Every Movie Franchise To End In 2023 (Confirmed And Rumored)

Six franchises, including Indiana Jones and Guardians of the Galaxy, return in 2023 for what could well be their last film.

2023 could be the year that several major movie franchises come to an end, including franchises like Magic Mike and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Franchises continue to dominate the box office, with all 10 of the top 10 grossing films of 2022 going into larger franchises, including Top Gun: Maverick and multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe films such as In the Multiverse of Madness. Doctor Strange and Thor: Love and Thunder. While these franchises and others like The Fast and the Furious are poised to continue, studios can't profit from each franchise forever.

While the year does have several blockbuster releases tied to existing IP, it's missing several ongoing film franchises starting in 2022 that will return in 2023. While moviegoers continue to cling to box office success for franchise films, Hollywood studios have come under renewed pressure to abandon their IP obsession in favor of more original productions. While there's no sign of the movie franchise train slowing down anytime soon, several notable franchises are expected to wrap up. Here are six movie franchises confirmed or rumored to end in 2023.

Indiana Jones

So far it It has not been officially stated that Indiana Jones 5 will be the last film in the Indiana Jones franchise. However, when Indiana Jones 5 hits theaters, the series' star Harrison Ford will be 80 years old. Lucasfilm's outgoing president Kathleen Kennedy has previously said that without Ford, the studio would not have made the franchise, suggesting Indiana Jones 5 would be the franchise's final film. Whether Kennedy's eventual replacement at Lucasfilm will stick to her commitment to Harrison Ford and the franchise remains to be seen, but the most likely outcome is that Indiana Jones will end in 2023.

Magic Mike

Nearly 8 years after the release of Magic Mike XXL, Channing Tatum will return in 2023 as Magic Mike's Last Encore with Magic Mike's Last Dance. Eternals star Salma Hayek will join the cast, replacing Thandiwe Newton, who originally played an unheralded role in the third and final film of the Magic Mike trilogy , but had to quit. While the film's trailer revealed few plot details for the finale, fans are excited for the return of original Magic Mike director Steven Soderbergh. The Warner Bros. update confirms that Magic Mike's Last Dance will be released globally on February 8, 2023 and exclusively in North America on February 10, 2023.

Legally Blonde

Originally scheduled for summer 2022 release, Reese Witherspoon's return as the iconic Elle Woods in Legally Blonde 3 has been pushed back to a projected 2023 release. So far, no new official Legally Blonde 3 release date has been given. However, a 2023 premiere makes sense, considering that 2023 will be the 20th anniversary of Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde.

A third film in the Legally Blonde franchise has been in development since Reese Witherspoon began talks to return in 2018. Back in 2020, it was announced that comedian Mindy Kaling and Parks and Recreation writer Dan Goor would serve as writers. Considering how long it took Legally Blonde 3 to start filming, a sequel is unlikely, meaning 2023 could mark the end of the classic comedy franchise.

The Expendables

The Expendables, an ensemble-led action series that began in 2010 as a nod to the blockbuster franchise of the 1980s and 90s, is returning for a fourth installment, and likely The final installment will be released in 2023. Most of The Expendables 4's main cast is returning, including Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Kudrow, and Sylvester Stallone, who dropped out before deciding to rejoin the film . New cast members including "50 Cent" Curtis Jackson, Megan Fox and "The Godfather III" star Andy Garcia will also join the latest film in the Expendables franchise. After The Expendables 3 underperformed commercially, there's uncertainty about a fourth film, but nearly a decade later Stallone confirmed the series will make its final appearance in 2023.

The Meg

Jason Statham's other action franchise is getting a 2023 sequel, likely the last for The Meg 2: The Trench. The first film in the shark-themed horror franchise, 2018's The Meg, was a surprise box office success, grossing more than $530 million worldwide despite mixed reviews, The budget is $178 million. The Meg 2 promises an even crazier big action movie than the first, and is scheduled for release on August 4, 2023. The film has been in development since shortly after The Meg hit theaters in the fall of 2018. Given the gap between the two The release of the first film and The Meg 2: The Trench's release date and the changing viewing habits of audiences is unlikely to repeat the stunning success of the first Meg film, which will be the last.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled for release on May 5, 2023, and will likely end the MCU's Guardians of the Galaxy era. Director James Gunn is now leading the DCU and has said that Guardians 3 will end his storyline with the character, and Gamora actress Zoe Saldana has publicly admitted that if she no longer plays the character, she " won't be frustrated." All of these indicate volumes. 3 will be the final installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy series before the characters split off and join other teams in the MCU.

2023 may be the end of the six-movie franchise, but fans of the big franchise will be looking forward to other major sequels like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantum Fever, Tenet 3, and more. Still, it's going to be bittersweet to see these outgoing movie franchises make it to the final roster. on the big screen. Hopefully the studios will do their stories justice in the final installments.