The Absolute Best Movies of 2023

Great filmmaking came from every corner this past year, from globe-spanning blockbusters to intimate debuts. Major studios, streamers, and indie outfits all backed projects that paired distinctive directors with performers working at the top of their craft, delivering films across every genre and scale.

Below you’ll find a hand-picked lineup of twenty-five titles that defined the movie conversation. For each, you’ll get concrete details—who made it, who’s in it, where it premiered, who released it, notable production choices, and other essentials—so you can quickly decide what to watch next or what to add to your queue.

‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)

Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, ‘Oppenheimer’ adapts the nonfiction book ‘American Prometheus’ and stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr. The film was produced by Syncopy and Atlas Entertainment, with Emma Thomas and Charles Roven among the producers, and distributed by Universal Pictures after a domestic theatrical rollout that included premium large formats. It premiered on the festival circuit before wide release and features a score by Ludwig Göransson.

Principal photography used large-format IMAX and Panavision cameras, including sequences shot on black-and-white 65mm film stock. Hoyte van Hoytema served as cinematographer, Jennifer Lame handled editing, and the production emphasized practical effects and period-authentic design, with Ruth De Jong as production designer and Ellen Mirojnick on costumes.

‘Barbie’ (2023)

‘Barbie’ was directed by Greta Gerwig from a screenplay by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling leading a cast that includes America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, and Simu Liu. The film was produced by LuckyChap Entertainment, Heyday Films, and Mattel Films, with Warner Bros. Pictures handling distribution. Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt composed the score, and the official soundtrack features multiple pop artists curated alongside the release.

Sarah Greenwood served as production designer with set decoration by Katie Spencer, crafting the bright Barbieland environments on large soundstages. Rodrigo Prieto was the cinematographer, Nick Houy edited, and Jacqueline Durran designed the costumes, coordinating closely with Mattel archives and custom builds for character-specific looks.

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (2023)

Directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Scorsese and Eric Roth, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ adapts David Grann’s nonfiction account, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro. The film was produced by Apple Original Films and Imperative Entertainment, with Paramount Pictures co-distributing in theaters before streaming on Apple TV+. Robbie Robertson composed the score.

Production shot extensively on location in Oklahoma with consultation from Osage Nation leaders to depict community life and language accurately. Rodrigo Prieto served as cinematographer, Thelma Schoonmaker edited, and the crew built period-specific sets and vehicles, integrating practical environments with carefully planned exterior sequences.

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

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, with a screenplay by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Dave Callaham. The voice cast features Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, and Daniel Kaluuya. Sony Pictures Releasing handled distribution for Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation, and Daniel Pemberton returned to compose the score.

The animation blends multiple visual languages to differentiate worlds and characters, with bespoke color pipelines and hand-painted textures layered over CG. Editorial and sound teams synchronized complex action set pieces with dynamic music cues, while production design teams created distinct multiverse aesthetics for Gwen Stacy’s watercolor-inspired setting and other dimensions.

‘The Zone of Interest’ (2023)

Directed and written by Jonathan Glazer, ‘The Zone of Interest’ is inspired by the novel by Martin Amis and stars Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller. The film was produced by A24, Film4 Productions, Extreme Emotions, and on-the-ground European partners, with A24 managing the North American release. Mica Levi composed the score, emphasizing unsettling sound design choices.

Łukasz Żal served as cinematographer, capturing long takes with concealed camera setups inside practical locations. Post-production leaned on meticulous sound work from Johnnie Burn, with an intentionally observational approach to framing, and the production design recreated domestic spaces adjacent to historical sites under strict access and consultation protocols.

‘Poor Things’ (2023)

Yorgos Lanthimos directed ‘Poor Things’ from a screenplay by Tony McNamara, adapted from the novel by Alasdair Gray. Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and Mark Ruffalo lead the cast, with Searchlight Pictures distributing after a festival premiere. Producers included Element Pictures, Film4, and TSG Entertainment, and Jerskin Fendrix composed the score.

Robbie Ryan was the cinematographer, using a mix of lenses and in-camera techniques to achieve stylized imagery. Shona Heath and James Price co-led production design with elaborate miniature work and sets, Holly Waddington designed the costumes, and Yorgos Mavropsaridis edited to balance episodic chapters with large-scale set pieces.

‘Anatomy of a Fall’ (2023)

Written and directed by Justine Triet, with Arthur Harari co-writing, ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ stars Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, and Milo Machado Graner. The film was produced by Les Films Pelléas and other European partners and distributed in North America by NEON after a major festival debut. The music uses both original compositions and curated tracks sparingly.

Simon Beaufils served as cinematographer, crafting a naturalistic look with controlled interior lighting and extensive dialogue coverage. Laurent Sénéchal handled editing to structure the legal-procedural elements, and the production staged courtroom and alpine locations with careful continuity and language-translation considerations.

