With 2022 being the powerhouse of a year that it was, with the release of “Tár, “Babylon,” “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Glass Onion: a Knives Out Mystery,” “Avatar: The Way of The Water,” there are still very promising movies to look forward to despite it only being the first month of 2023. There were four standout movies that have their release date confirmed for this year that I’m looking forward to.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

For those who have nostalgia for the classic “Indiana Jones” movies, this movie is expected to be a true return to form and a proper sendoff to the beloved characters played by Harrison Ford. Surprisingly, this movie is not being directed by Steven Spielburg, with director James Mangold at the helm instead. James Mangold is known for directing “Logan,” an X-Men movie that did well critically and financially. All that is left to wonder is if this new director is up to the task of giving this legacy film series a proper send off.

Dune: Part Two

For science fiction fans, there is the sequel to the beloved film ¨Dune¨. The original film was a cinematic epic that sends viewers’ minds to the spice deserts of Arrakis, where the movie is set, and immerses them in a fully realized world of cinematic beauty. However, one criticism of “Dune” was that it isn’t possible to see the entire story in one sitting. However, that was a bit of an unrealistic criticism because both films are based off of a 14 book series of a wonderfully realized world that one can immerse themselves in. With how little is known about “Dune: Partwo,” it is hard to give a prediction on how the movie will fare, but hopefully it will further establish and immerse viewers in the world of “Dune”.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

From the original animated masterpiece that has been studied over and reviewed countless times, to this new sequel that many have high hopes for, “Across the Spider-Verse” shows an innovative take on comic book superhero movies by making the movie feel more like a comic with its style of animation as well as its tone and visuals.

Oppenheimer

When I saw the trailer for this movie, it set my heart on fire. Seeing that Christopher Nolan would be directing a film with such a profound story behind it shows incredible promise. This movie is my most anticipated so far and I wait with bated breath for its release on July 21. With an incredible cast list, my hopes in this movie are cemented. The decision to have Cillian Murphy as Robert Oppenhimer was a terrific decision that will be made clear in his performance in this film.