A2P CINEMA'S FAVORITE FILMS OF 2023

If 2022 films were filled with nostalgia for old movies, 2023 challenges the way to reshape old influences in daring new directions. Like a tango which moves back and forth ultimately going full circle, moviemaking continues to dance back and forth through its history.

In 2023 streaming options continue to rise and give moviegoers a magnitude of options to watch new releases, but most of the very best films of the year were theatrical releases… and there still remains no better place to see a film for the first time then to experience it in a cinema with a collective audience. It’s a magical experience no matter what type of film you are seeing.

As of December 31st, I saw 106 new films in 2023 which is more then the past few years but much lower then what I would see pre-2020. Because I'm more selective in my choices of what I see most of these are films that I like in some way. All but the probably the bottom ten are films I would recommend and did enjoy in some way or another. Please don't get too caught up in the ranking. There are some films I still need to see a second time.
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Notable films yet to see:
Hit Man; Saltburn; Memory; Anatomy of a Fall; The Zone of Interest; Napoleon; They Cloned Tyrone; The First Slam Dunk; About Dry Grasses; 65; Five Nights at Freddy's; Rebel Moon; Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny; Dream Scenario; American Fiction; Strays; Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves; Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning; Passages; Rye Lane; Gran Turismo; Scream 6; Nimona; Anslem; Joy Ride; Theater Camp; Sound of Freedom; Migration; Aqua Man 2; Anyone But You; The Color Purple; Wish; Guardians of the Galaxy 3; Unseen; John Wick 4; A Good Person; The Super Mario Bros Movie; Paint; Renfield; White Men Can't Jump; The Flash; God is a Bullet; The Passenger; Heart of Stone; Blue Beetle; The Boys in the Boat; It's a Wonderful Knife

Go here to see Favorite Performances of 2023
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1… MAY DECEMBER
Todd Haynes, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13651794/

2… THE QUIET GIRL
Colm Bairéad, Ireland
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15109082/

3… THE OUTWATERS
Robbie Banfitch, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13259610/

4… SHOWING UP
Kelly Reichardt, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13923216/

5… THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
Mike Flanagan / Michael Fimognari, United States *miniseries
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15567174/

6… THE DELINQUENTS
Rodrigo Moreno, Argentina / Brazil / Luxembourg / Chile
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18558306/

7… TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM
Jeff Rowe / Kyler Spears, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8589698/

8… CLOSE
Lukas Dhont, Belgium / Netherlands / France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9660502/

9… AFIRE
Christian Petzold, Germany
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26440619/

10… A THOUSAND AND ONE
A.V. Rockwell, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12427158/

11… LOVE LIFE
Kôji Fukada, Japan / France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18235306/

12… TALK TO ME
Danny and Michael Philippou, Australia / United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10638522/

13… OPPENHEIMER
Christopher Nolan, United States / United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15398776/

14… EILEEN
William Oldroyd, United States / United Kingdom / South Korea
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5198890/

15… KNOCK AT THE CABIN
M. Night Shyamalan, United States / Japan / China
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15679400/

16… BARBIE
Great Gerwig, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517268/

17… JUST. ONE. MILE.
Duane Codrington / Ed Coughlin, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28619147/

18… THANKSGIVING
Eli Roth, United States / Canada / Australia
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1448754/

19… FALLEN LEAVES
Aki Kaurismäki, Finland / Germany
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21027780/

20… POOR THINGS
Yorgos Lanthimos, Ireland / United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14230458/

21… WALK UP
Hong Sang-soo, South Korea
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21404804/

22… PAST LIVES
Celine Song, United States / South Korea
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13238346/

23… AIR
Ben Affleck, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16419074/

24… INFINITY POOL
Brandon Cronenberg, Canada / Croatia / Hungary
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10365998/

25… FERRARI
Michael Mann, United States / United Kingdom / Italy / China
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3758542/

26… NO HARD FEELINGS
Gene Stupnitsky, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15671028/

27… THE KILLER
David Fincher, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136617/

28… NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU
Brian Duffield, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14509110/

29… FAIR PLAY
Chloe Domont, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16304446/

30… BEAU IS AFRAID
Ari Aster, United States / United Kingdom / Finland / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13521006/

31… HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE
Daniel Goldhaber, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21440780/

32… GODZILLA MINUS ONE
Takashi Yamazaki, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23289160/

33… IN WATER
Hong Sang-soo, South Korea
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26448971/

34… ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET.
Kelly Fremon Craig, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9185206/

35… THE HOLDOVERS
Alexander Payne, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14849194/

36… MISSING
Nicholas D. Johnson / Will Merrick, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10855768/

37… WONKA
Paul King, United States / United Kingdom / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6166392/

38… THE BLUE CAFTAN
Maryam Touzani, France / Morocco / Belgium / Denmark
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17679584/

39… KILLERS OF A FLOWER MOON
Martin Scorsese, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5537002/

40… BOTTOMS
Emma Seligman, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17527468/

41… PERFECT DAYS
Wim Wenders, Japan / Germany
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27503384/

