Hollywood didn't exactly step up in 2023, but fortunately for cinephiles, there were a ton of great international productions. From Mexico and France to Japan and South Korea, some of the best films of the year were produced internationally. It's likely you've heard of several titles on the list, as most of these received widespread praise from critics, and have already been shortlisted at the Academy Awards. However, along the way, don't be surprised if a few names fail to ring a bell.
No matter their name value or popularity, film fans can rest assured that these are all of the utmost quality. Plenty feature star-studded casts, and they were made by talented directors — some of whom have been pumping out critical darlings for decades on end. All that said, these are the best international movies of 2023, ranked by:
- Unique aesthetics and all-around style.
- Incredible performances that transcend language.
- Narratives and characters that shed light on a culture.
- Powerful emotions that are universally felt.
- Themes and ideas that are deeply meaningful.
- Characters that expand our human empathy.
- Entertainment!
Even with all of the films included in the list, there are obviously dozens of other great international films from this year, and we aren't even including documentaries. Other great films from 2023 include Stonewalling, R.M.N., Smoking Causes Coughing, Leonor Will Never Die, Joyland, Alcarràs, Revoir Paris, When Evil Lurks, Passages, SISU, Mami Wata, Piaffe, El Conde, Aurora's Sunrise, Return to Dust, Aloners, Once Upon a Time in Uganda, Streetwise, Scarlet, Full Time, Rimini, Sick of Myself, Giraffe, Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future, The Mountain, Dry Ground Burning, and The Elders.
30 Kill Boksoon
Stylish and cool, Kill Boksoon follows the hitwoman Gil Bok-soon as she struggles to balance her personal life with her work. Her contract with the top assassination agency is ending, so she decides not to follow through with her final assignment. Instead, she shifts the attention to mending her relationship with her daughter, Jae-young, a decision which leads to some, well, career problems.
Compelling and Cool Characters Grounded by Emotion
Despite being extremely cool, the emotional value of its plot renders Kill Boksoon a compelling journey until the fireworks of its finale. The mother-daughter relationship is great and we love these characters, but ultimately it's the well-choreographed fight scenes that make this film really great. With a keen directorial sense from Byun Sung-hyun, this well-acted action thriller should appeal to even people who dislike subtitles. Stream on Netflix.
29 All Your Faces
Examining the concept of restorative justice, All Your Faces was directed by French filmmaker Jeanne Herry. It tells the story of three robbery victims who join a discussion group alongside a trio of violent thieves. And while this isn't the most popular film you'll read about today, it is a high-quality project that resonates from various emotional perspectives.
The Dichotomy of Suffering
Supervised by professionals and volunteers, victims and perpetrators alike engage in a group-based dialogue that highlights restorative development. Anger and hope, silence and hysteria, alliances and heartbreaks are all present on their journey. At the end of their respective paths, they may also find reparations. The movie features a unique plot that captures harsh themes of crime, trauma, and the unfairness of life amid the struggles of a victim’s life. Not yet streaming.
28 Unlocked
Based on the novel Sumaho o Otoshita Dake, the story of Unlocked revolves around Lee Na-mi, who works as a marketer for a start-up company. One day, she loses her cell phone — a character named Oh Jun-Yeong stumbles upon it and begins to threaten Lee's once-normal life. It's a beautifully simple plot for a thriller that seems loosely inspired by Akira Kurosawa's Stray Dogs, and it comes to life in surprising ways.
Unlocked Succeeds with a Talented Cast and Crew
Off the bat, there are two names most prominently worth noting amid the cast and crew: Chun Woo-hee and Yim Si-wan, who star as Lee and Oh, respectively. They provide powerful performances under the direction of Kim Tae-joon, who also wrote the original script. All of their efforts thrills audiences the whole way through while also providing a blunt wake-up call regarding the dangers of social media and our addiction to cell phones. Stream on Netflix.
27 Rotting in the Sun
Filmmaker Sebastián Silva (Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus, Magic Magic, Nasty Baby) takes his penchant for dark comedies about screwed up people to new heights with the film Rotting in the Sun. Silva portrays himself as a procrastinating, uninspired writer-director who is addicted to ketamine and hates everything. His flustered and sweet maid tries to ignore all his debauchery. He spends some time away at the beach, where he meets a carefree and obnoxious social media influencer. You won't expect where this film is going.
