It’s time for me to present my (as usual very late) list of my favourite films of the year. While there were definitely some low points and disappointments, there have been a lot of great movies to make up for it.

As a result of my lateness I managed to watch a ton of movies from 2023, 105 to be exact, and I think I’ve seen most of the movies I wanted to watch, except for The Boy and the Heron and The Iron Claw.

First, some honourable mentions that didn’t quite break into the top 25:

25. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

One of the biggest surprises of the year, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is one of the most interesting franchise films in recent years. With a very different narrative structure from the previous four movies, this adaptation of the prequel novel written by author Suzanne Collins serves as a dystopian tragedy and character study focussing on Hunger Games villain Coriolanus Snow. We get to see a lot more from this world set many decades before the events of the main 4 films, and I was surprised how engaged and invested I was in the story. It doesn’t shy away from the darker elements, and the twists and emotional gut punch moments hit like they should. Even the divisive and jarring third act largely worked for me. On a technical level it is the strongest of the series, the cinematography, production design and costume design are stellar, and the action and set pieces in the game segment are very well done. The lead actors in Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler are excellent, and they are supported by an amazing cast who all shine, including Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman and especially a scene chewing Viola Davis. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a compelling and satisfying prequel and is up there with Catching Fire as the best entries in the Hunger Games movie franchise.

24. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

I do have to acknowledge that my opinion on this movie has considerably shifted between my first and second viewings, considering that I was originally declaring it one of the year’s absolute best in my original review. I now have some issues with it, the pacing struggles at points, and while I don’t like jumping on the bandwagon, it really does suffer from being a part 1 of a story. That being said, it is still an impressive movie. While it isn’t as individually satisfying as its predecessor Into the Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse does well at setting up emotional and personal stakes even amongst the larger multiversal stakes, likely making it one of the better multiverse stories in comic book movies. However, the animation is the highlight for me; it is visually gorgeous, there is so much attention to detail, and I liked the distinct art styles for the different characters and worlds. The action set pieces are spectacular and creative, the movements fast paced and kinetic, and it’s accompanied by an incredible score from Daniel Pemberton. With the note the Across the Spider-Verse leaves on, I hope that Beyond the Spider-Verse delivers, and I equally hope that the animators won’t be overworked, rushed and crunched this time.

23. Master Gardener

Paul Schrader’s latest film and conclusion to his “Man in a Room” trilogy was certainly polarising and divisive amongst those who saw it, and while I wouldn’t say that it’s as great as the previous two movies (First Reformed and The Card Counter), I still really liked it. Slow, melancholic, dark yet surprisingly tender, this character study of its troubled protagonist was compelling to watch, further helped by the beautiful cinematography, steady direction from Schrader, and amazing performances from Joel Edgerton and Quintessa Swindell. It’s not for everyone but I found it to be a great and engaging film.

22. Ferrari

One of the more overlooked movies from 2023 was Michael Mann’s first movie in 8 years. Covering a section of Enzo Ferrari’s complicated life, Ferrari is a compelling and intricate biopic and character study, which was engaging from beginning to end. While the racing is merely one aspect of the story, it is certainly among the highlights of the movie. The technical aspects are amazing, with incredibly visceral and intense sequences, and Michael Mann’s direction is on point as ever. Adam Driver is reliably strong in the title role, and Penelope Cruz delivers one of 2023’s best performances. Ferrari is well made and definitely worth the watch.

21. Knock at the Cabin

This self-contained and oddly straightforward thriller from M. Night Shyamalan was one of the earliest 2023 movies that I had watched, and it still ended up being among the highlights of the year. Shyamalan as usual brings his great direction and distinct style to this movie, and with the tense atmosphere and fantastically creative camera movements, has some of his very best work. The performances are all outstanding, particularly from Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, and Dave Bautista. Most of all, it is quite hard hitting and emotional, with a very human and well-handled family story at the center. A gripping, suspenseful and impactful thriller, Knock at the Cabin is one of Shyamalan’s best.

20. They Cloned Tyrone

Largely overlooked due to its release around the same time as Oppenheimer and Barbie, They Cloned Tyrone deserved a lot more attention than it received. It is a wonderful and highly entertaining blend of sci-fi, comedy and social commentary, and even aesthetically harkens back to 70s blaxploitation films. The script is witty with snappy dialogue and hilarious humour, and the plot takes plenty of twists and turns. I was invested in seeing where it would all go next. It also benefits strongly from a great cast, especially in the main trio of John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx, as well as Juel Taylor’s impressive and stylistic first time direction. They Cloned Tyrone is well deserving of your time.

