The Best and Most Highly Anticipated Movies of Summer 2023
Catch me indoors alllll season long.
Hot weather, swimming, amusement parks, and movies—it’s summer, bb. I know what you’re thinking: what do movies have to do with summer? Well, it is the season of the blockbuster, ever since Steven Spielberg released Jaws back in the ‘80s. You know a good movie is coming when spring ends. E.T., Jurassic Park, The Lion King?? All were released in the summer, which explains why they ranked as the top-earning films ever.
And unlike other years, I’d say summer 2023 has a good mix of films. The most anticipated one, of course, is Barbie. Long before Mattel announced plans for a film adaptation, Gen Z and Millennials were making memes and TikToks of the early aughts Barbie films. Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper? Iconic. But even if you’re not a Barbie gal (the only suitable answer for being anti-Barbie is pro-Bratz, TYVM), there are other summer hits you’ll be interested in, including the long-awaited The Little Mermaid. Idc what the haters say, but Halle Bailey was born to play that role. Go argue with your mom on FB if you disagree.
Outside of these two childhood nostalgia films, this summer's blockbusters include some superhero action flicks, can't-breathe-because-you’re-laughing-too-much comedies, and a few sweet-hearted romances in between. Below, here are the 12 best summer movies of 2023. Happy watching.
Love Again (May 5)
Priyanka Chopra Jonas stars in this rom-com with Outlander star Sam Heughan about a widow who accidentally finds a second chance at love. Celine Dion also stars, which if I’m gonna be honest, is the reason why I’m watching.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3 (May 5)
I’m gonna miss this ragtag group of antiheroes superheroes. In their final adventure, The Guardians have to fight against Rocket’s past and the loss of Gamora while trying to stay together (oh, and alive) in the process.
BlackBerry (May 12)
Youngsters don’t know there was an original smartphone—the precursor to the iPhone, the start of modern-day cell technology. (Re)introducing: the BlackBerry. This biopic goes back to the early aughts and tells the story of the rise and eventual downfall of the once-iconic smartphone.
The Little Mermaid (May 26)
Disney is all about live action these days—Cinderella, Magnificent, and now, the 1989 classic. Here’s hoping that Disney filmmakers kept most of the source material. After the so-so Mulan and The Lion King, I’m a little bit weary, but I WILL show up for Halle Bailey regardless.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2)
I’m counting down the days, because I am so stoked for this long-awaited sequel to the 2018 film, Into the Spider-Verse. In this new adventure, Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy team up (again) to fight an unknown threat in the multiverse. Prepare for more intros to new Spider-People including Spider-Woman, Spider-Man India, and Spider-Punk.
Elemental (June 16)
Pixar’s latest creation is a story about elemental residents who live in their designated cities (fire people in fire cities, water folks in water cities, and so on). Our main characters are Ember and Wade, fire and water elementals, who are literally the opposite of each other but have much more in common than they once thought.
No Hard Feelings (June 23)
Jennifer Lawrence is back, baby. Okay, technically she officially returned to Hollywood with Don’t Look Up, but you get my point. This coming-of-age sex comedy features a broke Uber driver named Maddie (played by J-Law) who accepts an unusual Craigslist posting. Her employers are parents who want her to help their nonsexual teenage son with his dating life.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June 30)
Harrison Ford is returning for the final installment of the Indiana Jones franchise. Plot details have been kept tightly under wraps but we do know Phoebe-Waller Bridge is starring as Ford’s god-daughter. And the pair looks to be in lots of trouble if the trailer is any indication.
Joy Ride (July 7)
This dark comedy is a high-energy road trip story about a group of Asian-American friends traveling across China to help one character find her birth mother. Prepare for laughter, a couple of tears, and a few smiles.
Barbie (July 21)
It’s Barbie. Nothin’ else to say here.
They Cloned Tyrone (July 21)
Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris, and John Boyega star in this science fiction comedy blockbuster. The trio stumbles upon a nefarious government conspiracy and inadvertently becomes detectives to solve it.
Oppenheimer (July 21)
Christopher Nolan returns to direct another science fiction film. Oppenheimer is a biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist, who is considered the father of the atomic bomb.
Mel Curry (she/her) is the current assistant editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers everything from lifestyle to politics. You can often find her watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta or discovering local coffee roasters. Before joining Cosmo, she was an editorial assistant at Hearst Magazines, writing for Women’s Health, Elle, and more. Follow her on Instagram and the bird app aka Twitter.
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