2023 has been the most exceptional year in my memory for films, as I have found myself loving so many of the releases. Here, I will count down my top 30 releases, with reasoning behind why I love each so much.
30. How To Have Sex dir. Molly Manning Walker
Molly Manning Walker’s feature film debut as director starring BAFTA rising star nominee Mia McKenna-Bruce is a powerful and devastating look into consent and sex culture on teen holidays. I will lucky enough to see this in October at LFF at Broadway Cinema, Nottingham, and I have been thinking about it since. Its 3 BAFTA nominations are incredibly well deserved.
29. Of An Age dir. Goran Stolevski
Of An Age is a heartfelt and tender coming of age romance that spans over a 24 hour period. It’s unique approach to story telling has remained with me since watching back in August, and will remain with me for much longer. A true hidden gem that I can’t recommend enough.
28. Rye Lane dir. Raine Allen-Miller
Allen-Miller’s 2 time BAFTA nominated romantic comedy is without a doubt one of the best rom-coms of all time. Set amongst the bustling crowds of South London, the story follows Dom and Yes as they meet by chance and spend the day together.
27. Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse
A real triumph in not just animation, but film as a medium. Joaquin Dos Santos and Justin K. Thompson, as well as the whole team, blur the lines of what a film can be a look like. An impressive film that musty be witnessed on the biggest possible screen.
26. Nimona dir. Troy Quane and Nick Bruno
Nimona is a trail blazer for queer representation in animation and kids media. And it holds a fantastic come back story, after being dropped by Disney and acquired by Netflix. Now, Nimona is a nominee for best Animated Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards.
25. Fair Play dir. Chloe Domont
A powerful and shocking drama that is somehow Domont’s feature debut, Fair Play examines power dynamics and whether having a higher position at work actually gives a woman a power advantage over a man.
24. Scrapper dir. Charlotte Regan
A hilarious and heartwarming film that follows the life of 12 year old Georgie after her mum dies and her absent father unexpectedly returns into her life.
23. The Iron Claw dir. Sean Durkin
The Iron Claw is the devastating story of the Von Erich brothers who were famous in Texas for their wrestling. It is an incredibly emotional story of pressure and grief, and Zac Efron delivers a powerful lead performance as Kevin Von Erich.
22. Bottoms dir. Emma Seligman
Bottoms is without a doubt the teen comedy of the decade. Emma Seligman crafts two unbelievably hilarious lesbian main characters who create a fight club to get close to their cheerleading crushes. Aye Edebiri and Rachel Sennott are incredible as the leads.
21. Godzilla Minus One dir. Takashi Yamazaki
Godzilla Minus One has hit the headlines recently for being the first ever Oscar nominated Godzilla film, for visual effects. It is both an incredible action film and grounded in an emotional core storyline, combining to be a truly excellent film.
20. Monster dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda
Kore-eda’s newest film is, like all of his films such as 2022’s Broker, a tenderly made film that deals with heavy political and social issues. Queerness is a main theme here, and this film encourages people to treat both visibly queer kids and those who may be more closeted with respect.
19. American Fiction dir. Cord Jefferson
Nominated for 5 Oscars including best actor and supporting actor (Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K Brown), American Fiction is a hilarious and brutal racial satire that pokes fun at the literary world. Jeffrey Wright has deserved this kind of recognition his entire career, and it’s wonderful to finally see him shine this way.
18. Rotting in the Sun dir. Sebastian Silva
Rotting in the Sun is hilarious, anxiety inducing, queer and unlike any film you’ve seen before. It hasn’t received the recognition it deserves, especially in terms of Catalina Saavedra’s incredible supporting performance. Watch it on MUBI now, if you haven’t already.
17. A Thousand and One dir. A.V. Rockwell
A Thousand and One is one of the most powerfully moving films of the entire year, and Teyana Taylor’s powerhouse performance is one for the ages. An absolute must watch, and a real teal jerker that I was so lucky to have experienced in cinemas.
16. Afire dir. Christian Petzold
Afire is a film that I haven’t stopped thinking about since experiencing army local indie cinema (Broadway Nottingham). Lead by a pretentious writer, his friend, and the woman they’re sharing the holiday home with, Afire follows the now meaningless dramas that come before a devastating wildfire that changes their lives forever.
15. The Zone of Interest dir. Jonathan Glazer
One of the most vital but depressing watches of the year, this film follows the family of a nazi officer living next to Auschwitz, who are more concerned by simple family problems than the horrors happening so close to them. I’m not sure I could stomach watching it a second time, but it’s a must watch. It has recieved 5 Oscar nominations including best picture and best director.