42… THE IRON CLAW
Sean Durkin, United States / United KIngdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21064584/

43… SANCTUARY
Zachary Wigon, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15364972/

44… SUITABLE FLESH
Joe Lynch, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21397580/

45… YOU HURT MY FEELINGS
Nicole Holofcener, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15771916/

46… MARRY MY DEAD BODY
Wei-Hao Cheng, Taiwan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22742964/

47… WHEN EVIL LURKS
Demián Rugna, Argentina
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16300962/

48… PRISCILLA
Sofia Coppola, Italy / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22041854/

49… ASTERIOD CITY
Wes Anderson, United States / Germany
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14230388/

50… FLORA AND SON
John Carney, Ireland / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt25471950/

51… EVIL DOES NOT EXIST
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28490044/

52… THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES
Francis Lawrence, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10545296/

53… THE BOY AND THE HERON
Hayao Miyazaki, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6587046/

54… CREED III
Michael B. Jordan, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11145118/

55… THE BOOGEYMAN
Rob Savage, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3427252/

56… EMILY
Frances O'Connor, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12374656/

57… THE CRIME IS MINE
François Ozon, France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20330434/

58… TOTALLY KILLER
Nahnatchka Khan, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11426232/

59… MONSTER
Hirokazu Kore-eda, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23736044/

60… SUZUME
Shinkai Makoto, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16428256/

61… CHAMPIONS
Bobby Farrelly, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15339570/

62… THE BLACKENING
Tim Story, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11703244/

63… SILENT NIGHT
John Woo, United States / Mexico
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15799866/

64… HELL HOUSE LLC ORIGINS: THE CARMICHAEL MANOR
Stephen Cognetti, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22796890/

65… EVIL DEAD RISE
Lee Cronin, Ireland / New Zealand / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13345606/

66… SKINAMARINK
Kyle Edward Ball, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21307994/

67… A HAUNTING IN VENICE
Kenneth Branagh, United States / United Kingdom / Italy
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22687790/

68… FINESTKIND
Brian Helgeland, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7991508/

69… REPTILE
Grant Singer, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13274016/

70… NOWHERE
Albert Pintó, Spain
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15789472/

71… BLACKBERRY
Matt Johnson, Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21867434/

72… M3GAN
Gerard Johnstone, United States / New Zealand
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8760708/

73… ALBERT BROOKS: DEFENDING YOUR LIFE
Rob Reiner, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20274588/

74… MAESTRO
Bradley Cooper, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5535276/

75… YOU ARE SO NOT INVITED TO MY BAT MITZVA
Sammi Cohen, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21276878/

76… THE BURIAL
Maggie Betts, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5648882/

77… SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE
Joaquim Dos Santos / Kemp Powers / Justin K. Thompson, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9362722/

78… THE STRAYS
Nathaniel Martello-White, United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16437278/

79… LUTHER: THE FALLEN SON
Jamie Payne, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3155298/

80… UNTOLD: JOHNNY FOOTBALL
Ryan Duffy, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21805958/

81… ELEMENTAL
Peter Sohn, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15789038/

82… HEIST 88
Menhaj Huda, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7718100/

83… PLEASE DON'T DESTROY: THE TREASURE OF FOGGY MOUNTAIN
Paul Briganti, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21335356/

84… MURDER MYSTERY 2
Jeremy Garelick, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15255288/

85… THE LITTLE MERMAID
Rob Marshall, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5971474/

86… WE HAVE A GHOST
Christopher Landon, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7798604/

87… CHRIS ROCK: SELECTIVE OUTRAGE
Joel Gallen, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23571908/

88… PAIN HUSTLERS
David Yates, United KIngdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15257160/

89… LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND
Sam Esmail, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12747748/

90… OLD DADS
Bill Burr, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18394190/

91… THE MOTHER
Niki Caro, Unitd States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6968614/

92… COCAINE BEAR
Elizabeth Banks, United States / Netherlands / New Zealand / Ireland
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14209916/

93… BYE BYE BARRY
Paul Monusky / Micaela Powers / Angela Torma, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29720239/

94… YOUR PLACE OR MINE
Aline Brosh McKenna, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12823454/

95… THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER
David Gordon Green, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12921446/

96… ORGAN TRAIL
Michael Patrick Jann, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18071972/

97… FEAR
Deon Taylor, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12830948/

98… FAMILY SWITCH
McG, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14227048/

99… PET SEMATARY: BLOOD LINES
Lindsey Anderson Beer, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14145436/

100… CHILDREN OF CORN
Kurt Wimmer, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12311866/

101… MARLOWE
Neil Jordan, Ireland / Spain / France / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6722802/

102… THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CHILDREN
Roxanne Benjamin, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16127696/

103… MEG 2: THE TRENCH
Ben Wheatley, United States / China
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9224104/

104… FOOL'S PARADISE
Charlie Day, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9013340/

105… RETRIBUTION
Nimród Antal, France / Germany / Spain / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6906292/

106… YOU PEOPLE
Kenya Barris, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14826022/

See other current A2P Cinema Lists: