Winter 2023 Movies Preview: Here Are 33 Movies That Are Worth Watching

Winter: the cross section of Oscar contenders and the weirdest horror movies possible.

Winter is upon us, and so are some absolutely INCREDIBLE movies — in both theaters and on streaming! With this in mind, we rounded up 33 films premiering in winter 2023 (aka late December 2022 through the first week of March 2023) that you're not going to want to miss! So cozy up with a blanket and a hot beverage, and let's get started:

1. Violent Night

Allen Fraser / © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

In what I can only describe as "John Wick, but Santa," David Harbour dons the red suit and hunts down some bad guys who happen to be terrorizing a beloved member of his nice list.

Starring: David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, Cam Gigandet, Leah Brady, and Beverly D'Angelo.

When it premiered: Dec. 2, 2022 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

2. Lady Chatterley's Lover

© Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

The controversial classic comes to life in this sweeping, sexy story of lovers finding their way to each other against all odds, with set pieces out of my dreams and costumes I'd like to wear every single day, please and thank you.

Starring: Emma Corrin and Jack O'Connell.

When it premiered: Dec. 2, 2022 on Netflix

You can watch the trailer here:

Netflix / Via youtube.com

3. Darby and the Dead

Marcos Cruz / © Hulu / Courtesy Everett Collection

Sure, high school sucked for (almost) all of us, but I imagine it would've sucked even worse if we had the rather unfortunate "ability" to see and talk to the dead — which is precisely what Darby is dealing with.

Starring:  Riele Downs, Auliʻi Cravalho, Chosen Jacobs, Asher Angel, Wayne Knight, Derek Luke, and Tony Danza.

When it premiered: Dec. 2, 2022 on Hulu

You can watch the trailer here:

Hulu / Via youtube.com

4. Emancipation

Quantrall Colbert / © Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection

Based on the true story of Peter and Gordon, two formerly enslaved Black men in 1863 whose photographs of Peter's scarred, bare back gave the abolitionist movement further proof of the cruelty these men endured.

Starring: Will Smith, Ben Foster, and Charmaine Bingwa.

When it premiered: Dec. 9, 2022 on Apple TV+

You can watch the trailer here:

Apple TV+ / Via youtube.com

5. The Whale

© A24 /Courtesy Everett Collection

Based on the play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter, the film details the intimate life of a professor as he tries to reconnect with his teenage daughter — but the most important part of this film is that we're seeing the return of Brendan Fraser. The Brenaissance is upon us, and I'm here for it all day.

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton. 

When it premiered: Dec. 9, 2022 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

A24 / Via youtube.com

6. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

© Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

You know the story. Little puppet boy. Big ol' nose when he lies. Scary donkey island.

Starring: Gregory Mann, David Bradley, Ewan McGregor, Burn Gorman, Ron Perlman, John Turturro, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Tim Blake Nelson, Christoph Waltz, and Tilda Swinton.

When it premiered: Dec. 9, 2022 on Netflix

You can watch the trailer here:

Netflix / Via youtube.com

7. Matilda the Musical

Dan Smith / © Netflix /Courtesy Everett Collection

It's like the 1996 one, but with less Danny DeVito (read: no Danny DeVito) and more dancing and singing (read: lots of dancing and singing, it's a musical).

Starring: Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Sindhu Vee, and Emma Thompson. 

When it premiered: Dec. 9, 2022 on Netflix

You can watch the trailer here:

Netflix / Via youtube.com

8. Avatar: The Way of Water

© Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

A sequel that was, quite literally, a decade-plus in the making, we see that Jake Sully now lives with the Na'vi on Pandora, raising his family with Neytiri. However, their peaceful lives are once again interrupted when humans arrive with plans to colonize Pandora as Earth is dying.

Starring:  Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerald, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, and Jemaine Clement.

When it premiered: Dec. 16, 2022 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Via youtube.com

9. Babylon

© Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

This! Cast! Is! Stacked! From the writer/director of Whiplash and La La Land, we see the rise and fall of several Hollywood big players as the industry makes massive changes in the early days of filmmaking.

Starring:  Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li.

When it premiered: Dec. 23, 2022 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com

10. Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

Emily Aragones /© Sony Pictures Entertainment /Courtesy Everett Collection

This biopic details the life of icon Whitney Houston, including her rise to fame and everything that came along with it.

Starring: Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, and Clarke Peters.

