Whether in cinemas or on streaming, movies have give us a lot to thrill and think over in 2023.
Menace has been found in mothers, shadows, and a pretty little doll called M3GAN. Adventure has been charted around the globe in speeding cars, across the multi-verse by feuding Spider-Folk, and into a rousing world of knights and shapeshifters. Romance has blossomed in colorful settings and nightmarish sex scenes. And coming-of-age stories have taken us back in time, into butt-kicking fantasies, and under the sea.
Whether you’re seeking to laugh, cry, marvel, or lose your mind, we’ve got a movie that’s sure to please. Here are the best movies of 2023, so far.
These films are listed in order of release.
1. M3GAN
Credit: Universal Pictures
2023 got off to a strong start with M3GAN, a killer doll horror romp with an AI twist. The titular toy was intended to shoulder the care of a grieving kiddo who’d recently lost her parents. But when her devotion turns deadly, it’s up to her creator (Get Out’s Allison Williams) to stop the singing, dancing, killing machine.
We fell hard for M3GAN since she first slayed in a teaser with some sharp choreography. Seeing how the emerging fandom for the movie skewed young, Blumhouse went back into the editing bay, turning James Wan and Akela Cooper’s R-rated script into a PG-13 release. Yet cutting some gore didn’t detract from the glory of queer horror’s latest icon. Directed by Gerard Johnstone, M3GAN not only boasted sensationally scary sequences that scratch that evil-kid itch, but also a biting sense of humor that had us rooting for this femme slasher, whether she was whispering pop songs, terrorizing a child bully, or threatening this film’s frustrated Final Girl.
Critics cheered and so did audiences, leading M3GAN to box office success and to score a green light for a sequel. Here’s hoping this time she’ll go full musical. — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor
How to watch: M3GAN — both PG-13 rated and unrated versions — are now streaming on Peacock.
2. Rye Lane
Credit: Searchlight Pictures
One of the most joyful movies of 2023 hands down is this rom-com out of England. Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson star as Yas and Dom, two losers in love who share dazzling chemistry. Sure, they might be hot off some crushing break-ups, but a meet-not-so-cute in a public toilet leads to one of those impromptu day-long dates that you remember for a lifetime. And viewers are invited to come along for the ride!
Directed by Raine Allen-Miller, Rye Lane not only thrills audiences with a winsome romantic comedy romp, but also awes us with the visual splendor of its titular, colorful London neighborhood. Per our review: “Allen-Miller captures Rye Lane and its assortment of shops, street art, and eccentric characters with such passion and detail that you can almost smell the burritos baking or reach out and touch the fresh produce glistening in the brightly painted stalls.”
And that’s not all! This mirthful movie also weaves in wild comedy; a Love, Actually cameo you’ll drool over; and the ultimate scene of showing up an ex. Whether you’re in a relationship, single, or “it’s complicated,” Rye Lane is sure to win your heart. — K.P.
How to Watch: Rye Lane is now streaming exclusively on Hulu.
3. Beau Is Afraid
Credit: A24
Among the most polarizing films of 2023, Beau Is Afraid challenged audiences to a point of frenzy. Writer/director Ari Aster made his name with mind-bending, stomach-churning horror hits like Hereditary and Midsommar. Then, he teamed with a star-stuffed cast — including Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Ryan, Nathan Lane, Parker Posey, Bill Hader, and Patti LuPone — to deliver a tale of fear that wasn’t scary so much as it was a singular blend of neurotic comedy.
Beau Is Afraid follows the eponymous coward (Phoenix) on a bizarre and winding odyssey to visit his mother (LuPone). This deceptively simple premise pitches audiences into a minefield of a mental health crisis, steering from an urban war zone to a psychologically twisted suburbia to a heady theater camp, and beyond. Some cheered Aster’s epic exploration of fear, anxiety, and mother-son relationships turned deeply toxic. Others jeered the film’s mind-bending plot twists and methodical pacing. But love it or hate it, it’s hard to argue against the mastery of cinematic carnage Aster has unleashed here.
Hell, for the sex scene alone, we’ll never be able to forget Beau Is Afraid. — K.P.
