While the big studios put out some excellent film content over the years, so do smaller independent distributors. It seems only fair, as we’ve been listing the 2023 slate for all these studios; we also point out some smaller distributors that have some independent films coming out this year. Some great movies will be hitting a theater near you. What can you be looking forward to with an independent 2023 film schedule? Let’s find out.
Focus Films releases this interesting romance film set in 1999. A young ballroom dancer has a 24-hour romance with his friend’s brother. This has the feel of a Before Sunrise for more modern audiences. Even though it was set in 1999.
Sharper – February 17 (A24/Apple)
In this A24/Apple film, a con man decides to take on a whole lot of New York billionaires. I’m sure they quickly learn their lesson and decide not to retaliate in any way. That sounds like a boring movie. I’m sure there is lots of backstabbing, evil greed, and a whole lot of rich people getting mad. So everything a quality movie needs. The cast includes Justice Smith, Sebastion Stan, Julianne Moore, and John Lithgow. This will be in theaters and streaming day & date.
Adonis Creed returns in the third installment of the MGM franchise. He is living the dream when an old friend from his past returns. Damian was one of his best friends but ended up in prison. He seems to feel that everything Creed has could have been his. This leads to a confrontation between the two, eventually leading to a fight in the ring. This marks Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut. The film is probably the biggest film on the independent 2023 film schedule.
Bobby Farrelly directs Woody Harrelson in this Focus Films release. A former minor league basketball coach is ordered by the court to spend his time coaching a basketball team with intellectual disabilities. He doesn’t want to at first but soon finds out that together they all might accomplish more than anyone gives them credit for. It seems very Mighty Ducks, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Inside – March 17 (Focus)
Willem Dafoe stars in this film about a high-end art thief that gets more than he bargained for. He breaks into a high-priced penthouse but finds himself locked inside. With no way out, he has to figure out how to survive as the temperature begins to rise. His mind starts to crack as time clicks by. Looks like a fun psychological single-location movie.
A young woman kidnaps a six-year-old boy out of the foster system figuring they can better build a life together than what they both are leading. Keeping their secret to themselves, they decide to find out what the best life for them will be. A heartstring puller for sure.