So far, in our awards, we have looked at Action, Animation, Best of Australia & New Zealand, Cinematography, Costumes, Emotion, Fun, Music, Tension, and Worldbuilding.

However, in this last entry into our Best of 2023 awards, we crown our Best Film of 2023.

All films are subjective, so our list might look completely different from yours. Of the 121 films we reviewed last year, 113 had their Australian Theatrical/Streaming Release in 2023. This is the list we draw our entries from, and you can see the complete list of movies HERE.

Much like last year’s list, we have had many staggered releases towards the end of the year in Australia. So we may have films here that were released in 2022 for you but 2023 for us, and there may be some omissions here because we won’t get those films until later in 2024, which is why you won’t see The Holdovers on this list (it will be on the 2024 list)

Highly Commended – Asteroid City, Crater, John Wick: Chapter 4, M3GAN, Nimona, Sweet As & They Cloned Tyrone

Okay, with that out of the way, let’s dive into the first entry in our list of Best Films of 2023.

20: The Killer

The Killer is an odd but compelling film where we dive into the mind of a professional killer when everything falls apart. It is tense, fascinating, and a little off-putting, but it is an excellent vehicle for Michael Fassbender to pontificate for a solid 20 minutes.

Highly Commended – Action
Nominated in – Tension

Directed by – David Fincher
Screenplay by – Andrew Kevin Walker
Based on – The Killer by Alexis “Matz” Nolent & Luc Jacamon

19: The Creator

It is a phenomenal work of visual art that touches on all the emotions. The Creator is a fascinating look into a possible world with all its intrigue and dangers. Some of the best visuals this year and for about half the price of most comparable budgets, so congratulations to the team behind that.

Highly Commended – Cinematography & Costumes
Nominated in – Emotion & Worldbuilding
Winner in – Worldbuilding

Directed by – Gareth Edwards
Screenplay by – Gareth Edwards & Chris Weitz
Story by – Gareth Edwards

18:  Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One is a visual riot and fascinating story that shows that Godzilla still has it after 70 years. There is impact, and then there is using that theme at that moment and watching the cinema sit there in awe.

Highly Commended – Action & Cinematography
Nominated in – Worldbuilding

Directed by – Takashi Yamazaki
Written by – Takashi Yamazaki
Based on – Godzilla by Toho

17: Talk To Me

Talk To Me is an entirely fraught film that captivates and terrifies you in equal measure. There is a level of reality that heightens the supernatural elements in ways I have not seen before. I did not sleep well after watching this film, which is probably the best compliment I could give it.

Nominated in – Australia & New Zealand & Tension
Winner in – Tension

Directed by – Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou
Written by – Danny Philippou & Bill Hinzman
Based on – a concept by Daley Pearson

16: The Boy and the Heron

The Boy and the Heron is a heartbreaking and devastating exploration of grief set to a beautiful backdrop and wacky characters. A young man is looking forward to finding a way through his grief, and an older man is looking back at the ruin in the wake of his life. 

Highly Commended – Animated, Emotion & Music
Nominated in – Worldbuilding

Directed by – Hayao Miyazaki
Written by – Hayao Miyazaki

15: Barbie

Barbie is a heartfelt film, swinging for the fences. Not everything lands, but you can’t dismiss the passion. One half of 2023’s pop culture phenomenon, it sticks its place by asking a number of important questions and having the strength to commit to I’m Just Ken.  Also it had a MAP that made the news.

Highly Commended – Fun
Nominated in – Costumes

Directed by – Greta Gerwig
Written by – Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach
Based on – Barbie by Mattel

14:  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

There were sad tears, happy tears, and ugly cry tears, as Vol. 3 did one of the hardest things in cinema. It landed a hat trick. Maybe there is still some hope for the MCU in the future if they can go as hard as this.     

