Top 10 Movies of 2023
2023 was a great year for movies so this list was difficult to narrow this down.
I made a point to watch as many new releases this year as possible but of course still have lots I missed. I wrote reviews for as many as I could but there were several that I just never got around to.
As usual this isn’t an entirely objective list. I rank movies based on how well made I think they are but also on enjoyment and what matched my taste.
Please scroll though and see what I enjoyed most in 2023!
Honourable Mentions
Exactly how a legacy sequel should be done. Breaking free of the shadow of the Rocky movies, Creed stands on its own. Impressive for first time director Michael B. Jordan.
The perfect premise for me: about dreams, stars Nicholas Cage, and produced by A24. A bizarre dark comedy that’s definitely not for everyone.
A solid satire with great acting from Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. I’ve listened to (and sang along with) “I’m Just Ken” more times than I’m willing to admit.
Raced way past my expectations as one of the biggest surprises of the year. A solid sports drama with a lot of heart. David Harbour steals the show.
10) Air
Air is about Michael Jordan’s now iconic line of shoes, I know that may not sound exciting but this was a great time. Aside from a few obscured background shots, we barely even saw Jordan in the movie, yet it managed to be riveting and engrossing throughout.
Creating tension and suspense for an event we all know has already occurred is a feat worthy of recognition. Doing so by showing people talking in an office building is even more impressive. Fantastic acting from Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, and Viola Davis. Ben Afleck again solidifies his impeccable ability to direct.
This captures all of the build up, heart, and triumph you would expect from a sports movie, only here the “star player” is an overweight middle aged man who hates running.
8/10 - A surprise slam dunk that I am sure many overlooked. Streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.
9) The Killer
David Fincher showcases his signature style and social commentary with this adaptation of a French novel. The moody and textured cinematography paired with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ industrial score creates the atmosphere of a quintessential Fincher film.
Michael Fassbender is incredible both in the efficiency of his physical performance and the delivery of the fantastic inner monologue. This is his first film since the abysmal X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) and it’s great to have him back in more serious projects again.
Medium matches message. This movie is methodical, calculating, and precise but with enough chaos to keep you immersed and on your toes. As a Netflix original The Killer didn’t get much hype or attention. It makes me miss the days when a Fincher movie was a big deal, but I guess times have changed.
8/10 - A triumphant return for Fassbender and Fincher. Available to stream on Netflix now, but I’m glad I caught it in the theatre.
8) John Wick: chapter 4
The crescendo to an already incredible series. John Wick: Chapter 4 lived up to all of the hype, proving that great cinema isn’t just limited to dialogue heavy drama. It deserves tremendous respect and praise for how meticulously crafted it was, and I will debate anyone who claims otherwise.
Keanu Reeves and the legendary Donnie Yen perform some of the most precise hand to hand combat ever put to screen. The action choreography was second to none, and by comparison other movies felt sloppy. I was shocked that every shot was a stunning composition even while following actors and stunt people moving at a breakneck pace.
A little long (some fights just did not end) but it delivered that signature John Wick lore along with a masterclass in choreography and cinematography.
8/10 - The best John Wick film yet! Nothing else even comes close in the action genre.
- Click here for the full review -
7) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Finally another great Marvel movie! James Gunn and his band of misfits get the heartfelt and hilarious farewell they deserve. Guardians Vol. 3 balances humour, excitement, and wholesome moments of genuine emotion in a way that few blockbusters can.
This isn’t just a comedy, Gunn lets the more intense moments hit without undercutting them with a joke or quip. The character arcs were satisfying and unexpected. They didn’t play it safe, instead paying off years of set up with meaningful and earned conclusions for every character.
Guardians stands out in how neatly packaged it is. You get everything all wrapped up in one of the most triumphant and joyful conclusions to a trilogy since Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. This wasn’t just an exceptional superhero action comedy, it was an excellent character piece and Gunn’s respect for these characters is clear.
8/10 - A movie that can elicit every type of emotion from grief to glee, all while keeping me entertained, deserves a spot on this list.
6) Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One
Dead Reckoning is spectacle at it’s finest. Movies like this are why I go to the theatre and despite the lack of full frame IMAX sequences this was the most exciting theatre experience of the year. You simply can not replicate it at home.
What makes Dead Reckoning unique is that the spectacle isn’t just there for its own sake, each stunt, chase sequence, and fight scene serves the story. Character’s develop as they are presented with impossible odds and dramatic choices.
From a technical perspective this is perfect! Sound design, camera work, stunt sequences, and editing are all flawless. This is a near perfection of the Mission Impossible format, with a more humorous and lighthearted tone than previous entries.
