Black Panther 2, Avatar 2 lead wettest year of movies ever

If the 2022 and 2023 release calendars are any indication, global movie audiences said “make our movies wetter!” and Hollywood delivered. For so long, space and vaguely European countrysides have been the dominant backdrops for major sci-fi/fantasy blockbusters, but finally, it’s water’s turn. There will be a flood of new movies over the next twelve months. H20 is H2 on the rise. The Dew is finally getting his due. There will be a flood of water movies, from superhero films to classics underwater.

What is the deal? Here’s a look at the major Wet Movies ready to make a splash over the next year.

Wakanda Forever: Black Panther

Image: Marvel Studios

Date of release: Nov. 11, 2022
Director: Ryan Coogler (Black Panther)
Cast: Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, Tenoch Huerta

Wet factor: Wakanda Forever: Black Panther will explore a T’Challa-less world, and just as importantly, will travel underwater to introduce MCU fans to Namor, the powerful ruler of Talocan, Marvel’s Atlantis stand-in. Yes, he has wings on his feet, but don’t take him for an air-dweller: little hummingbird shins allow Namor to burst out of the water like a boss.

Strange World

Image: Walt Disney Animation

Date of release: Nov. 22, 2022
Directors: Don HallBig Hero 6), Qui Nguyen
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal. Jaboukie-White. Dennis Quaid. Gabrielle Union. Lucy Liu.

Wet factor: A throwback to Wellsian science fiction, Disney’s next animated feature promises to delve far below our planet. While trailers haven’t shown off much liquid water, one assumes things will pretty damp down there. At the minimum, it will be quite damp. Slimymovie is a subcategory within Wet Cinema.

The Way of Water: Avatar

Image: 20th Century Studios

Date of release: Dec. 16, 2022
Director: James Cameron (Avatar)
Cast: Zoe Saldana. Sam Worthington. Stephen Lang. Sigourney Weber. Kate Winslet.

Wet factor:It’s hard to know where to start. The ocean-obsessed Cameron sequelizes his 2011 epic by taking the Na’vi into uncharted waters — literally. Pandora’s marine life and aquatic Na’vi tribes were on the periphery of the original movie, but now they’re front and center. To film underwater scenes, the cast held their breaths! It may be necessary for some theaters not to allow 3D.

Titanic 3D HDR Re-release

Date of release: Feb. 10, 2023
Director: James Cameron (Avatar)
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio. Kate Winslet. Billy Zane. Bill Paxton.

Wet factor:Cameron’s Oscar-winning film will continue to be a hit with audiences thanks to a theatrical upgrade. The high-frame rate, 3D HDR treatment promises to make Jack and Rose’s escape from the sinking Titanic more realistic than ever. And you know what a sinking boat means… (Uh, it means things get wet.)

Magic Mike’s Last Dance

Warner Bros. Pictures

Date of release: Feb. 10, 2023
Director: Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike)
Cast: Channing Tatum. Salma Hayek. Caitlin Gérard

Wet factor: I can only imagine the sheer amount of sweat that will drip down Tatum’s rock-hard abs as he calls it a day on his Magic Mike character. Soderbergh’s trilogy-capper was originally commissioned as an HBO Max original, but got bumped up to a theatrical release in order for audiences to get the full wet effect.

Creed III

Photo: Eli Ade/MGM

Date of release: March 3, 2023
Director: Michael B. Jordan
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad

Wet factor:The third Creed movie, Magic Mike, promises ungodly amounts perspiration when Adonis Creed(Jordan), goes toe-to-toe with Damian (Majors). Jordan makes his directing debut with the third installment of the boxing movie franchise, leading me to believe he’ll break an even bigger sweat than ever before.

The Little Mermaid

Photo: Walt Disney Pictures

Date of release: April 26, 2023
Director: Rob MarshallChicago)
Cast: Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Awkwafina

Wet factor: Disney’s live-action remake of The Little MermaidYou ask: WouldHow does Ariel appear underwater?

Elemental

Image: Pixar

Date of release: June 16, 2023
Director: Peter SohnThe Good Dinosaur)
Cast: Mamoudou Athie and Leah Lewis

Wet factor: Pixar’s next film is inspired by Sohn’s time growing up in the Bronx as a Korean kid making it in a melting pot of a neighborhood. It’s also about a fire person befriending a water person. You should expect things to get wet And dry.

Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom

Warner Bros.

Date of release: Dec. 25, 2023
Director: James WanAquaman)
Cast: Jason Momoa. Amber Heard. Patrick Wilson. Yahya Abul-Mateen II.

Wet factor:Warner Bros. delayed this sequel for a whole year in order to keep it out of the same window. The Way of Water: AvatarThe film drenches the scenery with wet setpieces. The movie is now about the battle to save Atlantis and its water-hating inhabitants.