Highly Commended – Costumes, Emotion & Worldbuilding

Directed by – James Gunn
Written by – James Gunn
Based on – Guardians of the Galaxy by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

13: Tetris

Tetris is an absolute fun blast of a film that might not match entirely with history, but it wears all of its influences on its sleeve. This is how you make a film about a business deal while letting Taron Egerton and his moustache run wild.

Highly Commended – Fun & Worldbuilding

Directed by – Jon S. Baird
Written by – Noah Pink

12: The Eight Mountains

The Eight Mountains is a profound exploration of a deep plutonic friendship that lasts through the ages. As beautiful as it is devastating as we follow the lives on a mountainside steeped in history and fraught futures. Some of the best scenery you will see in the cinema this year.

Nominated in – Cinematography & Emotion
Winner in – Cinematography

Directed by – Felix van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch
Screenplay by – Felix van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch
Based on – Le otto montagne by Paolo Cognetti

11: Red, White & Brass

Red, White & Brass is a film that brings you joy from the moment they start in a house covered in Tongan flags till those final credits roll, which is made even better that it was based on a real story and stared some of the people involved. A joyous trumpet sound of fun.  

Highly Commended – Australia & New Zealand, Costumes & Music
Nominated in – Fun

Directed by – Damon Fepulea’i
Written by – Damon Fepulea’i & Halaifonua Finau

10: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an enjoyable film that captures the chaos of a D&D session right down to the nat-20 dice rolls. But more than that, it is one of those rare films that gets better on a second, third, and even fourth watch. Don’t believe me? Well, there is a way you can check this out for yourselves.

Nominated in – Costumes, Fun & Worldbuilding
Winner in – Fun

Directed by – Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley
Story by – Chris McKay & Michael Gilio
Screenplay by – Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley & Michael Gilio
Based on – Dungeons & Dragons by Hasbro

9: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a delightful romp of a film, stunning in its animation and engaging in its story. It uses its unique art style to tell a story that focuses on a part of the TMNT lore that often gets missed. They are teenagers, and you felt that here. It also uses its unique visual style to help sell the narrative.

Nominated in – Animated & Fun

Directed by – Jeff Rowe
Screenplay by – Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit
Story by – Brendan O’Brien, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg & Jeff Rowe
Based on – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Peter Laird & Kevin Eastman

8: Sisu

Sisu is an electric meditation on violence and the lengths people will go to survive. It was my big surprise of 2023 because it came out of nowhere and knocked my socks off with its creative action scenes set to some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth.

Nominated in – Action
Nominated in – Cinematography & Music
Winner in – Music

Directed by – Jalmari Helander
Written by – Jalmari Helander

7: Uproar

Uproar is an emotional punch to the face as it explores the power of finding your identity. It is one of those rare films about the past that can inform the present and future. It understands the power of identity and the challenge to find your way to it. Julian Dennison is such a grand actor, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Highly Commended – Emotion
Nominated in – Australia & New Zealand
Winner in – Australia & New Zealand

Directed by – Paul Middleditch & Hamish Bennett
Screenplay by – Keith Aberdein
Story by – Hamish Bennett, Sonia Whiteman & Paul Middleditch
Written by – Hamish Bennett & Sonia Whiteman with Mario Gaoa & Rachel House
Based on – Concept by Paul Middleditch & Mark Turnbull

6: Women Talking

Women Talking is a stunningly devastating film, brimming with empathy and power in equal measures. It does what few mainstream films in this age do: have an honest conversation about faith from the perspective of people who understand what that term means and the weight that comes with it. Every part of the production helps build on the central theme they are exploring.  

Highly Commended – Costumes
Nominated in – Emotion, Music & Tension
Winner in – Music

Directed by – Sarah Polley
Screenplay by – Sarah Polley
Based on – Women Talking by Miriam Toews

5: Oppenheimer

On the other end of that pop culture moment is Oppenheimer, a visual spectacle and a masterclass in dissecting a complicated life. The calibre of talent behind this film is difficult to comprehend, with some actors coming in having one line and leaving an impact that we don’t see often happen during entire features. This might be Nolan’s best use of his manipulation of time as it sheds light on the horrors we cause in the name of science, survival, nationalism, or just war.

