Good day to you. My name is Luis A. Mendez. I’m a film critic based in Central Florida, and these are my PERSONAL top 20 favorites from the year 2023 in film. If a favorite of yours from the year is missing from this list, chances are I probably liked it, I just happened to have liked at least 20 films a little more.
I’ve shared my top picks for this year a few times already, but with the year quickly coming to a close, I wanted to take a step back and really lock in my thoughts on what I consider the best films of each year in the 2020s so far. That meant doing some re-watches, going through every single Letterboxd log from each year, and seeing whether my original grades still held up or needed adjusting for any one movie. I also put together a new version of my personal awards ballot for this year in film, which I published quietly, without sending it to the readers’ inboxes, so I wouldn’t flood anyone’s email with too much “Best of” movie talk from just one year.
2023 proved to be an admirable follow-up to 2022; so much so that, boosted by that summer’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, some would argue it was an even stronger year for cinema. The only major downside came from the industry-wide strikes, which led to delays for several high-profile releases and stagnated that year’s awards race. On a personal level, it was a difficult year for me, as I was going through a trial separation from my wife, something that inevitably influenced my viewing habits. As a result, a clear throughline emerged among my favorites from the year with a mix of works that examined serious subjects balanced by some hopeless romantic stories.
I should note that some passages here are rewritten almost exactly as I originally wrote them in my original year-end list for 2023. Now without further adieu here are my choices:
20. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
By the time we hit 2023, it was starting to become obvious that the MCU was losing the unstoppable momentum it had seemingly reached towards the end of the 2010s. One genuine ray of hope for the cinematic universe this particular year was Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, once again helmed by James Gunn, who has proven himself a master storyteller when it comes to juggling large ensembles of comic-book characters that would overwhelm lesser writer-directors. With Rocket Raccoon at the heart of its story, and one of the most hateable movie villains of the year, Gunn delivered a satisfying conclusion to one of the best sci-fi trilogies in film; and the only MCU movie of the year to receive widespread critical praise.
19. Air
Ben Affleck’s latest directorial venture, Air, tells the story of how Nike landed the deal with Michael Jordan that would go on to launch a shoe empire still dominating both the market and pop culture today. Featuring a strong ensemble, including Affleck himself, Matt Damon, Chris Tucker, and the one and only Viola Davis, this is a tightly paced film that somehow makes a corporate deal feel exciting and fun to watch unfold. My screening audience was laughing throughout and fully engaged, which is really all you can ask from a straightforward crowd-pleaser like this one.
18. The Burial
One of the biggest surprises of this year came from this straight-to-streamer dramedy, in which Jamie Foxx plays real-life mega-lawyer Willie E. Gary and recounts his successful lawsuit against a funeral company that tried to shut down the business of a small-town Mississippi funeral director. The Burial’s ability to bounce between comedy and drama is only enhanced by Foxx delivering his best performance since his Oscar-winning turn in Ray twenty years ago. It’s a pure crowd-pleaser that does exactly what it sets out to do, leaving you laughing and smiling by the time the credits roll.
17. The Caine Mutiny Court Martial
Speaking of courtroom dramas. Director William Friedkin sadly left this plane of existence in 2023, but he was able to provide us with one final film in his interpretation of the play that serves as a companion piece to the original court-martial in The Caine Mutiny. Ironically, this also gives us one of the final roles from the late Lance Reddick, appearing as the chief judge. While clearly made for TV as a Showtime original, the ensemble here, led by Jason Clarke as the conflicted defense attorney, and Kiefer Sutherland doing his best Humphrey Bogart impression from the 1954 source material, held my attention throughout the testimonies and cross-examinations. And keep in mind, I already knew how things were going to turn out, having seen the 1954 film! I’m a sucker for a good courtroom drama, and The Caine Mutiny Court Martial hit all the right spots for me in that regard for 2023.
