The 24 Finest Movies of 2023 We’ve Already Seen

While many film fans might still be catching up on the best films of 2022, cinema waits for no one: 2023 is mere hours old, and with the new year comes plenty of new films. Many of them we’ve already seen, including new features from some of our favorite filmmakers, offerings from fresh faces, and extended runs for some of 2022’s best films (2023’s best? who’s counting!).

This list includes films from everyone from Kelly Reichardt to Mia Hansen-Løve, Davy Chou to Sarah Polley, Paul Schrader to Lukas Dhont. Many of them premiered on the festival circuit in earlier months, building up plenty of goodwill (and anticipation) for a 2023 release. In short, they’re proven winners. Take a look at what’s to come, how to see it, and some snippets from our full reviews below.

For those of you eager to load up your movie-going calendar for the coming months, let this list of the best films of 2023 we’ve already seen be your guide, plus previews of our most-anticipated films and studio films directed by women.

Of note: This list only includes films we have seen that have a confirmed 2023 release date or have been picked up for distribution with 2023 release dates to be set. Because of the (continued) weirdness of the the current theatrical landscape, we are including films that had qualifying runs in 2022 but opted for wider release in 2023, all the better to serve a wide readership.

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