Life is funny. Not necessarily “haha” funny, but funny as in kind of weird. At the beginning of 2023, I was looking forward to my first full year of marriage with my newly-wedded wife, going on adventures together, and checking out the newest releases in theaters. We got to do all of that and more, but there were a lot of unexpected pitfalls along the way.
For instance, not only did the Writer’s Guild go on strike for the first time in 15 years, but so did SAG-AFTRA for the first time in 40 years, mainly due to the growing use of artificial intelligence in film productions. Both concurrent strikes resulted in over $6.5 billion in economic losses, as well as over 45,000 jobs lost. For context, the 2007 Writer’s strike resulted in over $2.1 billion and 38,000 job losses. And here I was thinking that COVID-19 would be the most damaging thing to the film industry. Hollywood studio executives turned out to be the biggest parasites out of the entire year, and the worst part is the issue isn’t even over. Sure, they ended up signing a new contract with the AMPTP, but that’s a temporary deal that only lasts until 2026, so we might be dealing with the same issues all over again in two years’ time. Good luck, Hollywood: you’re definitely gonna need it.
But that isn’t all that happened in the past year. The recession continues to put economic pressure on everybody across the nation. War continues to ravage Palestine and Israel. Advertisers continue to flee Elon Musk’s failed rebranding of Twitter (excuse me, “X”). Not to mention the bizarre “Barbenheimer” craze and all of the unhinged memes that came out of that. Don’t even get me started on the fact that we have another presidential election coming up this year. Didn’t we just have one of those things? I’m not looking forward to another year filled with political angst and hostility, especially when the leading GQP candidate is too much of a wuss to even show his face on a debate stage.
All this is to say that 2023 has been a strange, strange year, and it’s impossible to predict what 2024 will bring. But as long as actors and writers are being fairly paid and nobody attempts another insurrection against our democracy, I guess it can’t all be bad. Fingers crossed either way.
Now before we hop into this year’s Top 10 list, we have a few disclaimers to cover as per usual. First of all, try as I might, I have not seen every film that’s come out this year, especially those released in mid-to-late December. Trust me, I wanted to see movies like Wonka, Maestro, The Color Purple, The Boys In The Boat, and Ferrari, but it’s the holidays and my time was split between two families and a destination wedding. I’ve said this before, and I’ll keep saying it until it registers with film studios: if you want your movie considered for my Top 10, STOP. RELEASING. YOUR. MOVIES. IN. DECEMBER. There is a 99% chance I will not see it, especially with all of the holiday hysteria that’s happening this time of year.
Also, not every movie released this year made it onto my list. I know The Super Mario Bros. Movie was one of two billion-dollar movies from the year, and while it was a fun and wacky time in the Mushroom Kingdom, it doesn’t belong anywhere near anyone’s Top 10 list. For crying out loud, I didn’t even put Sonic The Hedgehog 2 in my Top 10 last year. You really think I’m going to put Mario above the greatest video game movie ever made? Mamma Mia, what a mistake that would be!
That being said, there were some movies I really enjoyed this year that couldn’t find their way onto my list just due to the sheer space. Those movies include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, A Haunting In Venice, Blue Beetle, Elemental, Evil Dead Rise, and The Boy And The Heron. It certainly doesn’t include Dune: Part Two since it got delayed to March 2024. David Zaslav continues to prove he’s the worst CEO working in Hollywood today, but he’s still got some work to do if he wants to be the worst CEO in the nation (hi Elon!).
With all of that said, let’s kick off my Top 10 with this year’s Special Prize. Normally, I award my Special Prize to a limited release that didn’t get as much love and attention as other movies did, but this year is different. Even though my Special Prize is literally the highest-grossing movie of the year, it did the most it could with its fairly limited premise and brought something fresh, original, and creative to cinemas this year. I hope all studios will look to this movie as inspiration for how to handle popular franchises moving forward, especially when that IP is as massive, iconic, and empowering as…
Special Prize: Barbie
Bursting with joy, humor, heart, style, pizzazz, personality, and as many hues of pink that it can fit, Barbie tells an ingenious and captivating story that is as thought-provoking as it is in-cheek and entertaining. Yet the best thing about this movie isn’t its leads, with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling giving inspired performances as both Barbie and Ken. It isn’t the flashy costumes, the dreamy vehicles, or the eye-catching production design that makes you feel like you’re walking through Barbieland. It isn’t even the incredible soundtrack, which features hit after hit from featured artists such as Dua Lipa, Lizzo, and Billie Eilish. No, the best thing about this movie is Greta Gerwig’s inspired take on Barbie that explores larger themes about womanhood, materialism, motherhood, gender patriarchy, and existentialism. Simply put, this movie is way better than it has any business being. If we’re going to keep going down this road of adapting popular childhood IPs, I hope future movies are as witty, clever, and creative as Barbie is.
