Sci-Fi Movies That Will Blow Everyone Away In 2023

There were some big sci-fi event movies in 2022, from Ryan Reynolds' time-tripping "The Adam Project" to David Cronenberg's nightmarish "Crimes of the Future" to the mind-bending multiverse exploration "Everything Everywhere All At Once." While the bar has indeed been raised, sci-fi fans have plenty to look forward to in 2023.

Whether it's a sequel to the long-awaited adaptation of one of the all-time great sci-fi novel series to two new space-centric additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, anticipation is already building for the hottest upcoming science fiction films of 2023 — and let's not forget a new prequel to the "Hunger Games" saga and yet another bombastic, big-budget entry into the "Transformers" franchise. And that's just the tip of the iceberg in a year's worth of cinematic offerings that also features a creepy AI robot child with homicidal tendencies, alien abduction, a top-secret sci-fi film with an A-list cast from the director of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," and a sci-fi rom-com that puts a futuristic spin on having a baby. All this and more will be coming soon to a theater (or streaming service) near you, so read on for a sneak peek at sci-fi movies that will blow everyone away in 2023.

M3GAN

Movies about lifelike robots imbued with artificial intelligence have run the gamut from whimsical (Steven Spielberg's "A.I. Artificial Intelligence") to downright terrifying (the entire "Terminator" franchise), and "M3GAN" definitely hews closer to the latter. "Girls" alum Allison Williams stars as Gemma, a top robotics engineer employed by a cutting-edge toy company who unexpectedly finds herself the sole guardian of her young niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), after the child's parents die in a car accident. Gemma, who's far too busy to be a surrogate mom, decides to kill two birds with one stone by leaving M3GAN in charge of Cady, which not only provides the kid with a robot babysitter but also allows M3GAN to absorb and synthesize the child's behavior. However, the whole experiment takes a predictably gruesome turn when M3GAN becomes a little too protective, murdering anyone perceived to be a threat to the kid's well-being.

When Warner Bros. reportedly passed on the initial pitch, figuring it was too similar to its "Annabelle" horror franchise, Universal picked it up — a wise move, considering early buzz for "M3GAN" has been through the roof. The New York Times has reported that Universal is so bullish on the film's potential for success that a sequel is already being mapped out.

Premiere: January 6, 2023

Distant

Anthony Ramos (whose credits include "A Star is Born" and Broadway's "Hamilton") stars in this sci-fi comedy as Andy Ramirez, a space miner whose job entails digging minerals out of asteroids. When an unforeseen problem with his spaceship leads him to crash land on an unfamiliar alien planet, he's forced to rely on his AI-enhanced survival suit (voiced by "Star Trek" actor Zachary Quinto). 

As his oxygen supply diminishes, he winds up making radio contact with Naomi Calloway (Naomi Scott, who played Princess Jasmine in Disney's live-action "Aladdin"), who is trapped in one of the ship's escape pods. Setting aside his safety, Andy begins searching the planet to rescue her before he runs out of oxygen while trying to evade the strange alien creatures that stalk him along the way. Also part of the cast is Kristofer Hivju of "Game of Thrones" fame, although the film's official synopsis doesn't detail how his character, Dwayne, factors into the plot.

"Distant" was initially given a release date of March 2022, which was delayed until September, and then, ultimately, early 2023.

Premiere: January 23, 2023

65

Co-directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (whose previous directorial efforts include "The Boogeyman" and "50 States of Haunt"), the upcoming film "65" features "Star Wars" alum Adam Driver in the lead role. Driver plays an astronaut on a mission that takes a disastrous turn when he crashes on an alien planet. As he explores his mysterious new surroundings, he gradually comes to realize that he's not alone. 

As the film's first trailer indicates, "65" also stars Ariana Greenblatt ("The Boss Baby: Family Business") and Chloe Coleman ("Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves"), as well as some beasts who might've roamed the Earth 65 million years ago — get it? Given that Beck and Woods previously specialized in the horror genre, it's not outside the realm of possibility to imagine that "65" will blend some frights with science fiction. 