An Unpredictable Meta Comedy Thriller
Silva and Instagram influencer Jordan Firstman do a wonderful job of portraying natural variations of themselves, and their relationship is an interesting balance between two extreme opposites. The way the film evolves is extremely unpredictable, and it would be a shame to spoil the plot. Suffice it to say, this one is special. Streaming on Prime Video and available to rent or buy on digital platforms.
26 Full River Red
Among the highest-grossing movies of 2023 thanks to leading the Chinese box office, Full River Red follows a mysterious crime that takes place at the beginning of the Southern Song dynasty. After the death of an ambassador within the residence of Qin Hui, an important letter written to the emperor winds up stolen, leading to a complex, fascinating, and funny plot. The film comes from the great Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers), who delivers yet another epic, though one that's far less polychromatic.
Comedic Undertones in a Compelling Historical Thriller
As the search for the letter unfolds, alliances are formed and secrets are revealed. By the surprising climax, Full River Red flourishes into an essential Chinese project from 2023. Its use of humor is exceptional and makes it stand out amid other historical dramas and action epics, and helps its 150-minute runtime fly by. Not yet on streaming.
25 The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan
Based on the famous Alexandre Dumas novel, The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan was helmed by Martin Bourboulon from a script by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière. And while none of those filmmakers are certain to sound familiar, fans around the world will likely recognize the actors among this project's star-studded cast, and the story is universally known by now.
Talented Actors on an Engaging Adventure
Famous names such as Vincent Cassel and Eva Green are joined by other performers like François Civil, Romain Duris, and Pio Marmaï. The eponymous soldiers exchange well-written dialogue, and they're absolute forces on the battlefield — intense action sequences in The Three Musketeers are highlighted by the fluid camerawork and the subtle dynamics of its sound design. And overall, this sprawling adventure film features an engaging plot that leaves audiences anticipating the sequel. Available to rent or buy on digital platforms like YouTube, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
24 Born to Fly
Starring Wang Yibo, Hu Jun, Yu Shi, and Zhou Dongyu, the plot of Born to Fly chronicles a special operations team led by accomplished pilots who were tasked with testing brand-new fighter jets. While challenging the sky in test flight after test flight, an elite pilot is forced to exceed his own physical and psychological limits to survive after a midair threat.The film has been called 'the Chinese Top Gun' for good reason.
Fine Flying Scenes and Memorable Moments
Though heavy on character development and more focused on the psyche of its pilots than the dog-fighting area of aviation, Born to Fly features memorable moments that have a lot of behind-the-scenes intelligence about flying. With its exhilarating flight scenes, the film keeps its spectators gripping the arms of their seats. Careful camerawork adds a firm sense of realism to a project heavy on spectacles, and overall, Born to Fly soars on the screen as its characters do in the air. Not yet on streaming.
23 The Delinquents
Regardless of region, one of the most overlooked movies of 2023 is The Delinquents, written and directed by Rodrigo Moreno. It's a heist flick, following a bank clerk named Morán who robs the very facility in which he works. Now holding $650,000, he splits the earnings with his friend Román, who stashes away the loot while Morán turns himself in.
Argentina Continues to Produce High-quality Heist Films
From Hardly a Criminal (1949) to Nine Queens (2000), plenty of Argentina's greatest films have revolved around some sort of heist. Moreno continues the legacy here with The Delinquents, which received great praise from critics and audiences alike. But from a standpoint of popularity, this film deserves far more love overall. There's a reason it's on the shortlist at the Academy Awards. Stream on Mubi and through Prime Video, or rent or buy on digital platforms.
22 The Beasts
It makes sense that one of the most tense and bleak films of the year is ripped from the headlines and based on a true story. In The Beasts, Denis Ménochet and Marina Foïs play a French couple who move out to a naturally gorgeous but regionally specific area of northwest Spain to start a farm in the countryside. In Straw Dogs fashion, issues quickly develop with the newcomers' neighbors, who are far from neighborly.
We Can't Get Along
An extremely realistic Spanish film, The Beasts asks one of the most pertinent questions of our time — how can very different people life together? How do we ethically and honestly define borders and ownership? Filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen peers into the darker nature of the human spirit with a tense turf war in The Beasts. Stream on Mubi and through Prime Video, or rent or buy on digital platforms.