19. The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial was a great film to end the late William Friedkin’s career on. This morally gray, complex and play-based courtroom drama is tense and riveting from beginning to end. The performances are all spectacular, especially from Jason Clarke, Lance Reddick and Kiefer Sutherland, all of whom give so much to their respective roles. Helped further by Friedkin’s tight editing and direction, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial makes for a captivating legal thriller.

18. Perfect Days

Perfect Days is a simple but nonetheless engaging slice of life film, focussing on a Tokyo toilet cleaner’s everyday life and routine, and considering my past track record with slice of life films, I think it’s a very strong endorsement if I actually like one of them. Slowly paced, beautifully shot and with a peaceful vibe, it drew me into the protagonist’s simple life and peaceful routine, and I was invested throughout. With wonderful direction by Wim Wenders and an amazing lead performance from Koji Takusho, it’s well worth the watch.

17. Evil Dead Rise

With its latest instalment, Evil Dead retains its title for the most consistently strong horror franchise. Rise might change things up a little, taking place in a high rise apartment complex instead of a cabin in the woods. However, it is undoubtedly an Evil Dead movie, and just about encompasses all the past 4 films. It jumps between the slapstick and dark humour from Sam Raimi’s original trilogy, and the brutal and griminess from Fede Alvarez’s remake, and it still has that nastiness and gnarly mean spirit that you would expect from an Evil Dead movie. This is brought across by Lee Cronin’s top notch, creative, and almost Raimi-esque direction, with plenty of fantastic, bloody and gruesome set pieces, and great use of stellar effects (both practical and CGI). The acting is strong too, with Alyssa Sutherland in particular delivering one of the standout performances from the past year. Gruesome, tense and satisfying, Evil Dead Rise is one of my favourite horror movies of 2023.

16. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret.

This coming of age comedy and drama was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. This story of the anxieties and awkwardness of growing up is heartfelt, sincere and funny, made even better by all the amazing performances from the cast, especially Abby Ryder Fortson and Rachel McAdams.

15. Priscilla

Priscilla was an unflinching, complex and layered character piece, and an examination of Priscilla and Elvis Presley’s relationship. Not shying away from the abusive and grooming aspects of the real life couple, it is told with empathy and the subject matter is handled with delicacy and sensitivity. It does well at getting you into Priscilla’s headspace, with it being quietly and subtly isolating and oppressive. Sofia Coppola’s direction is top notch, and while Jacob Elordi is great as Elvis, the highlight really is Cailee Spaeny in one of the best performances of the year in the titular role. Priscilla is incredible, and it really should’ve received more attention and love.

14. Monster

This multi perspective mystery drama is one worth going into knowing as little as possible. With its layered and twisty script, it has you constantly engaged and keeps you guessing throughout. As every layer is uncovered, the movie transforms into something else entirely. Additionally with Hirokazu Koreeda’s excellent direction and the amazing performances, Monster is an emotionally compelling and poignant experience, and among the very best from last year. Again, try to watch it knowing next to nothing beforehand for the best viewing experience.

13. BlackBerry

BlackBerry was far better than expected, in fact it’s one of the most surprising movies of the year. The topic and history was actually interesting to learn about, but it also benefited from a great screenplay. It’s highly entertaining with enjoyable comedy and sharp dialogue, while also being captivating. It hits with the drama and while it is a predictable rise and fall story, it delivers a compelling story. The documentary style direction works to great effect and the acting from everyone is amazing, including Jay Baruchel, Matt Johnson and especially Glenn Howerton, who gives a particularly fierce and fiery performance, and one of my favourites from the year. BlackBerry is a surprisingly riveting and entertaining film, and is well worth seeking out if you haven’t seen it yet.

12. Suzume

The latest movie from Your Name director Makoto Shinkai is another heartfelt, creative and visually gorgeous fantasy adventure. As expected, Shinkai does a wonderful job at mixing fantastical elements and worldbuilding with real world themes like grief and loss; it lands the emotional punches and is genuinely affecting and sad. Yet, it is fun to watch throughout, especially with the great chemistry between the main two characters (one of whom spends most of the time as a three legged chair). And if that isn’t enough already, the animation is stunning and aesthetically pleasing, making the movie borderline mesmerizing. As it stands, by far my favourite animated movie of the year.

11. Society of the Snow

Based on the true story from the 1970s, Society of the Snow is incredibly captivating, even if you already know the outcome of the story. This harrowing and emotionally gruelling story about survival is truly compelling and hard to look away from, while handling the true life story with a lot of taste and sensitivity. J.A. Bayona directed this incredibly well and has crafted such a visceral experience, it is beautifully shot, and has impressive makeup, VFX and sound design. The large and talented ensemble of newcomer actors also deserve some praise, as they deliver excellent and emotional performances as these real life people. It’s not the easiest of movies to watch, but Society of the Snow is not one to miss.

