by Tori Potenza, Staff Writer

As of this writing, I have seen 86 new releases this year, strangely enough the exact same number as I did last year. This felt like a banner year for films, and while crafting this list is always a challenge, this year felt particularly hard. From horror, to international to indie, to queer films, there was a plethora of incredible films to choose from. There were only a handful of underwhelming releases that I saw, which means that the majority of my 2023 watches are ones I could gush over. As always there are incredible movies I did not see. I am a horror fan at heart and make most of my time for the strange and unusual offerings of genre films. Movies like Past Lives and Killers of the Flower Moon are ones I would love to see, but I just never felt like I was in the right headspace for what they offer.

Ultimately I made a few choices to assist with the task of slimming down my best of ranking (to the delight of my editor I am sure). First off I decided not to Barbenheimer my list. I liked them, they were both good movies but they will be on many lists and I believe I have more interesting things to say about other movies represented here. And if my list can help to highlight even a handful of underseen movies I will be pleased. I also let my emotions take the driver seat while putting this together. I have abandoned the question of “what should be on my list?” because ultimately it all comes down to what speaks to me in the present moment. This was a challenging year for me personally, so I leaned into what hit me as I navigated turbulent waters.

For me, this year was one of transformation. I am a Scorpio and in tarot my zodiac sign aligns with the death card. Growth requires some type of death. Symbolic birth, death, and rebirth is something we go through cyclically throughout our entire lives, whether we realize it or not. This theme was peppered throughout many of the movies that spoke to me this year whether in its use of symbols like the life cycle of butterflies and moths, or in a character who navigates the darkest parts of themselves to become their true selves. Many of these movies challenged me, some felt like they spoke directly to me, some made me question my ethical alignment, and others offered comfort.

There were also trends that made me thrilled as a lover of cinema. There was a huge uptick in erotic thrillers, ones that reveled in the sleaze of their genre while also challenging it and evolving it. There were various films centering on duos, letting incredible actors play off each other and focusing on their craft instead of special effects of grand productions. There were also films that evoked such strong emotion whether it be pleasure, revulsion, or shock that I had to stop and take notice of the physical reactions I had to them. The manifestation of such strong bodily reactions made me want to stand up and applaud (like Skinamarink which ultimately did not make the cut but was one of the first films of the year to make me feel this way). These trends and feats made me stop and take notice, because they reminded me why I love movies so very much.

When all was said and done I could not narrow it down to a top 10, or even 15, so here are 16 movies I needed to discuss. So I offer some critical reasons for their placement along with my personal reasons. Hoping that these insights might speak to some of you reading this.

16. Infinity Pool (dir. Brandon Cronenberg)

You're completely transformed. You look so beautiful now. I can see the beauty just pouring right out of you.

Critical Reasons: Brandon Cronenberg is great at finding creative visuals to accompany the psychological concepts his story tackles. Mia Goth’s performance is delightfully unhinged while Alexander Skarsgård’s is hilariously pathetic. Their work is endlessly fun to watch. While I enjoyed the film, it was the final scenes and shots that sat with me. It is hauntingly complex and darkly funny. Tim Hecker’s score accompanies the story in such a beautiful way that just listening to it floods your senses with the tone and feel of the film. The representation of resort culture and how the rich continue to reap impoverished nations is also important to see, and still too underrepresented.

Personal Reasons: Alexander Skarsgård looks really great in a dog collar.

15. New Religion (dir. Keishi Kondo)

A moth’s life has no beginning or end.

Critical Reasons: First time director Keishi Kondo delivers a dreamy, haunting, and entrancing feature with important themes around grief and metamorphosis. There are clear David Cronenberg references running throughout the movie with his own unique style and tone. New Religion is a slow burn, but like a moth to the flame it is impossible to turn away from. Kaho Seto’s understated yet emotional performance paired against Daiki Nunami’s unsettlingly calm one are hard to shake months after watching it. Kondo is an impressive world builder and this is such a strong debut. Keishi Kondo is a director to watch.

Personal Reasons: Its imagery and thematic focus around the moth life cycle and its themes around metamorphosis hit me hard. Inside of the cocoon the larva’s body completely breaks down and is reformed into an entirely different being. Destruction leads to creation and growth. Looking at personal struggles through this lens is so powerful, and seeing it on screen can be a very emotional experience.

