Haute List: 25 most anticipated international films of 2023

It seems that this year we are no short of action films with our favourite superheroes gearing up for new adventures. Then there is some spine-tingling horror films coupled with some rom-coms to unwind after a stressful day. From Spiderman to Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible, 2023 is the year where we definitely have gotten our hands full with exciting releases all over the year.

Here are 25 international films that you can add to your watch list this year.

1. Knock at the Cabin 

Release Date: 3rd February, 2023

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Knock at the Cabin in the story of a family who is taken hostage by four armed strangers while vacationing at a remote cabin in the woods. They are given a choice to avert the apocalypse. Scared, confused, and threatened, the family must take irreversible decisions. The film stars Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, and Rupert Grint.

2. Magic Mike’s Last Dance

Release Date: 10th February, 2023

Follow up of Magic Mike XXL, Magic Mike’s Last Dance follows Mike Lane’s (Channing Tatum) journey to London to fulfill a request for a wealthy woman (played by Salma Hayek) where he discovers her ulterior motives. With everything on the line, he soon finds himself trying to put together a team of talented dancers.

3. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

Release Date: 17th February, 2023

It may have been delayed a year, but Paul Rudd & Co. are back for round three of this delightful franchise, which promises some exciting casting: namely, Jonathan Majors as supervillain Kang the Conqueror and Bill Murray as… something.

4. Creed III

Release Date: 3rd March, 2023

Marking the directorial debut of Michael B. Jordan, Creed III is the third installment of the spin-off Creed franchise. Written by Keenan Coogler, Zach Baylin, and Ryan Coogler, Creed III is the story of Adonis Creed who lives an ideal life. Things change for him when his childhood friend Damian resurfaces after serving time in prison and this results in a face-off between the two friends who battle to settle score.

5. Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Release Date: 17th March, 2023

Directed by David F. Sandberg, the film is the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word “Shazam” is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam. The narration continues as Billy and other foster kids manage to juggle their teenage lives with their superhero alter egos when a trio of ancient gods arrive on Earth in search of a magic stolen from them years back. 

6. John Wick: Chapter 4

Release Date: 24th March, 2023

Starring Keanu Reeves as the legendary hit man John Wick and directed by Chad Stahelski, the film John Wick: Chapter 4 continues with how John Wick strives to fight the players of the underworld from all around the globe and John finds a way to defeat The High Table Global as his friends turn into foes.

7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3

Release Date: 5th May, 2023

Based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy is the third series in the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel. The film is written and directed by James Gunn and features Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Kle, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Elizabeth Debicki among others. The story will narrate how Guardians embark on a mission to defend the universe and protect Rocket.

8. Fast X

Release Date: 19th May, 2023

Fast X is the 11th full-length film in the Fast & Furious franchise which will star Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) as his crew seeks help in their fight against Cipher (Theron) when she recruits Dante (Momoa), a mysterious new adversary. The film is directed by Louis Leterrier and is written by Justin Lin and Dan Mazeau.

9. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Release Date: 2nd June, 2023

Across the Spider-Verse is the first of a two-part follow-up to the award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The plot revolves around Miles Morales who catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. Soon, the heroes find themselves clashing on how to deal with a new threat in which Miles discover his strengths as a hero.

10. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Release Date: 9th June, 2023

The upcoming science fiction film is the seventh installment in the Transformers film series. It is directed by Steven Caple Jr., has a screenplay by Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, and Jon Hoeber. The film will star Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Valez, and Tobe Nwigwe. The film will center around three factions of the Transformers race tied to Earth’s past, with the setting being in 1994 Brooklyn, New York City, and in parts of Peru such as Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Tarapoto, San Martin.

11. No Hard Feelings

Release Date: 23rd June, 2023

No Hard Feelings is an upcoming rom-com. Jennifer Lawrence is set to star in it as well as produce the film. She will be playing the protagonist in the film who answers a Craigslist ad that was placed by a mother for someone to date her son (Andrew Barth Feldman) before he enters college.

12. The Flash

Release Date: 23rd June, 2023

A DC Studios production, The Flash follows the story of the character of the same name who travels through time to prevent the murder of his father, but as a result causes changes that result in the creation of the multiverse. The film stars Ezra Miller, Ron Livingston, Michel Keaton, Kiersey Clemons, Michael Shannon, Antje Traue, Sasha Calle and Ben Affleck.

13. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Release Date: 30th June, 2023

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote the script with Jez Butterworth, and John-Henry Butterworth. The film stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, along with John Rhys-Davies, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, and others. The plot of the film presently remains under wraps.

14. Insidious: Fear the Dark

Release Date: 7th July, 2023

Directed by Patrick Wilson, fifth installment of the infamous horror film Insidious is to be released this summer. Insidious: Fear the Dark is going to follow the story of Josh Lambert and his son Dalton. After Josh drops his son off at school, Dalton is haunted by the demons of his past disrupting the life of both the father and son.

15. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Release Date: 14th July, 2023

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is Tom Cruise’s upcoming film and the seventh installment in the Mission Impossible series. The film is directed by Christopher McQuarrie and in addition to Tom Cruise, it stars Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, Shea Whigham, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, and others. The plot of the film has currently not been disclosed.

16. Roosevelt

Release Date: 14th July, 2023

Directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Schott Bloom, the film is a biographical drama about President Theodore Roosevelt, who is reportedly to be played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

17. Barbie

Release Date: 20th July, 2023

Starring Hollywood’s favourites Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and Helen Mirren, the new Barbie film will narrate the story of a less than perfect-looking doll who is expelled from ‘Barbieland’. Barbie now tries to find true happiness in the human world. The film is directed by Greta Gerwig.

18.  Oppenheimer

Release Date: 21st July, 2023

Oppenheimer is the story of American physicist J Robert Oppenheimer who works with a team of scientists during the Manhattan Project, leading to the development of the atomic bomb. The film is written and directed by Christopher Nolan.

19. The Marvels

Release Date: 28th July, 2023

Sequel to the 2019 film, Captain Marvel and the continuition of Disney+ series Ms. Marvel,  The Marvels features Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau. The film is going to the be directed by Nia DaCosta.

20. The Nun 2

Release Date: 8th September, 2023

The Nun 2 is an upcoming American gothic supernatural horror film directed by Michael Chaves and written by Akela Cooper, Ian Goldberg, and Richard Naing. It is the sequel to The Nun and is the ninth installment in The Conjuring Universe franchise.

21. The Exorcist

Release Date: 13th October, 2023

Another horror film that makes it to this year’s list is The Exorcist. The supernatural horror film is sequel to the 1973 film about a 12-year-old girl who is possessed by a mysterious demonic entity, forcing her mother to seek the help of two priests to save her. It stars Leslie Odom Jr., Ellen Burstyn, and Ann Dowd.

Release Date: 17th November, 2023

25. Aquaman and the lost Kingdom

Release Date: 25th December, 2023

Another DC film on the list for all the DC fans, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the 15th and the last film in DC Extended Universe and would expand on Aquaman‘s worldbuilding. It will continue from when Aquaman forges an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally in a bid to save Atlantis and the rest of the planet. The film is directed by James Wan from a screenplay written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick.

Which upcoming movie makes it to your watch list this year?