We’re officially halfway done with 2023 in film, which means it’s time to tally up the 10 best movies of the year so far.
While it’s not quite yet time to do any rankings, we do have 10 films from this year that really stand head-and-shoulders above the rest of the year’s cinematic offerings.
While we certainly can’t claim to have seen every movie that’s come out this year, there have been plenty that have crossed our radar as we survey what’s hit movie theaters and streaming platforms so far.
There have been some incredible films to debut at festivals that you might not have gotten a chance to see yet, so we won’t include those here.
If you’re looking to check out some of the year’s best films, look no further. We’ve got you covered with some excellent recommendations of 2023 movies.
All of these films are available in theaters or at home, so you can see any of them as soon as you want.
Air
Read our very positive review here, and check out who plays who in this film here.
Asteroid City
Beau is Afraid
One of the best films of the decade so far, Beau is Afraid is a hypnotic, thrilling jolt-study of generational trauma and the fraught life lived in an anxious mind.
It’s Ari Aster’s best film so far and features a phenomenal turn from Joaquin Phoenix and stellar supporting turns from Patti LuPone, Nathan Lane and Amy Ryan. Just buckle up before you watch it; it’s positively transformative.
BlackBerry
Read our excited review here.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Read our strong review here.
Knock at the Cabin
This is the M. Night Shyamalan I love, a film filled with crises of faith, plenty of dread and delightfully obnoxious flourishes of genre command.
Dave Bautista and Jonathan Groff trying to outact each other was not on my bingo card, but scene-stealing from Rupert Grint was (shoutout Servant fans who have known).
The third act is the most pleasantly restraint we’ve seen Shyamalan be since Split, and this is definitely his best movie since his original golden run.
Past Lives
Past Lives is an emotional powerhouse. It’s a romance that’s not meant to be, and a film built on the immigrant experience and the power of empathy and honesty in difficult situations.
Celine Song’s debut film might already be one of the best first films ever, and it’s got some incredible performances in its main trio of Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro.
Also, if you want to see the year’s best cinematography, Small Axe‘s Shabier Kirchner captures some breathtaking shots of everything from sweeping cityscapes and luminous street corners. He’s going to be a Roger Deakins-level talent in this world when it’s all said and done.
You Hurt My Feelings
Nicole Holofcener continues to be one of our best independent filmmakers to study the little details that sum up the human condition, and her latest is a fiercely funny, overwhelmingly relatable story about relationships and criticism.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tobias Menzies are just stellar together as a married couple who must manage a hurdle with Louis-Dreyfus finds out Menzies doesn’t like her new book.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
10 Honorable Mentions (and six blurbs to boot)
- Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret
It’s a joy to have filmmaker Kelly Fremon Craig back making movies, as this Judy Blume adaptation will become a must-watch for all young audiences.
This might be the most impressive John Wick film since the original, one that balances its bombastic fight sequences with plenty of compelling lore and surprising emotion. Donnie Yen and Scott Adkins steal the show.
- Judy Blume Forever
- Missing
Storm Reid leads this thrilling spin-off to the film Searching, one that improves on its predecessor and plays so smoothly with the computer screen-driven storytelling format.
- Reality
This is a bone-chilling, word-for-word procedural about the FBI’s interrogation and arrest of Reality Winner, flanked by three absolutely stunning performances from Sydney Sweeney, Marchánt Davis and Josh Hamilton.
- Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
This is a stellar look at the life and times of actor Michael J. Fox, who gives a touching look at his career and his fight with Parkinson’s Disease.
- Tetris
- The Starling Girl
This is a powerful study of religious fundamentalism and stands as a compelling coming-of-age story, with plenty of great performances within.
