These are my ten favorite films of 2023. Before we begin the list, I have a few things to address. First, I want to offer a couple of disclaimers. This is not a list of what I consider to be the best films of 2023, but rather just my favorite films of the year. Also, I am not claiming to have seen every movie released this year, but these are my favorites that I did see.
Let’s get started with the list. Plot summaries courtesy of Google.
10. Oppenheimer
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr.
Plot: During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spend years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work came to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witnessed the world’s first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history.
Thoughts: This could be divisive, but I thought it was a good film, not a great film. Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. give tour de force performances, and the film’s direction, cinematography, and overall scale elevate the film above a traditional biopic. I had issues with a couple of things, the first one being the length. It’s a three-hour film, but surprisingly, it’s not the longest movie on my list. The biggest issue within the runtime was pacing. I was getting bored and antsy by the two-and-a-half-hour mark. The other thing I had an issue with was that it felt like two different films rolled into one. The first felt very much like a triumph of the American spirit. We’re coming together to build this unbuildable bomb. The second part is more of a legal drama like, “Holy shit! We built this world destroyer now we need a scapegoat.” Truth be told, I don’t think this is one of Christopher Nolan’s better movies. The other thing that baffles me is the awards attention Emily Blunt has been getting. I think Emily Blunt is a terrific actor, but I thought she was just “fine” in this movie. It makes me wonder, where was the love for her performance in Sicario? I will say that as a future professional screenwriter, I am thankful for the success of “Barbenheimer” and how that helped boost the industry.
9. American Fiction
Cast: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sterling K. Brown, Erika Alexander
Plot: Monk is a frustrated novelist who’s fed up with the establishment that profits from Black entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, he uses a pen name to write an outlandish Black book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.
Thoughts: I know the film is based on a novel, but the screenplay feels incredibly original. Jeffrey Wright is a phenomenal actor, but this may just be his best performance. It’s an incredibly biting satire about black culture, fame, and everyday life. As funny as the film is, it also has a ton of heart. It’s very much a family film. Wright has a dynamic chemistry with the actors playing his siblings, Tracee Ellis Ross and Sterling K. Brown. In fear of giving too much away, I don’t think I can really say much else. I don’t think it is the best film of the year, but it certainly is worth a watch.
8. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg
Plot: Ethan Hunt and the IMF team must track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than the mission — not even the lives of those he cares about most.
Thoughts: I’ll start by saying that I’m a fan of the M:I franchise. I think it’s because each entry has gotten bigger, more ambitious in its storytelling, and in general, better. While I do not think it tops its predecessor, Fallout, this is another solid entry from Tom Cruise and company. When initially announced, films 7 and 8 were going to be filmed back to back and released in 2021 and 2022. Obviously, that did not happen. The plan to shoot back-to-back was abandoned due to the film’s ballooning budget ($291 million) and creative differences. After many delays, it was finally released in July 2023. Interestingly enough, the film lost money at the box office because it opened a week before “Barbenheimer” annihilated the box office. I enjoyed the casting of Haley Atwell and the large scope and spectacle. The thing I enjoyed the most, however, was the exploring of Ethan’s past. This included bringing back Kittridge (Henry Czerny) who had been absent since the original film. There have been rumors that Dead Reckoning Part Two will be Tom Cruise’s swan song as Ethan Hunt. Whatever they decide to do, I’m eagerly awaiting the film’s release in the summer of 2025.
Update: This is an interesting one. In between my writing and the publishing of the post, the film was released on Paramount Plus. What makes it unique is that Paramount dropped “Part One” from the title. It wasn’t just on Paramount Plus either, it was dropped from the title on all platforms moving forward. This indicates that the eighth installment will have its own subtitle. I’m all for that because I hate the trend of splitting one movie into two. It worked for Harry Potter because the book was so long and you were delivering on ten years of fan service, but on every other film, I have felt it was just a cash grab. That being said, I also like consistency. So, if you commit to “Part One,” commit to “Part Two.” I guess we will see what happens.
7. Barbie
Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell
Plot: Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.
Thoughts: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. I didn’t have much of a desire to see it in theaters, as I figured I would watch it when it came to Max. It took going with friends and theater chains offering $4 tickets to get me to go, and I’m glad I did. I’m not going to try to speak to all of the themes and do an in-depth analysis of gender stereotypes or what it means to be a woman. Someone else can do that. I will say that I do not identify as female, but even I felt that sense of female empowerment the film leaves you with. I’m sure that had I grown up as a woman and been through all the societal norms and restrictions imposed on women, it would have resonated even more. Enough of the themes. I will admit that I was a little taken aback when I heard in an early review of that film that it was an early Oscar contender. I thought “A film about Barbies being nominated for Best Picture, no way. Ryan Gosling for Best Supporting Actor? No way. A billion dollars? No way.” But I get it now. The story is original, engaging, and innovative for sure, but dammit, does it give you the feels. I can’t think of another recent film that could make you belly laugh with its intelligent humor, make you cry as you deal with real life and emotions, and inspire you to be a better human being. It’s just one of the purest films I’ve seen in a long time.