When it premiered: Dec. 23, 2022 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Sony Pictures Releasing / Via youtube.com

11. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

John Wilson /© Netflix /Courtesy Everett Collection

The sequel to the 2019 runaway hit, we see detective Benoit Blanc back at it again, this time trading in a family squabble for a millionaire and his closest buddies as they host a murder mystery party game on a private island.

Starring:  Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista.

When it premiered: Dec. 23, 2022 on Netflix

You can watch the trailer here:

Netflix / Via youtube.com

12. A Man Called Otto

Niko Tavernise / © Sony Pictures Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection

A remake of the 2015 Swedish film of the same name, this film follows Otto, who the tagline describes as "the grumpiest man in the world." However, his life changes forever when a young family moves across the street from him.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

When it premiered: Dec. 30, 2022 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Sony Pictures Releasing / Via youtube.com

13. Alice, Darling

Lionsgate

While on vacation with her friends, a young woman seeks to escape her codependent relationship with her abusive boyfriend.

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Kaniehtiio Horn, Charlie Carrick, and Wunmi Mosaku.

When it premiered: Dec. 30, 2022 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Lionsgate / Via youtube.com

14. The Pale Blue Eye

Scott Garfield / © Netflix / courtesy Everett Collection

In 1830s New York, detective Augustus Landor investigates a series of murders with the help of a young Edgar Allan Poe — no, really.

Starring:  Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Gillian Anderson, Lucy Boynton, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toby Jones, Harry Lawtey, Simon McBurney, Timothy Spall,and Robert Duvall.

When it premiered: Jan. 6 on Netflix

You can watch the trailer here:

Netflix / Via youtube.com

15. The Old Way

© Saban Films / courtesy Everett Collection

NICOLAS CAGE IN A WESTERN?! WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?!

Starring: Nicolas Cage.

When it premiered: Jan. 6 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Saban Films / Via youtube.com

16. M3GAN

© Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

The dancing doll! The murderous, memeable M3GAN is finally here, and the movie is absolutely everything you want it to be — assuming you like to have fun.

Starring:  Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, and Jenna Davis.

When it premiered: Jan. 6 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

17. Sick

Courtesy of Peacock

When a pair of friends decides to quarantine during the start of the pandemic in a remote cabin, they're disturbed to discover they're not quite alone.

Starring: Gideon Adlon, Bethlehem Million, Marc Menchaca, and Jane Adams.

When it premieres: Jan. 13 on Peacock

You can watch the trailer here:

Peacock / Via youtube.com

18. There's Something Wrong with the Children

Paramount Pictures

A young couple take a trip to see their friends and are shocked to find supernatural goings on with their two small children — but, TBH, small children are scary enough!

Starring: Alisha Wainwright, Zach Gilford, Amanda Crew, and Carlos Santos.

When it premieres: Jan. 17 on Digital and On Demand

You can watch the trailer here:

Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com

19. Missing

© Sony Pictures Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection

From the filmmakers behind Searching, we have another entry in this unique sub-genre of found footage film: the screen-recorded film! After a mother goes missing while on vacation, her daughter desperately tries to figure out what happened to her.

Starring: Storm Reid, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney, and Nia Long.

When it premieres: Jan. 20 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Sony Pictures Releasing / Via youtube.com

20. Kids vs. Aliens

RLJE Films

When their parents go out of town on Halloween night, two siblings attempt to throw a party — only to have their dreams turned into nightmares when terrifying aliens attack, forcing them to band together to stop them.

Starring: Dominic Mariche, Phoebe Rex, Calem MacDonald, Asher Grayson Percival, and Ben Tector.

When it premieres: Jan. 20 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

RLJE Films / Via youtube.com

21. When You Finish Saving the World

A24

If you're in the mood for an intimate family drama, Jesse Eisenberg (yes, THAT Jesse Eisenberg) has got you covered with his directorial debut film wherein a teenager and his mother find themselves at odds as they both continue to grow together and apart.

Starring: Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard.

When it premieres: Jan. 20 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

A24 / Via youtube.com

22. Return to Seoul

© Sony Pictures Classics /Courtesy Everett Collection

A young adoptee seeks to return to her birthplace of South Korea in search of her birth parents. However, her trip quickly takes her to unexpected places.

Starring: Ji-Min Park, Oh Kwang-rok, Guka Han, and Kim Sun-young.

When it premieres: Jan. 26 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Sony Pictures Classics / Via youtube.com

23. Teen Wolf: The Movie

Curtis Bonds Baker / © Paramount+ /Courtesy Everett Collection

Teens(?)! Wolves! It's like the show, but a movie!

