< Previous2023 Blockbusters 40 December 1 — February 14 timeoutabudhabi.com Pass the popcorn, we have 12 months of fresh olms to look forward to. While there are lots of amazing movies coming to streaming services, there are some things that are just better on the big screen – especially when you have a tub of the aforementioned popcorn and a supersized slushie, and you can laugh, scream and maybe even shed a tear or two among fellow movie fans. The 2023 movie schedule is looking as good as a mighty epic Àlm with plenty of superhero titles, explosive action, spine- tingling horrors and a handful of throwbacks to franchises of old to transport us. Without further ado, here are the top 20 blockbusters coming to our screens in 2023. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Following a year long delay, Paul Rudd and company are Ànally back for round three of this delightful Marvel franchise, as everyone’s favourite insect hero gets back to business. Scott Lang (Rudd) is reunited with partner in action Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) who, together with her parents (played by Hollywood OGs Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer), Ànd themselves exploring the Quantum Realm complete with lots of new creatures and unpredictable twists and turns. Kang is there too, obviously, so they better watch out. O Release: February Creed III Michael B. Jordan is in the ring again as Adonis ‘Donnie’ Creed in the third installment of this series of spinoffs from the Rocky Creed III John Wick: Chapter 42023 Blockbusters timeoutabudhabi.com December 1 — February 14 41 Balboa classics, and his story isn’t stopping with the ghost of his father. Jordan is also the man behind the camera this time around too, making his directorial debut having taken over from Ryan Coogler and Steven Caple. We don’t know quite how things will play out in this chapter. We do know that Jonathan Myers, who plays Donnie’s childhood friend, has just been released from prison and is looking to reclaim the life he feels the boxer took from him. And he will be Donnie’s opponent in the ring. Furthermore, Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad are set to reprise their roles as Adonis’ friend and mother, respectively. O Release: March John Wick: Chapter 4 It’s been a long time coming for the return of Keanu Reeves’ and Chad Stahelski’s blockbuster action franchise (there has been a two-year delay), but we’re told it will be worth the wait. Reeves is once more set to solidify his status as a legend of the pulse- pounding action genre by returning as Baba Yaga aka John Wick after a wave of trained killers tried to annihilate him on numerous occasions. It’s said he’s about to go after the High Table once and for all. Shaking things up, this fourth installment of the John Wick franchise is the Àrst not to be written by Derek Kolstad. He has been replaced by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. O Release: March Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves There have been a few Dungeons & Dragons Àlms over the years, but none of them have featured Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, Michelle Rodriguez and Regé-Jean Page. The latest fantasy adventure, co-written and directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, does in fact draw inspiration from the much- loved game. There’s a team of thieves, a difÀcult quest and of course an adventure that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniad “It’s said he’s about to go after the High Table once and for all”2023 Blockbusters 42 December 1 — February 14 timeoutabudhabi.com goes awry. Given that this is 2023, there is plenty of thrilling CGI that makes this one to see on the big screen. Bring on the Owlbear. O Release: March SuperMario Bros Cracking the video game movie code is no easy feat, but if anyone can do it, it’s Chris Meledandri of Illumination (Despicable Me). After all, it’s about time Mario, Luigi, Browser and Princess Peach hit the big screen again, and this time they’ve got the manpower of the creator of Mario himself, Shigeru Miyamoto, behind them. Chris Pratt is voicing our favourite Italian mustachioed plumber who arrives in Mushroom Kingdom and meets Keegan-Michael Key’s Toad, who also stars alongside an absolutely stacked cast including Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Browser, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong and Charlie Day as Luigi. This is one for videogame fans of all ages. O Release: April The Little Mermaid Live action remakes of Disney classics are all the rage right now, so we’re expecting big things from our Àsh-out-of-water favourite. Already making headlines thanks to its utterly inspired cast – we’ve got Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, AwkwaÀna as Scuttle, Javier Bardem as King Triton and, of course, the lovely Halle Bailey as Ariel – the Àlm is being directed by Rob Marshall, who is popularly known on Apple TV+, DiCaprio also stars alongside Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons