2023 was a great year for entertainment. From 'Barbie' to 'Guts' by Olivia Rodrigo to the return of the Fortnite craze, everyone got an opportunity for something they love to appear in the headlines. The movie industry was fantastic in 2023 because it had new blockbusters at every turn. Here are some of our favorite movies from 2023.
Barbie
Barbie was the most successful and hyped-up movie of 2023, making 1.4 billion dollars at the box office. However, this movie deserves the love that it gets. While it was a hilarious new addition to the Barbie franchise, the movie conveyed a larger message: the social norm that women are supposed to make all the sacrifices for others.
Margot Robbie played the perfect Barbie, and Ryan Gosling was truly Ken. The movie was a great mix of fantasy and reality, and the mojo dojo casa house was very relatable. Also, Barbie gave us the song I'm Just Ken, a deserving fan favorite. If you haven't watched Barbie, I suggest that you get a ton of your friends together and have a Barbie movie night.
You can find Barbie on Max (subscription required) and Hulu, Amazon, and YouTube with a premium subscription.
Photo by Eva Rinaldi from Wikicommons
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer, also known as the second half of Barbenheimer, was another huge hit. It focused on the Manhattan Project, which was the creation of the atomic bomb in the U.S. during World War II. This movie was packed with stars such as Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr, and so many more.
The actors in Oppenheimer were phenomenal, and it was some of the best acting that we saw all year. Additionally, you truly felt like you were transported back in time when you watched it in theaters. If you haven't seen Oppenheimer and don't believe how good it is, just look at the five Golden Globe awards it won this year. Just like Barbie, this movie is a must-see.
You can find this movie on Peacock with a subscription or on Apple TV.
Photo by Belkka Photographer from Unsplash
Anyone But You
Anyone But You was the romcom of the year, starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. On social media, many girls have said that Anyone But You was the best rom-com since How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and I agree. This movie was the perfect combination of romance and humor.
The addition of relatable characters, such as Bea, who wanted to make her ex-boyfriend jealous, truly made the movie. Also, the hilarious, semi-realistic scenes, such as the spider on Ben or the Titanic moment where they fall off the boat, added an original touch to the movie (come on, who doesn't love Titanic?). If you haven't seen it, I recommend heading to your nearest theater as soon as possible or putting it on your must-watch list once it hits streaming services.
Anyone But You is still in theaters for its Valentine's Day encore but will hit Amazon Prime soon for streaming.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Arguably the most popular dystopian series of this century, The Hunger Games is a fan favorite around the world. With its strong fan base and great cast, including Rachel Ziegler and Tom Blythe, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was set up to succeed. However, this movie did not disappoint anyone.
From the interesting plot, amazing costumes, and scenes of Coriolanus with a buzz cut, this movie was just as good as the other four movies in the Hunger Games series. Rachel Ziegler's portrayal of Lucy Gray Baird was exactly what I imagined while I was reading the book, and her singing was also great. I recommend watching all five movies if you haven't seen the Hunger Games series. If you have seen the first four, this is a phenomenal fifth addition to the series and makes it a must-see for any dystopian fans.
This movie isn't available for streaming yet but can be rented on Vudu, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
Saltburn
Saltburn is a psychological thriller focusing on Oliver Quick's experience at his friend's summer house. During his time there, there are tons of murders and deaths within the family that he is staying with. Fans of Knives Out, this movie is for you.
Starring Jacob Elordi, a common feature on the most attractive men alive list, this movie had a mix of fanbases, including murder mystery fanatics and teenage girls who watched Euphoria. If you've seen this movie, you will know that it is a bit strange to watch. However, the strangeness just makes the movie better. Saltburn is the perfect movie for when you want to watch something new and exciting, and I definitely recommend watching it.
You can find this movie on Amazon Prime Video with a subscription.
2023 proved that new movies can sometimes be better than the classics with these five films. All of these movies have been critically acclaimed and approved by almost everyone on TikTok. I enjoyed watching all of these movies, and I think that any (or all) of them are great additions to a must-watch list. Whether you're bored at home, having a movie night with your friends, or downloading movies for your next trip, this 2023 movie recap provides you with great options.