14. Sick of Myself (dir. Kristoffer Borgli)

Critical Reasons: As folks rave about Dream Scenario (a film I still desperately need to see) they might not realize that Borgli had another impressive feature that made the festival circuit in 2022 and had a larger release early this year. Sick of Myself is a dark and bitingly funny body horror that takes a bleak look at influencer culture and toxic relationships. Kristine Kujath Thorp and Eirik Sæther play the worst couple you have ever met, yet spending time with them is endlessly entertaining. Borgli creates a world where it is safe to laugh at the absurdity of society and the world we live in. Borgli has much to say about our world and finds a unique way to showcase his thoughts.

Personal Reasons: Body horror is always top of my list but it is especially exciting to see it blended in other genres. It is perfectly hilariously grotesque.

13. Sanctuary (dir. Zachary Wigon)

Critical Reasons: In a world of big budget blockbusters and a reliance on special effects, one can overlook the simple but impressive art of the chamber piece. In the confines of a hotel room you spend 96 minutes eating up the impressive camerawork, gorgeous set design, and the performances of two of the most impressive up and coming actors around; Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott. The film has also been proof that erotic thrillers are alive and well and evolved into something much different. The movie is not what you expect but it's refreshing to see something that aligns with strange underseen cinema like Secretary.

Personal Reasons: 2023 is the year of the return of erotic thrillers. With the exhausting social media discourse around sex in film it is refreshing to see filmmakers show how essential it is as a storytelling device. Plus it is very sexy.

12. Bottoms (dir. Emma Seligman)

Critical Reasons: The genre of comedy has felt lackluster as of late. However, 2023 has given us comedies like Bottoms and Joy Ride, and Theater Camp. These amazing queer, bipoc, and women focused comedies that have brought something fresh to the genre. Bottoms has an incredibly unique tone. It can take time to get on its wavelength, but once you get its humor it's hard not to laugh out loud. This is another movie led by a dynamic duo with rising stars Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri showing off their talents. Fresh faces like Ruby Cruz and Havana Rose Liu also made huge impressions in this film. The writing is incredible, it is endlessly quotable, and will hopefully age much better than some of the comedy we grew up on.

Personal Reasons: I like seeing complicated queer characters! We deserve raunchy sex comedies too!

11. Saltburn (dir. Emerald Fennell)

I don't think you're a spider, you're a moth. Quiet, harmless, drawn to shiny things, banging up against a window, and begging to get in.

Critical Reasons: Love her or hate her, Emerald Fennell knows how to make a twisty sleazy thriller. Saltburn is a gorgeous looking film. Linus Sandgren’s cinematography lingers long after the movie ends. So much so that it is hard not to have images of Jacob Elordi floating through your head like sugar plum fairies. Each performance is perfectly executed but Barry Keoghan’s layered performance as Oliver is hard to shake. You either get lost in Saltburn or you don’t, but if you do, you’ll enjoy all the deliciously evil fun it has. It is a gorgeous work of visual art and worldbuilding.

Personal Reasons: The hate for this only solidifies my love. It is queer, it is sleazy, it is dreamy, and FUN. Just enjoy the ride. Also its representation of period sex is important and above all, hot.

10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (dir. Jeff Rowe)

Critical Reasons: Into the Spider Verse is one of the best things to come out of the Marvel cinematic universe both as a great film and because it has changed the game for animation bringing us films like Mutant Mayhem. It is so easy to get caught up in its impressive visuals but it also has an amazing story and a real chemistry amongst the voice actors. The four leads play off of each other so organically and their chemistry pops off the screen. It showcases its love of martial arts and fight choreography through incredible fight scenes that pair up perfectly with the old school hip hop soundtrack. Trent Reznor also shows off the Nine Inch Nails roots we love with his gorgeously crafted score. It has a great message and is ultimately a feel good movie. You can also enjoy it without having grown up on it. It is truly a breath of fresh air to the run of the mill superhero movie.

Personal Reasons: I was already in love with the movie and then they added Cronenberg body horror references to it along with one of the best fight montages I have seen in some time. I was simply delighted from start to finish.

9. Godzilla Minus One (dir. Takashi Yamazaki)

Is your war finally over?

