Favorite Movies of 2023: Honorable Mention Edition
My not-quite-favorite movies from 2023
We’re in the final week of 2023, which means that it’s time for my yearly favorites. I started making my top 10 list but realized I had a lot of honorable mentions, so I figured I would add that as a separate post. These are movies that I quite enjoyed but lacked something that would allow them to be my absolute favorites for the year. That said, I would enthusiastically recommend all of these movies.
M3GAN: January PG-13 horror should never make a top ten list, but I’m telling you, I freaking love this movie. It won’t make the top 10 because it’s not quite scary enough to push over the edge, but this movie is creepy, stylish, and funny. It follows all of the beats you would expect for a teen horror film but is creative enough to feel fresh. You can read my review from back in January when I watched it originally or a more recent review I wrote for Movies We Texted About. (Currently streaming on Prime Video.)
Society of the Snow: This one drops on Netflix next week, along with my review. It is based on the story of the Uruguayan rugby team who crashed in the Andes in 1972. Seventeen survivors had to make some of the most difficult decisions in order to make it out alive. I remember seeing the film Alive back in 1993 when I was in college and being so taken with the story, but this retelling is so much better. Deeply visceral and emotionally resonant. Since it comes out in 2024, I’m not adding it to my top 10, but goodness. It is stunning. (Streaming on Netflix on January 4.)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem: I don’t have the history with TMNT that allows this to make my top 10, but with a unique art style, fantastic voice acting, and a solid story, Mutant Mayhem is definitely among the better movies I watched this year. I love that the main four recorded together, which adds so much to the movie's energy. Check out my full review here. (Currently streaming on Paramount+.)
Biosphere: This was a film that I totally missed when it came out, but I got an FYC screener for it recently, and I thought it was a fascinating story. Mark Duplass and Sterling K. Brown star in it as the last two men on earth when evolution fast-tracks a change to help allow for the survival of the human race. It is a unique look at gender, sexuality, and male friendship. It is funny and thought-provoking in some of the best ways and shows, yet again, why Brown is one of the best actors out there. (Currently streaming on AMC+.)
Cocaine Bear: I am so happy I live in a world where this movie exists. Elizabeth Banks gave us a super fun movie barely (bearly?) based on a true story. My favorite movies are always going to be the ones that make me think, that tell a powerful story, that say something about the world that we live in. This movie does none of that – it is just a good time. But sometimes it’s nice to go to the movies, not to become a better person, but just to be entertained. This movie did that for me. Check out my full review here. (Currently streaming on Prime Video.)
Hunger: I didn’t review a ton of foreign language films this year, but this film from Thailand has stuck in my brain through the bulk of the year. This movie made me think about creativity and success in a new way, and I loved it. If you’re looking for a movie with some beautiful food photography and a unique look at what it means to be a creative, this is one to check out. Here is my full review. (Currently streaming on Netflix.)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: When my husband and I saw this movie, we were seated next to a party that skipped their game to see it, and we all loved it. That feels like high praise for a movie where one group is coming in with extensive knowledge, and one is coming in with next to none. The ensemble is fantastic, the effects are solid, and the story is funny and engaging. From the same team that gave us one of my favorite recent comedies, Game Night, this is one to watch. (Currently streaming on Prime Video.)
Bottoms: Of all the raunchy comedies starring women that came out this year, this was probably my favorite (though it is close between this and Joy Ride - honestly, either could be here, but since I never reviewed Bottoms, I’m going to write it up a little. That said, check out Beth’s review here.). I love the ridiculousness of the story. I love the way that it spoofs teen movies. I love the way that it centers queer stories. I love Marshawn Lynch. It is absurd and funny and worth 90 minutes of your time, easy. (Currently streaming on MGM+.)
Stop by tomorrow to see my top 10!