The year 2023 is shaping up to be a good one for movie fans. After pandemic shutdowns and delays, movie studios are firing on all cylinders again, which means a packed schedule of new releases are on the horizon.

But what to watch? The best movies of 2023 are a mix of old and new, with some of our favorite characters returning to screens, and others popping up for the first time. There are plenty of Marvel, DC and other comics-inspired movies for those who need their superhero fix. There are lots of kids' movies in 2023 that you can take the whole family to see and watch together. Horror movies are all over the release schedule, so you don't have to wait until Halloweentime to have a good scare. And action and adventure abound from some of the best in the business, with familiar names like Indiana Jones and Ethan Hunt leading the way. Plus, there's always the sprinkling of rom-coms, adult dramas and other originals dotting the release calendar throughout the year.

Check out our most anticipated movies of 2023 (listed in order of release date), mark your calendar for your favorites (but be advised that studios love to shift these around), grab your popcorn and get ready to have a good time. And, if you're still looking for more, you can always catch up with the movies of 2022.

Release Date: January 6, 2023

Christian Bale stars in this Netflix film, about a detective who is called in to solve a case at the prestigious West Point Academy. When he's stonewalled by the cadets, he recruits one to help: a man named Edgar Allen Poe.

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Release Date: January 6, 2023

That's Model 3 Generative Android, or M3GAN for short. M3GAN is a prototype meant to be a lifelike dolls kids can use to be their greatest companion. But when a roboticist gives M3GAN to her grieving niece, M3GAN becomes overprotective and vows to kill anyone who poses a threat. Will M3GAN join the pantheon of killer dolls, like Chucky and Annabelle? She's certainly got moves.

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Release Date: January 13, 2023

Though he won't be starring in it, LeBron James is producing a remake of House Party, based on the 1990 comedy. It stars Jacob Latimore of The Chi and Tosin Cole of Doctor Who as a pair of house cleaners who decide to throw a bash at LeBron's house while he's away.

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Release Date: January 13, 2023

If you're into those macho, Gerard Butler action flicks, Plane should do the trick. In it, Butler stars as a commercial pilot who narrowly averts a crash and makes an emergency landing with a plane full of passengers — only to find out they've landed in a warn-torn island. When the passengers are taken hostage by rebels, he teams up with one of the few remaining non-hostages (Mike Colter), who is trained in combat, to free them. The catch? That passenger was an accused murderer being transported by the FBI.

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Release Date: January 20, 2023

This is from the makers of what's being called "screen life" movies, where most of what you see is the main characters' screens and devices. In Missing, Storm Reid stars as a girl whose mom disappears while on vacation with her boyfriend in Colombia, so she uses all the technology at her disposal to figure out what happened.

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Release Date: January 27, 2023

This Belgian movie won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival last year. It's an emotional tale of two 13-year-old best friends who start to be pulled apart when others notice how close they are.

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Release Date: January 27, 2023

A couple, played by Alexander Skarsgård and Cleopatra Coleman, heads off for a romantic getaway at a world-class resort. Their idyllic vacation changes, though, when they meat another couple that draws them outside the confines of the resort and into a culture of hedonism and violence. How far will they take it?

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Release Date: January 27, 2023

When Ezra (Jonah Hill) and Amira (Lauren London) decide they want to get married in this Kenya Barris Netflix movie, it's hard for them to get their families on board. They have to navigate generational divides and cultural differences to get everyone on the same page. And, with a cast that includes Eddie Murphy, Nia Long, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny, you know it's not going to go smoothly — but it will be funny.

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Release Date: January 27, 2023

In this Amazon Prime Video movie, Darcy and Tom's destination wedding is idyllic — until the whole wedding party gets taken hostage by rebels. Instead of walking down the aisle, the bride and groom have to escape and go on a rescue mission to get help.

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Release Date: February 3, 2023

Despite the title, this inspirational sports comedy focuses on the fans, not the players. Loosely inspired by a true story, the film stars Lily Tomlin, Sally Field, Rita Moreno and Jane Fonda in a story about four best friends who go on a road trip to see their favorite player — Tom Brady, naturally — play in the Big Game. Hilarious adventures ensure.

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Release Date: February 3, 2023

M. Night Shyamalan is back on the big screen with another tale full of Hitchcockian suspense. The film follows a little girl who is vacationing at a cabin with her dads. The three of them are taken hostage by a group — played by Dave Bautista, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Rupert Grint — who believe that they've received messages about an upcoming apocalypse, and the only way to avoid it is with the ultimate sacrifice.