in this much-anticipated Àlm, which tells the story of a series of grizzly murders hitting an indigenous American tribe in the ’20s and the unorthodox FBI investigation that followed. Other details have been kept Àrmly under wraps, but it looks like a textbook Scorsese crime picture, which can only be a good thing. The DiCaprio/Scorsese dream team also has shipwreck thriller The Wager and Roosevelt, which follows the 32nd president of the United States, coming out this year, too. So, there’s plenty to look forward to. O Release: May for directing the movie musical version of Broadway’s Chicago. The remake promises to bring back some of the original songs we know and love (as well as a few new ones too), so you’ll be singing your heart out to “Part of this World” soon. O Release: May Killers of the Flower Moon There’s only one thing better than a good true crime movie, and that’s a good true crime movie that stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is directed by Martin Scorsese, and that’s exactly what we’re getting from Killers of the Flower Moon. Set to debut in theatres and Killers of the Flower Moon SuperMario Bros2023 Blockbusters timeoutabudhabi.com December 1 — February 14 43 3 OF THE BIGGEST ACTION BLOCKBUSTERS COMING IN 2023 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Writer and director James Gunn is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to complete his space opera trilogy with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. As to be expected, fans already have high hopes for the Áick, especially since the Guardians have already been back on our screens this year in Thor: Love and Thunder, and they’ll also pop up on Disney+ in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special this December. Expect a fair few familiar faces, too, as Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper, will be kicking it once more on the big screen very soon. O Release: May INDIANA JONES 5 The good news? Everyone’s favourite archaeologist adventurer returns next year as Harrison Ford reprises his role as Indiana Jones for a whopping Àfth time. The not-so-good news? It’s the Àrst time ever that Steven Spielberg won’t be at the helm, having turned over his post to James Mangold (Walk the Line). Still, we’re expecting big things from this long-awaited follow-up to 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which, we’re sure you’ll all agree, has been a long time coming. John Rhys- Davies will also be back as Sallah, and newcomers including Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas and Phoebe Waller- Bridge are joining the franchise, too. O Release: June MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING, PART 1 If you thought Tom Cruise’s death-defying limits couldn’t be pushed any further then you’re in for a treat next July – we’ve heard writer-director Christopher McQuarrie has some big ideas up his sleeve with the latest addition to the Mission: Impossible franchise. Cruise has been playing Ethan Hunt for 27 years now after all, so you’d think he’d be used to it. Planned as the Àrst part of a two- part Ànale that will wrap up the series, the teasers for the seventh movie have promised everything from car chases and plane crashes to Àghts and cliff jumps, while familiar franchise faces including Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson and Henry Czerny will also be returning to the fray. O Release: July Indiana Jones 52023 Blockbusters 44 December 1 — February 14 timeoutabudhabi.com Transformers: Rise of the Beasts New robots are invading earth in the seventh installment of the Transformers franchise, which takes another step forward in time after the 1980s-set Bumblebee, transporting viewers back to the mid-’90s as a pair of archaeologists stumble into a three- way conÁict between different factions of Transformers. As Optimus Prime would say: “You picked the wrong planet!” Incorporating themes and characters from the 1996 TV series Beast Wars: Transformers, the Àlm takes place between New York and Peru and, rather excitingly, we’ll be introduced to three new robot tribes, Maximals, Predacons and Terrorcons, who will add to the existing battle on earth between the Autobots and Deceptions. Apparently it’s unlike any Transformers movie fans have seen before, so prepare for some surprises. O Release: June Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse Is your Spidey sense tingling? Summer wouldn’t be blockbuster season without a “We suggest watching this IMAX-shot film on the biggest screen possible” superhero Áick and Spider-Man is swinging in this summer. This time, we have a computer- animated version with Miles Morales back as Brooklyn’s friendly neighbourhood Spider- Man. The Àlm is a sequel to 2018’s Spider- Man: Into the Spider-Verse and has Shameik Moore voicing our superhero along with an A-list lineup featuring Daniel Kaluuya, Oscar Isaac, Hailee Steinfeld and Issa Rae. O Release: June Oppenheimer The cast of Oppenheimer reads like a who’s