10. The Holdovers

The Holdovers might have a very familiar premise and doesn’t do anything particularly revolutionary, but what it does, it does incredibly well. Sporting an amazing script, it seamlessly bounces between bittersweetness, humour, and sincere heartfeltness with ease, and was absorbing from beginning to end. The trio of performances from Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph were amazing and among the best from the past year. The Holdovers is one of the most surprising and satisfying movie experiences of 2023, and potentially a future Christmas classic too.

9. Anatomy of a Fall

This morally complex and ambiguous courtroom drama is so expertly crafted, brilliantly written, and directed incredibly by Justine Triet. It is meticulously plotted and presented, with the story delicately unfolding at a steady and patient pace. It’s tied together and brought to life by the amazing performances, especially from Sandra Hüller and Milo Machado-Grane. Not only a courtroom drama but also a compelling character study, Anatomy of a Fall is engaging and enthralling from beginning to end.

8. May December

I remember going into this movie somewhat blind when I watched it at the NZIFF, there weren’t many images for it out and no trailer at all. Honestly though, not knowing what I was in for did work to great effect. This thought provoking character study has a rich screenplay, which does well at gradually revealing and peeling back the plot and characters over the course of the movie. It is a commentary on many things including exploitations of sensitive stories, and is probably one of the most devastating films I’ve seen about grooming. It juggles many different elements and tones, but May December pulls it off, helped by Todd Haynes’s reliable direction. The acting is all great, as expected. Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are amazing and deliver some of their best work (especially Portman). However, Charles Melton is the surprise here, delivering an emotionally devastating performance which sneaks up on you, some of the most affecting acting from the whole of 2023. May December was fantastic and hard hitting, and it really deserved a lot more attention and love than it received.

7. Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One was one of the best experiences I had in a movie theatre from the past year, it truly blew me away. As expected, it delivers on a technical level, with impressive visuals and outstanding action sequences, you really feel the weight and scale of the on-screen destruction. Godzilla is back as the central villain here, and this is definitely one of the scariest portrayals of the iconic monster, effectively generating this sense of dread, doom and hopelessness. But what makes the movie hit as hard as it does was the strong emotional core, and Minus One has probably the best human story of the whole series with likable and grounded characters, helped by the great cast of performances led by Ryunosuke Kamiki. Many people have already been calling this the best Godzilla movie yet, and I’m definitely one of them.

6. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

The Mission Impossible movies continue to deliver as one of the best ongoing action franchises right now, and its latest installment Dead Reckoning Part One (now retitled to just Dead Reckoning) is no exception. With it being intended as the first of a two parter and having a nearly 3 hour runtime, it’s one of the more complex and ambitious movies in the series, yet it manages to not feel muddled. It’s pulpy and over the top, with a far fetched plot focussing on a rogue AI, but presents it in a plausible way that it becomes a credible threat. It’s also very entertaining, and the most outwardly funny movie in the series since Ghost Protocol. The cast all deliver, from the usual crew of Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg and Rebecca Ferguson and even Henry Czerny, all the way to newer actors in the series like Shea Whigham, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff and Esai Morales. Director Christopher McQuarrie has such a great grasp with these movies that I don’t even mind that the series has long since abandoned the novelty of having a different director on each film. As expected, there are plenty of amazing practically heavy set pieces throughout, with a great variety of different stunts and types of action, topped off in the third act with an enthralling train sequence. Most of all, compared to other Part 1 installments (especially from this year) it actually feels satisfying by the end, and while there’s plenty of plotlines and aspects that will need to be concluded in the next movie, Dead Reckoning felt like a complete film. I wouldn’t say it’s quite on the level of the previous installment, Fallout, and there are some choices that hold it back a little, but Dead Reckoning is amazing and among my favourite recent action movies.

5. Poor Things

Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest bizarre film is possibly his best, up there alongside The Favourite at the very least. Poor Things is a unique coming of age movie, and a journey of self discovery, independence and awakening. It’s a very entertaining and memorable experience of a movie, with the absurd comedy, fantastical world, offkilter nature, and offbeat and dark humour, conveyed brilliantly through the fantastic and sharply written script and Yorgos Lanthimos’s outstanding direction. Between the gorgeous cinematography, production designs and unique camera techniques, it is one of the most visually striking films of the year. It also has an ensemble of amazing performances from actors including Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Yousseff and Christopher Abbott. Emma Stone is the standout however, and was critical for the movie being as good as it was (or even for it to work at all), as she excellently conveys her character’s story of self discovery. It’s an unhinged yet fully realised and committed performance which could be her best yet. Poor Things is wonderfully bizarre, visually gorgeous and entertaining, and I think it worked at what it set out to do.

