Despite the absence of what many would consider true masterpieces, 2023 proved to be a year filled with a surprising abundance of good movies. While some may argue that it lacked groundbreaking cinematic achievements, I found myself discovering a wealth of hidden gems that resonated with me on various levels. Moreover, the industry weathered the storm of the relatively short-lived SAG and WGA strikes, showcasing resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. The anticipated impact on the film landscape turned out to be less severe than initially feared, allowing creativity to flow and captivating stories to reach audiences worldwide.
2023 delivered a diverse array of exceptional films, each offering a unique and captivating experience. From immersive historical dramas that transported viewers to pivotal moments in time, to thought-provoking character studies that explored the depths of the human psyche, the cinematic landscape was rich with variety. Furthermore, the year witnessed the emergence of innovative horror movies that pushed creative boundaries and challenged genre conventions. It was a year where filmmakers fearlessly explored new territories, delivering memorable narratives that left a lasting impression.
As we reflect upon the cinematic offerings of 2023, it becomes evident that the year once again proved that great films are not an endangered species. It was a time when the industry continued to navigate uncertain waters, with ongoing challenges in the streaming market and evolving audience preferences. Nevertheless, filmmakers rose to the occasion, presenting works that captivated moviegoers across cinemas, streaming platforms, and various online avenues. From captivating biopics and mesmerizing period dramas to eagerly awaited sequels and unexpected surprises, 2023 showcased the enduring power of storytelling and the boundless creativity of filmmakers worldwide. Now, let us embark on a journey to explore the best and worst movies that graced our screens in this eventful year. Enjoy the cinematic adventure!
THE BEST MOVIES OF 2023 (in order of preference):
- Leila’s Brothers (Iran, 2022)
- Past Lives (USA/South Korea, 2023)
- Oppenheimer (USA/UK, 2023)
- Anatomy of a Fall (France, 2023)
- Killers of the Flower Moon (USA, 2023)
- The Eight Mountains (Italy/Belgium/France/UK, 2022)
- Sick of Myself (Norway/Sweden/Denmark/France, 2022)
- The Beasts (Spain/France, 2022)
- When Evil Lurks (Argentina/USA, 2023)
- Close (Belgium/Netherlands/France, 2022)
16 OTHER FILMS THAT DESERVE MENTION (in alphabetic order):
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (USA, 2022)
The Artifice Girl (USA, 2022)
Babylon (USA, 2022)
Cat Person (USA/France, 2023)
Dear Mama (USA, 2022)
The Holdovers (USA, 2023)
John Wick: Chapter 4 (USA/Germany, 2023)
The Killer (USA, 2023)
Leave the World Behind (USA, 2023)
Living (UK/Japan/Sweden, 2022)
Monster (Japan, 2023)
The Quiet Girl (Ireland, 2022)
Saint Omer (France, 2022)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (USA, 2023)
Talk to Me (Australia/UK, 2022)
Tchaikovsky’s Wife (Russia/France/Switzerland, 2022)
THE WORST MOVIES OF 2023 (in order of mediocrity):
- Five Nights at Freddy’s (USA, 2023)
- The Exorcist: Believer (USA, 2023)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (USA/Australia/Canada, 2023)
- Rebel Moon: Part One — A Child of Fire (USA, 2023)
- Pacifiction (France/Spain/Germany/Portugal, 2022)
- Brother and Sister (France, 2022)
- Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (USA, 2021)