Critical Reasons: The past few years have brought us a lot of different Godzilla content both from the US and Japan. For such a longstanding franchise that has 30+ films attached to it, it is incredible that filmmakers continue to find new ways to make installments their own. Yamazaki gives us an incredible looking Godzilla and truly brings forth the magnitude and godlike powers he possesses. It has a strong political stance that questions the role of the Japanese government in World War II and the impact it had on its citizens. The performances are powerful and it has a moving central storyline with its human characters. Seeing a giant monster movie tackle so many important human issues is truly a feat. And Naoki Sato’s score is a masterpiece all its own.

Personal Reasons: The world can feel like it gets darker every day. So to see a film be so beautiful and hopeful in the face of such impossible odds is impactful. It has a focus on family, valuing human life, and rebuilding from the ruins. What could be more important?

8. The Passenger (dir. Carter Smith)

Critical Reasons: Carter Smith knows how to make a movie that is both emotionally moving and an effective thriller. Not many people have the talent to find this balance. His 2022 film Swallowed was a great example of this, but The Passenger is even more impressive in its layered messaging. What could be a film in the vein of The Hitcher blossoms into something much deeper, harder to grapple with, and is human centered. Kyle Gallner has proved to be a tremendous acting presence but the way he lets the character of Benson slowly unravel on screen is a sight to behold. With simple body language we learn more about this character than some actors can pull off with pages of dialogue. It confronts hard truths about the past and shows a restorative way forward for us all. Johnny Berchtold holds his own against Gallner and the two have a powerful and unique chemistry that is hard to describe.

Personal Reasons: Humans are complex creatures and the best of us still cause harm. When we come to each other with empathy, understanding, and a willingness to find healing we can find a way through the darkest traumas. We don’t see this attempted or replicated enough in our lives which makes representation of it all the more important. Carter Smith is doing something so important with this movie.

7. May December (dir. Todd Haynes)

It's the moral gray areas that are interesting, right?

Critical Reasons: In Todd Haynes’s new movie he dives into some of the most taboo and sensationalized stories you can think of and it is a strange, murky, and emotional ride. The way Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore play off of each other is a treat to watch. It always feels like you are on the verge of something uncomfortable and terrifying. This is the kind of movie that will get better on repeat viewings because there is so much subtle body language, double-meanings, and precise framing that adds deeper layers to its characters and story. Charles Melton’s performance is subtly haunting and heartbreaking to see play out. They revel in the complexities, the gray areas, and challenge the viewer in uncomfortable and fascinating ways. It is a horrifying yet delightful journey to go on.

Personal Reasons: Like some other favorites on this list, I felt a wide range of human emotions that challenged and confounded me. I like feeling this kind of complication, it makes me check in with myself and explore where the discomfort is coming from. Plus the hot dogs scene makes me laugh whenever I think about it.

6. Priscilla (dir. Sofia Coppola)

You’re losing me to a life of my own.

Critical Reasons: While Sofia Coppola’s filmography is mostly unfamiliar to me, I saw in Priscilla how her dreamy and beautifully crafted aesthetics can lull you into dark terrain. It was impressive to see how this movie came together and with all its different elements. Somehow it managed to hold the fairytale romance a young girl dreams of with the horrors of grooming and emotional abuse. So much was said in subtle ways. Through Cailee Spaeny’s awe inspiring acting, she takes you on a journey from girlhood to womanhood that is heartbreaking, lovely, and deeply sad. Women finding themselves in the world and forging their own path is a big theme this year and Coppola finds a universal story within the life of Priscilla.

Personal Reasons: I have never known or cared much for the life of Elvis so I was not interested right away. Yet Priscilla’s story captured very personal emotions I had felt in past relationships, something I have never been able to truly describe. I knew I ached for her character because I ached for my past self. Feeling seen in such a specific way was more important than I knew.

5. Red Rooms (dir. Pascal Plante)

Critical Reasons: Red Rooms is currently making the festival rounds so many people will not have seen this yet but getting the opportunity to make people excited for this movie is something I am excited to do. This courtroom drama centers on a deeply disturbing serial killer case and without showing very much, is able to evoke so much revulsion. Not many people can pull this off but Pascal Plante executes it to perfection. This is a deeply disturbing thriller that hinges on the mysterious and disturbing performance from Juliette Gariépy. You spend much of the movie having little idea where it is going or what it is building to but the way it mounts tension to an almost uncomfortable level is cinematic magic.

Personal Reasons: This was another movie that I had a very physical reaction to. The tension made me so uncomfortable I kept squirming in my seat and when it was all over I could feel my entire body release. It is not easy for a movie to do that to me, so kudos Plante. It was an experience I hope many others have.

