Mapleton Mail

My Top of the Year (70 Films You Need to See!)

My Top of the year (70 films you need to see!)

If you’re new here, my movie-watching “year” aligns with the Oscars. I watched over 560 films from April 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023. To no one’s shock, when I started making my standard “top 25” of the year, I was up against almost impossible odds. Most of the 560+ films I watched were new releases during that period, so there was a lot to pick from.

After ending up with a list of over 80, I just needed to spread them out. The result was what you see below. I did a top 30 of “major” releases; these are films that either played in theaters or ended up being more significant streaming releases. My second complete 30 list comprises independent movies and films I saw at various festivals this past year. Once I finished those, I looked over at what I had cut and couldn’t leave them out, so after cutting a few out; I ended up with a ten (in alpha order) of honorable mention films.

Instead of doing individual write-ups, I decided to share the links to my reviews on them so that you can dig deeper into what you like. Click the name of the film below to read my full review.

 

Ten Honorable mention films: (in alphabetical order)

Alice, Darling

Dawn Breaks Behind the Eyes

I'm Totally Fine

Luck

Mad God

The Menu

Riotsville USA

The Silent Twin

Smile

Trader

 

Top 30 “major” releases

30 - Hatching

29 - Fresh

28 - Glorious

27 - This is GWAR

26 - Pompo the Cinephile

25 - Tahara

24 - Turning Red

23 - Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

22 - Not Okay

21 - Frank & Penelope

20 - Do Revenge

19 - Breaking

18 - Orphan First Kill

17 - The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

16 - Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

15 - I'm Charlie Walker

14 - Pearl

13 - Emily the Criminal

12 - Watcher

11 - The Janes

10 - Weird the Al Yankovic Story

9 - Poser

8 - Everything Everywhere All At Once

7 - Bodies Bodies Bodies

6 - Top Gun Maverick

5 - Clerks III

4 - Marcel the Shell

3 - The Whale

2 - RRR

1 - Elvis

 

Top 30 “independent/festival” releases

30 - The Civil Dead

29 - The Return of Tanya Tucker

28 - Mutt

27 - Street Heroines

26 - Dinner in America

25 - Back to the Drive-In

24 - Mascot

23 - Blanquita

22 - When it Melts

21 - The Teachers Lounge

20 - Skies of Lebanon

19 - Sweetheart

18 - Something Good Coming

17 - Silver Haze

16 - Broker

15 - DeInfluencer

14 - Sweetheart Deal

13 - Just Right

12 - Dylan and Zoey

11 - Murina

10 - Sea Sparkle

9 - Marvelous and the Black Hole

8 - The Enormity of Life

7 - The Worst Ones

6 - Madelines

5 - Rosemary & Sage

4 - Love Dump

3 - Millstone

2 - Rehab Cabin

1 - My Sister Liv