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Release Date: February 10, 2023

Channing Tatum and Steven Soderbergh return for a new Magic Mike installment, but this time the action skips to across the pond. Salma Hayek Pinault plays a woman who convinces Mike to put on a big show in a London theater, with steamy results.

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Release Date: February 10, 2023

In this Netflix rom-com, Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher star as best friends who live across the country from each other, she in LA and he in NY. When they decide to do a house swap for a week, it shakes things up in ways they didn't expect.

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Release Date: February 10, 2023

Workaholic TV producer Ally returns to her hometown and reconnects with an old flame — only to find out he's getting married. Worse, his fiancée reminds Ally of a person she used to be. This Prime Video original is a project from husband-and-wife duo Dave Franco and Allison brie; they wrote it together, and Franco directs.

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Release Date: February 17, 2023

The next chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe trades giant worlds for tiny ones. The entire Lang family gets taken to the Quantum Realm and discovers a whole universe there — but they also have to contend with Kang the Conqueror, whom Loki fans know is not someone to be trifled with.

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Release Date: February 24, 2023

In a film whose title really says it all, this based-on-a-true-ish-story movie is about — what else? — a bear that finds and eats smuggled cocaine, then goes on a drug-fueled rampage. The tourists, smugglers, cops and anyone else has to find means to get out of the bear's way, or else.

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Release Date: February 24, 2023

This PG-13 thriller comes from Christopher Lander, creator of Happy Death Day and Freaky. In it, a family learns their new house is haunted, only to have the specter turn them into social-media sensations. As they try to solve the mysetery of their ghost's past, the attention lands them on the radar of the CIA.

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Release Date: March 5, 2023

Creed star Michael B. Jordan takes over the directing reins for the third film in the franchise. (Don't worry, Ryan Coogler, the previous director, worked on the story.) This time, Adonis Creed heads to the ring to fight someone who knows him from his past (played by Jonathan Majors).

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Release Date: March 10, 2023

Scream is synonymous with Woodsboro, but this time Ghostface is headed to New York City. Dermot Mulroney joins the cast, which includes returning faves Courteney Cox, Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Hayden Panettiere.

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Release Date: March 10, 2023

Fans of Luther, rejoice: An all-new film is coming to Netflix. Idris Elba returns as John Luther, and Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis and Dermot Crowley join the cast.

Release Date: March 17, 2023

Sure, Black Adam got a lot of attention in 2022, but don't forget about Shazam! He returns for another adventure, this time going up against Hespera and Kalypso, the daughters of Atlas. But, fortunately, this time he has reinforcements.

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Release Date: March 24, 2023

John Wick has been through a lot in the past three movies, but he finally sees a way to bury the hatchet with The High Table. However, powerful foes will do their best to stop him before he can clear his name. Expect plenty more stylized violence before his story is over.

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Release Date: March 31, 2023

You don't have to bust out the ol' d20 and play the fantasy strategy game to enjoy this big-screen take on Dungeons & Dragons. It follows a group of thieves who "helped the wrong person steal the wrong thing," and now have to get it back before the consequences become too great. It's filled with plenty of creatures (and lots of fantasy violence), as well as performances from Chris Pine, Justice Smith, Michelle Rodriguez and Sophia Lillis.

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Release Date: March 31, 2023

Netflix had an unqualified hit with mystery sequel Glass Onion, which followed Knives Out and went on to get an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Can lightning strike twice with this Netflix mystery franchise? In it, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler return as Nick and Audrey Spitz, a couple who are once again thrown in the middle of an international incident when their friend the Maharaja is kidnapped at his own wedding. Are they up for another go-round as amateur detectives?

Release Date: April 7, 2023

It's the age-old conflict between plumber and koopa. For this adventure on the big screen, an animated Mario, played by Chris Pratt, is tasked with going up against Bowser, played by Jack Black. Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key and Seth Rogen round out the cast.

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Release Date: April 7, 2023

This movie is based on the true life story of French-Caribbean musical prodigy Chevalier de Saint-Georges, who's involved in the court of Marie-Antoinette until racism and other societal factors get in the way. Kelvin Harrison Jr. of Luce and Cyrano plays the musical prodigy.

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Release Date: April 28, 2023

Nicolas Cage takes on the role of the famed Count Dracula in this comedic, modern-day take on a vampire tale. Nicholas Hoult plays Renfield, Drac's faithful assistant. When Renfield falls in love with a traffic cop (played by Awkwafina), he wants to leave his job and run away with his new love.

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Release Date: April 28, 2023

Judy Blume is the queen of all coming-of-age books, and Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret may be the most acclaimed of them all. Director Kelly Fremon, who made the excellent teen movie Edge of Seventeen, will bring it to the screen with Ant-Man's Abby Ryder Fortson as the titular sixth grader and Rachel McAdams as her mom.