- The Mother (USA, 2023)
- The Creator (USA, 2023)
- Napoleon (UK/USA, 2023)
COMPLETE LIST OF FILMS SEEN IN 2023 (in alphabetic order):
- Ahsoka (USA, 2023) — ***
- Al-Nakba (Qatar, 2008) — ****
- All Quiet on the Western Front, or Im Westen nichts Neues (Germany/USA/UK, 2022) — ****
- All That Breathes (UK/India/USA, 2022) — ***
- All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (USA, 2022) — ****
- Amsterdam (USA/Japan, 2022) — **
- Anatomy of a Fall, or Anatomie d’une Chute (France, 2023) — *****
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (USA/Australia/Canada, 2023) — *
- The Anthrax Attacks: In the Shadow of 9/11 (UK/USA, 2022) — **
- The Aristocrats (USA, 2005) — ***
- The Artifice Girl (USA, 2022) — ****
- Au Hasard Balthazar (France/Sweden, 1966) — *****
- Babylon (USA, 2022) — ****
- The Bad Seed (USA, 1956) — ***
- The Bad Seed (USA, 2018) — *
- Baghead (USA, 2008) — ***
- Barbie (USA/UK, 2023) — ****
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (USA, 1973) — **
- The Beasts, or As Bestas (Spain/France, 2022) — ****
- Beau Is Afraid (USA/UK/Finland/Canada, 2023) — ***
- Belchior: Apenas um Coração Selvagem (Brazil, 2022) — **
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes (USA, 1970) — *
- Better Days Ahead, or Dias Melhores Virão (Brazil, 1989) — ***
- The Bible: In the Beginning… (Italy/USA, 1966) — **
- Big Trouble in Little China (USA, 1986) — **
- Birth/Rebirth (USA, 2023) — ***
- Black Girl, or La Noire de… (Senegal/France, 1966) — ****
- Black Orpheus, or Orfeu Negro (Brazil/France/Italy, 1959) — ****
- Blue Beetle (USA/Mexico, 2023) — **
- Bombadeira (Brazil, 2007) — ****
- The Boogeyman (USA/Canada, 2023) — **
- The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Resurrection (USA, 2020) — ****
- The Boulet Brothers’ Halfway to Halloween TV Special (USA, 2023) — ***
- Boy from Heaven, or Cairo Conspiracy, or Walad min al-Janna (Sweden/France/Finland/Denmark, 2022) — ***
- The Boys in the Band (USA, 1970) — ****
- Bunny Lake Is Missing (UK, 1965) — ***
- Brooklyn 45 (USA, 2023) — ***
- Brother and Sister, or Frère et Soeur (France, 2022) — *
- Carl’s Date (USA, 2023) — ***
- Cat Person (USA/France, 2023) — ****
- Cave of Forgotten Dreams (Canada/USA/France/Germany/UK, 2010) — ***
- Chants from a Holy Book (Brazil, 2022) — ***
- The Cleansing Hour (USA, 2019) — **
- Close (Belgium/Netherlands/France, 2022) — ****
- Cocaine Bear (USA, 2023) — ***
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (USA, 1972) — **
- The Conspirators, or Nell’anno del Signore (Italy/France, 1969) — ****
- The Continental: From the World of John Wick (USA, 2023) — **
- The Creator (USA, 2023) — **
- Curve (USA, 2015) — **
- Curve (Australia, 2016) — *****
- Cyberbully (UK, 2015) — ***
- Dear Mama (USA, 2022) — ****
- Death in Venice, or Morte a Venezia (Italy/France, 1971) — *****
- The Devil’s Candy (USA, 2015) — ***
- Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (USA, 2005) — **
- Dopesick (USA, 2021) — ****
- Dread (UK/USA, 2009) — ****
- Eclipse Solar (Brazil, 2016) — ***
- The Eight Mountains, or Le otto montagne (Italy/Belgium/France/UK, 2022) — ****
- El Conde (Chile, 2023) — ***
- Elemental (USA, 2023) — **
- Elway to Marino (USA, 2013) — ***
- Empire of Light (UK/USA, 2022) — **
- Ennio (Italy/Belgium/Netherlands/Japan, 2021) — *****
- EO (Poland/Italy, 2022) — ****
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes (USA, 1971) — ***
- Evil Dead Rise (USA/New Zealand/Ireland, 2023) — ****