who of A-list Hollywood talent, so we’re seriously excited about this one. Starring Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr, Christopher Nolan’s much buzzed-about biopic on physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer covers one of the most famous and devastating moments in history. Even if you don’t know the name, you’ll know the event for which the man was responsible – he was known as the “father of the atomic bomb”, a weapon that would eventually be used as part 3 HORROR MOVIES COMING IN 2023 M3GAN Universal is throwing a terrifying Áick about a life-like doll that becomes sentient and starts killing people into the mix. This one has Chuckie vibes written all over it. It’s the latest horror from the mind of James Wan, who is also behind the likes of The Conjuring and Saw. The creepy movie follows a brilliant robotics engineer at a toy company named Gemma (played by Get Out’s Allison Williams) who uses artiÀcial intelligence to build a life-like doll designed to be a child’s best friend. To little surprise, things end up going horribly wrong. They always do when a killer doll is involved, don’t they? We predict we’ll be sleeping with the lights on after this one. O Release: January SCREAM 6 Hello Sidney…or should we say Sam? After a ten-year hiatus, the Scream franchise returned to our screens this year with a whole new generation of unsuspecting teens for Ghostface to torture, and he’s back at it again next year but this time (gulp) Neve Campbell won’t be returning as Sidney Prescott. Luckily, the new movie will bring back Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, and leads of the Àfth movie Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega as sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter, respectively. Scream 6 will take place in New York City. Most other details of the plot have been kept under wraps for now, but we can expect plenty more slicing, dicing, and keeping up with the many horror movie rules. O Release: March THE NUN 2 Horror buffs will remember the 2018 horror movie The Nun, a spinoff of The Conjuring which starred Taissa Farmiga as a young woma who comes face to face with the evil Valak. Pretty terrifying stuff. This second installment takes place four years later as Farmiga’s sister Irene encounters Valak (played by Bonnie Aarons) at it once more after she is called upon to investigate a murder in 1956 in France. With the original Àlm raking in over $365 million against its $22 million production budget to become the highest- grossing movie in The Conjuring universe to date, next year’s movie has some pretty scary boots to Àll, but we’re pretty sure there’ll be no messing around. O Release: September Oppenheimer2023 Blockbusters timeoutabudhabi.com December 1 — February 14 45 of the Manhattan Project to bring destruction on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. We suggest watching this IMAX-shot Àlm on the biggest screen possible. O Release: July Barbie Never in the history of Àlm has there been two actors better suited to play the iconic characters Barbie and Ken than Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, so it’s no wonder the upcoming Barbie movie is one of the most anticipated releases of 2023. Hot on the heels of her award-winning adaptation of Little Women, Greta Gerwig is at the helm of this high-concept original which chronicles the world’s most famous doll as she’s banished from Barbieland and introduced into our world, so expect plenty of Áuorescent ’80s-inspired outÀts and platinum blonde hair. Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon and Michael Cera will also make up the star-studded cast. Barbie is the Àrst of a run of movies to release based on one of Mattel’s toys. O Release: July Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Get ready to take a dive into Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom later in 2023. James Wan has returned to the director’s chair for another go at the world of Atlantic and the DC superhero Aquaman (Jason Momoa), who will also be joined by Patrick Wilson as Ocean Master and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta. Talk of the plot has been kept well under wraps, but it’s set to be released on December 25, which is a lovely little end-of-the year treat. O Release: December Wonka He stole our hearts with Paddington, and now Paul King is back to take on one of the most iconic children’s tales of all time. A prequel to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wonka follows the younger years of Willy Wonka who, this time around, is played by Timothée Chalamet. Set before the candy architect establishes his confection empire, this musical-meets-fantasy movie also stars Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Keegan Michael- Key and Rowan Atkinson, and you can expect run-ins with the Oompa-Loompas, lots of great songs and, of course, all the candy. O Release: December Legally Blonde 3 Elle Woods is back for a third installment of the Legally Blonde franchise, with