How to watch: Beau Is Afraid is now in theaters, and will be coming to digital and DVD on July 11.
4. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Credit: Dana Hawley
In 2023, Judy Blume’s classic coming-of-age novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret became a classic coming-of-age movie, thanks to writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig. The Edge of Seventeen director brings the adolescent woes of Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson, in a star-making turn) to life with humor, warmth, and empathy, all while keeping the spirit of Blume’s work well and truly alive.
Margaret is already experiencing a lot of changes as the film opens. She’s moving away from New York City to a suburban life neither she nor her family are familiar with. But when she enters her new middle school class, she’s hit with an even bigger challenge: the oncoming threat of puberty. Between her fretting about bras, periods, pads, and crushes, Margaret also ponders her own relationship with God due to her parents’ differing religious backgrounds. It’s a lot of material to sift through, but Fremon Craig treats each obstacle with the significance it deserves, all while expanding on the stories of women around Margaret, like her mother (Rachel McAdams) and her grandmother (Kathy Bates). There’s no doubt that puberty is a weird time for everyone, but it’s a treat to relive your own adolescence alongside Margaret in this sweet, honest adaptation. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is now in theaters.
5. Evil Dead Rise
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Evil Dead first splashed its way into our hearts in 1981, and over 40 years later, the franchise continues to generously provide a bloody spectacle for every generation. Evil Dead Rise follows Beth (Lily Sullivan) and Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), two sisters forced to deal with a demon’s wrath when Ellie’s son, Danny (Morgan Davies), stumbles upon the Book of the Dead and mistakenly awakens the entity. What ensues is the franchise’s usual over-the-top grotesqueries, from scalping and eyeball-munching to a unique use for a cheese grater. The erratically extra demon played by Sutherland is so mesmerizing you can’t help but cheer for this “maggot mommy.”
Sutherland’s demon is an exhibitionistic, loud-mouthed circus act determined to make a jest out of ripping people to shreds. Sure, she’s scary as hell, but she’s also so surprisingly hilarious that you can watch her doing her thing for hours. Writer/director Lee Cronin deftly makes use of the franchise’s pitch-black humor while never allowing things to get too goofy — and never skimping on great gouts of gore. — Yasmeen Hamadeh, Freelance Contributor
How to watch: Evil Dead Rise is now in theaters and available for purchase on Prime Video.
6. Polite Society
Credit: Focus Features
One of our favorites out of Sundance, Polite Society comes from writer/director Nida Manzoor, who also created the sensational series We Are Lady Parts. In her feature directorial debut, Manzoor genre-blends, combining elements of martial arts movies, Bollywood musicals, and coming-of-age comedies to dazzling effect.
Polite Society centers on two British-Pakistani sisters: Ria (Priya Kansara), who dreams of being a stuntwoman, and Lena (Ritu Arya), whose artistic aspirations have been recently crushed. They support each other’s “unconventional” goals, even when the rest of the world doesn’t. But when Lena receives a seemingly covetable marriage proposal, Ria’s worldview is placed in peril.
What ensues is an irresistible series of events, underscored by family and sisterhood but punctuated with tons of action, extravagance, and laughs. The film is truly one-of-a-kind — an explosive watch. — Meera Navlakha, Culture Reporter
How to watch: Polite Society is now in theaters and available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.
7. Suzume
Credit: Crunchyroll
As one of the most influential Japanese filmmakers of the past decade, Makoto Shinkai has created a distinct visual language that speaks to generations. There’s a reason his films gross hundreds of millions of dollars globally; it’s the way the sun peeks through pillowy clouds, purple skies stretch for eternity, wind chimes sing their early morning song, and a teen longing for more looks up, beyond the skyline of their reality and basking in the light of cosmic possibilities.
