Most Anticipated Movies Of Fall 2023

The year is already almost over, but there are still plenty of Fall 2023 movies that are highly anticipated. This year in movies has brought plenty of major releases, box office hits, financial flops, streaming phenomenons, critically praised indies, and more. Barbenheimer dominated the summer as Barbie and Oppenheimer both achieved massive success, while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse represent hugely popular franchise releases. While it might seem as though the release schedule is starting to slow down, there is no shortage of titles to create a most anticipated movies list for the rest of 2023.

The Fall 2023 movie release slate includes a great deal of exciting new films coming to theaters and streaming services over the next few months. Celebrated filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Hayao Miyazaki, David Fincher, Ridley Scott, and Emerald Fennell all hope to shake up the best movies of 2023 lists. There are also a few major blockbusters still to come that add new entries to ongoing franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Universe, Hunger Games, and more. Add in the usual mix of original movies in theaters and streaming, as well as some hopeful awards contenders, and there is a great mix of movies to be excited for.

15 The Creator – September 29

The Creator certainly belongs among the list of the most anticipated movies of 2023. The movie comes from director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and stars John David Washington (Tenet) as a soldier caught in a war between humans and a new A.I. overlord. The Creator‘s early reactions have been incredibly positive, with some calling it the best movie of the year and the best sci-fi movie of the decade. The Creator‘s cast also includes Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, and Ken Watanabe. The wait for the original sci-fi story will not last much longer thanks to its September 29, 2023 release date.

14 The Exorcist: Believer – October 6

Ellen Burstyn returns as Chris MacNeil in The Exorcist: Believer 50 years after originally playing the character in The Exorcist. The long-awaited sequel to one of the best horror movies of all time has had terrifying trailers to ramp up excitement. There is also hope that director David Gordon Green will do for The Exorcist what he did for Halloween with the critically acclaimed and financially successful 2018 sequel/reboot. The movie also features Hamilton‘s Leslie Odom Jr. and is meant to be the start of a new trilogy, so the anticipation for The Exorcist: Believer is understandable.

13 Anatomy of a Fall – October 13

Anatomy of a Fall is positioned to be one of the biggest international movies of 2023. The French courtroom thriller from director Justine Triet made its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May. The response was near universal praise for Triet’s direction and the lead performance from Sandra Hüller, which is why Anatomy of a Fall wound up winning the prestigious Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize. With a 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the limited release of the movie about five months after Cannes makes it a must-see for anyone hoping to be up to speed for the 2024 Oscars it seems.

12 Killers of the Flower Moon – October 20

The anticipation for Killers of the Flower Moon has been present ever since the movie was first announced. The epic historical crime drama from director Martin Scorsese is expected to be a major awards contender thanks to its tense tone and gripping story. Killers of the Flower Moon‘s cast features Scorsese regulars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in major roles, as well as Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, John Lithgow, Tantoo Cardinal, and more. It debuts in theaters on October 20, 2023, after already having a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Killers of the Flower Moon will later stream on Apple TV+.

11 Five Nights at Freddy’s – October 27

Following the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the video game movie genre is hoping Five Nights at Freddy’s will also deliver. Based on the video game franchise of the same name, the 2023 movie stars Josh Hutcherson as a security guard who must defend himself from the animatronic characters that come to life at night. Although it is not yet known if Five Nights at Freddy’s is the live-action video game adaptation players have been waiting for, the trailers have depicted its fun and terrifying tone well, while also bringing the game to life with great accuracy.

10 The Holdovers – October 27

The Holdovers looks to be among the most exciting movies for the rest of 2023. It hails from director Alexander Payne, who is known for his Oscar-worthy works like Sideways and The Descendants. The Holdovers follows a school teacher played by Paul Giamatti as he forms some unlikely friendships during Christmas break. Payne’s movie debuted at the Telluride Film Festival in August, where is was the runner-up for the People’s Choice Award. With a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Holdovers looks to be one of the true crowd-pleasing movies of the year featuring a potentially Oscar-worthy performance from Giamatti.

