Upcoming Movies in the Second Half of 2023

Who can believe that half of 2023 is almost over? We have had so many great movies come out this year already, and some not very good ones as well, but we’ll take what we get. From the action-filled final John Wick movie and the internet sensation Cocaine Bear about a literal bear high on cocaine to Joaquin Phoenix’s Beau Is Afraid, the first half of 2023 was already booming with great movies.

But if you haven’t had the chance to catch any of these movies in the theatre, do not despair, my friend; there are plenty of amazing upcoming movies in the second half of 2023. Whether you like animated movies, horror, adventure, sci-fi or even adaptations about a certain doll that had a chokehold on little girls since the 60s, we’ve got you.

Upcoming Movies in the Second Half of 2023

In the list below, we’ll be sharing movies that are coming out between June and December of 2023. We will give you all the information you need about those movies: release date, genre, cast, a little synopsis—basically everything to get you fired up for the release. So without further ado, let’s see what the silver screen has in store for us!

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel to the 2018 highly successful movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The first movie follows Miles Morales, an afro-latino kid who witnesses the death of Spider-Man and then decides to become his universe’s new Spidey.

With Shameik Moore back as Miles Morales, Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacey, Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker and the new addition of Oscar Isaac as Miguel O’Hara, this highly anticipated sequel will take our spider-people into a new adventure across the multiverse.

Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny

Release date: 30 June 2023

Genre: Adventure

Director: James Mangold

Cast: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen

How many movie franchises can say they have been around since the 80s? Not many! Indiana Jones is back with a new and final adventure in Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny. Acclaimed archaeologist Indy, played by Harrison Ford, is back this time with his goddaughter, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, to retrieve a time-turning dial that can change history. 

With a former Nazi villain played by Mads Mikkelsen and a new director, this movie will hopefully be the proper goodbye a legend such as Indiana Jones deserves.

Barbie

Release date: 21 July 2023

Genre: Fantasy/Comedy

Director: Greta Gerwig

Cast: Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling

If you see the word “doll”, I bet you will automatically think of Barbie. Barbie has had a lot of animated movies throughout the years, but this time, Greta Gerwig decided to take the most famous blonde ever to live action. 

Having a star-studded cast including Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, and more, this original movie will take Barbie from her perfect little world at Barbie Land to venture into our not-so-perfect real world.

Oppenheimer

Release date: 21 July 2023

Genre: Biographical

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh

Oppenheimer is the latest movie by acclaimed director Christopher Nolan. It’s based on the book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. The biographical movie tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb”, and his involvement in the Manhattan Project, which developed the first nuclear weapons. 

Oppenheimer stars A-listers such as Cillian Murphy in the titular role, Robert Downey Jr, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon and Rami Malek, among others. The movie will be as visually stunning as all Christopher Nolan movies are, so make sure you watch it on the big screen.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Release date: 4 August 2023

Genre: Animation

Director: Jeff Rowe

Cast: Nicolas Cantu, Micah Abbey, Brady Noon and Shamon Brown Jr

Inspired by the wonderful animation style of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Seth Rogan is rebooting the TMNT franchise with this new animated feature film. The story follows Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michel Angelo as they fight an army of mutants across New York City while simultaneously trying to win the city’s love and acceptance.

The turtles are voiced by a young and upcoming cast joined by big names such as Seth Rogan himself, Jackie Chan, John Cena and Ice Cube.

Blue Beetle

Release date: 18 August 2023

Genre: Superhero

Director: Angel Manuel Soto

Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, George Lopez and Susan Sarandon

Based on the DC comics, Blue Beetle is the DCEU’s next superhero movie. The movie tells the story of Jamie Reyes, a college graduate who comes across the ancient relic known as the Scarab. Being chosen by the Scarab as its host, Jamie must learn to control its power and protect his family from the people who might hurt them in their quest to get hold of it.

The DCEU is on a quest to reinvent themselves under the new helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran, and Blue Beetle will be an indication of what to expect in the future.

The Equalizer 3

Release date: 1 September 2023

Genre: Action

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Cast: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning and David Denman

The Equalizer 3 is the final instalment in Antione Fuqua’s movie trilogy based on the TV series of the same name. The action-filled movie will follow Denzel Washington’s character Robert Mcall as he discovers that his friends at his new home in Italy are controlled by the local Mafia. 

This will be Anotione Fuque and Denzel Washington’s final Equalizer movie. If you’re a fan of the vigilante action series, make sure you catch it in theatres.

