Ant Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Oppenheimer: Hollywood’s biggest releases of 2023

2023 is going to be the year of several big budget franchise films and some iconic action-packed hero centric films, besides spine-tingling horror films. With the pandemic playing spoilsport for almost three years, people are eagerly awaiting the release of some of these films on the big screen. Among the first to emerge with the release date slated to be February 10, will be Magic Mike’s Last Dance.

The tantalising trailer shows Salma Hayek and Channing Tatum locked in dance-like embraces. Plenty of stage dancing and a crisp storyline promises to keep us hooked. It may be director Steven Soderbergh’s Valentine gift to his fans.

The third film in this franchise, due for a February release does exactly what cinema is supposed to do — transport the audience into a world of science fiction, fantasy combined with an epic storyline, thrills and action. This Marvel production stars Paul Rudd, Jonathan Majors, Evangeline Lilly backed by an experienced cast of Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer.

After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet deep into space, an astronaut played by Adam Driver discovers a planet which is trapped in time and infested by Earth’s prehistoric dinosaurs from 65 million years ago. The film promises to be an exciting ride full of action, drama and horror into the past and future, and hits the screens in March.

On March 24 will release the much awaited John Wick, Chapter 4, for which Keanu Reeves had thousands rooting for the film at the recent Brazilian CCXP. This is an action film shot in exotic locales around the world and part of the John Wick franchise. Directed by Chad Stahelski, the film also stars Laurence Fishburne and Lance Reddick amongst others.

Time for an April release right after the annual exams. This animated comedy film features the iconic Nintendo video game character that was everyone’s favourite video game character in the 80s and 90s. With voice overs by Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black and Charlie Day amongst others, this one promises to be a fun nostalgia treat for all.

This Marvel Studios film is another big budget feature that is the continuation of characters in the Marvel cinematic universe. Directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, this is the third superhero film from the Guardians of the Galaxy Series.

This is an upcoming franchise sci-fi film based on Hasbro’s Transformers toy line. The plot will take viewers back to 1994 NYC and Peru. Directed by Steven Caple Jr, Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback star in this film in which two human archaeologists have to confront the Transformers, which is part of an ancient conflict. The film will centre around three factions of warring Transformers, tied to the Earth's past.

The decades old Indiana Jones is still vowing fans. Harrison Ford, is now 80 years old and has been digitally restructured to look young for some of the scenes. Nevertheless, he looks as swashbuckling and action-oriented as ever. This is the first Indiana Jones film not helmed by Steven Spielberg. It also stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas in a cameo appearance.

July belongs to Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part One, now in its seventh instalment. With this film, Tom Cruise is reprising his role of the daredevil spy, Ethan Hunt for a whopping 27 years. Time seems to stand still for Tom Cruise. With the trailer already surpassing 13 million views, this film promises to take the franchise to the next level. Familiar faces like Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Rebecca Ferguson and others return in their respective roles.

This is a biographical film based on the life of the American theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, who is credited as being “the father of the atomic bomb.” Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film holds high interest for the audience. With a star cast, including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr and some breathtaking cinematography and score, this film is shot in IMAX and should be a must watch.

Based on the life of Franklin D Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, this film is expected to be an epic historical and biographical journey. Roosevelt steered America through the Great Depression and World War II. This is the eighth collaboration between Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese.

Every girl’s favourite fashionable doll is Barbie. Director Greta Gerwig is helming this film with Margot Robbie in the lead, cast opposite Ryan Gosling. Basically, the doll is banished from Barbie Land and introduced to the real world.

Filming has just wrapped up earlier this month for Dune: Part Two. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, this film tackles the second half of the science fiction epic by Frank Herbert. Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem reprise their roles from the first film. Experienced actors, Florence Pugh and Christopher Walken are joining the cast as well. The first part, Dune, won six Oscars and was a critical and box office success.

The Little Mermaid

The Flash

The Exorcist

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

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