The Top 100 Movies of 2023

You read that correctly.

Though a year in movie releases is a small and arbitrary sample size, it is nonetheless clear that, at the moment, the art of cinema is in good shape. The overwhelming commercial success of two of the year’s strangest big-budget films, “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie,” released on the same day this summer, is an obvious sign of the vigor of the cinemascape.

Both films’ subjects are as unusual as their styles: one is an existential exploration of a major figure in the worldwide expansion of American power and global warfare, while the other examines the role of a plastic doll marketed toward young girls in a way only Greta Gerwig could pull off. Both films surpassed the billion-dollar mark at precisely the moment the superhero-industrial complex seems to be tottering with audiences. 

But the memeified summer showdown of Barbenheimer was just the tip of the 2023 cinematic iceberg. Below the surface, first-time filmmakers like Celine Song with “Past Lives” and A.V. Rockwell with “A Thousand and One” showed that despite a year of strikes and concerns about AI, new and unique voices are ever-present for those who wish to seek them out. 

It was not all surprises in 2023 though. Martin Scorsese directed a 3.5-hour epic, Wes Anderson Wes Anderson-ed, Indiana Jones sailed off into the sunset as a familiar Italian plumber saved the Mushroom Kingdom and made $1.3 billion in the process. Audiences returned to the Spider-Verse with web-slinger Miles Morales, as well as a second Elvis biopic in as many years. All the while, A24 produced some of the year’s most compelling and thought-provoking films, while simultaneously greenlighting one of the worst movies in history (more on that in the list below).

This year’s best movies are bold undertakings both onscreen and off. With 100 to choose from, the below list ranks each based on direction, writing, acting, visual effects and production. Enjoy.

1. Past Lives (10)

Debut writer-director Celine Song’s beautiful romance immediately draws comparisons to Richard Linklater’s “Before” trilogy. Even with such lofty comparisons, Song and her trio of magnetic performances provide nuance and depth to a genre and story that feels all too familiar before you watch this film. The rare love story that’s both impossibly romantic and crushingly pragmatic, “Past Lives” follows two people who might be soulmates, even though they have not been in the same city in 24 years. Song modulates the delicate tonal balance of this wise, wistful film perfectly, dividing her narrative into three distinct segments — following the characters when they’re roughly 12, 24 and 36 — with each passage more moving than the last. 

2. Killers of the Flower Moon (9.5)

Based on David Grann’s 2017 non-fiction novel of the same name, Martin Scorsese’s 3.5 hour western epic delves deep into manifest destiny, greed, racism, neocolonialism and misogyny in a rich, immersive masterclass that braids together the interests of his past projects. Faith, persecution, racketeering, entitlement, the corrupting influence of money, the disposability of life are all on display in a nailed-on awards magnet that might be some of the best work we have ever seen from all involved. 

3. Oppenheimer (9)

Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" is nothing short of extraordinary. In what might be his magnum opus, Nolan meticulously crafts a thrilling and historically relevant thriller. In typical Nolan fashion, he finds a way to make three hours of academic and political discussions around nuclear development and war exciting. In an era where most movies can feel too long and bloated, Nolan shows an incredible grasp of pacing, using a clock fetish to move the narrative at near-breakneck speed. It is ominous and captivating, with production and performances alike. Nolan looks poised to grab at least one little gold man in two months’ time, with Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr. at the top of their respective categories.

