2023 has been a wild year for the movies. Who would’ve thought this year would’ve seen the resurgence of concert movies, underperforming Marvel films, a rise in original properties, and the massive theatrical experience that was Barbenheimer? Even with the strikes, 2023 managed to put out an absurd amount of great films throughout the year, from gigantic blockbusters that did worse than usual, to compelling original projects that became surprise successes. In a year when a film about J. Robert Oppenheimer can make more money worldwide than Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, 2023 was full of surprises.

But it’s not surprising how many excellent films we got throughout 2023, and as the year ends, it’s hard to even narrow down the list of the year’s best to just 30 films. From auteurs like Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, and Wes Anderson, to great feature debuts from filmmakers like Celine Song, Kyle Edward Ball, and Raine Allen-Miller, 2023 was packed with films and filmmakers to stay excited about throughout the year. With 2024 only a few days away, let’s take a look at the 30 best films of 2023.

30 ‘Maestro’
Directed by Bradley Cooper
Image via Netflix

Related ‘Maestro’ Review: Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan Are Magnificent in Musical Portrait Thankfully, ‘Maestro’ is not your typical biopic, despite what the trailer might have you think.

Upon watching the trailer for Maestro, you wouldn’t be blamed for rolling your eyes and thinking that this is just another biopic, a straightforward retelling of a famous person’s life that will undoubtedly earn Oscar nominations for everyone involved. Rest assured, Bradley Cooper’s Maestro is not restricted to the confines of the average Hollywood biopic. It may hit some of the familiar beats, but it is less a retelling of the career of the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein and more a tale of a marriage that is as much loving as it feels doomed.

We first meet “Lenny” just as he lands his big break when the lead conductor at Carnegie Hall gets sick and he has to step in last minute. His raw talent makes him an instant sensation, and while his musical achievements and career are never dismissed, they are the supporting act for Lenny’s love life. He is a closeted man but does not treat his relationships with men as a source of shame, but something he merely has to be discreet about. And then we meet Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan giving one of the year’s best performances), and the audience is just as enamored with her as Lenny is. The film spans their marriage, from young lovers to content parents, to two souls who can’t seem to live together but can’t survive apart. As Lenny becomes more successful and less careful about his affairs, Felicia must look back on her choices that have led her to be devoted to a man who must share his heart with everyone he meets.

What sets Maestro apart is that it does not set out to glorify its subject. Lenny is an imperfect man who leaves in his wake a trail of disappointment and heartbreak. Cooper’s direction outdoes his acting here, with every shot feeling like it was thought on for months. While his acting is still superb, it gives way to the absolute homerun Mulligan delivers. She makes Felicia the tragic hero of a story that would have sidelined her if it landed in lesser hands. Take notes, Baz Luhrmann! —Emma Kiely

Maestro This love story chronicles the lifelong relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. Release Date December 20, 2023 Rating R Runtime 129 minutes Genres Music , Biography , Drama

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29 ‘Priscilla’
Directed by Sofia Coppola
Image via A24

Related ‘Priscilla’ Review: Sofia Coppola Underwhelms With Stale Biopic Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi’s great performances can’t save this disappointing film.

When it comes to capturing the lives of young women on the precipice of adulthood, it’s hard to imagine a better fit than Sofia Coppola. If Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis is gaudy and over-the-top, then Coppola’s Priscilla is muted and understated. Neither paints a full picture of Elvis or Priscilla, but Coppola shows us a side of the infamous rock star that is rarely explored. Jacob Elordi’s Elvis is effortlessly cool, evoking what I imagine was the actual vibe of the real-life Elvis. But he’s also a man who knows what he wants and can use his fame and charisma to get it. Cailee Spaeny’s Priscilla Presley dominates the film, and she rightly overshadows Elvis and her performance takes us into the mind of a teenage girl who has fallen in love with a man far older than her and more influential.

While Lisa Marie Presley had spoken out against the film and how it portrayed her father, it’s hard not to watch Priscilla and look at the ages of these two people and not see the clear power imbalance in this relationship. Elordi and Spaeny are able to convey the complex relationship between the two characters with ease, and whatever romantic fantasy bubble created by pop culture around Priscilla and Elvis’ relationship has been rightly punctured. —Therese Lacson

Priscilla When teenager Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who’s already a meteoric rock ‘n’ roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, and a gentle best friend. Release Date November 3, 2023 Rating R Runtime 113 minutes Genres Drama , Biography , Music

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28 ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’
Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Image via Paramount Pictures

Related ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Review: A Chaotic Fantasy Adventure That Rolls a Hit ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ is slated for a theatrical release on March 31.

