Thomas Storai 
Thomas takes a retrospective look back at the biggest hits of 2023 to share his top 20 movies of the year!
The end of the year is near so it’s time to look back at what 2023 has offered us. It’s definitely been another great year for cinema with plenty of amazing films. But let’s not forget, it’s also been a year of struggle in Hollywood with the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. Thankfully, they both got the deals they deserved to be paid fairly for their work. Without writers and actors, there wouldn’t be any film or series. So, which films made it to my top 20? Let’s find out!
20 – SHIN MASKED RIDER / SHIN KAMEN RIDER
Shin Masked Rider is Hideaki Anno’s love letter to the original series. It brings the right amount of nostalgia, brilliantly recreating the atmosphere of the 1971 series while also telling a compelling story. This is a two-hour action-packed film with an electrifying score by Taku Iwasaki. But at its heart, it’s a dark and deeply moving story that is also hopeful. I loved watching this one and I sure hope for a sequel because Hayato Ichimonji’s story is yet to be fully told.
19 – GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 is a fitting and satisfying conclusion to this trilogy. This film is deeply moving and goes to some dark places but it is also incredibly funny. Gunn puts Rocket at the heart of this film giving us his tragic origins. It is both an exploration of character while also being a race against time. It will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
18 – THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a worthy video game adaptation. It’s a love letter to fan of the franchise. Illumination has done a fantastic work! With beautiful animation and a great voice cast, this movie is a must-watch for Nintendo fans!
17 – MY BEAUTIFUL MAN -ETERNAL-
My Beautiful Man -eternal- is a touching and satisfying conclusion. This film continues to explore Hira and Kiyoi’s relationship as they face their biggest challenge yet while also expanding on their respective struggles and successes at work. Yusei Yagi and Riku Hagiwara have a wonderful on-screen chemistry and both deliver brilliant performances. Without any doubt, My Beautiful Man is the BL of the year.
16 – ZOM 100: BUCKET LIST OF THE DEAD
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a fun and silly zombie adventure while also being a story with a lot of heart. It mixes horror, comedy and slice of life in the right way. This is a heartfelt film with great character development. Eiji Akaso is perfect for the role. He leads a fantastic cast.
15 – SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is a masterpiece. The first one was already a big achievement but this one is even better. This movie is a lot of fun, it’s also deeply touching and features some impressive action sequences. It’s a visual feast.
14 – THE MARVELS
The Marvels is an absolute blast! It is a lot of fun and it actually feels like a Captain Marvel comics brought to life on the big screen; Nia DaCosta has nailed it with this sequel. The trio Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel and Monica Rambeau is everything! As expected, Iman Vellani is a scene stealer, she brings so much energy to her character.
13 – THE BOY AND THE HERON
With The Boy and The Heron, Hayao Miyazaki delivers another masterpiece. This film explores dark and mature themes but it is also a beautiful and touching coming-of-age journey.
12 – NIMONA
Nimona is a must-see film with imaginative visuals and a talented cast. It is an highly entertaining adventure with a lot of humour and action. But it is also an heartfelt and touching story that sends a powerful message of acceptance using LGBT themes. It is about the fear of the other and the need to be seen for who you really are. It releases June 30 and this feels like the perfect way to end Pride month, a wonderful celebration of Pride. This film deserved to be released and I am glad it finally is. Honestly, it is the best American animated film I have watched in years. Nimona surely has the prospect of being nominated for best animated feature at the Oscars and it truly deserves to win.
11 – SUZUME
It is hard to recapture the magic again and again. Yet, Makoto Shinkai has done it again – three masterpieces in a row. Suzume is a spectacular and lyrical adventure taking the audience on a journey around Japan. This film is a breathtaking visual feast that you need to experience on the biggest screen possible. RADWIMPS delivers another triumphant soundtrack. Undoubtedly, this is a perfect strike for Shinkai. It is one of the best films of the year, if not the very best.