Reese Witherspoon set to reprise her role as the Harvard Law School graduate, along with many major players of the original cast. Often hailed as one of the greatest and funniest noughties comedies, the original movie made over $141 million in box ofÀce sales worldwide, eventually prompting the second Àlm in the series, with the third now due to be released in 2023. O Release: TBC Wonka46 December 1 — February 14 timeoutabudhabi.com Healthy food that actually tastes good Food timeoutabudhabi.com/food-drink timeoutabudhabi.com/brunch Health is wealth Christmas is a time to indulge, tucking into all the turkey dinners, mince pies and gingerbread men you can (not to mention all the leftovers). But the new year, rightly or wrongly, often calls for resolutions, healthy eating and exercise regimes. The good news is that eating healthy food in Abu Dhabi doesn’t have to be dull. To help you achieve your January goals, here’s our top healthy picks in the city.timeoutabudhabi.com December 1 — February 14 47 meals including roasted vegetable lasagne and grilled chicken with mash, it’s safe to say they’ve got us covered at Rite Bite Express. O Prices vary. Open daily, 8am- 6pm. Madinat Zayed Area, @ ritebite (04 525 9171). Soulfull Feed the whole family with Soulfull’s selection of healthy bundles, which each include a number of wraps or salad boxes, fruit pots, energy bites or cakes and fresh juices. O Prices vary. Open daily, 9am-midnight. Al Raha Mall, @soulfull_restaurant (04 350 2078). The Raw Place As the name suggests, The Raw Place offers a selection of organic meals, fresh detox juices and plant-based options. There are lentil lunches, mung bliss balls and other light bites, as well as hot soups. O Prices vary. Open Sat-Thu, 7pm-11pm; Fri, 8am-11pm. Sheikh Khalifa Street, Al Markaziyah (02 633 4677). UNDER500 As the name tells us, the meals here are all about giving you some of your favourite dishes with fewer calories. Order anything from customisable all-day breakfast options to soups, salads and hot dishes such as chicken and crushed sweet potato. O Prices vary. Open daily 8am-12.30am. Madinat Zayed Area, @the500cp_uae (04 350 2055). ZEROFAT Priding itself in helping us live a healthy lifestyle, ZEROFAT has a selection of “morning routine” breakfast options including healthy shakshuka, egg towers and low-fat pancakes served (from 8.30am until noon) as well as “cardio meals” and “protein packed” options. O Prices vary. Open daily, 8am-midnight. The View Tower, Embassies District (02 544 455). O Prices vary. Open daily, 7am- midnight. Mamsha Al Saadiyat, @wearefeels (56 525 8235). Joud Café This café has an excellent selection of nutritious breakfast options. Order everything from açai bowls and smoothies to omelettes, shakshuka and peanut butter French toast (okay, that one’s not going to score well on MyFitnessPal). They’ve got pancakes too, as well as a selection of lunch and dinner options. O Prices vary. Open daily, 8am-10pm. Al Bateen (56 525 8235). Kcal As well as a variety of incredible sounding breakfast options (there’s a peanut butter, strawberry and banana burrito…), Kcal offers a range of salads, protein bowls and healthy wraps as well as hot meals such as grilled chicken, roast veggies and salmon teriyaki. O Prices vary. Open daily, 8.30am-11.30pm. Mamoura Building Tower B, Al Nahyan (600 595 955). Nolu’s Downtown Nolu’s serves American food options but with a healthy twist. You can get everything from kale and quinoa salads to salmon risotto and low-calorie burgers. Really. O Prices vary. Open daily, midday-9pm. The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, @nolusrestaurant (02 644 1516). Poke and Co. Poke bowls are great because they’re both healthy and delicious. At Poke and Co. you can choose between their bestselling dishes (including Ono, Aloha, Kahuna and Pokérrito) or build your own bowl from scratch with your favourite toppings. O Prices vary. Open daily, 7am-3am. Al Zahiya, @pokeandco (58 641 9039). Rite Bite Express Salads and superbowls, healthy sandwiches and wraps, protein pots and a selection of hot Poke and Co. All Things Açai Get your açai Àx here and enjoy the variety of bowls on offer. Whether you’re a fan of peanut butter-based açai or prefer yours with berries, there’s a bowl for you. In fact, you can even create your own. O Prices vary. Open daily, 8am-2am. Financial Centre, Abu Dhabi, @all_things_acai, (04 350 2041). Diet Bite If a quick bite for dinner is what you’re after then take a look at Diet Bite’s menu. The restaurant has a range of healthy hot meals from grilled prawns with brown rice to salmon and chicken dishes. O Prices vary. Open daily, 8am-1am. Near Sahara Hotel Apartments, Al Nahyan, @dietbite.ad (50 876 6317). Feels Head over to Soul Beach and you’ll discover brand new juice bar, Feels. The healthy eatery Àrst opened by the beach in Dubai and has now opened along the promenade down at Mamsha Al Saadiyat, serving healthy sandwiches, salad bowls, freshly pressed juices and wellness shots, all made without