2023 so far, have produced some wonderful movies across the world from Hollywood and more to come like Extraction 2, Mission Impossible, etc. But here are movies I have enjoyed so much that I saw them more than once and I am recommending them to everyone. They are of no particular genre but lack no genre, as they provide horror, romance, comedy, action, con, fantasy, real life, animation etc.
P.S: I will keep updating the list till the end of the year. So don’t forget to always check for new updates.
Dungeon and Dragons:
Honor among thieves: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an American fantasy heist comedy film directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, with stars like Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant.
This movie is about A charming thief and his band on their unlikely adventurers, embarking on an epic quest to retrieve a long lost relic, but their charming adventure goes dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.
This has been the best epic fantasy film I have seen since lord of the rings. The fight scenes were superb, and the best for me was ‘furlong’ beating the guards up at the Neverwinter blacksmith shop and judicious use of a bow.
The highlight of the movies was all the scenes from the beginning to the end as the film possesses great picture, sound, lightening, costume and above all story & directing. Hilariously, I enjoyed the ending scene where the owlbear was bashing the red witch to the ground rythmicaly.
Watch trailer here
Cocaine Bear
The title of this movie is exactly what the movie is about which makes it funny already. Cocaine Bear American horror comedy film inspired by a real live event which happened in 1985 Georgia Forest where an American black bear ingested nearly 75 lb (34 kg) of lost cocaine.
The movie directed by Elizabeth Banks and starring stars Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Christian Convery, Alden Ehrenreich, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Margo Martindale, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Ray Liotta.
A drug runner dumped his loads of cocaine in a mountain plain when crashing. But unfortunately a bear has a taste of the product and got hocked, going round the area looking for more and devouring anyone in her wake.
The movie was a joy to watch as the director, actors and crew did a wonderful job making the story a comedic horror. My most enjoyable part was the calmness and response of the boy who did drug.
Watch trailer here
Beautiful Disaster
Beautiful Disaster is a romantic drama film directed by Roger Kumble, casting Dylan Sprouse, Virginia Gardner, Austin North, Samuel Larsen and Libe Barer amongst others.
Travis Maddox (Dylan Sprouse) an underground fighter by night and college campus charmer by day was Intrigued by a freshman’s (Virginia Gardner) resistance to his appeal. Travis offers the poker protege a simple bet: if he loses his next fight, he must remain sex-free for a month. If he wins, she must live in his apartment for the same amount of time.
The comedic and wonderful suspense of the movie made it a must watch for me.
Watch trailer here
Ghosted
Ghosted is an American romantic action-adventure comedy film directed by Dexter Fletcher starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas with star appearances from Ryan Reynolds, Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie.
A young man falls head over heels for an enigmatic beautiful lady he met at the market, but then makes the shocking discovery that she’s a secret agent after he travelled across the world for her and got his identity mistaken. There love journey swept away on an international adventure to save the world.
What confused me was how fast he got used to the spy life (I guess love does that to someone) and I love how his fighting skill was tired to his wrestling days in high school. Finally, the short appearance of some marvel stars was wonderful and added an intriguing vibe to it as we don’t know which star to expect next and in what role.
Watch trailer here
Mummies
Mummies (Spanish: Momias), is an English-language Spanish computer-animated comedy film directed by Juan Jesús García Galocha and voiced by Joe Thomas, Eleanor Tomlinson, Celia Imrie, Hugh Bonneville and Sean Bean.
Three mummies leave their underground secret city in ancient Egypt and end up in present-day London to search for a ring that was stolen by a greedy archaeologist. However, their mission might prove to be a little difficult. My highlight of the movie was Watching Sekhem display courage and his wonderful sense of humour.
Watch trailer here
The Pope’s Exorcist
The Pope’s Exorcist is a supernatural horror film directed by Julius Avery starring stars Russell Crowe as Amorth, with Daniel Zovatto, Alex Essoe, and Franco Nero. The film is based on the 1990 book An Exorcist Tells His Story and the 1992 book An Exorcist: More Stories by Father Gabriele Amorth.
