Family Bonding Time: The Must-See Movies of 2023

Fielding, a college student who has trouble making friends, decides to adopt a puppy after a girl turns him down. He takes home a yellow lab puppy from the neighborhood pound. His dog is named Gonker, and he can’t live without it while in college. He often brings his dog to class on campus without a leash. Everyone Fielding knows who is done with college has jobs. But Fielding doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life, which worries his dad, John. Fielding and Gonker move in with his parents. Gonker is told he has Addison’s disease a few weeks later and will need a life-saving shot every month for the rest of his life.
A few weeks later, his best friend from college comes to visit. While they are hiking, Gonker runs off to chase a fox. They look for him but can’t find him when he doesn’t come back. They quickly go home to tell Fielding’s parents that Gonker might be missing because they are scared.

The Amazing Maurice

Release Date: February 3, 2023

Starring

Hugh Laurie
Emilia Clarke
David Thewlis
Himesh Patel
Gemma Arterton
Joe Sugg
Ariyon Bakare
Julie Atherton
Rob Brydon
Hugh Bonneville
David Tennant

Maurice is a ginger cat who knows how to make friends with a group of talking rats by finding a way to make money.
Inspired by the Pied Piper, “The Amazing Maurice” follows the town’s inhabitants as they learn that the rats responsible for its destruction are rather intelligent and well-organized.
It turns out that Keith (Patel), the Piper, is their boss, and Maurice (Laurie), his cat, is working with them on a plan to make money off the town’s simple people. Keith, Maurice, and their rats are hired to check out a new city and find out why there isn’t enough food. This time, it’s not to stop an invasion of rodents. The Mayor’s daughter also finds out about their scam. Things will soon get tricky.

“The Amazing Maurice” is smart, funny, and fun for the whole family. Its quirky and interesting characters have gotten great reviews. And the Guardian compared it to Pixar’s “Ratatouille.”

True Spirit

Release Date: February 4, 2023

Starring

Teagan Croft
Cliff Curtis
Anna Paquin

While it came out in February everywhere else, “True Spirit” came out in January in its home country of Australia. It’s based on the amazing true story of a young sailor who set sail on a dangerous journey. A young Australian sailor named Jessica Watson tries to sail around the world in a boat called Ella’s Pink Lady. She wants to become the youngest person ever to do it. Jessica is coached by Ben Bryant (Cliff Curtis), a down-on-his-luck sailor who wants to make up for a bad past. Her family is by her side.

There is a lot of media attention on Jessica’s dangerous trip, even during her preliminary training. Every nautical mile of it is recorded for everyone to see. On this trip, more bad things happen than planned. For example, we get stuck in a dangerous storm, and Jessica and Bryant get into a big fight. Still, the question remains: Is it possible for a girl 16 to do something that even grown-up pilots find hard?
No matter how bad things look, “True Spirit” is a story about never giving up, even when the odds are against you.

Mummies

Release Date: February 24, 2023

Starring

Joe Thomas
Eleanor Tomlinson
Celia Imrie
Hugh Bonneville
Sean Bean

The film follows three undead travelers as they go to present-day London. They pursue a ring belonging to an old Egyptian royal family. It was stolen by the greedy archaeologist Lord Carnaby.
They get into many funny situations as they try to understand and fit in with modern London. They are a culture clash.

The Magician’s Elephant

Release Date: March 17, 2023

Starring

Noah Jupe
Mandy Patinkin
Natasia Demetriou
Benedict Wong
Miranda Richardson
Aasif Mandvi

“The Magician’s Elephant” is about Peter, a young orphan who lives in the sunless town of Baltese. Noah Jupe plays him. One day, he meets Natasia Demetriou, a fortune teller, and she tells him that his long-lost sister is still alive. He has to follow an elephant to find her. Soon, that elephant shows up with a magician named Wong. Peter knows that the elephant is important for finding his family. Peter must finish three jobs the King gave him before he can reach his goal.

