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Action movies are a broad genre of film when stereotypically you should just be waiting for something to blow up. We have the monster movie, the science fiction film, the action-thriller, the superhero movie, the gritty war film, and the explosive spy movie. In 2023, we have already had a mixed bag of action flicks, like John Wick: Chapter 4 and Meg 2: The Trench. If you are an action fan, don’t fret, some terrific-looking action movies are on the way. Here are 10 action movies you can look forward to in the coming months.
Expend4bles
The fourth movie in the star-studded The Expendables franchise, Expend4bles, will be released on September 22, 2023. The action movie has been directed by Scott Waugh, who also directed Need for Speed and Hidden Strike. Expend4bles won’t see the return of many of the stars from the previous three films, but Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Dolph Lundgren will be returning. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, and Andy Garcia have joined the franchise for the fourth film.
This entry in the action-packed Expendables franchise will see the reins handed over from Stallone’s character Barney Ross to Jason Statham’s character Lee Christmas. Stallone has confirmed that while limited, his appearance in Expend4bles will be his last. If you are in the mood for explosions, guns, and knives, Expend4bles should probably be the action movie on the top of your most anticipated list.
The Creator
A science fiction action-filled adventure, The Creator is set to release in theaters on September 29, 2023. The film depicts a war between artificial intelligence and humans, set in the future. The Creator, directed by Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Godzilla), stars John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Sturgill Simpson, and Allison Janney.
The film follows Washington’s character Joshua, who is tasked with destroying a weapon in the possession of the enemy artificial intelligence, only to find out that the weapon is artificial intelligence in the form of a child. A science fiction story involving a war directed by the same director of one of the better recent Star Wars movies is something that should get science fiction fans, and action movie fans, excited.
The Killer
If you want a tremendous high-octane action thriller, look no further than The Killer, which is set to release in theaters on October 27, 2023, and on Netflix from November 10. Directed by David Fincher (Zodiac, Fight Club, The Social Network), the film stars Michael Fassbender as the titular killer. The movie is based on a French comic book of the same name by Matz and Luc Jacamon.
Rather than give you a deep dive into what the film’s story is about, the trailer above sells the vibe of the film. But, it will follow Fassbender’s unnamed killer, a professional hitman, who fights to stay alive after coming close to his death. The Killer is more of a thriller than an action movie, but it should have plenty of action in it if it’s following the source material. As of writing, it has premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, with a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Marvels
The only remaining Marvel Cinematic Universe film coming to theaters in 2023, The Marvels looks like it’s going to be an entertaining follow-up to Carol Danvers’ first outing, Captain Marvel. Scheduled for release on November 10, 2023, the film was directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman). It will continue the plot threads of three characters from previous MCU projects, Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani).
The three characters become intertwined in The Marvels, switching places when one of them uses their powers. They will be going up against Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), a Kree warrior who has Ms. Marvel’s other bangle. Samuel L. Jackson will also be returning as Nick Fury, following his role in Secret Invasion. Most MCU movies end up being a sort of action-adventure film, and with three different superheroes with energy-based powers, The Marvels will undoubtedly be no different.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
The fifth entry in The Hunger Games franchise is set to release on November 17, 2023. Subtitled The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, this film will be a prequel to the original movies. Suzanne Collins, the author of the original trilogy of novels, also wrote the prequel novel on which this movie is based. The film has been directed by Francis Lawrence, who also directed the other entries in The Hunger Games franchise, except for the first one. The new movie tells the story of the tenth Hunger Games, following a young Coriolanus Snow, who was the primary antagonist of the Katniss Everdeen-led movies.
Tom Blyth plays Snow, and the future president of Panem is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, who is played by Rachel Zegler (West Side Story). They will be starring alongside Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Josh Andrés Rivera, Viola Davis, and Jason Schwartzman. Like the other movies in the franchise, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is sure to become an action movie once the Hunger Games begin.
Napoleon
The only war epic on the list is Napoleon, directed by Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, The Last Duel, Gladiator). Starring as the leader of the French himself, Joaquin Phoenix is playing Napoleon Bonaparte. Vanessa Kirby will be playing Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon’s wife. While the movie will depict their relationship, it will also follow Napoleon’s rise to power and his ventures in multiple major battles.
The film will also star Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Ludivine Sagnier, Matthew Needham, and Youssef Kerkour. Based on historical events, Napoleon will undoubtedly depict gritty battles from the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. So, any fan of realistic action movies should be more than up for the nearly three-hour runtime (or even the four-and-a-half-hour director’s cut).
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Did you forget there was another DC movie coming out in 2023? Despite appearing in several DC films, including this year’s The Flash, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is only the second Aquaman movie starring Jason Momoa. As of writing, DC has not released a trailer for the film, but it is currently still slated for December 20, 2023. Because we have not yet seen a trailer for the film, we don’t know much about it.
Like the first movie, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was directed by James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring, Insidious). Jason Momoa will be returning as Arthur Curry, and Amber Heard will be returning as Mera. If it’s anything like the first one, there will be plenty of well-choreographed fight scenes that should sustain any action film fan. Let’s just hope that it does actually release.
Rebel Moon
Zack Snyder’s first entry in his upcoming multimedia franchise, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, is set to release on Netflix on December 22, 2023. The film is an epic space opera akin to Star Wars, in fact, Snyder originally pitched the idea for the film to Disney as a Star Wars project, and then he reworked the idea for his own original universe for Netflix.
The films will follow a war between some rebels and an oppressive army known as the Imperium. A Child of Fire stars Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam, Michiel Huisman, Ray Fisher, Ed Skrein, Staz Nair, Doona Bae, and Anthony Hopkins. It’s rare that Zack Snyder directs a film without including some spectacularly stylized action sequences, so it’s definitely a movie to watch out for.
Wise Guys
A film that might not be on everybody’s radar is Wise Guys, which is slated to be released on February 2, 2024. Directed by Barry Levinson (Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man, Sleepers) and written by Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas, Casino), the film sees Robert De Niro play two competing organized crime bosses, Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. The film also stars Kathrine Narducci and Debra Messing, who play their wives Anna and Bobbie respectively.
Wise Guys is based on the mob bosses Genovese and Costello, and so it is a period film set in the 1950s. There will undoubtedly be a fair amount of action in the movie, which would make sense in your average gangster film. A trailer for Wise Guys has not been released, and there is always the possibility that it could be delayed, but it should make for a good crime movie once it is released.
Dune: Part Two
While originally slated for the end of 2023, Dune: Part Two was recently pushed back and it is now scheduled to be released on March 15, 2024. Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Dune, Blade Runner 2049, Arrival), the film will pick up after the events of the first film which was released in 2021. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, and Javier Bardem will be returning for the second Dune, joined by newcomers Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Christopher Walken.
Dune: Part Two will follow the events of Frank Herbert’s original novel, as we will see Paul Atreides lead the Fremen against the forces of House Harkonnen, including Butler’s vicious Feyd-Rautha. The trailer seems to promise a war, so expect as large of a science-fiction epic as big as the first film.
Although, it should be said that some of the movies on this list might end up delayed. Both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are still on strike at the time of writing and will be until they are given a fair deal. Therefore, we may not see some of these action films until the back half of 2024. Here’s to hoping that the actors and writers are paid what they deserve and that the AMPTP meets their demands sooner rather than later.