4. John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick: Chapter 4 somehow tops everything that the previous three movies had done, and manages to be both bigger and better. There is a larger array of memorable characters, a longer runtime, the scale is grander, and of course, it goes all out on the spectacular action, with each sequence feeling fresh. It even concludes with a third act which is a combination of some of the best set pieces that you’ll see in recent years. The usual cast of Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, and Lance Reddick are reliable as always, while new additions of Bill Skarsgard, Hiroyuki Sanada, Scott Adkins, and especially a scene stealing Donnie Yen also deliver. Most of all though, it is a satisfying conclusion to the John Wick story. Personally, I don’t think that it’s too soon to call this one of the best action movies of recent years, or one of the best action movies period. Here’s to hoping they don’t try to make a John Wick Chapter 5.

3. The Zone of Interest

The Zone of Interest is an incredibly compelling and memorable film, and an unforgettable experience. One of the most uncomfortable portraits of human evil in a movie, it pulls you into this quietly harrowing experience and leaves you with so much to think about. Focussing on the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his family living right next to the concentration camp, you never see any of the atrocities take place on screen. Yet, as you hear the sounds of the camp throughout the movie, you are reminded of the reality of what these people are surrounded by, and the human suffering that they willingly choose to accept in their daily lives. So much of this movie’s effectiveness has to do with Jonathan Glazer’s extraordinary direction, who has made one of the most flawlessly crafted films of the year. The cinematography is perfect with its framing, knowing what to show and what not to show, and the sound design is incredibly authentic, immersive and critical to the movie. We are forced to view these subjects as people and not just monsters, and are reminded how the worst crimes in history are committed by seemingly normal people. That is further emphasized through Christian Friedel and Sandra Huller’s amazing and committed performances. While it is firmly focussed on the Holocaust, much of its content, subtext and questions posed are universal, timeless and relevant to today. It is more than eerie watching the movie and seeing parallels of the ongoing genocides today (Gaza), and how certain people are choosing to ignore and willingly becoming complicit in them. A haunting, chilling, and captivating experience of a film, The Zone of Interest is not an easy watch by any means, but arguably a necessary viewing.

2. Killers of the Flower Moon

Perhaps it’s controversial to say, but I think that the past 10 years just might be the best run for Martin Scorsese as a filmmaker. He’s been making distinctly different films of consistently high quality, and Killers of the Flower Moon is no exception. While it does adapt the true-crime book of the same name, it smartly differs in its perspective, shifting from the FBI perspective and instead moves closer to the Osage people and the killers. Scorsese’s direction is unsurprisingly outstanding all round, with the amazing cinematography, fantastic editing, and a final excellent score from the late Robbie Robertson. The 3.5 hour runtime is more than earned, it doesn’t feel like it’s padded out or wasting any time. This steadily paced, heavy and bleak story is hard to watch, but is nonetheless compelling and riveting from beginning to end. The acting is great with all the cast making strong impressions no matter how little their screentimes are. Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro deliver some of the best work of their work, however it’s Lily Gladstone who is the standout, giving one of the year’s standout performances. Haunting yet monumental, Killers of the Flower Moon is a portrait of and meditation on American greed, violence, systematic racism and complicity, and is one of Scorsese’s best.

1. Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer is not only my favourite movie of the year, but it’s very much the best in Christopher Nolan’s filmography, which is saying a lot. In one of Nolan’s most complex movies, Oppenheimer is dense and full of information, details and moving parts; it’s a very captivating story to watch, with us seeing this man’s life including the building of the bomb, and the consequences that come from that. There’s a large ensemble of great actors with Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Josh Hartnett, Jason Clarke, Alden Ehrenreich and David Krumholtz, and more delivering amazing work here, and making the most of their screentimes. And of course, Cillian Murphy is spectacular as J. Robert Oppenheimer, giving such a complex and layered performance. Nolan’s direction is phenomenal and the movie is a technical masterpiece, with stunning cinematography, effective use of visual effects, excellent editing keeping everything moving, amazing use of sound, and Ludwig Göransson’s score adding so much to the experience. Ever since I first watched it, Oppenheimer has been not only my favourite movie of the year, but also a strong contender for my current favourite movie of the 2020s.

What are your favourite movies of 2023?

Top 25 Best Films of 2023