2023 films: nine of the most anticipated new movies of the year

1. John Wick: Chapter 4

UK release date: 24 March 2023

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Keanu Reeves is back as John Wick, “aka Baba Yaga, the most feared assassin in the world”, said Michael Balderston on WhatToWatch.com. The role of John Wick has been “a career revitalizing one” for Reeves, a “true A-list actor” who can bring fans back into the cinema.

2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

UK release date: 31 March 2023

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The new animated film from Illumination and Nintendo will see Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt voice “famous Italian plumber” Mario, said Harriet Mitchell on Digital Spy. Other actors lending their voices for the movie include Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Keegan Michael-Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong and Jack Black as Bowser.

3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

UK release date: 5 May 2023

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The third volume of Guardians of the Galaxy will see a host of Marvel favourites return, including Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Vin Diesel as Groot and Pom Klementieff as Mantis. After the events of Avengers: Endgame, “we’ll also be seeing Zoe Saldaña as Gamora again”, said Digital Spy.

4. The Little Mermaid

UK release date: 26 May 2023

“Disney continue to crank out live-action remakes with alarming speed,” said Jon Hornbuckle on Time Out. After working their way through classics like Pinocchio, The Lion King, Aladdin and Mulan, the next “beloved” animated movie to be “brought to life” is The Little Mermaid. Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel.

5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

UK release date: 30 June 2023

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Harrison Ford reprises his role as the archaeology professor in the fifth instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise. Ford will be joined in the cast by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen and Antonio Banderas.

6. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

UK release date: 14 July 2023

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“No mission is truly impossible”, and no title is “too clunky and long” for Tom Cruise’s “enduring badass” Ethan Hunt, said Flicks.co.uk. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One will be the seventh movie in one of Hollywood’s “most consistently great action franchises”.

7. Barbie

UK release date: 21 July 2023

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In the race to be the internet’s “most-talked-about upcoming movie”, Barbie took an early lead in building up buzz for its 2023 release, said Matthew Jackson on Looper. With Margot Robbie joining the film in the title role, followed by Ryan Gosling as Barbie’s beau Ken, “things really picked up”.

8. Oppenheimer

UK release date: 21 July 2023

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Whenever Christopher Nolan has a new movie out “it is an event”, said Michael Balderston on WhatToWatch.com. Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy, a Nolan regular, will play J. Robert Oppenheimer in the movie about the creator of the atomic bomb. With the cast and a prime summer release date lined up, Oppenheimer has “already established itself as one of the tentpole movies” of the year.

9. Wonka

UK release date: 15 December 2023

The new Wonka movie musical starring Timothée Chalamet will be released in December after initially being scheduled for March. A prequel to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the film will focus on the “candy architect Willy Wonka’s younger days before having his confection empire”, said Anthony D’Alessandro in Deadline.