These films definitely deserve a second look! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most underappreciated and overlooked films of 2023.
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00:00 [Sounds of a train]
00:06 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most
00:10 underappreciated and overlooked films of 2023.
00:13 "That's like a fight club."
00:15 "Well, you're getting..."
00:17 "Yes!"
00:18 "Yes!"
00:18 "Yes!"
00:19 Number 10. Guy Ritchie's 'The Covenant'
00:23 Let's just say Guy Ritchie's filmography is a mixed bag.
00:27 Luckily for us, the English director's recent output has been fairly strong,
00:31 including this action war drama.
00:33 "You're out of your bounds, Ahmed. You're here to translate."
00:36 "Actually, I'm here to interpret."
00:39 While many were expecting yet another hollow depiction of the Iraq war,
00:43 Guy Ritchie's 'The Covenant' delivers an impressively crafted and stirring showcase
00:46 for all involved. Jake Gyllenhaal's Master Sergeant John Kinley is saved in Afghanistan
00:51 by his interpreter Ahmed, played by Dar Salim.
00:54 "Must have been quite challenging to find me."
00:57 But after Kinley is sent back to America, Ahmed is left behind,
01:05 sending him to lead a rescue mission.
01:08 Trust us, the tension is high with this one, as is the quality of filmmaking.
01:13 Number 9. BlackBerry
01:15 There's no question about it, Matt Johnson's BlackBerry is a blistering business biopic.
01:21 "Oh my God, oh my God."
01:26 The film follows the spectacular rise and fall of the BlackBerry cellular phone,
01:30 and the people behind it.
01:32 "It's best we end our relationship with BlackBerry."
01:34 "John, we're just getting started."
01:38 While the true-to-life exploits may differ slightly,
01:41 the film zips along with entertaining mayhem and some genuine laugh-out-loud moments.
01:46 "It's like the Force. Sorry, have you seen Star Wars?"
01:51 "No."
01:54 Glenn Howerton and Jay Baruchel lead the cast with crackling performances.
01:58 The snowballing chaos is only elevated by Jay McCarroll's urgent score.
02:02 "It's called a BlackBerry.
02:04 It sends and receives email messages. It is also a cell phone."
02:14 The BlackBerry phone may be a forgotten relic of the past,
02:17 but this film definitely deserves to be unearthed.
02:20 Number 8. Strays
02:22 Josh Greenbaum's 'Strays' is not just some silly talking dog adventure.
02:35 Well, it is a talking dog adventure,
02:36 but that adventure includes canines excessively humping lawn decorations,
02:40 relieving themselves on each other, eating magic mushrooms,
02:44 constantly discussing their genitals, and swearing up a storm.
02:48 Did we mention this is not for kids?
02:50 "Which is too bad, because I'm the only one who knows James is a cold-blooded serial killer.
02:55 He's got three bodies buried in the backyard already."
02:59 The most important thing, of course, is that the Looney Tunes-type hijinks lead to genuine laughs.
03:04 The film also boasts a surprising amount of heart.
03:07 And what can we say, Will Ferrell as the voice of a naive border terrier is infectiously fun,
03:12 as is a fiery Jamie Foxx as Boston Terrier bug.
03:16 "Looks like she hasn't been washed in years. I'll see you later, baby."
03:19 Yep, 'Strays' is a surprisingly body-good time that deserved better at the box office.
03:26 Number 7. Joyride
03:28 Keeping with underappreciated comedy films,
03:31 Adele Lim's 'Joyride' stands as a major win for diversity and debauchery in cinema.
03:36 "Are they coming out?" "Yeah, but only seven, and I think I put in eight."
03:38 "If you get a clean one, could you just, um, keep me posted?"
03:41 Here, we follow Audrey and her misfit gang of friends on an unhinged journey of bonding and
03:46 belonging. The film hits all the right R-rated comedy notes, taking plenty of chances in the
03:51 raunchy humor department. Trust us, they go there. And with authentic chemistry among the cast,
03:57 each bringing their unique virtues to the table,
04:00 'Joyride' becomes an affecting comedy trip worth taking.
04:04 "I get it. It's between you and me. Thank you."
04:07 Number 6. 'Nemona'
04:10 From 'Spider-Man' across the Spider-Verse to 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' mutant mayhem,
04:15 2023 was a memorable year for animated movies. However, with all the massive blockbuster
04:20 offerings, many smaller animated films got lost in the shuffle, including Netflix's 'Nemona.'
04:25 "Who are you?" "The name's Nemona."
04:27 "And how did you-" "Whoa! Sick arm!"
04:30 "Did it bleed a lot?" "What?"
04:31 "Did they let you keep the old one?" "No."
04:33 Chloe Grace Moretz voices the shapeshifter Nemona, who teams up with Ballister,
04:38 a knight framed for murder, voiced by Oscar nominee Riz Ahmed.
04:42 "Overall, it's made it much more evil-airy in here."
04:45 "Evil-airy? That's a great villain name. You should totally change your name."
04:49 "Never gonna happen."
04:50 With colorful bursts of energy, fantastic voice performances,
04:53 and a wonderful message around what it means to live life as an outsider,
04:57 'Nemona' stands as a true movie gem. And the best part? It's waiting for you right
05:03 now on Netflix.