16. The Killer
David Fincher’s The Killer places us squarely inside the head of one as he seeks retribution after a botched hit led to a loved one getting hurt - all while insisting that it’s nothing personal. With incredible sound design and sharply staged fight scenes, Michael Fassbender’s narration and performance kept me fully engaged as this cold-blooded, hyper-efficient assassin moves from target to target with almost no visible emotion. As he continually and chillingly reminds himself throughout, “Stick to your plan. Anticipate, don’t improvise. Trust no one. Never yield an advantage. Fight only the battle you’re paid to fight. Forbid empathy.”
15. Creed III
Elephant in the room regarding Jonathan Majors’ off-screen issues which arose in 2023 aside, it’s honestly kind of a miracle that the Rocky franchise has been successfully followed up by a spin-off centered on Apollo Creed’s son and his own journey as a boxer. Creed III finds protagonist Adonis grappling with his past as it returns in the form of a former friend who has spent years behind bars and is now looking to win the World Heavyweight Championship, just as Adonis himself is preparing to step away from the ring. Michael B. Jordan doesn’t just star here; he also makes his directorial debut, showing impressive promise behind the camera with innovative fight choreography that helps the film stand out not only from the other entries in the Creed series, but even from the original Rocky films as well.
14. John Wick: Chapter 4
2014’s John Wick spawned one of the best action franchises in modern cinema, and with its fourth entry the series takes things to another level from a technical standpoint. Featuring some of the best cinematography of the year and a fitting conclusion for its tragic protagonist, John Wick: Chapter 4 delivers nearly three hours of almost non-stop action and thrills. Highlights include an incredible finale that features one of the year’s most strikingly shot sequences, with the camera seemingly levitating above the chaos like a top-down video game shooter; not to mention a stairway set piece that had my theater audience gasping at the turn it takes halfway through. Add in a charismatic Donnie Yen and Bill Skarsgård once again delivering a strong turn as the villain, and you have a film that brings the series full circle with a quadrilogy destined to become action classics.
13. Wonka
Paul King’s work on the two Paddington films are masterstrokes in how to adapt a children’s IP for the screen. So when he took on the task of crafting a prequel musical about how Willy Wonka built his chocolate empire, many (myself included) wondered if he was getting in over his head. While he doesn’t quite capture the magic of the Paddington films with his latest venture, Wonka, he still manages to deliver another delightful, whimsical tale the entire family can enjoy. With a strong ensemble featuring Timothée Chalamet as Wonka himself and Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa, along with a catchy, well-crafted soundtrack, this has the potential to become a future classic that could even climb my rankings with time. King has truly proven himself to be the go-to filmmaker for wholesome, colorful family entertainment.
12. The Holdovers
We kick off the entry into what I would consider my personal expanded Best Picture ballot for this year with an actual Oscar Best Picture nominated film that has already seemingly become a modern holiday classic in The Holdovers. Alexander Payne’s latest features Paul Giamatti in one of the best performances of his career, Da’Vine Joy Randolph delivering one of the year’s strongest supporting turns that won her an Oscar, and a true breakout role for Dominic Sessa. Styled and paced like an old-school seventies dramedy, this crowd-pleaser follows a universally disliked teacher forced to supervise the students left behind over Christmas break, only for an unexpected bond to form between him and one particularly wayward student.
11. American Fiction
Continuing the countdown with more Best Picture nominated films is American Fiction. This surprise hit became such a festival favorite that it routinely walked away with audience awards. Jeffrey Wright delivers what may be the best performance of his career as a down-on-his-luck writer whose parody of Black “struggle” novels becomes an accidental bestseller that’s taken seriously, while Sterling K. Brown nearly steals the film as his brother. The result is a comedy that lands big laughs while also asking weighty questions about race, identity, and art. It’s an energetic blend of over-the-top humor, sometimes veering into politically incorrect territory, and heartfelt family drama; and it marked a hugely promising start for what debut director Cord Jefferson may bring to the screen in his future efforts.
