It may be early in the year but if you are a movie buff then we are already well into the swing of 2023. There have been a few really great movies to be released in 2023 so far, following off the back of an always hectic holiday period where the new Avatar film was arguably at the top of everyone’s to-watch list.

However, after what is traditionally a quieter spell after the Christmas listings comes a refreshing new year for cinema and in this article, we will be taking a little look at some of the best movies of the year so far. These might not all be the top-grossing movies, as we are going for critic’s picks here. But that is not to say that we are going to shy away from a few that have hit it big already, including one particular movie that, its fourth instalment, is still attracting new fans and entertaining its loyal ones.

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Air

File this film in the real-life adaption category as we go behind the scenes of one of the most enthralling stories – and indulgences – of American sports capitalism. Air is the story of how the global sportswear brand Nike came to be, tracking the history of the brand through its charismatic founder and rise to the very top.

The film is set in 1984 and the attention to detail with costume, pop culture references, slang and general “yuppy” vibes really holds that reality together. Ben Affleck is ideal as the banter-heavy script’s lead, bouncing off Matt Damon time and time again, whereas Viola Davis is compelling as always in a role that, for her, feels like a stroll in the park compared to some of her recent reaches towards the very limits of human emotion.

She plays Michael Jordan’s mother who is particularly key since MJ is absent from the film, putting the emphasis more and more on that behind-the-scenes content that you all came to see.

Rye Lane

Away from Hollywood, we have Rye Lane, an organic, real-feeling picture set in one of London’s cultural hubs of the same name. Peckham in South London is one of the capital’s most diverse areas, a hub of creativity and culture that has become a hugely important part of Black Britain.

Rye Lane takes on that responsibility and flourishes under the pressure, but expresses itself in freedom, knowing it has the backing of a cast and a community who truly want to see a film and a place prosper.

On one level it is plain and simply a really cute romcom, the tale of young love as the pair negotiate the city they call home and the realities of growing up there. It has the cheek of modern British comedy shows like The Office, Peep Show or more recently, Chewing Gum, but with feature-length possibilities comes the chance to really go in-depth to the part of London where the film is set.

There will be thousands who have watched and seen places they know and love or caught references that feel niche for them. And therein lies the magic of this one. A critic’s pick for sure, Rye Lane is an if-you-know-you-know film that, to be honest, more people should know!

Scream VI

And finally, right up there with the movies of the year so far, is the long-running slasher series Scream’s sixth instalment.

These horrific flicks tend to divide opinion but, more self-aware than ever, the way Scream VI combines classic horror tropes with genuinely creative writing and scripts, has created a seriously dedicated fanbase for the pictures.

The first movie came out in 1996 and was a clever deconstruction of the horror genre. It followed a group of teens who were stalked and killed by a masked killer known as Ghostface. The twist was that the killer turned out to be one of the teens’ friends. It was like “Who Done It?” meets “Halloween.”

The latest one pays homage to the first, with the storylines crossing over with that original iconic movie. It’s a nostalgia trip that takes aim at the very genre of horror, celebrating it, critiquing it and using it to craft a genuinely gripping story that looks directly at the audience and reminds them what horror movies were and what they still can be.

More to come…

It is still early days in 2023, and there are expected to be many more great movies to hit our screens before the year is out.