2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out)

Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out)
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After several seemingly lacklustre years in the film industry, 2023 has been one of the most memorable in recent memory. As Hollywood prepared itself for what the next decade of classics may look like, we saw a number of genuine phenomena, from the dual release of Barbie and Oppenheimer, to the big-screen return of the Super Mario Brothers after 30 years, as well as exciting new voices gaining Oscar recognition with the triumph of Everything Everywhere All at Once. With all that’s been going on, you’d be forgiven for missing certain gems – films that perhaps didn’t get the audience they deserved, or didn’t play in as many cinemas as their mega-budget equivalents. We’re here, however, to prevent them from completely evading your radar. Whether you relate best to superheroes or humble gardeners, music icons or entrepreneurs, kids or grown-ups, there’s a new favourite for everyone!

By Victoria Luxford

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Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret – A heartfelt and uplifting film, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is a big-screen retelling of the beloved coming-of-age novel by Judy Blume, which has been a staple of American literature since its publication in the 1970s. It tells the story of an 11-year-old girl coping with a new home and the looming teenage years, while receiving support and guidance from her mother and grandmother. Incredible performances all round anchor this warm hug of a movie, which gives an authentic feeling of the trials of growing up.

1/19
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2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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A Thousand and One – Some people are content finding success in music, modelling, TV or dance. Teyana Taylor, however, has done it all, and can add ‘accomplished actor’ to her list of accolades in this touching story of a mother’s love overcoming all. She plays Inez, a young woman in the 1990s who kidnaps her son from the foster system in order to raise him herself. This risk was just the beginning, however, as she struggles to provide a life for them in their ever-changing New York home. Taylor already has acting credits in films such as Coming 2 America, but no role has offered her as much of a spotlight as this heartbreaking drama – a testament to a mother’s love, and a film that truly announces the New York native as a lead to look out for.

2/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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BlackBerry – Before there were smartphones (as we now know them), there was the BlackBerry. The true story of a huge tech giant of the 2000s, this darkly comic drama depicts how a couple of nerds changed the way business and communication worked in the 21st century. Made in the company’s native Canada, there are echoes of The Social Network in this salacious tale of ambition and greed that shows how progress can sometimes leave behind those who began the revolution. Though it had a relatively modest release when it hit cinemas, this is a must-see for any tech enthusiast.

3/19
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2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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The Blackening – Some of the most successful horror films are ones that poke fun at the sillier elements of the genre’s history. Made by Ride Along director Tim Story, The Blackening is a light-hearted horror-comedy about a group of friends who must survive a violent night using their knowledge of horror movie lore. Looking at the pressures of modern identity, and paying loving homage to a number of movies from the past, The Blackening follows films like Get Out in cleverly using the genre’s dark themes to fit serious topics into an entertaining story.

4/19
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2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Bottoms – LGBTQ+ stories are few and far between, meaning this excellent comedy from up-and-coming director Emma Seligman (Shiva Baby) will be a gem for those looking to be seen. Chronicling two misfits who open a self-defence class in their school in order to meet girls, it’s a touching story of the isolation queer youth can feel, even in more enlightened times and places. The film follows the familiar tropes of a high school comedy, but its unique perspective adds a fresh feel. Uplifting and very, very funny, this should be high on your catch-up list.

5/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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The Covenant – Guy Ritchie is best known for British gangster comedies or big blockbusters like Aladdin and Sherlock Holmes. However, this wartime drama finds him in more thoughtful territory, telling a gripping story of compassion and humanity. Jake Gyllenhaal continues his streak of impressive performances as a wounded soldier saved by an interpreter (Dar Salim), who risks his own life to drag the soldier to safety across the volatile Afghanistan battlefield. Told without the usual theatrics of a Hollywood drama, this is a quiet but moving story of two lives bonded through unimaginable conflict.

6/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves – The last few years has seen a boom in the role-playing board game Dungeons & Dragons – inevitably, it wasn’t long before a film came along. With Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez starring as adventurers on a quest to get even with an old accomplice (Hugh Grant), one might expect a solid theatrical showing. The movie was a box-office failure for a film of its size, however, meaning that it didn’t reach the audience it deserved. D&D enthusiasts will delight in the many references to the game they love, while newbies will laugh along with a movie reminiscent of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, with another deliciously silly villain from Hugh Grant.

7/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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The Flash – We recognise that this inclusion might be slightly controversial, as this DC superhero film is arguably a movie a lot of people saw. However, the DC comics crossover movie is remembered as one of the year’s biggest flops. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but we think the spritely action adventure will be a lot of fun for nostalgic comic book fans, particularly due to Michael Keaton’s return to the role of Batman, as well as some familiar faces that pop up in a chaotic finale. With the superhero genre showing signs of decline in Hollywood, this is one definitely worth revisiting.

8/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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How to Have Sex – Despite the title, this British drama isn’t anything obscene. It is, rather, a coming-of-age tale about a group of UK teens who go on holiday to celebrate their final exams and, in the process, discover the lighter and darker sides of growing up. Incredibly well-acted and showcasing a host of new stars on the rise, including lead Mia McKenna-Bruce, this is a sympathetic look at the messy aspects of early adulthood. A small movie that did well on the festival circuit, seek this out in order to catch tomorrow’s stars today!

