Top 87 Ranked

Top Movies of 2023 Ranked

Modern Masterpieces and Cinematic Gems of the Year

Explore the top-rated films from a landmark year in cinema, featuring award winners, indie hits, and groundbreaking animation in our ranked movie guide.

Draft Best 2023 Movies with friends and our judges will crown a winner!

About Movies in 2023

The year 2023 will likely be remembered as the moment when the fever dream of the franchise era finally broke and the movie theater regained its status as a communal sanctuary. For nearly a decade, the industry had been operating under the assumption that only established intellectual property and superhero sequels could move the needle at the box office. But as 2023 unfolded, the cultural landscape shifted in a way that felt both surprising and deeply traditional. It was the year of the original vision, the three-hour epic, and the return of the event film as a shared social experience.

One cannot discuss 2023 without confronting the phenomenon of Barbenheimer. In July, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer premiered on the same day, creating a bizarre and beautiful synergy that saved the summer box office. This was not a corporate-mandated crossover event but a grassroots explosion of enthusiasm. Audiences showed up in pink suits and somber fedoras, proving that people were hungry for high-concept storytelling that did not involve a multiverse. Barbie became a vibrant feminist manifesto that conquered the globe, while Oppenheimer functioned as a dense, haunting meditation on the atomic age. Together, they proved that smart, director-driven cinema could still be a massive commercial powerhouse.

Beyond the blockbusters, 2023 was a year of immense artistic depth. We saw master filmmakers operating at the peak of their powers. Martin Scorsese delivered Killers of the Flower Moon, a harrowing look at American greed and systemic violence. Yorgos Lanthimos gave us Poor Things, a surrealist coming-of-age story that pushed the boundaries of production design and performance. Meanwhile, international cinema continued to assert its dominance on the global stage. Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall and Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest challenged viewers with their formal precision and moral complexity, proving that the most influential stories often happen far from the bright lights of Hollywood.

The year was also significant for what happened behind the scenes. The dual strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA brought the industry to a standstill for months. This period of labor unrest forced a difficult conversation about the future of streaming, the threat of artificial intelligence, and the fair compensation of the artists who make movies possible. It was a year of reckoning that reminded us that cinema is not just a digital asset but a product of human labor and soul.

Ultimately, 2023 felt like a turning point. We saw the fatigue of the superhero genre start to set in and a renewed interest in the singular voice of the auteur. It was a year when the theater felt loud, crowded, and essential again. Whether it was the whimsical stop-motion of Wes Anderson or the hand-drawn mastery of Hayao Miyazaki, the movies of 2023 reminded us that the medium is most powerful when it takes risks. Film fans will look back on this year as the moment the silver screen regained its luster, proving that as long as there are stories worth telling, people will always find their way into the dark.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
87
2023 in Sound of Freedom (2023)
Sound of Freedom
2023

The story of Tim Ballard, a former US government agent, who quits his job in order to devote his life to rescuing children from global sex traffickers.

Action
Drama
2h 11m
Alejandro Monteverde
Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, Bill Camp, Gerardo Taracena
86
2023 in Fast X (2023)
2023

Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they've ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who's fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything—and everyone—that Dom loves, forever.

Action
Crime
2h 22m
Louis Leterrier
85
2023 in Elemental (2023)
Elemental
2023

In a city where fire, water, land and air residents live together, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy will discover something elemental: how much they have in common.

Family
Fantasy
1h 42m
Peter Sohn
Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi

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84
2023 in The Little Mermaid (2023)
The Little Mermaid
2023

The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.

Adventure
Family
2h 15m
Rob Marshall
Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem
83
2023 in Scream VI (2023)
Scream VI
2023

Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.

Horror
Thriller
2h 3m
Tyler Gillett
Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding
82
2023 in A Haunting in Venice (2023)
A Haunting in Venice
2023

Celebrated sleuth Hercule Poirot, now retired and living in self-imposed exile in Venice, reluctantly attends a Halloween séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

Mystery
Thriller
Kenneth Branagh, Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan
81
2023 in Renfield (2023)
Renfield
2023

Having grown sick and tired of his centuries as Dracula's lackey, Renfield finds a new lease on life — and maybe even redemption — when he falls for feisty, perennially angry traffic cop Rebecca Quincy.

