The Best Films of 2023
On the surface, it seemed like a lot of movie-related news for 2023 wasn’t good. There were the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes that lasted for months, audiences seemed to become tired of superhero movies and several big tentpole studio films bombed hard at the box office. However, there were many things to appreciate about movies in 2023. After months of picketing, the strikes were won by the writers and actors and there were still many great films that came out within the past year including some that people didn’t expect to be critically and financially successful.
As I like to do every year, this is my list of my absolute favorite films that I saw in the past year. While I haven’t been able to see every great film (I still need to see films like “Anatomy of a Fall”, “Zone of Interest” and “The First Slam Dunk”) of the past year, I’m pretty happy with just how much I saw and I can’t wait to share them with you. It’s important to remember that this list is all subjective so don’t go nuts if you don’t see a movie from 2023 that you liked on this list. These aren’t objectively the best films, although most of them are, these are just my personal favorites. I would also urge you to see these films if you haven’t already and to try and support them in theaters if you can.
But first, here are some honorable mentions of films that I really loved. These are all just really good films that, for one reason or another, were outshone by the Top 15. However, I still highly recommend these films and think they’re worth watching:
Saltburn: Emerald Fennell’s follow-up to “Promising Young Woman” was a fantastic, bubble-gum pop coated psychological thriller that was as entertaining as it was captivating. With outstanding performances by Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi and Rosamund Pike, this sophomore effort from Fennell had a hell of a vision with wild ideas that I’m still amazed got to be in a mainstream film.
Godzilla Minus One: One of the year’s finest action films, this Japanese export has some of the best characterization, action and atmosphere ever associated with the “Godzilla” franchise.
Theater Camp: A hilarious mockumentary in the style of “Waiting for Guffman” and “This is Spinal Tap”, this film feels like it was tailor made for all the theater geeks and somehow it also manages to appeal to everyone’s sense of humor.
Suzume: Makoto Shinkai’s film about love pushed to the ultimate test by the potential end of the world has imaginative imagery and incredible ideas on par with previous Shinkai films like “Your Name”.
The Color Purple: This adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical proved why this remarkable story has remained timeless. Incredible performances, exciting musical sequences and a beautiful environment all contribute to an excellent interpretation of Alice Walker’s iconic novel.
May December: Todd Haynes’ deeply human and psychologically thrilling look at a relationship based in grooming showcases the societal taboos that weren’t meant to be crossed.
The Boy and the Heron: Hayao Miyazaki’s return to filmmaking is full of his usual dreamlike imagery mixed with deeply real problems making for an impressive suspension of Miyazaki’s retirement.
Creed III: Michael B. Jordan’s first time behind the camera gave us an incredible sports drama that featured some of the most innovative fight sequences in the franchise, resulting in an exceptionally memorable entry in the “Rocky”/”Creed” franchise.
Beau is Afraid: The third film from Ari Aster, Joaquin Phoenix delivers one of his best performances in this hypnotizing, nightmare-fueled fantasy that constantly plays with your helpless state.
Priscilla: The more personal side of Graceland is explored in this magnetic biopic of Priscilla Presley. With incredible direction by the legendary Sofia Coppola, a deeply subtle script and excellent performances by Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, this is the kind of biopic we didn’t even know we needed.
The Killer: David Fincher’s latest film takes a more methodical approach with its protagonist and has some of the year’s best thrills including an opening 20 minutes that is practically perfect.
Asteroid City: Wes Anderson’s best film since “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, “Asteroid City” has the usual Anderson fixings but also keeps things fresh with a deeply investing environment and an exceptionally meta sense of humor.
Dream Scenario: Finally, someone understands why it can be both thrilling and scary to have Nicolas Cage constantly appear in your dreams.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3: The final film in this beloved trilogy, “Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3” proves why superhero films still have their staying power thanks to an excellent ensemble, cool tunes and fun action sequences.
John Wick: Chapter 4: Presumably the final film in the “John Wick” series, this installment took everything the first three films had and upped the ante with some of the best action sequences of the past decade and a satisfying conclusion to the tale of Baba Yaga.
A Thousand and One: A powerful drama about the sacrifices parents make for their children, this heartwarming and heartbreaking story has an amazing lead performance by Teyana Taylor and some of the most loving photography of New York.
Inside: Who would have figured that all you need to be entertained is just Willem Dafoe losing his mind in a modernist apartment for 100 minutes?
Joy Ride: One of the most ridiculous comedies of the year, “Joy Ride” leaves its mark with an outstanding ensemble cast, outrageous humor and a strong sense of heart.
A sports biopic that goes against the popular model of films inspired by true stories, “The Iron Claw” features an amazing cast that went above and beyond to physically transform themselves to bring this heartbreaking story to the big screen. Zac Efron’s lead performance is incredible to witness and the story of the Von Erich family is one that I felt fortunate to witness.
