Summer movie season 2023 is finally here, and it’s time to get ready for some of the best films releasing this year. From the start of May until the end of Labor Day, theaters across the country will be showcasing some of the most highly-anticipated movies of the year.
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Whether you’re a fan of action, comedy, horror, or drama, there’s something for everyone. With so many fantastic films set to hit the big screen, it can be hard to decide which ones to see. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the must-see movies of summer 2023 that are sure to get you excited. So, grab your popcorn and let’s dive into the dope ass lineup of films that we hope you support in the box offices (and on streamers).
Love to Love You, Donna Summers | May 20
“Love to Love You, Donna Summer” captures a richly complex picture of the woman, the artist, the wife, and mother whose iconic voice changed music forever. An archive of exclusive, previously unseen film, home video, photographs, artwork, personal audio, and other recordings form the film’s vibrant exploration of the life and career of one of the most extraordinary performers ever to shake a room to its timbers.
Director: Roger Ross Williams, Brooklyn Sudano
Where to Watch: HBO Max
The Little Mermaid | May 26
The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, Ariel is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Longing to find out more about the world beyond the sea, Ariel visits the surface and falls for the dashing Prince Eric. Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land.
Director: Rob Marshall
Writer: David Magee
Cast: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy
Where to Watch: In theaters
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | Jun 2
After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. However, when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders. He must soon redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.
Director: Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers
Writer: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller & David Callaham
Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Daniel Kaluuya, and Oscar Isaac
Where to Watch: In theaters
Flamin’ Hot | June 9
Richard Montanez, the son of a Mexican immigrant, was a janitor at Frito Lay when he came up with the idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. His creation, inspired by the flavors of his community, revitalizes Frito-Lay and disrupts the food industry.
Director: Eva Longoria
Writer: Lewis Colick, Linda Yvette Chávez
Cast: Jesse Garcia, Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert, Tony Shalhoub
Where to Watch: Hulu
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | Jun 9
In the year 1994, a pair of archaeologists from Brooklyn come into an ancient conflict through a globe-trotting adventure with the Autobots that ties in with three factions of the Transformers race: the Maximals, the Predacons and the Terrorcons. Which then later signals the arrival of the coming darkness in the form of Unicron.
Director: Steven Caple Jr.
Writer: Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber
Cast: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Liza Koshy, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Pete Davidson, Colman Domingo, Cristo Fernández, Tongayi Chirisa, Peter Cullen, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov
Where to Watch: Theaters
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster | Jun 9
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster explores the idea that death is a disease that can be cured, through the story of Vicaria, a brilliant teenager who embarks on a dangerous journey to bring her murdered brother back to life.
Director: Bomani J. Story
Writer: Bomani J. Story
Cast: Laya DeLeon Hayes, Denzel Whitaker, Chad L. Coleman, Reilly Brooke Stith, and Keith Holliday.
Where to Watch: In theaters/VOD
The Blackening | Jun 16
The Blackening centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherf****** game. The Blackening skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?
Director: Tim Story
Writer: Tracy Oliver & Dewayne Perkins
Cast: Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, with Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji
Where to Watch: In theaters
Elemental | Jun 16
Set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic elements of nature, the story follows fire element Ember Lumen (Leah Lewis) and water element Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie), who meet and fall in love after Wade is summoned by a plumbing accident at a convenience store owned by Ember’s bigoted father Bernie (Ronnie del Carmen). While they cannot touch each other, Ember and Wade discover how much they actually have in common.
Director: Peter Sohn
Writer: John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, Brenda Hsueh, Peter Sohn
Cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Catherine O’Hara, Mason Wertheimer, Joe Pera, Matt Yang King
Where to Watch: Theaters
Surrounded | Jun 20
The film tells the story of freedwoman and former Buffalo Soldier, Moses “Mo” Washington, as she travels west to lay claim to a gold mine that she and her community have toiled for years to acquire.
Director: Anthony Mandler
Writer: Andrew Pagana, Justin Thomas
Cast: Letitia Wright, Jamie Bell, Jeffrey Donovan, Brett Gelman, and the late Michael K. Williams
Where to Watch: VOD
The Perfect Find | Jun 23
Forty-year-old Jenna Jones makes a career change into the world of beauty journalism. She runs into problems when she realizes that her frenemy Darcy is her boss, and she soon starts a relationship with Darcy’s son, Eric, the company’s videographer.
