10 Movies That Had Us Running to Cinemas in 2023
The titles you should have seen by now.
(SPOT.ph) As the curtains close in 2023, we're throwing you back to everything cinema that we loved from the year that was. From jaw-dropping blockbusters to indie gems that tug at your heartstrings, this year's movie lineup has been nothing short of spectacular. We're serving up the ultimate reel deal—a round up of the best things we saw on the big screen this year. Buckle up, cinephiles. Bring out all your feels. Check out our picks for the best films released in theaters this 2023.
Also read:
10 QCinema 2023 Movies We're Most Excited to See
The 21st Century’s Most Notable MMFF Movies
Here are our top picks for Movies released in 2023:
Barbie
Release date: July 2023
Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera
Why we love this flick: It goes without saying Barbie is undoubtedly one of the biggest releases of 2023 worldwide. The movie struck a lot of chords with its all-too-real portrayal of the female struggle, or generally, just the struggle of being. From the silliness of Barbieland to the all too real America Ferrera monologue on being a woman today, Barbie is an unserious serious movie. This Greta Gerwig flick should be a masterclass in taking a well-known franchise and giving it a modern spin without feeling forced.
Also, we dare you to find a better Barbie than Margot Robbie. This is the hill we will die on.
Also read: I am Ken-ough + More Truths I Learned From the Barbie Movie
Oppenheimer
Release date: July 2023
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey, Jr.
Why we love this flick: The second half of July 2023's Barbenheimer weekend is also on our list. Even if you're not a fan of historical films, you're bound to like Oppenheimer for its take on the life of the man who created the world's deadliest weapon. See Robert Oppenheimer's struggle with concepts of loyalty, the value of life, and his own personal philosophies versus fame and glory in this star-studded biographical cinematic masterpiece.
If not for the reasons stated above, just watch this film because it was made by Christopher Nolan, nuff said.
Also read: MOVIE REVIEW: Oppenheimer Is a Combination of Genius and Madness
Rookie
Release date: August 2023
Cast: Pat Tingjuy, Aya Fernandez, Agot Isidro
Why we love this flick: We needed a modern queer love story this 2023, and thank God Samantha Lee and Natt Jadaone were able to deliver. In a cinematic landscape where Sapphic narratives often navigate the stormy seas of complex LGBTQIA+ issues, this gem is a breath of fresh air, offering a straightforward, kilig-filled girl-meets-girl plot. Sure, the relationship might have progressed far too quickly to be realistic, but hey, that's the whirlwind magic of women-loving-women tales. Rookie is your ticket to a feel-good ride through the highs and lows of young queer love. Don't miss the Ferrero-filled, relatable moments and a genuine portrayal that breaks out of heteronormativity. It's not just a rom-com; it's a celebration of love that the world needs more of.
Also read: MOVIE REVIEW: Rookie Is the Sapphic Rom-Com We've Been Waiting For
Past Lives
Release date: August 2023
Cast: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro
Why we love this flick: We've all had our what-ifs, and that's something Past Lives capitalizes on. This cinematic masterpiece, one told through glances and unspoken dialogue, whispers the profound truth about our one irreplaceable life at a time when Hollywood and the film industry is obsessed with the multiverse. Past Lives is an antithesis to the multiverse theory. It's a contemplation on the human experience of pondering the what-ifs and navigating the consequences of our choices. Celine Song's debut film really hit it out of the park. Moreover, Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro's portrayals of their flawed-but-oh-so-reals characters are so rich and relatable that you'll find yourself immersed in their complexities.
Also read: MOVIE REVIEW: Past Lives Is an Emotional Reflection on Love, Regret, and Living Our One Life
Iti Mapukpukaw
Release date: August 2023
Cast: Dolly De Leon, Carlo Aquino, Gio Gahol
Why we love this flick: Iti Mapukpukaw is Cinemalaya's Best Picture and our entry to the 2023 Oscars. If that's not enough reason for you to watch it then we don't know what else to tell you. As Cinemalaya's first full-length animated flick and with an almost wholly Ilocano dialogue, it had a lot riding on it. But it also had a powerhouse cast and an intriguing storyline—one that centered on dealing with trauma—to help it float. Iti Mapukpukaw is unique in more ways than one, and if you're itching to watch just one Filipino movie this year, let it be this one.
Also read: MOVIE REVIEW: Iti Mapukpukaw Is an Insightful Take on Trauma and Healing
A Very Good Girl
Release date: September 2023
Cast: Dolly De Leon, Kathryn Bernardo
Why we love this flick: If you need a reminder that Kathryn Bernardo is a powerhouse actress loveteam or no loveteam, then watch A Very Good Girl. In her return to the big screen since 2019's heartbreaking Hello, Love, Goodbye, Kathryn Bernardo announces that she doesn't need any man to make a bangin' film—she's just that good. Plus, she also gets to prove her acting chops alongside another powerhouse, Dolly De Leon. But it's not all about Kathryn and Dolly, A Very Good Girl is a very good movie outside of its cast. It paints a dark but real picture of society and how our desire for power can corrupt. Plus, it also doesn't hurt that the film has stunning visuals to accompany the complex and dark storyline.
Also read: Dolly de Leon Proves Why She's "Mother" in the Official Trailer for A Very Good Girl
Poor Things
Release date: October 2023
Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, William Dafoe
Why we love this flick: Artsy but accessible. These are the words that best describe Yorgos Lanthimos' dark comedy Poor Things. Set in Victorian England, the story follows a resurrected girl who, amidst the great constraints of her time embarks on a journey to find and discover her true self. Don't expect to go ha-ha laughing at this film, but if you've got a penchant for thoughts-inducing, morally moot stories, then this one is for you.
The Marvels
Release date: November 2023
Cast: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Samuel L. Jackson, Zawe Ashton, Park Seo-joon
Why we love this flick: Of course, we had to include a superhero film, and well, The Marvels is as good as it gets in 2023. Don't get us wrong, we had a lot of fun watching this. It's everything you would expect from a Marvel-slash-Disney superhero flick, but still, it pales in comparison to the superhero flicks of Marvel's golden age. But if it had one saving grace, it proved that with the right storytelling, people are still into superhero movies.
The Marvels was never about being the best superhero movie out there, it was about setting up the franchise for the next big thing and if you look at it that way, then this is really the best superhero flick of 2023.
Also read: MOVIE REVIEW: Superhero Fatigue, What? The Marvels Proves the MCU Is Here to Stay
Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Release date: November 2023
Cast: Rachel Zegler, Tom Blythe, Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis
Why we love this flick: With all the craziness that's happening in the real world, there was never a time when we could relate to the dystopia of the Hunger Games. Sadly, the last flick from the franchise was released over eight years ago and a lot of young adults nowadays either don't know about it or were far too young to really understand it. Just as the world needed a reminder of what could go wrong when the wrong people are in power, we got the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. If you were too young to really understand what the Hunger Games stood for back in 2015, this is your modern-day wake-up call. This is remembering who the real enemy is—real or not real?
Wonka
Release date: December 2023
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan Michael-Key, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant,
Why we love this flick: Wonka takes the familiar mischievous and slightly psychopathic titular character and breathes a new life into it. More than just a backstory to the genius of Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wonka gives this generation of children a fantastical, Mary Poppins-like character who encourages them to turn their dreams into a reality. TBH, Timothée Chalamet's Wonka made us forget all the crazy, murderous, and questionable things Willy Wonka has done in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—it's that good.
Also read: MOVIE REVIEW: Timothée Chalamet's Wonka Is Less Psychopath, More Mary Poppins
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