21 Wingwomen
A French action-comedy, Wingwomen was directed by the great actor Mélanie Laurent, who also co-stars alongside Adèle Exarchopoulos. The two actresses play a pair of thieves on the run, who recruit a character named Sam (played by Manon Bresch) to help them execute one last heist. A fairly simple plot, seen into hilarious and thrilling fruition thanks primarily to the performances of the aforementioned leads.
The Leads Share a Memorable Chemistry
Laurent captures a poignance with her performances unlike few actresses of her generation, even if the respective project is geared more towards comedy. She performs brilliantly as Carole, and she shares a tangible rapport with her co-stars from the film's first scene. Thanks to that witty and quick back-and-forth dialogue and memorable performances, Wingwomen deserves to be known as one of the finest French films of the year. Stream on Netflix.
20 Ballerina
Among the most acclaimed films of the year is Ballerina, a South Korean action thriller written and directed by Lee Chung-hyun. It boasts a perfect 100% approval rating on critical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences holding the project in high regard as well. Thanks to a compelling, revenge-based plot, it's easy to see why.
A Work of Non-Stop Action
Creating a well-choreographed set piece is one thing. With Ballerina, writer-director Lee Chung-hyun utilized various methods of camerawork and sound design to create an unrelenting action thriller that's often defined by its tone, not just the flash of its spectacles. A South Korean musician named Gray composed the score, which contributes a ton to the film's atmosphere, and lead actress Jeon Jong-seo provides a memorable effort as Ok-ju. Everyone involved deserves renown for Ballerina. Stream on Netflix.
19 The Origin of Evil
A wicked comedic thriller that deconstructs family and class, The Origin of Evil follows a woman who seeks out her actual biological father, who just happens to be a very wealthy man. His nasty family is extremely suspicious of the new woman, who they see as competition for his inheritance. What ensues is a study in secrecy, a battle of verbal barbs, and some very awkward moments.
A Funny French Film That Keeps You on Your Toes
The Origin of Evil is director Sébastien Marnier’s deliciously dark masterpiece about wealth and elitism, and the meaning of family. Our reviewer called it a gleeful combination of Succession and Agatha Christie, which is exactly on point. Rent or buy on digital platforms like YouTube, Prime Video, and Apple TV. You can get a feel for the awkward tension of the film, combined with the innovative directorial choices, in the clip below:
18 Tori and Lokita
Tori and Lokita is a lesson in compassion that will become increasingly important as refugees and immigrants grow in number around the world. The film follows a teenager and her little brother who are refugees in Belgium. The pair navigate the immigration system and are exploited and mistreated by a variety of systems and people. It's not an easy film to watch, but it's an extremely important one, and the bond between actors Mbundu Joely and Pablo Schils is truly remarkable.
The Dardenne Brothers Return to Form
Other than Ken Loach, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne are perhaps the greatest social realist filmmakers working today. Over the past 25 years, the pair have won multiple Cannes awards for their unflinching portrayals of poverty, loneliness, and the many forgotten 'others' in society, although they always create incredible characters who are more than their suffering. That's the case here with the titular pair, who are beautiful humans to follow despite the harsh social conditions they experience. Rent or buy on digital platforms like Apple TV, Prime Video, and Vudu.
17 Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One
- Release Date
- December 1, 2023
- Director
- Takashi Yamazaki
- Cast
- Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Takayuki Yamada , Sakura Andou
The monstrous green lizard Godzilla has been having quite a moment, between the anticipation for the new Godzilla x Kong and the enjoyment of the Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, but really it's Godzilla Minus One that has been the most exciting. The new Toho movie follows a shamed Japanese pilot who survived World War II by not finishing the kamikaze act, and his life in devastated post-war Japan, where Godzilla emerges.
Godzilla Like You've Never Seen Him
The film has been lauded as arguably the best Godzilla film since the very first in 1954. It's easy to see why — Godzilla Minus One fittingly goes back to the roots of the franchise and explores the original significant metaphor of the monster for nuclear devastation. In the film, Godzilla is more destructive, vicious, and terrifying than we've arguably ever seen him, a perfect reflection of the atrocities in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Watch Godzilla Minus One in theaters. And if you're a fan of the iconic monster, check out our video of fun facts below:
16 The Blue Caftan
Directed by Maryam Touzani from a script she co-wrote alongside her husband Nabil Ayouch, The Blue Caftan follows a married Moroccan couple running a caftan store, who hire a young man as their new apprentice. His name is Youssef, played by Ayoub Missioui, while the couple are named Mina and Halim — played by Lubna Azabal and Saleh Bakri, respectively. What ensues is a quietly humorous, searingly intimate, and psychologically fascinating relationship between the three.