With one of the best written scripts of the year, “Air” is what happens when a basic product placement film is elevated by a passionate story about innovation and iconography. An amazing ensemble cast and tight pacing give us a glimpse into a world that is about to be forever changed not by a shoe but by the superstar athlete that it’s been created for. This is a film about how gods are made and it’s beyond entertaining.
Unnerving and disturbing, this A24 horror film is already on track to becoming one of the most iconic horror films of the decade thanks to its memorable imagery and terrifying story. Focusing on themes of grief, substance abuse and teenage angst, this supernatural thriller has much to reveal with each subsequent viewing.
One of the year’s most intelligent films, “American Fiction” boasts an outstanding lead performance by Jeffrey Wright and takes the literary world by storm as the film examines an artist breaking free of the boxes that people try to put him in. With a great deal of the runtime spent examining the protagonist’s family life, “American Fiction” also makes for a inspiring look at how a family tries to stay stable in uncertain times.
Featuring audacious performances by Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef and Willem Dafoe, Yorgos Lanthimos’ film is a remarkably weird look at creation and the excitement that this wild world can inspire from us. Seeing a young woman become more intelligent, adventurous and autonomous was such a beautiful thing to witness in a film that balances creative imagery with gut-busting humor.
Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti have reunited at last to give us one of the most comforting films of the year. This 70s-set dramedy feels so much like the classic films of the New Hollywood and has all of the warm feelings of kindness mixed with the harsh realities of the decade. Focusing on the family that can be formed under the most unlikely of circumstances, this is one of those films that I wish I could experience for the first time all over again.
9. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One
Like last year, a Tom Cruise-led action spectacular ended up being one of the year’s best. With inspiring practical action, a tight feeling of suspense and exceptionally entertaining characters, this seventh “Mission Impossible” film just proves that, unlike other long running action series like “The Fast and Furious” films, this series shows no signs of losing quality.
Following the success of “A Star is Born”, director Bradley Cooper has crafted a wonderful biopic of the great Leonard Bernstein. Along with Cooper’s uncanny lead performance, Carey Mulligan steals every scene she’s in with her grace and emotion while the film’s visual and musical aesthetic create an intensely intimate look at one of the past century’s finest composers.
7. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Judy Blume’s iconic novel has been adapted at last and the joy that it has inspired made the wait worth it. Even if you’re not the target audience for this film, the themes of childhood \and its various problems can still be quite relatable, especially from the excellent performance by Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret. With the book being an important story for multiple generations, this film understands the legacy and honors it wholly.
The year’s biggest moneymaker was also one of the most intelligent, funny and surprisingly existential films of the year. Greta Gerwig’s direction and script, cowritten with Noah Baumbach, are the cornerstone of this inspiring summer blockbuster that proved that you can make a thematically complex film with musical numbers and a lot of pink paint and people will embrace it.
My favorite comedy of the year, Emma Seligman’s follow-up to “Shiva Baby” could not have been any more different with outrageous laughs, charismatic leads and a lot of fantastic violence. Who would have guessed that the summer blockbuster season needed lesbians starting a fight club? I didn’t and that’s why “Bottoms” was one of the year’s best surprises.
4. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
My favorite comic book and animated film of the year, this sequel to my favorite Spider-Man film of all time took everything that was great about its predecessor and pushed it even further. The animation is lighting quick but you still can make everything out, the characters feel so relatable and the film’s cliffhanger ending felt well-earned. I can’t wait for a sequel but, at the same time, the filmmakers are free to take all the time they need to make a sequel capable of taking down “Across The Spider-Verse”.
The latest film from the master Martin Scorsese, this historical epic showcases the lengths greed will go to in America, especially when it’s at the expense of the lives of minorities. With outstanding performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert DeNiro, every performer takes on this daunting story with grace and humanity. Alongside masterful editing, haunting images and an excellent score by the late Robbie Robertson, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a slow meditation that shows why Scorsese is one of the best directors who’s ever lived.
This film that focuses on what could have been has some of the best dialogue in any film of 2023. Celine Song’s direction and screenplay are brilliant with Greta Lee giving one of my favorite performances of the year with tender emotion. Along with one of the best endings to a 2023 film, “Past Lives” is the most exciting A24 film I saw all year which is saying a tremendous lot.
1. Oppenheimer
The Christopher Nolan biopic was full of such innovation in the fields of cinematography, editing and special effects. However, at its heart, “Oppenheimer” kept me dazzled with a truly massive ensemble cast, incredible attention to historical detail and some of the most riveting suspense I have seen in any film of the past year. The fact that this three hour film felt like two is proof of just how exciting this film is. Along with “Barbie”, “Oppenheimer” became the biggest cultural phenomenon at the movies this year and made for one interesting double feature. With a combination of powerful drama and spectacle, “Oppenheimer” feels like the culmination of Christipher Nolan’s entire career and it’s my favorite film of the year.
