The Top 18 Movies Of 2023

Dec 29
The Top 18 Movies of 2023

5

When Evil Lurks

The best horror movie of the year.

4

Oppenheimer

Matt Damon is the engine of the first half of the movie.

3

Barbie

There’s something about the pressure of this movie, the absolute capitalistic weight it had to carry, that made its gangbusters success all the more impressive. Even with some actual bad scenes — the Will Ferrell chase scene inside Mattel’s headquarters — it’s probably the most re-watchable movie of the year.

2

Poor Things

There are some cheap plot conceits, but Yorgos Lanthimos’s vision and realization of this script on screen is unimpeachable. There need to be more risks like this taken, by both directors and writers but also leading stars like Emma Stone. See blurb below.

1

Infinity Pool

Every year I watch movies, I find myself more and more attracted to the risks filmmakers take in their art. Contrasted to movies like Oppenheimer, which is a stellar film and one of my favorites of the year, Infinity Pool finds concepts and visuals that are truly new and haven’t been written or seen before on film. Oppenheimers and Iron Claws work for their execution in things like dialogue and script and in taking complex and demanding subjects and wringing perfection from them in two or three hours. They sell, too. But I’ll always be moved by the bizarre and the outlandish and run up their flag so artists continue to push their ideas and their vision.

Also, Mia Goth is a best actor working, making all the right choices.

Comprehensive List

Here is every 2023 movie I saw, ranked. Notably, I have not seen: Fallen Leaves, Asteroid City, All Of Us Strangers, The Boy And The Heron, and Zone Of Interest. I will see them, and may update this post accordingly!

  1. Infinity Pool
  2. Poor Things
  3. Barbie
  4. Oppenheimer
  5. When Evil Lurks
  6. Eileen
  7. Talk to Me
  8. Killers of the Flower Moon
  9. The Iron Claw
  10. Ferrari
  11. Maestro
  12. Thanksgiving
  13. Bottoms
  14. May December
  15. How to Blow Up a Pipeline
  16. Anatomy of a Fall
  17. The Killer
  18. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret
  19. The Covenant
  20. Napoleon
  21. Extraction 2
  22. John Wick 4
  23. Knock at the Cabin
  24. Beau is Afraid
  25. Reptile
  26. Sanctuary
  27. Air
  28. Saltburn
  29. The Exorcist Believer
  30. Reality
  31. Priscilla
  32. Enys Men
  33. Past Lives
  34. Skinamarink
  35. Showing Up
  36. M3GAN
  37. Cocaine Bear
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