Comedy
Fantasy
1h 33m
Chris McKay
Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz
80
2023 in Cocaine Bear (2023)
Cocaine Bear
2023

Inspired by a true story, an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converge in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.

Thriller
Comedy
1h 35m
Elizabeth Banks
Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Ray Liotta
79
2023 in John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
John Wick: Chapter 4
2023

With the price on his head ever increasing, John Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.

Action
Thriller
2h 50m
Chad Stahelski
Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Ian McShane
78
2023 in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
2023

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.

Adventure
Fantasy
2h 14m
Jonathan Goldstein
Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis
77
2023 in Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Evil Dead Rise
2023

A reunion between two estranged sisters gets cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.

Horror
Thriller
1h 36m
Lee Cronin
Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols
76
2023 in Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)
Book Club: The Next Chapter
2023

Four best friends take their book club to Italy for the fun girls' trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.

Comedy
Romance
1h 48m
Bill Holderman
Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen
75
2023 in Knock at the Cabin (2023)
Knock at the Cabin
2023

While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her two fathers are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

Horror
Mystery
Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird
74
2023 in The Creator (2023)
The Creator
2023

Amid a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife, is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war—and mankind itself.

Science Fiction
Action
2h 14m
Gareth Edwards
John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney
73
2023 in Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
Insidious: The Red Door
2023

To put their demons to rest once and for all, Josh Lambert and a college-aged Dalton Lambert must go deeper into The Further than ever before, facing their family's dark past and a host of new and more horrifying terrors that lurk behind the red door.

Horror
Thriller
Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Patrick Wilson, Lin Shaye
72
2023 in The Nun II (2023)
The Nun II
2023

In 1956 France, a priest is violently murdered, and Sister Irene begins to investigate. She once again comes face-to-face with a powerful evil.

Horror
1h 50m
Michael Chaves
Taissa Farmiga, Anna Popplewell, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid
71
2023 in Next Goal Wins (2023)
Next Goal Wins
2023

Dutch coach Thomas Rongen attempts the nearly impossible task of turning the American Samoa soccer team from perennial losers into winners.

Comedy
Drama
1h 44m
Taika Waititi
Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane
70
2023 in No Hard Feelings (2023)
No Hard Feelings
2023

On the brink of losing her childhood home, Maddie discovers an intriguing job listing: wealthy helicopter parents looking for someone to “date” their introverted 19-year-old son, Percy, before he leaves for college. To her surprise, Maddie soon discovers the awkward Percy is no sure thing.

Comedy
Romance
1h 43m
Gene Stupnitsky
Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales
69
2023 in Ferrari (2023)
Ferrari
2023

Set during the summer of 1957. Ex-racecar driver, Enzo Ferrari, is in crisis. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing ten years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage struggles with the mourning for one son and the acknowledgement of another.

History
Drama
Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Gabriel Leone
68
2023 in Golda (2023)
Golda
2023

Set during the tense 19 days of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir is faced with the potential of Israel’s complete destruction. She must navigate overwhelming odds, a skeptical cabinet and a complex relationship with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, with millions of lives in the balance. Her tough leadership and compassion would ultimately decide the fate of her nation and leave her with a controversial legacy around the world.

Drama
History
1h 41m
Guy Nattiv
Helen Mirren, Camille Cottin, Liev Schreiber, Lior Ashkenazi
67
2023 in Anselm (2023)
Anselm
2023

This unique cinematic experience dives deep into an artist’s work and reveals his life path, inspiration, and creative process. It explores his fascination with myth and history. Past and present are interwoven to diffuse the line between film and painting, allowing the audience to be completely immersed in the remarkable world of one of the greatest contemporary artists, Anselm Kiefer. Wim Wenders shot this unique portrait over the course of two years in stunning 3D.

Documentary
1h 33m
Wim Wenders
Anselm Kiefer, Anton Wenders, Daniel Kiefer
66
2023 in BlackBerry (2023)
BlackBerry
2023

Two mismatched entrepreneurs – egghead innovator Mike Lazaridis and cut-throat businessman Jim Balsillie – joined forces in an endeavour that was to become a worldwide hit in little more than a decade. The story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone.

