It’s easier than ever to put together this list of the most overlooked movies of the year. I actually haven’t done this one since 2020, the first year of the pandemic, when more movies than ever were skipping theatrical and going to streaming. There were hundreds of movies coming out back then, and now that number has only increased as digital-only platforms become the norm, rather than the exception. It’s easier than ever for a movie to get distribution, and that means more movies are out there. That’s a good thing, if you ask me.
These movies are overlooked in the sense that I feel some didn’t get the distribution they needed, or the attention they deserved. There will likely be movies on here that you’ve heard about, maybe a few that you haven’t, but all could use a few more eyeballs on them. And I’ve made it a point not to use anything that I may have already put on my Best Movies of 2023 list. For instance, I could’ve easily put Rye Lane and If You Were The Last on here, too.
So check it out, my list of 10 Great Overlooked Movies of 2023.
Blackberry (review)
Director: Matt Johnson
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Glen Howerton, Matt Johnson, Rich Sommer
Showing Up (review)
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Cast: Michelle Williams, Hong Chau, Maryann Plunkett, Andre Benjamin, John Magaro, Amanda Plummer, Judd Hirsch
How to Blow Up a Pipeline (review)
Director: Daniel Goldhaber
Cast: Sasha Lane, Jayme Lawson, Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Marcus Scribner, Jake Weary
Sisu
Director: Jalmari Helander
Cast: Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie
Sanctuary (review)
Director: Zachary Wigon
Cast: Christopher Abbott, Margaret Qualley
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (review)
Director: Bomani J. Story
Cast: Laya DeLeon Hayes, Denzel Whitaker, Chad L. Coleman
Aporia (review)
Director: Jared Moshe
Cast: Judy Greer, Edi Gathegi, Payman Maadi
Monster (review)
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Cast: Sakura Andō, Eita Nagayama
Dreamin’ Wild (review)
Director: Bill Pohlad
Cast: Casey Affleck, Noah Jupe, Jack Dylan Grazer, Zooey Deschanel, Walton Goggins, Chris Messina
Cassandro (review)
Director: Roger Ross Williams
Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Bad Bunny, El Hijo del Santo