‘The Holdovers’ (2023)

Directed by Alexander Payne and written by David Hemingson, ‘The Holdovers’ stars Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa. Focus Features distributed the film, which was produced by Miramax and Gran Via Productions. Rolfe Kent composed the score, and the project emphasized period-specific details across locations and wardrobe.

Cinematography by Eigil Bryld utilized vintage lenses and grain-forward workflows to evoke a classic texture. The production shot in New England boarding-school settings, with meticulous art direction for classrooms, dormitories, and winter exteriors, and Kevin Tent edited to support character-driven scenes with measured pacing.

‘Past Lives’ (2023)

‘Past Lives’ marks the feature debut of writer-director Celine Song and stars Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro. A24 handled distribution after early festival acclaim, with Christine Vachon, David Hinojosa, and Pamela Koffler among the producers. Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen composed the music.

The film was shot in New York City and Seoul with cinematography by Shabier Kirchner, emphasizing extended dialogue scenes and urban natural light. Keith Fraase handled editing, and the production coordinated bilingual performances and cross-continental scheduling while maintaining an intimate scale.

‘Godzilla Minus One’ (2023)

Directed and written by Takashi Yamazaki, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ was produced and distributed by Toho, with Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, and Yuki Yamada among the principal cast. The score is by Naoki Sato, and the release included both subtitled and dubbed versions in international markets.

Yamazaki’s VFX team integrated large-scale creature animation with practical miniature work and location photography. The production utilized a lean visual effects pipeline managed in-house at Shirogumi, achieving detailed destruction sequences, and coordinated naval and urban set pieces through extensive previsualization.

‘The Boy and the Heron’ (2023)

Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, ‘The Boy and the Heron’ was produced by Studio Ghibli with GKIDS handling North American distribution. The voice cast includes Soma Santoki and Masaki Suda in the original version, with an English-language dub featuring Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson. Music is composed by Joe Hisaishi.

The film employs hand-drawn animation with watercolor backgrounds, overseen by art directors experienced in Ghibli’s house style. Sound design blends environmental Foley with a lyrical score, and the production maintained a closely guarded marketing campaign, minimizing plot reveals prior to release.

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023)

Directed by Chad Stahelski and starring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, and Bill Skarsgård, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ was produced by Thunder Road Films and 87Eleven Entertainment, with Lionsgate distributing. Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard returned for the score, and the film expands the franchise’s international locations.

Stunt coordination emphasized practical choreography with Reeves performing extensive fight and driving sequences. Dan Laustsen handled cinematography, using neon-rich palettes and long takes, while Nathan Orloff edited large action blocks that were staged across Paris, Berlin, and Osaka with location permits and night-shoot logistics.

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

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, and Rebecca Ferguson, ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ was produced by Skydance and TC Productions, with Paramount Pictures distributing. Lorne Balfe composed the score, and filming spanned multiple countries.

The production executed large-scale stunts including a motorcycle-base jump and train sequence designed through months of pre-vis and safety testing. Fraser Taggart served as cinematographer, Eddie Hamilton edited, and the team leveraged IMAX sequences and practical set builds complemented by selective digital effects.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ (2023)

Written and directed by James Gunn, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ features Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, and Dave Bautista, with Marvel Studios producing and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributing. John Murphy composed the score, and the soundtrack again integrates curated needle-drops tied to character arcs.

Cinematographer Henry Braham shot with large-format digital cameras, while the VFX houses delivered extensive creature and environment work. The production combined practical sets on multiple stages with performance-capture, and editorial managed a complex ensemble structure across spacefaring locations.

‘Talk to Me’ (2023)

‘Talk to Me’ is directed by Danny and Michael Philippou from a screenplay by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, starring Sophie Wilde, Miranda Otto, and Alexandra Jensen. A24 distributed the film after a strong festival response, with Causeway Films as a key production company. Cornel Wilczek composed the score.

Aaron McLisky served as cinematographer, favoring grounded camera work for intimate scenes and controlled lighting for ritual sequences. Editing by Geoff Lamb maintains a tight runtime, and the production designed a distinctive prop centerpiece with practical effects supported by restrained digital augmentation.

‘May December’ (2023)

‘May December’ is directed by Todd Haynes from a screenplay by Samy Burch, starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton. The film was produced by Killer Films and Gloria Sanchez Productions, with Netflix handling distribution after a limited theatrical run. Marcelo Zarvos composed the score.

Christopher Blauvelt served as cinematographer, and the production emphasized coastal locations with natural light. Affonso Gonçalves edited, while the art and costume departments created layered character wardrobes and domestic spaces that support the story’s industry-within-the-story framework.