Now that we’ve finished with this year’s Special Prize, let’s break down the 10 best movies I’ve seen in 2023, starting with…
10. John Wick: Chapter 4
In a genre that’s as tired and exhausted as action movies are, the John Wick series always manages to stay fresh, stylish, and exhilarating, and Chapter 4 is no exception. The action is well-choreographed, fast-paced, and brutal, with every sequence consistently ramping up the stakes and tension. Keanu Reeves is as slick and cool as he’s ever been, and Bill Skarsgard offers a smug and slimy performance as the film’s central villain. But the best thing about the film by far is its richness in characters. Unlike other action movies that drop generic, faceless figures into the fray just to be killed, John Wick: Chapter 4 is packed with quirky, unique, and memorable characters that are as distinguished as they are charismatic. By the time the movie ended, I not only cared about what happened to John, but all of the characters he’s come into contact with — including the very people who were hunting him. A hot-blooded action thriller that skillfully teeters you on the edge of your seat all the way through. Three and a half stars.
9. Talk To Me
One of the most creative, eerie, and original horror movies to emerge from the past several years. After a group of teenagers discover an embalmed hand that allows them to see the dead, they quickly realize that these spirits have nefarious intentions of their own and they won’t rest until they’ve taken over every person who’s touched the hand. Writers-directors Danny and Michael Philippou are absolutely stellar in their debut feature film, crafting an ingenious and layered narrative filled with depth, mystery, and intrigue. But they do an equally exceptional job humanizing their characters and making them feel down-to-earth and relatable. By the time the horror truly settles in, you’re invested in everyone and care about what happens to them. It does struggle a bit with pacing early on, but I’d rather have a more gradual narrative that sets up its stakes well rather than a spastic one that doesn’t understand how to properly engage its audience. The last scene will send the coldest shivers down your spine. Three and a half stars.
8. Air
An incredibly human and heartfelt look at one of the biggest branding deals ever made in sports history. Matt Damon stars as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike talent scout who’s looking to sign NBA rookie Michael Jordan against impossible odds. This isn’t so much a sports drama as much as it is a marketing drama, but this behind-the-scenes look into one of Nike’s most iconic products feels interesting and engaging at every turn of this witty, clever, and spellbinding story. Matt Damon is phenomenal in the lead role and offers one of the most powerful monologues ever in a sports drama, and Viola Davis is equally as convincing as Michael Jordan’s mother. But Ben Affleck shines the most in the director’s chair, setting up the stakes very well and making you understand everything these characters have to lose if this deal doesn’t go through. A slam dunk in the world of basketball dramas and the best possible way you could have told this story. Three and a half stars.
7. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Yet another visually dazzling, eye-catching, emotional, and impactful animated epic that once again proves that animation is not merely a genre — it is a medium for art, film, and greater feats of storytelling. This sequel to the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is bigger than ever before, showing an expansive and limitless Spider-Verse filled with all kinds of Spider-Heroes. Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld continue to shine as Miles and Gwen, but Oscar Isaac is the one who really leaves an impact as Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man from 2099 who is quite literally carrying the entire universe on his shoulders. The animation is even more ambitious than in 2018 if you can believe it, with each Spider-Verse stylized in a unique and striking way that makes each one stand out in their own way. But the creative team deserves special praise for not merely relying on the multiverse aspect, but rather using it to tell a larger, more complex story about how Miles fits in the ever-expanding Spider-Verse. The only genuinely negative thing I can say about Across The Spider-Verse is that it had to end. Four stars.
6. Nimona
A vibrant, fast-paced, and infectious sci-fi-fantasy adventure with some of the cleanest and most polished animation all year. Chloe Grace Moretz stars as Nimona, a shapeshifter who is feared and hated by her kingdom for her strange abilities. But when she teams up with disgraced ex-knight Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), they uncover a conspiracy together that could unravel the entire kingdom. Based on ND Stevenson’s beloved graphic novel, Nimona is a film bursting with energy, excitement, and heart, a magical little adventure that teaches children not to be afraid of who they are or what they can do. Moretz and Ahmed share great chemistry and create one of the year’s most beloved on-screen friendships. Directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane translate ND Stevenson’s rebellious energy wonderfully into this vast medieval-futuristic setting. But it’s DNEG’s incredible animation that really makes this a top-tier animated classic, designed to evoke the feel of a storybook with silky-smooth action and motion. A special, sweet little gem that can make anyone feel like their own hero. Four stars.
5. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
The very best movie out of the Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy and quite possibly one of the best movies the MCU has ever produced, period. In this galactic threequel, the Guardians need to team up one last time to save one of their beloved friends from the clutches of the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), a cruel and psychotic scientist who will stop at nothing to “perfect” the universe as he sees fit. Chukwudi is downright despicable as the High Evolutionary, a twisted and sadistic madman who takes great pleasure in inflicting pain and torture upon his poor creations. Rocket’s (Bradley Cooper) backstory is as touching as it is heartbreaking, with each flashback drawing you deeper and deeper into his tragic beginnings. But James Gunn is the heart and soul of this story about redemption, change, and how the power of family can fix even the most broken people. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is nothing short of a moviemaking miracle, a genuinely unique, refreshing, and original experience that reminds us all of the power of movies and what they can accomplish. Four stars.
