We’re coming to the end of the year, meaning it is time to look back on the year that was. Today, I’m sharing my Top 12 Films of 2023. In addition, Eric and I shared our Top 12 movies of the year on the This Week at the Movies podcast. Be sure to catch up with the video of our show!

First, some honorable mentions:

No. 20: Joy Ride
No. 19: The Holdovers
No. 18: Still: A Michael J. Fox Story
No. 17: Dumb Money
No. 16: Air
No. 15: The Color Purple
No. 14: Ferrari
No. 13: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

No. 12: Killers of the Flower Moon
About: Martin Scorsese’s film is an exploration of a bleak part of history, particularly as it concerns the Osage Nation. Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro are good here, but Lily Gladstone is the star. This is a powerful, bleak, and sometimes difficult watch. But it stuck with me, helping it land on this list.

No. 11: Wonka
About: I was certain we didn’t need another film about Roald Dahl’s character. Then I saw Wonka, a brightly colored musical delight. I watched it twice, and it captured my heart both times. I love the themes and the lead performance from Timothee Chalamet. It’s a beautiful and heart-warming story that is well-told.

No. 10: The Taste of Things
About: The official entry from France, this one is a love story, both between two people and with food. The lucious shots in the kitchen draw you in and won’t let you go. I was hooked after a fascinating and beautifully shot opening sequence. I also really enjoyed Juliette Binoche in this film. It’s one of the more surprising entries on my list.

No. 9: American Fiction
About: I really enjoyed this comedy drama from Cord Jefferson, based on the novel by Percival Everett. This one gets a wide release this weekend and I hope more audiences can explore and enjoy this story. Jeffrey Wright shines as disgruntled writer/professor Monk Ellison, and I loved the wild performance from Sterling K. Brown as his brother.

No. 8: The Killer
About: Netflix had a crowded release schedule toward the end of the year and this one from David Fincher seemed to fly a bit under-the-radar. It’s a simple story well-crafted and featuring a beautiful lead performance from Michael Fassbender. I really enjoyed the story and the script in this one.

No. 7: Gran Turismo
About: I’ve never played the game this is based on, nor did I know much about this true story. Going in, it just seemed like a fun film to end the summer. But in the hands of Neill Blomkamp, this story comes to life in a vibrant way. I loved the racing sequences and the way this story was told. It ended up thrilling and engaging me, helping it land on this list.

No. 6: Maestro
About: Another Netflix release, this one a high-profile biopic of Leonard Bernstein from director Bradley Cooper. Some of the shots and sequences here are breath-taking, while Cooper and co-star Carey Mulligan deliver incredible performances. This is a powerful and gripping film.

No. 5: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
About: The third and final outing with the Guardians delivered all I could have hoped. They remain my favorite of the Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes, and this third adventure was beautiful. It was funny and poignant, highlighting the relationship between these lovable heroes. It was all I could have hoped for.

No. 4: Past Lives
About: Celine Song delivers a haunting tale. This one is about two souls (Greta Lee and Teo Yoo) whose paths continue to cross and pull away over years. Their meeting as adults is thrilling, bittersweet and, ultimately, heart-breaking. John Magaro gives a beautiful supporting performance here as well. This is one heck of an emotional ride.

No. 3: Poor Things
About: There aren’t any filmmakers like Yorgos Lanthimos. He plies his unique skills to this film in the best way with a completely unique look, a wildly creative world, and one of the most engaging scores of the year. Emma Stone gives a great and unfettered performance, making this one of the funniest and most engaging films of the year.

No. 2: Oppenheimer
About: I love Christopher Nolan and his vision as a filmmaker. This lengthy biography on J. Robert Oppenheimer is beautifully told. Cillian Murphy gives a great performance, as does Robert Downey, Jr., as Lewis Strauss, but it’s the craft here that makes the film. I love the way it all comes together, the emotional heft and the incredible craft. It is an incredible journey and one of the best films of the year.

No. 1: Barbie
About: Barbie and Oppenheimer will forever be tethered together because of their joint release date, but because the two best films of the year were delivered on the same day. Greta Gerwig delivers and incredible feature film here as a co-writer (along with Noah Baumbach) and as a director. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are exceptional as well. I love the incredible look and world that is richly amusing but also has an incredible deal of cultural relevance and heart. This is a deeply moving and beautiful film. It was my favorite screen story of the year.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.