‘Priscilla’ (2023)

Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, ‘Priscilla’ adapts the memoir ‘Elvis and Me’ by Priscilla Presley with Sandra Harmon. The film stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, and was produced by American Zoetrope with A24 distributing domestically. The score features compositions by Phoenix and additional curated music.

Philippe Le Sourd handled cinematography using soft, intimate lighting and shallow depth of field for interior scenes. Sarah Flack edited, and the production coordinated period sets, hair, and makeup supervised by expert department heads to recreate Graceland interiors and related locations.

‘All of Us Strangers’ (2023)

Directed and written by Andrew Haigh, ‘All of Us Strangers’ is adapted from Taichi Yamada’s novel ‘Strangers’ and stars Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell. The film was produced by Searchlight Pictures, Film4, and Blueprint Pictures, with Searchlight handling the theatrical rollout. Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch composed the score.

Jamie D. Ramsay served as cinematographer, blending handheld intimacy with controlled night exteriors. Jonathan Alberts edited, and the production shot in London apartments and suburban locations, managing a streamlined schedule that prioritized performance-driven scenes and music integration.

‘Saltburn’ (2023)

Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, ‘Saltburn’ stars Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, and Richard E. Grant. The film was produced by LuckyChap Entertainment and MRC, with Amazon MGM Studios distributing after a festival debut. Anthony Willis composed the music.

Linus Sandgren handled cinematography, employing rich interior lighting for stately home settings. The production secured country-house locations and constructed detailed sets, and editor Victoria Boydell shaped the narrative with an emphasis on seasonal transitions and social-gathering sequences.

‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ (2023)

Directed by Jeff Rowe and co-written by Rowe with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ was produced by Point Grey Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. Paramount Pictures distributed the film, and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the score.

The animation employs sketch-book textures and stylized linework to give characters and New York City environments a hand-drawn feel. Voice casting includes Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon as the turtles, with recording sessions emphasizing ensemble energy and improvisation.

‘Society of the Snow’ (2023)

‘Society of the Snow’ is directed by J. A. Bayona and based on Pablo Vierci’s nonfiction book, featuring a cast led by Enzo Vogrincic and Agustín Pardella. Netflix handled global distribution after a festival premiere, with production by Apaches Entertainment and partnering European companies. Michael Giacchino composed the score.

Filming took place in the Andes and on constructed sets to recreate extreme weather conditions, with Pedro Luque serving as cinematographer. Jaume Martí edited, and the production focused on physical transformation, survival logistics, and multilingual dialogue coaching across the ensemble.

‘Maestro’ (2023)

Directed by Bradley Cooper, who co-wrote the screenplay with Josh Singer, ‘Maestro’ chronicles the life and work of Leonard Bernstein, with Cooper and Carey Mulligan in leading roles. The film was produced by Sikelia, Amblin, and Protozoa with Netflix distributing after a limited theatrical run. The score integrates Bernstein’s compositions with original music.

Matthew Libatique served as cinematographer, and the production used both black-and-white and color photography with period-correct lenses. Michelle Tesoro edited, and the makeup department implemented advanced prosthetics overseen by Kazu Hiro to portray aging across decades, supported by detailed costume design.

‘American Fiction’ (2023)

Written and directed by Cord Jefferson, adapted from Percival Everett’s novel ‘Erasure’, ‘American Fiction’ stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sterling K. Brown, and Erika Alexander. The film was produced by MRC and T-Street, with Orion Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios distributing. Laura Karpman composed the score.

Cinematography by Cristina Dunlap balances academic settings and family interiors, and editor Hilda Rasula shaped the narrative with brisk pacing. The production coordinated rights clearances for manuscript and publishing elements, and managed a compact shooting schedule centered on dialogue-heavy scenes.

‘The Creator’ (2023)

‘The Creator’ is directed by Gareth Edwards, co-written with Chris Weitz, and stars John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, and Ken Watanabe. The film was produced by New Regency and Entertainment One, with 20th Century Studios distributing. Hans Zimmer composed the score.

Greig Fraser and Oren Soffer handled cinematography, leveraging compact camera rigs and location-heavy photography across Southeast Asian countries. The visual effects workflow integrated practical plates with ILM’s digital environments, and the team adopted a field-production approach that relied on natural light and minimal set builds.

‘Napoleon’ (2023)

Directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa, ‘Napoleon’ stars Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby. The film was produced by Apple Original Films and Scott Free Productions, with Sony Pictures Entertainment distributing theatrically before streaming on Apple TV+. Martin Phipps composed the score.

Dariusz Wolski served as cinematographer, and large-scale battle sequences combined practical cavalry charges with VFX crowd replication. Claire Simpson edited, the production staged shoots at historical European sites, and the art department constructed detailed interiors with period-accurate props and costumes.

Tell us which titles you’d add or swap in—drop your picks in the comments and keep the conversation going!