Premiere: March 17, 2023

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

With "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" serving as a bridge between the second movie and the third (and final) one, fans of the Marvel franchise flick can expect to see a fitting end to the adventures of Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), and Groot (Vin Diesel). While plot details are under wraps (as is typical for a Marvel project), it has been revealed that Will Poulter will be playing Adam Warlock, who may or may not be a villain dubbed Magus. Also part of the action is the High Evolutionary, a godlike being and likely nemesis to the Guardians played by Chukwudi Iwuji.

While director James Gunn has said the final film in the trilogy will be the last "Guardians of the Galaxy" film, hints have emerged that it may not be the last we see of some of the films' characters. "What I can say is that, again, it's gonna be very funny but also extremely emotional. And it's gonna be, in some ways, the end of the chapter as the Guardians of the Galaxy family," teased Klementieff in an interview with the "D23 Inside Disney" podcast. "So we'll see what happens after, you know?" 

Premiere: May 5, 2023

Static Codes

Alien abduction is at the center of "Static Codes," which has been described as a sci-fi thriller with a comedic edge. The story follows Richard Wiltz (Shane Woodson), who is paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident during which his wife, Penelope (Taryn Manning of "Orange Is the New Black" fame), is abducted by aliens. Obsessed with finding her, he hosts a late-night radio show devoted to extraterrestrial phenomena and UFOs, much to the chagrin of his daughter, Angela (Augie Duke), who was also a passenger in the car at the time of the incident and wishes he'd just let it go and move on with his life. 

Everything changes one fateful night when he receives a static-filled message from Penelope on his computer screen. Soon after, his UFO website is compromised and shadowy federal agents hunt him down, presumably because his intense preoccupation has unearthed hidden information he's not supposed to possess.

Premiere: June 1, 2023

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Say what you will about the "Transformers" film franchise, but its success is reflected in the sheer number of sequels that keep getting cranked out. Coming in the summer of 2023, "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (the seventh for those who are still counting) takes Optimus Prime (voiced, as always, by Peter Cullen) back to 1994 when two archeologists make a discovery that lands them smack-dab in the middle of an ancient war between the Autobots, the Maximals, and the Terrorcons. The Maximals, led by the gorilla-like Optimus Primal (voiced by "Sons of Anarchy" alum Ron Perlman), are Transformers that, instead of transforming into sports cars, morph into exotic animals. The Terrorcons (led by Scourge, voiced by "Game of Thrones" Emmy winner Peter Dinklage) do transform into vehicles, albeit really crappy ones. Scourge, for example, becomes a Peterbilt logging truck, while fellow Terrorcon Battletrap (David Sobolov) transforms into a GMC tow truck.

There are also a few new Autobots under Optimus Prime's command, including "Saturday Night Live" alum Pete Davidson as Mirage, an Autobot spy who transforms into a sleek Porsche and can confuse foes by sending out virtual reality projections of his own image. Other new Autobots are YouTube sensation Liza Koshy (as Transformer/Ducati motorcycle named Arcee) and Mexican footballer turned actor Cristó Fernández as Wheeljack, a brainy mechanic who transforms into a groovy VW bus.

Premiere: June 9, 2023

The Marvels

"The Marvels" is a followup to 2019's "Captain Marvel," with Brie Larson reprising the role of Carol Danvers, a U.S. Air Force pilot who has an extraterrestrial encounter that transforms her into the titular Captain Marvel, one of the most powerful beings in the universe. In "The Marvels," Carol will be one of three super-powered heroes along with Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani, returning as Kamala Khan from the Disney+ "Ms. Marvel" series) and Carol's pal, Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), who received superpowers in the Disney+ series "WandaVision."  According to a trailer that debuted in September 2022 at the D23 Expo fan event, the three heroes inexplicably find themselves swapping places with each other whenever they use their powers. They embark on a mission to find out why.

In an interview with Uproxx, Larson was typically tight-lipped. "I can tell you that it's going to be really good," she said, adding, "When I read the script for the first time, I couldn't believe what I was reading. I was like, this is bonkers. And it's the thing that I love about Marvel, is that they continue to reinvent. They continue to do the thing that you just would never think would be possible in these films. And they're not afraid to go there ... And it's fun to know that, when this film comes out, people are going to be delighted."