- The Ewok Adventure (USA, 1984) — **
- Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (USA, 1985) — **
- The Exorcist (USA, 1973) — ****
- Exorcist II: The Heretic (USA/UK, 1977) — *
- The Exorcist III (USA, 1990) — ****
- Exorcist: The Beginning (USA/UK/France/Italy/Pakistan, 2004) — **
- The Exorcist: Believer (USA, 2023) — *
- Fable of the Beautiful Pigeon Fancier, or Fábula de la Bella Palomera (Spain/Brazil, 1988) — **
- Fall (UK/USA, 2022) — ***
- The Fall of the House of Usher (USA, 2023) — ****
- Fallen Leaves, or Kuolleet Lehdet (Finland/Germany, 2023) — ***
- Fateful Findings (USA, 2013) — *
- The First Fallen, or Os Primeiros Soldados (Brazil, 2021) — ***
- Five Nights at Freddy’s (USA, 2023) — *
- The Flash (USA/Canada/Australia/New Zealand, 2023) — ****
- Fogaréu (Brazil, 2022) — ***
- Forever Young, or Les Amandiers (France/Italy, 2022) — ***
- 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, or 4 Luni, 3 Saptamâni si 2 Zile (Romania/Belgium, 2007) — *****
- The Furies (Australia, 2019) — **
- The Gardener (South Korea/Israel/Iran/UK, 2012) — *
- Glorious (USA, 2022) — *
- The Glory, or Deo geullori (South Korea, 2022) — ***
- Golden Eighties (Belgium/France/Switzerland, 1986) — ***
- Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, or Gon-ji-am (South Korea, 2018) — **
- Goodbye Uncle Tom, or Addio Zio Tom (Italy, 1971) — **
- The Grandmother, or La Abuela (Spain/France/Belgium, 2021) — **
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (USA/New Zealand/France/Canada, 2023) — ***
- Harlan County U.S.A. (USA, 1976) — ****
- The Holdovers (USA, 2023) — ****
- Hôtel Monterey (Belgium/USA, 1973) — **
- A House Made of Splinters (Denmark/Ukraine/Sweden/Germany/Finland, 2022) — ***
- The Human Voice, or La voz humana (Spain, 2020) — ***
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (USA/Canada, 2023) — ***
- Ignore It (USA, 2021) — **
- Incubus (USA, 1966) — **
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (USA, 2023) — ****
- Infinity Pool (Canada/Croatia/Hungary, 2023) — **
- Influencer (USA, 2022) — ***
- Inside the Mind of a Cat (USA, 2022) — ***
- Insidious: The Red Door (USA/Canada, 2023) — ***
- Jason X (USA/Canada, 2001) — *
- Jawbreaker (USA, 1999) — **
- Je Tu Il Elle (Belgium/France, 1974) — ****
- Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Belgium/France, 1975) — *****
- Jeepers Creepers 3 (USA/UK, 2017) — **
- Jeepers Creepers: Reborn (USA/UK/Finland, 2022) — *
- John Wick: Chapter 4 (USA/Germany, 2023) — ****
- Johnny Guitar (USA, 1954) — ****
- Joyland (Pakistan/USA, 2022) — ****
- The Killer (USA, 2023) — ****
- Killers of the Flower Moon (USA, 2023) — ****
- King of Kings (USA, 1961) — ***
- Kingdom Hospital (Canada/USA, 2004) — **
- Knock at the Cabin (USA/China, 2023) — **
- La Véritable Histoire d’Amélie Poulain (France, 2023) — ***
- Lady Caliph, or La Califfa (France/Italy, 1970) — **
- Leave the World Behind (USA, 2023) — ****
- Leila’s Brothers, or Baradaran‑e Leila (Iran, 2022) — *****
- The Little Mermaid (USA, 2023) — **
- Living (UK/Japan/Sweden, 2022) — ****
- Lisey’s Story (USA, 2021) — **
- Little Palestine (Diary of a Siege) (Lebanon/France/Qatar, 2021) — ****
- Love Me Strangely, or Un Beau Monstre (France/Italy, 1971) — ****
- Lucky (USA, 2020) — **
- Macabro (Brazil, 2019) — **
- Maestro (USA, 2023) — ***
- Malum (Italy/USA, 2023) — **
- The Man Who Fell to Earth (UK, 1976) — **
- Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) (USA, 2007) — *****