4. The Iron Claw (9)

Fake performing a fake sport can make for a farcical gesture at movie-making. While it is easy to see the comical aspects of wrestling and some of its most devoted supporters, the story at the center of Sean Durkin’s “The Iron Claw” is anything but fake and funny. The Iron Claw paints a personalized picture of a Texas-sized tragedy of four boys and one father’s dream. Durkin understands the magnetism of compelling truths and the relatability all have with troubled family dynamics – how they uplift and stifle us in equal measure, especially when in the stranglehold of a domineering father figure. With “The Iron Claw'', those concerns are writ large in a suitably big, tear-jerking melodrama with a career-defining performance from Zach Efron as brother Kevin Von Erich

5. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (8.5)

Following its first installment, “Across the Spider-Verse” seemed a hopeless endeavor similar to countless attempts at following up a genre-bending debut. And yet, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller pull off an “Empire Strikes Back” or even “T2”-level writing in everyone’s new favorite web-slinger Miles Morales. It is a smart piece of work that perfectly provides enough cartoony and comic book content for younger audiences with the real-world micro and macro-level struggles that resonate with older audiences. Partnered with the creative multiversal worlds and unique animation style, Across the Spider-Verse is not just one of the best films of the year, it is one of the best superhero films ever and cements Miles Morales’s place with the best of the Peter Parker franchise.

6. The Zone of Interest (8.5)

Ten years after “Under the Skin”, the brilliant, elusive Johnathan Glazer returns with one of the most haunting films of this or any year. Adapted from Martin Amis’ acidic 2014 novel, Glazer takes but a sliver of the source text and lets his imagination––perhaps his nightmares––take over. In his novel, Amis alternated between the perspectives of an Auschwitz camp Commander, the mid-level officer who seduces his wife, and the antihero Szmul, a Jewish man who heads the Sonderkommando unit. Glazer strips the vast majority of it away: this is not a film that dares get too close to anyone’s perspective, let alone three. 

7. Saltburn (8)

Let the record show that Emerald Fennell continues to prove her unique place in the current slate of premier filmmakers. After an audacious debut with 2020’s “Promising Young Woman,” the writer-director takes it to another level with her latest extravagant concoction, “Saltburn,” which is an understatement of epic proportions. It is a Great Gatsby meets Gone Girl monster of a film that evokes a range of emotions while it provokes a litany of questions about class and customs. “Saltburn” begins as young Oliver, played masterfully by Barry Keoghan, arrives for his first year at Oxford University in 2006. From there, he befriends and develops a life-altering obsession with Jacob Elordi’s Felix. The less said the better from there. 

8. The Holdovers (8)

With the cliche of “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” pervasive across our discourse, it is perfectly summed up in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” An ode to the 1970s, Payne spares no expense in making the audience believe it is watching something from the before times – vintage idents at the start, the grainy aesthetic of the shot, camera angles, fades, casting choices and even film stock. But the film is more than a mere callback with antiquated gimmicks. It is a sensitively acted and delicately written comedy-drama that has a life all of its own. Not only does it recall intimate, character-led films of the time, but also allows for a three-person performance to each have a well-developed and compelling character arc while maintaining the integrity of its central storyline throughout. While Paul Giamatti turns in an outstanding performance as Barton Academy’s lonely and narcissistic ancient civilizations teacher, it is Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s breaks through with a performance of such intricate work with her character that you are as invested, if not more, in her journey and tragic past.

9. A Thousand and One (8)

The film itself is another breakthrough debut for a first-time writer-director. Similar to Celine Song’s “Past Lives,” A.V. Rockwell brings her own experiences into the inspiring and gut-wrenching “A Thousand and One.” Before addressing the layers of love, loss and lies contained within, it is imperative to stress the performance of Teyana Taylor as Inez de la Paz. Matched only by the aforementioned Efron/Iron Claw performance, the range on display by Taylor in an extremely demanding and oftentimes duplicative role as an unapologetic and fiercely loyal mother and survivor in a rapidly changing New York City is the performance of 2023. The film examines Inez and her relationship with her son, as he comes of age with questions about his home and identity.

