6 big-screen sensations to look forward to in 2023

When the Covid-19 lockdowns were imposed, one dearly missed activity was going to the cinema with friends and family.

While we have more access to at-home movie watching than ever before, nothing beats the big-screen experience.

Now the world has opened up again, you could already be filling your boots with the latest blockbusters, thrillers and indie movies that are hitting the screens.

If you’re excited to fill up on popcorn and dive into the big-screen experience in 2023, here are six film releases to look forward to as the new year approaches.

1. Roosevelt

From world-renowned director Martin Scorsese comes the much-anticipated Theodore Roosevelt biopic, starring Hollywood legend Leonardo DiCaprio.

This star-director duo has achieved massive success in the past, working together on a total of eight pictures, including thriller Shutter Island and dark comedy The Wolf of Wall Street.

Now, they’ve taken on the story of America’s 26th president, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, who served in the White House between 1901 and 1909. Roosevelt was known for being a historian, expanding presidential and federal powers in the US, and for mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese war between 1904 and 1905.

Although no release date has been announced, viewers can expect to see Roosevelt in cinemas in the autumn of 2023.

2. Wish

The Disney corporation turns 100 in 2023, so we can all expect big things from this titan of industry in the coming year.

One film already receiving industry buzz is Wish, the story of a 17-year old girl navigating the fantastical “world of wishes” alongside her trusted companion, a goat named Valentino.

Starring Ariana DeBose, who received critical acclaim for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, Wish is bound to be a great addition to the Disney canon.

If you love visiting the cinema with your children or grandchildren, Wish could be the ideal family trip out when it hits the big screen in 2023.

Disney will also release its heavily anticipated remake of its classic, The Little Mermaid, next year – so there’s plenty of family friendly viewing to be done in the months ahead!

3. Dune: Part Two

Following the magnificent success of Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 release, Dune, comes the second in this rumoured trilogy based on Frank Herbert’s cult classic novel.

In a futuristic universe, the planet of Arrakis has been colonised for its invaluable “spice”, the product that allows humans to navigate safe pathways around the galaxy. The benevolent House of Atreides is sent to repair the damage caused, only to be attacked by a rival planet – sparking the protagonist, Paul, to embed himself among the natives of Arrakis and learn their ways.

Featuring rising Hollywood stars Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya and scored by Hans Zimmer, Dune: Part Two is keenly awaited by sci-fi fans around the country, and is sure to be an unforgettable big-screen experience.

4. Oppenheimer

Another weighty biopic set to hit the big screen in 2023, Oppenheimer tells the story of the scientist most commonly known as the “father of the atomic bomb”.

Famously, theoretical physicist Oppenheimer discovered the nuclear reaction that was later used to commit atrocities in 1945 Japan – and exists as a dark threat in modern warfare to this day.

Now from writer and director Christopher Nolan comes the story of the man himself, portraying his discoveries, his interactions with the American political system, and the people who helped (and hindered) his scientific genius as the ramifications of this invention took hold.

With a star-studded cast including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and Matt Damon, Oppenheimer is bound to be a grandiose and emotional cinematic feat.

5. Indiana Jones 5

The as-yet-untitled “Indiana Jones 5” movie is set to reach UK cinemas in the latter half of 2023, adding yet another action-packed instalment to the saga.

Starring its original leading man, Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones 5 will find its protagonist up to his old tricks alongside a hefty cast of characters played by Mads Mikkelsen, Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas and Toby Jones.

Plus, Variety reports new VFX technology will “de-age” Ford for the film, giving a more realistic portrayal of Indiana Jones in his prime.

Directed by James Mangold, who has titles to his name that include Logan and Walk the Line, this multi-million dollar production is more than likely to impress audiences when it reaches the big screen.

6. The Color Purple

If you have read Alice Walker’s bestselling novel, The Color Purple, you will be excited to learn about its musical adaptation which will show in cinemas in 2023. The original musical debuted in 2005.

Starring The Little Mermaid’s Halle Bailey and Orange Is The New Black’s Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple will take viewers to America’s deep south in the early 1900s, showing the joys and struggles of African American women living in the post-slavery era.

This new adaptation is bound to be an emotional one, featuring original songs depicting the lives of Alice Walker’s vivid original characters.

The Color Purple is expected to reach UK cinemas in December 2023.