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Release Date: May 5, 2023

After The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on Disney+, the Guardians are top of mind. And once again, Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) has to muster his motley group of space travelers to defend the universe.

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Release Date: May 12, 2023

It's J-Lo again, and this time she plays an assassin trying to protect the daughter she gave up years before — the perfect movie to watch with your mom on Mother's Day. Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Gael Garcia Bernal, Paul Raci and Lucy Paez co-star in this Netflix film.

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Release Date: May 19, 2023

Just when you thought the Fast and the Furious franchise couldn't fit in one more buff actor, along comes Jason Momoa. He plays an adversary to Dom and his family, and an ally to Charlize Theron's Cipher. Louis Leterrier of the Transporter series takes over directing from Justin Lin,

Release Date: May 26, 2023

Disney is continuing its streak of remaking its classic animated films, and this time Halle Bailey of Chloe x Halle is stepping into the fins of Ariel. Choreographer Rob Marshall, who made Chicago, directs.

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Release Date: June 2, 2023

Sure, every big superhero franchise is doing multiverse stories now, but Miles Morales beat them all to universe-hopping. He returns with another multi-Spider-Man-filled story, which is done with jaw-dropping animation.

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Release Date: June 9, 2023

You've heard of Autobots and Decepticons, but what about Maximals, Predacons and Terrorcons? This movie takes place in the '90s, when two archeologists from Brooklyn get mixed up in the clash between the Transformers and these mechanical beasts.

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Release Date: June 16, 2023

Pixar's 2023 outing takes place in a world where all the beings are one of the elements: fire, water, land and air. Things get shaken up when a fire element and a water element find out just how much they have in common.

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Release Date: June 16, 2023

This Flash movie, part of the DCEU, has The Flash determining the extent of his powers, and how he wants to use them. Michael Keaton shows up as a certain caped crusader from DC movies past.

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Release Date: June 16, 2023

Wes Anderson's latest takes place during the '50s, when a Junior Stargazer convention is interrupted by potentially world-changing events. The cast for this movie is absolutely huge, and includes Maya Hawke, Sophia Lillis, Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Margot Robbie, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Hong Chau, Jeff Goldblum, Willem Dafoe, Steve Carrell, Stephen Park and Rupert Friend.

Release Date: June 30, 2023

Indiana Jones? He's never too old for one more adventure. For the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, he dons the fedora and grabs the whip one more time, and he's joined by Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

RELATED: How to Watch the Indiana Jones Movies in Order

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Release Date: July 14, 2023

Ethan Hunt has defied death several times over — what's one or two more? This two-part Mission: Impossible movie pulls out all the stops, and makes room for even more pulse-pounding stunts.

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Release Date: July 14, 2023

Barbie makes a big splash on the big screen in a movie soaked in Barbie's neon-pink color palette. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling play Barbie and Ken in a film written and directed by Little Women's Greta Gerwig and co-written by White Noise's Noah Baumbach.

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Release Date: July 14, 2023

Director Christopher Nolan follows up Tenet with this film about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb in Los Alamos. Cillian Murphy of Peaky Blinders stars as the infamous physicist.

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Release Date: July 21, 2023

John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris in this pulpy thriller, about a trio who unexpectedly find themselves trying to unravel a government conspiracy. Can these ultimate underdogs get to the bottom of the eerie circumstances they've been experiencing?

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Release Date: July 28, 2023

Fans of Kamala Khan and Ms. Marvel will be thrilled to learn that she's an essential part of the new Captain Marvel movie. In it, Khan, Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau keep swapping places whenever they use their powers, and they have to figure out why.

Release Date: August 11, 2023

Yes, this is based on the Disney theme park ride, and no, it's not related to the 2003 Eddie Murphy movie. This time, Rosario Dawnson plays a mom who buys the house, not knowing it's full of spirits. Owen Wilson plays a priest who enlists others to help her, including a psychic (Tiffany Haddish), a college professor (Danny DeVito) and a paranormal expert (LaKeith Stanfield). Jamie Lee Curtis plays Madame Leota, and Jared Leto is the Hatbox Ghost (IYKYK).

Release Date: August 11, 2023

Zendaya plays a tennis coach who turns her husband (West Side Story's Mike Faist) into a world champion. But when he's in a losing streak, to get him out of his rut, she signs him up for a low-level challengers event — only to realize that he has to play his ex-best friend and her former lover. Competition is high on and off the court.

Release Date: August 11, 2023

Coming straight to Netflix, this movie stars Gal Gadot as an intelligence operative on a mission: She has to keep her peace-keeping organization's most valuable asset alive. (If anyone can do it, Wonder Woman can!)

