheatley
  • Release date: August 4

In The Meg 2: The Trench, Jonas Taylor (Statham) leads a research team to the depths of the ocean on a voyage that spirals into chaos and sees them thrown into battle with colossal megalodon and relentless environmental plunderers in this follow-up to the 2018 shark attack thrill ride. 

Blue Beetle

Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) holding the Scarab in Blue Beetle

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

  • Stars: Susan Sarandon, Xolo Maridueña
  • Directed by: Angel Manuel Soto
  • Release date: August 18

Blue Beetle sees us introduced to DC's first Latino superhero in the form of Jaime Reyes, a youngster (played by Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña) who gains his superpowers from a bizarre piece of alien technology known as the Scarab.

Gran Turismo

Neill Blomkamp, Maximilian Mundt, Geri Halliwell Horner, Orlando Bloom and Archie Madekwe (L-R) at the Gran Turismo photocall at Cannes Film Festival 2023.

Neill Blomkamp, Maximilian Mundt, Geri Halliwell Horner, Orlando Bloom and Archie Madekwe (L-R) at the Gran Turismo photocall at Cannes Film Festival 2023. (Image credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
  • Stars: Archie Madekwe, David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Geri Halliwell Horner, Djimon Hounsou
  • Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
  • Release date: August 25, August 9 (UK)

Gran Turismo is a high-octane thriller based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a top-class Gran Turismo player who won a series of sponsored video game competitions and used his PlayStation skills to become a real professional racing driver.

September

The Equalizer 3

  • Stars: Denzel Washington
  • Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
  • Release date: September 1

Denzel Washington is once again bringing the pain as Robert McCall, the former government assassin turned one-man wrecking crew for the oppressed. The Equalizer 3 official plot teases: "As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends' protector by taking on the mafia."

A Haunting in Venice

Kenneth Branagh in A Haunting in Venice

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
  • Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Kyle Allen, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh
  • Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
  • Release date: September 15

A Haunting in Venice is the latest chapter in Kenneth Branagh's series of Poirot films. Following on from Death on the Nile, this third movie sees a now-retired Hercule Poirot trying to solve the murder of a guest at a seance he had attended. 

Expend4bles

Sylvester Stallone in Expend4bles

(Image credit: EX4 Productions)
  • Stars: Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, 50 Cent, Megan Fox, Dolph Lungdren
  • Directed by: Scott Waugh
  • Release date: September 22

Sylvester Stallone's crack team is back in action in Expend4bles. This time, they've been recruited to stop Suarto, a terrorist who is smuggling nuclear warheads that could ignite a war between the United States and Russia. 

Dumb Money

Paul Dano in Dumb Money

(Image credit: Sony Pictures/Black Bear)
  • Stars: Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Vincent D'Onofrio, America Ferrera
  • Directed by: Craig Gillespie
  • Release date: September 15 (US limited); September 22 (US expanding; UK)

Dumb Money is a comedy-drama based on Ben Mezrich's 2021 book The Antisocial Network and chronicles the infamous GameStop/meme stock saga from January 2021. Paul Dano stars as Keith Gill, the YouTuber who turned Wall Street's world upside down after sinking his life savings into GameStop stock and then posting it online to turn it into the world's hottest company.

Flora and Son

Eve Hewson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Eve Hewson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
  • Stars: Eve Hewson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Orén Kinlan, Jack Reynor
  • Director: John Carney
  • Release date: September 22 (select theaters); September 29 (Apple TV Plus) 

Flora and Son is the latest music-inspired movie from John Carney, the director behind Once, Begin Again and Sing Street. This latest movie stars Eve Hewson as a single mom struggling to connect with her son. She tries to do it by learning the guitar, with the help of a online instructor (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

The Creator

John David Washington in The Creator

(Image credit: 20th Century Studio)
  • Stars: John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Ralph Ineson
  • Directed by: Gareth Edwards
  • Release date: September 29

The Creator is a sci-fi thriller transporting us to the future where a former special forces agent, Joshua, is signed up to hunt down and kill "The Creator", the elusive mind who developed a weapon with the power to end the war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence.

