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Most Underrated Films of 2023

2023 was a terrific year for cinema and most of the best movies of the year got the attention that they deserved, but there were still a handful of films that were either too harshly judged by critics or misunderstood by audiences. This list will cover some of my personal favorites, movies that were largely ignored for mostly unfair reasons.

5. Cocaine Bear

The fifth place goes to Cocaine Bear, which is such an underrated horror comedy gem. Yes, this is an exceedingly silly and overly gory movie, but comedies are sparse in Hollywood these days, so we do have to appreciate those rare ones that we get. Elizabeth Banks directed this movie so well as it’s pleasingly 80s in its atmosphere and in its terrific synth-pop soundtrack. It is one of the best and most underrated blockbusters of the year.

4. Beau Is Afraid

Beau Is Afraid is another strong work from the phenomenal Ari Aster. This movie mixed Kafka and Kaufman in its surreal, trippy and paranoid tone. It’s an unhinged, but undeniably artistic and effective trip into madness that functioned more as a tragicomedy than a pure tragedy due to fantastic black humor employed throughout. This movie isn’t for everybody, but clearly it deserved more love from critics who would usually gravitate toward this type of auteur filmmaking.

3. Saltburn

Again, my choice for the the third spot is also not for everybody obviously as Saltburn is such a deranged movie, but for those of us who appreciate, campy, over-the-top and wildly entertaining craziness, it was an absolute treat. This Emerald Fennell black comedy lacked subtlety, but it featured strong acting performances, lavish technical aspects and so many unexpected, outlandish sequences that are instantly iconic how crazy they are.

2. The Creator

The history of science fiction as a genre is full of stories that warn us about the dangers of artificial intelligence, so having a story that is the exact opposite was not just refreshing, but also quite daring. The Creator is the best science fiction film of the year and by far one of the most underrated gems of 2023. It featured unbelievably stunning, groundbreaking special effects and gorgeous natural landscapes. It’s at times familiar in its trappings, but for the most part it worked in delivering this unique take on the story about artificial intelligence.

1. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is one of the best and most underrated Hunger Games movies. This was mostly a faithful, strong adaptation that was wonderfully cinematic, thrilling and grandiose. The book was pretty good, but I would say that the movie was maybe even better than the novel as they adapted it so well while making it consistently entertaining. It features a great ensemble cast, strong technical aspects and a wonderfully faithful screenplay. Thus, this is the most underrated movie of the entire year, a film that was needlessly criticized just for its unusual structure.

Honorable Mentions:

Napoleon – Yes, Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is a mess, but it’s an audio-visual spectacle and a film that was more often than not wildly entertaining, so I definitely forgive it for its flaws.

Dicks: The Musical – Dicks: The Musical ended on such a questionable note, but otherwise this was such a hilarious, catchy musical – the songs are so much fun and the humor is superb.

Wonka – Wonka did get good reviews, but it deserved even stronger reception from both audiences and critics as this is an instant classic when it comes to charming children’s entertainment.