Starring: Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden, Colton Haynes, Shelley Hennig, Dylan Sprayberry, Linden Ashby, Melissa Ponzio, and JR Bourne.

When it premieres: Jan. 26 on Paramount+

You can watch the trailer here:

Paramount+ / Via youtube.com

24. Shotgun Wedding

Ana Carballosa /© Amazon Prime Video /Courtesy Everett Collection

A movie whose trailer changes genres so fast, it'll give you whiplash! No, I implore you, watch the trailer! Anyway, what started as simple nuptials sees J.Lo and Co. (LOL) sent spiraling into a violent, whirlwind adventure.

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, Sônia Braga, Jennifer Coolidge, Lenny Kravitz, and Cheech Marin.

When it premieres: Jan. 27 on Prime Video

You can watch the trailer here:

Prime Video / Via youtube.com

25. You People

Netflix

In the newest film from Kenya Barris, based on a screenplay cowritten with Jonah Hill, this film follows a young couple as they navigate merging their families. Also, again I say: This cast is STACKED!

Starring:  Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lauren London, Sam Jay, Molly Gordon, Mike Epps, Nia Long, Deon Cole, Rhea Perlman, and David Duchovny.

When it premieres: Jan. 27 on Netflix

You can watch the trailer here:

Netflix / Via youtube.com

26. Pamela, a Love Story

© Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

This documentary seeks to detail the icon's life and career in her own words and on her own terms.

Starring: Pamela Anderson.

When it premieres: Jan. 31 on Netflix

You can watch the trailer here:

Netflix / Via youtu.be

27. Knock at the Cabin

Universal Pictures

Based on a novel by Paul G. Tremblay that still haunts my nightmares, this horror/thriller sees a couple and their adopted daughter forced into an impossible situation when four strangers show up at their vacation cabin demanding they sacrifice one of their own in order to stop the apocalypse.

Starring: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint.

When it premieres: Feb. 3 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

28. 80 for Brady

© Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

In an ensemble cast so incredible, I actually gasped when I saw the commercial on TV (seriously, how did they get all of them to agree to this?! At once?!), four best friends decide to travel to Houston to see their fave, Tom Brady, play with the New England Patriots in 2017's Super Bowl LI.

Starring: Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field, and Tom Brady.

When it premieres: Feb. 3 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com

29. Your Place or Mine

© Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

If you told me there was a rom-com coming out in 2023 starring Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher, I'd be like...who got a hold of my diary? It follows a classic situation — a house swap, hello The Holiday — and arrives just in time for Valentine's Day!

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Jesse Williams, Tig Notaro, Zoë Chao, and Steve Zahn.

When it premiered: Feb. 10 on Netflix

You can watch the trailer here:

Netflix / Via youtube.com

30. Magic Mike's Last Dance

Claudette Barius / © Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection

Also in time for Valentine's Day comes the final film in the Magic Mike franchise! This one sees Mike trekking to London with a wealthy socialite after he's fallen on hard times, hoping for one last dance (it's the title!).

Starring: Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek.

When it premieres: Feb. 10 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Warner Bros. Pictures / Via youtube.com

31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

© Marvel / © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

The first film in Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe sees the return of some big players — and small. I mean, he is ANT-man, after all. He's not Big Huge Bug Man. That wouldn't look good on a poster. Anyway, it's likely to be chaos, kicking off our long and action-packed road to Avengers: Kang Dynasty.

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, Bill Murray, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Michael Douglas.

When it premieres: Feb. 17 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Marvel / Via youtube.com

32. Cocaine Bear

Universal Pictures

This is one of those movies where the title just IS the movie. A bear ingests too much cocaine. No, really. It's a cocaine bear. Cocaine bear is a bear who ingested too much cocaine.

Starring:  Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Christian Convery-Jennings, Alden Ehrenreich, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Kristofer Hivju, Hannah Hoekstra, Aaron Holliday, Margo Martindale, and Ray Liotta.

When it premiered: Feb. 24 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

33. Creed III

Eli Ade /© MGM /Courtesy Everett Collection

Listen. This is the bit where I usually give you a snippet of what the movie is about in my funny little voice, but all I know is that this is the third movie in the absolutely incredible Creed trilogy. TBH, I don't know too much else beyond that because every time I see Jonathan Majors, I nearly old timey faint. Like, I'm sorry, but have you seen this man?! Oh my god. Handsome! A handsome, handsome man!

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad. 

When it premieres: March 3 in theaters

You can watch the trailer here:

MGM / Via youtube.com

Which movies are you the most excited for this winter? Share all of your thoughts and feelings in the comments below!