9/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Joy Ride – The all-female road trip movie is having a moment, thanks to films like Girls Trip and 80 For Brady, but Joy Ride was a critical standout. Featuring many Asian-American actors who are currently at the peak of their powers, this is the story of a businesswoman, played by Ashley Park (Emily in Paris), whose working trip to Asia is saved by her eccentric group of friends. Featuring excellent performances from Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) and Park, it takes a familiar concept and hilariously shakes it up for a modern audience.

10/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Little Richard: I Am Everything – A revealing documentary about the life of an icon – the self-proclaimed “Architect of Rock & Roll”, Little Richard – the film discusses his place as a forerunner of popular music whose inspiration is felt to this day. We also see how being a gay performer in the mid-20th century took its toll on him, and how racial attitudes of the time meant his legacy would not be celebrated until later in his career. Told in his own words as well as through others, anyone with a passion for music and cultural history should check this out.

11/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Master Gardener – If you don’t know who Paul Schrader is, chances are you’ve enjoyed his writing without realising it! Schrader is the screenwriter behind Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, as well as director of recent award-winners The Card Counter and First Reformed. Here, he directs Joel Edgerton in the role of a landscaper for a wealthy businesswoman. When asked to take on a new apprentice, the landscaper’s past comes back to haunt him. In a similar vein to his previous films, Schrader’s latest work deals with men hiding dark secrets, and makes a slow-burning thriller out of a spectacularly assembled cast, this time including legend Sigourney Weaver and promising newcomer Quintessa Swindell.

12/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Nimona – Chloë Grace Moretz provides the vocal talent for this animated film, playing a shapeshifter who insists on helping a beleaguered knight (Riz Ahmed) – even though she’s a creature that the knight has sworn to destroy. A mesmerising clash of classic fantasy and futuristic sci-fi, its arrival on Netflix unfortunately didn’t make too many waves earlier in the year. The great thing about its premiere, however, is that it is always on hand for you to discover. In the often crowded animated genre, it’s tough to find something truly original, but Nimona fits the bill!

13/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Past Lives – Are we destined to be with the ones we love, or is life a series of alternate possibilities? That’s the question behind this tremendous Korean-American romantic drama about two childhood sweethearts (Greta Lee and Teo Yoo) who reconnect years later when one of them has moved to America. A very grown-up love story, and a big hit at the Sundance Film Festival, director Celine Song leaves out the melodrama and asks us something deeper about what makes us choose the paths we take in life.

14/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Priscilla – Films about history’s famous women have become popular over the last few years, with Jackie, Spencer and Judy all picking up Oscars for their portrayals of these legendary ladies and the struggles of the spotlight. Directed by the great Sophia Coppola, Priscilla looks at the life of Priscilla Presley (Cailee Spaeny), the woman who would fall in love with, and then marry, one of the most famous figures of the 20th century, Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi). Offering a very different style and perspective to last year’s hit musical Elvis, the film doesn’t shy away from the more emotionally complicated aspects of the story. For her part, Spaeny is best known for her work on the series Mare of Eastown with Kate Winslet, but this star-making turn will surely make her more of a regular fixture on the big screen.

15/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Rye Lane – Classic romance meets modern London in this inventive comedy, where two people who have recently gone through a breakup have a chance encounter, and spend the day forming a new connection. Based around the real Rye Lane Market in South London, the film’s skilful combination of grit and imaginative visuals makes not only the stars David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah shine, but also the neighbourhoods of London itself. The kind of movie you’ll be recommending to your friends for weeks to come.

16/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Sisu – Not for the faint-hearted, this Finnish revenge thriller is bloody and relentless, drawing its title from a Finnish word that loosely translates as the quality of being determined and gritty. Star Jorma Tommila certainly embodies those qualities as a resourceful former commando who uses his expert tactics to defend himself against Nazis in the final months of World War II. Those who enjoyed Quentin Tarantino’s frantic retellings of history will find plenty to love here, as Sisu seems destined to become a cult classic.

17/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie – Around the world, he is known for being the hero of the Back to the Future franchise. Privately, however, he struggles against a progressive and devastating illness. In this documentary, Michael J. Fox delves into his past and present in a searingly personal tale of his successes as well as his battle against Parkinson’s disease. Moving and inspirational, the actor shows how even the darkest moments in our lives can be brightened through bravery, humour and a lot of love.

18/19
Culture
2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Talk to Me – A lot of hype came from Down Under for this independent Australian horror. Talk to Me follows a group of teenagers who become obsessed with an enchanted hand that puts the person who holds it in touch with the paranormal. While it was a relative hit given the small budget, we think a lot more people should have the wits scared out of them by this smart horror movie that embraces classic themes while still feeling like a modern story. A sequel is on the way, so grab hold of the original before the hype builds!

19/19
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2023 Movies You Might Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out)

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