I’ll be one of the first to admit that when Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was initially announced, I had my doubts. What may have successfully convinced me that a concept like this could work was Chris Pine initially boarding the project. It turned out to be exactly what the film itself needed — because shortly after that, we had the news that Justice Smith and Michelle Rodriguez had joined the cast, and not long after that, Regé-Jean Page, hot on the heels of his star turn on Bridgerton, was confirmed to be linking up with the party. But even once filming began, it was difficult to discern whether a movie like this would roll a nat 20 or if it would ultimately go the way of other failed attempts.

Thankfully, directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley put all my fears to rest from the very first moment I heard the name “Jarnathan.” Dungeons & Dragons has seen a resurgence in pop culture awareness within the last few years, thanks to shows like Critical Role and others of its kind following suit. If you have a little more awareness of the realm in which this movie is playing, you’ll certainly appreciate the loving nods to different parts of the D&D world — like that animated series cameo, or the dragon Themberchaud (who, apparently, is well-known for his pudginess).

That said, even if your knowledge of D&D is limited, it’s more than possible to sit back and enjoy the chaotic fantasy romp of this movie, led by Pine’s quick-thinking bard whose plans often go more awry than they succeed. The film also allows Hugh Grant to take a more villainous turn (which we’re always wanting more of) and definitely leaves the door open for the potential of a sequel. Thankfully, its stars are more than prepared for the possibility of another whirlwind adventure — and if an Honor Among Thieves 2 is finally confirmed, you can bet I’ll be seated for it, too. — Carly Lane

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people. Release Date March 31, 2023 Rating PG-13 Runtime 134 minutes

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27 ‘The Killer’
Directed by David Fincher
Image via Netflix

Related ‘The Killer’ Review: David Fincher Lends His Style to a Lackluster Plot The movie is now available to stream on Netflix.

An assassination attempt goes wrong, and the repercussions have the hitman responsible suddenly fending for his own life. It sounds like the plot of a million B-action movies, but in the hands of director David Fincher (Zodiac, Se7en, and a couple other borderline masterpieces), The Killer becomes so much more. What might be a simple revenge film is transformed into a hypnotic, dreamlike odyssey that maintains a suspenseful atmosphere while still finding time for a few interesting detours, like its subtle jabs at modern-day capitalism (Michael Fassbender’s unnamed assassin casually placing Amazon orders for items that will help him stalk his prey is one of this year’s darkest movie jokes). Fassbender, playing a character who mimics the film’s director in his sense of perfectionism, gives his most compelling performance in years, and Tilda Swinton drops by for a scene that hums with life even when you know someone’s about to end up dead. – Robert Brian Taylor

The Killer (2023) After a fateful near-miss, an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal. Release Date November 10, 2023 Rating R Runtime 118 minutes

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26 ‘Talk to Me’
Directed by Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou
Image via A24

Related ‘Talk to Me’ Review: Danny and Michael Philippou Invite You to Play a Horrifying Game in Strong Debut This horror spectacle of spirits, toe sucking, and the worst party game you could ever play is good family fun.

Remakes, sequels, reboots, and reimaginings; the horror genre knows where it gets its bread buttered and that is sadly not with original titles. It’s become rare to see a title from an up-and-coming horror auteur like Hereditary or The VVitch come on the scene and blows all the IP out of the water. But 2023 was treated to one such film, Danny and Michael Phillippou’s (also known as RackaRacka on YouTube) Talk to Me.

When Mia (Sophie WIlde) and her gang of friends continuously play with a mysterious artifact in the shape of a hand that allows spirits to enter the body seemingly without any long-term effects as long as it does not exceed 90 seconds, it’s treated as the new recreational drug. Videos are posted on social media as each kid feels the rush of adrenaline when they let a spirit in. However, when Mia’s best friend’s younger brother gets a go and ends up possessed by Mia’s dead mother, the teens learn that they are very much playing a game of life or death.

