15 Best Movies of 2023 So Far

It’s the mid-point of the year, which means it’s time for our semiannual pop culture check up. Today, we offer up our list of 2023’s best movies so far. Also check out our ranking of the best albums of the year to date, and stay tuned for more rankings throughout the week.

June is always an intriguing time to check in on the best films of the year so far. It precedes awards season, and so the heavy-hitters we’re expecting to dominate the conversation later in the year — like Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon or Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part Two — have yet to debut. But throughout spring and early summer, we’ve still been able to see some great films, from genre-bending epics to character-driven dramas to unconventional superhero tales — to the point where we had to expand this list from the original 10 to 15 picks (especially after seeing a certain animated arachnid person return to the big screen).

There are, as mentioned, big serious films coming this year, but so far 2023 has given us some great stories about people living their lives as best they can, no matter what obstacles they might face. Those obstacles include intergalactic threats, past boyfriends, corrupt business deals, serial killers, systemic racism, bad mothers, the onset of puberty, and killer robots. So, you know, a pretty normal year for film.

— Liz Shannon Miller
Senior Entertainment Editor

15. Scream VI

Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Written by: James Vanderbilt, Guy Busick
Cast: Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Mason Gooding, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Jenna Ortega, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, Samara Weaving, Hayden Panettiere, Courteney Cox

In this era of remakes and never-ending film franchises, sometimes sequels aren’t necessary — but they can be a lot of fun. Scream VI continues where things left off in 2022’s Scream, with Ghostface coming back to haunt Sam and Tara Carpenter (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega) in New York City. This time, though, things get a bit weird, as the killer plays by a different set of rules, incorporating past murders from the franchise’s own mythology into the slaying. The film also sees the return of reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panetierre), who survived the Woodsboro murders in Scream 4. At this point, it’s hard for a Scream movie to avoid feeling a little predictable when it comes to the reveal of Ghostface’s identity, but the franchise’s satirical strengths — as well as some well-executed chase sequences — never get old. – Sun Noor

14. Chevalier

Chevalier (Searchlight Pictures)

Directed by: Stephen Williams
Written by: Stefani Robinson
Cast: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Marton Csokas, Alex Fitzalan, Minnie Driver

While it isn’t completely free of biopic tropes, this solid recounting of the life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) offers up a fascinating lens on a largely forgotten but important figure from the world of classical music. Anchored by Harrison Jr.’s solid performance and a script by Stefani Robinson (Atlanta, What We Do in the Shadows) that ably makes the man’s life relatable to a modern audience, Chevalier is exactly the sort of biopic we should see more of, if only as a corrective for the way history has treated people of color for centuries. — L.S. Miller

13. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Disney)

Directed by: James Gunn
Written by: James Gunn
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Linda Cardellini, Nathan Fillion, Sylvester Stallone

As his final farewell before going off to spearhead the Distinguished Competition, James Gunn reminds everyone what a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie should be. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is big on heart, creative in action, and tight on character. The nature of the space-faring ensemble piece means not every character is going to feel fully fleshed, but the way Gunn is able to build a profound story of found family off the back of Rocket Raccoon — even with the character unconscious for the majority of the film — brings the whole group’s arc to a satisfying conclusion. Plus, the CGI is way easier on the eyes and the villain far more engaging than the multiverse-burdened baddie from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, so that doesn’t hurt. — Ben Kaye

12. Polite Society

Polite Society (Focus Features)

Directed by: Nida Manzoor
Written by: Nida Manzoor
Cast: Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya

We Are Lady Parts is the best Peacock show no one is watching (though isn’t that true of most of them?), and show creator Nida Manzoor’s theatrical debut is just as archly funny and stylish. Blending Bollywood with British dramedy and Jane Austin — and more than a few kung-fu kicks — Polite Society sends a teenage stuntwoman wannabe (Priya Kansara, ever so charming) on a quest to stop her big sister’s (Ritu Arya) marriage to a wealthy but suspicious new suitor, with her all-too-game schoolmates (Seraphine Beh and Ella Bruccoleri) by her side. Manzoor’s direction is stylish, the writing whip-smart and witty, and the action surprisingly deft, there’s a lot to latch onto here, no matter where you approach it. – Clint Worthington

11. A Thousand and One

A Thousand and One (Focus Features)

Directed by: A.V. Rockwell
Written by: A.V. Rockwell
Cast: Teyana Taylor, Will Catlett, Josiah Cross, Aven Courtney, Aaron Kingsley Adetola

