The 35 best movies of 2023

2023 is far from over, but as we now firmly reside in the back-end of the year, it’s not a bad time to stop and take stock of the movies that have been served up so far. This year has offered a whole cavalcade of top movies, ranging from show-stopping blockbusters and scene-stealing headliners, through to dynamic dramas, haunting horrors, and some truly (and I mean truly) excellent animated pictures.

And do you know what? In this post, I am highlighting 35 of the best movies from the year.

Below you will see the likes of Evil Dead Rise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and of course, Barbie! Oh, and as this post is about movies released during 2023, it does include a few titles from 2022 too!

Why? Because not every country around the world gets all the same movies at the same time – some of 2022’s films didn’t reach every part of the world until 2023, so they’ve made the list too!

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Barbie (2023)

First up is arguably the most talked about movie of 2023, Barbie! Directed and co-written by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Barbie was the BIG hit of summer 2023, and the film everyone and their mom couldn’t wait to go and see.

The movie follows the story of Barbie and Ken, and their journey from Barbieland into the ‘real world’, and then back again! Along the way they learn what life is like for humans, with various consequences as a result.

Easily one of the best movies of 2023, Barbie is a real treat. The film could have simply been soulless rubbish, dished out to a mass audience, but Gerwig delivers something with meaning, integrity, and a sense of purpose.

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Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part One (2023)

Next up is another fab movie, but one which unfortunately got a bit overshadowed next to Barbie. The movie is the Tom Cruise-starring Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part One.

As the movie suggests, this is the first entry in a multi-chapter story from the popular action franchise. In this opening instalment, IMF agent Ethan Hunt is doing battle with some rogue A.I., leading to more death-defying stunts and spy work.

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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Moving onto some animation now, for a truly dazzling and imaginative offering. The film is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – the sequel to 2018’s equally as impressive, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

In this film, Miles Morales travels across the Spider-Verse and meets various Spider-Men and Spider-Woman. However, things don’t run smoothly, and he soon finds himself becoming caught up in an intriguing and shocking web of danger.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

Sticking with the animation theme for this next film, which is the brilliant Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The movie retells the origin of the pizza-lovin’ awesome-foursome, but does so with knock-out animation, a great soundtrack, and some excellent voice acting.

Mutant Mayhem is a sheer delight. Kids will love it, as will long-time Turtles fans.

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Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Another animated offering here, and this time it’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – a film which straddled 2022 and 2023, depending on where in the world you live. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish sees Antonio Banderas reprise vocal duties as Puss, as he battles with his own mortality in easily the best Shrek-related movie since Shrek 2!

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Up next, the legendary Guardians of the Galaxy embark on their swansong in this emotionally charged send-off for everyone’s favourite space-hopping Marvel team. The story this time around centres on Rocket Raccoon, with the Guardians doing everything they can to save their friend from a deadly attack on his life.

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A Man Called Otto (2022)

Based on the book A Man Called Ove by Hannes Holm (which has previously been adapted into a 2015 Swedish movie of the same name), A Man Called Otto is an intoxicating drama-comedy about a man who has given up the will to live. Tom Hanks takes on the role of Otto, while support comes from Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, and Truman Hanks.

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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (2023)

Set in 1970, and based on the book of the same name by Judy Blume, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is a delightful coming-of-age movie about a young girl who is unhappy when her parents relocate from New York to New Jersey. The film offers a lovely call-back to the ’70s, and is a nice reminder of the sort of movies that don’t tend to get made these days.

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M3GAN (2022)

Combining satire with kills and thrills, M3GAN is a horror-thriller which tells the story of an artificially intelligent robot who becomes a crazed killer. The film boasts a razor sharp script, alongside a strong central antagonist, and plenty of humour.

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Scream VI (2023)

Hot on the heels of 2022’s Scream, 2023’s Scream VI is the sixth entry in the popular slasher franchise which sees Ghostface back on a killing spree, with a fair bit of nostalgia thrown in for good measure. As with the previous Scream films, Scream VI mixes wit and scares in equal measure and is a lot of fun.