10. Maestro (8)

Another musical biopic was not something I anticipated in my top ten movies of 2023. While “Maestro” had all the bonafides of a perennial Oscar juggernaut: star actor-director, classical music, true story, amazing acting, etc., etc. The tiring of annual biopics dating back to 2015’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is as consistent in quality as New York subways are to their destination. With all of these chilling effects on Bradley Cooper’s go as legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein, the “Star is Born” filmmaker shows he is no one-hit-wonder in the director’s chair or in front of the camera. With Carey Mulligan meeting him at the top of the artistic mountain with her performance as Felicia Montealegre, “Maestro” deeply looks at how those who dare to create and make art suffer in silence for their work and wit. The life of Bernstein is examined through Cooper’s fluctuating levels of measured and manic, which perfectly portray the beauty and beast of certain creative geniuses. 

11. American Fiction (8)

12. BlackBerry (8)

13. Bottoms (8)

14. Fallen Leaves (8)

15. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (8)

16. Priscilla (8)

17. Poor Things (8)

18. Barbie (7.5)

19. They Cloned Tyrone (7.5)

20. Anatomy of a Fall (7.5)

21. Ferrari (7.5)

22. The Boys in the Boat (7.5)

23. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (7.5)

24. Rustin (7)

25. The Boy and the Heron (7)

26. The Creator (7)

27. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (7)

28. No Hard Feelings (7)

29. The Killer (6.5)

30. Chevalier (6.5)

31. The Color Purple (6.5)

32. All of Us Strangers (6.5)

33. Theater Camp (6.5)

34. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (6.5)

35. Shortcomings (6)

36. Air (6)

37. Polite Society (6)

38. Elemental (6)

39. Dream Scenario (6)

40. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (6)

41. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (5.5)

42. Wonka (5.5)

43. Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé (5.5)

44. Creed lll (5.5)

45. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (5.5)

46. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (5)

47. A Good Person (5)

48. Foe (5)

49. How to Have Sex (5)

50. Dumb Money (5)

51. Knock at the Cabin (5)

52. Inside (5)

53. Anyone But You (5)

54. Next Goal Wins (5)

55. You Hurt My Feelings (5)

56. Napoleon (5)

57. Wish (5)

58. Suzume (4.5)

59. John Wick: Chapter 4 (4.5)

60. Sisu (4.5)

61. Joy Ride (4)

62. The Equalizer 3 (4)

63. Paint (3.5)

64. Beau is Afraid (3.5)

65. Asteroid City (3.5)

66. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (3.5)

67. Renfield (3.5)

68. The Blackening (3.5)

69. The Little Mermaid (3.5)

70. A Haunting in Venice (3.5)

71. Peter Pan & Wendy (3.5)

72. Talk to Me (3.5)

73. Godzilla Minus One (3.5)

74. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (3.5)

75. The Covenant (3.5)

76. Scream 6 (3.5)

77. The Marvels (3.5)

78. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (3)

79. Golda (3)

80. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (3)

81. Haunted Mansion (3)

82. Candy Cane Lane (3)

83. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (3)

84. You People (3)

85. Gran Turismo (2.5)

86. The Flash (2.5)

87. Blue Beetle (2.5)

88. Landscape with Invisible Hand (2.5)

89. Fast X (2)

90. Champions (2)

91. House Party (2)

92. Plane (1.5)

93. Last Voyage of the Demeter (1.5)

94. Sound of Freedom (1.5)

95. Kandahar (1.5)

96. Infinity Pool (1.5)

97. Missing (1)

98. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (1)

99. Jesus Revolution (1)

100. M3GAN (1)

Dishonorable Mentions:

• Dicks: The Musical (0)

  • The single worst attempt at a musical since “Cats.” A24’s first attempt at a musical failed in every way except for Megan Thee Stallion’s small role, which still could not rescue it from the depths of the dishonorable mentions section.

• 65 (0.5)

  • Half point awarded for some of Driver’s acting.

• My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (0.5)

  • The score is given solely for Greece’s beauty.

• Cocaine Bear (1)

  • The best of the worst. This coked-up omnivore was all bark, no bite.

Notable Omissions:

• All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt

• Passages

• Earth Mama

• Leave The World Behind

• May December

• Showing Up

• La Chimera