The latest addition to the anime auteur’s canon, Suzume fuses his penchant for lush imagery and mystical forces of nature with a deeply personal story of loss and grief. Suzume is a 17-year-old girl who lives with her aunt on the small southern island of Kyushu, going through the motions of young adulthood until one day she meets a beautiful boy with heartthrob hair named Souta. The chance encounter unlocks doors both physical and emotional, kicking off an adventure that takes her on a journey up Japan’s coastline to save the country from disaster. More than a Chosen One story, Suzume delicately unpacks a generational trauma (the lingering aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the Tōhoku region of northeast Japan) with great empathy for its audience — and a bit of humor, thanks to a sentient chair and an adorable maybe-evil-maybe-misunderstood kitty. You’ll laugh, you’ll most definitely cry, and you’ll want to give your younger self a hug. — Crystal Bell, Culture Editor
How to watch: Suzume is now in theaters.
8. Fast X
Credit: Universal Studios
If loving Fast and Furious is wrong, we don’t want to be right. Across 11 bonkers movies that scoffed at physics and grunted about the importance of family, this franchise hasn’t slowed down. Not only has it raised the bar on out-of-this-world action, but also it’s grown the Fast family by leaps, bounds, and long-lost siblings. So what could Fast X possibly do to keep this momentum going strong? It went hard in every way fans demand.
In the tradition of its predecessors, Fast X retcons to bring a new ferocious foe into the fray. Jason Momoa stars as the flamboyant, fashion-forward, and gleefully anarchistic Dante, who’s seeking revenge against Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and all of his extensive family. Momoa is wild fun as a villain who is Dom’s polar opposite in attitude and outfit choices. That alone is enough to enjoy this ride. But Fast X also includes gonzo fight scenes with the likes of Brie Larson, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Sung Kang, and many, many more. There’s also jaw-dropping cameos and a climax that had fans shocked and cheering. The only thing not to like about this one is how it left us hanging, waiting for whatever Fast and Furious 11 might bring. — K.P.
How to watch: Fast X is now in theaters.
9. The Boogeyman
Credit: 20th Century Studios
The scariest movie of the summer arrived with The Boogeyman, which is adapted from a Stephen King short story. This haunted house tale from A Quiet Place screenwriters Scott Beck and Bryan Woods borrows ideas from The Babadook, turning the horrors of grief into a malevolent paranormal force determined to doom a loving family. Under the direction of Host helmer Rob Savage, this thriller boasts suspense and scares that will have you screaming like a kid after lights out.
Yellowjackets standout Sophie Thatcher stars as a teen girl fighting to protect her kid sister (Vivien Lyra Blair) from a creepy critter that lurks in the dark. Chris Messina brings a furrowed brow as their widowed dad, while David Dastmalchian brings a haunted gravitas as a stranger who knows too much.
Per our review, “A predator whose territory is darkness, this boogeyman is the definition of nightmare fuel. A chittering sound design makes its call uniquely alarming as it echoes across a theater, assaulting our ears. Watching it scurry, lunge, and roar is exactly the kind of twisted treat horror fans yearn for. Go see for yourself, if you dare.” — K.P.
How to watch: The Boogeyman is now in theaters.
10. The Little Mermaid
Credit: Disney
With Disney’s live-action curse as strong as ever, one would naturally worry about how our favorite tale of a young mermaid desperate for more would pan out. Luckily for all of us, the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid is a stunning reimagining headlined by the marvelously talented Halle Bailey, who manages to bring Ariel alive and then some.
While we’re all familiar with Ariel’s story, The Little Mermaid brings in some new gadgets, gizmos, and thingamabobs to Ariel’s treasure grove, from fleshing out her character arc to a rendition of “Under the Sea” bursting with magic. And it’s impossible to forget Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula, who’s so devilishly divine that I might just cut a deal with her myself. Ariel may want to be part of our world, but The Little Mermaid will have you pleading to be part of hers forever. — Y.H.
How to watch: The Little Mermaid is now in theaters.
11. Past Lives
Credit: A24
Since its Sundance debut in January, writer/director Celine Song’s debut feature has been buzzed about as one of the best of the year. When the film finally hit theaters in June, those outside of the Park City festival bubble got to weigh in. And this romantic movie lives up to the hype!
