It’s officially that time when we start looking back on the year and reminiscing on the content we enjoyed throughout it! 2023 was a particularly great year for movies – we had stories retold, stories take on new life, and brand new stories come to the screen, and that has made for an incredibly hard decision when it came to narrowing these movies down and making this list!
While we’re here talking about movies, we have to give a shout-out to everyone who was apart of the SAG-AFTRA strike that went on this year. You all make this industry go round, and we are beyond happy that an agreement was reached and you all can get back to making the content you love to make and we love to watch!
Now let’s get into breaking down our favorite movies of 2023!
Barbie
Is there really any other way to kick off a best of 2023 article? We don’t think so! Not only was Barbie a complete spectacle and cultural phenomenon, but it is also a start-to-finish fantastic film, with one of the best soundtracks of the year. From Dua Lipa’s ‘Dance The Night’ to Billie Eilish’s ‘What Was I Made For,’ this movie was stacked with tracks that pushed the story forward. So many of the performances in this movie were genuinely A-Tier, including America Ferrera, Kate Mckinnon, Ryan Gosling, and of course Barbie herself, Margot Robbie, just to name a few!
Barbie has everything, from heart to humor, it’s a near perfect watch.
The Little Mermaid
We have been eagerly awaiting the release of The Little Mermaid ever since the casting of Halle Bailey was announced, and saying it simply “delivered” wouldn’t quite do enough justice. The Little Mermaid was easily the best Disney live-action movie to date, with beyond-stunning colors and incredibly cinematography. From a soundtrack that could stand its own next to the original, to the Jodi Benson cameo that we were all hoping for, this movie blew us out of the water.
The entire cast brought their best to these roles! From Halle Bailey (who was born to play this role) to Melissa McCarthy, who couldn’t have made a better Ursula, they cast these roles perfectly.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
At the end of the day, we are Swifties, and we are going to gush about Taylor Swift given any single chance! The Eras Tour has been the moment this year, a complete phenomenon, breaking records left and right. And now the movie is in that conversation as well! We had the most fun we’ve ever had in a theater while watching The Eras Tour film, singing, dancing, and reliving the magic that has been this entire tour thus far.
Taylor Swift is a one-of-one entertainer, and that’s not up for debate after seeing this film.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was one of the biggest surprises of the year for us! We were sure that going into the movie with no knowledge of the game would make for a confusing watch, and instead what we were met with was an incredibly entertaining action-packed adventure we got to go on alongside these characters we became immediately attached to.
Justice Smith, in our opinion, is the standout performance from this film.
The Super Mario Bros
If you simply want to have a nostalgia hit and have fun at the theater, The Super Mario Bros movie was the place to be! Everything about this movie made us feel like kids again, from the bright colors, to the music, to the characters we’ve always loved. We got a major serotonin boost watching Mario and Luigi back at it.
And of course, we have to mention Jack Black and his incredibly catchy track, ‘Peaches,’ which we are still singing to this day.
Elemental
If we’re going to talk about animated movies, we have to mention our favorite animated movie of the year, Elemental. This movie was so incredibly beautiful. Not only just in animation quality and in the scenery that plays out on screen, but also in the storyline. There is so much heart within the film, and so many lessons spread throughout the dialogue. We think it’s one of Disney’s best animated movies!
No Hard Feelings
No Hard Feelings is the comedy of the year. Jennifer Lawrence is at her best here, and seeing her back on top where she belongs just brings the biggest smile to our faces! We watched this movie a few too many times in theaters because laughter is truly the best medicine, and this movie had us near tears multiple times.
The Hunger Games: Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes
Putting The Hunger Games prequel on our list was a no-brainer, anyone who’s seen this movie will tell you the same! The cast – led by our future Snow White, the brilliant Rachel Zegler – gave new life to the story we’ve all loved for so long. Seeing this universe back on the big screen felt like receiving a hug from an old friend. Everything from the cinematography to the soundtrack makes for the perfect edition to the HGCU (Hunger Games Cinematic Universe).
Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé
2023 was chalked full of the queens of pop dominating in all fields, and that’s proven by the success of both The Eras Tour film and of course Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé. This concert film shows that Beyoncé has mastered her craft and that she knows how to put on a show unlike any other. The energy, even through the screen, is infectious!
Five Nights at Freddy’s
We are ending our list with another surprise hit for us: the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, headed by Josh Hutcherson. We were eagerly awaiting the day that Josh had a resurgence, and his performance in this movie was the perfect vessel. This movie was the ideal mix of mystery and thriller, and let’s face it, if Matthew Lillard is playing the villain, it’s going to be on year end lists.
We would love to hear from you! What movies made your end-of-year list? Let us know by commenting down below or by tweeting us @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
Check out more of our end-of-year content here!
