The year 2022 had an outstanding movie year, but 2023 will blow it away and give it a run for its money. As for July and August 2023, the movies are already being released and are slated to be released, which has already amazed their fans. Greta Gerwig’s touching yet satirical film ‘Barbie’ (starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling) broke several records at the box office (released on July 21) and received rave reviews. Margot Robbie wowed audiences with her impressive acting abilities in the blockbuster hit.
Barbie continues to set the Hollywood world on fire and break all the anticipation for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which was released on the same day, July 21. Moreover, 2023 might be remembered as one of the best film years of all time, with Marvel, DC, and Warner Bros. movies coming out throughout the year.
Barbie Is On Track To Reach $1 Billion Globally
It appears Warner Bros. ‘Barbie’ has a good shot at hitting the billion mark worldwide this Sunday, if not Monday. According to reports, In the United States and Canada alone, Barbie has grossed $394.6M, and in other territories, $429.3M for a worldwide total of $823.9M. Barbie was labelled as a “record-breaking” box office success during its opening weekend, breaking any previous record for a film that was not a sequel, remake, or superhero film. Barbie and Oppenheimer‘s release will still affect August’s box office, but several new films will also be released with hopes of becoming financial successes.
Since August marks the end of summer, it has never been a big month for movie theatres. The lack of competition has led to studios putting in slightly riskier projects in theatres in hopes of occasionally catching audiences’ attention. Several upcoming movies will attempt to compete on their own against remaining July 2023 box office hits, while others will have IP burdens to deliver significant box office results to maintain their respective franchise. Here are five films you should look forward to in August 2023:
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Jeff Rowe’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the box office’s first significant release of August 2023. An impressive voice cast and outstanding animation have led to exceptional reviews for the animated reboot. Additionally, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies have a decent track record at the box office, which could help the new film. Whatever you think of the countless Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle reboots over the years, the franchise continues to thrive, and this latest instalment stands out.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, it has received enthusiastic reviews from critics and audiences alike. So far, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have helped usher in this highly stylized animated comedy that focuses a bit more on the “teenage” and “mutant” aspects of the comic.
Per reports, Box Office Pro projects a five-day opening weekend of nearly $50 million for TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, while around $27M-$36M is expected during the traditional three-day weekend. It seems reasonable to expect TMNT to earn about $140 million domestically and $350 million worldwide overall because the reviews are so positive and the characters are so popular. It would rank slightly behind Michael Bay’s first live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, but it would be an improvement over its sequel. There is still a high level of pink fever among Barbie’s fans, however.
Release Date: August 3 (Available in theaters near you)
2. MEG 2: The Trench (2023)
Warner Bros. hopes ‘Meg 2: The Trench‘ will be the August 2023 box office surprise, releasing today. According to reports, the original Jason Statham 2018 movie ‘The Meg’ made $45M domestically and $530M worldwide in its opening weekend. For this reason, Warner Bros. reportedly decided to move forward with a sequel and increased the budget to approximately $150 million. Meg 2: The Trench aims to keep the franchise alive and complete the trilogy by repeating the unexpected success. However, recent reviews haven’t lived up to fans’ expectations, as the movie received surprising ratings from critics.
Despite the increased number of megalodons featured in Meg 2, it is expected to attract audiences less. According to the official trailer, many creatures will confront Statham and his team, including three Megs and a giant squid. In terms of box office projections, Box Office Pro projects $22M-$27M for the first weekend. The box office for Meg 2 will finish below $100M domestically, and international audiences could push the worldwide total over $300M if everything goes according to plan. Nevertheless, Meg 2 is appearing failing Barbie‘s charm at the box office.
Release Date: August 4 (Available in theaters near you)
Release Date: August 4
3. Gran Turismo (2023)
With Gran Turismo‘s release in August 2023, Sony Pictures hopes to continue its success with video game movies. Lead actor Jann Mardenborough playing Archie Madekwe goes from being a gamer to become a professional racer in this movie based on the popular PlayStation racing series. According to early reactions, director Neill Blomkamp has created a thrilling racing film starring famous actors David Harbour and Orlando Bloom. The SAG-AFTRA Hollywood strike has changed Gran Turismo‘s release plan, but its box office potential has not changed.
According to the official synopsis, a video game player wins Nissan-sponsored video game competitions that enable them to become real-life race car drivers. Gran Turismo is most likely profitable when it reaches $200M worldwide at the box office. To achieve this, the movie must open above early projections and use good word of mouth from early fan screenings leading up to August 25th to raise interest. International audiences could help make up the difference and help make the movie a hit.
Release Date: August 10
4. The Last Voyage Of The Demeter (2023)
The Last Voyage of the Demeter is the first time there’s been anything quite like when it comes to movies based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. However, André Øvredal’s film is not expected to take a massive chunk out of the domestic box office. Universal’s new horror movie features a recognisable story based on Dracula, but audiences seem unaware that it is coming out. Adapted by André Øvredal (Trollhunter, The Autopsy of Jane Doe), Demeter tells the story of the ship’s crew carrying Dracula’s body that is terrorised by the legendary bloodsucker in a chapter from the novel. This month’s list inspired enough excitement because it’s a fresh take on an old story.
According to reports, for its opening weekend, The Last Voyage of the Demeter is projected to make between $5M and $10M. This clouds the film’s financial prospects, creating a $20M domestic total even more challenging. André Øvredal’s horror film stars Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, David Dastmalchian, Javier Botet, Woody Norman, and Liam Cunningham.
Release Date: August 11
5. Blue Beetle (2023)
Among the DC projects seemingly untouched by the restructuring is ‘Blue Beetle,’ the first Latinx-led superhero film in the DC universe. According to reports, Teen Titan fans can breathe easier since the decision was made to move the movie to the big screen instead of HBO, which had been initially intended as a limited release. Therefore, it would be favorable for Xolo Mariduea’s Jaime Reyes, who plays the Blue Beetle.
Blue Beetle, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, and apart from lead actor Xolo Mariduea stars Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Raoul Trujillo, and Susan Sarandon. The film is filmed in Spanish language with English subtitles. The film follows Mexican teenager Jaime Reye (Xolo Mariduea), finding superpower armor after discovering an alien beetle. The project is currently shrouded in secrecy, but you will surely be pleasantly surprised by its plot and the performance of its outstanding cast.
Release Date: August 18
Heart of Stone (2023) – Netflix (OTT Release)
Gal Gadot, the Israeli actress famous for playing Wonder Woman, is set to win her fans’ hearts with her upcoming movie Heart Of Stone, distributed by Netflix (OTT release). With this forthcoming spy action thriller, Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt will debut in Hollywood. As reported, the streamer released a new set of character posters highlighting the upcoming film’s diverse cast and promotion of the film is on top notch.
As the trailer suggests, Gal Gadot, as Rachel Stone leads a triple life in Netflix’s Heart of Stone. She hacks systems for MI6 but stays out of the field by day. She’s also an agent for the Charter, an organization that keeps peace in turbulent times. To accomplish this, the Charter relies on the Heart, a compelling artificial intelligence capable of “crashing a market or dropping a plane.” Alia Bhatt’s mysterious hacker seizes control of the system, but that’s terrible news.
Aside from Gal Gadot and Alia Bhatt, director Tom Harper’s Heart of Stone also stars Jamie Dornan, Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighöfer, Jing Lusi, Paul Ready, Jon Kortajarena, and Archie Madekwe.
Release Date: August 11
Also Read: Denis Villeneuve’s Sci-fi Epic Dune: Part Two Could Be Delayed Until 2024 Due To Hollywood Strikes
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
