If 2022 made anything clear about watching movies. It’s that we now do it the same way we work. There’s more passion going into movies, there’s so much more work going into movies, and honestly, it’s marvelous! Professional directors like Travis Preston are happy about this, and some of the biggest actors out there are happy about this. While at one point in time, there was the fear that the theater and movies were dying, it’s pretty clear this isn’t going anywhere! Sometimes in the office, sometimes from home. In movie speak. Some A-List releases are arriving straight to your home through streaming services. Others are sticking to movie houses.
No matter the medium, as in years past, we canvassed the most guy-worthy movies to see for 2023. This year brings comedic collabs, superheroes, new entries of well-known franchises and above all stories that featuring members of our communidad front and center. Check em’ out here.
Winter
January
You People
Comedy legend Eddie Murphy and millennial mainstay Jonah Hill team up for You People. Essentially a new take on the classic – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. Hill is from the Jewish side of the tracks, and gets romantically involved with Murphy’s daughter, played by Lauren London. As the relationship gets serious it’s time to meet the parents. The new couple must reconcile their respective Jewish and Muslim families with modern love amid culture clashes, societal expectations, and generational differences. Co-written and directed by Kenya Barris (blackish), You People also stars Nia Long, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss and David Duchovny.
You People dropped on Netflix on January 27th. See the trailer here.
February
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania
It wouldn’t be a year in movies without a superhero flick, or two or three. More specifically an entry from the Marvel Universe. Enter the third installment of the Ant-Man franchise and set to kick off Phase 5 of the MCU.
Paul Rudd returns as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man and Evangeline Lilly at as Hope van Dyne aka The Wasp. In this outing, Scott and Hope along with Hope’s parents Hank Pym, played by Michael Douglas and Janet van Dyne, played by Michelle Pfeiffer and Lang’s daughter Cassie, explore the Quantum Realm. But they get more than they bargained for when they face Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors.
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania opens in 3-D February 17th.
March
Creed III
Adonis Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan returns to the ring. This time sans his ubiquitous manager Rocky Balboa. In this outing, Adonis is several years into his prime. Everything in and out of the ring is clicking on all cylinders. Until an old friend, Damian, played by Jonathan Majors, from his past re-emerges. Seemingly under friendly terms, but everyone quickly realizes he’s got a bone to pick with Donnie and wants what he got. Setting up a battle for Los Angeles.
Aside from the absence of Stallone in this outing, Michael B. Jordan steps behind the camera to make his directorial debut. Jordan promises plenty of surprises. Including a role for none other than real life champ Canelo Alvarez. The first Creed was a hit with critics and fans alike. Creed II is a crowd pleaser for sure, but not critical darling like the first installment. Is Jordan the man to bring the franchise to new heights?
We’ll see, March 3, 2023, when the flick arrives in theatres.
Scream 6
Ghostface is back. This time he’s in the Big Apple. So are the kids from Woodsborough. Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, and Courtney Cox return for the sixth installment. Neve Campbell is sitting this one out, allegedly due to payment squabbles (can’t blame her really).
Not much is known about the plot, save for the new location. As a native New Yorker, we’d say Ghostface better watch his/her back – cause NYC ain’t Kansas. In any event, it should be fun to see them all navigate the streets of the city. We vote/hope for a scene that drops Ghostface in El Barrio! Get to see how tough he/she really is!
Scream 6 is set for release on March 10, 2023.
John Wick 4
Welcome back Mr. Wick. Keanu Reeves returns for the fourth outing of the deadly, iconic, dog loving assassin. Who just wants out of the biz.
Ian McShane also returns reprising the role of Winston, owner of the New York Continental Hotel, as does Lance Reddick reprising the role of Charon, the Continental’s steely concierge, and Laurence Fishburne who will once again play the underground assassin leader, The Bowery King. Bill Skarsgard will join the cast – presumably as Wick’s latest nemesis.
As for plot? Not much is known, and details are scant. But audiences should rest assured, there will be no shortage of John Woo inspired action, one-liners and a deeper dive into the underground hitman culture created in this universe.
John Wick: Chapter 4 opens in theaters March 24, 2023.
Spring
May
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Before taking over DCEU duties James Gunn will make his MCU swan song in the form of the third installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The entire cast return and this time they after purchasing Knowhere from the Collector, they attempt to make it a safe haven for alien refugees. But after a brutal attack, Quill must lead the Guardians on one last dangerous mission to protect one of their members that could lead to the team dissolving.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled to be released on May 5, 2023.
Fast X
The family is back for the 10th, yep 10th installment of the race car, crime heist, testosterone fueled franchise, with Vin Diesel leading the pack. Fast X is the penultimate installment of the franchise. Many of the cast returns including Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel and Sung Kang, as well as recent entrants John Cena, Cardi B and Charlize Theron.
This time out the big baddie is Jason Mamoa as Dante, who will be teaming up with Cipher to bring down Dom and his crew. A few surprises are sure to be in store, rumor has its Gal Gadot filmed a scene or two and Rita Moreno is joining the case as the abuelita of the Toretto family. I mean hey, what’s family without an abuela!
Fast X is scheduled to be released on May 19, 2023.
