“In 2023, the year saw dramatic fluctuations, with the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild notably striking against studios and streamers, bringing productions to a standstill. Despite these challenges, Hollywood thrived, boldly asserting its cultural significance with the monumental success of ‘Barbenheimer.'”
1. Oppenheimer (I) (2023)
R | 180 min | Biography, Drama, History | 8.4 IMDB
“Oppenheimer, a gripping biographical drama, explores American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life, famously dubbed the ‘Father of the Atomic Bomb.’ This film actively follows the sequence of events leading up to and following the world’s first nuclear test, which Oppenheimer spearheaded for the US Army under the code name ‘Trinity’.”
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr.
2. Past Lives (2023)
PG-13 | 105 min | Drama, Romance | 8.0 IMDB
Nora and Hae Sung, childhood friends deeply connected, experience a separation as Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later, destiny brings them back together for a pivotal week. In this time, they tackle their understanding of love and fate.
Director: Celine Song | Stars: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Moon Seung-ah
3. Poor Things (2023)
R | 141 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 8.5 IMDB
The incredible tale narrates Dr. Godwin Baxter’s extraordinary act of reviving Bella Baxter. As a brilliant and unorthodox scientist, he remarkably brings the young woman back to life, marking the beginning of her fantastical evolution.
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos | Stars: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, and Ramy Youssef
4. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
R | 206 min | Crime, Drama, History | 7.8 IMDB
In the 1920s, after the discovery of oil under Osage Nation land in Oklahoma, perpetrators murdered the Osage people one by one. This crime spree continues until the FBI intervenes to solve the mystery.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, and Jesse Plemons
5. Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
R | 151 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller | 7.8 IMDB
The police suspect a woman of murdering her husband. As the main witness, their blind son confronts a moral dilemma, grappling with the truth and the implications of his testimony.
Director: Justine Triet | Stars: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner, Antoine Reinartz
6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
PG | 140 min | Animation, Action, Adventure | 8.6 IMDB
Miles Morales leaps through the multiverse, meeting a team of Spider-people tasked with safeguarding its existence. As the heroes disagree over tackling a new threat, Miles redefines heroism.
Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson | Stars: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez
7. The Holdovers (2023)
R | 133 min | Comedy, Drama | 8.0 IMDB
A remote prep school’s cranky history teacher must stay on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who, having nowhere else to go, remains at the school.
Director: Alexander Payne | Stars: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston
8. The Taste of Things (2023)
PG-13 | 135 min | Drama, History, Romance | 7.5 IMDB
“Eugenie, an esteemed cook, has been collaborating with Dodin, a fine gourmet, for over 20 years, creating culinary masterpieces together. Their partnership, marked by skill and passion, has yielded remarkable dishes and has established them as a formidable duo in the world of gastronomy.”
Director: Anh Hung Tran | Stars: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Emmanuel Salinger, Patrick d’Assumçao
9. Fallen Leaves (2023)
81 min | Comedy, Drama | 7.6 IMDB
“In modern-day Helsinki, two lonely souls seeking love encounter each other by chance in a karaoke bar. Their journey to happiness faces many obstacles, including lost phone numbers, mistaken addresses, alcoholism, and the interference of a charming stray dog.”
Director: Aki Kaurismäki | Stars: Alma Pöysti, Jussi Vatanen, Martti Suosalo, Alina Tomnikov
10. About Dry Grasses (2023)
197 min | Drama | 8.1 IMDB
“A young teacher, after serving four years in a remote village, seeks a transfer to Istanbul. However, two students accuse him of inappropriate contact. Losing hope, he finds a colleague who opens his eyes to new life perspectives.”
Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan | Stars: Deniz Celiloglu, Merve Dizdar, Musab Ekici, Ece Bagci