The Nun II

Release date: 8 September 2023

Genre: Horror

Director: Michael Chaves

Cast: Storm Reid, Bonnie Aarons and Anna Popplewell

The ninth instalment of The Conjuring Universe and the sequel to 2018’s The Nun, The Nun II follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face to face with the demonic force Valak and must find a way to defeat it.

The Conjuring Universe has had a history of successful horror movies, and casting Storm Reid as the new lead for The Nun II has made people quite excited about it, even if the exact plot of the movie is not yet known.

Kraven the Hunter

Release date: 6 October 2023

Genre: Action/Adventure

Director: J. C. Chandor

Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe and Ariana DeBose

After being considered several times to be featured as a villain in Spider-Man movies, Kraven the Hunter is finally getting his standalone feature. Directed by J. C. Chandor, the original story of Kraven the Hunter in Marvel comics is of a Russian immigrant who is on a mission to prove he is the best hunter in the world.

Produced by Sony, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Kraven and supported by Russell Crow and Ariana DeBose, Kraven the Hunter will be in theatres this October, and we couldn’t be more excited about it!

Pain Hustlers

Release date: 27 October 2023

Genre: Drama

Director: David Yates

Cast: Emily Blunt, Chris Evans and Andy Garcia

From the director of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts comes a criminal drama featuring Emily Blunt in the role of a woman who takes a job at a failing pharmaceutical start-up, eventually finding herself in the middle of a criminal conspiracy. 

This movie is expected to become Netflix‘s next Oscar bid. The company has had many movies in recent years in strong competition for the prestigious award, but they are yet to win. Will start-studded Pain Hustler get them their first Oscar? We’ll see.

Dune: Part Two

Release date: 3 November 2023

Genre: Fantasy

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh

Based on the highly successful fantasy book Dune by Frank Herbert, Dune: Part Two is the sequel to 2021‘s Dune. This is not the first adaptation of Frank Herbert’s book, as it was adapted into a live-action movie in 1984. But this time, Denis Villeneuve is dividing the story into two parts to give it more space to breathe.

The sequel follows Paul Atreides, played by Timothee Chalamet, as he is reunited with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen to try and take revenge on the people who destroyed his family. A story of political intrigue, love triangles, and fantastical environments awaits us in Dune: Part Two.

The Marvels

Release date: 10 November 2023

Genre: Superhero

Director: Nia DaCosta

Cast: Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, Teyonah Parris and Samuel L. Jackson

The MCU’s final movie of 2023 is a sequel to their 2019 box office sensation Captain Marvel. This time Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel is joined by Iman Vellani’s Ms Marvel, who we met during her movie in 2022, and Teynoah Parris’s Monica Rambeau of WandaVision in 2021.

The movie will follow the three superheroines as their powers get mixed for an unknown reason. With Captain Marvel’s no-bullshit attitude, Monica’s leadership qualities and Kamala’s wits and hero worship, this movie will have a lot of high expectations to fulfil.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Release date: 17 November 2023

Genre: Dystopia

Director: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer and Viola Davis

Yes, it’s another Hunger Games movie! Eight years after the final Hunger Games movie was dropped, we’re returning to Panem with the same director and a whole new cast. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the story of Katniss Everdeen we all loved. 

This movie —based on the book by Susan Collins— is set during the 10th Hunger Games, where 18-year-old Cornelius Snow, played by Tom Blyth, is set to mentor District 12’s Lucy Gray, played by Rachel Ziegler. The political twists, the showmanship and hidden secrets will reveal who is the songbird and who is the snake during this exciting prequel.

Wonka

Release date: 15 December 2023

Genre: Fantasy

Director: Paul King

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant, Brown Atkinson and Olivia Colman

Timothée Chalamet’s second lead role of the year will be the famous Willy Wonka. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a children’s story by Roald Dahl and has been previously adapted into a movie starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. This time, this original prequel will follow Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka as a young chocolate enthusiast who embarks on a journey to open the world’s most famous chocolate factory. Wonka will certainly be an enjoyable Christmas movie to watch with the whole family.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Release date: 25 December 2023

Genre: Superhero

Director: James Wan

Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard and Patrick Wilson

Our final highly anticipated movie this year is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The DCEU’s long-awaited sequel to 2018’s Aquaman hits theatres on Christmas day. Jason Momoa plays the titular character as he embarks on a journey to save the Atlantic from an ancient evil that threatens to destroy his beloved home.

Jason Momoa is once again joined by Amber Heard as Mera, Patrick Wilson as King Orm and a rumoured appearance by the one and only Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne. 

There are more upcoming movies in the second half of 2023, but these are the most anticipated by the fans (us included). Make sure you catch the ones you’re interested in on the big screen and unwind. We hope the remaining months of 2023 will be memorable for you with these upcoming hits!