Comedy
Drama
2h 0m
Matt Johnson
Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson, Michael Ironside
65
2023 in The Shadowless Tower (2023)
The Shadowless Tower
2023

Gu Wentong learns the whereabouts of his father, who lost contact with him more than 40 years ago. Encouraged by new friend, photographer Ouyang Wenhui, Gu Wentong decides to face his father and rebuild the long-lost father-son relationship.

Drama
2h 24m
Zhang Lu
Xin Baiqing, Huang Yao, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Li Qinqin
64
2023 in The Teachers' Lounge (2023)
The Teachers' Lounge
2023

When one of her students is suspected of theft, teacher Carla Nowak decides to get to the bottom of the matter. Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to break her.

Drama
1h 38m
İlker Çatak
Leonie Benesch, Leonard Stettnisch, Eva Löbau, Michael Klammer
63
2023 in The Sweet East (2023)
The Sweet East
2023

A high school senior from South Carolina gets her first glimpse of the wider world, picturesque cities, and woods of the Eastern seaboard on a class trip to Washington, D.C.

Comedy
Drama
1h 44m
Sean Price Williams
Talia Ryder, Earl Cave, Simon Rex, Ayo Edebiri
62
2023 in Music (2023)
Music
2023

Abandoned at birth in the Greek mountains on a stormy night, Jon is taken in and adopted, without having known his father or mother. As a young man, he meets Iro, a warden in the prison where he is incarcerated after a deadly tragic accident. She seems to seek out his presence, takes care of him, records music for him. Jon’s eyesight begins to fail... From then on, for every loss he suffers, he will gain something in return. Thus, in spite of going blind, he will live his life more fully than ever.

Drama
1h 49m
Angela Schanelec
Aliocha Schneider, Agathe Bonitzer, Marissa Triantafyllidou, Argyris Xafis
61
2023 in Mami Wata (2023)
Mami Wata
2023

In the oceanside village of Iyi, the revered Mama Efe acts as an intermediary between the people and the all-powerful water deity Mami Wata. But when a young boy is lost to a virus, Efe’s devoted but rebellious daughter Zinwe and skeptical protégé Prisca warn Efe about unrest among the villagers. With the sudden arrival of a mysterious rebel deserter named Jasper, a conflict erupts, leading to a violent clash of ideologies and a crisis of faith for the people of Iyi.

Drama
Fantasy
1h 47m
C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi
Evelyne Ily Juhen, Uzoamaka Power, Emeka Amakeze, Rita Edochie
60
2023 in The New Boy (2023)
The New Boy
2023

In 1940s Australia, a nameless nine-year-old Aboriginal orphan arrives in the dead of night at a remote monastery overseen by a renegade nun, where his presence disturbs its delicately balanced world.

Drama
1h 56m
Warwick Thornton
Cate Blanchett, Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair, Aswan Reid
59
2023 in Monster (2023)
Monster
2023

After being abducted and taken to a desolate house, a girl sets out to rescue her friend and escape from their malicious kidnapper.

Thriller
Horror
1h 24m
Rako Prijanto
Marsha Timothy, Alex Abbad, Anantya Rezky Kirana, Sulthan Hamonangan
58
2023 in Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023)
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
2023

Sasha is a young vampire with a serious problem: she's too sensitive to kill. When her exasperated parents cut off her blood supply, Sasha's life is in jeopardy. Luckily, she meets Paul, a lonely teenager with suicidal tendencies who is willing to give his life to save hers. But their friendly agreement soon becomes a nocturnal quest to fulfill Paul's last wishes before day breaks.

Romance
Comedy
1h 31m
Ariane Louis-Seize
Sara Montpetit, Félix-Antoine Bénard, Steve Laplante, Sophie Cadieux
57
2023 in Green Border (2023)
Green Border
2023

In the treacherous and swampy forests that make up the so called “green border” between Belarus and Poland, refugees from the Middle East and Africa trying to reach the European Union are trapped in a geopolitical crisis cynically engineered by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In an attempt to provoke Europe, refugees are lured to the border by propaganda promising easy passage to the EU. Pawns in this hidden war, the lives of Julia, a newly minted activist who has given up her comfortable life, Jan, a young border guard, and a Syrian family intertwine.