14. Priscilla dir. Sofia Coppola
Coppola’s latest is perhaps her best film yet, as it follows a young Priscilla Presley as she is first noticed by Elvis at age 14, all the way to their separation. Cailee Spaeny plays Priscilla perfectly, translating both her innocence and determination to the screen. I was lucky enough to experience this on 35mm, an experience I’ll treasure forever.
13. The Holdovers
The Holdovers feels like a film plucked straight from the 1970s. It features career best performances from Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Paul Giamatti, that earned them both Oscar nominations, and an impressive debut from youngster Dominic Tessa. It is sure to become a Christmas classic for years to come.
12. May December dir. Todd Haynes
Haynes’ latest film May December perhaps hit too close to home for Academy voters, receiving only one nomination for Samy Burch’s original screenplay. It explores the lengths actors will go to to deliver a realistic performance, spending time with even the most evil of people. Charles Melton’s incredible supporting performance earned him a Gotham award, but unfortunately not the Oscar nomination.
11. Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning
Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise have once again collaborated on one of the greatest action films of all time, and Dead Reckoning has finally made Mission: Impossible an Oscar nominated franchise. Perfect and entertaining in every way.
10. All of Us Strangers dir. Andrew Haigh
One of Britain’s greatest auteurs Andrew Haigh delivers an utterly heartbreaking, yet healing, film about grief and sexuality. Andrew Scott leads with Paul Mescal as his love interest and Jamie Bell and Claire Foy as his long dead parents, that revisit him as he begins to write a screenplay.
9. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret.
This is the coming of age film you wish you’d had at 11 years old. It validates the complicated feelings girls go through during puberty, whilst also handling the sensitive subject of religion and right to choose. Set in the early 1970s, the film stars Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates and Benny Safdie. It is an absolute delight from start to finish.
8. Oppenheimer dir. Christopher Nolan
Coming into 2024 with a massive 13 Oscar nominations, Oppenheimer is a film that has been non-stop discussed and widely regarded as Nolan’s magnum opus. It is an incredible film detailing the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atom bomb, and its switches between black and white and colour add to the already gorgeous cinematography.
7. Past Lives dir. Celine Song
As unbelievable as it might seem, Past Lives is director Celine Song’s debut feature film. It has been nominated for both best original screenplay and best picture at the 2024 oscars, and is a quiet and contained masterpiece. Greta Lee and Ted Yoo’s performances are full of yearning, and John Magaro is just delightful as Arthur, Nora (Lee’s) husband.
6. Poor Things dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
Emma Stone delivers her best performance since her Oscar winning turn in La La Land, as a reanimated corpse on a journey of self discovery. Poor Things is brave and unapologetic in its portrayal of sex and sexuality, and is full of wonderful supporting performances from the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Willem Defoe, and Ray Youssef.
5. Perfect Days dir. Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders delivers yet another masterpiece, and this time it’s set in Japan. Perfect Days follows the everyday life of a toilet cleaner (Koji Yakusho) as he goes about his daily routines and helps people along the way. This film finds the joy in every day life, and is truly gorgeous to watch. It has been nominated for best International feature film at the oscars, representing Japan.
4. Saltburn dir. Emerald Fennell
You’ve probably heard about Saltburn after its arrival to Prime Video in December, as a sort of cultural phenomenon has happened all over the internet. Talked about for its shock value and, well, Jacob Elordi, this phenomenon somewhat brushes over what an incredible film it really is. Fennell’s storytelling ability shines, and paired with stunning cinematography by Linus Sandgren as well as engrossing production design on the whole, what I would call a masterpiece emerges. It is an absolute must watch for lovers of cinema.
3. Anatomy of a Fall dir. Justine Triet
Anatomy of a Fall has just been nominated for an impressive 5 oscars including best director, which is even more impressive considering that it was not France’s submission for international feature film. Sandra Huller delivers an incredible leading performance as a mother accused of killing her husband. It is a commentary on the treatment of women by the justice system and the public as a result.
2. Barbie dir. Greta Gerwig
Everyone has heard about this film. It has been a cultural phenomenon that has changed the game for women in film, and has just received 8 Oscar nominations, including best picture. Barbie was not just a film about dolls, it spoke to me deeply about the female experience as a whole.
1. Killers of the Flower Moon dir. Martin Scorsese
The utterly uncontested film of the year for me is Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. It tells the story of the Osage murders that were committed by white colonisers in order to gain head rights to oil blessed land. It keeps the conversation about genocide, and tells an important story that is often left out of history books. The film is lead by the incredible Lily Gladstone, who has just been nominated for best actress. She is the heart of the film and out performs Oscar winners Robert Deniro and Leonardo DiCaprio.
And that concludes my 2023 film of the year count down. Thank you for reading, I hope that this list gives you some more films to watch!
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