Top Movie Releases 2023: What Films to Look Out for This Holiday Season

Christmas is up in full swing for cinemagoers and movie aficionados.

It seems like the entertainment industry can’t catch a break this time of the year and so can’t we- in our efforts to gush about how well done of a job cinema has done recently.

Let’s be honest here, movies are a welcome break from the usual hubbub of real life. They effectively send us down a rabbit hole of jaw-dropping cinematics paired with brilliant storytelling. And the best of us get to enjoy this with a bucket of popcorn to munch on and a copious amount of drinks stacked and ready to be refilled as the plotline creeps closer to a well-deserved crescendo.

With the 2024 Oscars slated to begin in March of next year, producers are cramming their best efforts onto the big screen in the hopes of bagging accolades aplenty. Provided there are still a good, chunky three months left before the stage is set, we have an assorted collection of movies ready for you to gorge on.

Whether you’re into family films, a biopic enthusiast, or just want the action and gore to drench your screen in gleeful chaos, we’re positive our bag of goodies has something to make your eyes sparkle.

So, without further ado, let’s rummage through our inventory!

Napoleon

Release date: (November 22, 2023)

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby

Director Ridley Scott, the name behind critically acclaimed titles such as Gladiator and the Alien franchise, is back at it again with another timeless classic. This time he sharpened his saw by bringing to light the adventures of a young, swashbuckling Napoleon.

For those of you who don’t know, Napoleon (played by the incredibly talented Joaquin Phoenix) was initially a French general who operated in the 1700s and, through his antics as a strategist as well as a leader, rose to the status of Emperor of France in the early 1800s.

The trailer for Napoleon leaves no stone unturned in portraying a France that is rife with cannon fire, clashes of sabers, smoke, and chants of Liberté, Egalité, and Fraternité.

Napoleon will serve as a historical epic and, provided it does well in cinemas, will cement Scott as one of the most controversial yet intelligent characters in the film industry.

For those of you who’d prefer to watch the movie while staying within the comfort of your home, Napoleon is available to stream on HBO Max and Apple TV. Catch history narrated from the French perspective by signing up for a TV service that encloses all these channels within a delightful selection of deals.

Wish

Release date: (November 22, 2023)

Starring: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk

Walt Disney Pictures spews forth another film for its 100th anniversary!

Wish is an animated musical comedy that revolves around the story of a mutinous teenage girl (Ariana DeBose) and her adventures to exact justice against a wicked ruler (Chris Pine), who also happens to be a sorcerer, of a magical kingdom.

Using his powers for all the wrong reasons, the despotic sorcerer holds the ability to grant and deny wishes however he deems fit. The ungranted wishes are returned to the people of the kingdom, putting them in a state of misery and sorrow.

This system does not sit well with Asha who, with the help of an upbeat, talking, anthropomorphic wishing star, sets out on a perilous journey to put an end to the sorcerer’s apparent spree of self-righteousness.

Wish is currently up in theatres but will soon be making its way over to Disney+ (obviously) and Netflix. Keep tabs on where it ends up once it’s done with the big screen!

Maestro

Release date: (November 22, 2023)

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Josh Hamilton, Scott Ellis

It’s uncommon to see a biopic so impeccably detailed be shown through the efforts of the co-director who also happens to be the main lead in the film. Bradley Cooper does both in stunning fashion.

Maestro is the story of an artistic innovator, named Leonard Bernstein, who defies generational norms to prove his love for both music and his eventual wife, Carey Mulligan (Felicia Montealegre).

The film is an ode to classic cinematography with Technicolor scenes set in the 60s and 70s, offering their vibrant allure to the overall vibe of the movie’s setting.

Ever since the success of “A Star is Born”, Cooper has pushed his limits to deliver content that has resonated highly with his audience. Even so, the prosthetic nose he dons in this movie miiight be a bit much.

For the sake of appreciating its production, we would recommend watching it at least once in theatres before it makes its eventual transition to Netflix. But if you absolutely cannot find it feasible to make it to a cinema near you, then consider meeting the prerequisite of equipping an internet service that’ll bring you the title’s beauty, all in glorious HD, right to your home screen. Via streaming capabilities of course.

Wonka

Release date: (December 15, 2023)

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins

We’re all familiar with Roald Dahl’s epic blockbuster, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. To this day, children and adults alike enjoy the fictional world Dahl created for his audience to enjoy what the inside of a factory producing the world’s finest chocolate would look like.

Fifty-two years after the release of the first film, Wonka will be gracing our theatres as a prequel, starring a young Willy Wonka portrayed by Timothee Chalamet.

The skinny of it is that Wonka, as a young boy, has big dreams of owning a sweets store but he has his hopes dashed when a local candy cartel trashes his efforts.

However, all is not lost as Willy finds himself a peculiar friend in the form of a prickly Oompa Loompa.

The film follows the duo as they meld their minds together to devise strategies on how to open up a sweets factory. We’ll have to watch the movie to find out more but it’s obvious that this prequel is riding upon a lot of hype already.

The Boys in the Boat

Release date: (December 25, 2023)

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner, Hadley Robinson

Coming out smack in the middle of Christmas Day, we have The Boys in the Boat.

Directed by Mr. Nippy Batman, George Clooney himself, the film depicts the true story of a crew of young underdogs as they represent America at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

Joel Edgerton takes on the role of head coach of the University of Washington’s rowing team and puts all his efforts into grilling and training the young band of boys.

The movie is slated to be an emotional rocker as Clooney has made strides to keep its story as authentic as it can be- drawing from the crew members’ memoirs and personal diaries embodying the nine working class boys’ shared dream to win gold for their country.

Although there is no official word on the availability of the sports drama on streaming services, you could expect it to eventually be dropping on MGM Plus and Prime Video.

Wrapping Up

Well folks, that’s a wrap on all five titles we’re twiddling our thumbs for. Rest assured, there‘ll be at least one facet to each movie that will blow you away. Take our word for it and treat yourself to some damn good cinema before the year comes to an end.