preservatives, added sugars, and hormones. “All made without preservatives, added sugars and hormones” Nolu’sFood 48 December 1 — February 14 timeoutabudhabi.com A KOREAN RESTAURANT popular with Abu Dhabi’s Korean contingent, Hankook is one of those much-prized Ànds where a nothing-special exterior belies the superb food within. Hankook is small and cosy and the perfect spot for an after-work dinner, date night or sharing a meal with your friends. Even at 7pm midweek, it’s busy, loud and full of hungry people excited to break bread with their friends It’s a fun atmosphere, and one the staff contribute to. When you’re showed to your table you have to weave past all the trolleys packed to the brim of cooked and raw food making its way to the tables, making you want to order everything on the menu by the time you’ve sat down. And here, there’s no such thing as many chefs in the kitchen. You’re invited to be the chef of your own table that each comes with its own built-in grill. Choose from everything including bulgogi, tukboki (pan- broiled rice), geran-mari (egg rolls) or the popular chicken ramen. The real star is the pulgogi (beef cube roll with sweet soy sauce) that comes with six (!) sides including Hankook O Open 11am-11pm. Defence Road, Al Nahyan, (02 642 3399). “The real star is the Pulgogi that comes with six (!) sides” WHAT IS IT... A chilled-laid back BBQ spot to enjoy with friends WHY GO... To enjoy drool-worthy authentic Korean dishes that will keep you happy and full kimchi, beansprouts and tofu, as well as sticky rice, that’s washed down nicely with the Korean white grape juice. This dish is huge, perfect to share for two (or one if you’re starving), cooked with mushrooms on the side. Hankook’s staff are attentive and will pop by every so often to make sure you’re not overcooking your meat or setting the Àre alarm off, like we almost did on our last visit when we couldn’t work out how to turn off the grill. Overall, Hankook is that place you can always return to for authentic Korean comfort food. RESTAURANT IN FOCUS Time Out reviews anonymously and pays for its mealsFood timeoutabudhabi.com December 1 — February 14 49 WHAT IS IT... A recently relaunched steakhouse soaring above the clouds on the 63rd floor of Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers WHY GO... Superb steak cuts and 360-degree city views that are sure to impress IF YOU WANT your steak served with a bird’s eye view of Abu Dhabi, Ray’s Grill is your place. The recently reopened American steakhouse in the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers is one level higher than Ray’s Bar on level 62, making it the highest spot in the hotel. There are no other places where you can get bird’s eye 360-degree views of the UAE capital, and certainly not served with premium cuts of steak The anticipation builds as you climb higher in the lift, step out in the lobby and are greeted with the twinkling lights of the city and Arabian Gulf. If you’re after a dinner with the right kind of drama, this slick steakhouse is a good option. It’s open Monday to Saturday from 6.30pm to 11pm. Ray’s Grill previously hosted the Le Petit Chef dining experience, and it reopened in October 2022 with a revamped menu curated by chef Daniel Irvine that focuses on premium cuts sourced from around the world. The menu makes the distinction between grain- and grass-fed and indicates what temperature the chargrill is kept at (375 to 400°C, if you’re wondering), to produce the top steaks. Smashed burgers, prime cuts, Australian wagyu and secondary cuts – the more affordable chef’s best-kept secrets under Dhs200 – are all called out on the menu. Then select your sauce or compound Ray’s Grill O Open Mon-Sat 6.30pm-11pm. Closed Sun. Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Etihad Towers, West Corniche (02 811 5666). butter and sides for a meaty match. For those who Ànd themselves in a steakhouse not feeling meat, there is a “not my beef” section and garden-to-table appetisers.. Whether you’re craving beef, Àsh or mushrooms (stay with us), start with a tartare. Tartares are prepared tableside, with ingredients explained and tasters offered before you settle on the Ànal dish. Some mains are made to share, which suits the romantic venue, but there are plenty of smaller portions for those who don’t want to quibble over the chateaubriand. Sides offer even more comforting gluttony with lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, creamed spinach and mashed potatoes with trufÁe and brie. Desserts (minus the chocolate lava cake) are showcased in a dessert trolley so pick what you Ànd most appealing of the lot. We would have preferred the pies (pecan and apple) to be served warm, to really enhance the homey Americana vibes, but at Dhs45 for each sweet, we’re not complaining too much. Overall, Ray’s Grill feels like it never left. Service is as polished as the Áoor-to-ceiling windows surrounding the restaurant. With tables already Àlling up, we can see this super steakhouse continuing right where it left off.Next >