Looking ahead at this 2023 movie line-up, there is a multitude of films that will have you counting down to the release, from long-awaited sequels to anticipated animated films to major blockbusters. This year’s film category is one that will bring people back to enjoying movies on the silver screen.  Here are the 12 most anticipated films of 2023:

Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 17) – Adventure/Fantasy

Director: Peyton Reed

Marvel Studios is kicking off Phase Five with the long-awaited “Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” Paul Rudd’s Ant-man, aka “Tic Tac ” is heading back into the quantum realm with his family, introducing Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang, Scott’s grown-up daughter who will be picking up the superhero mantle herself. They will be coming face-to-face with Jonotion Major, who we met in Loki as He Who remains. His appearance in Quantumania will be the first time we get introduced to Majors’ character, who is expected to be a front-runner as the MCU’s Villain of the Multiverse. 

Scream VI (March 10) – Horror/Slasher

Director/s: Tyler Gillet, Matt Bettineli-Olpin

The horror franchise continues.

Not long after Scream V was released, it was announced that there would be a sequel tying directly into the characters who survived the previous film. Ghostface is taking over Manhattan as four survivors of the deadly murders leave the doomed town of Meadows for a fresh new start in the big apple. The story follows sisters Sam and Tara, played by Mellissa Barrerra and Jenna Ortega, as they find themselves being terrorized once again by the notorious Ghostface.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (March 21) – Action/ Neo-noir

Director: Chad Stahelski

The last time we saw Keaunu Reeves’ legendary hitman, he had been evicted by a secret organization, shot off a roof by one of his dearest friends, and getting nursed back to health by supporters on the bowery. Now, he uncovers a new way of defeating The High Table to gain his freedom, but not before facing off against a new villain (the legendary killer clown, Bill Skarsgard) who has powerful alliances around the globe. Not to mention forces that turn once friends into foes. 

Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 (May 5) – Adventure/Sci-fi

Director: James Gunn

The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is closing off with the third and final intergalactic mission unveiling Rocket Raccoon’s(Bradley Cooper) origin story and Gamora’s(Zoe Saldana) return from the underworld. The film flows up The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) shows the beloved Guardians adjusting to their life on Knowhere when their existence is discovered by horrors from Rocket’s tragic past, which lead the team to go on a dangerous mission that could steer them to dissolving. Additionally, Will Poulter is making his marvel debut as antagonist Adam Warlock who was briefly mentioned in the end credit scene of the previous film.

The Little Mermaid (May 26) – Musical/ Fantasy

Director: John Musker, Ron Clements

Get ready to go under the sea with Hallie Berry, who will play Ariel in Disney’s following live-action musical remake of an animated classic. The legendary tale of a young mermaid who makes a deal with a sea witch, trading her ethereal voice for human legs so he can discover the world above and fall in love with a prince. The trailer generated over 100 million views globally in its first week, ranked by Rolling Stones as the third most anticipated film of 2023. 

Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2) – Action/ Adventure

Director: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson

After being delayed a multitude of times, the much-anticipated sequel to the Academy-Award-winning film Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse is on its way. Though not much has been shared about the movie yet, the directors promise it will be more refreshing and exciting than its predecessor while still having the same heart as the first film that fans fell in love with. The trailer showed Across the Spider-verse weaving through multiple universes, promising a vast number of Spider-man making an appearance from across the multiverse. 

Asteroid City (June 16) – Romance/Comedy

Director: Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson is back with yet another film, set in 1955 in a small desert town hosting an annual competition for juniors that are being disrupted by world-changing events. The film features a star-studded cast with names like Margot Robbie, Edward Norton, Tom Hanks, Hong Chau and Scarlet Johansson. Nothing else is known about the film prior to its release, but those surprises seem like ones to wait for. 

Barbie (July 21) – Comedy/Fantasy

Director: Greta Gerwig

Though a live-action Barbie Movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling sounds a little strange, Greta Gerwig has yet again piqued the public’s interest with how she’s going about it. It’s going to be about Barbie, but with a fun twist added on. After being exiled from Barbieland, Barbie is sent to the real world to find everlasting happiness. This seemingly surreal take on the world’s most famous doll is definitely one that holds a gregarious amount of potential to look forward to.  

Oppenheimer (July 21) – War/Drama

Director: Christopher Nolen

After almost two decades of being a regular in Christopher Nolen films, Cillian Murphy is starring in yet another movie by the acclaimed director. The film is a dramatic retelling of the Manhattan Project, focusing on Physicist Robert J. Oppenheimer and how he is responsible for the design of the atomic bomb and the eventual extinction of Hiroshima. Though a film about the atomic bomb sounds like the ultimate dad movie, that doesn’t stop people of all ages from getting excited. The first teaser was intense and has a stacked cast filled with A-listers, including Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr.

The Marvels (July 28) – Action/Sci-Fi

Director: Nia DaCosta

The sequel to 2019 Captain Marvel will not be your traditional follow-up film. Instead of continuing the mighty adventures of just Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers, “The Marvels” is going to be an ultimate team-up of Larson’s character and two new additions: Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Unfortunately, Marvel is practically the pentagon regarding upcoming projects, so not much has been shared besides the basics. If the post-credits scene of the “Ms. Marvel’s” finale indicates what we could be expecting, then that means we’re in for some strange body-swapping scheme that brings Captain Marvel back to earth and Kamila Khan to the world beyond the stars. 

Dune: Part Two (November 3) – Sci-Fi/Adventure

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Dune’s sequel will continue the journey of Timothée Chalamet’s character Paul Atreides as he seeks revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. In the process of preventing a terrible future only he can see, he must make the ultimate choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe. Chalamet will be joined by Zendaya, Josh Brolin and Dave Bustista while welcoming newcomers Austin Butler and Florence Pugh. 

The Hunger Games: The Ballads of the Songbirds and Snakes (November 17) – Action/Adventure

Director: Francis Lawrence 

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the 10th annual Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor! The franchise continues with the long-awaited prequel to Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” trilogy, finally being brought to the silver screen. The film follows a young Cornelius Snow(Tom Blyth), after being picked to mentor Lucy Grey Baird, the female tribute from the impoverished district twelve. An official trailer has not been released yet, but Lionsgate did drop a tiny teaser trailer, which garnered over 5 million views in the first 12 hours of its release. 

Wonka (December 15) – Fantasy/Musical

Director: Paul King

Timothée Chalamet is set to star in a dazzling musical about the early years of the timeless Willy Wanka before the opening of his majestic chocolate factory. Giving insight into how he met the infamous Oompa-Loompas on one of his earliest adventures. The film will feature numerous show-stopping performances that will leave even the most illicit Chalamet fans on the floor in shambles. Paddington director Paul King calling all the shots, is certainly a fact that should leave people feeling giddy at what’s to come.