4. Godzilla Minus One
An epic return to form for Japan’s most iconic movie monster, and just in time for his 70th anniversary. After the world was left devastated in the wake of World War II, a post-war Japan must unite against a new threat facing their nation — a 160-foot monster known as Godzilla. Taking inspiration from his roots as a metaphor for nuclear warfare, Godzilla is at his most terrifying here and wreaks havoc in ways we’ve never seen before. Godzilla’s sheer size and scale feels much bigger and more ominous than ever, and the destruction he leaves in his wake feels downright nuclear. But the disaster elements are commonplace in most Godzilla movies — what elevates Minus One is a very human story that focuses on war, PTSD, grief, guilt, and finding reasons to live in a world that feels like it’s always crumbling. Director Takashi Yamazaki gives the characters urgency and humanity that makes you want to root for them, even in the wake of an unstoppable Kaiju rampage. Godzilla Minus One is the surprise hit of the year that is as entertaining as it is emotional. One of the best modern-day Godzilla movies, if not of all time. Four stars.
3. Killers Of The Flower Moon
You don’t merely watch Killers Of The Flower Moon — you are traumatized by it. You sit in silence as a gaping sense of loss washes over you, like watching your own child die in front of you. Based on David Grann’s book chronicling the horrific Osage murders of the 1920s, Martin Scorsese’s sweeping crime saga is a striking and observant portrait filled with beautiful, bold, and striking colors and harrowing scenes of violence, terror, and tragedy. Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro give some of the best performances out of their entire careers, but Lily Gladstone outshines everyone else with a captivating performance filled with strength, bravura, power, grief, and a deep-rooted pain that could only last for generations. But Martin Scorsese deserves high regard for giving this subject matter the respect, the seriousness, and the attention that it deserves. At three hours and 26 minutes, Killers of the Flower Moon is one of Martin Scorsese’s longest films ever, but it is simultaneously one of his most essential. You will not find another film in 2023 as important to watch as Killers Of The Flower Moon. Four stars.
2. The Iron Claw
A devastating behind-the-scenes look at one of America’s most notorious wrestling families and the relentless tragedy that followed them throughout their lives. Zac Efron gives an incredibly nuanced performance as world champion Kevin Von Erich, but it’s his on-screen brothers Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons that really round out this brotherhood and make it feel grounded and real. The wrestling sequences are brutal and unrelenting, with each punch, kick, throw, tackle, and impact pushing these brothers further and further past their limits. The cinematography by Matyas Erdely puts you right in the ring and makes you feel just as bloody and exhausted as these brothers are. But writer-director Sean Durkin deserves special praise for portraying this family not as larger-than-life wrestling icons, but as everyday people who have their own dreams, desires, fears, and aspirations. The big achievement with The Iron Claw isn’t just how faithful it remains to the real-life family — it’s how human it feels and how much these brothers mean to each other. A beautiful yet heart-wrenching picture that demonstrates just how beautiful and fleeting life can be. Four stars.
And finally, we come to my number one movie of 2023. Just like with any other moviegoing experience, I’m always looking for a film that leaves an impression: one that lingers and stays with you long after you’ve left the theater. But with this movie, the impact was immediate and horrifying: like watching a bomb go off in front of your eyes. This is the most engrossing, intriguing, absorbing, ominous, and foreboding film of the year by far, and that film is…
1. Oppenheimer
Recounting the life story of the father of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer follows his life from his early university days to creating the bomb to witnessing the nuclear fallout from its creation. Writer-director Christopher Nolan accounts for nearly every aspect of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life in vivid detail, while longtime collaborator Cillian Murphy does an impeccable job portraying the physicist at every point of his life. The cast is all exceptional, with Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr. being two of the strongest highlights. The score by Ludwig Goransson is entrancing, mesmerizing, and unsettling. And when that bomb goes off during the Trinity Test sequence, I’ve never felt a blast in a theater more than I ever did in that moment. Yet for all of its technical achievements, the greatest thing Oppenheimer does is capturing the fallout of the atomic bomb — how global powers reacted to it, how Washington politicized it, how the world felt threatened by it, and how Oppenheimer’s life was forever changed by it. More than anything else, I wanted Oppenheimer to show what unleashing nuclear warfare onto the world would do to the soul of a man, and Christopher Nolan does a brilliant job showing how Oppenheimer remained haunted by his achievement for the rest of his life. The scariest part of Oppenheimer isn’t wondering if his creation will end up destroying the world — it’s wondering if it already did. Four stars.
And that’s a wrap on 2023, folks. I hope you all have an amazing 2024. And if somehow David Zaslav or Elon Musk is reading this, I wish you the opposite.
– David Dunn
DAVID DUNN 