The Halcyonite

By Felix O

’25

These movies showcase a variety of different genres and styles, from action-packed sci-fi to thought-provoking thrillers, and offer a glimpse into what filmmakers and writers imagined the future to look like in 2023. It’s worth noting that while these movies may be set in 2023, they were made several years earlier and the future they depict may not reflect the actual events and advancements of the world in 2023.

Avengers Endgame

94/100 Rotten tomatoes 

90/100 Audience score 

Genres: Fantasy, Superhero & Action

Runtime: 3 Hours 2 mins

Release date: 25th of April, 2019

Leads: Robert Downey Stark, Elizabeth Olsen, Chris evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlet Johanneson, Tom Holland, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Don Cheadle, Chriss pratt, Anthony Mackie, Zoe Saldaña, Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dave Bautista, Samuel L Jackson, Marisa Tomei.

Plot summary: “Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers — Thor, Black Widow, Captain America  and Bruce Banner — must figure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos — the evil demigod who decimated the planet and the universe.”

Reasons to watch: This film is an incredible example of how movies can cause an emotional response, and acts as a perfect ending to this era of Marvel.

Reasons to avoid:  Requires a pretty good prior knowledge of the series, 

“The 3-hour culmination of 22 chapters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is worth going back in time and watching again.”

• Jordan Hoffman, Film Critic 

X-Men: Days of future past

90/100 Rotten tomatoes 

91/100 Audience score 

Genres: Action, Sci-fi, Superhero, fantasy

Runtime: 2 hours 12 min

Release date: 23rd of May 2014

Leads: Hugh Jackman, Sir Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Ian McKellan, Elliot Page, Peter Dinklage,
Plot summary: “Convinced that mutants pose a threat to humanity, Dr. Bolivar Trask  develops the Sentinels, enormous robotic weapons that can detect a mutant gene and attack those that possess it. In the 21st century, the Sentinels have evolved into highly efficient killing machines. With mutants now facing extinction, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) volunteers to go back in time and rally the X-Men of the past to help change a pivotal moment in history and thereby save their future.
Reasons to watch: Thrilling story, gorgeous visual effects, and some damn good acting.
Reasons to avoid: Deals with time travel in a  way which erases certain beloved aspects in previous X-Men films.

“It is especially impressive that Days of Future Past is a success; a film this gooey and complex, with such business-minded scope, should not feel like a real movie at all.”

• David Sims, Film critic

The Tomorrow War

52/100 Rotten tomatoes 

76/100 Audience score 

Genres: Action, Sci-fi, Drama

Runtime: 2 Hours, 20 mins

Release date: 2nd July of 2021

Leads: Chris Pratt, Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, Daniel Radcliffe
Plot Summary: In The Tomorrow War, A group of time travellers arrive from the year 2051 to deliver an urgent message: Thirty years in the future mankind is losing a global war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for people from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight. Among those recruited is high school teacher and family man Dan Forester. Determined to save the world for his young daughter, Dan teams up with a brilliant scientist and his estranged father in a desperate quest to rewrite the fate of the planet.

Reasons to watch: It portrays the sense of hopelessness very well, and provokes a great audience response.
Reasons to avoid: Relatively weak script, 

“It isn’t the most surprising time-travel movie, but a satisfying story and plenty of entertaining action make The Tomorrow War well worth a watch. “

• Audience Consensus, Rotten Tomatoes

The Purge: Anarchy

57/100 Rotten tomatoes 

56/100 Audience score 

Genres: Horror, Action, Thriller

Runtime: 1 Hour, 43 Mins

Release date: 18th July 2014

Leads: Frank Grillo, LaKeith Stanfield, Chad Morgan, Patrick Stewart, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jake Gyllenhaal
Plot summary: “One night per year, the government sets a 12-hour period in which citizens can commit any crime they wish without fear of punishment or imprisonment. Leo, a sergeant who lost his son, plans a vigilante mission of revenge during the mayhem. However, instead of a death-dealing avenger, he becomes the unexpected protector of four innocent strangers who desperately need his help if they are to survive the night.” –

Reasons to watch: An engaging portrayal of the ‘purge’ concept, done in a new, refreshing light.

Reasons to avoid: If you’re used to a more traditional portrayal of this series, this twist might not be for you.  “The action sequences are well judged throughout. But we never get any closer to understanding which end of the fence the film-makers sit at.” 

• Donald Clark (critic)

(Sourcing for images: IMDb)