Teyana Taylor turns in one of the most potent performances of the year in A.V. Rockwell’s feature debut, which made a splash at Sundance this year. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly-gentrifying Brooklyn in the 1990s, A Thousand and One centers on the struggles of Inez (Taylor), a recently-released ex-con, and her attempts to reignite and maintain a relationship with her son, Terry (played by various actors throughout childhood, though Josiah Cross’s 17-year-old is the standout). More than its characters, its sense of place, or the lushness of Gary Gunn’s strings-laden score, it’s an opus about the ways the political impacts the personal, and the oft-controversial decisions we make just to hold our family together. – C. Worthington

10. Blackberry

Blackberry (IFC Films)

Directed by: Matt Johnson
Written by: Matt Johnson, Matthew Miller
Cast: Glenn Howerton, Jay Baruchel, Matt Johnson, Rich Sommer, Michael Ironside, Martin Donovan, Michelle Giroux, SungWon Cho, Mark Critch, Saul Rubinek, Cary Elwes

On paper, an exaggerated retelling of the rise and fall of Blackberry, one directed by Matt Johnson (co-creator of Nirvanna the Band the Show) and starring Glenn Howerton and Jay Baruchel, sounds like the result of a weirdly specific game of Mad Libs. Throw in needle drops featuring Slint, The Strokes, and Joy Division, and it seems even more improbable. But not only is Blackberry actually real, it’s really damn good. Thanks to impeccable performances from the two lead actors and Johnson’s instinctual knack for pacing and tone, Blackberry is one of the most watchable films of the year. It’s funny, fast-paced, and engaging as hell, and if this cruel world has any fairness left in it, it’ll hopefully also lead to bigger and even better things for everyone involved. — Jonah Krueger

09. M3GAN

M3GAN (Universal Pictures)

Directed by: Gerard Johnstone
Written by: Akela Cooper
Cast: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Jenna Davis, Amie Donald

M3GAN surpassed expectations on almost every front: The horror release blew past its box office projections thanks to the power of social media, word of mouth, and the somewhat unexpected “yas queen-ification” of its title character. It seems like M3GAN was the kind of silly, campy genre release many audiences were craving, and started the year off on a playful and exciting note, only sweetened by M3GAN’s actual infiltrations into the “real world.” — Mary Siroky

08. How to Blow Up a Pipeline

How to Blow Up a Pipeline (NEON)

Directed by: Daniel Goldhaber
Written by: Ariela Barer, Jordan Sjol, Daniel Goldhaber
Cast: Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane, Jayme Lawson, Marcus Scribner, Jake Weary, Irene Bedard

Daniel Goldhaber’s eco-thriller is maybe the closest we’ll get to actual advocacy for radical climate terrorism and property destruction in a theatrically-released film by a major studio. Adapting a work of nonfiction agitprop into something of a political heist thriller, Goldhaber and writers Jordan Sjol and Ariela Barer (the latter also co-stars) run down the basic beats of homemade bomb-making and the reasons, both macro and micro, its frustrated characters might want to engage in such radical acts in the first place. It may not want you to go out and build homemade C4, but it’s a shock to the system a lot of us may need. – C. Worthington

07. John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate)

Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Written by: Shay Hatten, Michael Finch
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Ian McShane

Based on comments made by both Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski, this may be the final John Wick film — and if that’s the case, what a way to go. Of course, this wild world of assassins will live on in film and TV spin-offs, but Chapter 4 ensures John Wick’s immortality with its unceasing action packed with fresh characters and incredible stunt work. Coming in at two hours and 49 minutes, it’s the second-longest film on this list, but there’s not a single wasted moment on screen. — L.S. Miller

06. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (Lionsgate)

Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig
Written by: Kelly Fremon Craig
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, Kathy Bates

Judy Blume’s young adult classic gets an adaptation for the ages: While set in the time of the book’s original publication, 11-year-old Margaret’s (Abby Ryder Fortson) journey to understand her own identity as she contends with the looming arrival/threat of “her womanhood” (or however else we used to talk about periods in the olden days) speaks to any generation. Fortson does a beautiful job of letting Margaret breathe on screen, and Rachel McAdams delivers an incredible performance as Margaret’s mother, adrift in the suburban wilds and unsure how best to help her daughter through this period (heh) of her life. It’s a little early to start getting grumpy about 2024 Oscar snubs, but if McAdams gets ignored for Best Supporting Actress, it’ll be a sad, sad moment. — L.S. Miller

05. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Paramount)

