Incredible Diverse Narratives: 41 Must-See Films of 2023
41 titles
- 1
CorsageMovie · 2022 · 114m · Drama, HistoryThis film chronicles a year in the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. On Christmas Eve 1877, at 40, Elisabeth, who had long been celebrated for her beauty, feels the pressure of aging and begins actively working to preserve her public image.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.1 - 2
CausewayMovie · 2022 · 96m · DramaAfter serving in Afghanistan, a U.S. soldier returns to New Orleans and battles to readjust. She finds an unexpected connection with James, a local mechanic, as they begin to build a relationship.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.5 - 3
MurinaMovie · 2022 · 95m · DramaDuring a weekend getaway to the Adriatic Sea, a teenage girl plots to supplant her overbearing father with his affluent international companion.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.4 - 4
Neptune FrostMovie · 2022 · 110mIn the hills of Burundi, a group of miners who escaped from coltan mines create an anti-colonial hacker group. Operating from a camp in a vast e-waste dump, they plot to overthrow the authoritarian government that controls the region's resources and its people. When a runaway with an intersex identity and a former miner meet, a strange connection disrupts the larger power structure.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.0 - 5
Bones and AllMovie · 2022 · 131m · Horror, Romance, DramaAfter being abandoned by her father, a young woman travels across America, covering a thousand miles on backroads. She encounters a drifter who feels like an outsider. However, they are both haunted by their pasts, and their journey ultimately leads them back to it. They face a final confrontation that will decide if their love can overcome their differences.IMDb 6.8TMDB 7.0 - 6
JoylandMovie · 2022 · 127m · Romance, DramaIn a family where sons are highly valued, the youngest son secretly joins an erotic dance theater and develops feelings for the theater's transgender star.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.3 - 7
Riotsville, USAMovie · 2022 · 90mThis documentary examines the U.S. military's reaction to the social unrest and racial tensions of the late 1960s. It details how the military constructed a simulated urban environment on a base, populated it with soldiers portraying rioters, and then filmed the staged destruction of the set.IMDb 6.7TMDB 4.9 - 8
The CathedralMovie · 2022 · 87mThis is a quiet, reflective story about an only child observing an American family as they experience both success and decline over twenty years.IMDb 6.2TMDB 5.8 - 9
Our Father, the DevilMovie · 2023 · 108mA refugee from Africa lives a peaceful life in a quiet mountain town in southern France. Her world is shattered when a charming Catholic priest arrives. She is horrified to discover that he is the warlord responsible for the death of her family.IMDb 6.9TMDB 5.7 - 10
Leonor Will Never DieMovie · 2022 · 99mThe line between fiction and reality dissolves when Leonor, a retired filmmaker, enters a coma after a television falls on her head. She is then forced to become the action hero in her own unfinished screenplay.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.9 - 11
NannyMovie · 2022 · 98m · Horror, DramaAisha, a Senegalese immigrant working as a nanny for a wealthy New York family, begins experiencing disturbing visions and a rising sense of anger.IMDb 5.3TMDB 5.4 - 12
Women TalkingMovie · 2022 · 104m · DramaIn a secluded religious community, a group of women grapple with the conflict between their beliefs and a series of sexual assaults perpetrated by the colony's male members.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.9 - 13
AftersunMovie · 2022 · 101m · DramaTwenty years after a holiday with her father, Sophie revisits those memories. The past unfolds through camcorder footage, interwoven with her reflections on the trip’s shared happiness and the sadness she now understands. As she pieces together the past, Sophie struggles to understand the complex man her father was – the one she knew and the one she didn't.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.7 - 14
The African DesperateMovie · 2022 · 97mPalace Bryant, an MFA graduate, skips her graduation party. Instead, she embarks on a chaotic 24-hour journey back to Chicago from Upstate New York. The trip becomes a bizarre mix of academic critiques and unexpected encounters.IMDb 5.6TMDB 5.6 - 15