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The Whale (2022)

Another movie which straddled 2022 and 2023 is the touching drama, The Whale. The film stars Brendan Fraser and tells the story of a man with health complications, who has become a recluse after putting on excessive weight.

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Air (2023)

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Jason Bateman lead an all-star cast in this biographical sports drama, about the creation of the iconic basketball shoe brand, Air Jordan. Air does exactly what it says on the tin, but it does it well and is a likeable drama.

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Creed III (2023)

Packing the right edge, along with some emotional weight, the third instalment of the Creed movie series is top notch entertainment. Creed III delivers plenty of entertainment where it is needed, and leaves the door open for more.

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Till (2022)

Released in 2022, but slipping into 2023 for some audiences is the heart-breaking drama, Till. Set in the 1950s, the film stars Danielle Deadwyler and tells the real-life story of Mamie Till and her fight for justice, after her son is brutally killed.

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Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023)

Up next is a movie which everyone seemed to love, but sadly few went to see it at the cinema, resulting in disappointing box office results. However, if you’ve not seen the movie, be sure to check it out, as Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is a rip-roarin’ adventure movie, based on the popular roleplaying game of the same name.

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Bank of Dave (2023)

In British comedy, Bank of Dave, an honest, decent businessman sets up his own bank in order to help people in his home town of Burnley with their finances. The film offers up some solid performances, and is an uplifting picture likely to raise a smile or two.

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They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

Taking inspiration from Blaxploitation movies of the ’70s, as well as paranoid pictures such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, They Cloned Tyrone follows three unlikely leads as they find themselves in the midst of a sprawling mystery. The movie is sci-fi flick directed and co-written by Juel Taylor, with John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx heading up the cast.

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Extraction 2 (2023)

Picking up shortly after the events of 2020’s Extraction, Extraction 2 is an explosive, action-packed sequel starring Chris Hemsworth and Idris Elba. Ignore the plot and instead focus on the dazzling action sequences, which put some of the big theatrical blockbusters to shame.

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The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

Another one of those 2022 releases that slipped into 2023 and this one stars Christian Bale as Augustus Landor – a detective who is tasked with investigating a series of murders at a military academy. Set in 1830, Landor has to enlist the assistance of Edgar Allan Poe to crack the case in this superb mystery-thriller.

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Nimona (2023)

Back to animation for this next film, the computer-animated fantasy film, Nimona. The movie is set in a futuristic world filled with knights, and follows the story of a former knight who teams up with a shape-shifter to help prove his innocence after he is wrongfully accused of murder.

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Evil Dead Rise (2023)

In the splattertastic horror flick, Evil Dead Rise, a young family encounter a demonic force that brutaly attacks them in their own home. The film – from writer/director Lee Cronin – is filled with buckets of blood, and with its tongue firmly in cheek, Evil Dead Rise is a fantastic and unnerving horror.

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Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Another Marvel entry, and while this one may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there is a lot of fun to be had in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Loaded with plenty of action, this sci-fi adventure romp takes a great deal of influence from the Star Wars films and sees the titular Ant-Man and the Wasp come face-to-face with the MCU’s newest threat, Kang the Conqueror!

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Talk to Me (2022)

In Talk to Me, a young woman gets more than she bargained for when she takes part in séance which allows her to see the dead. Shortly after the séance she discovers some dark forces from the other-side are infiltrating her world and bringing life-changing consequences along the way.

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Oppenheimer (2023)

While Barbie might be the most talked about movie of the year, it’s fair to say many of the Barbie conversations would have also included a mention for Christopher Nolan’s epic, Oppenheimer. The movie was released on the same day as Barbie, leading to some audiences referring to the two movies collectively as Barbenheimer.

As for Oppenheimer itself, the movie tells the real-life story of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer – the man who played a key role in developing the world’s first nuclear weapons. The film cover’s a number of years in Oppenheimer’s life, with a specific focus around the events of World War II.

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Greatest Days (2023)

And now onto an overlooked gem, which slipped in and out of cinemas during summer 2023 with very little fanfare. The movie is the heartfelt British musical-comedy, Greatest Days.

