OK, l’ll cut to the chase… Here are my Top 10 favorite movies of 2023:
- Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part 1
- Godzilla Minus One
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- A Haunting in Venice
- Migration
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
- The Boys in the Boat
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
There are many different kinds of moviegoers and movie watchers. Some just like to be entertained, some thrive on performances, and still others feel the need for art to come out on top. When it comes to the Academy Awards, few movies are nominated that faithfully represent the larger movie-watching audience and their interests. Each year, it seems as though the movies being celebrated most are ones that are controversial in nature (usually offensively so even) or are driven exclusively by one actor’s performance.
Blockbusters and popcorn flicks seldom get the credit they deserve – especially if they’re very well done. Even if actors’ performances are referenced and credited in a media review, those movies are frequently overlooked because they don’t usually check all the boxes for a movie snob’s preferences.
As a fan of movies, I feel as though I can enjoy an arty film or a performance-based film as much as the next guy. However, enjoyability and rewatchability play a huge part in what makes a movie good to me on a personal level. I find it hard to come up with a list of favorites without the movies I enjoyed most being the ones that make the cut.
With that said, my top 10 is a list of movies I’ve seen that I really enjoyed all-around and work for me as entertainment and quality. (And many of them I’ve watched more than once, too.) Yes, there’s most certainly a nostalgic element that contributes to how the list is generated, but they’re genuinely the movies I most enjoyed this year.
My favorite movie of 2023 is no surprise. While the Mission: Impossible franchise is known for its stunts more than anything else, what makes the last 3 or 4 entries in the series especially stand out are the whole package for me. From the action to the story to the solid performances, old school filmmaking style (stunt work and real locations over CGI and green screen), to the excellent orchestral soundtracks, Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie clearly put in their best efforts to make these movies not only stand out, but truly excellent. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part 1 is not only a thrill ride, but it has a surprisingly timely and thought-provoking storyline. I cannot wait for Part 2.
And I’m pretty sure not a soul out there expected Japan’s Godzilla Minus One to be as incredible as it is. From its serious tone to the fantastic acting performances, solid storytelling and jaw-dropping monster scenes, Godzilla Minus One is truly the whole enchilada.
From #3 down the line are just movies I really enjoyed this year for one reason or another. Each one is memorable for different reasons, and each one is rewatchable for sure. I’ve seen over 50 new movies this year, so it’s not as though these top 10 were all I’ve seen during the year’s time. These are films that surprised me, entertained me, moved me, and helped shape 2023 as a year to me.
And it is with excitement we enter into 2024 with an interesting slate of new movies in the coming months. From a new Ghostbusters movie (the original is still my all-time favorite), to the second Dune film, an animated Garfield movie (a character I grew up closely with), and beyond, I’m hopeful for another good year at the movies. — John DiBiase, 12/31/23