New Netflix movies came thick and fast in 2022, and we’re hoping 2023 brings a similar level of original feature-length content to the streaming service.
It’s rare that a major platform lifts the lid on its entire annual movie slate ahead of time, but that’s exactly what Netflix decided to do with its impressive selection of films bound for the platform in 2022. In a February press release (opens in new tab), the company revealed it would be dropping a new film every week until December 31 – that was, at the time of announcement, 71 upcoming titles.
Since then, Netflix original films including The Sea Beast, The Good Nurse and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio have made their way onto our list of the best Netflix movies, and we’re anticipating the arrival of more high-quality features throughout 2023. Below, we’ve collated details on the new Netflix movies we know about so far, combining their official synopses (as provided by Netflix) with any confirmed release dates, trailers and promotional imagery to give you a better idea of what’s on the way.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
Release date: December 25
One of the last Netflix original movies of the year is Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical. An adaptation of the Tony and Olivier award-winning stage show, Matilda tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results. Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch and Stephen Graham all star in this inevitably cheerful feature, which has already released theatrically in the UK.
White Noise
Release date: December 30
Frances Ha director Noah Baumbach returns to Netflix with White Noise, his first feature film since 2019’s Marriage Story. An adaptation of Don DeLillo’s satirical novel of the same name, this new Netflix movie stars Adam Driver as Jack Gladney, a college professor whose suburban life is upended when a nearby chemical leak forces him and his family to evacuate. Greta Gerwig, Marvel actor Don Cheadle, André 3000, Alessandro Nivola and Jodie Turner-Smith also star.
They Cloned Tyrone
Release date: December 30
Now here’s a movie we didn’t expect to see serving as the bookend to 2022. Not too much is known about They Cloned Tyrone, but its synopsis reads as follows: “A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (Jamie Foxx, John Boyega and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper.”
By the sounds of things, then, this new Netflix film – from first time director Juel Taylor – has more than a few tricks up its sleeve. Its cast looks pretty great, too.
The Pale Blue Eye
Release date: January 6
In 1830, a world-weary detective (Christian Bale) is hired to discreetly investigate the gruesome murder of a cadet. Stymied by the cadets’ code of silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case – a young man the world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling).
Jung_E
Release date: January 20
In a post-apocalyptic 22nd century, a researcher at an AI lab leads the effort to end a civil war by cloning the brain of a heroic soldier – her mother. Written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho, this upcoming South Korean sci-fi movies stars Kang Soo-yeon (in her final appearance before her death), Kim Hyun-joo and Ryu Kyung-soo.
You People
Release date: January 27
A new couple and their families find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences in this comedy from Kenya Barris. Jonah Hill (also a producer), Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyfus all star.
The Mother
Release date: May 2023
Cue generic Netflix thriller plot: In The Mother, a deadly female assassin (Jennifer Lopez) comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men. A bit of a change of pace for Lopez after glitzy 2022 romcom Marry Me, then. This one was scheduled to release in 2022, but has since been delayed until May 2023.
Release date: TBA (2023 confirmed)
As its name suggests, Extraction 2 is a direct sequel to Sam Hargrave’s 2020 Netflix original movie, and will see Chris Hemsworth’s seemingly indestructible hero, Tyler Rake, returning for another high-stakes (and invariably globe-trotting) special ops mission. Not much is known about the film’s premise beyond Netflix’s similar-sounding official synopsis, but the streamer has shared a behind-the-scenes teaser (above).
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Release date: TBA (2023 confirmed)
Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. This long-awaited sequel is being helmed by Flushed Away director Sam Fell.
Maestro
Release date: TBA (2023 confirmed)
Produced by Todd Phillips, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and leading man Bradley Cooper (who also directs the film), Maestro centers on the life and legacy of West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein. Judging by the prosthetics used to transform Cooper into the much older Bernstein, we expect Netflix to be a shoo-in for next year’s Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar (release date depending).
Luther
Release date: TBA (2023 confirmed)
Idris Elba’s hard-nosed detective, Luther, is getting the feature-length treatment on Netflix. Details are few and far between as to what ground the streamer’s movie adaptation of the acclaimed BBC series will cover, though we know its story will serve as a continuation of the Luther’s small screen saga, with the character having “to contend with a double threat.”
We Have a Ghost
Release date: TBA (2023 confirmed)
Happy Death Day director Christopher Landon helms this spooky family adventure starring Anthony Mackie and Stranger Things actor David Harbour. After finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home, Kevin and his family turn into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest go rogue to investigate the mystery of the latter’s past, the family instead becomes a target for the CIA.
The Mothership
Release date: TBA (2023 confirmed)
The Mothership is a sci-fi adventure that follows Sara Morse (Halle Berry) one year after her husband (Omari Hardwick) mysteriously vanishes from their rural farm. When she discovers a strange, extraterrestrial object underneath their home, Sara and her kids embark on a race to find their husband, father and most importantly – the truth. Sounds ominous.
Spaceman
Release date: TBA (confirmed for 2023)
As an astronaut sent to the edge of the galaxy to collect mysterious ancient dust finds his earthly life falling to pieces, he turns to the only voice who can help him try to put it back together. It just so happens to belong to a creature from the beginning of time lurking in the shadows of his ship. Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan and Paul Dano star in this one, which has us more intrigued than the movie’s plot otherwise does. No trailer or promotional imagery has been released for Spaceman just yet.
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