I Didn't See You ThereMovie · 2022 · 72mFilmmaker Reid Davenport, who uses a wheelchair, frequently experiences being either stared at or overlooked by others. The appearance of a circus tent near his home leads him to reflect on the history of freak shows, where people considered different were displayed for entertainment. Considering the connection to his own work, which centers on disability, Davenport decides to make a film about his perspective on the world, all while remaining unseen.IMDb 6.9 - 16
After YangMovie · 2022 · 96m · Science Fiction, DramaWhen his young daughter’s android companion, Yang, breaks down, Jake tries to fix him. As he works, Jake rediscovers the love and connection he’s been missing with his wife and daughter, realizing how much he’s been disconnected from their lives.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.4 - 17
BruiserMovie · 2022 · 101mThis summer, fourteen-year-old Darious grapples with growing up as he navigates a difficult relationship with his demanding father, Malcolm, and forms an unexpected bond with a enigmatic drifter named Porter.IMDb 6.2TMDB 6.4 - 18
All the Beauty and the BloodshedMovie · 2022 · 122m · DocumentaryThis film explores the life of Nan Goldin, the acclaimed artist and activist, using her iconic slideshows, personal interviews, and influential photography. It also features previously unseen footage documenting her determined efforts to challenge the Sackler family's role in the opioid crisis.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.2 - 19
Fire IslandMovie · 2022 · 105m · Comedy, RomanceA group of gay best friends celebrate their annual reunion in Fire Island Pines with a week of joy and humor. But as desires ignite, conflicts arise, and indulgence takes hold, testing the strength of their friendship.IMDb 6.7TMDB 7.0 - 20
All That BreathesMovie · 2022 · 97m · Documentary, DramaIn a New Delhi choked by pollution and growing unrest, two brothers dedicate themselves to safeguarding a single black kite, a creature struggling to survive amidst the chaos.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.9 - 21
PearlMovie · 2022 · 102m · Horror, ThrillerOn a secluded farm, Pearl is confined by her family's isolation and the strict rules of her devout mother while caring for her father's declining health. Yearning for the glamorous life depicted in films, Pearl struggles with conflicting desires, temptations, and repressed emotions.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.2 - 22
The InspectionMovie · 2022 · 95m · DramaEllis French, a young gay Black man facing rejection from his mother and limited opportunities, enlists in the Marines. He strives to succeed within a system that often overlooks him. While confronting prejudice and the demanding challenges of basic training, he discovers unexpected friendship, resilience, and support within his new unit. This newfound sense of belonging profoundly impacts his identity and alters the course of his life.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.2 - 23
MidwivesMovie · 2022 · 89mIn a nation ravaged by conflict, Hla, a Buddhist, runs a clinic in western Myanmar, serving the Rohingya, a Muslim minority community facing persecution and denied fundamental rights. Nyo Nyo, a Muslim apprentice midwife, assists Hla, translating for patients. Despite generations of family history in the area, Nyo Nyo's people are still treated as outsiders. Inspired by Hla’s daily risks to help Muslim patients, Nyo Nyo is driven to become a reliable healthcare provider for her community.IMDb 6.9TMDB 8.0 - 24
A Love SongMovie · 2022 · 81m · Drama, RomanceA couple who knew each other as children, both now grieving the loss of their spouses, spend an evening together by a lake in the mountains.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.6 - 25
BebaMovie · 2022 · 80mThis is a raw and poetic coming-of-age story about Rebeca “Beba” Huntt, a young woman born and raised in New York City. She confronts the weight of historical, societal, and familial trauma.IMDb 6.0TMDB 7.0 - 26
Palm Trees and Power LinesMovie · 2023 · 110m · DramaFeeling lost and isolated, a teenage girl begins a relationship with a man who is twice her age. She believes he offers answers to her difficulties, but his motives are far from genuine.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.3 - 27
Everything Everywhere All at OnceMovie · 2022 · 140m · Action, Adventure, Science FictionA Chinese immigrant in her later years finds herself caught in a bizarre and thrilling journey. She is the only one who can protect what matters most to her by reaching out to the paths her life might have taken in different realities.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.7 - 28
Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.Movie · 2022 · 103mFollowing a major public scandal, Trinitie Childs, the wife of a well-known pastor at a large Southern Baptist church, works to help her husband, Lee-Curtis Childs, regain the trust of their congregation.IMDb 5.3TMDB 4.7 - 29