To go further would be to ruin it. Talk to Me, like another exceptional Australian horror, Lake Mungo, finds its horror in the loneliness we feel when in desperate situations. Driven home by an outstanding lead performance from Wilde, Talk to Me is undoubtedly the best horror title of 2023. —Emma Kiely

Talk to Me 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. Release Date July 28, 2023 Director Danny Philippou , Michael Philippou Cast Sophie Wilde , Joe Bird , Alexandra Jensen , Otis Dhanji Rating R Runtime 94 minutes

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25 ‘Rye Lane’
Directed by Raine Allen-Miller
Image via Sundance

Related ‘Rye Lane’ Review: David Jonsson & Vivian Oparah Shine in Sublime Romantic Comedy While similar to films like ‘Before Sunrise,’ this London love story finds a beauty in the details that is all its own.

As much as people like to argue that the rom-com is a dying genre, that’s certainly not the case, and Rye Lane is here to prove it. The debut feature of director Raine Allen-Miller, the Sundance pick follows the opposite of a meet-cute (a meet-ugly?) between two down-on-their-luck twenty-somethings in South London (David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah), whose connection grows as they spend an adventurous twenty-four hours together.

As colorful as it is charming, Rye Lane is a return to the Richard Curtis-style rom-coms of the ’90s with its uniquely British sensibility, capable of charming even the most cynical of viewers with its antics. But the film is also a departure from the classic rom-com, with Allen-Miller’s unique visual style bringing that special something that might just be the kick the genre needs to make it back to the mainstream. —Maggie Boccella

Rye Lane Two youngsters reeling from bad breakups who connect over an eventful day in South-London. Release Date March 31, 2023 Director Raine Allen-Miller Cast David Jonsson , Vivian Oparah , Poppy Allen-Quarmby , Simon Manyonda Rating R Runtime 82 minutes

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24 ‘Flora and Son’
Directed by John Carney
Image via Apple TV+

Related ‘Flora and Son’ Review: John Carney’s Beautiful Dramedy Shows How Music Connects Us All | Sundance 2023 Starring Eve Hewson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, ‘Flora and Son’ is a beautiful story about the bonds that can grow from music.

One of the best hidden gems of 2023 is undoubtedly John Carney’s Flora and Son. The Apple TV+ original, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, gives Bad Sisters star Eve Hewson a chance to not only lead a project, but show off her undeniable charm and range as a performer. In the music-infused comedy romance, Hewson’s Flora is, as the title suggests, trying to connect with her poorly behaved son Max (Orén Kinlan), who doesn’t quite seem to share the same interest.

After finding a guitar in the trash, Flora decides to take up music lessons in an effort to find common ground, leading to a surprising and unconventional intimacy between her and her instructor. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s turn as the smooth and reserved online music teacher Jeff creates a fun, mismatched energy between the two that highlights Flora’s contrasting blunt and messy personality. Flora and Son is an emotional, darkly hilarious, and heartfelt film that cements Eve Hewson as one of the most promising and impressive actors working today. Plus, the soundtrack will bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your face with each listen. — Emily Bernard

Flora and Son A single mom at war with her son is trying to find a hobby for him. One day, she rescues a guitar from a dumpster. Release Date September 29, 2023 Director John Carney Rating R Runtime 97 minutes

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23 ‘Air’
Directed by Ben Affleck
Image via Amazon Pictures

Related ‘Air’ Review: Ben Affleck’s Story of Michael Jordan and Nike Is a Slam Dunk Starring Matt Damon, Viola Davis, and Jason Bateman, ‘Air’ is a great example of Ben Affleck’s skills as a filmmaker.

One of the most likable films of this past year was without a doubt the highly buzzed-about sports drama, Air. Following an extensive break from directing, Ben Affleck came back in full force with a robust and wildly entertaining period piece that doesn’t require you to like sports to love this movie. Based on the game-changing partnership between then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike, the story is pretty straightforward, but thanks to its smart pacing accompanied by a brilliant soundtrack, Air keeps your attention from start to finish. It’s also an incredibly smart choice by a perceptive Affleck to focus the story on the Nike side of things without involving too much of the basketball icon. We know Jordan’s story and his underdog rise to fame, but to delve into the genesis of Air Jordan is gutsy and Affleck never drops the ball. The filmmaker’s skills cannot be denied, even if you think so much of it rides on his connection to best friend and longtime collaborator, Matt Damon or the Jordan story. Instead, Air keeps you invested regardless of the outcome as it’s a masterful story about trusting your instincts and never giving up on yourself.