Drama
2h 32m
Agnieszka Holland
Jalal Altawil, Maja Ostaszewska, Behi Djanati Atai, Tomasz Włosok
56
2023 in The Delinquents (2023)
The Delinquents
2023

Morán works as a clerk in a bank in Buenos Aires. He is as good as invisible to his colleagues. Over dinner with his colleague Román, Morán tells him that he stole exactly $650,000, which is exactly double what he would have made until his retirement. He plans to turn himself in, but not before offering Román to split the money if agrees to hide it for the duration of his incarceration.

Drama
Comedy
3h 10m
Rodrigo Moreno
Daniel Elías, Esteban Bigliardi, Margarita Molfino, Germán de Silva
55
2023 in Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (2023)
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
2023

After a Vietnamese woman dies in a car crash in Saigon, her brother-in-law and her young son transport her body back to the former’s hometown in rural Vietnam, where they plan to give her a funeral.

Drama
2h 59m
Phạm Thiên Ân
Le Phong Vu, Nguyen Thinh, Nguyen Thi Truc Quynh, Vu Ngoc Manh
54
2023 in The Persian Version (2023)
The Persian Version
2023

When a large Iranian-American family gathers in New York City for the patriarch’s heart transplant, a family secret is uncovered and catapults the estranged mother and daughter into an exploration of the past.

Comedy
Drama
1h 48m
Maryam Keshavarz
Layla Mohammadi, Niousha Noor, Kamand Shafieisabet, Bijan Daneshmand
53
2023 in Orlando, My Political Biography (2023)
Orlando, My Political Biography
2023

Virginia Woolf's 1928 novel "Orlando: A Biography" follows the centuries-spanning life of a young nobleman who awakens to find that they are a woman. Almost a century after its publication, Paul B. Preciado claims that fiction has become reality and Orlando's story lies at the root of all contemporary trans and non-binary life.

Documentary
1h 39m
Paul B. Preciado
Oscar-Roza Miller, Yanis Sahraoui, Liz Christin, Elios Lévy
52
2023 in Eileen (2023)
Eileen
2023

During a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by Rebecca, the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path.

Thriller
Crime
1h 38m
William Oldroyd
Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Shea Whigham, Sam Nivola
51
2023 in Fremont (2023)
Fremont
2023

Donya, a lonely Afghan refugee and former translator, spends her twenties drifting through a meager existence in Fremont, California. Shuttling between her job writing fortunes for a fortune cookie factory and sessions with her eccentric therapist, Donya suffers from insomnia and survivor's guilt over those still left behind in Kabul as she desperately searches for love.

Comedy
Drama
1h 32m
Babak Jalali
Anaita Wali Zada, Jeremy Allen White, Gregg Turkington, Hilda Schmelling
50
2023 in Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (2023)
Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World
2023

On behalf of a multinational company, a production assistant drives around the Romanian city of Bucharest, interviewing various citizens who have been injured due to work accidents to cast one of them in a “safety at work” video.

Comedy
Drama
2h 44m
Radu Jude
Ilinca Manolache, Ovidiu Pîrșan, Nina Hoss, Dorina Lazăr
49
2023 in The Peasants (2023)
The Peasants
2023

Peasant girl Jagna is forced to marry the much older, wealthy farmer Boryna, despite her love for his son Antek. With time, Jagna becomes the object of envy and disdain with the villagers and she must fight to preserve her independence.

Animation
History
1h 55m
Hugh Welchman
Kamila Urzędowska, Robert Gulaczyk, Mirosław Baka, Sonia Mietielica
48
2023 in Youth (Spring) (2023)
Youth (Spring)
2023

This film was shot between 2014 and 2019 in the town of Zhili, a district of Huzhou City in Zhejiang province, China. Zhili is home to over 18,000 privately-run workshops producing children's clothes, mostly for the domestic market, but some also for export. The workshops employ around 300,000 migrant workers, chiefly from the rural provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan and Jiangsu.

Documentary
3h 32m
Wang Bing
Hu Zuguo, Li Shengnan
47
2023 in Family Dinner (2023)
Family Dinner
2023

Overweight and insecure, Simi spends Easter weekend with her famous nutritionist aunt. The hope is that it’ll help her get on a healthier track, but as the aunt’s family’s icy dynamics and an increasingly malevolent atmosphere leave Simi feeling uneasy, weight isn’t the only thing she’s about to lose.