Premiere: July 28, 2023

Roswell Delirium

This throwback sci-fi film is set in the 1980s after America is struck by a series of nuclear attacks. With fallout leaving those who survived slowly dying from radiation poisoning, a young girl named Mayday Malone (Kylee Levien) uses a series of inter-connected ham radios to contact her father, who has been orbiting the Earth on the space shuttle as part of a NASA mission. Instead of reaching her dad, Mayday receives an intergalactic distress call from deep in space that sends her on a journey to what was once known as Area 51 but has now been dubbed Spacerock. A massive problem emerges when she's exposed to massive amounts of radiation that leave her severely ill. As her organs fail, her mother offers her to the aliens who made the distress call in a last-ditch hope that they'll be able to save her.

Not only is the movie set in the 1980s, but it also boasts a cast full of familiar '80s stars, including Anthony Michael Hall (of "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" fame), "The Facts of Life" alum Lisa Whelchel, "Die Hard" and "Family Matters" actor Reggie VelJohnson, Dee Wallace of "Cujo," and "Flash Gordon" star Sam Jones.

Premiere: July 2023

True Love

Back in early 2020, Variety was the first to report that New Regency had greenlit "True Love," a new science fiction movie from Gareth Edwards, director of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." Subsequent reports revealed that "Tenet" and "BlacKkKlansman" star John David Washington had been cast in the leading role. Other casting announcements followed, with the addition of Gemma Chan ("Eternals"), "I, Tonya" Oscar-winner Allison Janney, Ken Watanabe ("Godzilla: King of the Monsters") and singer-songwriter-guitarist Sturgill Simpson — with the latter two replacing, respectively, Benedict Wong and Danny McBride, who had become unavailable due to scheduling conflicts due to the shifting production schedule.

As for what "True Love" is about, well, that's being kept tightly under wraps. Other than the fact that production took place in Thailand — predominantly in Bangkok — and wrapped up before the summer, little else is known. As for the plot, well, that's as top secret as a Marvel script hidden within inside a "Star Wars" script.

Premiere: October 6, 2023

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Based on the YA book series by Suzanne Collins, the "Hunger Games" trilogy (comprising four movies, but why quibble?) was one of the biggest film franchises of the 2010s, raking in nearly $3 billion worldwide while establishing Jennifer Lawrence as one of Hollywood's top stars. Arriving eight years after the franchise's final film, fans are practically salivating for "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes."

However, those expecting the further adventures of Katniss Everdeen may be disappointed to learn the latest "Hunger Games" installment is a prequel, not a sequel. Set decades before the previous films, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" focuses on future Pan Em tyrant Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth of Epix series "Billy the Kid") as he mentors competitors in the 10th annual Hunger Games. Other characters introduced include District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), who forms a connection with Coriolanus; Tigris Snow (Hunter Schafer), Coriolanus's cousin and chief adviser; Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage), co-creator of the Hunger Games; Lucretius "Lucky" Flickerman (Jason Schwartzman), the Hunger Games' TV host and ancestor of future TV host Caesar Flickerman, played in the earlier films by Stanley Tucci; Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis), the Hunger Games' head game maker; and Grandma'am (Fionnula Flanagan), imperious grandmother of Coriolanus.

Premiere: November 17, 2023

Dune: Part Two

While David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of "Dune" has its supporters, fans of Frank Herbert's sci-fi book series have long called for a cinematic do-over. That finally arrived in 2021, with Canadian director Denis Villeneuve assembling an A-list cast for his "Dune," headed by Timothée Chalamet as protagonist Paul Atreides along with Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgård, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling, and Josh Brolin. Given that Villeneuve opted to split the massively dense story of the first book into two movies, it's no exaggeration to point out that fans are anxiously awaiting the arrival of "Dune: Part Two."

The second "Dune" movie will follow Paul as he joins forces with the Fremen (whom he first encountered toward the end of the first film) to embark on a war of vengeance against the Empire. Meanwhile, he'll also be attempting to prevent the horrific spice-fuelled visions of the future he's been experiencing from becoming reality. While most of the cast will be returning, new additions for "Dune: Part Two" include Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot, and screen icon Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV.