Father Gabriele Amorth, chief exorcist for the Vatican, battles Satan and innocent-possessing demons. A detailed portrait of a priest who performed more than 100,000 exorcisms in his lifetime.
Watch trailer here
Sharper
Sharper is an American crime thriller film directed by Benjamin Caron and stars Julianne Moore (who also served as a producer), Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, Briana Middleton, and John Lithgow.
Motivations are suspect, and expectations are turned upside down, as a con artist takes on Manhattan billionaires.
No one is who they seem in Sharper, a neo-noir thriller of secrets and lies, set amongst New York City’s bedrooms, barrooms and boardrooms. The twists and uncertainty, also a clear picture from each characters story is the best part for me.
Watch trailer here
Your Place or Mine
Your Place or Mine is a romantic comedy film written and directed by Aline Brosh McKenna and stars Reese Witherspoon (who also produced), Ashton Kutcher, Jesse Williams, Zoë Chao, Wesley Kimmel, Tig Notaro, and Steve Zahn.
Two long-distance best friends change each other’s lives when she decides to pursue a lifelong dream and he volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son. When they swap houses and lives for a week they discover what they think they want might not be what they really need.
Watch trailer here
Magic Mike: Last Dance
Magic Mike’s Last Dance is a 2023 American comedy-drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Channing Tatum (who also produced) and Salma Hayek.
Mike Lane takes to the stage once again when a business deal that went bust leaves him broke and bartending in Florida. Hoping for one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse — and an agenda all her own.
With everything on the line, he soon finds himself trying to whip a hot new roster of talented dancers into shape. This is far more confusing and less interesting than the first but earned a spot here due the previous Magic Mike.
Watch trailer here
Scream VI
Scream VI is a 2023 American slasher film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and stars Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Hayden Panettiere, and Courteney Cox.
The four survivors from the most recent Woodsboro Ghostface killings have moved to New York City for a fresh start. Just as they begin to feel a sense of newness, their past darkness came looking for them. This is a well written and well paced story that can be easily picked even without seeing the previous chapter.
Watch trailer here
The portable door
The Portable Door is a 2023 fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Jeffrey Walker and starring Patrick Gibson, Sophie Wilde, Sam Neill and Christoph Waltz.
A man lands an internship at a mysterious London firm with unconventional employees, including the charismatic CEO who is incorporating modern corporate strategy into ancient magical practices. It’s a lovely fantasy magic movie that am sure to be appealing to both young and grown. The only difference for me not making it a new chapter of Harry Potter or Fantastic Beasts is the lack of wands and flying witches on broomstick.
Watch traier here
Renfield
Renfield is a 2023 American comedy horror film directed and produced by Chris McKay, stars Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Brandon Scott Jones, Adrian Martinez, and Nicolas Cage.
Renfield, the tortured aide to his narcissistic boss, Dracula, is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding. However, after centuries of servitude, he’s ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of the Prince of Darkness. It looks like an expensive and we’ll put together fan made Dracula movie.
Watch trailer here
Love again
A grieving girlfriend who lost her boyfriend (almost fiance) to an accident, found a way of healing by sending messages about her life to the dead boyfriends phone not knowing the number has been reassigned to a journalist who got dumb by his fiancée days to their wedding. This movie also feel like promotional strategy to Celine Dion World Tour, but who doesn’t like Celine?
This a beautiful movie about love & second chances and also a must watch for me.
Watch trailer here
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is an action comedy film about spies directed by Guy Ritchie, staring Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone and Hugh Grant.
Elite spy Orson Fortune must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds. Reluctantly teamed up with some of the world’s best operatives, Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood’s biggest movie star, Danny Francesco, to help them on their globe-trotting mission to save the world.
Watch trailer here
Ride On
Ride On (Chinese: 龙马精神) is a Chinese action drama film written and directed by Larry Yang, and stars Jackie Chan, Liu Haocun, and Guo Qilin.