Horror
Thriller
1h 37m
Peter Hengl
Pia Hierzegger, Nina Katlein, Michael Pink, Alexander Sladek
46
2023 in In Love and Deep Water (2023)
In Love and Deep Water
2023

On a massive luxury cruise ship while at sea, the loyal butler and a mysterious woman cross paths as they try to uncover a murder-mystery that occurs on the ship.

Romance
Comedy
2h 7m
Yusuke Taki
Ryo Yoshizawa, Aoi Miyazaki, Yoh Yoshida, Rinko Kikuchi
45
2023 in About Dry Grasses (2023)
About Dry Grasses
2023

A young art teacher hopes to be transferred to Istanbul after completing his mandatory duty in a remote village school in Anatolia. After accusations of inappropriate contact with a student surface, his hopes of escape fade and he descends further into an existential crisis.

Drama
3h 17m
Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Deniz Celiloğlu, Merve Dizdar, Musab Ekici, Ece Bağcı
44
2023 in The Taste of Things (2023)
The Taste of Things
2023

Set in 1889 France, Dodin Bouffant is a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie. They share a long history of gastronomy and love but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her.

Romance
Drama
2h 15m
Trần Anh Hùng
Benoît Magimel, Juliette Binoche, Patrick d'Assumçao, Emmanuel Salinger
43
2023 in Vermin (2023)
Vermin
2023

The story of a mother who does not want to die and a pair of ruinous children who only think about inheriting.

Comedy
1h 24m
Jordi Sánchez
Jordi Sánchez, Carlos Areces, Loles León, Silvia Abril
42
2023 in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
2023

Finding himself in a new era, and approaching retirement, Indy wrestles with fitting into a world that seems to have outgrown him. But as the tentacles of an all-too-familiar evil return in the form of an old rival, Indy must don his hat and pick up his whip once more to make sure an ancient and powerful artifact doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

Adventure
Action
2h 35m
James Mangold
Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook
41
2023 in La Chimera (2023)
La Chimera
2023

Just out of jail, rumpled English archaeologist Arthur reconnects with his wayward crew of tombaroli accomplices – a happy-go-lucky collective of itinerant grave-robbers who survive by looting Etruscan tombs and fencing the ancient treasures they dig up.

Drama
Fantasy
2h 11m
Alice Rohrwacher
Josh O'Connor, Carol Duarte, Alba Rohrwacher, Isabella Rossellini
40
2023 in The Killer (2023)
The Killer
2023

After a fateful miss, an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn't personal.

Crime
Thriller
Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard
39
2023 in Talk to Me (2023)
Talk to Me
2023

When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.

Horror
1h 35m
Danny Philippou
Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji
38
2023 in Joy Ride (2023)
Joy Ride
2023

When Audrey's business trip to Asia goes sideways, she enlists the aid of Lolo, her irreverent, childhood best friend who also happens to be a hot mess; Kat, her college friend turned Chinese soap star; and Deadeye, Lolo's eccentric cousin. Their no-holds-barred, epic experience becomes a journey of bonding, friendship, belonging, and wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are.

Comedy
1h 34m
Adele Lim
Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Sabrina Wu
37
2023 in Monica (2023)
Monica
2023

After years of estrangement, a trans woman returns home to help care for her dying mother.

Drama
1h 53m
Andrea Pallaoro
Trace Lysette, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Browning, Joshua Close
36
2023 in Radical (2023)
Radical
2023

In a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, a frustrated teacher tries an unorthodox new method to break through his students’ apathy and unlock their curiosity, their potential... and perhaps even their genius.

Drama
2h 5m
Christopher Zalla
Eugenio Derbez, Daniel Haddad, Jennifer Trejo, Mia Fernanda Solis
35
2023 in El Conde (2023)
El Conde
2023

After living for over two centuries, Augusto Pinochet is a vampire ready to die… but the vultures around him won't let him go without one last bite.

Fantasy
Comedy
1h 51m
Pablo Larraín
Jaime Vadell, Gloria Münchmeyer, Alfredo Castro, Paula Luchsinger
34
2023 in Lies We Tell (2023)
Lies We Tell
2023

An orphaned heiress is forced to embrace her family's dark legacy.

