Predicting the highest-grossing movies of 2023
2023 is likely to be filled with huge hits at the box office, and here are the movies that could make up the top 10 box office hits of the year.
Theaters are still bouncing back after COVID-19, but here are some of the top-grossing movies of 2023. In the two years since the pandemic closed theaters, the industry has seen success stories more frequently. 2022 has three $1 billion releases, including the impressive opening of Avatar: The Way of Water. It helped the box office bounce back sharply, taking more than $7.3 billion domestically, up from $4.4B in 2021, but still below the pre-pandemic period. Thanks to the continued rise of streaming, the number of movies showing in theaters has almost halved.
There is reason to believe audience numbers will continue to grow, as the most anticipated 2023 film lineup features several lucrative franchises. Superhero movies should once again dominate the box office thanks to new releases from Marvel and DC, while Dune, Transformers, The Hunger Games and more are also getting new installments. There are also potential box office hits waiting, like Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and Margot Robbie-led Barbie. However, not all of these films made it to the top 10 box office of the year. this is What could be the highest grossing movie of 2023.
10/10 Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
From this ranking, Transformers: Rise of the Beast is likely to be one of the highest-grossing films of 2023. The film is a prequel to Michael Bay's Transformers film and a sequel to 2018's Bumblebee. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is full of excitement thanks to the introduction of Beast Wars characters. That should help the movie regain the franchise's status as a huge performer for Paramount. The live-action Transformers films have averaged more than $800 million worldwide, and while a seventh film may not make as much, a healthy $65-700 million is enough to beat the competition.
9/10 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Harrison Ford's final appearance as Raiders of the Lost Ark should help Raiders of the Lost Ark and Wheel of Fortune become box office hits. Steven Spielberg may not have been involved as director, but the film's stellar first trailer is starting to generate more excitement. Disney should have no trouble turning the Universal Adventure series finale into one of the highest-grossing films of 2023. Raiders of the Lost Ark and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull grossed $786 million more than a decade ago, with mixed results Reply. A similar show could happen if Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Wheel of Fortune brings an exciting ending to Harrison Ford's Raiders of the Lost Ark.
8/10 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantum Fever kicks off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with huge box office potential. With Jonathan Major as Kang the Conqueror, the early February 2023 release lacks competition and is highly anticipated. The Ant-Man series has never been a blockbuster for Marvel, with the sequel taking in a whopping $622 million at the box office, but the bigger stakes and importance of the multiverse saga should boost Ant-Man 3's box office. Hitting the $700 million goal is relatively easy, and the $800 million threshold could be cleared if director Peyton Reed delivers an incredible experience.
7/10 Fast X
The main Fast and Furious franchise returns in 2023, which means Fast X should be considered one of the top-grossing films of 2023. Vin Diesel's Cars franchise has become a huge hit for Universal in recent years, as the last five films have each grossed at least $700 million worldwide. F9: Due to the pandemic, Legend of Speed did sell smaller than expected, and production issues with Fast & Furious 10 could be an issue. However The franchise has largely become critic proof at this point, which means Fast X's ability to deliver over 2 hours of ridiculous action sequences should still help the film clear $850 million.
6/10 The Little Mermaid
Disney will continue its live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid" in 2023, a new take on the classic animated musical with huge box office potential. When the studio brought in classic animated film Aladdin and other live-action adaptations of The Lion King in 2019, they both made at least $1 billion. The Little Mermaid could very well be the next lucrative Disney live-action remake. The movie needs to capitalize on Ariel's popularity and Halle Belle's incredible singing to make it happen. The entry might have had a lower bottom line if the Rob Marshall movie didn't come out, but if it did, it could have made $900 million.
5/10 The Marvels
The MCU should clean up the box office again in 2023 with Marvel. The first Captain Marvel movie, starring Brie Larson, made more than $1.1 billion in 2019 as the opening sequence to Avengers: Endgame. The sequel doesn't have the equally important Phase 5 location, but audiences have shown tremendous support for Marvel's first female-led superhero movie. Monica joins Rambeau and Ms. Marvel should increase interest in The Marvels, and possibly better reviews, too. Even with the slight dip, the MCU sequel could make between $950 million and $1 billion at the box office, making it one of the top-grossing films of 2023.
4/10 Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be the last film in the DCEU before James Gunn reboots the franchise, but it should be released with a high profile. 2018's original Aquaman grossed more than $1.1 billion, clearly establishing Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry as the top box office hit. With a sequel coming out five years later, some interest may wane with the arrival of the DCU reboot. The key to Aquaman 2's success may lie in China, where the first film made nearly $300 million. If everything works in DC's favor, and James Wan delivers yet another hit blockbuster, it shouldn't be a surprise that Aquaman 2 will make $1 billion.
3/10 Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Tom Cruise's return as Ethan Hunt could make Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning part one of the highest-grossing films of 2023. The last three installments in the Mission: Impossible series made more money than the previous installments, and that trend should continue with Mission: Impossible 7. Expect to see new stunts from Tom Cruise, and the climax he left audiences with in Top Gun: Maverick should help the 2023 sequel surpass all past franchise records. If "Mission: Impossible 7" is only half as effective as the trailer, Tom Cruise may still have a $1 billion movie on his hands.
2/10 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise should be a huge success like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is one of the safest bets to be the highest-grossing movie of 2023. The past two James Gunn-directed films have made $773 million and $863 million, respectively. However, the team's growing popularity and the long-awaited nature of the sequel should increase interest in the trilogy capper. The trailer suggests Gunn has another hit for Marvel before heading to DC, which could include Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 taking in more than $1.1 billion in 2023. ^Forget Chris Pratt's Mario voice debate online. The Super Mario Bros. movie will be the highest-grossing movie of 2023. The movie has two strong brands working in its favor. First, Nintendo managed to keep Mario as one of the game's biggest players. The most iconic video game characters of all time. His return to the big screen, and one that makes the most of the Nintendo brand, is something video game fans have been waiting for. The Super Mario Bros. movie will do just that, including everything from Rainbow Road to Donkey Kong, showing just how much fun audiences can have with it.
1/10 The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Second, the powerful animation studio Illumination is behind the Super Mario Bros. movie. After turning Despicable Me and Minions into billion-dollar franchises each, Illumination can now combine its animation style and marketing team with a mature IP. $900 million appears to be the bottom line for the movie when it hits theaters in April 2023. The ceiling for the Super Mario Bros. movie could be closer to $1.5 billion. That will likely make it the highest-grossing film of 2023, but it will also be the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
More: 'Super Mario Bros.' Made Zelda and Other Nintendo Movies Possible