Premiere: November 3, 2023

Fingernails

Greek director Christos Nikou ("Apples") makes his English-language debut with "Fingernails," described as a blend of science fiction and romance. Jessie Buckley (whose recent roles have included TV's "Fargo" and the darkly comic feature "I'm Thinking of Ending Things") stars as Anna, a woman who questions whether she really loves her husband (Jeremy Allen White of "The Bear" and "Shameless"). As it happens, she lives in a future iteration of Earth in which technology can test married couples to prove definitively whether or not they are truly in love. 

When Anna takes the test and receives a positive result, she feels there must have been a mistake, given her ambivalence about her marriage. To find out more, she lands a job as an assistant at one of the testing facilities (known as a "love institute"), working under Trevor, a testing instructor (played by Riz Ahmed, who was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in "The Sound of Metal").

The film was picked up by Apple TV+ and will be released via streaming at a yet-to-be-revealed date in 2023.

Premiere: TBA 2023

The Mothership

Originally slated for release in 2022, Netflix's "The Mothership" was pushed back to 2023 and will debut at a currently unknown date in 2023. Described in the official Netflix synopsis as a "sci-fi adventure," the film stars Oscar winner Halle Berry as Sara Morse, a woman coping with the mysterious disappearance of her husband, who vanished from their farm a year earlier. When she accidentally discovers a large and apparently otherwordly object buried beneath their home, Sarah and her children kick off a no-holds-barred mission to find him and uncover the truth behind why he suddenly vanished. 

"The Mothership" marks the directorial debut of Matthew Charman, who was nominated for an Academy Award along with Joel and Ethan Coen for co-writing the screenplay for the Steven Spielberg-directed "Bridge of Spies." While a trailer for the film hasn't yet been released, a brief snippet was unveiled in Netflix's 2022 movie preview. 

Premiere: TBA 2023

The Pod Generation

"The Pod Generation" takes place in a not-so-distant future in which AI has become an ingrained, integrated part of everyday life. New York City couple Rachel ("Game of Thrones" alum Emilia Clarke) and Alvy (Chiwetel Ejiofor, who recently dipped a toe into the sci-fi genre as the star of the Showtime series "The Man Who Fell to Earth), have decided to start a family but opt to take a non-traditional approach. As it happens, Rachel's job with tech firm Pegasus presents the opportunity to share the pregnancy experience equally by using the company's latest innovation: pregnancy pods, detachable man-made wombs that each partner can wear. Rachel is all in, but Alvy, a botanist studying what's left of fast-receding nature, and a big fan of nature in general, is uncertain. However, his love for Rachel spurs him to give it a try.

"Working with Emilia and Chiwetel as a couple on screen is a dream come true," director Sophie Barthes told Variety. "Emilia's versatility, her disarming sense of humor, and capacity to navigate complex emotions are a perfect match to Chiwetel's charisma and extraordinary screen presence," she added, explaining that the "idea of the artificial womb as either doom or liberation for women is inherently comedic material."

Premiere: TBA 2023

Hello Stranger

Jordana Brewster stars in this futuristic sci-fi thriller as Faye, who is mourning the recent death of her husband, Evan (Robbie Amell). She replaces him with an identical android simulant (aka. a SIM). While SIM Evan appears completely human and is identical to her late husband in every way, she soon realizes she doesn't feel the same love for the artificial version. Disheartened, SIM Evan pulls out all the stops to try to win her over. However, a major complication arises when the android is forced to go on the run when a government agent on a mission to hunt down SIMs that have seemingly acquired consciousness enters the picture. 

In addition to Brewster and Amell, the cast includes Simu Liu ("Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings") and Sam Worthington ("Avatar: The Way of Water"). While a release date has yet to be announced, "Hello Stranger" producer James Van der Woerd told The Hamilton Spectator that the film will debut sometime in 2023 and also offered some insight into what viewers can expect. "There's definitely some 'Blade Runner' tones to it," he divulged. "It's definitely science fiction, but we try to keep it grounded. It's sort of what could be our future."

Premiere: TBA 2023