It’s been two weeks since we rang in the new year yet there are still a lot of 2023 releases I haven’t gotten around to seeing yet as they haven’t been released in the UK yet or haven’t become available to watch, however, I thought it would be fun to summarise my top 10 2023 releases so far, starting from 10.
(To add this is my personal top 10 and is based on enjoyment and sentiment rather than what I think are the best films of the year).
You can also see my full year’s ranking on Letterboxd
10. Anyone But You
I’ve written a post about this so if you’ve read it then you’ll know how much I enjoyed it! I even made a trip back to the cinema to see it again today, it’s by no means a perfect cinematic film but it was so fun and enjoyable and that’s what made it number 10 on this list.
9. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
This is arguably one of the most underrated releases of the year, I grew up reading this story just as my mum did so to see this on screen was really special. It had a phenomenal cast and is a heartwarming story.
8. Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse
I loved this so much, the animation style is beautiful and the story was a lot of fun although we were left on a pretty big cliffhanger so I’m patiently awaiting the third instalment!
7. Saltburn
I know Saltburn left viewers extremely divided but I can’t help enjoying this film! It was shot beautifully and had an epic soundtrack and score, despite certain scenes I really loved it.
6. Oppenheimer
Nolan films are always done extremely well and Oppenheimer was no different, it was an intense but thought-provoking film and Cillian Murphy was an insane Oppenheimer – the experience of seeing this in IMAX was pretty cool.
5. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The prequel to The Hunger Games is an important story about love and power and it delivered! As a big-time fan of the books I really enjoyed this and it was exciting to see a Hunger Games film in the cinema in 2023.
4. Priscilla
Priscilla is inspired by the autobiography ‘Elvis and Me’ by Priscilla Presley and follows Priscilla through the good and bad parts of her relationship with Elvis. Sofia Coppola did a perfect job of navigating and portraying these feelings with Cailee Spaeny as the perfect Priscilla.
3. Barbie
Barbie was the movie of the summer and had cinemas packed alongside Oppenheimer (which as a cinema lover, was lovely to see). I love every film Greta Gerwig has directed and this was no exception, it created a beautiful audience experience for many and I will often think back to the summer cinemas turned pink.
2. The Little Mermaid
It may be purely nostalgic reasons that The Little Mermaid made it this far up my ranking but I adored it, Ariel has always been my favourite princess and Halle Bailey was so perfect in this role – if anything the live-action was better than the cartoon (in my opinion)
1. Past Lives
‘What if this is a past life as well, and we are already something else to each other in our next life? Who do you think we are then?’
Past Lives was my top film of the year and beautifully navigates relationships and the Korean Buddist concept of ‘In-Yun’ which is the connection, fate or destiny of two people. Celine Song did an excellent job and I absolutely adored this movie and its concept.
rosie reviews 