- Mandabi (Senegal/France, 1968) — ****
- Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (USA, 2021) — **
- May December (USA, 2023) — ****
- M3GAN (USA/New Zealand, 2022) — ****
- The Meetings of Anna, or Les Rendez-Vous d’Anna (France/Belgium/West Germany, 1978) — *****
- The Menu (USA, 2022) — ****
- Missing (USA, 2023) — ****
- Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One (USA, 2023) — ***
- Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (UK/Canada/France/Hungary/Belgium, 2022) — **
- Mondo Cane (Italy, 1962) — ****
- Mondo Cane 2 (Italy, 1963) — ***
- Monster, or Kaibutsu (Japan, 2023) — ****
- The Mother (USA, 2023) — *
- Mother and Son, or Un Petit Frère (France, 2022) — ***
- Napoleon (UK/USA, 2023) — **
- Narcissus and Goldmund, or Narziss und Goldmund (Germany/Austria, 2020) — ****
- Navalny (USA, 2022) — ****
- Neon Genesis Evangelion, or Shinseiki Evangelion (Japan, 1995–1996) — **
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion, or Shinseiki Evangelion Gekijô-ban: Air/Magokoro wo, kimi ni (Japan, 1997) — *
- News from Home (Belgium/France/West Germany, 1976) — ****
- The Night Stalker (USA, 1972) — ****
- The Night Strangler (USA, 1973) — ***
- The Nightingale (Australia/Canada, 2018) — ****
- Nise: The Heart of Madness, or Nise: The Heart of Madness (Brazil, 2015) — ***
- No Home Movie (Belgium/France, 2015) — ***
- No One Will Save You (USA, 2023) — ***
- Nothing Compares (UK/Ireland, 2022) — **
- Nothing Lasts Forever (USA, 2022) — ****
- Nowhere (Spain, 2023) — ***
- Occident (Romania, 2002) — **
- The Old Oak (UK/France/Belgium, 2023) — ****
- Oppenheimer (USA/UK, 2023) — *****
- Orfeu (Brazil, 1999) — *
- Orlando (UK/Russia/Italy/France/Netherlands, 1992) — ***
- Pacifiction (France/Spain/Germany/Portugal, 2022) — *
- The Pale Blue Eye (USA, 2022) — ***
- Pamela: A Love Story (UK/USA, 2023) — ****
- Passages (France/Germany, 2023) — ****
- Past Lives (USA/South Korea, 2023) — *****
- Pictures of Ghosts, or Retratos Fantasmas (Brazil, 2023) — ****
- Planet of the Apes (USA, 1968) — ***
- Possession (France/West Germany, 1981) — ****
- Pray Away (USA, 2021) — ***
- The President (Georgia/France/UK/Germany, 2014) — **
- Priscilla (Italy/USA, 2023) — ****
- Private Desert, or Deserto Particular (Brazil/Portugal, 2021) — ****
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (USA/Japan, 2022) — ****
- The Queen (USA, 1968) — ****
- Queen of Hearts (Denmark/Sweden, 2019) — ****
- The Quiet Girl, or An Cailín Ciúin (Ireland, 2022) — ****
- Reality (USA, 2023) — ****
- Rebel Moon: Part One — A Child of Fire (USA, 2023) — *
- The Return of Martin Guerre, or Le Retour de Martin Guerre (France, 1982) — ****
- R.M.N. (Romania/France/Belgium/Sweden, 2022) — ****
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (USA, 2016) — ****
- Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out (USA, 2012) — **
- Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (USA/UK, 2008) — ****
- Rotting in the Sun (USA/Mexico, 2023) — ***
- Rule 34, or Regra 34 (Brazil/France, 2022) — ****
- Saint Omer (France, 2022) — ****
- Saw (USA, 2004) — ****
- Saw II (Canada/USA, 2005) — ****
- Saw X (USA/Mexico/Canada, 2023) — ***
- Scream VI (USA/Canada, 2023) — ***
- The Sea Beast (USA, 2022) — ***
- Secret Friend, or Amigo Secreto (Netherlands/Brazil/Germany, 2022) — ****
- O Sequestro do Voo 375 (Brazil, 2023) — ***
- The Serpent, or Le Serpent (France/Italy/West Germany, 1973) — ***
- She Said (USA, 2022) — ***
- Showing Up (USA, 2022) — ***
