Top 25 Movies of 2023 (According To Jeff D Lowe)
We can finally close the book on the year of 2023 and movies.
Top to bottom, 2023 was a really solid year for movies overall, but when you boil it down to just the top tier, the best movies of the year, it's easy to throw around the word "elite" in terms of what was released. From the Barbenheimer craze to another year of delays due to the various strikes, it was a wild year, and it's time to look at the 25 movies I thought were the best from January 1st all the way through New Year's Eve 2023.
Here are my personal Top 25 Movies of 2023 (a list of my opinion, not yours, which may differ… which is fine):
25. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES (88/100) - Easily the surprise of the year, 'Dungeons & Dragons' had a nice first trailer but felt like a throwaway action-fantasy movies prior to its release. So many movies like this are often plagued by actors clearly not enjoying the project, but this movie has the exact opposite going on. Everyone from Chris Pine to Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, and more is clearly enjoying every aspect of their roles, the script, and the story. The movies is a fucking blast, honestly, perfectly combining the action-fantasy genre with a good blend of comedy and fun. Likely overlooked by many, this is a must-watch simply for a great time. NOTE: Caleb Pressley, who despises my movie lists, has this in his Top 5 of the year, I believe.
24. BOTTOMS (88/100) - There were a handful of really good classic comedy movies in 2023, and 'Bottoms' was one of the best. For some reason (probably box office results), the traditional comedy structure has died off in movies the last few years. You either get a strict dramedy (plenty of great ones) or a movie that is far too scared to commit and go all-in like a lot of the comedies of the past. 'Bottoms' sends it, and sends it hard when it comes to over-the-top, "go for it" humor, and it pays off. This is a high school comedy that isn't afraid to dip back into the past and gives us a lot of what we used to love from this genre.
23. ASTEROID CITY (88/100) - If you hate Wes Anderson movies, just skip ahead. If you used to like West Anderson movies, but don't anymore… stick around. Compared to his best work, Anderson's two most recent releases prior to 2023 ('Isle of Dogs' and 'The French Dispatch') were largely duds. This new movie, however, feels like a return to form for the director in terms of personality in his stories. The past few releases from the director have felt a little lifeless, like we were going through the symmetrical motions. Storytelling is dialed up for Anderson as the movie, a television show about a documentary about a stage play, feels fresh and full of personality and emotion, something that has been lacking. Those who don't love his style will likely be turned off from the start, but any fans, past and present should find something here to enjoy.
22. SALTBURN (88/100) - I love wild, batshit insane movies. When it comes to movies, especially in theaters, I am looking to experience something and feel the emotions put out there by the director (in this case a great one in Emerald Fennell). You get that in spades with 'Saltburn', a movie that pushes the boundaries of the breaking down the wall of absurdity, but not in a way to destroy the experience. It toes the line perfectly, but also in a way where I totally understand if someone can't make it through the movie. The performances from Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, and Richard E. Grant also elevate to one of the best of the year.
21. SISU (88/100) - Here's a movie that might be both overlooked and forgotten at the same time from this year of 2023. The trailer for this movie pitched that the minds behind 'John Wick' were involved with this movie. A World War II, Nazi-killing John Wick-style movie? Sounded too good to be true in an era where copying Wick's success would be a golden ticket. Welp, it may not be a ticket as shiny Wick himself, but 'Sisu' delivers on the hype its promotional material promises. This is an insane, gory action-war movie that unapologetically has fun with the genre while also giving you a well-crafted movie.
20. CREED III (89/100) - I couldn't believe how great 'Creed' was when it came out (snubbed for a Best Picture nomination), and I was shocked 'Creed II' was an awesome sequel, so trust me when I say a third movie in the franchise hitting the mark again blew me away. The fact this is Michael B. Jordan's directorial debut is fucking jaw-dropping. His references and nods to anime, and the media that has influenced his life, mixed into this story are all incredible. While it's a hair short of the first movie, which is one of the best sports movies ever made, 'Creed III' carves out its own new lane, and continues this series' ability to bring something fresh to a long-running franchise.