9 Fingernails – October 27

A new movie starring Oscar-nominee Jessie Buckley and Oscar-winner Riz Ahmed might not have been on everyone’s radar at the start of the year, but Fingernails certainly is now. The movie follows Buckley’s character as she begins testing the true romantic nature of her relationship with Riz Ahmed’s character. Fingernails also includes Jeremy Allan White, Annie Murphy, and Luke Wilson among its cast members. The movie had a divisive reception following its debut at Telluride, but it seems at least that Christos Nikou’s American movie debut will leave audiences talking.

8 The Killer – November 10

There is no denying the anticipation for The Killer, David Fincher’s new action thriller. It stars Michael Fassbender as a skilled hitman, and the movie’s official logline reads, “After a fateful near-miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.” The excitement for The Killer comes from it being Fincher’s first movie in three years, as well as it being earmarked as the return of Michael Fassbender, who hasn’t been in a movie in four years. The early reviews out of Venice suggest it is a perfect pairing for the director and star that will leave audiences thrilled.

7 The Marvels – November 10

The MCU is looking to end 2023 on a high note with The Marvels, the sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel. The superhero movie once again stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers and brings Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury back to the shared universe as well. With director Nia DaCosta (Candyman) aboard, The Marvels has managed to build anticipation through the promise of uniting the main trio of female superheroes. The trailers have looked fun, and the possibility of it including some massive MCU connections and setup for the future is always exciting.

6 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – November 17

The Hunger Games franchise returns with its first-ever prequel, and the hype for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes looks to remind audiences how great the franchise can be. It stars Tom Blyth as a young Coriolanus Snow as he mentors a District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) for the 10th Hunger Games, which forever changes their lives. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes looks to be incredibly faithful to the book but possibly even more thrilling. Meanwhile, its excellent cast and the return of director Francis Lawrence is why there are reasons to be excited to return to Panem.

5 Next Goal Wins – November 17

Taika Waititi’s new movie Next Goal Wins looks to be a return to form for the usually acclaimed director. Following the divisive reaction to Thor: Love and Thunder last year, there has been hope that Next Goal Wins will be the type of funny and emotional success that Waititi has delivered before with Hunt for the Wilderpeople or Jojo Rabbit. The underdog story about the American Samoa soccer team centers around Michael Fassbender’s coach character. After its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Next Goal Wins‘ comedy tone has been criticized, but there is still reason for optimism.

4 Napoleon – November 22

Ridley Scott returns with another massive movie in 2023 with Napoleon. The epic movie chronicling the life of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte stars Joaquin Phoenix as the powerful historical figure. There are no early reviews available yet, but Napoleon‘s trailers are promising in terms of the scale that Ridley Scott is capturing and the rich on-screen dynamic between Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby. It would appear that the movie could contend for a few Oscars if everything falls into place and Napoleon‘s true story proves to be more of a Gladiator than a House of Gucci in terms of Scott’s filmography upon its November release.

3 The Boy and the Heron – November 22

The Boy and the Heron is the new animated movie from Studio Ghibli and revered director Hayao Miyazaki. Thought to be Miyazaki’s last movie before the legendary storyteller retires, The Boy and the Heron finally releases in limited theaters domestically on November 22 before expanding wide on December 8. The movie follows a young boy who discovers a fantastical world with a talking heron shortly after moving to a new town. The Boy and the Heron has received universal acclaim with a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, as critics praise Miyazaki’s complex story and themes and the usual stunning Studio Ghibli animation.

2 Saltburn – November 24

Emerald Fennell is back with one of the most exciting movies of 2023’s release slate. Three years after making waves with Promising Young Woman and winning an Oscar for her script, Saltburn marks Fennell’s sophomore directorial effort. It stars recent Oscar-nominee Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Carey Mulligan, Rosamund Pike, Archie Madekwe, Richard E. Grant, and more, as Keoghan’s character spends an unforgettable summer with Elordi’s family. Saltburn‘s debut at Telluride brought very positive early reviews praising Fennell’s craft and Keoghan’s performance.

1 Leave the World Behind – December 8

Netflix’s big awards contender for 2023 could come with Leave the World Behind. The book adaptation comes from director Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) and stars Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Kevin Bacon. Leave the World Behind follows two families whose lives become intertwined during a mysterious and dangerous blackout. The sheer talent that will share the screen between Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, and Mahershala Ali is reason enough to be excited, but Leave the World Behind also marks the first movie from Sam Esmail since before Mr. Robot began, so how he elevates after the hit series should be exciting to see.