5. Napoleon
Release Date: November 22nd 2023
Director: Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Alien: Covenant)
Screenwriter: David Scarpa
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Youssef Kerkour, Ben Miles, Ian McNeice, Ludivine Sagnier, Tahar Rahim, Paul Rhys, Matthew Needham, Phil Cornwell, Benjamin Chivers, Gavin Spokes, John Hollingworth, Jonathan Barnwell, Sam Crane, Edouard Philipponnat, Harry Taurasi, David Fox
Rating: Rated R for strong violence, some grisly images, sexual content and brief language
Trailer Link: N/A
Plot Summary: The film is an original and personal look at Napoleon Bonaparte’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine.
4. Dune: Part Two
Release Date: November 3rd 2023
Director: Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049)
Screenwriters: Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Christopher Walken
Rating: N/A
Trailer Link: https://youtu.be/Way9Dexny3w
Plot Summary: This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
3. Killers of the Flower Moon
Release Date: October 20th 2023
Director: Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street)
Screenwriter: Eric Roth
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Lily Gladstone, Brendan Fraser, John Lithgow, Barry Corbin, Tantoo Cardinal, Louis Cancelmi, Pat Healy, Gary Basaraba, Nathaniel Arcand, Jay Paulson, Joey Oglesby, Joshua Close, Scott Shepherd, Tatanka Means, Steve Witting
Rating: N/A
Trailer Link: https://youtu.be/tclQ1W1dLZk
Plot Summary: “Killers of the Flower Moon” tells the story of the Osage Indians, who, in the 1920s, became the wealthiest group of people per capita in the world because of oil under their land in Oklahoma. They were then serially murdered in one of the most sinister crimes in American history, sparking a major F.B.I. investigation involving J. Edgar Hoover.
2. Oppenheimer
Release Date: July 21st 2023
Director: Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Prestige, Inception)
Screenwriter: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, David Krumholtz, Emily Blunt, Gary Oldman, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Quaid, Matt Damon, James Remar, Gustaf Skarsgård, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek, Olivia Thirlby, Josh Hartnett, Josh Peck, David Dastmalchian, Casey Affleck, Matthias Schweighöfer, Michael Angarano, Emma Dumont, Dane DeHaan, Scott Grimes, Matthew Modine, Alden Ehrenreich, Tony Goldwyn, James D’Arcy, Tom Conti, Alex Wolff, Jason Clarke, Devon Bostick, Trond Fausa, Benny Safdie
Rating: Rated R for some sexuality, nudity and language
Trailer Link: https://youtu.be/bK6ldnjE3Y0
Plot Summary: The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
1. The Killer
Release Date: November 10th 2023
Director: David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network, Gone Girl)
Screenwriter: Andrew Kevin Walker
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Kerry O’Malley, Monique Ganderton, Monika Gossmann, Sala Baker, Victoria Harris, Lacey Dover, Kellan Rhude, Génesis Estévez, Endre Hules, Sophie Charlotte, Brandon Morales, Rose Bianca Grue, Leroy Edwards III, Bernard Bygott
Rating: R for strong violence, language and brief sexuality
Trailer Link: N/A
Plot Summary: An assassin who begins to psychologically crack as he develops a conscience, even as his clients continue to demand his skills.
Top 5 Most Anticipated New TV Shows
5. The Last of Us – January 15th 2023 (HBO)
4. Sinking Spring – Fall 2023 (Apple+)
3. Copenhagen Cowboy – January 5th 2023 (Netflix)
2. Masters of the Air – Summer 2023 (HBO)
1. Dune: The Sisterhood – Late 2023 (HBO)
FINAL NOTES: After winning or tying for first place for four straight years, Grady in Chicago, Illinois has reclaimed the title and predicted four out of five pics. Thanks to everyone else who participated but Grady came out on top and won some money. Film release dates are always subject to change but we here at Top Pun Reviews will update this list if and when they do, as well as updating this list with MPAA ratings and trailer links. Short of a new pandemic, these top five films will be released in 2023, especially since a few of them were supposed to come out last year. The only delays I can see happening would be “Sinking Spring” and definitely “Dune: The Sisterhood” being pushed to 2024 on the TV front but we will find out later on in the year. In terms of which actors have an exciting 2023 ahead, Emma Stone, Margaret Qualley, Willem Dafoe, Joaquin Phoenix, Florence Pugh and Jesse Plemons are several actors in at least two films in the top 10. After a record breaking number of reviews in 2022, Top Pun Reviews looks to keep that trend alive as we look to break our own personal record of how many theatrical films, streaming films and TV shows we review in 2023. We hope you will stick around with us as we provide up to date short yet sweet reviews with some entertaining puns and we are also open to suggestions when it comes to TV shows and streaming films to review so your input is more than welcome. Top Pun Reviews hopes you have a safe and healthy 2023 and that you are able to check out some high quality films and TV shows along the way. Thanks for those of you who donated and if you want to support my work on this site, you can donate on the home page. Any amount helps, even if you gave a dollar or two per month, thanks in advance!
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