Director: Numa Perrier
Writer: Leigh Davenport
Cast: Gabrielle Union, Gina Torres, Keith Powers, La La Anthony, Aisha Hinds, Janet Hubert, Latoia Fitzgerald
Where to Watch: Netflix
Earth Mama | Jul 7
Gia is a young mother fighting for her children. Her son and daughter are in foster care, and now her unborn child could also be taken away. Struggling to work enough hours with court-mandated classes, she’s barely making ends meet. Gia loves her children unconditionally, but how will she give them the future they deserve?”
Director: Savanah Leaf
Writer:
Cast: Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Keta Price, Doechii, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Bokeem Woodbine, Dominic Fike
Where to Watch: N/A
Asteroid City | Jun 16/23
In 1955, students and parents from across the country gather for scholarly competition, rest, recreation, comedy, drama, and romance at a Junior Stargazer convention held in a fictional American desert town.
Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Steve Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan, Jeff Goldblum
Where to Watch:limited theatrical release on June 16, 2023, before expanding to a wide release on June 23, 2023.
God is a Bullet | Jun 23/Jul 11
Inspired by true events and based on the best-selling novel “God Is A Bullet” written by Boston Teran, the film follows detective Bob Hightower (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), who finds his ex-wife murdered and his daughter kidnapped by an insidious cult. Bob takes matters into his own hands and infiltrates the secretive cult to try to save his daughter. With the help of the cult’s only female victim escapee, Case Hardin (Maika Monroe), Bob and Case go down the rabbit hole with The Ferryman (Jamie Foxx) to save his daughter and find closure for Case from the cult – and its maniacal leader (Glusman) – that took so much away from her.
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Writer: Nick Cassavetes
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Nikolaj-Coster-Waldau, Maika monroe, Glusman
Where to Watch: In theaters
Indiana Jones 5: The Dial of Destiny | Jun 30
In 1969, American archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones lives against the backdrop of the Space Race. Jones is uneasy over the fact that the U.S. government has recruited former Nazis to help beat the Soviet Union in the competition to make it to space. His goddaughter, Helena Shaw, accompanies him on his journey. Meanwhile, Jürgen Voller, a NASA member and ex-Nazi involved with the moon-landing program, wishes to make the world into a better place as he sees fit.
Director: James Mangold
Writer: James Mangold, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and David Koepp
Cast: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, Mads Mikkelsen
Where to Watch: In theaters
Joy Ride | Jul 7
Childhood best friends Audrey and Lolo, accompanied by Audrey’s former roommate Kat and Lolo’s cousin Deadeye, set out on a journey across China to find Audrey’s birth mother.
Director: Adele Lim
Writers: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao
Cast: Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Sabrina Wu
Where to Watch:In theaters
Insidious: The Red Door | Jul 7
In Insidious: The Red Door, the horror franchise’s original cast returns for the final chapter of the Lambert family’s terrifying saga. To put their demons to rest once and for all, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and a college-aged Dalton (Ty Simpkins) must go deeper into The Further than ever before, facing their family’s dark past and a host of new and more horrifying terrors that lurk behind the red door.
Director: Patrick Wilson
Writer: Scott Teems (story by Leigh Whannell)
Cast: Patrick Wilson, Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne, Andrew Astor, Sinclair Daniel, Hiam Abbass
Where to Watch: In theaters
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning | Jul 12
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team embark on their dangerous mission to track down a terrifying nuclear weapon that threatens humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious and a powerful nemesis named Gabriel, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Writer: Christopher McQuarrie
Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Mariela Garriga, Henry Czerny, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Frederick Schmidt, Rob Delaney, Cary Elwes, Indira Varma, Mark Gatiss
Where to Watch: In theaters
They Cloned Tyrone | Ju1 21
A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper.
Director: Juel Taylor
Writer: Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier
Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx, Kiefer Sutherland, J. Alphonse Nicholson
Where to Watch: Netflix
Barbie | Jul 21
After being expelled from Barbieland for being a less-than-perfect doll, Barbie sets off to the real world to find true happiness.