- Sick (USA, 2022) — ****
- Sick of Myself, or Syk pike (Norway/Sweden/Denmark/France, 2022) — ****
- Siddhartha (India/USA, 1972) — ***
- Sideral (Brazil/France, 2021) — ***
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (USA, 2023) — ****
- Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (USA, 1999) — ***
- Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (USA, 2002) — ****
- Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (USA/Italy/Switzerland/Thailand, 2005) — ****
- Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, or Star Wars (USA, 1977) — ****
- Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (USA, 1980) — *****
- Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (USA, 1983) — ****
- Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens (USA, 2015) — ****
- Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (USA, 2017) — *****
- Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (USA, 2019) — *
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (USA/Singapore/Australia/UK, 2008) — **
- Steppenwolf (Switzerland/UK/France/Italy/USA, 1974) — **
- Strange Way of Life, or Extraña forma de vida (Spain/France, 2023) — ***
- Strange World (USA, 2022) — ***
- The Stranger (Australia, 2022) — ***
- Subway to the Stars, or Um Trem para as Estrelas (Brazil/France, 1987) — ***
- Tales from the Crypt (UK, 1972) — ***
- Tales from the Golden Age, or Amintiri din epoca de aur (Romania/France, 2009) — ***
- Talk to Me (Australia/UK, 2022) — ****
- Tchaikovsky’s Wife, or Zhena Chaikovskogo (Russia/France/Switzerland, 2022) — ****
- Teobaldo Morto, Romeu Exilado (Brazil, 2015) — ***
- Terrified, or Aterrados (Argentina, 2017) — ****
- Tetris (UK/USA, 2023) — ***
- There’s No Place Like Home (USA, 2012) — **
- Thanksgiving (USA/Canada/Australia, 2023) — ***
- Things I Like, Things I Don’t Like, or Foutaises (France, 1989) — ***
- The Things of Life, or Les Choses de la Vie (Switzerland/France/Italy, 1970) — **
- The Third Generation, or Die Dritte Generation (West Germany, 1979) — ***
- Tieta of Agreste, or Tieta of Brasil, or Tieta do Agreste (Brazil/UK/France, 1996) — ***
- ‘Til Kingdom Come, or Ad Sof HaOlam (UK/Israel/Norway, 2020) — *****
- Till (USA, 2022) — ***
- Tina (USA, 2021) — ***
- To Leslie (USA, 2022) — ***
- Todos os Paulos do Mundo (Brazil, 2017) — ****
- Tomorrow We Move, or Demain on Déménage (France/Belgium, 2004) — ****
- Tori and Lokita, or Tori et Lokita (Belgium/France, 2022) — ***
- Totally Killer (USA, 2023) — **
- True Spirit (Australia/USA, 2023) — ***
- Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror (USA, 2021) — ****
- Turning Red (USA/Canada, 2022) — **
- Vale o Escrito: A Guerra do Jogo do Bicho (Brazil, 2023) — ****
- The Vanishing, or Spoorloos (Netherlands/France/West Germany, 1988) — *****
- The Wagoner, or Borom sarret (Senegal/France, 1963) — ****
- The Whale (USA, 2022) — ***
- When Carnival Comes, or Quando o Carnaval Chegar (Brazil, 1972) — *
- When Evil Lurks, or Cuando Acecha la Maldad (Argentina/USA, 2023) — ****
- Where the Crawdads Sing (USA, 2022) — ****
- White Noise (USA/UK, 2022) — ***
- Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?, or Warum läuft Herr R. Amok (West Germany, 1970) — ***
- The Woman King (USA, 2022) — ***
- Women Talking (USA, 2022) — ***
- The X Files: I Want to Believe (USA/Canada, 2008) — ***
- Year of the Scab (USA, 2017) — ****
- Zero Fucks Given, or Rien à Foutre (France/Belgium, 2021) — **
Previous years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017