With Affleck consistently leaning toward strong storytelling, character development, and a balance of tones, Air has some of the most brilliant dialogue you’ll have heard at the movies this year. It’s funny, insightful, and downright heartfelt. Most importantly, it’s elevated exceptionally by an impressive dream team ensemble led by Damon and Viola Davis. Damon is hard-hitting and the film really belongs to him. He’s charming and moves effortlessly as a man working hard and trying to make things right for everyone. He also shows off his chops with some of the best monologues and an intense eleventh-hour speech that is a pure stunner and bound to give you chills. As for Davis — what a queen! She is fantastic in everything but as the Jordan family matriarch, she strikes it most heatedly without ever giving too much away. Her unassuming seamlessness in expression and body language between scenes is magnetic. Supporting the two are outstanding performances from Jason Bateman and Chris Messina, who has some of the most lighthearted and hilarious dialogue. Thanks to its impressive story and cast, Air is a slam-dunk that will leave you feeling joyous and emotional as it works past its commercial story for a sharp crowd-pleaser. —Tania Hussain

Air Follows the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan. Release Date April 5, 2023 Rating R Runtime 112 minutes Genres Drama

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22 ‘Bottoms’
Directed by Emma Seligman
Image via MGM

Related ‘Bottoms’ Review: Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott Are Hilarious in One of the Most Absurd Teen Comedies in Years Emma Seligman’s bonkers follow-up to 2020’s ‘Shiva Baby’ could not be more different than Seligman’s debut.

Injecting cinemas with a dose of queer joy through a hilarious lens of satire and comedy, Bottoms is easily one of the most fun films of the year. Director Emma Seligman delivered a campy and utterly ridiculous sapphic rom-com and filled it with stand-out performances from Ayo Edebiri, Havana Rose Liu, Ruby Cruz, and Kaia Gerber. Seligman also co-wrote the script with star and her frequent collaborator Rachel Sennott. Riffing off classic high school romantic comedies of the early 2000s, Bottoms borrows elements from movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, Mean Girls, and She’s All That for a distinctly funny and unapologetically queer joy ride.

Bottoms evolves from its predecessors by not taking itself seriously at all. There are car bombs, teenage football players kept in cages, a literal blood feud between rival high schools, and yes, the heart of the movie revolves around a fight club full of teenage girls. The film works because while it is making fun of the genre it belongs in, it’s also offering both romance and friendships that the audience is rooting for with unique and dynamic characters you can’t help but love. Edebiri and Liu deliver a sweet romance amid the movie’s chaos that gives it an emotional anchor. Throw in excellent supporting performances from Dagmara Dominczyk and Marshawn Lynch, and a parody performance for the ages from Nicholas Galitzine and you have a knockout of a teen rom-com. — Samantha Coley

Bottoms Two unpopular queer high-school students start a fight club to have sex before graduation. Release Date August 25, 2023 Director Emma Seligman Cast Nicholas Galitzine , Ayo Edebiri , Dagmara Dominczyk , Rachel Sennott Rating R Runtime 92 minutes Genres Comedy

Watch on MGM+

21 ‘Beau Is Afraid’
Directed by Ari Aster
Image via A24

Related ‘Beau Is Afraid’ Review: Ari Aster’s Surreal, Ambitious, and Hilarious Journey Is Unlike Anything You’ve Ever Seen Joaquin Phoenix plays the timid Beau in Aster’s compelling and truly unhinged journey of a son returning to his mother.

After the cinematic nightmares that were Hereditary and Midsommar, Ari Aster’s most bonkers, off-the-wall, and terrifying vision might come in his latest surreal tale, Beau Is Afraid. Joaquin Phoenix plays the eponymous Beau, who is nervous, quiet, and always terrified in a world that is actively hostile and unrelenting. There is never a moment where Beau isn’t stressed, as he attempts to go home to visit his mother. This journey is the type that would make Odysseus give up, filled with people trying to invade his apartment, paint drinking, theaters in the woods, Beau’s literal monster of a father, and an ending unlike any other.