See what movies will light up the Summer after the jump…
Summer
June
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Our favorite Brooklyn web slinger is back. Mile Morales re-teams with his Spider-Man counterparts across the multi-verse, this time he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse also includes a star-studded cast, including Shameik Moore as Miles; Oscar Isaac as Miguel O’Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099; Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen, Brian Tyree Henry as Miles’ dad Jefferson Davis; Luna Lauren Velez as Miles’ mom Rio Morales; Issa Rae as Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman. The trailer looks amazing (no pun intended), full of color, characters, wit, and charm. If it’s any indication of the overall film, it looks like Sony has another hit on their hands.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse opens June 2, 2023.
Flash
The stakes are high for the red scarlet’s stand-alone big screen debut. Prior to James Gunn’s arrival, this film was rumored to reset and expand the DCEU across multiple iterations – and today’s Gunn announcement confirms it will still be the jumping off point for the rebooted DCEU.
The film is based on the comic book storyline Flashpoint, Barry Allen goes back in time to try and prevent the murder of his mother. The result is access to multiple timelines where DC Comics characters live, including both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton reprising their respective versions of Batman. Also set to appear is Super Girl, played by Sasha Calle. The film has been often delayed, due to production conflicts, COVID-19 and as of late the erratic behavior of its star, Ezra Miller.
The Flash is scheduled to be released on June 16, 2023.
Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny
Gen X’ers rejoice. A piece of your childhood returns. The latest installment of the iconic franchise, once again starring Harrison Ford as the world-famous archeologist Indiana Jones comes back to the big screen.
In this outing it’s now 1969, and Indy is living against the backdrop of the Space Race. Jones Spidey-sense starts to rise when the US Government recruits former WW II enemies in their desperation to beat the Soviet Union out in the competition to make it to space.
For this installment both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas pass the director and writer mantles on to James Mangold, who directed and co-wrote the script. Also returning alongside Ford is John Rhys-Davies reprising his role as Sallah, and new cast members Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Boyd Holbrook and Antonio Banderas.
Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny opens June 30, 2023.
July
Mission Impossible 7: Dead Reckoning Part One.
This seventh installment of the spy series starring Tom Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, is perhaps so far best known for on set melt down by Cruise when production failed to follow COVID protocols on set. Not much is known about the plot, but we do know Christopher McQuarrie returns to direct, and franchise faves Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Fergusson and Angela Basset return alongside Cruise.
Our baddie in this outing is none other than Esai Morales. Morales is a vet in Hollywood, and iconic actor in the Latino community for his heel turns in Bad Boys, La Bamba and Ozark. Good to see him on the biggest of stages to show his stuff.
Mission Impossible 7 opens on July 14, 2023.
The Marvels
This film has the unique position of being a continuation of not just one, but two projects. The film Captain Marvel and Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. This outing follows the events of Ms. Marvel. Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau begin swapping places with each other every time they use their powers and must team-up to figure out why.
Directed by Nia DaCosta Brie Larson returns as Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel, Iman Vellani as Kamallah Khan aka Ms. Marvel and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau. Now it would not be an MCU film without an appearance from Nick Fury. So yes, Samuel Jackson will certainly be making an appearance. The Marvels opens on July 28, 2023.
August
Blue Beetle
Jaime Reyes make his big screen debut. We are excited about this entry in the DCEU as it marks the debut of first live-action big screen Latino superhero. Mexican-American teenager Jaime Reyes gains superpowers when a mysterious scarab binds to his spine and provides him with a powerful suit of blue alien armor.
Cobra Kai’s Xolo Madruena stars as Reyes and he’s got a great supporting cast in the form of George Lopez, Harvey Guillen, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, Adriana Barraza, Damian Alcazar, Raul Trujillo and Susan Sarandon.
The buzz is strong on this film. It was originally slated to be released on HBOMax, but strong testing elevated to a theatrical release. It even survived the recent arrival of James Gunn who has gutted most of the current DCEU for his soft reboot.
Blue Beetle is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on August 18, 2023.
See what movies are in store for Fall after the jump…
Fall
September
Equalizer 3
Denzel Washington and Anton Fuqua, the duo behind classics such as Training Day and The Equalizer, return for the third installment of The Equalizer series.
In this outing Washington and Fuqua a joined by Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastrandea, Remo Girone, Sonia Ammar, Daniele Perrone, and Andrea Scarduzio.
The plot is being kept under wraps, however, the filming locations reveal that master CIA agent, Robert McCall is taking his talents to Italy in this outing.
The Equalizer 3 opens September 3, 2023.
November
Dune: Part Two
Dennis Villeneuve returns to the director’s chair for the second installment of the reboot to the 1980’s cult classic Dune.
This outing explores the continuing journey of Paul Atreides who is united with Chani and the Fremen. He seeks revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe. He endeavors to prevent a terrible future that apparently only he can predict.
Virtually the entire all-star cast from the first outing return, including Timothy Chalamet, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, and Javier Bardem. And even more heavyweight talent such as Austin Butler, Florence Paugh, Christopher Walken and Leya Seydoux join the cast in this outing.
Dune: Part Two is scheduled to be released on November 3, 2023.
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