10. Saltburn
The year prior, I was a major champion of the morally questionable, overindulgent fun that was Babylon. For 2023, I found myself equally captivated by Emerald Fennell’s latest, Saltburn. The film follows a troubled young man invited to spend the summer with the eccentric family of the most popular classmate - only for the story to take a dark, unsettling turn in the third act that will shock some and enthrall others. It’s a twisted take on My Man Godfrey, with a wealthy family welcoming an outsider who is far from what they expect. Everything builds to a final scene that will make you truly appreciate Barry Keoghan’s acting chops in a way you may not have before. I respected more than liked Fennell’s debut film, Promising Young Woman, but I was much more on board with this more divisive follow-up from her.
09. Poor Things
The film that arguably was the runner-up for the Best Picture Oscar in 2023, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, is a feminist steampunk fairy tale with a dash of gothic sci-fi. The Oscar winning Emma Stone gives the year’s best lead female performance for my money as Bella, a baby whose brain has been transplanted into her deceased mother’s body, as we follow her journey of self-discovery, womanhood, and autonomy. The film features considerable nudity and sexual content, but beyond that, it plays like a naughty coming-of-age period piece with Wes Anderson–like aesthetics; a movie that could easily become a must-watch for future filmmakers. The supporting cast is equally strong; Willem Dafoe as a Frankenstein-esque scientist, Mark Ruffalo as a cad who unravels as Bella asserts her independence, Kathryn Hunter as an eccentric brothel owner, and Ramy Youssef as a young town doctor in love with Bella, serving as the audience’s point of view.
08. Elemental
Pixar’s Elemental offers a romantic tale that explores the blending of cultures, racism, bigotry, inter-race relationships, and family - all within a quirky world of living elements. Many would argue that Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse was this year’s best animated feature, but for my money, this was the standout; and from a studio that has given us countless classics. Elemental is proof that Disney can still deliver original storytelling with heart and a message when they fully commit to the quality of the film; something I wish their other animated release from the year had more of.
07. The Iron Claw
One of the most tragic stories in pro wrestling is that of the Von Erich family, whose legendary wrestling lineage was cut short by a series of accidents and misfortunes. The Iron Claw features one of the year’s best ensembles, anchored by Zac Efron delivering what may be the finest performance of his career as Kevin, the sole surviving Von Erich. Any fan of the intersection between performance and sport will appreciate what director Sean Durkin achieved with this tale of wrestling, brotherhood, and tragedy; all while leaving a glimmer of hope by the end. I once read a fellow critic describe this as “Little Women for Men”, and I have to say the comparison is apropos.
06. Maestro
Bradley Cooper’s second directorial feature, the Best Picture nominated Maestro, has been dismissed by some as obvious Oscar bait and by others as just another throwaway biopic about the Bernsteins; I couldn’t disagree more. At its core, this is a movie about a marriage - the whirlwind of courtship, the realities of a long-term partnership, and ultimately what “until death do us part” really looks like. Cooper delivers what I consider the best male performance of the year, Carey Mulligan may well turn in her finest work as well, and the direction and cinematography are stunning. On a personal note, my own experience of this year regarding life partnerships made this film hit me especially hard, leaving me fighting back tears by the time the credits rolled. This is a beautiful, moving work, and I dare say Cooper should direct more often than he has.
05. The Taste Of Things
In a very strong year for international cinema, many were upset when France chose this over the eventual Best Picture nominated Anatomy Of A Fall as their International submission, but my hot take is that I think they picked the better film. Foodies will be in heaven, treated to long, immersive scenes of food being prepared, cooked, and discussed around the dining table. At its heart, it’s also a romantic story about two life partners bound together by their culinary collaboration; impressively performed, especially considering the leads are exes in real life. One major word of caution though is that whatever you do, don’t watch this on an empty stomach. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I mean it, watch this with a full belly.