Beau Is Afraid is also Aster at his most ambitious, creating an entire world that is horrifying around every corner, and even when the film is simply about Beau trying to find something that is lost, Aster makes this film a compelling, edge-of-your-seat story, where what comes next simply cannot be fathomed. This also works because of Phoenix’s performance, who—like the viewer—feels like an outsider in this unshakable torment. The result is one of the most jarring and unusual films to come out in years, and a film that needs multiple viewers to truly understand what the hell Aster is doing here. This might not be what people were expecting from Aster, but Beau Is Afraid is a fascinating example of what Aster is capable of creating. —Ross Bonaime

Beau Is Afraid Following the sudden death of his mother, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man confronts his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic, Kafkaesque odyssey back home. Release Date April 21, 2023 Rating R Runtime 179 minutes Genres Drama , Comedy , Horror

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20 ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’
Directed by Daniel Goldhaber
Image via TIFF

Related ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ Review: Daniel Goldhaber’s Film Is a Magnificent Manifesto Adaptation In a world where the climate crisis is at our doorstep today, ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ explores what the path of tomorrow will be.

What is that you will do when living and dying in a world on fire? That is the question at the heart of Daniel Goldhaber’s magnificent manifesto adaptation How to Blow Up a Pipeline, which has proven to be one of the best cinematic portraits of a moment in time of this year. Following a group of people from all across the country who decide to carry out an act of sabotage against an oil pipeline in Texas, it is a meticulously constructed thriller that is also grounded in character with understated precision.

Not only is this cast one of the best ensembles you could ever have, but the way the film takes the time to get to know them while maintaining a balance with the mission itself is integral to its impact. These characters, more than most films you’ll see about the climate crisis, feel alive and complicated. They’re all distinct in their worldviews, but the way the film follows them as they form a coalition when faced with the same dire equation ensures its urgent ideas all hit home. How to Blow Up a Pipeline is also just a damn good movie, showcasing cinema’s radical potential in an industry deeply in need of it. — Chase Hutchinson

How to Blow Up a Pipeline A crew of environmental activists plot a daring plan to disrupt an oil pipeline. Release Date April 7, 2023 Director Daniel Goldhaber Rating R Runtime 104 minutes

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19 ‘May December’
Directed by Todd Haynes
Image via Netflix

Related ‘May December’ Review: Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore Face Off in Todd Haynes’ Drama Portman and Moore have crackling chemistry even if Haynes isn’t at his best.

When Hollywood tends to adapt those ripped from the headlines stories, they can feel somewhat like a Lifetime movie or an episode of Law & Order: SVU. But when you get director Todd Haynes on one of the most disturbing cases to consume ’90s tabloids, you get a thought-provoking and darkly funny story in a production like May December. Inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau scandal that once dominated headlines, Haynes most sharply explores the couple’s dynamic through a TV actor, played by Natalie Portman, researching their life for an independent film. What follows is some of the most inventive and stylistic choices blending melodrama with realism and a strong dash of campiness that aligns with our collective fascination for pulpy stories. Not to mention, May December features some of the most absurdly wonderful and dramatic piano music that matches the film’s off-beat flavors following every reveal. It’s so good that you want it to follow you around after the most trivial things.

While Haynes nails the aesthetic of this deeply layered and nuanced film with a post-modern approach that gives us moments that question the truth, the performances are on another level of masterclass. Julianne Moore has been terrific in everything she’s done, but this film shows us another side that stems in a perverse and weaponized white female dominance. She is manipulative and at times scary in how dismissive she is of others when it truly threatens her. Of course, Portman comes into the mix as an actress who takes method acting too seriously and is just as toxic. It’s a performance that leaves you curious and also laughing as Portman is very good at playing an awful actress. She’s cocky and artificial, and you can see right through her.

Crafted with an acute attention to detail while engaging the heart, Charles Melton is absolute perfection in May December. Melton brings an estranged innocence to the role and showcases an insanely smart body language that makes your heart break for his character. Through his mannerisms and delivery and some very quiet scenes, he truly personifies innocence lost and you can’t help but wonder more about him after the film’s over. May December is weighty and piercingly sad, but it does an absorbing job of capturing loneliness and desperation in ways we haven’t seen this year. — Tania Hussain

May December Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past. Release Date December 1, 2023 Rating R Runtime 117 minutes Genres Drama

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18 ‘American Fiction’
Directed by Cord Jefferson
Image via Orion Pictures

Related ‘American Fiction’ Review: Jeffrey Wright Is Spectacular in Sharp Satire Based on the novel by Percival Everett, this playful yet pointed feature debut from writer-director Cord Jefferson takes aim at modern storytelling.