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19. BLACKBERRY (89/100) - There were a handful of "brand & product" movies in 2023. Some of them were solid, a few of them were good, but one stood out from the pack, and that was easily 'Blackberry'. With a trailer that, thanks probably to Glenn Howerton's hair, looked like a parody trailer from early 2000's internet, I never expected much from this movie, but it ended up being one of 2023's biggest surprises. The script is witty as hell with constant humor, but not lacking substance in the way it tells a story about an inevitable downfall of which we are all aware going in. Despite knowing how it all ends, there is a constant fascination as a viewer watching them fail their way to the top, and tumble straight to the bottom.
18. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 (89/100) - It's been ten (10!!!) years since the first 'John Wick' was released, and I still can't believe that movie ended up being great. The original movie wasn't just great, it was revolutionary for the action genre. Find anything released in this genre, especially one that wants the audience to take it seriously, and you will see the stunt-inspired fingerprints all over it. But while a lot of movies have done a great job replicating Wick's formula, this franchise still has the ultimate secret recipe. The fourth installment in the franchise might be the best pound-for-pound, but it falls just short of the original in my eyes as it is just a hair too fast and loose, and not as snappy and tight as it could be. Regardless, the action is insane, the stunts are incredible, and every perfectly executed small detail ups the ante of this story and franchise.
17. THE IRON CLAW (89/100) - I wasn't as high on this movie as other, and it still ended up at 17th on my list for the year… so that should tell you all you need to know about how people feel about 'The Iron Claw'. What's bizarre is that the movie, from an award season darling studio in A24, received as empty of an Oscars push as I've ever seen for a release like this. Don't let the lack of nominations across the board fool you, this movie has fantastic performances from Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White, as well as a fantastic story that will take you to the mat with intense depth and emotion. I'm not sure why, but wrestling stories ('The Wrestler', 'Foxcatcher') seem to be a cheat code when it comes to the sports movie genre.
16. SOMEWHERE IN QUEEN (89/100) - My assumption is that many of you got to this point and asked yourself, "what the fuck is this movie?" This movie greatly flew under the radar, and that's quite a damn shame because a titan of television comedy was behind it: Ray Romano. In his directorial debut, Romano, who also stars in the movie, crafts one the best slice-of-life movies we've seen in the last few years. 'Somewhere In Queens' feels personal, raw, relatable, and very real, and there is a heart here, that both makes your laugh and tear up, that really pops off the screen. It's a shame we don't get Romano is bigger roles like this one, or 'The Big Sick' from 2017, because he knocks these clean out of the park. It's also worth mentioning that, as always, Laurie Metcalf turns in a wonderful, and hilarious, performance.
15. ALL OF US STRANGERS (90/100) - Here with 'All of Us Strangers' we have probably the most underappreciated director and screenplay credits of the year. Andrew Haigh finds a pretty masterful way to lift up a fairly straight-forward romantic drama concept and bring it into this fantastical world with a take on a love story that hooks the audience with ease. This is all without evening mentioning the fact it is one of the best looking movies of 2023, as well. With notable performances from Andrew Scott, Claire Foy, and Paul Mescal (whose star is about to explode in 2024), it's a little disappointing that this movie seemed to be a runner-up to getting praised with award season love.
14. ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET (90/100) - I didn't have a Judy Blume coming-of-age-dramedy adaptation being one of the best movies of the year on my 2023 movie bingo card, but would you look at that! This is proof that you don't always need a transcendent production to result in a really solid movie. Sometimes all it takes is a nice, wholesome script, and excellent acting across the board. Much like with 'Somewhere In Queens', this movie just feels "real," and there is a care to making sure the teenage experience on screen is authentic. This isn't particularly shocking as director Kelly Fremon Craig also did the excellent 'Edge of Seventeen' from 2016. I also have to mention that Rachel McAdams should probably have received more Oscars love for her performance, as it is undoubtedly one of the year's best.