Holy EmyMovie · 2022 · 111mA young Filipina woman investigates a possible connection between her unusual bleeding disorder and her mother's reputed ability to heal.IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.5 - 30
A House Made of SplintersMovie · 2023 · 87m · DocumentaryIn eastern Ukraine, a small team of social workers runs a temporary home for abandoned children near the front lines, offering comfort and safety. The house is simple, but filled with love, providing refuge for up to nine months while the children's futures are decided. During this time, the caretakers work to create a sense of stability and normalcy for the children.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.9 - 31
MijaMovie · 2022 · 85mDoris Muñoz is a driven music manager. Her undocumented family relies on her success in launching pop stars. When she loses her most important client, Doris searches for new talent and discovers Jacks, a fellow immigrant's daughter who needs to succeed.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.0 - 32
Bodies Bodies BodiesMovie · 2022 · 94m · Horror, Comedy, MysteryA group of wealthy twenty-somethings gathers at a secluded family mansion to play a game of "Bodies Bodies Bodies," a social game where one person is secretly the "killer" and the others try to survive. The game quickly becomes terrifying when the players begin discovering real bodies, sparking paranoia and escalating into a dangerous situation.IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.2 - 33
TÁRMovie · 2022 · 158m · Music, DramaLydia Tár, a highly acclaimed conductor, prepares for a major symphony that could define her career. However, past decisions start to have repercussions in her current life.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.1 - 34
Catherine Called BirdyMovie · 2022 · 108m · Adventure, ComedyIn medieval England, a teenage girl struggles to define her own path while resisting the arranged marriages her father intends for her.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.1 - 35
Something in the DirtMovie · 2022 · 116m · Comedy, Horror, MysteryJohn and Levi, neighbors in a Los Angeles apartment building, begin to document strange, unexplainable occurrences they witness together. They see an opportunity for fame and financial gain in capturing evidence of the paranormal, hoping to transform their unfulfilling lives.IMDb 5.8TMDB 5.8 - 36
To LeslieMovie · 2022 · 119m · DramaA single mother in West Texas hits the lottery and quickly loses all the money, causing devastation. Years later, her appeal fades and she's adrift, so she struggles to rebuild her life and find a way to make amends.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.0 - 37
EmergencyMovie · 2022 · 104m · Comedy, Drama, ThrillerThree college students planning a wild night of partying face a dilemma when something unforeseen happens, forcing them to decide whether or not to involve the police.IMDb 6.2TMDB 6.1 - 38
Emily the CriminalMovie · 2022 · 97m · Crime, Drama, ThrillerEmily, needing money badly, starts a risky job buying items using credit cards obtained illegally from a charming man named Youcef. Drawn in by the easy money and excitement, they decide to expand their operation.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.7 - 39
Saint OmerMovie · 2022 · 123m · Drama, CrimeA novelist attends the trial of a woman accused of killing her 15-month-old daughter by leaving her on a northern France beach as the tide rose. As the trial unfolds and the accused's life story is revealed, the novelist finds her own family history, doubts, and fears about motherhood increasingly surfacing.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.2 - 40
Marcel the Shell with Shoes OnMovie · 2022 · 90m · Animation, Comedy, DramaMarcel is a charming one-inch shell living a vibrant life with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. They are the only survivors of a mysterious event that scattered their community. When a documentarian finds them in an Airbnb, his short film introduces Marcel to millions of fans. This newfound popularity brings both excitement and peril, while also offering a chance to reunite with his lost family.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.7 - 41
Return to SeoulMovie · 2022 · 119m · DramaFreddie, 25, impulsively travels to South Korea to visit friends, marking her first return to the country where she was born before being adopted and raised in France. This unexpected trip plunges Freddie into a journey that dramatically alters her life.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.3