Utilising a back catalogue of hits from British boy band, Take That as its soundtrack, Greatest Days tells the story of four former friends who have grown apart. However, thanks to one of the friends winning some concert tickets, there is a chance for a reunion and the opportunity to put to rest some long-harboured issues that exist within the group.

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The Burial (2023)

Inspired by a true story, The Burial is a court room drama about a lawsuit between a funeral director and a wealthy businessman. Tommy Lee Jones, Jamie Foxx and Jurnee Smollett lead the cast in this sold offering from director Maggie Betts.

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Tin & Tina (2023)

After adopting two children named Tin & Tina, new parents Adolfo and Lola soon find themselves heading down a dark path. There’s something not quite right about Tin & Tina, in this Spanish psychological horror-thriller, but will Adolfo and Lola turn their backs on their new children?

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Rye Lane (2023)

In British romantic comedy-drama, Rye Lane, two 20-somethings from South London develop a relationship in a film with plenty of heart. Rye Lane revisits the well-worn tale of ‘boy meets girl’, but does so with a refreshing new take.

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Saw X (2023)

Set in between the events of 2004’s Saw and 2005’s Saw II, Saw X sees the villainous John Krammer dealing out death traps while fighting his own battle with cancer. Tobin Bell delivers his best performance to date, in this surprisingly effective horror.

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Wham! (2023)

Released to coincide with the 40th anniversary of their debut album, Fantastic, Wham! is a fabulous pop documentary film. The movie – directed by Chris Smith – tells the story of the iconic British pop group of the same name, which catapulted George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley into super-stardom during the 1980s.

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Tetris (2023)

Directed by Jon S. Baird, Tetris is a drama biopic starring Taron Egerton, Toby Jones, Oleg Stefan, Roger Allam, Anthony Boyle, and Nikita Efremov. The movie tells the story of the complicated licensing rights to smash-hit ‘80s video game, Tetris, and is an enjoyable piece about a subject you never thought you needed to know.

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Emancipation (2022)

Starring Will Smith, and slipping onto Apple TV+ at the beginning of 2023, Emancipation is a historical action-drama, loosely based on the real-life of Peter and Gordon – two former slaves who became the subject of a series of photographs that were published in 1863. The movie is a hard-hitting account of their escape to freedom, with Will Smith delivering a truly impressive performance.

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Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2023)

Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, is a docu-movie which looks back at the life and career of actor, director, and horror icon, Robert Englund. The movie includes plenty of archival material and anecdotes, as well as interviews from industry insiders, and of course, the actor himself.

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Cobweb (2023)

In mystery horror movie, Cobweb, an 8-year-old boy begins to hear strange noises coming from within his bedroom. Is he really hearing voices, or is something more sinister taking place in his house?

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Joy Ride (2023)

And finally, get ready to have your ribs tickled within an inch of their existence, thanks to the hilarious comedy road movie, Joy Ride. Directed by Adele Lim, and starring Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu and Sabrina Wu, the movie follows the story of a young woman from the US who travels with her friends to China to close an important business deal, with humorous consequences.

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Recap

The 35 best movies from 2023 are as follows:

• Barbie (2023)
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part One (2023)
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
• A Man Called Otto (2022)
• Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (2023)
• M3GAN (2022)
• Scream VI (2023)
• The Whale (2022)
• Air (2023)
• Creed III (2023)
• Till (2022)
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023)
• Bank of Dave (2023)
• They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
• Extraction 2 (2023)
• The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
• Nimona (2023)
• Evil Dead Rise (2023)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
• Talk to Me (2022)
• Oppenheimer (2023)
• Greatest Days (2023)
• The Burial (2023)
• Tin & Tina (2023)
• Rye Lane (2023)
• Saw X (2023)
• Wham! (2023)
• Tetris (2023)
• Emancipation (2022)
• Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2023)
• Cobweb (2023)
• Joy Ride (2023)

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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about the best movies from 2023 – I hope it has proved useful. For more useful posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.