The 13 best movies of 2023, so far

Given that 2018's "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" wasn't just a box office hit but also won a best animation Oscar, anticipation for "Across the Spider-Verse" was high. Thankfully, it delivered.

Like any great sequel, "Across the Spider-Verse" fleshes out more of the subplots, like the life of Gwen Stacy, and elevates the the stakes. Plus, the movie's cliffhanger ending left me excited to go back to theaters to see the third installment. — Jason Guerrasio

The odds stacked against the third "Creed" movie were substantial.

Not only did it mark star Michael B. Jordan's first time directing, but it didn't feaure the franchise's glue: Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa.

Despite all that, "Creed III" is fantastic.

Though part three treads some familiar ground, Jordan injects a fresh perspective into the franchise's well-worn themes of guilt, second chances, and family.

It turns out Stallone being left out of this round was the right move. — J.G.

Universal Pictures kicked off 2023 with a banger blending horror and humor in a wild satire about an overprotective android, M3GAN, who goes berserk on anyone who presents a danger to or does wrong by her eight-year-old BFF, Cady (Violet McGraw).

Best experienced with a crowd, the 102-minute film written by Akela Cooper ("Malignant") and starring Allison Williams is a riot from start to finish as the child-sized murder doll takes her job a little too seriously.

Amie Donald's hauntingly graceful viral hallway dance, a moment that wasn't in the original script, will remain in our heads until the 2025 sequel. I'm calling it now: "M3GAN" is the camp "Chucky" of our generation. — Kirsten Acuna

Raine Allen-Miller's directing debut is a charming and honest look at how we publicly and privately grieve and move forward from a bad breakup.

During a chance meeting, Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah) unexpectedly bond over recent heartbreaks and spend a whirlwind day in South London stepping out of their comfort zones, confronting their exes, and rediscovering themselves in the process.

The film's vibrant sets and distinct look make this a fun and fast-moving 82 minutes. Anamorphic wide-angle lenses result in immersive shots that make you feel like you're experiencing the film's titular market alongside its leads. It's a shame Disney sent this 20th Century Studios' film straight to streaming. — K.A.

"Rye Lane" is streaming on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK.

This is definitely not the first time Hollywood has turned an outlandish true story into a box-office hit. But director Elizabeth Banks and producers Chris Miller and Phil Lord give "Cocaine Bear" the B-movie treatment that a true story about a bear eating a whole lot of cocaine deserves.

The filmmakers dive into the absurd with so much force they may have single-handedly created a new horror genre. Don't be shocked if you see "Cocaine Shark" or "Cocaine Hawk" down the road (this is a joke... unless these movies are released). — J.G.

In the gorgeously animated fantasy rom-com "Suzume," director Makoto Shinkai effortlessly crafts a story about loss and moving forward while honoring those who were lost in Japan's 2011 earthquake.

The titular Suzume's life gets turned upside down when she opens a door in an abandoned part of town and unleashes an unexpected threat upon the world. As she and a mysterious young man, Souta, set out to stop a series of earthquakes, things become complicated when Souta is turned into a small three-legged chair who can run and speak.

Referred to as the next Miyazaki, Shinkai is quickly becoming one of the greatest animated storytellers of our time. Now is a great time to catch up on his other films, including "Your Name" and "Weathering With You," both of which are streaming on Netflix. — K.A.

Nida Manzoor's directorial debut "Polite Society" delivers a sharp look at overbearing parental expectations, sibling bonds, and pursuing your dreams.

At surface level, Universal's action comedy seems like a film about a teenager, Ria (Priya Kansara), an aspiring stuntwoman who has the support of her older sister, Lena (Ritu Arya). The film shifts dramatically when Lena falls in love a little too quickly for Ria's liking. Ria goes into overprotective little sister mode, setting out to sabotage a seemingly perfect relationship, often using her stuntwoman skills.

Full of fun fight sequences and some beautifully executed cartwheels, a great deal of the film's charm comes from not knowing whether or not Ria's sisterly concerns are selfish or valid until an unexpected, bizarre twist late in the film. The less you know about this one before tuning in, the better. — K.A.

"Polite Society" is currently streaming on Peacock.

In this AppleTV+ doc, director Davis Guggenheim delivers a vulnerable and honest look inside Michael J. Fox's ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease. Fox is seen at physical therapy sessions, doctor's appointments, and with family as he shares how he learned of his diagnosis at the peak of his stardom at 29 and how he tried to hide it from Hollywood for several years.

If you've ever watched the "Back to the Future" trilogy or "Family Ties," you'll want to carve out 95 minutes for this one as Fox shares the relentless shooting schedule that had him going directly from the NBC sitcom to Steven Spielberg's set for months straight. — K.A.

"Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie" is streaming on Apple TV+.

M. Night Shyamalan movies are always crafted to make you uneasy, but this one hit differently for me.

Maybe it's because of the pandemic, or having a family myself, but a group of people coming to a cabin to hold a family hostage and tell them the world is going to end unless one of them dies was truly troubling to watch.

Despite all of that, I couldn't help but respect the craftsmanship behind it. The direction, script, camerawork, and, of course, the acting kept me riveted, especially Dave Bautista's turn in a lead dramatic role. — J.G.

In recounting how Michael Jordan signed with Nike upon being drafted by the Chicago Bulls, Ben Affleck shows once more how he can turn a true story into a well-paced feature film. He even makes us root for a giant shoe company, turning what could have been an inside-baseball story of competing corporate cash grabs into something with passion and heart.

And that's not just behind the camera. Affleck's comedic portrayal of Nike CEO Phil Knight, decked out in '80S jogging outfits and large sunglasses, shows he's still got a lot more to offer with his acting. — J.G.

"Air" is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Celine Song's directorial debut delicately explores the excitement and frustrations of reconnecting with a first crush when timing, location, and circumstances aren't on your side.

Set across three timelines, "Past Lives" is a deeply relatable story about the missed connections we experience in our lifetime and the complicated ways in which those bonds may linger in our hearts and minds.

The drama may leave you questioning whether or not you're living the life you're meant to be based on the choices you've made. After last year's Oscar winner "Everything Everywhere All at Once," this is another triumph from A24. — K.A.

Director Matt Johnson, best known for his found-footage comedies like "The Dirties" and "Operation Avalanche," delivers his most mainstream work yet with "Blackberry," a romp through the rise and fall of the smartphone company.

Here he casts Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton as the two figureheads behind the creation of the famous BlackBerry, and we follow as the two drive the once-promising company into the ground.

With a comedic sensibility that can be compared to "Office Space" or "Silicon Valley," the movie is hugely entertaining, especially with Johnson also taking on a scene-stealing role. — J.G.

Pixar may have bungled the release of "Elemental" in theaters due to poor marketing, but the good news is word-of-mouth praise for the film seems to be growing.

"Elemental" is what we've come to expect from the beloved animation house: a story that can entertain all ages. And this one has a unique wrinkle as the first rom-com in the Pixar library. — J.G.