In a year filled with content, we got some stellar movies to watch on the big screen. As we approach a new year, let’s take a look back to see these movies 2023 offered us.
- The Little Mermaid
With a lot of negative press going in, The Little Mermaid blew the expectations out of the water. This movie not only did a good job retelling the story of an amazing Disney princess, but also added to her story. Halle Bailey, was the real star of this movie. Her rendition of Part of Your World, was exactly what you want from a song, her voice added a new complexity to that song that wasn’t there before. With the added bits and pieces, it gave us a better look into Ariel’s world, such as her carriage ride with Eric, where we got to see his love for her. This movie gave young girls a role model to look up to, who is not afraid to go after what she wants. Overall, this movie made a big splash in theaters.
- Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
With talented upcoming stars, and a killer franchise to stand behind, Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was set up to succeed. With amazing scene visuals and even better actors this movie easily broke box office expectations. Fans were very pleased with the book to movie adaptation, which is very hard to do. The movie was full of scenes that came straight from the book that were done well and fans were in love with the final product.
- A Man Called Otto
Based on a true story, starring the incredibly talented Tom Hanks, will keep you laughing, but has some moments that will make you tear up. This movie has themes of inclusion, and never judging a book by its cover. A story of love, but also loss all mixed in one. As soon as the movie is over, you’re going want to start it right over again, because of the heartwarming story and amazing portrayal of these characters.
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse
Many Marvel fans were not pumped about where Marvel was taking their movies, but Spider-Man Across the Spider Verse turned that all around. With new electric characters, and a great pick up from where they left off, fans were thrilled to see more of this killer storyline. With so many different animation styles put together, it was beautiful to watch. The characters were fun to watch and you had a great anti-hero to debate whether or not to root for. With a nail biting cliffhanger, it left you wanting more.
- 1. Barbie
Being the highest grossing film of the year, with a whopping $636,204,117 in its run, there’s no better movie for the top spot. This followed Barbie, who was trying to find the truth behind why she is sad all of the sudden. On the other side, you get deep scenes that make you feel like you are a kid again, Barbie has it all. With a star studded cast and amazing soundtrack, Barbie has been nominated and won numerous awards, like The Natural Board of Review, Top Film award. All of that to say this movie was a phenomenon when it came out. Girls everywhere were dressing up to see the movie, and felt closer after watching it together.
No matter what your top five might have been, 2023 had an amazing lineup of incredible movies. If you haven’t seen some of the films mentioned in this list, make sure to check them out before the new year.