9/10 - A brilliantly paced action extravaganza, shot on location and with real performers. Excellent but not as good as MI: Fallout.
5) Killers of the Flower Moon
A devastating and thought provoking epic from the legendary Martin Scorcese. Despite it’s long run time, the movie was incredibly efficient, with every scene full of character dilemmas and intense drama.
Killers of the Flower Moon explores the evils of modern settler colonialism. This was not an easy watch and there was no shortage of characters feigning pleasantries while navigating a web of deception.
Robert De Niro and Leonardo Dicaprio gave some of the best performances of their careers but Lily Gladstone stood out with her talent for nuance and genuine subtlety. Killers of the Flower Moon is a masterclass in subtext.
9/10 - Be prepared to feel emotionally drained, this was an intense and tragic story that needed to be told.
- Click here for the full review -
4) Past Lives
Every few years a movie elevates or even breaks its genre. Celine Song’s directorial debut shattered the mold for romantic dramas, (like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and 500 Days of Summer before it) telling a cross cultural story about what could have been.
Honest, genuine, and somber. Past Lives portrays emotions, both negative and positive, with a sublime authenticity. Greta Lee and Teo Yoo were both so charming, sweet, and endearing, that I could not help but be drawn to them.
9/10 - An authentic and gentle portrayal of destiny, longing, and acceptance. One of the most memorable films of the year.
3) Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One had a budget of less than 1% of what most Hollywood blockbusters cost. On top of that the visual effects team consisted of only 9 people, including writer/director Takashi Yamazaki.
One of the most thematically impactful movies of the year, Minus One explores the ideas of redemption, perseverance and the horrors of war with a palpable sincerity. The influence from Spielberg’s Jaws and Nolan’s Dunkirk are clear, but it never felt derivative. There is a boat chase sequence that was a perfect example of how to build tension and easily one of the most harrowing scenes of the year.
Minus One was a completely unexpected and brilliant piece of filmmaking. Proving that big budgets and huge studio influence mean little compared to a group of passionate people dedicated to their art.
9/10 - The biggest surprise of the year! Worth watching even if you aren’t a Godzilla fan.
2) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Audiences need to give animated films the respect they deserve and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is proof. This was not just good “for an animated movie” it was excellent because it was animated. It would lose its charm if it was live action. You could pause this movie at literally any second and frame it as a piece of art.
The amount of creativity and meaning injected into the design, colour, aesthetics and framing of every shot is baffling. It’s not just pretty to look at, Spider-Verse 2 continues it’s predecessors legacy as my favourite cinematic depiction of Spider-Man. No other version of the character has explored the idea of power and responsibility with so much depth.
Were it not for the cliffhanger ending I would have given this a perfect 10/10! It is a masterpiece, but I reserved that last point to see how the story concludes. Unfortunately we will have to wait a bit longer because the third film in the trilogy has been pushed back indefinitely from March 2024 to an unknown date.
9/10 - An excellent and stunning film full of heart and creativity.
1) Oppenheimer
I am a sucker for a good Christopher Nolan movie so it’s no surprise that this earns the top spot for 2023! This is Nolan at his most mature, but he retains his penchant for non-linear storytelling and turning dialogue scenes into tense and dramatic exchanges.
Oppenheimer is a hit on all fronts, impeccable sound, stunning cinematography, insane practical effects, and a story that’s presented with appropriate gravitas. Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and Jason Clarke are all phenomenal in their roles, but Robert Downey Jr. might have given the best performance of his career.
This was definitely the top cinematic experience of the year! I was captivated and left thinking about this for weeks. Films like Oppenheimer are why we go to the theatre, and no matter how sophisticated your set up is, a home viewing is nowhere near as engrossing as the IMAX experience.
10/10 - A powerful and provocative masterpiece, with exemplary storytelling and a brilliant acting. This is already a prized part of my 4K disc collection.
Another year down! As usual I have tons of movies from 2023 that I was not able to watch (The Holdovers, Iron Claw, Suzume, Saltburn, The Boy and the Heron, American Fiction, Blackberry, They Cloned Tyrone etc.) It will of course take time to get to all of them but I would love to hear your suggestions for what I may have missed.
For now there is lots to look forward to in 2024, so keep an eye out for my list of Most Anticipated Movies of 2024!
Do you agree with my choices? Comment below with your thoughts and please share your list of favourite movies of 2023!
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My Top 10 Movies of 2023!
Oppenheimer
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse
Godzilla Minus One
Past Lives
Killers of the Flower Moon
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
John Wick: Chapter 4
The Killer
Air
2024 is an exciting year with tons of movies! This is a list of what I am most looking forward to and why you might be interested as well.