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13. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING (90/100) - The Mission: Impossible franchise remained on absolute fire this summer with the highly anticipated release of 'Dead Reckoning'. Under the weight of immense hype, this movie delivered for me on every single front. Am I little biased? Possibly, I love this franchise, and the last movie, 'Fallout', is one of the best action movies ever made in my eyes. Nobody knows how to craft an action blockbuster dripping with suspense quite like Tom Cruise. As always, the music moves you to the edge of your seat, the action is breathtaking, and the cinematography continues to help push the genre further and further away from the horrifying shaky-cam epidemic. There's an obvious understanding of the character, franchise, and audience, especially when looking at its usual sharp & witty script, that helps keep this train moving along. Quite simply put, 'Dead Reckoning' kicks ass. Why they released this movie the week before Barbenheimer remains baffling, and if you missed this one for some reason, make sure to buy or rent it as soon as possible.
12. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (90/100) - These were my thoughts when this movie came out in October: "'Killers of the Flower Moon' is a gripping, brutal story loaded with incredible performances and creative storytelling from the master Martin Scorsese as it slots in with many top tier movies from the legendary director, but possibly a hair below his best." My score has dropped a little upon rewatch, but this still remains another great release from Scorsese even if, as I said, it may not be in many people's Top 5 for the director. It's kind of crazy looking back on the life of this movie though, because while the vast majority of audience-goers liked the movie, it was a massive award season dud. It picked up a Best Picture nomination, Lilly Gladstone could win Best Actress, and Marty is nominated as an eventual runner-up to Christopher Nolan but look at what the movie did not get. Nothing for Leonardo DiCaprio, no screenplay nomination, and generally a lack of buzz only a few months after its release. The movie is a pretty rough story, and its lack of rewatchability given the subject matter might factor into it, but given how much hype was fueling this movie, it's still largely surprising when pulling back and assessing everything.
11. THE BOY AND THE HERON (90/100) - I mean, what did you expect from Hayao Miyazaki? There is a sense of wonder from arguably the greatest mind in the history of animation that is just awe-inspiring with every single release. For him to come out of retirement and put the pen to paper on another great movie is something we can't take for granted. 'The Boy and the Heron' is yet another excellent fantasy adventure that says as much, if not more, from its story and themes as it does visually with its breathtaking animation. This should serve as a good reminder to dive deep into Miyazaki's catalogue, which is stuffed full of some of the greatest movies ever made.
10. THE HOLDOVERS (91/100) - This was a great movie, which it seems as though many people have realized over the last few months! When I first saw this trailer, which played more as a commercial before the traditional trailers, I thought it was a straight-to-DVD release. So, for it to be a contender for Best Picture at the Oscars all this time later is incredible. Instead of focusing on the movie as a whole, let's turn our vision to the incredible Paul Giamatti. I would personally walk the Oscar over to Cillian Murphy if given the chance, but I think I'd be quite happy if Giamatti won Best Actor this year. There are very few people in Hollywood who deserve that honor quite like Giamatti, who has never turned in a bad performance. Whether it is 'Big Fat Liar', 'Sideways', Tim Burton's 'Planet of the Apes', or 'Win Win', Giamatti always bring it. Good movie, bad movie, blockbuster, small release, it really doesn't matter, because there are few who can match his resume in terms of quality performances. If not this year, hopefully Giamatti can finally get the pinnacle of acting recognition he so deserves.