Director: Greta Gerwig
Writers: Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach
Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Sharon Rooney, Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan, Ana Cruz Kayne, Ritu Arya, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa, Connor Swindells, Michael Cera, Helen Mirren, Jamie Demetriou, Emerald Fennell, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Rhea Perlman, John Cena, Ariana Greenblatt, Marisa Abela
Where to Watch:
Oppenhemier | Jul 23
Physicist J Robert Oppenheimer works with a team of scientists during the Manhattan Project, leading to the development of the atomic bomb.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, Michael Angarano, Josh Hartnett, Kenneth Branagh
Where to Watch: In theaters
Haunted Mansion | Jul 28
“Haunted Mansion” follows Dr. Emily Johnson and her son Ethan as they move into the enigmatic Haunted Mansion in New Orleans. With supernatural forces at play, they seek the aid of a peculiar priest, Father William, to rid the mansion of its malevolent spirits. Assisted by a widowed scientist-turned-failed paranormal expert, Dr. Henry West, a gifted psychic named Marie LaBelle, and a knowledgeable historian, Professor Hastings, they embark on a chilling and humorous adventure.
Director: Justin Simien
Writer: Katie Dippold
Cast: Rosario Dawson, Chase Dillon, Owen Wilson, LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto
Where to Watch: In Theaters
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem | Aug 4
After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.
Director: Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears
Writer: Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Characters Created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman
Cast: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cantu, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Brady Noon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph
Where to Watch: In theaters
Back on the Strip | Aug 18
After losing the woman of his dreams, Merlin moves to Las Vegas to pursue work as a magician, only to get hired as the frontman in a revival of the notorious Black male stripper crew, the Chocolate Chips. Led by Luther — now broke and broken — the old, domesticated, out-of-shape Chips put aside former conflicts and reunite to save the hotel they used to perform in while helping Merlin win back his girl.
Director: Chris Spencer
Writer: Chris Spencer
Cast: Wesley Snipes, Tiffany Haddish, and Spence Moore II, JB Smoove, Faizon Love, Bill Bellamy, Gary Owen, Piper Curda, and Raigan Harris
Where to Watch: In theaters
Strays | Aug 18
When a Border Terrier named Reggie (Will Ferrell) is abandoned on the streets by his selfish and ruthless owner Doug (Will Forte), an animal-hating drug addict who never wanted him, he teams up with other strays including a Boston Terrier named Bug (Jamie Foxx), an Australian Shepherd named Maggie (Isla Fisher), and a therapy Great Dane named Hunter (Randall Park) to get revenge on Doug.
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Writer: Dan Perrault
Cast: Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Will Forte, Isla Fisher, Randall Park, Josh Gad, Harvey Guillén, Rob Riggle, Brett Gelman, Jamie Demetriou, Sofia Vergara
Where to Watch: Theaters
The Equalizer 3 | September 1
Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall finds solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Now living in Southern Italy, he soon discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall becomes their protector by taking on the mafia.
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Richard Wenk
Cast: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, David Denman, Sonia Ammar, Remo Girone
Where to Watch: In theaters
Brother | NO DATE
The film revolves around Francis and Michael, played by Pierre and Johnson, who are the sons of Caribbean immigrants growing up in Toronto’s early hip hop scene of the 90s. A mystery unfolds during the sweltering summer of 1991, and escalating tensions set off a series of events that change the course of the brothers’ lives forever. ‘Brother’ crafts a timely story about the profound bond between siblings, the resilience of community and the irrepressible power of music.
Director: Clement Virgo
Writer: Clement Virgo
Cast: Lamar Johnson, Aaron Pierre, Marsha Stephanie Blake, and Kiana Madeira
Where to Watch: TBA
Already Released
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 | May 5
Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. If the mission is not completely successful, it could possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
Director: James Gunn
Writer: James Gunn
Cast: Chris Pratt,Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Linda Cardellini, Nathan Fillion, Sylvester Stallone
Where to Watch: In theaters
Cinnamon | Summer 2023
A struggling small-town gas station attendant, Jodi is an aspiring and truly gifted singer. Frustrated and stuck in a dead-end job with her dreams slipping away, Jodi meets a young hustler who quickly becomes her fiercely devoted boyfriend, Eddie. Desperate for a new life and eager to jumpstart Jodi’s singing career, they decide to commit a crime together, but their plan quickly goes sideways. Thinking they have made it through the worst of it, Jodi and Eddie have unknowingly unleashed a spiraling chain of events that quickly makes them the target of a ruthless family run crime organization, with Jodi’s boss Wally at the center. Mama and her son James will stop at nothing to find out what went wrong. As James begins to uncover the truth, no one is safe and secrets begin to be revealed leading to a deadly showdown where Jodi and Eddie must answer for their crime.
Director: Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr.
Writer: Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr.
Cast: Damon Wayans, Hailey Kilgore, David Iacono, Jeremie Harris, Pam Grier
Where to Watch: Tubi
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