Directed by: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Written by: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Michael Gilio
Cast: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant

If you haven’t played Dungeons & Dragons, then Honor Among Thieves is a solid comical fantasy with fun characters, epic quests, and a satisfying conclusion. All of those qualities are shockingly rare in the world of game adaptations, and D&D fans have had it worse than just about anyone, which is why when Honor Among Thieves hit theaters, many longtime players absolutely lost their minds. The great action set pieces recalled amazing tabletop battles, but perhaps the most impressive feat of this adaptation was humanizing the humble Bard: Chris Pine was utterly entrancing as a man who couldn’t fight a lick but could still inspire his companions, living up to the game’s ethos that anyone can be a hero. — Wren Graves

04. Beau Is Afraid

Beau is Afraid (A24)

Directed by: Ari Aster
Written by: Ari Aster
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Parker Posey

It’s often said that the worst thing a movie can be is boring. And yet, with increasing budgets and the continued consolidation of production companies, an increasing percentage of releases play it safe, coming and going with the impact of a fly hitting a windshield. Luckily there are filmmakers like Ari Aster, whose work inspires intense feelings of both love and hate. And his latest opus, Beau Is Afraid, is his most gloriously polarizing piece yet.

With a mammoth runtime, bizarro tone, and obtuse structure, Beau Is Afraid was never going to be a crowd-pleaser. Check any review aggregate website, and the audience reception resembles an inverted parabola, with most ratings sitting at either one star or five stars. But we’re inclined to side with the latter. Aster’s willingness to play with the medium of film is a wonder to watch, from embracing magical realism, to inserting an extended, half-animated theater sequence mid-way through the plot, to the absurd reveal of Beau’s father. Yeah, it’s dense, but with density comes substance, at least in the case of Aster’s work. There’s enough subtext and creative filmmaking on display in Beau Is Afraid to fill a semester’s worth of film analysis, and to us, that qualifies it as a pretty damn good movie. — J. Krueger

03. You Hurt My Feelings

You Hurt My Feelings (A24)

Directed by: Nicole Holofcener
Written by: Nicole Holofcener
Cast: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tobias Menzies, Michaela Watkins, Arian Moayed, Owen Teague, Jeannie Berlin

The title’s bluntness is the perfect set-up for Nicole Holofcenter’s newest film, which digs into what it means to be a creative person in a relationship… and being uncertain that your partner actually appreciates the work that defines you. While the focus is on Beth (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a writer who inadvertently finds out that her therapist husband (Tobias Menzies) actually hates her latest book, it’s certainly a relatable topic, one which Holofcenter explores with her trademark subtlety and wit. And while at this point it’s almost cliché to shower a Louis-Dreyfus performance with praise, You Hurt My Feelings firmly reminds us all of her greatness, with one sequence in particular showcasing that as sharp as her line delivery is, she’s also one of the best physical comedians working today. — L.S. Miller

02. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony)

Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Written by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Dave Callaham
Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Shea Whigham, Greta Lee, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali, Oscar Isaac

The long-awaited follow-up to 2018’s joyful Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is simply a wonder to behold. It shakes the dust off of any superhero fatigue or comic book oversaturation to deliver a heartfelt sequel orbiting around characters that demand our attention and care. Oh — there’s also the fact that it’s one of the coolest-looking movies, ever.

For a project that stems from such well-known intellectual property, there’s abundant originality baked into this continuation of Miles Morales’ story. Multiverses have been particularly in vogue the past few years, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a film that explores the narrative possibilities therein with this much whimsy. Toss in a few immediately iconic voice-acting performances from Daniel Kaluuya and Oscar Isaac and you’ve got a surefire recipe for success. — M. Siroky

01. Past Lives

Past Lives (A24)

Directed by: Celine Song
Written by: Celine Song
Cast: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro

The core of Celine Song’s debut feature film is three people, coping with how time changes the relationships that define our lives. It’s also a richly detailed, fully immersive work anchored by incredible performances, as Nora (Greta Lee) and Arthur (John Magaro) contend with the arrival of Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), Nora’s childhood friend from Korea who’s come to New York to see his once-upon-a-time childhood sweetheart.

The cinematography manages the seemingly impossible task of finding new angles on New York City, while Song’s script proves to be a wry and self-aware examination of the stories we all tell ourselves. The miracle is that the profound self-awareness never detracts from the heartfelt honesty of the film’s final moments. A genuinely great character study, and an easy pick for our best of the year so far. — L.S. Miller