Fair Play

Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) and Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) in Fair Play

Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor in Fair Play (Image credit: Netflix)
  • Stars: Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan
  • Director: Chloe Domont
  • Release date: September 29 (US limited); October 13 (Netflix)

A new work-place erotic thriller, Fair Play sees a once supportive couple become tense when a coveted promotion at a cutthroat financial firm arises. As the power dynamics irrevocably shift in their relationship, the couple must face the true price of success and the unnerving limits of ambition. 

Reptile

Benicio Del Toro in Reptile

Benicio Del Toro in Reptile (Image credit: Kyle Kaplan/Netflix)
  • Stars: Benicio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone
  • Director: Grant Singer
  • Release date: September 29 (US limited); October 6 (Netflix)

Reptile is a crime thriller that sees Benicio Del Toro's detective attempt to uncover the truth after the murder of a young real estate agent. However, as nothing seems to make sense in the case, the illusions of the detective's life begin to unravel.

Saw X

Billy the Puppet in Saw X

(Image credit: Lionsgate)
  • Stars: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, 
  • Directed by: Kevin Greutert
  • Release date: September 29

Saw X takes us back to where it all started for a grisly new chapter in the horror franchise. Taking the form of a sequel to the original Saw movie, this new installment sees John Kramer (Tobin Bell) travelling to Mexico for a risky medical procedure...but when he discovers the operation is a sham that's designed to prey on the most vulnerable members of society, he turns the tables on the scammers by devising some terrifying traps for them. 

October

Dicks: The Musical

Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp in Dicks: The Musical

Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp in Dicks: The Musical (Image credit: A24)
  • Stars: Josh Sharp, Aaron Jackson, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Bowen Yang, Megan Thee Stallion
  • Director: Larry Charles
  • Release date: October 6 (US limited), October 20 (US wide)

In what is sure to be the strangest movie musical of 2023, Dicks: The Musical is a outlandish take on The Parent Trap formula from the minds of Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp. The movie follows two self-obsessed businessmen who discover they're long-lost identical twins and come together to plot the reunion of their eccentric divorced parents.

Foe

Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal in Foe

Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal in Foe (Image credit: Amazon Studios)
  • Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, Aaron Pierre
  • Director: Garth Davis
  • Release date: October 6 (US); October 20 (UK)

In this sci-fi movie adapted from the novel of the same name by Iain Reid, Foe is focuses on Hen (Saoirse Ronan) and Junior (Paul Mescal), who have quietly worked their piece of land for years. However, when an uninvited stranger shows up at their door with a startling proposal, their lives are thrown into turmoil.

She Came to Me

Peter Dinklage and Anne Hathaway as Composer Steven Lauddem and Patricia walking outside in She Came to Me

Peter Dinklage and Anne Hathaway in She Came to Me (Image credit: Protagonist Pictures)
  • Stars: Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei
  • Director: Rebecca Miller
  • Release date: October 6 (US)

She Came to Me is about composer Steven Lauddem (Peter Dinklage), who is creatively blocked and unable to finish the score for his big comeback opera. At the behest of his wife Patricia (Anne Hathaway), formerly his therapist, he sets out in search of inspiration. What he discovers is much more than he bargained for, or imagined.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Taylor Swift Folklore Long Pond Sessions

Taylor Swift (Image credit: Disney+)
  • Stars: Taylor Swift
  • Director: Sam Wrench
  • Release date: October 6 (US)

Have you been dying to see Taylor Swift's Eras Tour but unable to snag tickets? If that's the case, or you simply can't get enough T-Swift in your life, you can catch this concert film of her insanely popular tour exclusively in movie theaters. 

Anatomy of a Fall

Samuel Theis, Sandra Hüller and Milo Machado Graner in Anatomy of a Fall

(Image credit: Neon)
  • Stars: Sandra Hüller, Milo Machado Graner, Samuel Theis
  • Director: Justine Triet
  • Release date: October 13 (US limited), November 10 (UK)

Movie fans are going to get a thrilling new crime/courtroom drama to enjoy this year, as Anatomy of a Fall investigates the death of a man whose wife is the prime suspect and the only witness is their blind son. The movie made waves when it won the Palme d'Or (the top prize) at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival

The Exorcist: Believer

Ellen Burstyn and Leslie Odom Jr. in The Exorcist: Believer

Ellen Burstyn and Leslie Odom Jr. in The Exorcist: Believer (Image credit: Anne Marie Fox/Universal Pictures)
  • Stars: Leslie Odom Jr., Ellen Burstyn, Ann Dowd, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, Lidya Jewett, Olivia Marcum
  • Director: David Gordon Green
  • Release date: October 13 (US), October 6 (UK)

Fifty years after the original Exorcist movie, still considered one of the scariest movies ever made, a direct sequel is arriving, The Exorcist: Believer, featuring original star Ellen Burstyn in her role as Chris MacNeil. Director David Gordon Green is doing something similar that he did with his recent Halloween trilogy: continuing a classic horror story in a new way (ignoring previously made sequels).

Ordinary Angels

Hilary Swank in Ordinary Angels

Hilary Swank in Ordinary Angels (Image credit: Lionsgate)
  • Stars: Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis
  • Director: Jon Gunn
  • Release date: October 13 (US)

Ordinary Angels is a new faith-based drama based on the true story of a community that comes together to support a widower when his young daughter is in need of a life-saving transplant. Oscar-winner Hilary Swank stars alongside Reacher's Alan Ritchson.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Lily Gladstone Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon

Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon (Image credit: Courtesy of Apple TV Plus)

  • Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser
  • Directed by: Martin Scorsese
  • Release date: Limited theatrical release on October 6, wide release on Apple TV Plus on October 20

Killers of the Flower Moon sees legendary director Martin Scorsese adapting the book of the same name by David Grann into an epic Western crime drama which centers on a series of murders in Oklahoma's Osage Nation during the 1920s.

Nyad

Annette Bening in Nyad

Annette Bening in Nyad (Image credit: Liz Parkinson/Netflix)
  • Stars: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans
  • Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin
  • Release date: October 20 (select movie theaters), November 3 (Netflix)

The incredible true story of Diana Nyad is coming to the screen in the appropriately titled, Nyad. Annette Bening plays the sports journalist and former marathon swimmer who, at the age of 60, decides to pursue her life-long dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida, the "Mount Everest" of swimming, and to do it as the first person without a shark cage.

Pain Hustlers

Chris Evans, Andy Garcia and Emily Blunt in Pain Hustlers

Chris Evans, Andy Garcia and Emily Blunt in Pain Hustlers (Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)
  • Stars: Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy Garcia, Catherine O'Hara, Jay Duplass, Brian D'Arcy James, Chloe Coleman
  • Director: David Yates
  • Release date: October 20 (select movie theaters), October 27 (Netflix)

Following in the footsteps of Dopesick and Painkiller, the opiod crisis is the focus of the new movie Pain Hustlers, which sees Emily Blunt and Chris Evans portraying pharmaceutical reps getting rich through dubious means.

Five Nights at Freddy's 

  • Stars: Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Mary Stuart Masterson
  • Directed by: Emma Tammi
  • Release date: October 27 (US movie theaters and Peacock), October 25 (UK) 

Based on the hugely popular video game of the same name, Five Nights at Freddy's follows a trouble security guard who takes the night shift at the titular family entertainment center. Unfortunately for Mike Schmidt, he soon learns that the center's four animatronic mascots continue to walk the halls and kill anyone who's still on-site after midnight.

Freelance

John Cena and Alison Brie as Mason and Claire in the jungle in Freelance

John Cena and Alison Brie in Freelance (Image credit: Relativity Media Production)
  • Stars: John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Christian Slater
  • Director: Pierre Morel
  • Release date: October 27 (US)

John Cena and Alison Brie are caught in the middle of a coup in the action comedy Freelance. When Cena's Mason is hired to escort and protect a journalist (Brie) to cover a dictator (Raba) in his home country, things quickly go sideways and they must fight to survive while also trying to grab the scoop of a lifetime.

The Holdovers

Angus Tully and Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers

Dominic Sessa and Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers (Image credit: Focus Features)
  • Stars: Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
  • Director: Alexander Payne
  • Release date: October 27 (US limited), November 10 (US wide); January 19, 2024 (UK)

The Sideways duo of Paul Giamatti and Alexander Payne are reuniting for The Holdovers, a new dramedy that sees Giamatti play a not very well liked boarding school professor, tasked with supervising the students that remain at school during the winter holidays.

