Summary

• New franchises based on old IPs, great sequels, and total originals unite as the best movies of 2023
• 2023 has been a tumultuous year for cinema, defined by strikes and glaring box office disappointments, but there are still gems in this year's crop of releases
• Screen Rant's top movie of 2023 has held the top spot since summer.

Plenty of feature-length releases have come and gone over the past 12 months, but only a lucky few have earned their place among the best movies of 2023. 2023 has proved - if further proof were needed - that the modern movie industry is not for the faint of heart. Theatrical releases that once looked destined to become surefire hits have sunk faster than your bank balance after visiting the theater's snack kiosk, while movies that had no right to succeed whatsoever have cruised to critical and commercial prosperity.

Between The Flash's multiverse misery and Super Mario tossing blue shells at box office records for fun, however, one constant has remained in 2023: a steady stream of quality movie releases. Some may ultimately go on to be considered among the best movies of all time. The best movies of 2023 cater for all tastes and trends, from kooky horror and divisive examinations of human nature to big-budget superhero sci-fi and lute-twiddling fantasy fun. The following list bears no correlation to box office success, nor reflects what we predict will be carrying home gold come awards season, but is simply Screen Rant's best movies of 2023 based on our own personal favorites.

23 M3GAN

Blumhouse horror evolved

It's hard to overstate just how much of a revelation M3GAN proved to be, from a premise easily dismissed as familiar, if not worn out. Start off with an unsettling doll artificially brought to life. Build it into a terrifying premise combining multiple modern fears of loneliness, digital isolation, amoral AI, and of course, old-fashioned killer toys. But what nobody saw coming was its mastery of absurdist comedy on a level reached only by the likes of Netflix's forever-viral I Think You Should Leave.

In every single scene, M3GAN delivers a showcase of what modern horror blockbusters aspire to. But at its very best, it shows just what transcendent experiences are possible when filmmakers and their audience are lock-step through the tension, gore, laughter, and satisfaction of a well-told story. A slasher film giving a bully or jock what's coming to them is nothing new. With M3GAN, the trope is elevated to a master class in uniting an audience against even the film's own leads, until the audience's collective longing to see despicable people punished seems to will it into existence. That is, until all laughter and cheering are replaced by genuine tension, and unsettling gore... at precisely the moment the filmmakers wish it.

Director Gerard Johnstone, writers Akela Cooper and James Wan, and everyone else involved with M3GAN have already taken a victory lap, as the film dominated social media (while still being somehow underappreciated). As outrageous, hilarious, and deranged as it is masterful in horror cinema, M3GAN is, simply, a triumph. - Andrew Dyce, Comics Lead Editor

ScreenRant's M3gan Review Score: 3.5

22 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Not many tossed a coin to this bard

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was one of the most unexpectedly delightful movies of 2023. It wasn't exactly a box office hit - grossing only $208.2 million in the box office - but it had heart, and is sure to become a cult classic. The plot is a traditional fantasy one, a simple quest in which a group of scoundrels works to right wrongs - and discover the truth about their own nature to boot, becoming heroes. This quest takes an intrepid band of adventurers into countless classic D&D locations, meaning the story is absolutely packed with Easter eggs.

Chris Pine is the perfect choice as Edgin, presenting as a would-be hero who's lost his idealism due to personal tragedy - but, of course, who gets it back. There's an excellent dynamic between Pine and Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Edgin's sidekick Holga, and the dynamic between the wizard Simon (Justice Smith) and the magical shapeshifter Doric (Sophia Lillis) is just as enjoyable. Hugh Grant absolutely revels as the conman Forge, and Daisy Head is spectacular as the Red Wizard Sofina. Everything comes together into an almost perfect fantasy adventure, making Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves a joy to watch. - Tom Bacon, Lead Star Wars Editor

ScreenRant's Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Review Score: 3.5

21 Nimona

An underrated Netflix animated treat

Between Spidey dominance, Pixar’s Elemental mounting an almighty box office comeback, and DreamWorks still enjoying the benefits of Puss In Boots 2’s slow-burn success, 2023 has been a crowded year for animation. With so many big-hitters in town, smaller animations needed something truly exceptional to stand out, and Nimona’s quality brilliantly shone through a crowded market. Based on the ND Stevenson graphic novel and released on Netflix, Nimona’s digital animation and cel-shading stand up to any of the aforementioned releases. The unique art style successfully wrings every drop of emotion and nuance from the central performances of Chloë Grace Moretz as Nimona herself and Riz Ahmed as Ballister.

Nimona could have very easily gone very wrong. The mashup of modern technology and traditional fantasy looked risky enough, but maintaining the graphic novel’s mature subtext in a bright, fun, exuberant movie adaptation added a not inconsiderable challenge on top. Nimona succeeds on both counts, perfectly bringing its anachronistic setting to life, while weaving real-world messages and LGBTQ+ themes into an accessible and immensely enjoyable tale for all ages.