Washed-up stuntman Luo can barely make ends meet, let alone take care of his beloved stunt horse, Red Hare. Luo reluctantly seeks help from his estranged daughter and her lawyer boyfriend when notified the horse may be auctioned off to pay his debts. Luo and Red Hare become an overnight media sensation when their fight with debt collectors goes viral.
This is movie is a comedic highlight to Jackie Chan’s stunts and how he feel about making them.
Watch trailer here
Hypnotic
Hypnotic is an American mystery action thriller film directed by Robert Rodriguez, staring Ben Affleck, Alice Braga, J. D. Pardo, Hala Finley, Dayo Okeniyi, Jeff Fahey, Jackie Earle Haley and William Fichtner
The film is about a Detective Danny Rourke, who determined to find his missing daughter, finds himself spiraling down a rabbit hole while investigating a series of reality-bending crimes. Aided by Diana Cruz, a gifted psychic, Rourke simultaneously pursues and is pursued by a lethal specter, the one man he believes holds the key to finding the girl.
The entirety of this film is all twist and turn, the suspense was a delight and the ending was a real shock in so many ways. The film is a real mystery.
Watch trailer here
Fast X
Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they must confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced. Fueled by revenge, a terrifying threat emerges from the shadows of the past to shatter Dom’s world and destroy everything — and everyone — he loves.
I am highly recommending this film but if you haven’t seen any of the franchise, kindly go start from Fast and Furious as you have missed some wonderful stories, action and family bonding.
Watch trailer here
John Wick: Chapter 4
John Wick: Chapter 4 is an American neo-noir action thriller film directed and co-produced by Chad Stahelski, staring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick (Deceased), Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Clancy Brown, and Ian McShane.
With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hitman John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin.
Would he survive the army sent after him? would he be able to take on a high table? This Movie is a legendary must watch!!
Watch trailer here
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a 2023 American science fiction action film directed by Steven Caple Jr.. It is the seventh installment in the Transformers live-action film series and serves as both a standalone sequel to Bumblebee (2018) and a prequel to Transformers (2007). It stars Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback as well as the voice talents of Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Pete Davidson, Liza Koshy, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Colman Domingo, Cristo Fernández, Tongayi Chirisa, and returning franchise regulars Peter Cullen, John DiMaggio, and David Sobolov.
Optimus Prime and the Autobots take on their biggest challenge yet. When a new threat capable of destroying the entire planet emerges, they must team up with a powerful faction of Transformers known as the Maximals to save Earth.
This another intensive action packed talking auto’s transformers where we lost our charming bumblebee and meet some animal auto’s. This is wonderful movie to binge on using super bass sound system, don’t forget your popcorn and wine as its is wonderful way way to spend 2 hours!!
Watch trailer here
Stephen Curry: Underrated
Stephen Curry: Underrated is a 2023 American sports documentary film about basketball player Stephen Curry, directed by Peter Nicks. The film follows the career of basketball star Stephen Curry from his 2008 NCAA Tournament run with Davidson College through the 2021–22 Golden State Warriors run at another NBA Championship, where Curry also received the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
Absolutely great movie that shows how Steph Curry has always been driven to be the best in his career. being wrote off for not being “tall” or “big” enough to ever play never stopped him. This shows how passionate he is about what he loves doing and encouraging others to do what they’re passionate about and not giving up when others say you can’t.
Stephen Curry: Underrated is a well documented movie and you will enjoy this it from beginning to end.
Watch trailer here
Nimona
Nimona is a 2023 American computer-animated science fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane. It is based on the 2015 graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson. Set in a sci-fantasy world influenced by the Middle Ages, the film features the voices of Chloë Grace Moretz as Nimona and Riz Ahmed as Ballister, with Eugene Lee Yang and Frances Conroy voicing supporting roles.
The film is about a knight who is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and the only person who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona, a shape-shifting teen who might also be a monster he’s sworn to kill and protect everyone from.
Get ready to see a baby so cute and terrifying at the same time.
