It has been quite the year for movies, with huge box-office hits like Barbie, The Little Mermaid, and Oppenheimer dominating the theaters. The internet has been having a lot of fun with all the new releases, including dressing up according to the movie’s theme (I’m looking at you, Barbie moviegoers). And now, with new fall 2023 movies coming soon, another hit or two may be on the way.
The hype surrounding Barbie gained the film $1.1 billion worldwide and ranked as the second highest-grossing film of 2023, according to Box Office Mojo by IMDb Pro. The site also cites the movie with the No. 1 spot as The Super Mario Bros., grossing $1.3 billion worldwide. There has been a lot of competition among the many films coming out this year, and the numbers reflect that with Oppenheimer and The Little Mermaid sitting at Nos. 6 and 7 on the box office list. Now that we’re halfway through the year, will any other 2023 movies beat these heavy-hitting films? We’ll have to wait and see.
Due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, “actors are barred from publicizing any studio projects they’ve appeared in,” according to the New York Times. As the strike continues, we’ll see more solidarity among the actors and writers in the upcoming fall film premieres, meaning that you might even miss some of the films coming out, as they might be getting less press and promotion.
Now that some of the year’s most anticipated movies have dropped, what movies should be on your radar for this fall? I’ve compiled a list in chronological order of rom-com, period pieces, sci-fi movies, and everything in between you’ll want to mark on your calendar.
Bottoms (Aug. 25)
Two unpopular best friends, PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) start a high school fight club to meet girls and lose their virginity. They find themselves in deep trouble when the most popular students begin beating each other up and blame it on self-defense.
Where to watch: Theaters
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (Aug. 25)
BFFs Stacy (Sunny Sandler) and Lydia (Samantha Lorraine) always wanted epic bat mitzvahs. However, things don’t go as planned when a popular teenage boy and middle school drama threatens their friendship and rite of passage as growing young women. The movie stars the entire Sandler family, including Adam Sandler.
Where to watch: Netflix
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (Sept. 8)
You may be familiar with the iconic rom-com from the early 2000s, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. If you’ve never seen the original, definitely check it out. The film’s third installation follows the Portokalos family as they reunite in Greece for a hilarious and heartwarming trip in memory of Toula Portokalos’ (Nia Vardalos) father.
Where to watch: Theaters
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of The Universe (Sept. 8)
Set in El Paso, Texas, in 1987, two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle Mendoza (Max Pelayo) and Dante Quintana (Reese Gonzales), explore their friendship while navigating racial and ethnic identity, sexuality, and family relationships.
Where to watch: Theaters
Sitting In Bars With Cake (Sept. 8)
Yara Shahidi and Odessa A’Zion star in this Prime Video movie about two friends who decide to start baking cakes and bringing them to different bars in Los Angeles. It’s based on the book by Audrey Shulman, and is perfect for those of you with a sweet tooth.
Where to watch: Prime Video
After Everything
The sequel to After Ever Happy and the fifth installment in the After film series follows Tessa and Hardin living separate lives after Hardin publishes his very revealing book without her knowledge. In order to make things right with Tessa and win her back, Hardin decides not to give into his demons and finally right his wrongs
Camp Hideout (Sept. 15)
A troubled teen named Noah (Ethan Drew) hides at a summer camp after barely escaping some big city thugs who nearly caught him stealing a top-secret gadget. At the summer camp, he finds unlikely friends who help him when crooked partners show up and attempt to steal back the classified item he has in his possession.
Where to watch: Theaters
Love At First Sight (Sept. 15)
On their first flight from New York to London, Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) and Oliver (Ben Hardy) fall in love with each other. When they lose each other going through customs, the possibility of seeing each other seems improbable, but the odds may be in their favor.
Where to watch: Netflix
Priscilla (Oct. 27)
Based on the teenage life of Priscilla Presley (Cailee Spaeny), this film follows Priscilla Beaulieu and her relationship with Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi). The director Sofia Coppola spotlights the nuance throughout the high-profile relationship between the rock n’ roll superstar and then-teenager Priscilla.
Where to watch: Theaters
The Marvels (Nov. 10)
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), AKA Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the authoritative Kree and taken revenge against the Supreme Intelligence. Consequently, the burden of the destabilized universe becomes her burden. Her powers become entangled with two other Marvel superheroes when her duties send her to an unordinary wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary.
Where to watch: Theaters
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Nov. 17)
In the prequel to The Hunger Games franchise, years before becoming Panem’s authoritarian president, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) winds up mentoring Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the tribute from District 12, in the Hunger Games.
Where to watch: Theaters
Wonka (Dec. 15)
Timotheé Chalamet stars as Willy Wonka in one of the year’s most anticipated performances. The film focuses on a young Willy Wonka and how he came to meet the Oompa Loompas on one of his earliest adventures, according to the IMDb website.
Where to watch: Theaters