The Killer

Michael Fassbender in The Killer

Michael Fassbender in The Killer (Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)
  • Stars: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell
  • Director: David Fincher
  • Release date: October 27 (select movie theaters), November 10 (Netflix)

The Killer marks the return of both Michael Fassbender (who we haven't seen on screen since 2019) and David Fincher (whose last movie was 2020's Mank). This action thriller sees Fassbender star as an assassin who, after a fateful near miss, goes on an international manhunt.

November

American Fiction

Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction

Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction  (Image credit: MGM Studios)
  • Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Rose, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, Adam Brody
  • Director: Cord Jefferson
  • Release date: November 3 (US limited), November 17 (US wide)

In American Fiction, Jeffrey Wright plays struggling author Monk Ellison, who in his frustration writes a book riddled with cliches that becomes the darling of the publishing world, much to Monk's surprise. He must contend with his new-found and unexpected success with family drama. American Fiction was named the People's Choice Award winner at the Toronto International Film Festival

The Marsh King's Daughter

Daisy Ridley in The Marsh King's Daughter

Daisy Ridley in The Marsh King's Daughter (Image credit: Philippe Bossé/Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions)
  • Stars: Daisey Ridley, Ben Mendelsohn, Garrett Hedlund, Gil Birmingham
  • Director: Neil Burger
  • Release date: November 3 (US)

Daisey Ridley has moved from a galaxy far, far away to the marsh in the new thriller movie The Marsh King's Daughter. This movie, based on a 2017 best-selling novel, sees Ridley star as the daughter of a famous criminal, who kept her secluded as a child in marshlands. Years later, her father has escaped prison and is now coming after her.

What Happens Later

  • Stars: Meg Ryan, David Duchovny
  • Director: Meg Ryan
  • Release date: November 3 (US)

Rom-com legend Meg Ryan is back looking for love in her latest movie, What Happens Later. She plays a woman who is forced to spend time with her ex-lover (David Duchovny) when they both get stuck in a snowed in airport.

Dream Scenario

Nicolas Cage in Dream Scenario

Nicolas Cage in Dream Scenario (Image credit: Courtesy of A24)
  • Stars: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera
  • Director: Kristoffer Borgli
  • Release date: November 10 (US)

There's some strong buzz around Nicolas Cage's performance in Dream Scenario, a fantastical new comedy where he plays a normal family man that for some reason keeps popping up in strangers' dreams. This leads to him becoming famous, though that is not always what its cracked up to be.

The Marvels

The Marvels logo

(Image credit: Marvel)
  • Stars: Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, Teyonah Parris, Samuel L. Jackson
  • Directed by: Nia DaCosta
  • Release date: November 10

Marvel is keeping details about the Captain Marvel sequel under wraps so far. All we know right now is that The Marvels will see Brie Larson's superhero crossing paths with Ms. Marvel (Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Parris) after their powers become entangled whilst Rambeau investigates a wormhole linked to the Kree.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

First image from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes featuring Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) and Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) lying together on a blanket in some woods

(Image credit: Murray Close/Getty Images)
  • Stars: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer
  • Directed by: Francis Lawrence
  • Release date: November 17

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the smash-hit franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence. Set 64 years before the events of the main franchise, it explores the relationship between a young Coriolanus Snow (Blyth) and his tribute, Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler).

May December

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore stand next to each other in May December

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in May December (Image credit: Cr. Francois Duhamel / courtesy of Netflix)
  • Stars: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
  • Director: Todd Haynes
  • Release date: November 17 (select movie theaters), December 1 (Netflix)

Oscar-winners Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore co-star in May December, a psychological thriller from Todd Haynes. Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under the pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past.

Next Goal Wins

Michael Fassbender in Next Goal Wins

Michael Fassbender in Next Goal Wins (Image credit: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Searchlight Pictures)
  • Stars: Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss, Will Arnett, Taika Waititi
  • Director: Taika Waititi
  • Release date: November 17 (US), December 26 (UK)

Taika Waititi, who has made critical darlings Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, is tackling a sports comedy with Next Goal Wins, in which he teams up with Michael Fassbender to tell the story of the American Samoa soccer team that infamously lost a game 31-0.