Watch trailer here
See also: HIDDEN STRIKE
Love, Sex and 30 Candles
Love, Sex and 30 Candles is a 2023 Netflix Original South African movie, directed by Stephina Zwane, starring Bahumi Madisakwane, Candice Modiselle, Gabisile Tshabalala, and Amogelang Chidi. The story is based on The 30th Candle book by Angela Makholwa.
In the year four best friends turn 30, they have to navigate relationships, heartbreaks and a shocking development that threatens to tear them apart.
The movie is all rollercoaster from all aspect. A must watch from me to everyone, serious lessons to be learnt from this film and more.
Watch trailer here
Hidden Strike
Hidden Strike (also known as Project X-Traction in some markets) is a 2023 action-adventure film directed and edited by Scott Waugh and written by Arash Amel. The film stars Jackie Chan, John Cena, Ma Chunrui, and Pilou Asbaek.
After an oil refinery in Iraq owned by Chinese firm Unicorp gets attacked by mercenaries led by Owen Paddock, ex-special forces soldier “Dragon” Luo Feng leads his private security company in evacuating the civilian employees in a convoy along the Highway of Death to the safety of the Green Zone.
Watch trailer here
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King (Japanese: ブラッククローバー 魔法帝の剣, Hepburn: Burakku Kurōbā: Mahōtei no Ken) is a Japanese animated film directed by Ayataka Tanemura and produced by Pierrot, Based on the Black Clover manga series by Yūki Tabata.
Asta, a boy born with no magic in a world where magic is everything aims to become the Wizard King, to overcome adversity, prove his power, and keep his oath with his friends. His rival Yuno, a genius mage chosen by the legendary 4-leaf Grimoire, have together fought a number of powerful enemies to prove their power beyond adversity and aim for the top mage “Wizard King”.
Watch trailer here
Creed III
Creed III is a 2023 American sports drama film co-produced, directed, and starring Michael B. Jordan. It is the sequel to Creed II (2018), the third instalment in the Creed film series, and the ninth overall in the Rocky film series. The film also stars Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Mila Davis-Kent, Florian Munteanu and Phylicia Rashad.
After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed is enjoying retirement and family life. When Damian, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces after serving time in prison, he’s eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian — a fighter who has nothing to lose.
It was a wonderful film and a shock at that, as one, its probably Michael B Jordan debut in directing and the absence of Rocky (Sylvester Stallone). Except from the exceptional directing, producing, visuals, acting, storytelling, the film has a tremendous soundtrack. This is one of the films where there is no dull moment with its soundtrack.
Its a definite recommendation for me and I rate it a solid 8.0.
See trailer here
Heart of Stone
Heart of Stone is a 2023 American spy action thriller film directed by Tom Harper from a screenplay by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder and a story by Rucka. The film stars Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Sophie Okonedo, and Matthias Schweighöfer.
Its plot follows an international intelligence operative who must embark on a dangerous mission to protect a mysterious artificial intelligence system known as “The Heart.” She is tasked by the peacekeeping operation known as Charter to keep the object safe from falling into enemy hands.
This is a wonderful action thrilled film, the presence and acting skills of Gal Gadot was an advantage. Her movement during fight scenes and her movement was very clear she is a professional and a trained fighter. It is a film that does that wasn’t overhyped but dished out better than was expected. Its a 6.0 for me.
See trailer here
Meg 2: The Trench
Meg 2: The Trench (titled Shark 2 in some territories) is a 2023 science fiction action film directed by Ben Wheatley. It is based on the 1999 novel The Trench by Steve Alten. Serving as the sequel to The Meg (2018), the film stars Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels and Cliff Curtis.
Jonas Taylor leads a research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal, prehistoric sharks and relentless environmental plunderers, they must outrun, outsmart and outswim their merciless predators.
Jason Statham as always delivered a top notch acting in such a caring and protective role where he was pure of heart and conviction while still smart and adept as always. There were some refreshingly funny comedic scenes that will get you on the edge of your seat and laughing your head off. I am giving it a 6.8% as it met my expectations.
See trailer here