Drama
Mystery
1h 29m
Lisa Mulcahy
Agnes O'Casey, David Wilmot, Holly Sturton, Chris Walley
33
2023 in Wonka (2023)
Wonka
2023

Willy Wonka – chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time – is proof that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.

Comedy
Family
1h 57m
Paul King
Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Grant
32
2023 in Dream Scenario (2023)
Dream Scenario
2023

Hapless family man Paul Matthews finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.

Comedy
Fantasy
1h 42m
Kristoffer Borgli
Nicolas Cage, Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows
31
2023 in When Evil Lurks (2023)
When Evil Lurks
2023

When brothers Pedro and Jimi discover that a demonic infection has been festering in a nearby farmhouse, they attempt to evict the victim from their land. Failing to adhere to the proper rites of exorcism, their reckless actions inadvertently trigger an epidemic of possessions across their rural community.

Horror
Thriller
1h 40m
Demián Rugna
Ezequiel Rodríguez, Demián Salomón, Silvina Sabater, Luis Ziembrowski
30
2023 in Beau Is Afraid (2023)
Beau Is Afraid
2023

Following the sudden death of his mother, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man confronts his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic odyssey back home.

Comedy
Adventure
2h 59m
Ari Aster
Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan, Nathan Lane
29
2023 in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
2023

When her family moves from New York City to New Jersey, an 11-year-old girl navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.

Comedy
Drama
1h 46m
Kelly Fremon Craig
Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Elle Graham
28
2023 in A Thousand and One (2023)
A Thousand and One
2023

Struggling but unapologetically living on her own terms, Inez is moving from shelter to shelter in mid-1990s New York City. With her 6-year-old son Terry in foster care and unable to leave him again, she kidnaps him so they can build their life together. As the years go by, their family grows and Terry becomes a smart yet quiet teenager, but the secret that has defined their lives threatens to destroy the home they have so improbably built.

Drama
Crime
1h 56m
A.V. Rockwell
Teyana Taylor, William Catlett, Josiah Cross, Aven Courtney
27
2023 in May December (2023)
May December
2023

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under the pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past.

Drama
1h 57m
Todd Haynes
Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton, Cory Michael Smith
26
2023 in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
2023

Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

Science Fiction
Adventure
2h 30m
James Gunn
25

In an American desert town circa 1955, the itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.

24
2023 in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
2023

Ethan Hunt and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the world's fate at stake and dark forces from Ethan's past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan must consider that nothing can matter more than his mission—not even the lives of those he cares about most.

Action
Thriller
2h 44m
Christopher McQuarrie
23
2023 in Rye Lane (2023)
Rye Lane
2023

Two twenty-somethings, both reeling from bad break-ups, connect over the course of an eventful day in South London – helping each other deal with their nightmare exes, and potentially restoring their faith in romance.

Comedy
Romance
1h 22m
Raine Allen-Miller
David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah, Poppy Allen-Quarmby, Simon Manyonda
22
2023 in All of Us Strangers (2023)
All of Us Strangers
2023

One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry, which punctures the rhythm of his everyday life.

Romance
Drama
1h 45m
Andrew Haigh
Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Carter John Grout, Jamie Bell
21
2023 in Robot Dreams (2023)
Robot Dreams
2023

A lonely dog's friendship with his robot companion takes a sad turn when an unexpected malfunction forces him to abandon Robot at the beach. Will Dog ever meet Robot again?

Animation
Drama
1h 42m
Pablo Berger
Ivan Labanda, Tito Trifol, Rafa Calvo, José García Tos
20
2023 in 20 Days in Mariupol (2023)
20 Days in Mariupol
2023

As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities.

Documentary
War
1h 34m
Mstyslav Chernov
Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka, Liudmyla Amelkina, Zhanna Homa
19
2023 in Creed III (2023)
Creed III
2023

After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed has thrived in his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian Anderson, resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian — a fighter with nothing to lose.

18
2023 in Fallen Leaves (2023)
Fallen Leaves
2023

In modern-day Helsinki, two lonely souls in search of love meet by chance in a karaoke bar. However, their path to happiness is beset by obstacles – from lost phone numbers to mistaken addresses, alcoholism, and a charming stray dog.

