Top 10 movies 2023

The purpose of this institute is to provide a haven for independent minds. Welcome to Watch Mojo! Today, we're counting down the most entertaining and influential feature films that had general releases in 2023. We're including features that had festival premieres the previous year but leaving off documentaries. Number 10: "John Wick Chapter 4." John Wick has topped itself with each passing movie, although we can't imagine another sequel surpassing Chapter 4. At just under 3 hours, Chad Stahelski's film throws everything it has at the audience and titular character. Yet, it never feels overstuffed. Each scene is draped in atmospheric cinematography, elegant backdrops, and action that constantly finds new ways to innovate. While we joke about how John is practically invincible, we feel every blow he takes, with each set piece weighing down on him more. By the time we reach the final lap of this breathless marathon, we're legitimately concerned that mortality has finally caught up to him. That mix of realism and over-the-top spectacle has made John Wick an action staple, with Chapter 4 being the franchise's definitive entry. Number 9: "Blackberry." In 2023, we delved into the fascinating backstories of several products, including Air Jordan. Blackberry was the most surprising in more ways than one. Not only were we caught off guard by just how funny Matt Johnson's film can be, but we severely underestimated the impact that Blackberry had on the mobile world. The brand may be defunct, but Glenn Howerton's cutthroat performance as Jim Balsley will stick with you, like the sound of a Blackberry keyboard typing away. Jay Barrell also turns in some of his best work as Mike Lazares, who loses himself in a sea of corporate greed and a reluctance to see the bigger picture. Number 8: "Past Lives." Throughout Seline Song's "Past Lives," the question of how to grieve what you never had is top of mind. Greta Lee delivers a best actress-worthy performance as Nora, a married woman who reunites with her childhood sweetheart. While we empathize with both men in Nora's life, we know there's only one practical way for the story to conclude. No matter how you're hoping for things to turn out, it's impossible not to experience a sense of loss upon arriving at the inevitable resolution. Number 7: "Talk To Me." Premiering in 2022 at the Adelaide Film Festival before a wide release theatrically in 2023, this Australian horror picture hearkens back to W.W. Jacobs' classic short story "The Monkey's Paw." Instead of granting wishes, though, the sinister hand at the forefront of this film is more like a needle. After one hit, it's a slippery slope that can leave you possessed. The allegory might be on the nose, but "Talk To Me" executes its genuinely creepy premise with haunting imagery, utterly convincing performances, and some of the finest practical effects that modern film has to offer.