10 Movies & TV Shows We’re Still Looking Forward To Before 2023 Ends

2023 has been an excellent year for movies and shows, and there are still several prominent releases in December. From a theatrical standpoint, 2023 saw an uptick in the domestic box office, bringing in the highest numbers of the 2020s so far. Films like Barbie and Oppenheimer shocked audiences with unprecedented financial success, and more predictable blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy 3 performed well, too. The year has also had some notable small and medium-budget movies, like Killers of the Flower Moon, Bottoms, Priscilla, and The Holdovers, offering something for everyone.

In television, 2023 saw seasons of prestige shows like Succession, The Bear, and Barry. Streaming services like Apple TV+, Disney+, and Max released blockbusters like Foundation, Ahsoka, and The Last of Us, further upping the epic scale of modern TV. Despite the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes postponing dates, it’s been an exciting year for movie and TV lovers, with more significant releases coming before the year’s end.

Related

11 Predictions For December 2023’s Box Office

Many highly-anticipated movies are premiering in December 2023, but how will each release perform at the box office to close out the year?

10 Rebel Moon

Limited theatrical release on December 15, and Netflix on December 22.

Zack Snyder has become one of Hollywood’s most famous directors in recent years, with a devoted fan base supporting the release of his extended Justice League cut. After forming a partnership to make movies for Netflix, Snyder released Army of the Dead in 2021. His upcoming film, Rebel Moon, is an original sci-fi action/adventure movie inspired by Star Wars and the classic samurai film Seven Samurai. The film is split into two feature-length parts, with the second releasing on April 19, 2024.

9 Reacher (Season 2)

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video on December 15.

Based on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, Prime Video’s Reacher was a ginormous success for the service, with its first season in 2022. Reacher season 2 returns in December to continue its faithful adaptation of one of the highest-selling modern book series. Prime Video has developed a niche for the genre with series like Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Bosch, and Reacher quickly became one of the most popular series in the thriller genre, with an apt balance of action and riveting conspiracy narrative.

8 Percy Jackson

Streaming on Disney+ on December 20.

The Disney+ adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians could be one of the year’s most popular releases, given the massive fanbase of Rick Riordan’s book series. The show seems to be fixing many failures from the Percy Jackson movies, notably casting young actors to play the main leads. The book series is a staple of 21st-century young adult literature and deserves to be adequately adapted for screen. The first two episodes will be released on December 20, and the series will run weekly until the end of January.

7 What If…? (Season 2)

Streaming on Disney+ on December 22.

Season 2 of Marvel’s What If…? is arriving as a holiday present in late December, releasing episodes daily from the 22nd through the 30th. Based on the ever-popular Marvel Cinematic Universe, What If…? prompts viewers with alternate realities based on situations from major Marvel films, showing, in animation, how slight differences could have drastically altered events. The season will be released over two years after the first, and the only known episode title is “What If… Captain Carter Fought The HYDRA Stomper?”

6 Ferrari

Releasing in theaters on December 25.

Adam Driver has become one of the most renowned, prestigious actors in recent years for his roles in films like Marriage Story and BlacKkKlansman. In December, he’ll star in the movie Ferrari, a biopic about Enzo Ferrari, the famous ex-racer turned motor vehicle entrepreneur. This role will surely put Driver in the conversation for award contention. Michael Mann, the brilliant mind behind movies like Heat and Collateral, directs the film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August, receiving a standing ovation. The film will be released only in theaters.

5 Anyone But You

Releasing in theaters on December 22.

The romantic comedy Anyone but You has had well-documented drama surrounding its production, which has been declared by stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell as marketing for the film. Sweeney, best known for her roles in the HBO shows Euphoria and The White Lotus, has become one of the most popular young stars in the world. Her co-star Glen Powell was a breakout success from 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, meaning Anyone but You will allow both to establish themselves as prominent leading film actors for years to come.

4 Wonka

Releasing in theaters on December 15.

Starring Timothée Chalamet, Wonka is an upcoming musical that will follow a young version of Willy Wonka establishing himself as the chocolate tycoon he’d later be known as. Chalamet is another prominent young actor with roles in popular movies like Dune and Call Me by Your Name, with Wonka being his first film of the year after the postponement of Dune: Part Two. First reactions to the film described Chalamet’s performance as “infinitely charming” (via Variety).

3 Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

Releasing in theaters on December 22.

The first Aquaman film was one of the best DCEU movies and one of the franchise’s most significant successes at the box office, exceeding expectations and raking in over $1 billion. Jason Momoa is a massive star, but Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may not carry the same weight as its predecessor due to the DCEU ending and being rebooted by James Gunn. The past few DC films have drastically underperformed at the box office, and behind-the-scenes drama won’t do it any favors. The film will be released in theaters in late December against some stacked competition.

2 The Iron Claw

Releasing in theaters on December 22.

A24 may not carry the same traction at the box office as other films releasing in December, but Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen-White’s star power could make The Iron Claw a hit. The film certainly looks to be an award contender as a biographical drama exploring the life of the Von Erich brothers in the world of 1980s professional wrestling. Zac Efron has been tackling prestigious film roles for years, and Allen-White has earned incredible acclaim for his lead role on Hulu’s The Bear. The pair could find themselves with some nominations if The Iron Claw holds to its early positive reviews.

1 The Crown (Season 6, Part 2)

Streaming on Netflix on December 14.

There are many reasons why The Crown season 6 part 1 has the Netflix show’s worst Rotten Tomatoes score, but the second part will look to finish the prestige drama on a high note. The first part of the season concluded with Diana Spencer’s tragic death, a story that had been weaved since season 4. The second part will finally take the series into the 21st century, following Prince William’s early days with Kate Middleton, and a resolution to the story of Queen Elizabeth that the series has explored since season 1.

Sources: Variety