Now that we are officially past the 2022 film award season, it’s time to look ahead to 2023. This is an exercise that I did last year (but didn’t publish it) and wanted to try and do it again, this time for everyone to see. I’m going to give you the ten films that I am predicting (and also hoping) will be my top ten films of 2023. What will likely happen is that about half of these will end up being as great as I had hoped, some will just miss the cut, and one will likely miss the boat all together, but this is what makes it fun.
For reference, these were the ten films I predicted would be in my top ten of 2022 (editor’s note: I did this list in April 2022 and, at that point, I had already seen one movie that I knew would finish that high and there was another smaller, under-the-radar film that was about to come out that was already making noise).
Predicted Top Ten of 2022
Amsterdam
Big-time miss from a big-time director and a stellar cast. It ended up not even cracking my top 60.
Babylon
Another film that I had high on my list going into the year and, while it was a little audacious, it worked for me. It finished in my top ten.
The Batman
I’m cheating a little here because it had already came out by the time I put this list together but an excellent film from Matt Reeves. It finished in my top ten.
Cha Cha Real Smooth
A film I was excited to see and didn’t let me down. It finished in my top ten.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
The lone MCU entry on the list, this one did not make the cut for me. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ended up being the better of the MCU movies but it too missed the top ten.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The soon-to-be-released film I alluded to previously, this one started to make some noise in early April and it carried that momentum for nearly an entire calendar year. It finished in my top two.
The Fabelmans
There was no way I wasn’t going to enjoy this film. It was my Logey Best Picture winner.
Killers of the Flower Moon
The yet-to-be-released film from Martin Scorsese. It is currently slated for a 2023 release.
Next Goal Wins
Another film that didn’t make it’s 2022 debut and is currently scheduled to come out this September.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The third and final film that ended up getting pushed out of 2022. It will (hopefully) come out this summer.
2023 Predictions
Asteroid City
An ensemble film from great director Wes Anderson. Target release date: June 23
Barbie
If I loved Little Women, I have faith that I will love Barbie as much, if not more. Target release date: July 21
Dune: Part Two
The first film was a wonderful adventure and we have to assume that part two will be just as good, if not even better, just judging by the source material. Target release date: November 3
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Please don’t let me down, James Gunn. The entire MCU may be counting on you (ironically enough). Target release date: May 5
The Killer
An action thriller from David Fincher — need I say more? Target release date: November 10
Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese directing a film with Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, and Academy Award-winner Brendan Fraser. Hoping we don’t push this back another whole calendar year. Target release date: n/a
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning — Part One
Another impossible mission from the man that just saved the cinema. Target release date: July 14
Next Goal Wins
A soccer film from Taika Waititi that has had to get over a host of hurdles but does at least now have a release date. Target release date: September 22
Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan doesn’t have the cleanest track record but he also has very rarely let me down. This cast is loaded and it even includes Josh Peck. Hug me, brotha! Target release date: July 21
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The first one was an absolute work of art so expectations are high for this one. Will it live up to them? We’ll find out this summer. Target release date: June 2.
