2023wraps as a fantastic year for dramatic movies, delivering plenty of great choices for those looking for more serious and insightful stories. There was a time when the “New Hollywood” movement was active in the film industry, and dramatic films were box office giants, with legendary filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubick having all the creative freedom they deserved and pulling off unforgettable masterpieces designed especially for the big screen — which felt like a precious, distant past.
However, 2023 stands as a memorable year fordramaticcinema because, for the first time in years, big epic dramas stood toe-to-toe with market giants such as superhero movies and Disney animations, including a new Scorsese movie. There wasSound of Freedom, an original indie drama that generated controversy and surprise success. And of course, there isOppenheimer, a three-hour-long historical drama that managed to reach almost $1 billion at the box office. Outside the box office metric, there are plenty of other great dramatic movies worth checking out. Here are the 20 best dramatic movies of 2023.
20Tori and Lokita
Brothers Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne grew to become two of the most influential Belgian filmmakers and continue to tackle timely and relevant matters even 20 years after their breakthrough movie,Rosetta. InTori and Lokita, they turn their eyes to the young and dispossessed through the journey of a young boy and a teenager who traveled alone from Africa and must struggle to adapt to the hardships of exile.
Emotions Run High in This Drama
There’s a lot of beauty here, but a lot of anger and fear too.Tori and Lokitamight be the Dardenne brothers' less subtle movie, and rightfully so: there’s no way around the exhaustion and frustration that envelops these two main characters in an agonizing longing, but the moving bond they form pays off in a sweet, tear-jerking conclusion.Stream on The Criterion Channel
19A Thousand and One
A Thousand and Oneis a heavy drama that develops as the years pass, centered around the relationship of a quiet, yet smart kid and his mother (played by Teyana Taylor), a resolute woman determined to reclaim stability and comfort in the challenging city of New York. Their peace is constantly threatened by an occurrence from years ago when she kidnapped her son from foster care.
A Stunning Debut Feature from A.V. Rockwell
A Thousand and Oneis the debut feature of director A.V. Rockwell and prepares the ground for an insightful debate on the thin line between economic struggle and parental responsibility. It shouldn’t take a movie to convince someone that, in many cases, it isn’t the person who is unfit to take care of a child, but rather the circumstances that surround them. In any case, Rockwell delves into the subject with the integrity it deserves.Stream on Prime Video
18American Fiction
American Fiction
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American Fictiontells the story of a Black novelist whose work isn’t deemed “Black” enough. In this context, he decides to expose all the hypocrisies of the publishing industry under a pseudonym, ultimately embodying hypocrisy itself through his new, provocative persona.
Led by an Oscar-Worthy Jeffrey Wright
American Fictionis an absolute crowd-pleaser: it’s charming, funny, and earned a deserved People’s Choice award at the Toronto Film Festival. However, it has its share of strong dramatic moments as well, all of which work due to Jeffrey Wright’s vibrant, Oscar-worthy performance. Every frame of the movie is filled with irony, yet the social commentary lingers once the tragedy behind its comical appeal is disclosed.Now Playing in Theaters
17Blue Jean
Blue Jeanis a period drama set in 1988, back when repression against the LGBTQ+ community was still heavily propagated by the law. The film follows a teacher forced to lead a double life to hide her sexuality. When a student threatens to expose her, she’s pushed to unexpected extremes to keep her career and integrity.
A Personal Story About World History
Here’s a dramatic film that truly cares about its characters, while simultaneously exploring overlooked hardships of a delicate moment in British history. Everything feels so real thatBlue Jeancould well be based on a true story — no wonder director Georgia Oakley revealed in an interview withHuffPostthat Jean’s odyssey was based on her own personal experiences, explaining why the pain feels so real.Stream on Hulu
16The Starling Girl
The Starling Girltells the story of a teenage girl who engages in an affair with a married youth pastor while struggling to come to terms with her spirituality and the Christian fundamentalism of the community she lives in.Eliza Scanlen carries the movieon her back, once again proving she’s a precious young actor who excels at conveying ambiguous and nuanced emotions.
