Incredibly we’re a quarter of the way through the year already! And it’s been a year full of very solid movies, or at least those that exceeded expectations. Of the 21 movies I’ve seen from 2023 so far, there are only 5 that I would call full-on bad, and all of these are streaming products, with the exception of Shazam!: Fury of the Gods (and kind of House Party, though it feels like a streaming release).
The point is I’ve made a lot of trips to the theater so far this year, and very few of them have been disappointing. So with a quarter of the year done, I wanted to take this chance to highlight my top 5 movies of the year so far. After this, I’ll go through what I’m excited about coming up in April, and there is a lot!
Note: for this list, I’m only counting indisputably 2023 movies. Late 2022 movies that I was unable to see until 2023—like Women Talking, The Quiet Girl, or All the Beauty and the Bloodshed—will be eligible for inclusion at the end of the year list, just as “2021” titles like Petite Maman and Drive My Car made the 2022 list.
1. Missing
(VOD, likely to be on Netflix fairly soon). I understand the complaints about this movie, especially how it forces its conceit at times, but I can’t remember the last time I was glued to my seat this much while watching a movie. The suspense of this movie is ratcheted up most of the time, so you rarely get a chance to breathe or escape the claustrophobic world of the screen. It’s somewhat surreal to experience that in the presence of a big screen. I do wish it commented a little more on how digital surveillance works in our world, but as a movie experience, this one really had a hold on me.
2. John Wick: Chapter 4
(just opened in theaters). I haven’t seen the other JW movies and, when I saw the nearly three-hour running time, I was almost scared away from this one. But after seeing rave reviews I gave it a shot and was, more or less, blown away. The story is meh and the middle definitely drags, but the last hour more than makes up for it with a non-stop barrage of action mayhem. I’m not going to put it in “best action movie ever” territory, but the last hour should be in that conversation. Jaw-dropping action brilliance.
3. Rye Lane (Hulu)
Raine Allen-Miller’s debut effort is such a wonderful and joyful rom-com that it almost feels like it could single-handedly revive the whole genre. It does almost effortlessly what bigger movies with bigger names (Marry Me, Your Place or Mine) struggle so mightily to do. The chemistry between the leads is infectious, packed full of outlandish humor and heartfelt moments. It’s about as earnest as it gets, and I can just about guarantee it will be one of the top hidden streaming gems of 2023.
4. Infinity Pool
(not sure where/when this one is available at home). Very much “not for everyone,” but I really liked this movie. The cast is great, and the concept is outlandish enough, but also simple enough, to work. It probes big questions about morality and cloning (and hyper-privilege) without providing many clear answers. It appears that the year’s best horror offerings are still to come (I found M3GAN and Scream VI both to be fine but nothing special), so this is the best horror 2023 has so far.
5. Knock at the Cabin (streaming on Peacock)
I’m not a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan, but this doesn’t feel much like one of his movies, and it’s much better for it. Based on Paul Tremblay’s novel, there’s no outlandish twist or dragged out middle section (staples of other M. Night films like The Village and The Sixth Sense). Instead, you get a tight, powerful family drama about choices and impending apocalypse. It’s also really queer in a “irritate the conservatives” and not in a “gay moment Disney” kind of way. Definitely the biggest surprise gem of the year so far.
The rest of the top 10:
7. Creed III
8. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
9. Cocaine Bear
10. M3GAN
What I’m Looking Forward to in April
April 5- The Super Mario Brothers Movie and Air.
It doesn’t take long for April to come out firing on all cylinders. By the time you read this, you’ll be able to go out and see these movies, and I know I want to. I’m still not sold on Chris Pratt’s Mario voice but everything else about this movie looks spectacular, from the colors to the humor to the life and personality of the characters. This has “kids movie sensation” potential around it.
Opening the same day is Air. As a Portland kid, I have a fondness for all things Nike and it looks like Ben Affleck may have found a way to elevate the standard biopic material into something special as he did with Argo. He’s only directed one movie since Argo (the “oh yeah I guess that does exist” Live by Night (2016)), so this looks like an overdue return.
April 7- Showing Up, Paint, and How to Blow Up a Pipeline.
None of these are opening in my market, but I’m eagerly awaiting them whenever I get the chance to see them. Showing Up is the latest from Kelly Reichardt who has been one of the most consistently praised directors of the last 20 years with films like Certain Women (2016), First Cow (2020), and Old Joy (2006). I’m still in the process of diving into her work more, but I love what I’ve seen so far. Like several of her films, this stars Michelle Williams, and I will watch her in anything.
Also opening this day is Paint, a new movie where Owen Wilson plays a Bob Ross type. It might be great, it might be bad, it’s almost certain to be interesting. We also get the latest from Neon, which has been on a hot streak the last few years, in the fantastically named How to Blow Up a Pipeline. It’s pretty under-the-radar but I’m intrigued by it.
April 14- Renfield and Mafia Mamma
My excitement for Renfield tempered a tiny bit with the new trailer and some worry the film may try to be too sincere. But it still stars Nic Cage and Nicholas Hoult, two of my favorite working actors. The director is Chris McKay who previously directed my favorite Batman movie, The LEGO Batman Movie (2017). I’m intrigued by Mafia Mamma, too, if mainly to see Toni Colette do something fun and darkly comedic more in the vein of The United States of Tara from way back when.
April 21- Evil Dead Rise, Beau is Afraid, and Chevalier
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the previous Evil Dead films—classics and the remake—so I’m excited. I’m also terrified because this one looks INTENSE. I usually have a strong stomach for horror, but this one might mess me up. I’m here for it, though. I’m a lot more excited for Beau is Afraid, the latest from Ari Aster (Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019)). Wikipedia describes it as a “surrealist black comedy horror film.” It’s almost 3 hours, and with a budget of 35 million, they should probably start promoting it some time, but I know I’m there for it. Chevalier will likely be a middle-of-the-road period drama, but I’m a big fan of Samara Weaving and Lucy Boynton, so I’m in.
April 28- Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
After a LONG nearly 7-year wait, we have Kelly Fremon Craig’s follow-up to the delightful gem Edge of Seventeen (2016) (watch it if you haven’t). And from the moment I saw the trailer back in January, this has been solidly among my most anticipated movies for the rest of the year. I think this has big potential to be a sleeper hit that gradually brings in an audience throughout May as blockbusters duke it out. The legendary author of the book, Judy Blume, says it’s better than the book. High praise indeed. Peter Pan and Wendy also stream this day on Disney+. I have no clue if that will be good or not, but it does seem at least a more necessary remake than many recent Disney attempts.
And that will take us up to May and the official summer movie season. But, if I’m honest, as was the case last year with Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, I’m more excited about the April offerings than the upcoming May tentpoles. But I will be back with a summer preview soon, ideally once a few more under-the-radar films find their way onto the schedule.
