Olly Dyche on his most anticipated action movies of 2023…
2022 was phenomenal for movies, with genres like horror, animation and action thriving in one of the best years in recent memory. Movies such as Top Gun: Maverick, Everything Everywhere All At Once, RRR and Avatar: The Way of Water all earned Academy Award nominations for their excellence. Yet 2023, promises to be even better than the last, especially for action movie fans.
With iconic action franchises returning in huge ways, sequels drop pingby the bucket-load as well as a handful of new and original pieces that deserve your attention, 2023 has more than enough to keep action movie fans fully satisfied. With that in mind, here are the best action movies you should keep an eye out for this year…
10. Transformers Rise of the Beasts (June 9th)
As a sequel to the Transformers spinoff Bumblebee, Rise of the Beasts promises to take the franchise in a more primal direction, as audiences are finally getting the Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons in live action. Bumblebee told a compelling story and delivered the best writing in any Transformers movie, and its action was as equally as thrilling and explosive as Michael Bay’s movies. If the trailer for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is anything to go by, then the movie seems to double down on everything the last film delivered and more.
9. Fast X (May 19th)
By now fans of the franchise know what they are getting into. Bombastic action and exhilarating car chases with Dominic Toretto exclaiming “family” as many times as he can. With that, how could we not be excited for Fast X, especially with Brie Larson and Jason Momoa joining the cast, and talks of Gal Gadot’s Giselle somehow returning to the franchise. Fast 9 was a little disappointing, even though it did see a car flying through space, yet we still have hope that Fast X will be a full throttle thrill ride, and although we don’t have a trailer to go off as of yet, we can expect one imminently.
8. Extraction 2 (June 16th)
Some of the best modern action movies have been directed by those who previously worked as stuntmen and women. Take Chad Stahelski, the director of the John Wick movies, who previously stunted for the legendary Keanu Reeves. Similarly and more recently, Sam Hargrave, director of the first Extraction movie floored his audiences and presented a simple yet exhilarating action flick, filled with thrilling choreography and jaw dropping cinematography. With that Hargrave more than proved himself as a more than competent action director who we can’t wait to see more of. The little snippets we saw in the Netflix 2023 film preview are incredibly promising and we can’t wait to see more.
7. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (March 31st)
When it was announced that a Dungeons and Dragons movie was in the works, many were rightfully reluctant about it. However as its release date got closer and closer, and both trailers finally dropped, Dungeons & Dragons has got audiences increasingly more excited. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves boasts a spectacular cast, with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Rege-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis and Hugh Grant at the films forefront, and if the cast is anything to go by, the film is expected to be fantastic. Likewise, the trailer promises an exciting and magical story, full of extraordinary characters with unique abilities as well as exhilarating action and gut busting humor.
6. 65 (March 17th)
An Adam Driver led sci-fi action movie, produced by Sam Raimi and filled with dinosaurs, sounds like a recipe for success, and ever since the first trailer dropped, 65 has shot up people’s most anticipated movies of 2023 list. 65 combines horror and action, to deliver an epic action packed dinosaur flick that is sure to put all three Jurassic World movies to shame. Fans of dinosaurs, sci-fi, Adam Driver, Sam Raimi, action and horror are sure to have a field day with 65.
5. Dune: Part Two (November 3rd)
2021’s Dune was a spectacle to say the least. Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve proved he is a master of his art once again, who will undoubtedly exceed expectations in Dune’s follow-up. The first Dune stars an exceptional cast of which we never thought could get any better, but add Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Christopher Walken to the cast list and Dune: Part Two becomes far more exciting, and anticipated. With a cast as strong as this, helmed by director Denis Villeneuve, quickly put Dune: Part Two among the most exciting the year has to offer.
4. Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny (June 30th)
Indy is back in the fifth installment of the hit adventure series, Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, which promises to bring new life into the franchise and send Indy on a thrilling yet emotional final adventure. When it was announced Harrison Ford is returning as the titular character, fans all over the world unsurprisingly lost their minds. Sure, we can’t deny that we are terrified that Dial of Destiny will be more of a Crystal Skull than a Raiders of the Lost Ark, but with Disney taking the reins and adding the truly fantastic Phoebe Waller-Bridge to the franchise and we can expect great things.
3. Creed III (March 3rd)
Ryan Coogler and Sylvester Stallone presented a truly unforgettable boxing experience with the first Creed movie, that is just as great, if not better, than the first Rocky film. The second was a step backward, yet it still told a compelling story packed with inspiring moments. Now, lead star of the trilogy Michael B. Jordan steps up to the director’s chair in the first sports movie to be shot in IMAX. Creed III promises to conclude this incredible boxing trilogy, and adds the powerhouse Jonathan Majors to the cast which rightfully has us expecting raw and powerful performances that elevate Creed III to greatness. Michael B. Jordan is yet to prove himself as a director, however we can certainly expect his vision to be fully realized, blowing its audience away.
2. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (July 14th)
After Top Gun: Maverick, it seems as if the world is on a Tom Cruise high, and his new sequel in the hit Mission: Impossible franchise promises to give us more Tom Cruise, doing what he does best. Mission: Impossible – Fallout is undeniably one of the greatest modern action movies and with Christopher McQuarrie, the director of Fallout (and Rogue Nation) returning for this sequel, Dead Reckoning Part One should be on everyone’s 2023 watchlist. The trailer was fantastic, showing Cruise performing more death defying stunts as has become customary from both the star and the series.
1. John Wick: Chapter 4 (March 24th)
John Wick is a modern action movie masterpiece, demonstrating flawless world building and action scenes that are simply unparalleled. Every installment has doubled down on its story, characters, cast and action and the series only seems to get better and better with every installment. Now, with John Wick: Chapter 4 excitingly on the horizon, the fourth film looks to be the best and most ambitious in the franchise.
The series has seen brilliant actors make phenomenal appearances, with Halle Berry, John Leguizamo, Laurence Fishburne and Ian McShane all having a blast on screen with their respective characters. However, John Wick: Chapter 4 promises to helm the best cast yet, with martial arts extraordinaire Donnie Yen, the legendary Hiroyuki Sanada, the underrated martial artist Scott Adkins and of course the brilliant Bill Skarsgard all joining the franchise and expected to give Mr. Wick a run for his money. We truly can’t wait to see what this instalment has in store for us.
What are you most anticipated action movies of 2023? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Olly Dyche
