The best movies of 2023 so far, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the latest entry in our list of the best movies of 2023, which thus far includes sci-fi, action, drama, and lots and lots of horror.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 hit UK screens yesterday, releases in US cinemas tomorrow, and has just become Dexerto’s first 5-star movie of 2023!

But there isn’t anything bad on this list, while the genres included are broad, and feature everything from Italian plumbers and possessed children to bears high on cocaine.

So the following – in alphabetical order – are the best movies of the year; our favourite films of 2023, which we’ll be updating as and when new gems are released.

Air

Synopsis: From award-winning director Ben Affleck, Air reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.

Dexerto review of Air: “Air is a fun boardroom caper about one of the greatest deals in sporting history. But it’s also more than that, telling the gripping tale of how one man shifted the most immovable of objects, and in the process changed basketball forever.”

Cocaine Bear

Synopsis: Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner’s plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild dark comedy finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow… and blood.

Dexerto review of Cocaine Bear: “The action is good, the kills are great, and the cast truly commits to the bit. Alden Ehrenreich is MVP when it comes to the comedy, delivering consistent laughs throughout. While Ray Liotta dominates proceedings when he enters the arena, his Syd a true villain that you’re just willing to get his comeuppance. The savage tonal shifts might not be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of violence that’s blood-red and humor that’s jet-black, Cocaine Bear will send you out of the cinema on a high.”

Creed III

Synopsis: After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian, resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian – a fighter who has nothing to lose.

Dexerto review of Creed III: “There’s much more to admire in Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut. Two of the three fights he films are superb. While the scenes Jordan shares with Jonathan Majors – in a diner, at the gym, in his house, on the beach – are absolutely electrifying. Two actors at the very top of their game, trading verbal blows as damaging as any uppercut, and as exciting as anything we’ve seen in the series.”

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Synopsis: A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

Dexerto review of Dungeons & Dragons: “Despite its occasional pacing flaws and missed opportunities, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a thrilling and hilarious joyride from start to finish. It perfectly encapsulates the vibe and chaotic nature of the tabletop game and, while often confusing for those new to the game, truly feels like the D&D movie every fan hoped for.”

Evil Dead Rise

Synopsis: Moving the action out of the woods and into the city, Evil Dead Rise tells the twisted tale of two estranged sisters, played by Sutherland and Sullivan, whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.

Dexerto Review of Evil Dead Rise: “Evil Dead Rise is a brutal assault on the senses, which means it’s a lot like its predecessors. But the kills are great, the scares effective, and Beth deserves to take her place alongside Ash and Mia as not just an Evil Dead legend, but one of the great horror heroes.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3

Synopsis: Our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere, but it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life – a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

Dexerto’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 review: “It’s the longest movie in the trilogy at two-and-a-half hours, but for my money, there wasn’t a single bum note, thanks to character being at the core of all of Gunn’s storytelling. The runtime and narrative hopscotching are clearly structured to give everyone their moment to shine, but they all work. It’s all satisfying and, importantly, true to who they are, where they’ve been, and where they’re going.”

John Wick: Chapter 4

Synopsis: ​​John Wick uncovers a path to defeating the High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.

Dexerto review of John Wick 4: “Each set-piece brings something new to action cinema, through tension, spectacle, and increasingly imaginative kills. With a standout sequence involving characters being shot from above, like the most violent 8-bit video game ever made. Keanu Reeves is immense throughout these battles, delivering punishing blows, taking punishing falls, and managing to look cool and collected throughout, as befits the character. But credit should also go to former stuntman Staahelski and his technical team team for the way they stage, frame, and light these sequences. And the incredible stunt team who perform them, putting their bodies on the line to deliver five-star action time after time.”

Knock at the Cabin

Synopsis: While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

Dexerto review of Knock at the Cabin: “A film like Knock at the Cabin is about payoff as much as setup, and mercifully, Knock at the Cabin delivers at the death. The climax lacks the ambiguity of its source material, as well as some of the purer horror elements. But Hollywood tends to deal more in absolutes, so while the ending is different, it nevertheless goes to a very dark place, and manages to pack an equally powerful punch.”

Scream VI

Synopsis: Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.

Dexerto review of Scream VI: “Scream VI does a good job on the whole of blending the new and the old. While some fans showed reservations for these new films and their casts, the modern characters themselves are great. True, they all fit into pretty standard tropes – the love interest, the jock with a heart of gold, the comic relief, the nerd, etc – and their dialogue can be sometimes clunky and cliché. But they are all still very entertaining, and above all, likeable, making it even more tense when they come under attack.”

Suzume

Synopsis: 17-year-old Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob… Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster. The stars. The sunset. The morning sky. Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky – guided by these mysterious doors, Suzume’s journey to close doors is about to begin.

Dexerto review of Suzume: “While comparisons to Your Name feel uncalled for, it’ll likely be impossible to avoid. And, sadly, Suzume doesn’t quite live up to Makoto Shinkai’s previous work. However, the movie is still a fantastic piece of art, and we can definitely see improvements on the animation scale, along with the sheer scope of the story it’s willing to tell. This film definitely stands on its own two feet, and it’s certainly not a story you should close the door on.”

Tetris

Synopsis: A new Apple Original Film inspired by the true story of how one man risked his life to outsmart the KGB and turn Tetris into a worldwide sensation.

Dexerto review of Tetris: “Tetris is a propulsive, highly watchable piece of mass entertainment; it won’t change the world as much as its space-shifting bricks, but you’ll have a good time glued to your screen.”

Updated on May 4, 2023 with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 review.

That’s our list of the best films of 2023, which we’ll be updating whenever we see something good. While if you want to read about what we liked last year, here’s out list of the 14 best movies of 2022.