Trolls Band Together

  • Stars: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Daveed Diggs, Zooey Deschanel
  • Director: Walt Dohrn and Tim Heitz
  • Release date: November 17 (US), October 20 (UK)

The third movie in the animated Trolls franchise sees Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) set out an adventure to reunited Branch with his brothers, who he once was in a boy band with.

Maestro

Bradley Cooper in Maestro

Bradley Cooper in Maestro (Image credit: Jason McDonald/Netflix)
  • Stars: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Maya Hawke
  • Director: Bradley Cooper
  • Release date: November 22 (select movie theaters), December 20 (Netflix)

Bradley Cooper brings the life of one of the most famous composers in history to the big screen in Maestro. Pulling double duty as director and star, Cooper plays Leonard Bernstein alongside Carey Mulligan as his wife, with the movie chronicling their relationship and its impact on Bernstein's work.

Napoleon

Napoleon on Apple TV Plus is directed by Ridley Scott.

Ridley Scott' Napoleon (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
  • Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby
  • Director: Ridley Scott
  • Release date: November 22

Director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix are reuniting for the first time since Gladiator for another historical epic, Napoleon. Phoenix plays the infamous French emperor, as the movie chronicles his rise and his relationship with his wife Josephine.

Wish

Disney's Wish

(Image credit: Walt Disney Studios)
  • Stars: Chris Pine, Ariana DeBose, Alan Tudyk
  • Directed by: Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn
  • Release date: November 22 (US), November 24 (UK)

Disney's Wish is the studio's 62nd animated movie. This latest adventure looks similar in style to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and introduces us to Asha, a sharp-witted woman who makes a wish that's so powerful it ends up being answered by a cosmic force, a bundle of energy called Star.

Saltburn

Barry Keoghan in Saltburn

Barry Keoghan in Saltburn (Image credit: Amazon Studios/MGM)
  • Stars: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard Grant
  • Director: Emerald Fennell
  • Release date: November 24 (US), November 17 (UK)

Coming off her masterful debut outing with Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell returns to the directing chair for Saltburn. This new movie follows a young man, played by Barry Keoghan, who becomes drawn into the lavish world of a fellow classmate and is eventually invited to his family's sprawling estate, Saltburn.

December

Candy Cane Lane

We can't wait for Candy Cane Lane.

(Image credit: Prime Video)
  • Stars: Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Nick Offerman, Timothy Simons,
  • Director: Reginald Hudlin
  • Release date: December 1 on Prime Video

Eddie Murphy headlines the new Christmas movie Candy Cane Lane. The movie centers on a man determined to win his neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest, making a pact with an elf to help him.

Eileen

  • Stars: Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Shea Whigham
  • Director: William Oldroyd
  • Release date: December 1 (US limited, UK); December 8 (US wide)

Eileen sees Anne Hathaway and Thomason McKenzie star in a thriller where a woman's relationship with her new co-worker at a prison facility takes a sinister turn. Based on the novel of the same name by Ottessa Moshfegh.

Silent Night

Joel Kinnaman in Silent Night

Joel Kinnaman in Silent Night (Image credit: Lionsgate)
  • Stars: Joel Kinnaman, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Mescudi, Harold Torres
  • Director: John Woo
  • Release date: December 1 (US)

Legendary action director John Woo returns with his own version of a Christmas movie in Silent Night, one where a father spends Christmas Eve on a quest for revenge against the gang members that caused the death of his son.

Leave the World Behind

Mahershala Ali, Myha'la Herrold, Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke in Leave the World Behind

Mahershala Ali, Myha'la Herrold, Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke in Leave the World Behind (Image credit: Jojo Whilden/NETFLIX)
  • Stars: Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha'la Herrold
  • Director: Sam Esmail
  • Release date: TBD (select movie theaters), December 8 (Netflix)

Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail directs the new movie Leave the World Behind, which sees Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke play a married couple whose vacation is interrupted when two strangers arrive seeking refuge from a cyber attack.

Poor Things

Emma Stone in Poor Things

Emma Stone in Poor Things (Image credit: Atsushi Nishijima/Searchlight Pictures)
  • Stars: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef
  • Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
  • Release date: December 8 (US), January 12, 2024 (UK)

Yorgos Lanthimos' next adventures is Poor Things, a Frankenstein-like tale about Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life and who is now eager to learn and runs off to see the world.