Nimona’s triumph is made even more impressive when taking its difficult production into . Caught in the crossfire of Disney acquiring 20th Century Fox, Nimona almost didn’t see the light of day at all. In some strange way, that underdog struggle exemplifies the qualities that set Nimona apart from traditional animated movies. Through its spiky visuals and Moretz’s portrayal, Nimona gives the overriding impression that it enjoys being the outlier - a subversive, chaotic, punk rock movie that shakes the status quo and makes no apologies. 2023’s movie slate is all the better for Nimona's boldness. - Craig Elvy, Jr. Lead Features Editor

ScreenRant's Nimona Review Score: 4.5

20 Rye Lane

A vibrant & modern London love story

Rye Lane is Before Sunrise as directed by Richard Curtis, only made for Gen-Z (and with far greater diversity). It may not quite reach the same dizzying highs as Richard Linklater's classic, but its story of two strangers (here that's David Jonsson's Dom and Vivian Oparah's Yas) who meet, spend a day together, and end up falling in love carries a lot of the same spirit and spark. The opposites-attract pair add something to the other and help them realize more about themselves; the scrapes they get into along the way are often hilarious, but always imbued with warmth and sweetness.

Rye Lane's cast is uniformly excellent, right down to one distracting-yet-delightful cameo that nods to British rom-com history (and especially its Curtis influences), but it's Jonsson and Oparah who are the clear stars: each of them gives a performance that deserves to be the breakout role of a much bigger career. The script from Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia doesn't deviate too much from the formula you'd expect, but finds enough new ways to spin the old classics that it works like a charm, while Raine Allen-Miller's direction is particularly impressive. There's a real sense of energy, some clever stylistic flourishes, and most importantly constant bursts of color that make the film truly pop and always keeps it engaging.

Another big part of that is its setting. It uses its Brixton and Peckham locations incredibly well, capturing a real slice of community and neighborhood life that's not been as explored in romantic comedies, and it makes the story feel so much more alive. It nails its sense of place so well, in fact, that not even Screen Rant's Alex Leadbeater could complain about its London geography (and trust me, there is truly no higher compliment for a movie set in that city). Rye Lane certainly isn't the biggest movie of 2023, but this charming, heartfelt film deserves to be talked about right alongside them as one of the best. - James Hunt, Deputy Lead Features Editor

ScreenRant's Rye Lane Review Score: 4

19 Creed III

Finally, a good third Rocky movie

Creed III brings Michael B. Jordan back to the ring as Adonis Creed, who must come out of retirement to battle a childhood friend-turned-enemy named Damian Anderson, played by Jonathan Majors. With the popularity of Sylvester Stallone and Rocky Balboa, many worried when it was announced that the Oscar-nominated star would not appear in Creed III, even in a cameo capacity. Thankfully, Adonis Creed was able to step out of Stallone's shadow, proving that the franchise can continue after Rocky's satisfying ending in Creed II.

As expected, Creed III manages to provide audiences with yet another action-packed sports drama. But the emotional performances from the cast, representation for the ASL community, and the approach to sensitive topics such as the criminal justice system and family trauma allow Creed III to become one of the best movies of 2023. In doing so, the Creed series achieves a feat that Rocky never managed by landing three critically-acclaimed hits in a row. - Christopher Fiduccia, Operations Specialist

ScreenRant's Creed III Review Score: 3.5

18 BlackBerry

Take that, Nokia!

Between The Social Network and Jobs, Hollywood is developing a serious appetite for dramatizing what Silicon Valley was up to in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but whereas Facebook and Apple both remain extremely pertinent to audiences in 2023, the BlackBerry was not so lucky, going the way of MySpace and MSN Messenger. Any fears that this would prove detrimental to Matt Johnson's BlackBerry movie proved unfounded, as the dramedy romped to substantial critical acclaim. BlackBerry's cause is perhaps helped by the lack of a "based on a true story" pretense.

Although the story chronicles the creation of the titular famous cellphone and its fiddly little keyboard, BlackBerry's tale bears very little correlation to real life, and is all the better for it, gaining a creative edge that traditional tech biopics lack. All fun and wit aside, BlackBerry delivers a taut critical undercurrent aimed at tech bros and the chaotic, rapid development of cellphones into a tenet of modern society. Anchoring everything is Glen Howerton as Jim Balsillie, who delivers a standout performance and provides BlackBerry with both its dramatic backbone and its very best comic flourishes. - Craig Elvy, Jr. Lead Features Editor

ScreenRant's BlackBerry Review Score: 2.5

17 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Michael who?