“The Magician’s Elephant” is one of the best action movies on Netflix for 2023. It has beautiful animation, great acting, and a timeless story about family and friends.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Release Date: April 5, 2023

Starring

Chris Pratt
Anya Taylor-Joy
Charlie Day
Jack Black
Keegan-Michael Key
Seth Rogen
Fred Armisen

Mario and Luigi, two Italian-American brothers, had just opened a plumbing business in Brooklyn. Their father doesn’t like it and was fired by Spike, who used to work for them. Mario and Luigi go underground to fix a big water main leak they saw on the news. But they get sucked into a Warp Pipe and are split up.
Princess Peach rules the Mushroom Kingdom, where Mario lands, while Bowser, the evil Koopa king, rules the Dark Lands. If Peach refuses his marriage proposal, Bowser will use a Super Star to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom. He locks up Luigi to make Mario afraid because he thinks Mario is competing with Peach for her love.

Chupa

Release Date: April 7, 2023

Starring

Demián Bichir
Evan Whitten
Christian Slater
Ashley Ciarra
Nicolas Verdugo

In 1996, scientist Richard Quinn was in San Javier looking for the chupacabra, a creature that is said to be mythical. He works for the government and thinks its healing skills will change how medicine is done. He goes after the bear when he sees it with a cub in an old mine. She hides her cub to get the scientists who are after her to leave because she was hurt by a passing car.
Alex, 13, goes to Mexico to meet his extended family for the first time after his father, Beto, dies of cancer. It is a trip that his father had planned for them both….

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Release Date: April 28, 2023

Starring

Rachel McAdams
Abby Ryder Fortson
Elle Graham
Benny Safdie
Kathy Bates

This movie is about a girl named Margaret Simon in the sixth grade. It shows how she deals with all the tough issues girls her age have to face. As in the famous book, this movie is an honest look at what it’s like to be a young girl growing up. It shows her worries about school, the changes in her body, and her growing feelings for boys. It’s a hit because of its amazing cast and team. The movie is great, like Kelly Fremon Craig’s “The Edge of Seventeen.” She wrote and directed it.

Peter Pan and Wendy

Release Date: April 28, 2023

Starring

Jude Law
Alexander Molony
Ever Anderson
Yara Shahidi
Alyssa Wapanatâhk
Joshua Pickering
Jacobi Jupe
Jim Gaffigan

Peter Pan and Wendy, along with Wendy’s boys and Peter’s best friend, Tinker Bell, go to the magical world of Neverland in the story. Wendy goes on a journey that will change her life and meets Captain Hook, Peter’s worst enemy.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Release Date: May 5, 2023

Starring

Chris Pratt
Zoe Saldaña
Dave Bautista
Karen Gillan
Pom Klementieff
Vin Diesel
Bradley Cooper
Will Poulter
Sean Gunn
Chukwudi Iwuji
Linda Cardellini
Nathan Fillion
Sylvester Stallone

To save Rocket this time, the Guardians must go on a mission. Adam Warlock, a genetically modified fighter, attacked and killed Rocket, putting his life in danger.
The team wants to find the files of the High Evolutionary, a space nut who made the tiny hero and has bad plans for him.
They know it’s more than Rocket’s life at stake when they find him, though.

More than just a thrilling intergalactic adventure, “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3” has something for everyone.
It’s a fitting end to what could be the best superhero trilogy ever made. Not only that, but it’s also an emotional trip of self-discovery that’s one of Marvel’s real hits.

Crater

Release Date: May 12, 2023

Starring

Isaiah Russell-Bailey
Mckenna Grace
Billy Barratt
Orson Hong
Thomas Boyce
Scott Mescudi

In 2257, people mined the moon for materials after failing to settle there. For 20 years, miners have had to work before they can take a ship to Omega, another planet, to live there. Someone who dies before their years are up must be filled out by their next of kin, plus their own 20 years if they are over 18. Mike Channing, Caleb’s father, dies in a mining accident. In his will, he says that Caleb should be sent to Omega because he is not yet 18. Caleb doesn’t want to go because his dad gave him a map of a moon crater that he promised to see. However, he has three days left before he is taken away.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Release Date: June 2, 2023

Starring

Shameik Moore
Hailee Steinfeld
Brian Tyree Henry
Lauren Vélez
Jake Johnson
Jason Schwartzman
Issa Rae
Karan Soni
Shea Whigham
Greta Lee
Daniel Kaluuya
Mahershala Ali
Oscar Isaac

Directed by
Joaquim Dos Santos
Kemp Powers
Justin K. Thompson

Written by
Phil Lord
Christopher Miller
Dave Callaham

Running time 140 minutes

George Stacy, the police captain on Earth-65, doesn’t know that his daughter, Gwen Stacy, is Spider-Woman. Years ago, when Peter Parker was on the run as the Lizard, Gwen accidentally killed him. And the police have been on the lookout for her ever since.
One night, Gwen meets a Vulture from an alternate world with an Italian Renaissance theme. Miguel O’Hara and Jessica Drew show up with watches that can create portals and help Gwen stop the Vulture. When George catches Gwen, she tells him who she is. It makes George very angry, so he tries to arrest her.