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09. BEAU IS AFRAID (92/100) - Every year there is a movie I will defend to the end of the Earth, but also not willingly suggest to just anybody and 2023's winner is 'Beau Is Afraid'! Unlike anything before from the mad genius Ari Aster ('Hereditary', 'Midsommar'), 'Beau Is Afraid' is a slight departure from his usual horror genre release, and is more of a blend with mystery, comedy, and fantasy. What's the best genre to use when describing this movie? Absurdist? Something like that. This movie will fuck your brain up. Not in a mind-bending twist way, just because how over-the-top and out there the story, characters, and everything in between play out. The movie is one big ball of panic and anxiety. I don't mean that like with 'Uncut Gems', a movie that could give you panic and anxiety, I mean that this movie is the visual representation of those things. The movie starts at 100 mph in terms of chaos, and it never lets up, only accelerates, blowing right through the wall of the credits. How this movie is perceived and interpreted will be dependent on who you are, what you see, and what the movie makes you feel. Ari Aster (who I will once again call a genius) said in an interview that the best way to watch this movie is to not bog yourself down on themes, ideas, or meanings, and just "open yourself up to whatever." This won't be for everyone, and I'd go as far to say that if you don't like it, you'll probably despise it, with no in between.
'Beau Is Afraid' is a movie that the director admitted to being the equivalent of him lighting his "good will" from previous successful releases on fire. In a world where people love to complain about the "lack" of original movies, this is the type of thing we never get and need to appreciate, no matter if you love it or hate it. There aren't many directors like Aster, or a Jordan Peele for example, who will receive a push from studios after original movies, and then dig their heels in deeper and continue making projects they want to make, regardless how the general audience may receive it.
I wrote a lot about this movie. It spoke to me, on many levels, and is just one of those releases that makes me go, "this is why I go to the theater."
08. GODZILLA MINUS ONE (93/100) - How about a fucking Godzilla movie ending up in my Top 10! Look, anyone who knows Toho's love and care for this creature, or has just flat out seen the movie, won't be surprised to hear they made another classic monster movie with the king himself. They've made many great Godzilla movies over the years, especially recently with 'Shin Godzilla', or even the fun domestic releases, but 'Godzilla Minus One' might be one of the best movies ever released involving the titular character. So often with movies of this genre we hear the same (often justified) complaints about either a lack of a humanizing story, or an over-reliance on those same human characters at the expense of the monsters or kaiju. 'Godzilla Minus One' has neither of those problems, as it expertly blends together both the big-time Godzilla action audiences crave, but a storyline and set of characters compelling enough to make this a truly great all-around movie. Disrespected by awards season voters in a year where a lot of movies from outside the United States received nominations and hardware, 'Godzilla Minus One' deserves respect at the same level of the year's top-tier releases.
07. AMERICAN FICTION (93/100) - Depending on what genre you toss 'Poor Things' into, this could be the best dramedy of the 2023 movie calendar. It's packed with a witty, smart, & award-worthy script that unravels itself to the audience and an incredibly engaging way. Not to mention the acting in this movie is fantastic top to bottom, though there's one man I have to point out: Jeffrey Wright. The man with the best voice in Hollywood is finally getting the leading-man recognition he so greatly deserves. Much like with Paul Giamatti, this is a great example of an always-great complimentary piece in movies getting to show off they can steal the show with the full force of the spotlight on them. With every line delivered to perfection, this is Wright's best role, and it helps carry 'American Fiction' right up the top of the charts as one of the year's best movies.
06. THE ZONE OF INTEREST (94/100) - It's sort of impossible to explain what the experience of this movie is like without giving a quick synopsis: "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." Yeah, that paints a pretty good picture at the brutality of this movie. A movie that shows a story, while inadvertently telling a different one at the same exact time. What you fail to see in this movie, and only faintly hear, is what truly dominates your mind as everything plays out. The true story being told, not what plays out directly on screen, is what drives deeper and deeper into your feelings. You know it is there. You sense it, you hear, you just don't see it, and that's a huge reason as to why the happenings of this movie won't leave you soon after the credits roll. It's a movie from Jonathan Glazer that could very well have stepped on the wrong side of the line and been a mess, but expertly navigates a tough story to tell with care and leaves a lasting impact on the audience.