10 – MONSTER
Monster (怪物) is a deeply touching multi-layered story with an engaging narrative exploring the events from shifting perspectives. It is a nuanced story told with compassion and interpreted by a talented cast delivering heartfelt performances. I definitely understand why it won best screenplay at Cannes. It truly deserves it. This film is nothing short of a masterpiece. And the queer storyline is told with great authenticity and care. The late Ryuichi Sakamoto has composed a gentle score that fits perfectly.
9 – FREE! THE FINAL STROKE PART 2
Free! The Final Stroke Part 2 is the perfect conclusion to this beloved franchise. Endings are never easy to make and they often can’t satisfy everyone. But this one hits the mark. Indeed, this film gives every character their moment to shine. It is a touching and uplifting final chapter with the best visuals the world of anime has to offer.
Saying goodbye is never easy especially when it is a massive franchise. Free! is 3 seasons and 7 films over 9 years. This is a lot. We have our favorite character(s) but we all love and care about each of them. We have seen them struggle and grow. Undoubtedly, it has been an incredible journey. One that we will never forget. And as OLDCODEX says in ‘This Fading Blue’ “This story will never be over because these blue will never fade.” And in a way, it is true, this story will never be over. The characters will continue to live on within us.
Nevertheless, I still hope we will continue to get birthday illustrations of the characters every year. This way we would still get new content to enjoy. And I still believe there is more story to tell. So, we will see what the future holds.
8 – THE CREATOR
The Creator is visually breathtaking. Gareth Edwards knows how to handle scale. With a great cast, this is an incredible and emotional film. Why don’t we get original scifi films like this one more often?
7 – INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a great Indy adventure. It recaptures the magic from the previous films with the same humour and action while also exploring what it’s like for our heroes to grow old. All and all, it is a satisfying conclusion for this iconic character. Harrison Ford is and always will be Indiana Jones, he delivers another remarkable performance. Finally, the visual effects are impressive. The de-aging of Harrison Ford in the opening scene is the best I’ve seen so far.
6 – ROHAN AT THE LOUVRE / ROHAN AU LOUVRE
Rohan at the Louvre is Rohan’s darkest and most personal adventure, walking a thin line between supernatural and horror. The slow pace and the anxious atmosphere help building up to the unexpected revelations. This is an exciting follow-up to the series. Once again, Issey Takahashi reminds us that he is perfect as the title character.
5 – RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE
Red, White & Royal Blue is a delightful and charming queer rom-com. It is a film that will make you laugh, cheer and cry. This is an inspiring story that depicts the relationship between its leads in an authentic way and doesn’t shy away from the spicy stuff. Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez are undeniably charismatic and have an incredible chemistry. They both deliver heartfelt performances but Galitzine is the real emotional heart of this film.
4 – OPPENHEIMER
A spellbinding score, a star-studded cast and breathtaking visuals, with Oppenheimer Nolan has given us another masterpiece. It’s a film you experience and need to see on the biggest screen possible. This is a reminder of history that we shall never forget.
3 – MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING PART 1
Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 was the film of the Summer. It’s a breathtaking action film but also a brilliant espionnage thriller that is very much relevant to today’s world. Undoubtedly, this is the best chapter of this franchise. Tom Cruise is always the best at what he does.
2 – THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a compelling, dark and violent return to Panem. It’s a faithful and satisfying adaptation of the book. Rachel Zegler is perfect as Lucy Gray, her singing voice is simply enchanting. Tom Blyth is fantastic. And Viola Davis is deliciously evil as Dr Gaul.
1 – GODZILLA MINUS ONE
Godzilla Minus One is an epic film with breathtaking visuals and a wonderful soundtrack. It is truly one of the best films of the year. At its heart, it is a deeply moving postwar drama that tells a character-driven story. Ryunosuke Kamiki delivers a powerful and heartfelt performance as the lead. He is also supported by a great cast. Undoubtedly, this film deserves to earn some awards and I have no doubts that it will win Japanese film awards.
What are your best movies of 2023? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you.
Collectables and Anime Editor for Future Of The Force.
Star Wars expert and Japan connoisseur.