6. Creed III
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Phylicia Rashad
Plot: Adonis Creed has an old nemesis come back in his life who spared him from prison, he has to come face to face with a past he’s tried to forget, and with that come to grips with the guilt he feels for not supporting or running from his past.
Thoughts: This will be a divisive statement for sure, but I enjoy the Creed movies over Rocky any day. This could be just a generational thing, but I think the film goes deeper than most of The Rocky movies ever did. When this film was announced, I was curious as to how it would turn out. Like a young Sylvester Stallone with Rocky II, Michael B. Jordan was going to step behind the camera to direct for the first time. Additionally, the film would be the first without Stallone. After seeing the film, I was impressed with what Jordan and his crew pulled off. I thought it was an engaging story and exploration of Creed’s past and to me, Rocky didn’t feel missed. Jordan crafted a Creed film that finally stands on its own merit. I must also say that I liked the conflict brought on by Creed’s former friend Dame (Jonathan Majors). I thought Majors did a terrific job bringing viciousness and determination to his broken character. Unfortunately, I’m not sure Majors was doing much acting there in light of his recent conviction. Overall, it was short, sweet, and fulfilling. Lots of actors try their hand at directing and I am inclined to say that Jordan was one of the successful ones in that nothing leaped out to me as amazing direction, but nothing stuck out as poor direction either. He told the story in the most effective way, and that’s the best a director can do. As of this writing, Creed IV has been announced with Jordan returning to direct. No release date has been set.
5. John Wick: Chapter 4
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Ian McShane, Bill Skarsgard
Plot: With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hitman John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin.
Thoughts: Most franchises run out of steam by entry number four – not John Wick. This is one of the few franchises where each entry gets better, similar to Mission: Impossible. The only difference between this franchise and M:I, is that this franchise doesn’t have a weak link. The first three installments of M:I were mediocre at best. Ghost Protocol onward is when the tides turn. Anyway, back to John Wick. Though I am partial to Chapter 3, each film stands on its own merit and builds off the characters and world introduced in previous installments. Chapter 4 defies all logic and gives us the biggest Wick film yet. The action is beautifully choreographed, the cinematography is gorgeous, and the scale of the locations is massive. When I heard that series creator Derek Kolstad was not returning to pen the film, I thought it would mark a decline in quality. Boy, was I wrong. Shay Hatten and Michael Finch’s script was able to go even further into John Wick’s past and bring the consequences of his actions full circle. I have to mention Bill Skarsgard. As the new head of the High Table, he presents a new threat to Wick and his friends. Wick could still kill him, no doubt, but Skarsgard plays him perfectly as the slimy, arrogant piece of shit he is. My only complaint is that the movie felt a little long in places (it is almost three hours long). As much as I love this franchise, I hope they don’t make a John Wick Chapter 5. The ending of this film is the perfect swan song for the franchise. It’s funny to think back to when the original film came out. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that it took everyone by surprise, the success of the film. I just want to note that as a viewer, it’s amazing to look back at the franchise’s evolution from a modest-budget revenge thriller, to an intricate, globe-hopping, revenge thriller of epic scope. If this is the end of Wick, I think that’s a pretty cool legacy.
4. Air
Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis, Chris Tucker
Plot: Sonny Vaccaro and Nike pursue basketball rookie Michael Jordan, creating a partnership that revolutionizes the world of sports and contemporary culture.
Thoughts: I was surprised to learn while watching Air, that this was the first time Ben Affleck directed Matt Damon in a film. As actors and writers, they’ve always had a natural rapport, but we had never seen them as director-actors prior to this. Affleck, as director, gets out of Matt Damon, what I think is easily his best performance since The Martian. It helps that Damon’s performance is lifted up with the help of supporting actors Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, and Affleck himself. The production design was amazing too and the music cues helped give the film its 80s vibe. That being said, I feel conflicted writing about Air. I think it’s a very well-made, well acted and well-written film. However, I think it will be forgotten in ten years. I hate saying it, but that’s my prediction. Some films stand the test of time, others don’t. As engaging as the film is, it’s not timely either. Hopefully, I am proven wrong.
3. The Iron Claw
Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Lily James, Harris Dickinson
Plot: The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who make history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.