Sometimes, nostalgia is enough. But it's not enough for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, because Jeff Rowe's instantly excellent new take on the long-running TMNT franchise aims for a lot more. Like The Super Mario Bros Movie, Mutant Mayhem strides confidently into well-established lore with the swagger only fan creators can manage, proving quickly that Rowe's team are the right one for the job. The animation is incredible, the characters well-rounded (and lacking the all-too-familiar sardonic edge of other adaptations), and the movie is a whole lot of fun.

On top of the beautiful look and the smart, transformative story (which changes origins, villains, and the whole TMNT world by its end), Mutant Mayhem's cast is a veritable who's who of top tier talent. The Turtles themselves are relatable, Jackie Chan's Splinter is a hilarious, neurotic (and weirdly horny) twist on the original, and the final tease of Shredder appearing in the inevitable sequel is a great cherry on top. This is what animation should be: unifying for families, without pandering; fun without being silly; a great time, basically. - Simon Gallagher, Managing Editor

ScreenRant's TMNT: Mutant Mayhem Review Score: 3.5

16 Scream VI

Scream becomes the (Ghost)face of legacy horror

It's remarkable to see a franchise remain relevant for nearly three decades, but it's even more impressive when that franchise is a slasher horror on its sixth installment. Not only did Scream 6 make its biggest splash at the box office in the series' history, but the franchise seems more popular now than ever before. While Scream 5 ushered new life into the series, the 2023 entry justified the notion that new Scream movies can still honor its predecessors while also elevating its meta-awareness to discuss the landscape of horror, and Hollywood as a whole.

Scream 6 ditched the nostalgic setting of Woodsboro and elected for uncharted territory by giving Ghostface a new playground in the form of New York City. The kills were more inventive and the stakes grew higher. The absence of Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott would be a detriment to any movie in the Scream franchise, but the "Core Four," specifically Melissa Barrera’s Sam Carpenter, gave new meaning to what it takes to be a survivor at the hands of Ghostface. Throw in complicated family dynamics and Scream 6 used her questionable mental state as a wildcard, setting up a Final Girl that would be far different than anything this franchise has seen before. - Kara Hedash, Jr. Lead Features Editor

ScreenRant's Scream VI Review Score: 3.5

15 The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Fun for all the family, even with Chris Pratt

When you look back, the furore surrounding Chris Pratt's casting as Mario in The Super Mario Bros Movie based on his voice was all a bit silly. Mario's voice matters as much as James Bond's skin regime or Black Widow's driving record: sure, someone might be interested, but in the grand scheme of things, it simply does not impact the quality of the movie. And even with the complaints in mind, Pratt's vocal performance is good. It makes Mario feel less cartoonish, which, given this is a cartoon, is an impressive achievement.

The question that $1.5bn's worth of people wanted The Super Mario Bros Movie to answer was whether it was good, and whether it represented a good investment of time and money for a family. That's why the hand-wringing over the fact that it wasn't The LEGO Movie never made any sense: not everything needs to be a grown-up experience with heavy themes that helps adults feel better about watching animation. Not everything has to be clevered up. Sometimes it's enough to see a little plumber man rescue his brother and save a kingdom from a pantomime villain who really wants some interspecies romance.

The Super Mario Bros Movie is excellent fun, drenched in Nintendo nostalgia in exactly the right way to piss off Twitter s who lose their heads typing things like "memberberries" unironically. It does absolutely everything you'd want from a Mario movie, and scores double points for being nothing like the Bob Hoskins led monstrosity from 1993. It's also a reminder that making movies for kids is a smart financial decision, because in the immortal words of Ned Schneebly, the children really are the future. - Simon Gallagher, Managing Editor

ScreenRant's Super Mario Bros Movie Review Score: 3

14 May December

A late Oscars contender from Netflix

May December is an incredibly tricky story to tell on paper, as it follows an actress studying a woman she is set to play in an project who is known for having an affair with a middle-schooler. If that sounds like it could be a bit awkward and melodramatic, that’s because that is exactly what May December turns out to be. However, Todd Haynes uses those feelings to his advantage to deliver a gripping drama examining the nature of performance, fame, romance, and much more.

For as serious and difficult as its subject matter can be at times, there is more fun to be had with May December than expected. The film has an off-kilter comedic sense to it, leading to many criticisms of it being overly campy, but that humorous tone is necessary and adds to the uncomfortable feeling that comes. It puts audiences in a position where the laughter feels like a natural release in an unnatural situation. This is often aided by a phenomenal score by Marcelo Zarvos.

The film excels in large part thanks to Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton all offering unique and engaging performances. Whether it's the quiet unhappiness of Joe, Grace’s obsessive personality (including about the number of hot dogs they have for a party), or Elizabeth falling too deeply into her research, each character is memorable. All three rightfully have received Oscar buzz, with Melton’s breakthrough performance standing out specifically. - Cooper Hood, Theatrical Features Editor

ScreenRant's May December Review Score: 4