Where Faith and Desire Collide
The movie is easy to relate to, and will definitely hit close to home for young folks torn between desire and faith. Hopefully,The Starling Girldelivers a message suitable to anyone ashamed of the vulnerability that comes with embracing one’s emotions. Half a coming-of-age drama, and half a meditation on religious restraints, Laurel Parmet’s debut feature is a must-watch.Stream on Paramount+
Related:Best Horror Movies of 2023
15Society of the Snow
Based on a chilling true story of survival in the freezing Andes Mountains,Society of the Snowrecounts the tragic crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which was carrying a team of rugby players to Chile in 1972. There’s a lot of effort around putting the audience in the shoes of the desperate survivors clamoring for help in an inhospitable land.
A Harrowing Survival Story Based on Real Events
The whole crash sequence will surely be remembered as one of the most bone-chilling of 2023, but J. A. Bayona’s real specialty is realistically exploring human nature in the face of despair and hopelessness. At the end of the day,Society of the Snowdelivers a truly anxiety-inducing narrative, but also ends on an inspiring note.Stream on Netflix
14Past Lives
Past Lives
Of all the dramatic movies released in 2023, none have proved as universally relatable asPast Lives. The movie is centered around two childhood friends, Nora and Hae Sung, who have drifted apart after Nora moves from South Korea to Canada to, in her adult years, the United States. They reunite decades later to discuss love, destiny, and the passing of time, wondering how things would’ve been different had they stayed together.
A Modern Love Story
Like a modernCasablanca,Past Livesis a shout-out to beautiful bonds lost with time. The unspeakable distance between the main characters is perceptible even when they’re standing right next to each other. However, the love they feel for each other is nearly tangible. This contrast results in a good mix of drama and romance.Past Livesis the cinematic equivalent to that fateful “what if?” question that we tend to ask ourselves every once in a while.Rent on AppleTV
13How to Have Sex
The opening moments ofHow to Have Sexhint at a drug-fueled movie filled with big parties, sex, and reckless youth, but, at the end of the day, viewers only get to see the latter. The film follows Tara, Sky, and Anna in what should be the best summer of their lives. Trying to forget the pressure of getting into a good college, Tara looks for the right moment to lose her virginity. That’s when the movie sets up a truly dark turn.
The Darker Shades of Being a Teenager
If one’s waiting for a sloppy-drunk party movie, one shouldn’t get pastHow to Have Sex’s first 10 minutes. Although the film patiently sets up Tara’s traumatic experience, from the get-go viewers can feel a melancholic aura surrounding the character. It offers an insightful examination of the pressure that falls upon teenagers when even having fun becomes a painful process.Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase
12Perfect Days
Perfect Daysfollows Hirayama on his uneventful routine as a toilet cleaner. All of his days unfold in the same fashion, and his habits remain unchanged. Gradually, the world around him begins to change. On the surface,Perfect Dayscould be seen as a simple ripoff ofJim Jarmusch’sPaterson, but it takes a talented filmmaker like Wim Wenders to turn a humble, ordinary story into a moving tale of redemption across Tokyo’s urban landscapes.
Japan and Germany’s Slice-of-Life Co-Production
The movie feels like a rainy Sunday afternoon: peaceful, serene, and soothing. It’s a story that can only do good, prompting viewers to wonder about the small things that make their lives meaningful.Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase
11Priscilla
Priscillarecounts the untold story of Priscilla Presley, the widow of the legendary King of Rock, Evil Presley. The film explores their turbulent relationship over the decades, from the early years of dreams and promises to the rise to stardom, which eventually enveloped Priscilla in a glamorized loneliness.
Sofia Coppola’s Signature Style on Full Display
Sofia Coppola movies are usually a hit-or-miss for many people, but she always remained faithful to her style. It’s the same inPriscilla, although the movie delivers some of the riskiest choices of her career. It deconstructs one myth in favor of another, giving the character of Priscilla a necessary dose of empathy.Rent on AppleTV
Related:The 23 Best Movies of 2023, Ranked
