Just one month ahead of the 96th annual Academy Awards, aka The Oscars, here’s a guide to the best films that came out of 2023 by a self-proclaimed cinephile.
It’s that time of the year again – the Oscars are here! With everything from intense dramas to movies inspired by plastic dolls up for awards, it’s going to be a wild ride. But don’t worry if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the nominees or wondering who the hell Yorgos Lanthimos is; I’ve got you covered. As a film student who spends way too much time watching movies, I’m here to give you the lowdown on the best films of 2023.
This year was a huge year for the film industry, and with the summer’s Barbenheimer collectively making over $2 billion, theatrical releases are back in full swing. Streaming is also on the rise, producing many of last year’s most popular films.
Without further ado, here are the top movies from last year. Whether they have scored a nomination or not, they are all winners in my heart.
I Cried While Watching These
The Holdovers
The Iron Claw
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Barbie (I only teared up a little bit)
Past Lives
Everything in this category, even if the movie wasn’t particularly sad, made me cry at least a little. The Holdovers is like Dead Poets Society’s slightly less depressed younger cousin. Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White shocked the world with their roles in The Iron Claw, and Efron was even the people’s choice for an Oscar nomination. Unfortunately, he didn’t get one, but I would’ve loved to see it happen.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is one of the best coming-of-age movies I’ve seen come out in recent years, with the story expertly portraying girlhood. Rachel McAdams’ performance is a stand-out of her career, along with upcoming Abby Ryder Fortson playing McAdams’ daughter.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was another excellent portrayal of girlhood from 2023. There are ten thousand things I could say about this movie, but I’ll keep it brief; Greta Gerwig deserved a spot in the Best Director category.
Finally, we have Past Lives, one of the most heartbreaking movies I’ve ever watched. I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you’re just looking for a nice romance, do not watch this movie.
Ridiculous Comedies
Theater Camp
Bottoms
Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain
No Hard Feelings
These were some of the funniest movies I’ve seen. 2023 was definitely the year comedy was revived. SNL’s resident trio Please Don’t Destroy produced an absolutely ridiculous adventure movie The Treasure of Foggy Mountain. The three went on a treasure hunt they heard about when they were children, picking up random antagonists and even Bowen Yang along the way. If you’re not afraid to cringe a little bit, this movie is for you.
No Hard Feelings is arguably Jennifer Lawrence’s best comedic work. The movie follows an outrageous story of a desperate woman agreeing to date a wealthy couple’s introverted and awkward 19-year-old son. With Lawrence, alongside co-star (and Broadway alum) Andrew Barth Feldman’s beautiful singing voice, No Hard Feelings was the best romantic comedy of the year.
Speaking of Broadway alums, Theater Camp is Ben Platt’s mockumentary surrounding an underfunded theater camp in Upstate New York as they band together with the founder’s son to keep the camp afloat. Platt, along with fiancee Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, and Nick Lieberman wrote an exceptionally entertaining film with songs I still find myself listening to months after watching.
And if I’m speaking of 2023 comedy, I can’t leave out Bottoms. The film follows two high school senior girls (Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott) who set up a fight club as a way to hook up with cheerleaders. Writer and Director Emma Seligman described her satirical film as a “campy queer high school comedy in the vein of Wet Hot American Summer but more for a Gen-Z queer audience.” After watching, I’m sure you’ll agree with Seligman’s description.
Couldn’t Tear My Eyes From The Screen
Poor Things
Oppenheimer
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
May December
All of Us Strangers
Mostly drama, these movies were all so captivating I literally couldn’t stop watching. Poor Things and Oppenheimer are both up for Best Picture and totally deserve it.
Emma Stone, as always, stole the show with her performance in Poor Things. She has some tough competition in the Best Actress category, but I really hope she wins. The comedy follows Stone, portraying Bella Baxter, who is resurrected by a scientist following her suicide and embarks on an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation. The Frankenstein-esque tale is a must-watch for anyone.
Moving on, I enjoyed Oppenheimer enough that I watched it twice, which is saying a lot since it’s three hours long. Cillian Murphy gives a brilliant performance and is definitely the front-runner in the Best Actor category.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prologue to The Hunger Games trilogy. If you were a fan of the iconic movies back in 2015, this is a must-watch. Rachel Zegler shines with her performance, coming straight off the sets for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and the new live-action Snow White. The story perfectly sets up the world of Panem, being one of the best prologue films I’ve seen. Distributed by Netflix, May December saw an uprising from fans hoping to score Charles Melton an Oscar nomination. He didn’t end up getting a bid, but this film has solidified his place as an amazing actor after a few doubts from his time on Riverdale.
Honorable Mentions
Saltburn
Wonka
Rye Lane
Killers of The Flower Moon
*Disclaimer: I enjoyed each of these movies! I promise I am not knocking the brilliance of Martin Scorsese or questioning Barry Keoghan’s improvisations*
In summary, the films of 2023 showcased a diverse range of genres and storytelling that captivated audiences worldwide. From heartfelt dramas to uproarious comedies, each movie left its own unique imprint on the cinematic landscape. As we eagerly await the Oscars, check out a few films you didn’t get a chance to see. Make sure to catch the show on March 10, 2024, at 7:00 PM EDT on ABC.