What an odd but fascinating year it was for cinema. After the tumultuous years of the pandemic, everyone had high hopes that the entertainment industry would finally bounce back in 2023…and it did to a certain extent.
There were many box office successes. Audiences turned out in big numbers for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. Most notably, 2023 saw the simultaneous theatrical release of Barbie and Oppenheimer. “Barbenheimer” was a phenomenon that reminded us theatrical movies can still captivate the masses. Even a concert documentary (Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour) broke box office records and re-defined the medium in a way that no one thought possible. Nevertheless, streaming platforms continue to draw viewers in numbers that often outshine customers paying for theatrical tickets. As Bob Dylan once sang, “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”
But it wasn’t just about the hits. My list is a testament to the fact that 2023 offered many films of note. My hope is if you didn’t see one of my favorite flicks in a theater, perhaps you might seek them out on a streaming platform. And now, for the big reveal. Drumroll, please…
Directed by Justine Triet - Starring Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner, Antoine Reinartz
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki - Starring Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki
Directed by Sean Durkin – Starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney
4. Oppenheimer
Directed by Christopher Nolan – Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr.
5. Theater Camp
Directed by Molly Gordon & Nick Lieberman – Starring Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, Noah Galvin, Jimmy Tatro
Directed by Daniel Goldhaber – Starring Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki – Voice cast (American dub) Luca Padovan, Robert Pattinson, Karen Fukuhara, Gemma Chan
8. Talk to Me
Directed by Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou – Starring Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Miranda Otto
9. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
10. She Came to Me
Directed by Rebecca Miller – Starring Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei, Joanna Kulig
Just Missed the Top 10
11. The Holdovers
12. All of Us Strangers
13. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
14. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
15. Barbie
16. May December
17. BlackBerry
18. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
19. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
20. Saltburn
8 Responses
1. Godzilla MinusOne
2. Anatomy of a Fall
3. Theater Camp
4. She came to Me
5. The Iron Claw
6. Talk to Me
7. The Boy and the Heron
8. Oppenheimer
9. Mission Impossible
10. Love to love you, Donna
Wow. Lots of overlap. The only difference is that How to Blow Up a Pipeline is on my list, and the Donna Summer documentary is on yours. Great list!!
Cannot wait to see if your predictions come true.
These are my personal favorites. I think Oppenheimer will take the top prize at the Oscars. I’d love to see Best Actor go to Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer as well. I’m rooting for Sandra Huller to win Best Actress for Anatomy of a Fall, but I’d be happy if she just got nominated.
A fabulous list, even if I’d scoot The Holdovers a fews spots higher (yes it’s conventional but it’s so well done!) 2023 was the year I really missed a lot of movies. I mean, the list of titles I haven’t seen is . . . embarrassing. I’m hoping not for a repeat this year. 🤞
Great to see Theater Camp sitting at #5 — I loved that movie, and the way it all came together at the end. The signature song “Camp Isn’t Home” became one of my favorite songs of the year!
Oh and Happy New Year!! So delighted to see you going strong still.
I’m so glad enjoyed Theater Camp. Yes that song was brilliant at the end. Happy New Year my friend. 🎆🥳🎉🎊🎇 Here’s to another great year of movies! 🍿 🎥
Hi again Mark, I think we always have the same plan, which is to release our top 10 films of the year, simultaneously on New Year’s Day. I like that two of us have chosen to do this, on both sides of the ‘pond’ virtually at the same time .Often with my list, it is a stretch to get over 20 – this year I had a list of over 30, which for me defines it as a strong year for film. It is always interesting reading your list, as there are a lot of crossovers – I count six films on your 20 that are on my 25 – but at the same time, as you are in America and I am in either Asia or the UK, there are always a lot of films on your list that are 2024 releases for me, so thanks for the heads up on what to look forward to this year. It is agonizing for me to see Anatomy of a Fall as number 1 on your list; it was top of my must see film list of the autumn, but I couldn’t find it playing anywhere. Incidentally, I am currently in the U.S in Seattle, so I am hoping to catch Godzilla – 1, Ferrari and Dream Scenario while I am here. Check out my list if you have time. It would be great to hear from you again. PS: I like your format. I tend to write all of my reviews in the last two months of the year. Happy New – film watching – Year! https://darrenmoverley81.wordpress.com/2024/01/01/ten-of-the-best-films-of-2023/
Trying to get my list out by New Year’s Day can be difficult. There are still several films I want to see. I will not change my list if I see a worthy 2023 movie later. However, I may note in its review that it would have made the cut.
Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful response. I love getting comments.
Here’s to 2024 and another 365 days of great movies!