Romance
Comedy
1h 21m
Aki Kaurismäki
Alma Pöysti, Jussi Vatanen, Janne Hyytiäinen, Nuppu Koivu
17
2023 in Passages (2023)
Passages
2023

Tomas and Martin are a gay couple living in Paris whose marriage is thrown into crisis when Tomas impulsively begins a passionate affair with young schoolteacher Agathe. But when Martin begins an affair of his own, Tomas must confront life decisions he may be unprepared—or unwilling—to deal with.

Romance
Drama
1h 32m
Ira Sachs
Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Erwan Kepoa Falé
16
2023 in Bottoms (2023)
Bottoms
2023

Unpopular best friends PJ and Josie start a high school self-defense club to meet girls and lose their virginity. They soon find themselves in over their heads when the most popular students start beating each other up in the name of self-defense.

Comedy
1h 31m
Emma Seligman
Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu
15
2023 in The Iron Claw (2023)
The Iron Claw
2023

The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made 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.

History
Drama
2h 12m
Sean Durkin
Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Stanley Simons
14
2023 in The Boy and the Heron (2023)
The Boy and the Heron
2023

While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."

Animation
Adventure
Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Ko Shibasaki, Aimyon
13
2023 in Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Godzilla Minus One
2023

In postwar Japan, Godzilla brings new devastation to an already scorched landscape. With no military intervention or government help in sight, the survivors must join together in the face of despair and fight back against an unrelenting horror.

Science Fiction
Horror
2h 4m
Takashi Yamazaki
Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki
12
2023 in Showing Up (2023)
Showing Up
2023

In the days leading up to a possibly career-changing exhibition, a sculptor navigates her relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.

Comedy
Drama
1h 47m
Kelly Reichardt
Michelle Williams, Hong Chau, Maryann Plunkett, John Magaro
11
2023 in American Fiction (2023)
American Fiction
2023

A novelist fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.

Comedy
Drama
1h 57m
Cord Jefferson
Jeffrey Wright, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams
Why it ranks

Cord Jefferson delivers a razor-sharp satire that skewers the contemporary commodification of Black trauma with surgical precision. Jeffrey Wright’s weary, sophisticated performance grounds the film’s comedic absurdity, making its final meta-textual provocations land with a stinging resonance.

10
2023 in Maestro (2023)
Maestro
2023

A towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.

Drama
Romance
Carey Mulligan, Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer, Vincenzo Amato
Why it ranks

Bradley Cooper’s direction is a dizzying, rhapsodic swing for the fences that prioritizes the tempestuous rhythm of a life over standard biographical milestones. The film’s shifting aspect ratios and bravura conducting sequences create a tactile, breathless portrait of artistic genius and the sacrifices it demands.

9
2023 in Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
Anatomy of a Fall
2023

A woman is suspected of her husband's murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness.

Thriller
Mystery
2h 31m
Justine Triet
Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz
Why it ranks

Justine Triet's icy, intellectual courtroom drama meticulously deconstructs a marriage under the guise of a legal procedural. By refusing to offer easy catharsis, the film forces the audience to confront the ambiguity of truth and the subjective nature of domestic narratives.

8

After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters the Spider Society, a team of Spider-People charged with protecting the Multiverse's very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must set out on his own to save those he loves most.

Animation
Action
2h 20m
Justin K. Thompson
Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez
Why it ranks

This sensory explosion redefines the aesthetic boundaries of animation, blending disparate artistic styles into a coherent, kinetic masterpiece of multiverse storytelling. It manages to deepen its protagonist's emotional journey while maintaining a frenetic, innovative visual language that leaves its peers in the dust.

7
2023 in Poor Things (2023)
Poor Things
2023

Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

Science Fiction
Romance
2h 21m
Yorgos Lanthimos
Why it ranks

Yorgos Lanthimos constructs a maximalist, candy-colored fever dream that serves as a radical manifesto for female autonomy. Emma Stone’s fearless physical performance anchors this surrealist odyssey, turning a grotesque rebirth into a hilarious and profound exploration of human experience.

6
2023 in Barbie (2023)
Barbie
2023

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.

