Essential details about the approaching summer cinema season ahead
heavyburden rests on Superman's broad shoulders, but he ain't alone in this game. Marvel Studios is stepping up to the plate too, ready to bring two moviemakers to the big screen this summer - Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
After the COVID-19 pandemic and strikes took the movie industry down for the count, it's taken five long years for it to even attempt a comeback. Some critics may have complained of superhero saturation, but after several summers of lackluster offerings, it's clear they're a necessary part of the equation.
But it ain't all superheroes all the time. This summer, studios are offering a smorgasbord of movies to please every type of moviegoer, with more than 40 wide releases spread across a variety of genres.
According to director Joseph Kosinski, who worked on F1 with Brad Pitt, this summer is when all the hard work is finally going to come to fruition. "I'm very optimistic," he says.
And let's not forget about the highly anticipated summer 2023 movie lineup, which includes:
Action/Superhero:- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - Marvel's space-faring squad returns for one last dance.[2]- Fast X - The tenth film in the Fast & Furious series.[2]- The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Slated for 2025 in some sources, but unconfirmed for 2023.[3]- Thunderbolts - Similarly, listed as a 2025 summer release in other sources, with no direct 2023 confirmation.[3]
Animated/Family:- The Super Mario Bros. Movie - An animated take on the classic Nintendo franchise.[2]- Elemental - Pixar's original film about sentient elements.[2]- The Bad Guys 2 - An animated sequel, though listed for 2025 in some sources.[1]
Horror/Thriller:- Hypnotic - A psychological thriller starring Ben Affleck.[2]- Assassin Club - An action-thriller about a group of contract killers.[2]- The Toxic Avenger - A gory superhero-horror reboot, set for a later release.[1]
Drama/Romance:- Love Again - A romantic drama starring Priyanka Chopra.[2]- The Starling Girl - A coming-of-age drama.[2]- The Roses - A modern reinterpretation of The War of the Roses with Olivia Colman, though it's scheduled for 2025 in some sources.[1]
Comedy:- Book Club: The Next Chapter - A sequel starring Diane Keaton and Jane Fonda.[2]- Fool’s Paradise - A satirical comedy by Charlie Day.[2]- The Naked Gun - A reboot of the irreverent comedy franchise, starring Liam Neeson.[1]
While Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are sometimes found in 2025 reports, it's likely these dates have been moved back due to delays caused by strikes and the pandemic. Marvel only has one confirmed summer release for 2023 - Guardians Vol. 3.[2] The 2023 lineup features a mix of legacy franchises (Fast X, Indiana Jones 5) and original stories (Elemental, The Creator).[2][3]
Always double-check release dates with up-to-date sources, as Hollywood schedules are known to change frequently.
- Director Joseph Kosinski, who worked on F1 with Brad Pitt, is optimistic about this summer's movie releases, stating he believes all the hard work will finally come to fruition.
- The 2023 summer movie lineup includes Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, a highly anticipated superhero movie.
- Despite some sources reporting that Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps may be released in 2025, it's possible that these dates have been moved back due to delays caused by strikes and the pandemic.
