Movie sequels are an opportunity not just for a franchise to grow, but also for fans to follow character development on the big screen rather than in a TV series. Yet, they are often met with mixed feelings: excitement, apprehension, enjoyment, disappointment, or even anger. While some chapters have tainted the first installment, others are considered better than the original.

Blockbuster franchise fans are extremely psyched about these five upcoming adrenaline-packed sequels in 2023. Be it stylized violence, sci-fi, animated adventure, or historical fiction, the following action films are expected to entice theater audiences on a global scale.

Here they are by chronological release date.

John Wick: Chapter 4—March 24

John Wick 4 - Lionsgate
Lionsgate

Keanu Reeves may have a reputation for being one of the nicest and quietest guys in Hollywood, but he will soon be smashing his way back in style as the intense and legendary hitman John Wick, opposite returning characters Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King and Ian McShane as Winston Scott, along with newcomers Bill Skarsgård as the mysterious Marquis and Donnie Yen as Caine.

According to Total Film magazine, Reeves has dubbed the John Wick: Chapter 4 role his “hardest physical role ever,” under the masterful eye of franchise director and stunt coordinator Chad Stahelski. This time, Wick will be dodging The High Table in five different countries, from Osaka to Paris. The film is expected to run for 2 hours and 49 minutes, making it the franchise’s longest entry to date.

"The hardest physical role I’ve ever had in my career so far. They really trained me up to be able to have what we call the toolbox."

Fans are also anticipating the Peacock and Prime Video release of the prequel miniseries The Continental, produced by Lionsgate Television. The story takes place in New York in the 1970s and will focus on a much younger Winston (Colin Woodell) as he navigates the complexities of the criminal underworld.

Related: John Wick: Chapter 4 to Be Longest Installment of the Franchise Yet

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3—May 5

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Marvel Studios

Intergalactic posse members Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Sean Gunn), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), and Groot (Van Diesel) are facing the dangers of another space mission in the franchise’s final movie. Directed by James Gunn and scored by John Murphy, Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame and will debut in theaters this May.

Fans had been wondering whether they’d be seeing Gamora (Zoë Saldaña) again, until her return (albeit with amnesia and working with bounty hunters) was confirmed during a Marvel panel at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con.

Related: Why Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Will be the Kickstart the MCU Needs

Fast X—May 19

fastx
Universal Pictures

The penultimate entry in the Fast & Furious world is set to race into theaters this May, two years after F9. It is directed by Louis Leterrier, who was hired based on his work on the Transporter films, soon after writer/director Justin Lin had decided to step back. Fast X, aka Fast & Furious 10, boasts another impressive ensemble cast: Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Sung Kang, Ludacris, Jason Momoa, John Cena, Jason Statham (the original Transporter), Rita Moreno, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, and Charlize Theron.

Make sure to rewatch Fast Five before Fast X to understand how Jason Momoa’s villainous character Dante fits into the story—but don’t fret. You’ll be able to watch him return as a superhero by the end of the year, as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled for December 25.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse—June 2

Spider-Man 2099 in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Sony Pictures Releasing

MCU enthusiasts are looking forward to the release of the Sony-distributed sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which will more or less coincide with the dropping of another Marvel Comics’ Edge of Spider-Verse in comic stores.

Jake Johnson, Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, and Issa Rae will be lending their voice to the characters of Peter Parker, Mike Morales, Gwen Stacy, Miguel O’Hara, and Jessica Drew, respectively.

Per the official Sony Pictures premise:

"Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar-winning Spider-Verse saga, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn's full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must re-define what it means to be a hero, so he can save the people he loves most."

The sequel to the 2018 award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse boasts six different animated styles, as it is set in six dimensions of the Multiverse, and will be followed by Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which is scheduled for March 29, 2024.

Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny—June 30

Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny
Lucasfilm

15 years after Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Harrison Ford is reprising his role as the iconic archeologist in one final movie. Directed by James Mangold, with franchise creator George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg as executive producers, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny features Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Jones’ goddaughter Helena, John Rhys-Davies as his good friend Sallah, and Mads Mikkelsen as the ex-Nazi villain Voller.

Audiences are looking forward to the impressive, seamless digital de-aging process that had been performed on octogenarian Ford for a believable young Indy. Visual effects studio Industrial Light and Magic was commissioned for the delicate task and matched actual archive footage of a younger Ford with newly shot scenes.