80. “Rebel Ridge”
A high-velocity thriller from filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier (“Green Room”) exploring systemic American injustices through bone-breaking action sequences, suspense, and dark humor, “Rebel Ridge” was all set to be one of the biggest movies of 2022. And then trouble struck. Lead actor John Boyega split under controversial circumstances (diva sounding, but his team denied it), but the show went on. Aaron Pierre (“The Underground Railroad”) replaced him, and the cast now features Don Johnson, James Badge Dale, James Cromwell, AnnaSophia, and Robb Emory Cohen. After Boyega dropped out, filming resumed in early 2022.
Release Date: TBD via Netflix.
79. “Ghosted”
Originally supposed to be a Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson vehicle, the open slot in the romantic action-adventure film “Ghosted,” directed by Dexter Fletcher was eventually filled by Ana de Armas which isn’t too shabby. Written by “Deadpool” screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, the plot is under wraps, but it also features Adrien Brody, Mike Moh, Amy Sedaris, Tim Blake Nelson, Tate Donovan, and feels like it’ll probably be a big deal for Apple TV+ later in the year.
Release Date: TBD, via
78. “Shirley”
Coming off his gripping and tragic Apple TV+ mini-series “Five Days at Memorial,” writer/director John Ridley returns to the big screen for “Shirley,” which follows the biopic film about Shirley Chisholm, America’s first Black congresswoman. Regina King stars alongside Lance Reddick, W. Earl Brown, Terrence Howard, André Holland, Amirah Vann, Lucas Hedges, and many more.
Release Date: TBD, but it’s Netflix and in post.
77. “The Royal Hotel”
Already a celebrated documentarian, Aussie filmmaker Kitty Green landed on the narrative map really hard with her 2019 debut “The Assistant” about the world related to Harvey Weinstein and his company. She reteams with its lead, Julia Garner for a social thriller about two friends backpacking in Australia. Their adventure takes a strange and dark turn when they take a temporary live-in job behind the bar of a pub in a remote Outback mining town. Jessica Henwick, Hugo Weaving, Toby Wallace co-star.
Release Date: TBD, but NEON acquired rights last year.
76. “Hypnotic”
Coming off “The Book Of Boba Fett,” Robert Rodriguez returns to original filmmaking with the action thriller “Hypnotic.” Ben Affleck stars as a detective who, while investigating a string of impossible high-end heists, becomes entangled in a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program. William Fichtner, Jeff Fahey and Alice Braga co-star.
Release Date: TBD, but it is in post-production.
75. “The Interpreter” and/or “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre”
Guy Ritchie potentially has two films coming in 2023. Spy action comedy ‘Operation Fortune’ with Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone, and Hugh Grant is definitely arriving in January. But there’s also the slightly more interesting “The Interpreter” action thriller with Jake Gyllenhaal that’s already deep in post-production and maybe could arrive by year’s end?
Release Date: January 12 via STX for ‘Operation Fortune’ and TBD for “The Interpreter.”
74. “Sharper”
There are a lot of reasons to anticipate the comedy thriller film “Sharper,” with a cast that includes Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, Briana Middleton, and John Lithgow. But the film jumps up a tick on the list because it is directed by Benjamin Caron, who did some outstanding work on “Andor,” including the symphonic and crescendoing finale. Set in the world of Manhattan’s billionaire echelon, it’ll be deeply relevant, that’s for sure.
Release Date: Feb 10 via A24 and Feb 17 via Apple TV+.
73. “The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
Director James Gunn says goodbye to the Marvel Universe with one final kick at the ‘Guardians’ can. All the usual suspects return Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff, with a couple of new ones, including Chukwudi Iwuji, Maria Bakalova, and Will Poulter as the Cosmic Magical hero Adam Warlock. This one promises some tearful goodbyes.
Release Date: May 5, 2023, via Disney.
72. “Road House”
A “Road House” remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Doug Liman (“Edge of Tomorrow,” “American Made”) was not on our 2023 bingo card or are card from any year, frankly, but it’s happening with the lead character now upgraded to ex-UFC fighter. Daniela Melchior and Billy Magnussen co-star, and Joel Silver produce the film, as he did with the original.
Release Date: TBD via MGM and Amazon Studios.
71. “Peter Pan & Wendy”
Perhaps modeling himself after Steven Spielberg’s “one for them, one for me” filmmaking mentality, David Lowery follows up his boldly unique adaptation of “The Green Knight” with a new spin on “Peter Pan & Wendy.” Starring Jude Law as Captain Hook, Alexander Molony as Peter, Ever Anderson as Wendy, and Jim Gaffigan as Smee, Lowery has already proven his family film chops with “Pete’s Dragon,” and we’re excited for him to whoosh us off to Neverland.
Release Date: TBD via Disney – AB
