2022 was a rocky ride for the film industry, both Indian and international, with people slowly warming up to the idea of going to the theatres again. Now, at the beginning of the new year, we can’t help but be super excited for the upcoming year in movies.
2023 promises to be a year of big releases and comebacks. After a long hiatus (too long, if you ask his fans), Shah Rukh Khan is set to make a smashing entry into our screens with three big releases. Salman Khan is also coming back to the big screens with the third part in the Tiger series. Speaking of big comebacks, Karan Johar is donning the director’s hat again after six years with the Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.
It’s a year of revisiting old favourites too, with the much-anticipated Barbie movie set to release in July, along with a live-action adaptation of Super Mario Bros. We’re also getting some exciting sequels this year, with a new Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
Here are some of the most anticipated movies of 2023.
Pathaan
SRK, along with Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, is all set to kick off this year with the action thriller Pathaan. The movie will be the fourth instalment in Yash Raj Film’s ever-growing Spy Universe and has been directed by Siddharth Anand.
Expected release date: January 25
Barbie
Ever since the news of a Barbie movie being directed by Greta Gerwig started spreading, the movie has become one of the most anticipated of the year. Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the movie’s recently released teaser has only raised our expectations to the stratosphere.
Expected release date: July 21
Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani
Gully Boy co-stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt are re-uniting for this Karan Johar directorial. The movie will also star Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi.
Expected release date: April 28
PS 2
Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus based on Kalki’s novel on the rise of the Chola Empire is getting a sequel. The makers recently announced the release date of the movie with a small teaser of what we can expect from the second one.
Expected release date: April 28
Jawaan
This is going to be a year of SRK fans as we’re not only getting one but three movies starring the superstar. Directed by Atlee, the movie will have the actor starring in a double role. Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathy are also in the movie.
Expected release date: June 2
Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is going to be explosive for reasons other than the star-studded cast and the subject matter. Reportedly, the director is not relying on CGI to create the atomic bomb explosion scene in the movie. Yikes!
Expected release date: July 21
Animal
After the controversial Kabir Singh, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga is ready with his second Bollywood venture, this time titled Animal. The movie stars Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna and the recently released poster has whipped up fans’ excitement for the film.
Expected release date: August 11
Tiger 3
Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif are coming back to deliver another high-octane action movie in the Tiger franchise. With director Manish Sharma at the helm and SRK expected in an extended cameo, the movie is already getting people excited.
Expected release date: November 10
Dune Part 2
Director Denis Villeneuve is coming back with the second part of his adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic 1965 novel. The movie will focus on the book’s epic climax and have Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya return to their characters. Florence Pugh will be a new addition to the cast in this one.
Expected release date: November 3
Sam Bahadur
Vicky Kaushal and director Meghna Gulzar are reuniting after Raazi (2018) for this film based on the life of Sam Manekshaw, the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. The movie also stars Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra.
Expected release date: December 1
Dunki
Rajkumar Hirani and Shah Rukh Khan are collaborating for the first time with Dunki. Reportedly, the movie is based on the ‘Donkey Flight’, an illegal route taken by Indians looking to immigrate to countries like Canada and the USA. SRK recently finished shooting for the movie is Saudi Arabia.
Expected release date: December 22
M3GAN
The countless memes featuring the dancing killer robot M3GAN from the trailer of the film will lull you into a false sense of security about the silliness of the movie. The scary thriller focuses on the titular robot going rogue after being tasked with protecting the daugter of its creator.
Expected release date: January 6
Cocaine Bear
As the name suggests, the movie is about a black bear going on a murderous rampage after ingesting a duffel bag full of cocaine. This Elizabeth Banks directorial is apparently based on a true incident, making this movie more thrilling than what the trailer suggests.
Expected release date: February 24
Magic Mike’s Last Dance
Channing Tatum has dubbed this to be the ‘Super Bowl of Stripping’ and that has made us even more excited for the final instalment in the Magic Mike trilogy. In the movie, Mike has to travel to London for a personal request by a mysterious woman who may or may not have nefarious reasons for calling him to the country. The movie also stars Salma Hayek Pinault.
Expected release date: February 10
The Little Mermaid
Disney has proven that live-action versions of our favourite fairy tales can work over the past few years. The upcoming adaptation of The Little Mermaid stars Halle Bailey, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy, Jacob Trembley, and Awkwafina. Bailey’s casting in the movie was met with criticism rooted in racism, with people claiming that the original character (a cartoon mermaid) was white.
Expected release date: May 26
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
One of the few superhero movies of recent times that managed to break off from the pack and stand alone as a great film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is getting a sequel. In this one, Miles Morales is contacted by Gwen Stacy to go on an adventure across the multiverse to rescue every universe’s Spider-Man and stop a new villain.
Expected release date: June 2