Palpable Character Development
When Halim begins to show feelings for his new apprentice, a dynamic love triangle develops that explores touching themes of passion and intimacy. One of the most gripping love stories in recent memory, The Blue Caftan is also among the best films of 2023. Stream on The Criterion Channel.
15 Godland
Godland stars Elliott Crossett Hove, who plays a Lutheran priest named Lucas. Originally from Denmark, the character is sent to lead the construction of a parish church in Iceland, but upon arrival, the rough realities of rural life stir questions about Lucas's faith. What's more, his Icelandic guide — named Ragnar, who's played by Ingvar Eggert Sigurosson — bears resentment towards Danes, adding tangible conflict to an emotionally driven journey.
The Unforgettable Atmosphere of Godland
Backdrops of both lush and endless landscapes are presented behind a sprawling score, with every scene in Godland featuring fascinating camera shots to boot. These thought-out frames facilitate an introspective journey through culture, nature, faith, and art, and the dialogue will keep you engaged the whole way through. Writer-director Hlynur Pálmason made an undeniable masterpiece in Godland, one of the most visually stunning films of the year. Stream on The Criterion Collection.
14 Monster
The great Hirokazu Kore-eda (After Life, Shoplifters, Still Walking) returns with yet another masterpiece, Monster. The film follows Minato (Sōya Kurokawa), who used to be a good boy but is now acting out aggressively in school and at home. The film scrambles the narrative through different perspectives to showcase the impetus of this behavior and its effects on the people in the child's orbit.
Yûji Sakamoto Writes a Perfect Script
Monster's script comes from Yûji Sakamoto, who won the screenwriting award at the Cannes Film Festival for his work here, and rightfully so. It's a compassionate exploration of childhood, friendship, and sexuality that feels like an emotional puzzle. When you solve it, there are still some aching mysteries, which only makes the film better. Its ambiguous ending is one of the most thought-provoking and beautiful of the year. Not yet on streaming.
13 Tótem
A touching tale of familial fortitude, Tótem follows a seven-year-old girl named Sol, who's played by Naíma Sentíes. She helps her aunts prepare a surprise birthday party for her father, with the characters spending the bulk of the plot overcoming random bouts of chaos that ensue around the house.
A Dramatic Celebration
As the day winds down, Sol comes to terms with the fact that the surprise party is, at the same time, a celebration of her father's entire life. Her own life will soon change forever, and the dramatic intensity of the ensuing hustle and bustle amid the family is made all the more impactful thanks to the well-written relationships and chemistry between the characters. Though you may not be familiar with her name, writer-director Lila Avilés struck critical gold with Tótem. Not yet on streaming.
12 The Boy and the Heron
As with most films under Hayao Miyazaki's belt, The Boy and the Heron was released to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. It tells the tale of Mahito Maki, who stumbles upon an abandoned tower and enters a magical world. It's vintage Miyazaki, with the plot truly kicking off when Mahito meets a talking bird.
Another Miyazaki Masterpiece
Although not many of his more recent films have gained traction with casual film fans, Hayao Miyazaki is among the most famous filmmakers to ever live, and that remains the case today. His name value speaks for itself. Imaginative world-building and beautiful visuals and action result in yet another masterpiece from Studio Ghibli. Not yet on streaming.
11 The Eight Mountains
A beautiful and expansive tale about a friendship over time and humanity's relationship with nature, The Eight Mountains is one of the most peaceful and entrancing movies of the year. The husband and wife duo of Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch write and direct this adaptation of Paolo Cognetti's novel. Pietro and Bruno meet in a small Alpine village and bond as the only two children in Grana amid the massive natural backdrop of the mountains. Their friendship develops over the next several decades.
A Mesmerizing Friendship
The quiet and beautiful act of two friends building a cabin together after not seeing each other for 15 years is mesmerizing to watch, especially with the help of Ruben Impens' amazing cinematography. Their discussions about masculinity, society, and their lives are intimate and interesting, and despite the film's length (147 minutes) it feels hypnotic and it's delightful to spend time with these people. Rent or buy on digital platforms like Apple TV and Prime Video.
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