Highly Commended – Costumes & Worldbuilding
Nominated in – Cinematography & Music
Winner in – Music,

Directed by – Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by – Christopher Nolan
Based on – American Prometheus by Kai Bird & Martin J. Sherwin

4: Killers of the Flower Moon

It is hard to watch a film that is both completely beautiful but also profoundly unsettling. It shined a light on a part of American history that tends to get forgotten. This is a film that has a cast that includes Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, and Brendan Fraser, and that is just the start.

There is no weak link; everyone brings their all to this challenging film. But what makes this stand out among many others is the lengths they went to get the details right. It was over three hours long, and Killers of the Flower Moon is a stunning work of art that captivated me for that entire time.

Highly Commended – Tension
Nominated in – Cinematography, Costumes, Emotion & Music
Winner in – Costumes & Music

Directed by – Martin Scorsese
Screenplay by – Martin Scorsese & Eric Roth
Based on – Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

3: Creed III

Creed III is electric. Every punch matters, every emotion hits, and I was captivated from start to finish. Few people can step into shoes that both Sylvester Stallone and Ryan Coogler have been in and knock it out of the park in your first outing. But Michael B. Jordan did just that. It is a film about history catching up to you, the path not taken, the strength and frustrations of family, and finding where your life will take you in the next stage. The fights are visceral; some are dark and dirty, others hyper-stylised, but they all work. I don’t know if we will get another in this franchise, but after Creed and Creed II, I had to congratulate a rare film that landed a trilogy.   

Highly Commended – Emotion
Nominated in – Action
Winner in – Action

Directed by – Michael B. Jordan
Story by – Ryan Coogler, Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin
Screenplay by – Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin
Based on – Rocky by Sylvester Stallone

2: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a pure delight from start to finish in an absolutely stunningly realised world. To crib what I wrote in our Best Animated Film entry. The middle film in a trilogy can often feel like it has been held back, stuck living in the shadow of what is to come. Not so here. They built on everything that worked in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and then took it even further. Focusing the first part of the film on Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) helped bring a fresh view to the world. I mean this both narratively and animatedly. Every world feels different and unique, from Lego and watercolour to everything in between.

Nominated in – Animated, Fun & Music
Winner in – Animated & Music


Directed by – Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers & Justin K. Thompson
Screenplay by – Phil Lord, Christopher Miller & David Callaham
Based on – Spider-Man by Marvel

1: Aftersun

It is an emotional whirlwind – Stunning, Beautiful, and Heartbreaking. 

I am not sure anything truly prepares you for what you are about to watch when you press play. Aftersun, at its core, is just a simple story about a father, Calum (Paul Mescal), going on a family trip to Turkey with his daughter Sophie (Frankie Corio) somewhere in the early 1990s. He is not with Sophie’s mother anymore, so this is a bonding experience for the two. But it might be more than that; indeed, an adult Sophie (Celia Rowlson-Hall) feels that it is as she laments over old footage of their time together.   

It is a film about nostalgia, of trying to connect with a past that is now lost to time. It is a film about reevaluating your parents now that you have a child of your own. It is a film about the things that we hide from our children to protect them. It also has the one scene transition of the year that slapped me across the face and had me weeping. It was a mighty work exploring many different and complex emotions. A bond both in the moment and shared across time.  

Nominated in – Cinematography & Emotion
Winner in – Emotion

Directed by – Charlotte Wells
Written by – Charlotte Wells

With that, our awards for 2023 end, it was an excellent year for cinema, and we look forward to continuing our coverage into 2024.   

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

What are your favourite cinematic moments from 2023?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images used were created by the respective studios and artists of each film