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05. PAST LIVES (95/100) - Anything rated a 95 or above for me is considered beyond "great," and into the elite range. Starting off with 'Past Lives' is fitting, as this is one of the best romantic dramas released this century. Great acting and scriptwriting from everyone involved help deliver a movie that will make you smile at times, but also tug on your heart strings and invoke tears. It's grounded, human, and relatable, in many ways, or every way depending on who you are as a viewer. Like all great movies in both the drama and romance space, it plucks at every emotion in your body and soul. The fact this is a directorial debut for Celine Song is pretty insane, and it leaves no doubt that her future releases will be appointment theatergoing.
04. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (95/100) - To top 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse', one of the best comic-book animated movies ever made was a task going into its sequel that seemed quite impossible. Did it top it? No. Did it deliver something in the same realm of greatness? Absolutely. In terms of visuals and animations, this is better than the first, and the best-looking animated movie ever made. It's jaw-dropping to watch what seems like millions of animation styles used throughout the movie to perfection. Every person who worked on animating this movie is a freak of nature in the most complimentary way possible. Once again, the music and the score never, ever miss. It's just pure greatness, even if it isn't as tightly wound as the first movie. Anyone who scoffs at this movie because it is A) a comic-book movie or B) animated is, and I say this as someone who harps the subjectivity of movies, a fucking bozo. This is greatness, no questions asked, and the fact the stuffy-ass Academy didn't give it a nomination for Best Picture (again) is just ridiculous.
03. POOR THINGS (95/100) - I think it is time to crown Yorgos Lanthimos. Look at the fucking run this guy is one: 'The Lobster' then 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' then 'The Favourite' and now the expected runner-up for Best Picture at the Oscars with 'Poor Things'. He is on a heater that seems to have no end in sight, which is such a win for audiences. This man has a vision and a style that is unlike anything else we see in Hollywood. Lanthimos has made his mark on the industry, and is officially a visionary leading the pack, rather than someone making his name as a potential elite director. 'Poor Things', like his other releases, is such a batshit, weird movie, but one that asks big questions in a thought-provoking manner that will have you leaving the theater pondering every angle of the story. His relatable, humanized stories are a mark of what makes his movies so appealing, but to do so in 'Poor Things' with such a fantastical setting just ups his game to a whole new level.
While the elements such as music and production design can claim to be the best parts of the movie, its Emma Stone's performance, a great one among many other solid roles, that sticks out the most for me. When it comes to crowning people, it might be time we crown Emma Stone as the best working actress in Hollywood. It's not just her great performances, this recent one being another possible Oscar for her, but also the fact she has a seemingly endless range as an actress. In the same run she can do 'La La Land', 'Zombieland 2', and 'Cruella', but also 'The Favourite', 'Poor Things', and 'The Curse' with Nathan Fielder. Thats… fucking insanity.
02. ANATOMY OF A FALL (96/100) - Any other year, 'Anatomy of a Fall' would've been a perfect contender for my top movie of the year. This is a courtroom & trial movie unlike anything you've seen before on both the big screen, and small screen if this genre is something you love to dive into. Everything in the movie is perfectly placed by director Justine Triet (nominated for Best Director at the Oscars) to draw your eyes in and out with visual clues and themes that will have you dissecting every conversation and detail of this crime thriller. The secret to a movie and story like this is the fact that, even if-and-when you figure out exactly what's going, you are never not captivated by how everything plays out. 'Anatomy of a Fall' is expertly put together, ramping up when it wants to get your heart racing, but slowly letting things play out when it wants you to pull back and think things through. The performances, led by Sandra Hüller (also in 'The Zone of Interest'), are all great, and serve as the nail in the coffin when it comes to lifting this movie to greatness. Without those performances, this movie would absolutely fall apart and lose all of its interesting angles. The best thing I can say about 'Anatomy of a Fall' is that it feels as if you're inside of the story as it actually plays out, as opposed to just simply watching a movie. It's a simple movie on the surface, but its all a trick to pull you in and immerse you in a way that almost no other movie could achieve in 2023.
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01. OPPENHEIMER (100/100) - I gave this movie a 100 out of 100 when it came in July, and I'd give it a 200 out of 100 right now if I could. Quite simply put, this is a masterpiece, and one of the best movies ever made in history… all of it… period.
