10 Best Netflix Movies Of 2023

Netflix has developed a reputation for producing its own movies, making it worthwhile to rank the 10 best Netflix original films of 2023. This entertainment behemoth played an integral role in the onset of the streaming wars, firmly establishing itself as one of the most popular sources of TV and film. In the process, Netflix has put together an impressive catalog of original shows and movies, lessening the importance of fighting other companies for the streaming rights to notable films and series.

The Netflix original catalog grows more impressive every year, and the best Netflix movies of 2022 included some instant classics, like All Quiet on the Western Front and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. 2023 has delivered once again, adding some essential movies to the streaming service’s roster of original films. As 2023 draws to a close, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the 10 best original movies Netflix released during the calendar year.

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10 Fair Play — Released On September 29, 2023

Starring Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan, & Rich Sommer

Fair Play is a psychological thriller that follows a toxic couple, Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich), who work together at a cutthroat hedge fund firm. After Emily receives a promotion over Luke, their relationship begins to devolve, revealing the toxicity that previously bubbled below the surface. Fair Play‘s cast is excellent, and the pacing and writing help it craft a thrilling overall experience. Further, its examination of gender politics and the greed of the finance industry provides it with real depth, making it one of the best Netflix original movies of 2023.

9 El Conde — Released On September 15, 2023

Starring Jaime Vadell, Gloria Münchmeyer, Alfredo Castro, & Paula Luchsinger

El Conde is a black comedy horror film that portrays the infamous Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet, as a 250-year-old vampire. This is a remarkably clever satire, and its compelling blend of gruesome horror and dark comedy makes for a wildly entertaining film. It also has a strong cast and an incredibly creative premise, helping it become one of the best Netflix original films of the year. It is, however, hurt somewhat by its runtime, which carries the narrative perilously close to overstaying its welcome. Even with things getting slightly out of hand by the end of the movie, El Conde‘s cleverness and originality make it a highly enjoyable film.

8 Nyad — Released On October 20, 2023

Starring Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, & Rhys Ifans

Nyad tells the true story of Diana Nyad (Annette Bening), following her swim from Cuba to Key West, Florida, which she did without a protective shark cage. Nyad is an inspirational film with plenty of thrills and strong performances from the leads, Bening and Jodie Foster, making it a valuable addition to the world of stirring sports films. Unfortunately, it’s hurt by the historical inaccuracies it allows, such as a fictional shark encounter and a dramatically shrunken portrayal of her support system throughout the journey, which prevent it from ranking higher.

7 Rustin — Released On November 3, 2023

Starring Colman Domingo, Aml Ameen, Glynn Turman, & Chris Rock

Rustin is a biographical drama that tells the incredible true story of how Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo), a civil and gay rights activist, managed to organize the famous March on Washington in 1963. This stirring picture tells an often overlooked story that culminates in the iconic Martin Luther King Jr. (Aml Ameen) speech known as “I Have a Dream”. Rustin‘s ending is both inspirational and challenging, and Domingo’s performance as Bayard Rustin is unforgettable, providing the film with a powerful emotional weight that helps make it one of the best Netflix movies of 2023.

6 The Killer — Released On October 27, 2023

Starring Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Kerry O’Malley, Tilda Swinton & Sala Baker

The Killer is an action thriller that follows a professional assassin known only as The Killer (Michael Fassbender), who embarks on an international vendetta after he returns from a failed job to find his girlfriend (Sophie Charlotte) severely injured by vengeful hitmen. Directed by David Fincher, The Killer has an absorbing visual style that keeps audiences glued to the screen, and it benefits further from Fassbender’s captivating on-screen presence. The Killer may lack narrative and character depth, but it makes up for it with its thrilling action sequences and Fincher’s artful shot construction, which land it solidly in the middle tier of Netflix’s best 2023 movies.

5 Nimona — Released On June 23, 2023

Starring Chloë Grace Moretz & Riz Ahmed

Nimona is an animated fantasy adventure film based on the 2015 graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson. The story follows the title character (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shapeshifter reviled by her community for her unusual abilities. Nimona creates a tasteful blend of adventure, comedy, and drama, complemented by impressive animation and a script that is as meaningful as it is entertaining. The film also crafts nuanced characters who are brought to life by its talented voice cast. Nimona‘s compelling score also contributes to its immersive style, making it a riotous success for Netflix.

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4 You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah — Released On August 25, 2023

Starring Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Idina Menzel, Samantha Lorraine, & Dylan Hoffman

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is a comedy drama that tells a classic coming-of-age story about two best friends planning their bat mitzvahs as they compete for the attention of a popular boy from school. The cast includes Adam Sandler with his wife, Jackie, and his two daughters, Sadie and Sunny. With plenty of hilarious antics and a truly touching coming-of-age story to hold it together, this film is both engaging and meaningful. The cast is excellent, and the humor is irresistibly original, making this one of the best Netflix original films of the year.

3 Maestro — Released On November 22, 2023

Starring Bradley Cooper & Carey Mulligan

Maestro is a biographical drama about the American composer, Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper), and his relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan). Leonard and Felicia’s marriage is marred by Leonard’s substance abuse and affairs with various men, but they reconcile before Felicia’s death of lung cancer in 1978. Maestro is a stirring film led by powerful performances from Cooper and Mulligan, and Cooper’s directing is ridiculously captivating. The film’s nuanced narrative and characters help make it a worthy examination of the life of one of America’s greatest composers, earning it a spot as one of the best Netflix original films ever.

2 They Cloned Tyrone — Released On July 14, 2023

Starring John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, & Jamie Foxx

They Cloned Tyrone is a science fiction comedy mystery that follows John Boyega’s drug dealer, Fontaine, alongside Jamie Foxx’s Slick Charles and Teyonah Parris’ Yo-Yo, as they stumble onto a government cloning conspiracy. They Cloned Tyrone uses an intelligent blend of comedy and mystery to create a compelling film with a unique visual style. Its talented cast is outstanding, and its original premise is thought-provoking and strange in all the right ways. This one-of-a-kind film is creative in every way, and Juel Taylor’s directing is truly riveting, making this one of the best films of the year, Netflix original or otherwise.

1 May December — Released On November 17, 2023

Starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, & Charles Melton

Netflix produced a lot of great films in 2023, but the best of them is undoubtedly May December. This incredible drama follows Natalie Portman’s Elizabeth, an actress studying Julianne Moore’s controversial character, Gracie, who married a man she started a relationship with when he was only 13 (she was 36). This layered movie is unflinchingly campy and thoroughly thought-provoking, and the cast performances coupled with Todd Haynes’ directing make it impossible to look away. May December somehow manages to be profoundly uncomfortable, yet addictively engaging, marking it as a truly unique accomplishment and solidifying it as the best Netflix movie of 2023.