4. Femme (dir. Sam H. Freeman & Ng Choon Ping)

She was the real me and I was the performance.

Critical Reasons: Remember the name Nathan Stewart-Jarrett because he exudes movie star energy. Femme gives him a chance to show the range of his acting chops in a sexy thriller that is not afraid to make you feel very complicated about its leads. This is another festival film that people should add to their lists. Stewart-Jarrett and his co-star George MacKay have a special kind of chemistry that makes you love them even when you feel like you shouldn’t. The central story is enhanced with its gorgeous cinematography, sets, and costuming. Even when it felt impossible to watch I could not look away. A movie that can bring out so much emotion and linger on the mind in this way is something special.

Personal Reasons: This was hot, cute, mean, and terrifying and it holds all of those contradicting feelings perfectly. I struggled to breath as it worked up to its climax. I love these characters and would read any and all fan fiction people make about them.

3. Stopmotion (dir. Robert Morgan)

Critical Reasons: Stop motion animation is such a difficult, time consuming art. The fact that people still dedicate themselves to the craft is impressive in and of itself. To then tie it to such an entertaining, sinister, and dark tale makes it all the more impressive. This is yet another festival film making the rounds and is Robert Morgan’s first feature length film. It combines animation with a live action story and it is fascinating to watch as the worlds collide. Ultimately Stopmotion is a character study of a disturbed woman who’s grief and art turn her into something monstrous. I am partial to stories that follow disturbed characters and for those horror fans that like Barbara Creed’s work on the monstrous feminine, this exemplifies her work expertly. Aisling Franciosi is entrancing in her performance even as her metamorphosis reaches disturbing heights. It is deliciously horrid to watch.

Personal Reasons: As a people pleaser who struggles with their self esteem, setting boundaries, saying what I need, or making choices for myself over others, I can feel very monstrous just by taking up space. Something about Stopmotion, and seeing a woman be so unapologetically monstrous on screen was actually inspiring to me. This was the movie I didn’t know I needed.

2. Eileen (dir. William Oldroyd)

Critical Reasons: Eileen joins the ranks of the 2023 erotic thriller return and has its fun playing with the tropes we’ve come to know from the subgenre. It is also another new release that has fun with bad women and lets them play with the gender roles they’ve been given. Anne Hathaway’s character is mysterious yet draws you in like a moth to the flame, much like she does with Eileen, played by Thomasin McKenzie. McKenzie’s performance is a delight to watch unfold as we try to figure out what is going on and who is playing who. Marin Ireland’s performance really needs to be highlighted though. While only on screen for a short time she delivers one of the most essential monologues in the film. She expands on a topic rarely discussed and is unflinching in her delivery. While being an effective and shocking thrill ride it also dives into themes of family trauma, the criminal justice system, and the human need to be free.

Personal Reasons: Hathaway’s performance as Rebecca is so good I could watch her for hours. It was disturbing to see how easily someone could get lost in a person that enigmatic and energetic. And as mentioned before, bad ladies are inspiring me.

1. Poor Things (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos)

Always carve with compassion.

Critical Reasons: Lanthimos’s strengths as a director all culminate together in an odd but sweet tale of a woman discovering herself. Finding a way to make a Frankenstein story sweet, with themes around love, acceptance, and the beauty of discovery is a welcome take. Emma Stone makes Bella Baxter an iconic role model to women who desire to live life on their own terms. Dafoe is eccentric as always but with a welcome tenderness. Mark Ruffalo brings one of the oddest performances of the year that is so over the top but perfect for this story. Yorgos creates a beautiful world populated by memorable characters, unspoken truths, sexual freedom, and unbridled joy.

Personal Reasons: This year I feel like I have gone on my own Bella Baxter journey of exploration. She reminded me that I should be unflinching in the life I want, without worrying about how others see you. When you are that certain and confident in yourself the world can open up to you and you will find your people. I needed that. I think other people need that. Life is short, let’s be authentic.

You can find my full Letterboxd List that ranks all 86 films I saw this year. There are so many other movies that could not grace this list so please check the list to see some of the others I recommend from this year. This year was full of so many amazing performances and incredible storytelling that it reminded me why I love movies so much. This list reflects the movies that stood out, that challenged me, that challenged genres, and brought me comfort. And at the end of the day, and at the end of a very long and trying year these movies were my anchors.