10 Biggest Movies of 2023 Ranked by Box Office Earnings Potential
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Disney, Marvel, DC, and many other big-budget studio movies could collectively make billions of dollars in 2023.
2022 was a bounce-back year for the box office after historically low runs in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the pandemic, the worldwide box office totaled a record $42.5 billion. It was quite a good year for Disney, led by blockbuster movies like Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King and Frozen 2. Nine $1 billion earners were born in 2019, while 2021 had only two (top: Gunn Maverick and Jurassic World: Dominion).
Clearly, 2021 won't reach those global box office heights, but 2023 is poised for a number of massive releases to return to movie theaters again.
With the sleeping giant Avatar: The Way of Water soon to be awoken with 2022's #1 box office earning potential, it's time to look beyond the horizon.
From a talkative raccoon to an Italian plumber, here's a ranking of the top 10 films with the highest box office potential in 2023:
1.) Fast X
Release Date: May 19, 2023
Predicted Domestic Total: $320 million
International Total Prediction: $880 million
Global total predicted: $1.2 billion
The Fast and Furious franchise is known for fast cars, family and dominating the box office overseas. Despite the weak film environment, F9 grossed $726.2 million at the worldwide box office, including $553.2 million from international markets - making it one of the biggest post-Covid box office collections.
Success seems imminent when adding the facts that China is still open to releasing this franchise widely in its market, stars Jason Mamoa and Brie Larson join the cast, and this is the 10th (but not the last) Fast film.
2.) The Little Mermaid
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Domestic Total Prediction: $400 million
International Gross Prediction: $600 million
Global total predicted: $1 billion
Death, Taxes and Disney live-action remakes dominate the box office.
Four different Disney reimaginings have grossed over $1 billion at the global box office. The most recent release, The Lion King, grossed an impressive $1.66 billion worldwide in July 2019, making it the eighth highest-grossing film of all time.
Starring Halle Bailey (Grown-ish) and directed by Rob Marshall (Into the Woods), The Little Mermaid remake looks set to continue this trend of Disney's recycling scheme. A sweet story, massive fan base, and untapped musical potential give Mermaid a fighting chance at that coveted $1 billion mark.
3.) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release Date: May 5, 2023
Domestic Total Prediction: $400 million
International Total Prediction: $500 million
Global total predicted: $900 million
Marvel's biggest film of 2023 is the culmination of nine years since Guardians of the Galaxy began its journey under the guidance of writer/director James Gunn.
As we know, emotions are running high as the Guardians story comes to an end. It was also assumed that this was their last film together during the cast's production, and this became more official when James Gunn took an executive position at DC Studios, Marvel once Volume 3 was released. Jumped off the ship.
Volume 2 grossed an impressive $869.1 million in 2017, but its biggest international market (China) in recent history is unlikely to give the film a wide release. However, the anticipation will be huge as fans have waited six years for the next installment, which is potentially poised to be the highest-grossing Guardians film ever (with or without China).
4.) Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Release Date: December 25, 2023
Domestic Total Prediction: $310 million
International Total Prediction: $570 million
Global total predicted: $880 million
The Chinese box office is undeniably crucial to the success of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Not only did 2018's Aquaman gross over $1 billion globally, but nearly $300 million of that came from its release in China.
DC's most recent film, Black Adam, didn't release in that market and may ultimately be less likely to turn a profit. The Aquaman franchise however has a higher floor than the likes of The Rock's Black Adam.
After an astonishing nine-month delay, The Lost Kingdom will now release on Christmas Day 2023 (the same as Aquaman's release on December 21, 2018).
While the odds are that this film will be another commercial success for Warner Bros., recent reports suggest that the DCU may announce a full reboot soon (including Jason Mamoa as Aquaman). Could damage the short-lived success of the upcoming sequel.
5.) The Marvels
Release Date: July 28, 2023
Predicted Domestic Total: $320 million
International Total Prediction: $500 million
Global total predicted: $820 million
On paper, it could come across as a disappointment after the mind-boggling global box office total of $1.1 billion by its 2019 predecessor.
One factor in Captain Marvel's success is that it was a Marvel Studios film released less than two months before Avengers: Endgame (the biggest film of the last decade).