Release Date: August 18, 2023

Another branch of the DCEU, the movie follows a teenage as Jaime Reyes. When he finds an alien scarab, it gives him the power to access a super ex-suit.

Release Date: September 15, 2023

Fans of Kenneth Branagh's Hercule Poirot movies have reason to celebrate: A third movie, A Haunting in Venice, will adapt Agatha Christie's novel Hallowe'en Party. Like Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express, this one will also have a robust ensemble cast, which this time includes Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey and Kelly Reilly, among others.

Release Date: October 6, 2023

Like Venom and Morbius, this is another movie that features Spider-Man characters but does not have Spider-Man himself. Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Kraven, a big-game hunter who gets involved with Calypso (Ariana DeBose), a voodoo priestess, and Chameleon (Fred Hechinger), a master of disguise.

Release Date: October 13, 2023

Millie Bobby Brown returns to Netflix for this movie, about a damsel who seems to hit the jackpot when she finds out a prince wants to marry her — only to find out the royal family plans on sacrificing her to repay an ancient debt. Think of it as a new entry in the tough-princess genre, like last year's The Princess.

Release Date: October 27, 2023

Emily Blunt stars in this Netflix movie about a woman who, wanting a better life for her daughter, joins a pharmaceutical start-up that transforms into a racketeering scheme. It's directed by David Yates, who actually did most of the Harry Potter movies. (Better leave the kiddos elsewhere for this one, though.)

Release Date: November 3, 2023

Return to the sands of Arrakis and see the conclusion of the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). Atreides, now united with the native Fremen, must restore his house while settling control of the planet's spice trade once and for all.

Release Date: November 10, 2023

Michael Fassbender stars in the newest outing from Zodiac and Fight Club director David Fincher. Based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Alexis Nolent, also known as Matz, the Netflix movie follows an assassin who has to go after his employers after a near miss.

Release Date: November 17, 2023

Before Coriolanus Snow became the president of Panem, he was an 18-year-old (played by Tom Blyth) who was unexpectedly chosen to mentor a Hunger Games tribute. But Lucy Gray Baird (West Side Story's Rachel Ziegler), his mentee from the impoverished District 12, has much more going on beneath the surface than she lets him see.

Release Date: November 17, 2023

Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron, stars of The Paperboy, reunite for this Netflix film by The Bridges of Madison County director Richard LaGravenese. It follows the complicated, tangled-up relationships between a young woman (Joey King), her mother (Kidman) and the mother's movie-star boss (Efron). Bookmark this one if you love drama.

Release Date: November 17, 2023

As we know from the other movies in the Trolls series, trolls love to celebrate. Could it be a wedding this time? Either way, you know it's going to be packed with musical numbers.

Release Date: November 22, 2023

When, as Disney puts it, you wish upon a star, do you know what actually happens? When a teenager (Ariana DeBose) finds a falling wishing star, she gets a close-up look at just how all that magic works.

Release Date: December 8, 2023

Based on the novel Rumaan Alam, this Netflix film stars Mahershala Ali, Myha’la, Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke as two couples vacationing on Long Island when they get news of a mysterious blackout. They have to figure out how to deal with the crisis, which grows more threatening by the minute. It's directed by Mr. Robot's Sam Esmail, so expect lots of dark plot turns.

Release Date: December 15, 2023

How did Willy Wonka get to become an eccentric chocolatier? This movie takes a look, serving as a prequel to the Roald Dahl book, and Timothée Chalamet steps into Wonka's boots in the starring role. Best of all? It's a musical!

Release Date: December 20, 2023

The 1985 film The Color Purple — the one with Oprah and Whoopi Goldberg — will always be a stone-cold classic. But this movie is actually an adaptation of the Broadway show. It'll star Fantasia, who won a World Theatre Award for her performance in the show on Broadway, alongside performers like Taraji P. Henson, H.E.R., Danielle Brooks and Ciara.

Release Date: December 20, 2023

This movie continues the story of the Spangler family after the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It's a good one to see the with the whole family, because in the last one the kids finally got to be the ones who busted the ghosts. McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon are all returning.

Release Date: December 22, 2023

Zack Snyder, director of 300 and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice takes on this space-dwelling action flick for Netflix. In it, Sofia Boutella stars as Kora, a young woman who is tasked with visiting neighboring planets to recruit warriors to take a stand against a local tyrant.

Release Date: December 25, 2023

This movie was pushed from December 2022, so Aquaman fans have been waiting a long time to get back to Atlantis. But the time has finally arrived, and star Jason Momoa and director James Wan are both returning.