Isn’t going to the movies an all-inclusive package of thrills, romance, suspense, drama, lights, camera, and action? From skipping school to going to a trendy theatre — to those first awkward moments with the family when a kissing scene appears out of nowhere on the cinema screens — movie theatres provide fantastic experiences — hello, extra cheese-loaded spicy popcorn, nachos, and cola. Damn! …Allow me to dim the lights and unveil some fantastic $#!T coming to theatres next year.
From explosive action to cynical romance, sparkling bullet ballets to dark humour, sci-fi adventures to spine-tingling horror, we went everywhere seeking out what may offer you the proper adrenaline rush in 2023.
Here are our top 5 picks from Hollywood that you definitely should watch in 2023:
1. John Wick: Chapter 4
Director: Chad Stahelski
Lead Cast: Keanu Reeves
Also starring: Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Ian McShane
Release: March 24, 2023
Production: Thunder Road Pictures, 87Eleven Productions
The fourth edition of the blockbuster action franchise has hit theatres on March 24, 2023. Chad Stahelski, most renowned for his stunt work in ‘The Crow’, ‘The Matrix’, and, of course, the ‘John Wick’ prequels, directs the film. In the newest sequel, Keenu Reeves, aka John Wick, takes on the High Table as a hit man with a price on his head that reaches the sky. This year, the conflict spreads from New York to Paris, Japan, and Berlin. If you enjoy action, crime, and thriller films, ‘John Wick’ should be at the top of your list of films to see in 2023.
2. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Director: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Lead Cast: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez
Also starring: Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant
Release: March 31, 2023
Production: Entertainment One, Wizards of the Coast
The filmmakers of this fantastical heist comedy are Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. The film stars Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Michelle Rodriguez, Sophia Lillis, and Chris Pine. In the film, a charming thief and a crew of unusual adventurers embark on a heroic journey to recover a stolen artefact, but things soon spiral out of hand when they come into contact with the wrong people. With approximately $207 million in international box office sales and positive reviews from both critics and audiences, the film placed ninth in box office profits for the year 2023.
3. Oppenheimer
Director: Christopher Nolan
Lead Cast: Cillian Murphy
Also starring: Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh
Release: July 21, 2023
Production: Universal Pictures, Syncopy Inc., Atlas Entertainment
The next film on our list is Christopher Nolan’s biographical thriller ‘Oppenheimer’, which he wrote and directed. It is based on Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s 2005 book American Prometheus. Cillian Murphy portrays the main role in the film, with Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and many more. The film covers the life and career of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who commanded the Manhattan Project’s Los Alamos Laboratory during WWII and made key contributions to the development of the atomic bomb.
4. Fast X (Fast and Furious 10)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Lead Cast: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez
Also starring: Nathalie Emmanuel, Brie Larson, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges
Release: May 19, 2023
Production: Original Film, One Race Films, Roth/Kirschenbaum Films, Perfect Storm Entertainment
‘Fast X’, often known as ‘Fast & Furious 10’, is the most recent entry. Louis Leterrior directed the action picture, which was written by Dan Mazeau and Justin Lin. Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, and Vin Diesel play the key roles. Dom must defend his family against Dante Reyes, who is out for vengeance after losing his family’s money and his father. Critics gave the film mixed reviews, praising Momoa’s performance while criticising the plot. ‘Fast X’ was the seventh-highest-grossing film in 2023, collecting $377 million worldwide.
5. Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom
Director: James Wan
Lead Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard
Also starring: Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Kidman
Release: December 22, 2023
Production: DC Studios, The Safran Company, Atomic Monster Productions
Last but not least on our list of the five Hollywood films to see in 2023 is ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’. It is an upcoming superhero film based on the DC Comics character Aquaman. Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman in the James Wan-directed film, which also stars Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Temuera Morrison, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman. In the film, Aquaman is obliged to preserve Atlantis from annihilation after an ancient power is unleashed. ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ is set to be released on December 20, 2023, following multiple pandemic and post-production delays.
