As we approach the year’s end, it’s always fun to look back at all the times we enjoyed over the past year. For many, a good number of memorable moments come from catching unforgettable films in cinemas. As Covid-19 restrictions finally reached their end, this led to a surge in people returning to the big screens for all the flicks that caught their attention. We’ve listed down what we found to be the best films of 2023, just in time for you to bingewatch them before the New Year ball drops.

Cocaine Bear

Although it sounds like an insane film to include on this list, Cocaine Bear proved to be important in allowing for the resurgence of unique ideas to be put out on the big screen. Its absurdity alone makes for a great group watch with friends. There’s a perfect blend of hilarity and adrenaline mixed in this flick to keep you glued to the screen. Plus it’s fun to see award-winning character actress Margot Martindale bring her A-game for a run-of-the-mill B-movie. Appearing as well in what is considered the last film he completed before passing on, Ray Liotta gave his all in his role as one of the main antagonists.

Blackberry

While Ben Affleck’s Air stands out as most people’s pick for the biopic of the year, Matt Johnson’s Blackberry is just as deserving of the title. It follows the sudden boom of the Blackberry phone right before meeting its untimely demise as smartphones reigned supreme. Despite Blackberry’s downfall being a known fact, it still makes for thrilling suspense as you sit and wonder how things will play out for the company. Jay Baruchel of How to Train Your Dragon fame and Glenn Howerton from the beloved It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia comedy series both give brilliant performances as the company’s CEOs. Each gets into their characters well and has you on the edge of your seat for something as mundane as a board meeting.

John Wick: Chapter Four

Keanu Reeves is back to being a household name again after the John Wick franchise slowly cemented itself in the action movie hall of fame. Returning to the titular role for the fourth time, Reeves continues to amplify things up to an impossible scale. Every action sequence ups the previous one and the impressive fight choreography by the stuntmen is a sight to behold. It’s also chilling to see Lance Reddick’s final performance as Charon after his untimely passing. 

Bottoms

Another thing that made a phenomenal comeback this year for the big screen is box office comedies. Among the many comedy films that came out this year (No Hard Feelings, Strays, Joyride), Bottoms stands out for its take on your usual coming-of-age comedy films. It follows two unpopular best friends, PJ and Josie, on their quest to score other girls by starting a high school fight club. Ayo Edebiri’s comedic delivery complements the antics her and Rachel Sennott’s characters get into. Bottoms also portrays the LGBTQIA+ community in a heartfelt manner, shedding light on the many difficult feelings queer youth face these days. When you’re not rolling on the floor laughing from all the gags, you’re likely cheering on the characters as they face their challenges head-on. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Ninjas never go out of style. In their latest theatrical release, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles take on the streets of New York by fighting bad guys in hopes of becoming accepted as normal teenagers. With some help from high school journalist April O’Neil (played masterfully by Ayo Edebiri), the turtles work their way up to face their biggest threat only to find out they are fellow mutants hoping to take over the world. Another charming element in the film is how the turtles are voiced by actual teenagers, adding a fun, fresh take on the iconic ninja group.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Serving as a sequel to the Oscar-winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has us on the trail of Miles Morales once again as he continues to navigate what it means to be a hero. Aside from the amazing animation work put into it, Across the Spider-Verse webs together a deep narrative about parental relations as Miles contemplates revealing his identity to his parents. Spider-Gwen also shares the limelight as she tries to figure out her feelings around her father. What’s even more fun is trying to spot all the easter eggs and identifying all the different Spider-Man iterations when they visit the Spider-Verse. 

Past Lives

Often, for those who never took their chances, there’s the lingering question of how things could’ve been. Past Lives follows that exact premise as it centers around the story of Nora and Hae Sung, two childhood besties who are pulled apart from one another after Nora’s family decides to move out of Korea. Years later, the two reunite after Hae Sung visits Nora in New York and start to reminisce over their past lives. Hae Sung is fresh off a breakup whereas Nora is now married to an American. There’s this strong chemistry between the two, leaving audience members to wonder how things will play out between them. 

Barbenheimmer

Is it cheating to place Barbie and Oppenheimer as one? Barbie and Oppenheimer made waves online after it was revealed that both were coming out on the same day, creating the cultural phenomenon referred to as “Barbenheimmer.” Both deliver a powerful message in their respective fields. For Barbie, it’s an important watch to learn about the dangers of toxic masculinity and the daily struggles women go through whereas Oppenheimer deals with the repercussions that come with the invention of the atomic bomb in hopes of putting a stop to war. 

Killers of the Flower Moon

In Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorcese delivers a three-and-a-half-hour epic crime drama based on the true story of a series of murders of Osage Nation members. While its long runtime might be a turn-off for others, Scorcese does his best to keep you glued on the screen for the entire time. His longtime collaborators, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, both give out their best in portraying the shady opportunists trying to claim the oil owned by the Osage through countless schemes but it’s Lily Gladstone’s impeccable performance as Mollie Burkhart that steals the show. Her emotional delivery is enough to resonate with the viewers as we feel the pain she goes through in trying to keep moving past all the tragedies that have befallen her family.