The Most Anticipated Action Films of 2023

By Emily Lemon On Jan 30, 2023

john wick indiana jones mission impossible

Lionsgate; Disney; Paramount

We love superhero movies. Whether we’re waiting for the next Marvel or DC movie, there’s a plethora of upcoming releases about super-powered beings defeating evil and for a lot of moviegoers, superhero movies scratch their itch for intense fight scenes, suspenseful heists, and adrenaline-spiking chase scenes.

Classic action movies, however, are still worth paying attention to. Much like superhero movies, there are long-running franchises still going strong like Mission Impossible, which are significant enough big-screen events that they can convince even the most devoted at-home streamers to come out to theaters. Just look at Top Gun: Maverick, which 36 years after the original, still managed to bring in a sizable crowd and get a nomination for Best Picture (among others). Who knows, one of the upcoming action titles for 2023 could also turn out to be a Best Picture contender.

There’s an exciting array of action films coming out this year, starring stellar actors like Adam Driver, Keanu Reeves, and Chris Pine. With 11 titles (so far) on our list this year, there’s just about one movie for every month of the year. That’s a solid lineup for any action movie fan–and a doable addition to the daunting watchlist of superhero movie fans. So whether you’re eager to see more of your favorite action franchises like Fast and the Furious or John Wick, or looking to expand your taste outside of the MCU and DCEU, we’ve got a list of notable upcoming action releases for 2023 you’ll want to keep checking throughout the year for the most up to date information.

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Adam Driver stars in this sci-fi action film about a pilot who crashes and discovers he’s landed on Earth…65 million years before our present day. To get back to the correct time, he has to traverse the dangerous terrain (and probably fight dinosaurs) to survive.

This film is set to premiere on March 17, 2023.

Keanu Reeves returns as the nearly invincible assassin John Wick in this fourth installment of the popular action franchise. Wick finds a path to defeating the High Table, but has to face off against both new enemies and old to get there. Also worth noting: a spin-off film, Ballerina, could also release in 2023. So there’s a chance we see that movie’s star, Ana de Armas, for a brief cameo.

This film is set to premiere on March 24, 2023.

3

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

For a lighter action film, check out Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Hugh Grant, and more, the adventure-comedy is based on the famous tabletop game Dungeons and Dragons and follows a group of thieves who find themselves becoming heroes against an evil foe. This movie comes from the guys behind the underrated and very funny Game Night, so we’re feeling pretty confident.

This film is set to premiere on March 31, 2023.

The next installment in the high-speed, family-oriented car franchise starring Vin Diesel, Fast X is one of the major action releases coming out in 2023. No word yet if there’ll be room for spin-off opportunities, but the film could be the beginning of the last of Dom Toretto—the series is supposedly wrapping up with Fast XI.

This film is set to premiere on May 19, 2023.

5

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

The seventh film in the other “cars” action franchise will star Anthony Ramos as a Brooklyn-based ex-military electronics expert who comes into contact with three factions of Transformers, including the Autobots. Peter Cullen is set to return as Optimus Prime alongside Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, and Pete Davidson.

This film is set to premiere on June 9, 2023.

6

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Harrison Ford is set to return in the long-awaited fifth movie in the Indiana Jones franchise. In the upcoming film, the famed adventurer and archaeologist deals with Nazis in the midst of the ’60s space race. The film is set to be Ford’s last appearance as Jones.

This film is set to premiere on June 30, 2023.

7

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One

Tom Cruise returns in Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, the seventh film in the action series. Much like Top Gun: Maverick, you can expect Cruise to pull out all the stops and do his own stunts, so Dead Reckoning is sure to be worth the wait. It’ll be tough to follow up 2018’s Fallout, a high watermark in the MI franchise. But we can’t wait to see him try.

This film is set to premiere on July 14, 2023.

Sports and video game fans will enjoy this coming-of-age film based on a true story about a Gran Turismo video game player who dreamed of becoming a race car driver (and actually did it). David Harbour and See star Archie Madekwe star in the film.

This film is set to premiere on August 11, 2023.

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune premiered to critical acclaim and garnered Oscar nominations. His much awaited sequel, Dune: Part Two, will see much of the first film’s cast return (including Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya), while adding in new roles played by Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Austin Butler. The film will cover the second half of Frank Herbert’s famous novel Dune.

This film is set to premiere on November 3, 2023.

10

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Although the last Hunger Games movie premiered in 2015, a spin-off is set to premiere this year starring Tom Blyth, Hunter Schafer, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, and others. Don’t expect Jennifer Lawrence to make a cameo, as the new film is supposed to be a prequel to the original trilogy.

This film is set to premiere on November 17, 2023.

Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans star alongside Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Liu, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and JK Simmons as Santa Claus (!!!) among others in this potential franchise. It’s slated for a holiday release through Amazon Prime Video and for now, the plot is being kept under wraps.

This movie is set to premiere sometime in late 2023.

Milan Polk
Milan Polk is an Editorial Assistant for Men’s Health who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle reporting, and has worked for New York Magazine’s Vulture and Chicago Tribune.

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This article was originally posted here.

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