Which kinds of stories do today’s audiences need most? Which are the right ones to tell? These are key questions at the heart of writer/director Cord Jefferson’s debut feature American Fiction, loosely based on Percival Everett’s 2001 novel “Erasure”. Jeffrey Wright stars as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, a talented novelist and frustrated academic whose work has seemingly fallen out of favor with publishers. Buyers want a Black book, and Monk’s work – despite being written by a Black author – isn’t the kind of Black book they’re looking to buy.

This sharp satire wrapped around a heartfelt family drama follows Monk as one family tragedy after another eventually pushes him over the edge and back onto the keyboard. If publishers want a Black book, he’ll give them a Black book. Monk crafts a novel the likes of which he would scoff at and has his agent send it out to publishers as a joke. But that joke soon spirals out of control when publishers want to buy the book for a LOT of money. Enough money to help Monk’s family. But can Monk keep up the ruse of his pseudonym? Will concealing the truth tear him apart from everyone he loves most? A prime awards season contender, American Fiction delivers belly laughs, poignant moments, and an ending that suggests that though our protagonist may have grown and changed, the world around him disappointingly has not. — Rebecca Landman

American Fiction A novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain. Release Date December 22, 2023 Director Cord Jefferson Rating R Runtime 117 minutes Genres Comedy , Drama

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17 ‘The Boy and the Heron’
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Image via Toho

Related ‘The Boy and the Heron’ Review: Hayao Miyazaki’s Latest Isn’t His Swan Song, But It Sure Feels Like It Miyazaki’s newest film is a testament to the overwhelming creativity and ambitious storytelling that makes him one of the greatest directors ever.

There are only a handful of films out there that not only get better each time you watch them, but unlock deeper emotions that hit you with newfound force. Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron is not only such a film, but it is one of the director’s best in a career never lacking for stunning work. For all the ways it has seemingly caught audiences off guard, it really shouldn’t as it is both in keeping with his emphasis on community as a way of surviving a chaotic world and also works to expand it to bold new places.

Once again focusing on a young child whose life has been upended as they’re thrust into a world beyond our own, it is beautifully animated, thematically layered, and emotionally flooring. The original title, How Do You Live?, captures this perfectly as the film is all about searching for a way to carry on when life becomes defined by immense loss. When it arrives there in one of the director’s best and most reflective endings to date, it cements the film as yet another spellbinding work of art. — Chase Hutchinson

The Boy and the Heron A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki. Release Date December 8, 2023 Cast Soma Santoki , Masaki Suda , Takuya Kimura , Aimyon Rating PG-13 Runtime 124 minutes

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16 ‘Perfect Days’
Directed by Wim Wenders
Image via Neon

Related ‘Perfect Days’ Review: Wim Wenders Brings Beauty to the Little Things in Wonderful Drama | TIFF 2023 Koji Yakusho stars in this restrained but powerful look at the small things in life that we find beauty in.

With a filmography that includes quiet, contemplative films that end up being emotionally devastating, like Wings of Desire and Paris, Texas, Wim Wenders has created another masterwork in this vein with his latest, Perfect Days. The film follows Hirayama (a phenomenal Koji Yakusho), as he goes through his daily routine, which involves cleaning toilets in Tokyo, going to his favorite restaurant, and appreciating his deep love for books and music. The screenplay by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki slowly unveils more about Hirayama’s past, as he comes in contact with other people who make him veer off his usual rituals.