This time around, The Marvels will have to strike out on their own in a favorable late July slot where there isn't much competition currently scheduled for theatrical release. MCU newcomer director Nia DaCosta could play a major role in making this film fun, fresh and give fans a reason to get excited for the franchise, and Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel.
6.) The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Release Date: April 7, 2023
Domestic Total Prediction: $300
International Total Prediction: $500 million
Global total predicted: $800 million
New to the movie scene, Mario is here to save the girl, snag a star, and smash his way into the box office in a big way.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an important moment in video game movie history. Known for its box office failures and disappointing fans, recent hits like Sonic and the Hedgehog and Uncharted are helping to revitalize uncharted territory.
Among potential video game IPs, the Super Mario Bros. universe stands alone as the most iconic, universally known characters. Based on trailer reactions, fans are excited for this first quarter 2023 release, even if not everyone is buying Chris Pratt's Mario voice.
Considering that it is set to be one of the highest-grossing animated films of 2023, expect this joint production between Nintendo and animation studio Illumination to lead to sequels, spin-offs, and crossover events.
7.) Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
Release Date: February 17, 2023
Predicted Domestic Total: $320 million
International Total Prediction: $455 million
Global total predicted: $775 million
To kick off the new year, Hollywood's first blockbuster comes from none other than Marvel Studios and the triumphant return of Paul Rudd's Scott Lang/Ant-Man.
Jonathan Majors's Kong the Conqueror is leading the marketing charge, which gives this movie a great reason to be in theaters. In 2025, Earth's Mightiest Heroes return in Avengers: Kang Dynasty, which gave Ant-Man 3 a great opportunity to feel more like an "event" than just another solo movie.
Events are what draw audiences to theatres, especially since the pandemic. Look no further than Spider-Man: No Way Home, Top Gun: Maverick and social media sensation Minions: The Rise of Gru.
8.) Transformers: Rise of The Beasts
Release Date: June 9, 2023
Domestic Total Prediction: $250 million
International Total Prediction: $450 million
Global Total Prediction: $700
The Transformers franchise is hoping for a big comeback after sputtering after 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight. A film that was hated by fans, critics, and made the lowest amount of money within the franchise. 2018's Bumblebee grossed less, but was a smaller-scale solo film.
Rise of the Beasts promises to be anything but small scale. Re-introducing Optimus Prime and bringing to the big screen the Maximals for the first time, essentially animal-like Autobots.
The well-known Beast Wars story arc is being adapted in this latest iteration, giving fans something to get excited about. The two main reasons this movie is going to be a hit is that it's separating itself from its lackluster past and giving international audiences another CGI-laden Transformers movie (known for its phenomenal success overseas).
9.) Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning - Part One
Release Date: July 14, 2023
Domestic Total Prediction: $220 million
International Total Prediction: $475 million
Global total predicted: $695 million
Riding the global phenomenon, Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise looks to add another blockbuster to his résumé.
Dead Reckoning: Part 1 is the 7th Mission Impossible and will be the direct follow-up to 2018's Fallout which grossed the most globally in franchise history.
With The Marvels releasing two weeks later, Mission Impossible 7 will struggle to keep a leg up on Cruise's maverick during the historic summer 2021 stretch. Cruise is one of the most powerful actors in Hollywood, with a fierce devotion to his fans and movie theaters.
His dedication to practical effects and completing his own stuntwork earns respect among some members of the audience. Cruise will once again try and prove that not all blockbusters need to be CGI-laden comic book movies.
10.) The Flash
Release Date: June 16, 2023
Domestic Total Prediction: $210 million
International Total Prediction: $440 million
Global total predicted: $650 million
Ezra Miller's continuing misconduct and run-ins with the law may not be enough to stop this multiverse-hopping flash movie.
While DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran map out the future, The Flash promises to make some big splashes in the currently constructed DCU. Michael Keaton will make his official return as Batman, which is a major factor in why test screenings for the films have been "through the roof" with audiences.
Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne is also set to reappear, as well as newcomer Sasha Cale portrays Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl. This power-packed solo film has a lot going for it, but the PR issues surrounding its star (Miller) may have some people electing not to support this highly anticipated DCU film.
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