I've now seen this movie ten times, seven of them in theaters, and I will never get enough of what Christopher Nolan did with it. 'Oppenheimer' is perfectly put together, telling Nolan's trademark non-linear story, but done so at a level he hadn't even achieved up until its release this past summer. Turning this three-hour long movie involving people talking about science and politics into one of the most successful blockbuster releases of all time is an achievement that should define Christopher Nolan's already-legendary career.
The biggest reason this movie works so well and has you on the edge of your seat is undoubtedly the music. Everything in this movie is perfection, from the visual effects to the cinematography, the script, production design, and everything in between, but I am not sure the movie reaches this level without Ludwig Göransson's score. The music in this movie, from a score that I think is one of the Top 5 ever made for a movie, keeps everything going. It grips you from the jump of the movie, and never lets go right down the final moment of the movie, which sends shivers down your spine. Every bit of emotion felt while watching 'Oppenheimer' is in large part due to the music. Even the most basic scene, or simplest exchange of dialogue is leveled up by the score that accompanies it. Göransson's score is a pure masterpiece and best part of any movie, by far, from 2023.
When it comes to performances, Cillian Murphy is dynamite in the lead role but also backed by a supporting cast littered with so many Oscar-worthy roles that you'd run out of ink if you tried to write them all down. Robert Downey Jr. is going to win the Oscar, Josh Hartnett has me wanting him to play Bruce Wayne, Benny Safdie & David Krumholtz (Bernard from 'The Santa Clause' for those unaware) were deserving of way more mainstream praise, Emily Blunt delivers one of the best moments of the movie, and Matt Damon once again puts up a ho-hum triple-double performance in a role that is more important to the success of the movie than most want to credit. (SIDE NOTE: The reveal of Casey Affleck's character as if it was a jump scare in a horror movie cracks me up)
On and on I could go about every element of this movie. I could tell you how the structure of the storytelling and use of color vs. black & white is masterfully executed. The visual treat which is this movie, one that has to be seen in 70mm IMAX if you're given the chance, is another element I could talk about forever. Name literally anything involving 'Oppenheimer' and my response will be the same every single time: it's perfect, all of it.
I get if this may not be your cup of tea, it's a three-hour long courtroom & political thriller, but I also think a lot of people loved this movie and were oddly scared to place it next to other all-time greats. This is actually something that happens every few years, where someone sees an elite movie, but says something along the lines of, "do you really think it's as good as so-and-so movie that came out X decades ago?" Yes, the answer is usually yes. Something that is great, or even perfect, is just that. A movie doesn't have to earn its place through time like it is a pro athlete waiting to be Hall of a Fame eligible, a great or perfect movie is just that, great or perfect.
The feeling I had leaving the theater for the first time after seeing 'Oppenheimer' was, "this is one of the greatest movies ever made," and I don't see that opinion ever changing.
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So, that leads me to adjusting my greatest movies ever made list. It was a great year for movies, but 2023 only has one movie that will make its way into my Top 50, and that's obviously 'Oppenheimer'. With a clean 100/100, I slot the movie right behind 'Jaws' at #11 all-time. There are 14 movies in my rankings of over 5,000 that carry a 100/100 rating, which is always subject to change. I recently added 'The Social Network' and 'Jaws' (a longtime omission) to the list of perfect movies.
Christopher Nolan now shows up three times in my Top 50, an honor (I am sure they're both thrilled) already owned by Quentin Tarantino, and Martin Scorsese. Though it's Steven Spielberg who leads the pack, appearing four times in my Top 50, two of them landing in the Top 10.
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And so, we close the book on 2023.
It's another year of excellent movies, a year in which we once again see why you should go to the movies at every possibly opportunity. No matter what type of movie it is, big, small, good, bad, sequel, or original, make sure to sit down in a theater and see the movie the way it was intended to be seen.
The upcoming 2024 slate is set to be a sequel and tentpole heavy year, but I cannot wait to find the hidden gems and surprises that pop up this time next year.