The year 2023 unfolded with its share of surprises and challenges, leaving many grappling with the unexpected.

However, amid the challenges, movie enthusiasts found solace in a diverse array of cinematic releases that offered a source of joy and entertainment.

Spanning genres from drama to science fiction, action to adventure, romance and even delving into the depths of horror, this year's filmography provided a compelling escape for audiences seeking diverse experiences.

As the festive season approaches, the question arises: What movies should you watch with your family and friends to add a cinematic flair to your celebrations?

Here's a curated list of the top 10 action movies in 2023 that are bound to leave you on the edge of your seat and create lasting memories.

- Plane

Plane is a 2023 American action thriller film directed by Jean-François Richet from a screenplay by Charles Cumming and J. P. Davis. The film stars Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Yoson An, and Tony Goldwyn. The plot centers on a pilot (Butler) allying with a prisoner (Colter) to save his passengers from a hostile territory in which they make an emergency landing. (source: Wikipedia).

Plane was released in the United States on January 13, 2023.

- Creed III

Creed III is a 2023 American sports drama film co-produced by and directed by Michael B. Jordan. It is the sequel to Creed II (2018), the third installment in the Creed film series, and the ninth overall in the Rocky film series. The film also stars Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Mila Davis-Kent, Florian Munteanu and Phylicia Rashad. (source: Wikipedia).

The film sees the accomplished and recently retired boxer Adonis Creed (Jordan) come face-to-face with his childhood friend and former boxing prodigy Damian Anderson (Majors).

Creed III premiered in Mexico City on February 9, 2023, and was released in the United States on March 3, 2023.

- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a 2023 American fantasy heist action comedy film directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Gilio from a story by Chris McKay and Gilio. The film stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant. (source: Wikipedia).

The film sees a charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 10, 2023, and was released in the United States on March 31, 2023, by Paramount Pictures

- John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a 2023 American neo-noir action thriller film directed and co-produced by Chad Stahelski and written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. The sequel to John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and the fourth installment in the John Wick franchise. The film stars Keanu Reeves as the title character (Wick), alongside Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Clancy Brown, and Ian McShane.

In the film, John Wick sets out to get revenge on the High Table and those who left him for dead.

John Wick: Chapter 4 premiered at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London on March 6, 2023, and was released in the United States on March 24, 2023.

- Sisu

Sisu is a historical action thriller film written and directed by Jalmari Helander. The film stars Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan, Mimosa Willamo and Onni Tommila. (source: Wikipedia).

Set in Finnish Lapland during World War II, a former legendary Finnish commando and gold prospector attempts to secure his gold and defend himself from a Nazi death squad led by a brutal SS officer.

Sisu premiered in Finland on 27 January 2023 and was released in the United States on 28 April 2023.

- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3  is a 2023 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy. It is the sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). Written and directed by James Gunn, it features an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Linda Cardellini, Nathan Fillion, and Sylvester Stallone. (source: Wikipedia).

In the film, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful. The Guardians must save Rocket's (Cooper) life and protect him from the High Evolutionary (Iwuji).

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 premiered at Disneyland Paris on April 22, 2023, and was released in the United States on May 5, 2023.

- Extraction II

Extraction 2 is a 2023 American action thriller film directed by Sam Hargrave and written by Joe Russo. It is the sequel to the 2020 film Extraction, where Chris Hemsworth played (Tyler Rake), Golshifteh Farahani and Adam Bessa reprise their roles from the first film, while Tornike Gogrichiani, Tinatin Dalakishvili, Daniel Bernhardt, Olga Kurylenko and Idris Elba appear in pivotal roles. (source: Wikipedia).

In the film, Tyler Rake is initially hired to rescue the family of an abusive crime lord from a prison in Georgia.

Extraction 2 was released by Netflix on June 16, 2023.

- Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is a 2023 American spy-action film directed by Christopher McQuarrie, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Erik Jendresen. It is the sequel to Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) and the seventh installment in the Mission: Impossible film series. It stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, alongside an ensemble cast including Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Mariela Garriga, and Henry Czerny. (source: Wikipedia).

In the film, Hunt and his IMF team face off against "the Entity", a powerful rogue AI. They must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One premiered on the Spanish Steps in Rome on June 19, 2023, and was theatrically released in the United States on July 12, 2023, by Paramount Pictures.

- Pathaan

Pathaan is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film co-written and directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films. It stars Shah Rukh Khan in the title role, alongside Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, with Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana in supporting roles. (source: Wikipedia).

Pathaan, an exiled RAW agent, works with ISI agent Rubina Mohsin to take down Jim, a former RAW agent, who plans to attack India with a deadly virus.

Pathaan was released in India on 25 January 2023.

- Jawan

Jawan is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film co-written and directed by Atlee in his Hindi film debut. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan in a dual role as father and son who team up to rectify corruption in society. Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone (billed as a special appearance), Priyamani and Sanya Malhotra appear in supporting roles.

The film sees the emotional journey of a man who is set to rectify the wrongs in the society. In his journey, he is up against a dreadful monstrous outlaw who knows no fear and has caused extreme suffering to many. 

Jawan was released on 7 September 2023.

Whether you are a fan of heart-pounding stunts, gripping narratives, or mind-bending special effects, this list promises a cinematic journey that caters to various tastes.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the magic of storytelling as you explore the thrilling world of cinema in 2023.