Thoughts: This was a gut-wrencher. There’s no other way to describe the film writer/director Sean Durkin brought to the screen. When I first heard about the movie, I was a little put off because I thought it was a wrestling movie. It wasn’t until I saw the trailer with another movie at the theater that I decided I would give it a shot. Don’t get me wrong, wrestling is a big aspect of the film, but it’s much more than that. It’s an incredibly powerful family drama. I’ve enjoyed Zac Efron movies in the past (Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is a terrible guilty pleasure), but this was the first movie where I saw him as an actor and not his frat boy persona. I was genuinely impressed with his performance as the oldest living Von Erich brother, Kevin. He brought a range and depth to that performance that I truthfully didn’t know he was capable of. Jeremy Allen White as Olympic hopeful Kerry Von Erich, and Lily James as Kevin’s wife Pam, were also standout performances. However, lots of praise has gone to Holt McCallany as demanding patriarch Fritz Von Erich, and rightfully so. His performance reminds me a lot of J.K. Simmons in Whiplash. Both are selfish and abusive figures who will do anything they can to achieve their goals. While Simmons’ performance was loud and external, McCallany’s was quiet and internal. Both were equally chilling. I should say too, that I was unfamiliar with the story of the Von Erich family. Had I not known this film was based on a true story, I would have thought that there was no way that this family experienced as much tragedy as they did. My only complaint is that it feels a little long in the tooth at times, especially with a subject matter this dark. I would just highly recommend you watch this movie. That’s all I can say.
2. Killers of the Flower Moon
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons
Plot: Set in 1920s Oklahoma, it focuses on a series of murders of Osage members and relations in the Osage Nation after oil was discovered on tribal land. The tribal members had retained mineral rights on their reservation, but a corrupt local political boss sought to steal the tribal members’ wealth.
Thoughts: Right off the bat, I’ll say this: I love Scorsese. He is without a doubt, my favorite director of all time. That’s not to say I love all of his films, but he has three films on my top ten list of favorite movies. He occupies almost a third of the list. Ultimately, I was impressed yet again. Scorsese muses DiCaprio and De Niro were great as usual, but newcomer Lily Gladstone holds the heart of this film. She plays Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman married to dimwitted WWI veteran Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio). In a way, she straddles two worlds: one Osage and one white. Gladstone plays the character so well that it feels kind of like an inner tug-of-war at times. She has her Osage family pulling in one direction and her husband in the other. She later has to balance the love she has for her husband and the grief she feels for her murdered family. In Gladstone’s eyes, you see the inner turmoil as she realizes that her husband, whom she greatly loves, may be more capable of sinister acts than she realized. What I admire about the film is that it’s not a mystery. You pretty much know right away who is responsible for these murders. What draws you in is how these murders are occurring and how far some men will go for money.
It’s been well publicized that the script was originally written as a standard procedural story, with DiCaprio playing FBI Agent Tom White. Then Scorsese and screenwriter Eric Roth decided to change the perspective of the story and make the love story between Ernest and Mollie the central element. When the film shifted perspectives, DiCaprio opted to play Burkhart instead, leaving the role open for Jesse Plemons. As a result, what was a major role in the book (the founding of the FBI was a big part), was now a minor role. I will admit, I was a little hesitant to go to the theater and sit through a three-and-a-half-hour movie. The Irishman was just as long, but with it being a Netflix release, you could at least watch it from the comfort of your own home. Strangely enough, the runtime wasn’t a huge issue for me once it got going. The pacing helped ease the length. It wasn’t as fast as The Wolf of Wall Street (another 3-hour Scorsese film) but it moved faster than the tortoise pace of The Irishman. Even more surprising to me was that I went to a Sunday matinee and the theater was completely full, showing me that the public will sit through a three-and-a-half-hour-long film. Most films based on true stories will wrap up with text on screen explaining what happened to the characters. This film avoids that tired trope and wraps up the film in a unique way. Overall, this is a highly compelling film that is worth your time.
1. The Holdovers
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
Plot: A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school remains on campus during Christmas break to babysit a handful of students with nowhere to go. He soon forms an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker, and with the school’s head cook, a woman who just lost a son in the Vietnam War.
Thoughts: Wow! That was my first reaction to the film. Alexander Payne movies can be hit or miss for me, but I was encouraged by the fact that he was reuniting with his Sideways lead, Paul Giamatti. Sideways is far and away my favorite Payne film, which is ironic because it is one of his few films that don’t take place in Nebraska. Giamatti’s performance in Sideways had a quiet brilliance to it, just like in this film. Though the two films are different in tone and atmosphere, I was equally thrilled with the results. Giamatti gives one of his career-best performances as grumpy school teacher Paul. He is supported by the equally talented Da’Vine Joy Randolph playing Mary, the grieving cook, and newcomer Dominic Sessa, playing the wisecracking teen. One of my favorite eras in film is the New Hollywood era from 1967 to 1980. The film takes place in the winter of 1970 and it looks like it could have been released during that time frame too. It’s got the beautiful aesthetic of those early 70s films and it just feels so warm and cozy. The type of feel-good movie you want to watch in front of a fireplace on a cold winter night. It feels like a movie that’s not made anymore: a feel-good film with humor and heart. When figuring out my rankings, I could have easily placed Flower Moon as my top pick, as they were neck and neck. However, I chose this film simply because of its uplifting nature. I left Flower Moon feeling uneasy, but I left this movie feeling happy and uplifted. I can’t say anything else about the film that will do it justice. Folks, if you have the opportunity to watch the film, don’t pass it up.
