The 20 Best Movies of 2023 So Far

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor
and Keith Kimbell, Metacritic Film Editor – July 1, 2023

Which films impressed critics during the first half of the year? In the gallery on this page we rank the highest-scoring movies debuting in theaters (or straight to VOD/streaming) between January 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023. Titles are ranked by their Metascores as of June 30, 2023 and must have a minimum of 7 reviews from professional critics to be eligible for inclusion.

16 of 21 photo by Criterion

88Ear for Eye

(#5) Olivier Award-winning British playwright debbie tucker green (who loves capital letters about as much as e. e. cummings did) adapts her own stage production into an intentionally challenging three-part film that explores the history of racial injustice with a cast led by Lashana Lynch. Green also has an ear for music: The soundtrack includes music by FKA twigs, Run the Jewels, and Kano.

Never released in theaters in the United States, the 2021 film finally made its American debut in April via the Criterion Channel, where it remains available to stream.

“It is, through every composition, every serrated cut, and every lived-in performance, a rebellious and revolutionary masterpiece that swims so deep into the historical and public consciousness of race, you can’t help but be equally consumed by its unwavering depths.” —Robert Daniels, IndieWire

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