Greta Lee, who also appears in such buzzy 2023 gems as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Problemista, stars as Nora, a Korean-American playwright who reconnects with her childhood sweetheart from Seoul (Teo Yoo) over a couple of heady days in New York City. Long walks and long talks scratch at the scab of what could have been, as the two share an exciting chemistry. But life is complicated — specifically, Nora’s already married to the rumpled but charming Arthur (John Magaro). So, will these long-lost lovers reignite their would-be romance? Or will they have to wait for another life?
While this all sounds a bit cerebral, Song’s script enlivens the premise with a humane and even grubby sense of humor that makes her characters feel raw and real. Yoo and Magaro represent very different forms of masculinity, but both are totally crushable. Still, Lee shines the brightest here, winning us over with her spin on Annie Hall, a romantic heroine who is a bit mixed-up and all the more lovable for it. — K.P.
How to watch: Past Lives is now in theaters.
12. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Credit: Sony Pictures
In a year that doled out underwhelming Marvel sequels (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3) and wonky Disney live-action remakes (Peter Pan and Wendy and The Little Mermaid), Sony wowed us with the much-anticipated follow-up to the Oscar-winning animated hit, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse slings audiences back into the fray with Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), Gwen Stacy (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), and Peter B. Parker (voiced by Jake Johnson). A Spidey society run by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac) has the ability to travel between universes to squash the residual mayhem of the first film’s villain. But a new foe arises who threatens everything Miles holds dear.
Directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson expand the Spider-Family by hundreds, inviting fans into a web of wondrous heroes and villains — including the scene-stealing Spider-Punk (voiced by Daniel Kaluuya). Mixing wildly different animation styles, this stupendous sequel risks becoming too much. Instead, it’s exhilaratingly extra, unabashedly packed with style, action, Easter Eggs, and plenty of heart. If you only see one movie this year twice, make it this one. — K.P.
How to watch: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now in theaters.
13. Asteroid City
Credit: Focus Features
2023 was already reveling in Wes Anderson’s vibes on Tiktok, so we were all primed for the king of twee to return to cinemas with his latest. And it delivers, exploring this adored auteur’s favorite themes of self-doubt, soul-searching, awkward romances, and deeply flawed parents with all the wit and whimsy we’ve come to expect.
Anderson has assembled his recurring coterie, including Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Adrien Brody, and Willem Dafoe. This time around, he also brings into his fold Steve Carell, Hong Chau, Margot Robbie, Maya Hawke, and Tom Hanks. All together in one fantastic ensemble, they unfurl the story of the titular town where a Junior Stargazer convention becomes a life-changing, world-rattling event when an alien drops by. That’s right — Wes Anderson has gone sci-fi, but in a way that is uniquely his own, where a charming color palette compliments a cerebral framing device, and loads of comically depicted existentialism. What’s not to love? — K.P.
How to watch: Asteroid City opens in limited release in theaters June 16, expanding June 23.
14. Nimona
Credit: Netflix
From his comic book series like Lumberjanes to his Netflix reboot of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, ND Stevenson has cemented himself as a whiz at delivering LGBTQ stories with a fantastical edge. 2023’s adaptation of Stevenson’s graphic novel Nimona is no different. The film — canceled by Disney, then resurrected at Netflix — is a rollicking fantasy romp about challenging authority and accepting others for who they truly are.
Nimona transports us to a futuristic medieval world. where knight Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) is on the run for a crime he did not commit. However, it’s his label as a “villain” that brings shapeshifter Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) into his life. More comfortable as a shark than a human girl, Nimona is a delightfully deviant fiend, who wants nothing more than to stick it to the all-powerful Institute. She and Ballister make quite the odd pair — she wants to wreak havoc, he just wants to clear his name — but together, they may just defeat an evil lurking in their kingdom.
Between some electrifying fight scenes and its graphic animation style, Nimona is a blast of a viewing experience. But its message and LGBTQ visibility is what truly sets it apart. Not only is Ballister’s relationship with knight Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang) a key element of the film, but Nimona’s own fluidity and negotiation of her identity calls to mind transness in a meaningful, important way. — B.E.
How to watch: Nimona debuts on Netflix June 30.
