2023 was a strange and demanding year for cinema — twelve months that challenged both the art and the industry and that unfolded very differently than most expected.
After barely recovering from the mandatory shutdowns during the Coronavirus pandemic, studio executives once again tested the patience of the industry. Disputes over pay, working conditions and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in creative work led writers and actors to unite and walk out for five months in a dispute that centered on residuals in the streaming era, fair compensation, and the growing threat of AI being used to generate scripts or replicate actors’ likenesses without appropriate remuneration.
With much of Hollywood production paused for half the year and promotional activity restricted for many films completed before the strikes, the major release calendar felt thinner and less reliable. Big-name franchises and films fronted by household stars were no longer guaranteed to succeed at the box office.
Yet despite these disruptions, 2023 proved to be a strong year for filmmaking. The year delivered impressive blockbusters, distinctive work from daring filmmakers and fresh voices from under-represented communities that brought vibrant new stories to the screen. Based on UK release dates, here are my 10 Best Films of 2023.
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10. You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah Review
2023 was a strong year for films that explore how Gen Z navigates major life moments. This charming, very funny film — featuring several members of the Sandler family and an adorably bumbling Adam Sandler as dad — ranks among the best of those portraits.
Stacy Friedman (Sunny Sandler) is eagerly approaching her 13th birthday and the Bat Mitzvah that marks her coming of age. She’s determined to stage the most memorable celebration possible for her social circle, including her best friend Lydia (Samantha Lorraine). But teenage moods, first crushes and the corrosive effects of social media soon complicate her plans.
In the years since Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade, cinematic depictions of adolescence have shifted to reflect the realities of the always-online era. Sammi Cohen’s film captures that seismic change through a Jewish cultural lens. Alison Peck’s insightful script and a cast of naturalistic performers make this a surprising and emotionally resonant crowd-pleaser.
9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 Review
The third chapter of this unlikely, abrasive superhero team defies expectations and delivers emotionally and visually. James Gunn completes a story that balances dazzling action with real heart.
Years of adventures have left the Guardians at a precarious moment. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is mired in grief and self-medication after losing Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), while Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) must confront a dark past as a bio-engineered test subject. The team must reunite to face threats that go beyond simple intergalactic brawls.
When a director is allowed to finish the story he intended, the result can be unexpectedly bold. This film combines polished visual inventiveness with honest performances and a surprisingly tender center, making it a satisfying conclusion to this chapter of the Guardians’ saga.
8. Broker
Hirokazu Kore-eda proves again that language is no barrier to his humane, observational filmmaking. Broker is a bittersweet exploration of found family and the ethics and emotion surrounding adoption in South Korea.
After her newborn is left in a church “baby box,” young mother Seo-young (Lee Ji-eun) sets off on an unexpected journey with Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) and Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won), two men who arrange adoptions outside the law. Kore-eda balances humor and hard-hitting social commentary, and the film’s humanism is anchored by sympathetic, nuanced performances — especially Song Kang-ho’s quietly devastating turn.
7. One Fine Morning
One Fine Morning Review
Mia Hansen-Løve continues to excel at portraying women navigating longing, disappointment and gradual reorientation. Her latest quietly powerful film centers on a woman trying to reconcile professional life, single parenthood and the growing needs of an ailing parent.
Sandra (Léa Seydoux), a Parisian balancing work and raising her child, faces the strain of her father’s declining health. The film is often difficult to watch because it insists on the honest details of caregiving and loneliness, yet it retains warmth, dry humor and a thread of hope. Seydoux offers one of her best naturalistic performances, supported by a convincing ensemble that brings the character’s world to life.
6. Scrapper
Scrapper Review
Charlotte Regan’s debut feature offers a grounded, affectionate portrait of working-class life that avoids exploitation and sentimentality. It’s funny, honest and full of heart.
After her mother’s death, young Georgie (Lola Campbell) refuses to acknowledge her grief, turning to petty theft and schemes to stay independent while social services loom. When her absentee father (Harris Dickinson) returns after a decade away, both characters must navigate how to live together. The film is anchored by sharp dialogue, lively community detail and impressive performances — Campbell’s subtle, mature turn is particularly striking.
5. Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One Review
Set in the immediate post-WWII period, this Godzilla entry returns the monster to its original role as an embodiment of human-caused catastrophe, while also telling a compelling human story.
A guilt-ridden former pilot (Ryunosuke Kamiki) attempts to rebuild his life in a fragile Tokyo at the same time a newly mutated Godzilla begins to wreak havoc. The film uses its modest budget to achieve striking visual effects and, more importantly, invests in the emotional stakes of its human characters. By making people central to the story, this film gives weight and resonance to Godzilla’s destructive presence.
4. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Adapting Judy Blume’s beloved novel, this film captures the tender confusion of early adolescence in a way that resonates with anyone who remembers being that age.
Margaret (Abby Ryder-Fortson) moves from New York to the suburbs and must navigate new friendships, family faith differences and the anxieties surrounding puberty. Director Kelly Fremon Craig sensitively brings Blume’s candid voice to the screen, avoiding sanitization and giving each character real flaws and warmth. The cast’s authentic performances help the story land as both funny and deeply affecting.
3. Return to Seoul
Return to Seoul Review
Davy Chou’s film examines cultural estrangement through the unpredictable arc of Freddie, a Korean-born woman raised in France who returns to Seoul decades after being given up for adoption. The film is piercingly honest, occasionally abrasive, and powered by an unforgettable lead performance.
Freddie’s experiences across her twenties — marked by success, mistakes and emotional restlessness — make for a story that continually surprises. Park Ji-min’s portrayal gives the character a riveting blend of vulnerability and insolence, keeping the viewer off-balance and deeply engaged.
2. Rye Lane
Rooted firmly in South London, Rye Lane is a small, joyful romantic comedy that brims with character, humor and visual flair.
A chance encounter brings Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah) together after painful breakups. They spend a day wandering through South London, tentatively mending their hearts and discovering a genuine connection. The film’s memorable set pieces and the chemistry between the leads make it a fresh, affectionate take on the modern romcom and mark director Raine Allen-Miller as a filmmaker to watch.
1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Review
Few sequels match the daring of their groundbreaking predecessors, but Across the Spider-Verse expands its world in a darker, more intricate way that leaves you eager for the concluding chapter. This film asks bigger questions about responsibility, identity and the limits of heroism while delivering astonishing animation and dense, character-driven storytelling.
The story follows Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he confronts new threats and enters a sprawling multiverse of Spider-people, from the empathetic Gwen Stacy to the fanatical Spider-Society led by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac). The film’s visual inventiveness — from unique stylistic universes to breathtaking action sequences — coupled with emotional stakes and audacious plotting, places it among the best animated features of recent years.
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The film industry endured another uncertain year, much of it driven by tensions between executives and creative workers over compensation, working conditions and the role of technology. Despite these challenges, filmmakers and performers who care about cinema as an art form persevered, producing powerful, inventive films — particularly in the indie and arthouse spaces — that found appreciative audiences. Here’s hoping 2024 brings greater stability and a renewed focus on storytelling and fair creative practice.