Comedy
Adventure
1h 54m
Greta Gerwig
Why it ranks

Greta Gerwig executes a miraculous tonal tightrope walk, transforming a corporate monolith into a vibrant, neon-hued critique of patriarchal structures. It is a rare blockbuster that possesses a genuine philosophical pulse, balancing existential dread with a brilliant, subversive wit.

5
2023 in The Zone of Interest (2023)
The Zone of Interest
2023

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.

Drama
History
1h 45m
Jonathan Glazer
Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Johann Karthaus, Luis Noah Witte
Why it ranks

Sandra Hüller delivers a masterclass in the banality of evil, portraying Hedwig Höss as a chillingly preoccupied housewife more concerned with her garden borders than the genocide over her shoulder. This role cements her status as a titan of European cinema, proving she can command the screen through startling, domestic indifference rather than outward dramatics. Her ability to inhabit such an icy, hollow shell mark a career high point in calculated, terrifying restraint.

4
2023 in Past Lives (2023)
Past Lives
2023

After decades apart, childhood friends Nora and Hae Sung are reunited in New York for one fateful weekend as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life.

Drama
Romance
1h 46m
Celine Song
Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Moon Seung-ah
Why it ranks

Celine Song’s debut is a masterclass in restraint, exploring the ache of 'In-Yun' through whispers and glances rather than grand melodramatic gestures. It captures the specific, quiet grief of the lives we leave behind with an emotional intelligence that feels both ancient and startlingly new.

3
2023 in The Holdovers (2023)
The Holdovers
2023

A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually, he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam.

Comedy
Drama
2h 13m
Alexander Payne
Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Carrie Preston
Why it ranks

Alexander Payne evokes the soulful, grain-heavy spirit of 1970s New Hollywood to craft a character study that feels instantly timeless. The sharp, literate screenplay finds grace in the friction between three lonely souls, proving that small, human-centric stories still possess immense cinematic power.

2
2023 in Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Killers of the Flower Moon
2023

When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one—until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.

Why it ranks

Scorsese delivers a somber, subversive autopsy of American greed that centers its moral weight on Lily Gladstone's transcendent, watchful performance. The film eschews standard procedural tropes to focus on the corrosive rot of complicity within a marriage and a nation.

1

The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer's role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.

Why it ranks

Christopher Nolan achieves a terrifying intimacy within the frame of a colossal historical epic, weaponizing sound and silence to capture the fracture of a man and the world he broke. It is a towering technical achievement that functions as a haunting, high-stakes psychological thriller.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

The top films of 2023 showcased a diverse range of genres including drama, history, comedy, romance, and science fiction. Notably, movies such as 'Oppenheimer' and 'Killers of the Flower Moon' emphasize historical drama, while 'Barbie' introduces comedic adventure, and 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' adds vibrant animation and action.

In 2023, indie films like 'Past Lives' and 'The Holdovers' stood out critically alongside major productions, signaling a year where original storytelling gained renewed appreciation. This shift demonstrated that audiences and critics alike embraced unique narratives beyond the traditional franchise model.

Celine Song's 'Past Lives' marks a remarkable directorial debut with its poignant romantic drama, while Yorgos Lanthimos's 'Poor Things' offers his signature eccentric style blending science fiction and romance. The list features veteran directors such as Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese, highlighting a balance of established and emerging voices.

Animation made a significant impact in 2023 with titles like 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' and 'The Boy and the Heron.' These films combine breathtaking visuals with compelling narratives, significantly contributing to the year's cinematic achievements.

Top films of 2023 commonly explore complex themes like identity, history, and personal relationships. For instance, 'Oppenheimer' delves into historical and moral complexities, while 'Past Lives' and 'Maestro' explore intimate human connections through romance and music.

The movies of 2023 reflect a cultural shift away from franchise saturation toward original and thought-provoking storytelling. This is evident in the success of diverse genres and narratives that prioritize character depth and innovative storytelling approaches.

Several films in the 2023 lineup focus on historical narratives, including 'Oppenheimer,' 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' and 'The Zone of Interest.' These movies offer profound insights into pivotal moments in history, blending dramatic storytelling with factual contexts.

Yes, 'Poor Things' uniquely blends science fiction, romance, and comedy to create a genre-bending experience, while 'Godzilla Minus One' mixes science fiction, horror, and action. Such films demonstrate the creative versatility present in 2023's top cinematic works.
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