The Super Mario Bros. Movie is taking the lead in the 2023 box office hits, with expectations of more blockbusters to come. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the movie industry has seen a steady increase in the number of films surpassing the $100 million mark at the U.S. box office. In 2021, there were 14 such films, while in 2022, the number rose to 18. The question now arises: how many feature films released in 2023 will become box office behemoths?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie has set the tone for the year by breaking domestic records during its release over the Easter weekend. However, there are several other highly anticipated movies on the horizon that have the potential to make 2023 one of the most lucrative years in recent memory. Titles such as Dune: Part 2 and The Marvels are generating significant buzz and are expected to draw massive crowds to theaters.
Let’s take a closer look at the 2023 box office hits that have already surpassed the $100 million mark. The list includes:
1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Based on Nintendo’s popular video game franchise, this animated film features an all-star voice cast, including Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black.
2. Barbie’s Mid-Life Crisis: Margot Robbie stars as Barbie, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, takes a tongue-in-cheek approach and features an ensemble cast.
3. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2: The sequel to the Oscar-winning animated film brings back Shameik Moore as the voice of Miles Morales and introduces a group of diverse Spider-People from different dimensions.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: The final installment in James Gunn’s trilogy for the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings back the quirky intergalactic superheroes for one last fight, with a particular focus on Bradley Cooper’s Rocket.
5. The Little Mermaid: Rob Marshall’s live-action adaptation of Disney’s classic animated film stars Halle Bailey as Ariel and has received tremendous response from audiences, earning over $118 million during its Memorial Day weekend release.
6. Oppenheimer: Christopher Nolan’s biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the creator of the atomic bomb, has garnered attention and contributed to a successful box office weekend alongside Barbie.
7. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: The third installment of the Paul Rudd-Evangeline Lilly series introduces a new supervillain, Kang the Conqueror, and expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s exploration of time travel and the multiverse.
8. John Wick 4: Keanu Reeves returns as the deadly assassin in the fourth installment of the action-packed franchise. Director Chad Stahelski continues to deliver intense and gripping sequences.
9. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: Harrison Ford reprises his role as the iconic archeologist in the fifth and final installment of the Indiana Jones franchise. Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen join the cast, with James Mangold taking over as director.
10. Sound of Freedom: Jim Caviezel stars as Tim Ballard, a real-life ex-government operative who rescues children from sex traffickers in Colombia. The film utilizes a unique marketing strategy to raise awareness about the cause.
These are just a few of the standout films that have achieved box office success so far in 2023. Additionally, upcoming releases such as Transformers: Beast Wars, Creed III, and Mission: Impossible 7 are highly anticipated and expected to make a significant impact at the box office.
In conclusion, 2023 is shaping up to be a promising year for the movie industry, with The Super Mario Bros. Movie leading the way. With a lineup of highly anticipated films on the horizon, it’s possible that this year will set new records for box office success. As always, movie enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the release of these anticipated blockbusters, ready to be entertained by the magic of the big screen.