04. The Color Purple
We are now entering the part of the countdown where we’ve reached what Id call my absolute favorites of the year. Unlike its eighties predecessor, the musical film adaptation (which can also be seen as a semi-remake) of The Color Purple barely received any major awards mentions in 2023. It was the most frustrating thing for me to watch unfold that awards season. At its heart, it’s a story of sisterhood, set to a soulful soundtrack that left me feeling like I’d just come from church after my first viewing. The ensemble is this year’s strongest, with a powerhouse (and personal Supporting winner for the year) Danielle Brooks as Sofia, Taraji P. Henson’s magnetic Shug Avery, and Fantasia Barrino captivating as our protagonist, Celie. Colman Domingo’s Mister and Corey Hawkins’ Harpo are also noteworthy. The film tackles heavy themes while providing moments of levity, making me laugh and cry in equal measure.
03. Killers Of The Flower Moon
What could have ended up being the final film from the maestro himself, Martin Scorsese, Killers Of The Flower Moon is an epic three-and-a-half-hour Western true-crime tragedy, chronicling the systematic hunting of a group of people while those sworn to protect them looked the other way. Lily Gladstone is the heart of the film as Molly, and Robert De Niro delivers one of his best performances in years as the real-life villain William Hale. Leonardo DiCaprio is excellent as our troubled protagonist, Jesse Plemons shines in the final act, and a remarkable ensemble of character actors fully transports you to twenties Oklahoma. I originally had this closer to number ten than in my top three of the year, but the film has only grown in stature over time with me, especially as I’ve witnessed the public increasingly shrug at modern evils. In that context, Scorsese adds yet another masterpiece to his already extraordinary body of work; a film clearly destined to stand the test of time.
02. Oppenheimer
The major pop-culture moment in movies for 2023 was the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, when Barbie and Oppenheimer released on the same day and together grossed over two billion dollars. The former making massive cash was expected, but Oppenheimer is, to me, the true box-office story of that year, given the perception that films like this no longer have drawing power. While I personally wasn’t a fan of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (sorry to the readers who were hoping to see it on this countdown), I was absolutely amazed by what Christopher Nolan accomplished with Oppenheimer. It rightfully swept many Oscar prizes, including Best Picture and giving Robert Downey JR an Oscar for what I also consider the best male supporting performance of that year. This is my generation’s Lawrence of Arabia; an epic historical biopic with over seventy speaking roles, chronicling a man who changed the world and the monster he inadvertently unleashed that came to haunt him. This is an incredible achievement that will be taught in film schools and has been embraced by mainstream audiences; something few twenty-first century Best Picture winners can claim. In most other years, this would easily be my top film of the year. But, as it happens, another monster that J. Robert Oppenheimer accidentally created surpassed him…
01. Godzilla Minus One
Anyone who knows me knows how much the Godzilla franchise means to me. Admittedly, my love for the Monsterverse films of this era comes with the caveat that they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, as is true for many iterations of the iconic creature. But Godzilla Minus One didn’t just surpass 2016’s Shin Godzilla in awards recognition, but even the revered 1954 original in critical acclaim and audience support. Seeing a Godzilla movie enter the Letterboxd Top 250, earn IMDb scores rivaling Oppenheimer, show up in groups like Critics Choice for Best Foreign Language Film, and actually win an Oscar in Visual Effects is a dream come true for any hardcore fan. The film itself is a masterpiece. It returns Godzilla to his roots as a symbol of the atomic bomb while delivering the most meaningful human story in any of these films, exploring themes of life over sacrifice, found family, and confronting past trauma. In a two-hour runtime, Godzilla appears for only about ten minutes, but every moment he appears is terrifying, and the finale feels like a perfect mix of Jaws meets Dunkirk. This is exactly the Godzilla film I’ve dreamed of if tasked with rebooting the franchise. Director Takashi Yamazaki crafted what may be the best film in the franchise, and for me, easily my favorite film of 2023.
