A new year brings a whole new slate of movies to be excited about. As studios finally start catching up after the impacts of COVID, we should be in for new spectacles, fun, heartbreak and joy.
Here are 10 of the movies I’m most excited about this year:
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
I was never a Dungeons & Dragons kid growing up, so I’m coming to this as an outsider with no expectations of fidelity or references to the source material. But that first trailer just looks so fun, how could you not be excited for this? The cast looks incredible, and its directed by the team behind the brilliant and underrated Game Night, so I’m hoping for a fun night at the movies with this one.
In theaters March 31
- How Do You Live?
Hayao Miyazaki has created his own brand of movies that are immediately identifiable, and his Studio Ghibli has produced some of the greatest animated movies of all time, including My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away. Miyazaki is coming out of retirement to make what could be his last film with How Do You Live? There’s always an abundance of beauty and heart – often with a touch of sadness and melancholy – in Miyazaki’s films, so I expect nothing less from this movie as well.
- Scream VI
The Scream franchise has quickly become one of my favorites – each entry is fun, surprising, and finds new ways to subvert and provide commentary on the horror and slasher genres. Scream VI will be the first entry to take the story outside of Woodboro and to New York City, which I’m sure will give a fresh look and vibe to this franchise. Scream is definitely a great entry point for people who don’t like horror movies, so I definitely suggest you give them a try!
In theaters March 10
- Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan is still one of the few directors who can get people to the theater based on name recognition alone. A Nolan movie will always bring spectacle and a complex storytelling that general audiences can typically follow. They will be big and loud, and often see time manipulated in unique ways. Oppenheimer will tell the story of the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II and the man behind it. It’s an interesting topic for Nolan to tackle, but I’m always excited to see what he does, from favorites like Inception and Interstellar to ones that didn’t quite connect with me, like Tenet, so I know this will be an experience not to miss.
In theaters July 21
- Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
The MCU has struggled to regain its footing post-Endgame and needs to find some cohesion to point us toward the end goal that is racing toward us in Secret Wars. But the Guardians of the Galaxy movies have never disappointed me, so Vol. 3 is sure to be full of laughs and heart. Still the greatest surprise to come out of the MCU, the Guardians are a true family. Director James Gunn and the cast have already discussed a finality to the Guardians’ story in Vol. 3, so it has the potential to be one of the most emotional MCU films to date.
In theaters May 5
- Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part 1
The Mission: Impossible franchise has indeed done the impossible – continuing to get better with each new film (post-Mission: Impossible II). The most recent instillation, 2018’s Fallout, is one of the best action movies of all time. Tom Cruise has never been more dedicated to trying the most insane stunts on camera (that will almost certainly get him killed one day), but I for one can’t wait to see what he tries next. And following the success of Top Gun: Maverick, I have no doubt audiences will be ready to see Cruise on another whirlwind adventure once again.
In theaters July 14
- Dune: Part 2
I’d argue that 2021’s Dune had the best sci-fi/fantasy worldbuilding and design since Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was truly an epic in its scale and storytelling. It’s hard not to just stare with your mouth hanging open at the majesty of it all. Part 2 will cover the second half of the 1960s novel, and though I don’t know what will happen or where the story will go, I will be on the ride, excited to see what this universe has to offer.
In theaters November 3
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a jolt of energy to animated movies, shocking the world. It was revolutionary with its animation style, humor, action and heart, and breathed new life into the idea of who Spider-Man is and could be by introducing us to Miles Morales. Across the Spider-Verse seems like it’s going to take even bigger swings in its concepts and storytelling, opening up the multiverse even further. The bar is set so high for this sequel, but I have faith it can meet and surpass our expectations. And I’m excited to see how it does that.
In theaters June 2
- Asteroid City
I know next to nothing about this movie, but I am officially a card-carrying member of the Wes Anderson fan club, so I’m in. It’s set in a desert town in the 1950s, which will be a new, Western vibe for Anderson. Every single one of Wes Anderson’s movies is a visual feast and he’s gotten even more stylized in his most recent films, so I cannot wait to see what he comes up with here. I love when directors have a group of actors that show up in many of their movies, and Wes Anderson is one of the greats with that: regulars like Jeff Goldblum, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, and Adrien Brody will return for Asteroid City. And some exciting new faces will appear in their first Anderson movie, like Tom Hanks, Steve Carell, Scarlett Johansson, and Margot Robbie. Give it to me now.
In theaters June 16
- Barbie
Never in my life would I think I’d be this excited about a Barbie movie, but I mean, come on! Just look at that trailer! This looks truly unhinged and I cannot wait to see how it all works. Greta Gerwig has made two absolute bangers with her two previous films, Little Women and Lady Bird, so I have full confidence this will be a sight to behold. And that cast? Margot Robbie, my guy Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Ncuti Gatwa, Kate McKinnon, and more! It’s going to be insane and I will be seated opening night for it all.
In theaters July 21
Movies with Mitchell 