05:04 "Hey, you ever put your head in the mouth of one of these?"
05:07 "Should've just stayed in jail."
05:08 "Come on! You marry a whiner!"
05:11 Number 5. 'A Thousand and One.'
05:14 "How long you been on the street?" "Long enough."
05:17 "Where are your people?" "Gone."
05:27 'A Thousand and One' is incredibly rich and bursting with dynamic performances.
05:32 More on them in a bit.
05:33 Firstly, we need to highlight the film's director, A.V. Rockwell.
05:38 This incredibly skilled picture stands as her feature directorial debut.
05:42 Rockwell not only showcases every inch of a bygone Harlem with nuanced detail,
05:47 but directs her talented cast to some truly unforgettable performances.
05:52 "But life goes on, so what?" "As long as it's your call, right?"
05:54 "Who was the one who made the choice? They didn't even have a hospital!"
05:57 "Think you was my f***ing mother!"
05:59 Tiana Taylor's motherly turn is beautifully complicated,
06:02 while Josiah Cross' output as her teenage son cuts right to the bone.
06:06 This depiction of a mother-child dynamic is one that deserves to be seen,
06:10 if not just for the performances and direction alone.
06:13 "Now hold it right!" "Hey, talk to me nice, I got this."
06:18 Number 4. 'The Royal Hotel.'
06:21 "So, you're gonna have to be okay with a little male attention."
06:28 "Yeah, yeah, we'll be fine."
06:31 When cash-strapped U.S. backpackers Hannah and Liv take a job in a remote Australian pub,
06:36 it's nothing but simmering suspense and danger at every turn.
06:40 Directed by Kitty Green, 'The Royal Hotel' stands as an excellent exercise
06:45 in cinematic eggshell walking.
06:46 "What's going on?" "She's having a smoke."
06:49 "She's having a ciggy." "Wait, no, get her out."
06:51 "She only just got in love." "Wait, no, get her out of the car."
06:55 It's also an effective gender critique,
06:58 effectively showing the various power dynamics and workplace misogyny
07:01 that still exist in the world today.
07:03 Plus, Julia Garner and Jessica Hanek shine in their respective roles,
07:07 with Garner being a particularly potent force, not unlike her character in 'Ozark.'
07:12 Trust us, 'The Royal Hotel' is one movie you won't want to check out of.
07:24 Number 3 - 'Bottoms'
07:26 It's no stretch to say that 'Bottoms' was one of the funniest movies of 2023.
07:31 "Excuse me, could the ugly, untalented gays please report to the principal's office?"
07:36 "Guess that's you guys."
07:38 It's just too bad not many people saw it.
07:41 Writer/director Emma Seligman's 'Bottoms' is essentially about
07:44 two horny teen girls who start a fight club to help them get laid.
07:48 Sound over the top?
07:49 You're not wrong, but the scattershot hijinks are grounded by delightful performances
07:53 from Rachel Sennett and Iowa Debery.
07:55 "What's your plan here?"
07:56 "I don't need a plan. My mom has a business, all she has to do is yell."
08:00 And while there are certainly parallels to 2019's 'Booksmart,'
08:05 'Bottoms' stands as its own unique brand of raunchy comedy.
08:08 Oh, and did we mention that it's very funny?
08:11 The boys of 'American Pie' walked so the girls of 'Bottoms' could run.
08:16 "Go, go, run!"
08:17 "Run! How do I tell them to go?"
08:18 "Run!"
08:19 "Oh my God!"
08:30 Number 2. 'When Evil Lurks'
08:32 If you were to talk to horror connoisseurs about their favorite movies of 2023,
08:36 you'd likely get an earful of why 'When Evil Lurks' is a must-watch.
08:41 "The church is dead, ma'am."
08:42 Everyone in the film's rural Argentinian farming community knows the seven rules
08:50 for dealing with possessing spirits.
08:52 When Pedro and his brother Jimmy gather that a man in their region is an encarnado,
08:57 more plainly a possessed creature, they proceed to fight, then flee,
09:01 all with calamitous outcomes.
09:03 [Speaking Spanish]
09:05 And unlike the plethora of other possession movies that center on religion,
09:16 this one places the focus firmly on characters' family, making it a personal journey.
09:21 Add in compelling performances and relentless dread,
09:25 and you've got the most underappreciated horror flick of the year.
09:29 [Screaming]
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09:50 Number 1. 'Godzilla -1'
09:55 Did you catch the 37th film in the 'Godzilla' franchise?
09:58 You're not alone, as 'Godzilla -1' has been unjustly overlooked
10:02 in North America since its end of year release.
10:04 But let us tell you that this kaiju film demands to be seen.
10:15 But don't take our word for it.
10:16 The movie has been unanimously praised by critics for its skilled direction,
10:20 cast performances, cinematography, and screenwriting.
10:23 And with awe-inspiring action sequences and visual effects,
10:27 many consider it to be one of the best 'Godzilla' films ever.
10:31 Like the epic destruction on screen, this film deserves to be a huge smash.
10:46 Did we miss a movie from 2023 that merits a second look?
10:50 Let us know in the comments.
10:51 "I think that's a good place to maybe wrap up."
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11:03 [Music]