Elemental

Release Date: June 16, 2023

Starring

Leah Lewis
Mamoudou Athie
Ronnie del Carmen
Shila Ommi
Wendi McLendon-Covey
Catherine O’Hara

Directed by Peter Sohn

Screenplay by
John Hoberg
Kat Likkel
Brenda Hsueh

Running time 109 minutes

Parts of fireBernie and Cinder Lumen move to Element City. But other elements don’t like them, and it’s hard for them to find a place to live. They opened their store called the Fireplace and put up a Blue Flame to honor their traditions after the birth of their daughter Ember. Ember works in the shop with Bernie as a child. When Bernie quits, he wants to give her the store, but she has to learn to control her temper first. When Bernie finally lets Ember run the shop by herself one day, she gets too busy with guests and has to run to the basement.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

Release Date: June 30, 2023

Starring

Lana Condor
Toni Collette
Annie Murphy
Colman Domingo
Jane Fonda

Directed by Kirk DeMicco

Written by
Pam Brady
Brian C. Brown
Elliott DiGuiseppi

Running time 91 minutes

The movie is about a shy 15-year-old girl named Ruby Gillman (Condor) who wants to fit in at Oceanside High. She discovers that she is the successor to the realm currently held by her formidable grandmother, the Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas (Fon) after she ignores her mother’s edict and swims with a group of potential friends.
And that her family has a long history of fighting off evil mermaids from both land and sea.

Nimona

Release Date: June 30, 2023

Starring

Chloë Grace Moretz
Riz Ahmed

Directed by Nick Bruno
Troy Quane

Screenplay by
Robert L. Baird
Lloyd Taylor

Running time 99 minutes

The famous heroine Gloreth set up the Institute for Elite Knights to guard the people who live in a medieval and futuristic kingdom.
A thousand years ago, she defeated a “Great Black Monster” and built a high wall around the kingdom to keep it safe.

Fellow knight and friend (and boyfriend by the movie’s end) Ambrosius Goldenloin and Ballister Boldheart are about to be knighted. Ballister will be the first commoner to receive this honor because Queen Valerin wants to change custom so that “everyone can be a hero.” During the event, Valerin is killed by a strange laser shot from Ballister’s sword. The Institute and its Director are after Ambrosius, who tries to stop them by cutting off Ballister’s right arm.

The Haunted Mansion

Release Date: July 28, 2023

Starring

Eddie Murphy
Terence Stamp
Wallace Shawn
Marsha Thomason
Jennifer Tilly

Directed by Rob Minkoff

Written by David Berenbaum

Running time 87 minutes

The Haunted Mansion is a 2003 American ghostly horror comedy based on Walt Disney’s attraction of the same name at Disney theme parks.
Rob Minkoff helmed the film, and David Berenbaum wrote the script. Eddie Murphy as a real estate agent whose family becomes trapped in a haunting house.

Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie

Release Date: July 28, 2023

Starring

Anouck Hautbois
Benjamin Bollen
Antoine Tomé
Marie Nonnenmacher
Thierry Kazazian

Directed by Jeremy Zag

Screenplay by
Jeremy Zag
Bettina Lopez Mendoza

Running time 102 minutes

Teenager Marinette Dupain-Cheng is shy and tries to hide at school so no one will notice her. Even though Marinette makes friends with Alya Césaire, a classmate, she desperately tries to stay out of Chloé Bourgeois’s bad graces. Marinette runs into model Adrien Agreste while she is trying to get away and starts to like him. Since his mother Emilie died, Adrien has become very emotionally distant from other people. Gabriel, Adrien’s father, is also grieving over the death of his wife Emilie. To find the Butterfly Miraculous, a magical jewel, he must change into a Hawk Moth. He wants to make a wish and bring his wife back to life.