The Zone of Interest

Sandra Hüller in The Zone of Interest

Sandra Hüller in The Zone of Interest (Image credit: Courtesy of A24)
  • Stars: Sandra Hüller, Christin Friedel
  • Director: Jonathan Glazer
  • Release date: December 8 (US)

The Zone of Interest is a World War II drama from acclaimed director Jonathan Glazer, focusing on the family of German officer, who attempts to create his ideal life in the shadows of Auschwitz.

Anyone But You

Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney

Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney (Image credit: Eric Charbonneau/Sony Pictures)
  • Stars: Glen Powell, Sydney Sweeney
  • Director: Will Gluck
  • Release date: December 15

Though there rumored relationship looks to be just that, Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney look like they will fall in love on screen in the new rom-com Anyone But You, which sees old rivals reunite for a destination wedding and pretend to be lovers for their own personal reasons.

Wonka

Wonka

(Image credit: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
  • Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant, Rowan Atkinson
  • Directed by: Paul King
  • Release date: December 15

Wonka sees Timothée Chalamet starring as a younger version of the eccentric master chocolatier in this musical prequel to the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. 

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Jason Momoa in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Jason Momoa in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Image credit: Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures/DC Comics)
  • Stars: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
  • Directed by: James Wan
  • Release date: December 20 (US), December 26 (UK)

We've only got a very brief synopsis for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom right now, but it teases that the King of Atlantis will be forced into forming an uneasy alliance with a new ally in order to save his kingdom and the world from utter devastation, so the stakes are definitely high! 

The Iron Claw

Harris Dickinson, Zac Efron, Stanley Simmons and Jeremy Allen White in The Iron Claw

Harris Dickinson, Zac Efron, Stanley Simmons and Jeremy Allen White in The Iron Claw (Image credit: Eric Chakeen/A24)
  • Stars: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Stanley Simmons, Lily James
  • Director: Sean Durking
  • Release date: December 22 (US)

Head back to the 80s with this family wrestling drama, The Iron Claw. The movie is based on the true story of the Von Erich brothers, who became a sensation in the world of professional wrestling in the early 80s, only for things to turn to tragedy.

Migration

  • Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan Michael-Key, Carrol Kane, Danny DeVito
  • Director: Benjamin Renner and Guylo Homsy
  • Release date: December 22 (US), February 2, 2024 (UK)

Migration may be the animated family movie of the holiday season in 2023. The movie follows a family of ducks that try to convince their over protective father to fly south for the winter.

The Boys in the Boat

Bruce Herbelin-Earle, Callum Turner and Wil Coban in The Boys in the Boat

Bruce Herbelin-Earle, Callum Turner and Wil Coban in The Boys in the Boat (Image credit: Laurie Sparham/MGM)
  • Stars: Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner, Hadley Robinson
  • Director: George Clooney
  • Release date: December 25 (US)

Based on an inspirational true story, The Boys in the Boat details the achievements of the University of Washington rowing team, who overcame the challenges of the Great Depression and represented the US at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

The Color Purple

Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple

Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple (Image credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Stars: Fantasia Barrino, Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Corey Hawkins
  • Director: Blitz Bazawule
  • Release date: December 25 (US), January 26, 2024 (UK)

The musical adaptation of Alice Walker's literary classic The Color Purple, which has already proven to be a hit on Broadway, is getting the big screen treatment. The story follows Celie (Barrino), who despite a life-time of abuse begins to gain confidence in herself.

Ferrari

Adam Driver in Ferrari

Adam Driver in Ferrari (Image credit: Neon Pictures)
  • Stars: Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Jack O'Connell, Patrick Dempsey
  • Director: Michael Mann
  • Release date: December 25

Michael Mann returns with his latest movie, a look into the life of iconic car maker Enzo Ferrari. Specifically, Ferrari is going to dive into a time in the the man's life following the loss of his son, when his marriage is on the brink of destruction. At the same time he is focused on a 1,000 mile race to try and thwart the Ferrari company's looming threat of bankruptcy.

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.


Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 


David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.


Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!