Hirayama is rarely in a rush, often taking the time to appreciate a small plant or a relaxing lunch, and Wenders allows us to share in these moments with him. We can see the beauty that Hirayama finds in the smallest details of life, and it’s a joy to watch him explore the world every day with this sense of wonder. Together, Yakusho, Takasaki and Wenders give us a character that we will follow through anything, whether it’s cleaning toilets or driving around listening to Lou Reed. In a varied and fascinating career that never ceases to amaze, Wenders’ latest might just end up being one of his finest works. — Ross Bonaime

Perfect Days A janitor in Japan drives between jobs listening to rock music. Director Wim Wenders Cast Kôji Yakusho Rating PG Runtime 123 minutes Main Genre Drama

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15 ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’
Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig
Image via Lionsgate

Related ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ Review: A Loving, Laugh-Out-Loud Judy Blume Adaptation Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, and Kathy Bates lead the hilarious coming-of-age film based on the beloved novel.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is a subtle feat of a movie. Sure, the source material was already there, but the source material happens to be written by Judy Blume — one of our most famous and revered modern writers. And yes, it’s about adolescence, but that’s just about the most complicated time in anyone’s life — and, in turn, one of the most difficult periods to capture in a way that feels honest and authentic. The film is small, primarily focusing on one character’s relationship with family and friends, but the subjects it tackles couldn’t be bigger: religion, puberty, identity, and more.

Nothing about bringing this story to the screen could have been easy, but writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig handles the challenge effortlessly, elevating it beyond a sweet, standard adaptation to a truly moving and affecting work that both pays tribute to the novel while being able to stand all on its own. The kids refreshingly feel, act, and talk like actual kids, with the titular Margaret (Abby Ryder Forston) anchoring the story with one of the most earnest and vulnerable performances of the year.

Fremon Craig has said that she wanted the film to feel like three coming-of-age stories at once, with Margaret, her mother (Rachel McAdams), and her grandmother (Kathy Bates) all adjusting to major life transitions. The movie is all the better for it, adding texture to the story and allowing us to explore not one, not two, but three stages in women’s lives we don’t often get to see. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret both validates and celebrates women of all ages with a hilarious and heartwarming tale. We must, we must, we must increase our bust — and make sure McAdams gets an Oscar nomination for her beautiful and understated performance. – Taylor Gates

Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret. When her family moves from the city to the suburbs, 11-year-old Margaret navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence. Release Date April 28, 2023 Director Kelly Fremon Craig Rating PG-13 Runtime 105 minutes Genres Comedy , Drama

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14 ‘All of Us Strangers’
Directed by Andrew Haigh
Image via Searchlight Pictures

Related ‘All of Us Strangers’ Review: Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal Are Perfect in Tale of Love and Loss I LFF 2023 The all-star cast is rounded out by Claire Foy and Jamie Bell.

A love story both modern and timeless, one of the most personal explorations of grief, all while being painfully introspective — this is nothing but the usual for Andrew Haigh. His marital drama 45 Years showed a filmmaker destined for stories beyond his years; he creates lived-in stories that feel like they’ve come from someone who knows absolutely everything about life, love, and loss. He takes this even further All of Us Strangers, standing alongside Past Lives as one of the most beautiful love stories in recent cinema.

Andrew Scott stars as Adam, a lonely writer, who is simultaneously striking up a romance with his new neighbor, Harry (Paul Mescal), who seems to be hiding his own struggles and revisiting the tragic loss of his parents when he was a child. Adam goes to his childhood home and, without any explanation offered by the film (it doesn’t need it), Adam’s parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell), the same age as when they died, are there. Ghosts, hallucinations, it really doesn’t matter, and you don’t get caught up in the logistics. You’re too busy being mesmerized by a man, now older than his parents ever were, reverting to his inner child and trying to earn back the time he’s lost with his family.

All of Us Strangers is a film you can’t leave without being affected by. The magnetic performances from the four main players (but this is undoubtedly Scott’s film), haunting direction, and heartbreaking ending make this a shock to the heart in the most tender way. —Emma Kiely

All of Us Strangers A screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with a mysterious neighbor as he then discovers his parents appear to be living just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before. Release Date January 26, 2024 Rating R Runtime 105 minutes

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13 ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’
Directed by Chad Stahelski
Image via Lionsgate Films

Related ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Review: The Wickiverse at Its Most Ambitious, Goofy, and Thrilling Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski have outdone themselves with this fourth installment.

Though 2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 certainly didn’t skimp on the epic shootouts or the martial-arts-laced throwdowns the series is known for, it did feel padded and narratively shaky in a way that made it fair to ask: Were we sure the Wick team still had gas left in the tank? Well, John Wick: Chapter 4 answered that question this year with a Dragon’s Breath shotgun blast to the face, taking everything fans loved about the series and blowing it out in ways that were staggering in their bravado. Do you want a sword fight between Asian action legends Donnie Yen and Hiroyuki Sanada? You got it. Do you want a seemingly impossible car chase that just so happens to tear through the crowded roundabout at France’s Arc de Triomphe? You got that, too. How about B-movie brawler Scott Adkins, unrecognizable in facial prosthetics and a fat suit, throwing roundhouse kicks as a German mob boss? Or villainous Bill Skarsgård finding ways to chew through scenery even though Ian McShane is standing right there next to him? Done and done!

And at the middle of it all remains Keanu Reeves’ stoic yet weary assassin, saying less but conveying more than he ever has before in a Wick film that’s nearly three hours long but still feels effectively streamlined. Chapter 4’s closing moments seem to indicate John may have finally found peace, and, if that holds true, it’s tough to imagine a more kinetically majestic sendoff. And if Reeves and director Chad Stahelski do decide Wick’s not done fighting yet … well, it’s probably wise if we just all agree to never doubt them again – Robert Brian Taylor

John Wick: Chapter 4
With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hit man John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin. Release Date March 24, 2023 Rating R Runtime 169 minutes

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12 Asteroid City
Directed by Wes Anderson
Image via Focus Features

Related ‘Asteroid City’ Review: Wes Anderson’s Pastel Alien Encounter Flick Goes All-In on Style The latest film from the director of ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ and ‘The French Dispatch’ is his most beautiful yet.

Between his latest, Asteroid City, and his four excellent Netflix shorts based on the work of Roald Dahl, 2023 has been a truly impressive year for Wes Anderson. His newest feature, however, might be his best work since 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, as we head to a desert town in the 1950s for the Junior Stargazer convention. Asteroid City finds Anderson working with his usual cast of favorites, including Jason Schwartzman, as a father dealing with the recent death of his wife, Tilda Swinton, and Edward Norton, while also showing that he can basically make anyone fit into his mold, bringing Tom Hanks, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, and Margot Robbie into his world for the first time.

But unlike some of his work, Anderson doesn’t get too overwhelmed with his massive cast, perfectly managing this desert excursion and its sprawling lineup. Even though it might seem simple on its surface, his almost Inception-like storytelling approach adds intriguing layers, and as always, there’s just enough heart to knock the viewer for a loop. And of course, Asteroid City’s look is unreal, so gorgeously created that it seems like it must be one of Anderson’s stop-motion films instead of live-action. Even though Anderson stays within his usual style, Asteroid City still shows that the director can surprise, and feels like one of his best works so far. —Ross Bonaime

Asteroid City Following a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever. Release Date June 23, 2023 Rating R Runtime 105 minutes

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11 ‘Godzilla Minus One’
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki
Image via Toho

1:33 Related ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Review: The Iconic Monster Smashes His Way to New Heights You’ve never seen the legendary kaiju quite like this.

It’s always a thrill when an international film makes waves in the United States, uniting moviegoers from all walks of life to appreciate art that might not have been on their radar. Godzilla Minus One has done just that, receiving consistent rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. The Japanese-language film from director Takashi Yamazaki and the legendary production company Toho is a masterpiece in more ways than one, as it manages to seamlessly impress with story, action, and score in a franchise that started in the 1950s.

Godzilla Minus One is an atomic breath of fresh air for several reasons. First and foremost, it is a deeply human story, a rarity in blockbusters and franchises that are typically way more concerned with action sequences than they are with their characters. From the second we meet our protagonist Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a kamikaze pilot reconciling with his role in the war nearing the end of WWII, we feel for him and his internal struggle. Japan has been decimated by war and left feeling helpless, only to face a deep-sea foe that causes more damage than they ever thought imaginable. The CGI in this film is utterly breathtaking, with this version of Godzilla being a massive creative feat. If you haven’t seen a Godzilla movie, let this be the exception. In addition to paying homage to the original’s ominous score, Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One excels with character development, shows off a legendary movie monster, and serves as an arresting WWII film. —Emily Bernard

Godzilla Minus One
Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb. Release Date December 1, 2023 Director Takashi Yamazaki Cast Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Minami Hamabe , Yûki Yamada , Sakura Andō Rating PG-13

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