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In choosing the best films of 2023, I can’t find a pattern.

That’s a good thing.

My Top 10 list contains an independent oddity and a technicolor blockbuster, a groundbreaking work of frenetic animation and an achingly slow courtroom drama. This year, I loved movies from filmmakers I usually don’t care for (and, admittedly, disliked some films by directors I love).

There are entries in my Top 10 that seemed to arise out of nowhere, including one I hadn’t even heard of until people were messaging me to demand I review it. There are also movies that have been anticipated for years.

There’s comedy (of a certain sort), drama (without conventional structure) and horror (that probably would be misfiled under action). There’s a movie that I’ve heard alternately described as an uproarious comedy and a chilling true-crime tale. There are four films that are fully or partially not in the English language; as Bong Joon-ho predicted when “Parasite” won Best Picture, audiences are no longer deterred by an unfamiliar language spoken on screen.

And yes: There’s “Barbie.”

It was a good year for movies, and a good year at the movies, as sensational experiences drew fans back into the cinemas in large numbers and the siren call of streaming seemed to diminish. It’s still the most accessible and ubiquitous form of entertainment we have — and, if 2023 is any indication, it’s going to keep offering a wide variety of material.

Before I name the 10 best, here are 10 honorable mentions, all of which very nearly made the cut (in fact, I subbed one out of the 10th spot just now): “All of Us Strangers,” “Asteroid City,” “The Boy and the Heron,” “Creed III,” “Dream Scenario,” “Joy Ride,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Napoleon,” “Saltburn” and “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.”

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10) Oppenheimer
The darker and longer half of this summer’s zeitgeist-seizing double feature, Christopher Nolan’s expansive biography considers not just its namesake but the cosmic and moral impact of his work. Through arresting images (captured in IMAX, a cause célèbre of the outspoken filmmaker) and dozens of committed performances, a chapter of history is retold in a form more instructive and illuminating than any history book can manage. If “Oppenheimer” is somewhat less than inspiring, it should be: This is a story about mankind going to the darkest parts of its imagination to achieve terrible things.
How to See It: Available to rent via digital on-demand services and on Blu-Ray (though good luck finding a copy).

9) Past Lives
There wasn’t a better debut this year than the first feature from writer/director Celine Song, whose globe-spanning romance “Past Lives” invigorates and redefines the romantic comedy. A wistful and beautiful tale of two people who may or may not be destined for one another, “Past Lives” features heartstring-tugging performances from Greta Lee and Teo Yoo. If you watch “Past Lives” without wondering about the fate of everyone you ever met — in this life and any prior — you’re not human.
How to See It: Available to rent via digital on-demand services and on Blu-Ray.

8) May December
The Golden Globes have called this modified-from-the-headlines story a comedy, apparently leaning into a reading that sees it as a sly satire of the way Hollywood commodifies real-life scandal and heartbreak. (Or, at least, they’re going along with Netflix’s wishes that “May December” be classified as such.) Is it that kind of film — or an ultimately chilling tale of true crime and the decades-long exploitation of a hapless victim? Ultimately, it’s both and plenty besides. Filmmaker Todd Haynes embraces ambiguity in all his work, and “May December” stands as one of his finest efforts, buoyed by great performances.
How to See It: Playing at the Harris Theater through Jan. 3 and streaming on Netflix.

7) Godzilla Minus One
The best movie in the long-running kaiju franchise succeeds by figuring out what no prior iteration could: You don’t make a movie about the big lizard, you make a movie about interesting characters and then put a big lizard on top. With visual effects that may well compete for an Oscar (despite a total budget of less than $15 million), the beast has never been a scarier or more memorable presence — but it’s the human characters that shine, weaving a tail of postwar confusion that is as compelling as anything the big guy can bring to the table. Add the most effective deployment of a signature music sting since Jaws started swimming and you have an all-time great creature feature, and one that came out of nowhere; I had to be told by friends that it was essential to see this movie. They were right.
How to See It: In theaters now.

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6) The Holdovers
An excellent, if unconventional, entry in the Christmas-movie canon, “The Holdovers” deposits the audience at a singularly unfestive New England boarding school over the Christmas break. A misunderstood teacher (Paul Giamatti), a disaffected student (Carnegie Mellon’s Dominic Sessa) and a mourning chef (a scene-stealing Da’Vine Joy Randolph) learn life lessons, yes, but they also learn how much can’t change, even if they do. It won’t fill you with the Christmas spirit, but it’ll do something much more difficult: Stay with you long after the tree comes down.
How to See It: In theaters now and streaming on Peacock beginning Dec. 29.

5) Barbie
Once upon a time, the idea of a movie about the omnipresent doll becoming one of the best films of the year would’ve been an absurd notion. As soon as writer/director Greta Gerwig was attached, however, hopes skyrocketed for this unconventional bit of branding — and were further elevated by the casting of Margot Robbie in the title role and underutilized comic talent Ryan Gosling as Ken. Fortunately, a veritable tidal wave of hype was validated when the film debuted; it’s not only a hilarious and imaginative riff on play and fantasy, it’s a nearly profound statement on life in a world that focuses far too much on gender roles. If you’ve somehow missed “Barbie” until now, rectify that immediately; this is a movie for everyone.
How to See It: Streaming on Max and on Blu-Ray.

4) The Zone of Interest
The ability of humans to compartmentalize evil deeds is on disturbing display in “The Zone of Interest,” an adaptation of the Martin Amis novel by director Jonathan Glazer. A family squabbles and seeks domestic bliss in the shadow of Auschwitz, with patriarch Rudolf Höss vying for promotion — while the inescapable sounds of death and torture echo in the background. It’s a bleak, sobering experience, and one that feels sadly relevant. The darkness of the subject matter shouldn’t deter hardy moviegoers from seeing “The Zone of Interest,” however, as it’s a remarkable achievement.
How to See It: Expected to debut in Pittsburgh in early January.

3) Anatomy of a Fall
Led by an unforgettable performance from Sandra Hüller — who also stars in “The Zone of Interest” — “Anatomy of a Fall” is a courtroom drama that revels in suspense and uncertainty. Those looking for neat explanations or third-act revelations won’t be satisfied; this isn’t a movie about guilt or innocence, rather one about the levers of justice and the battle for recognition, both in the courtroom and the family home. It’s irresistibly compelling and perfectly scripted by writer/director Justine Triet, who was awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes for this remarkable drama.
How to See It: Available to rent via digital on-demand services.

2) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
When I think of “Across the Spider-Verse,” my mind doesn’t immediately go to the kinetic action or boisterous humor — or even the sea of Spider-Folk zipping and swinging across the screen. Rather, I think of the way the backgrounds, lighting and effects change, often from shot to shot, to reflect and amplify the inner lives of the characters. An impressionistic leap forward in animation, “Across the Spider-Verse” surpasses even its beloved predecessor by elevating the form itself; this is as significant an advancement in animation as “Toy Story,” representing not only an exemplary film but also a new way of drawing a movie.
How to See It: Streaming on Netflix and on Blu-Ray.

PHOTO BY ATSUSHI NISHIJIMA / SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

1) Poor Things
It’s incredibly rare that a film this audacious can live up to its ambitions. The best work to date by provocative auteur Yorgos Lanthimos, “Poor Things” swings for the fences with a quirky and precise re-imagining of the Frankenstein myth — and connects beautifully, crafting haunting images and witty sequences in equal measure. The cast is loaded, with standout performances from Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe and Kathryn Hunter; it belongs, however, to Emma Stone, who is likely to claim her second Oscar for her bold, charming performance. Each year, a half-dozen movies aim to be this bright and daring; most fail. “Poor Things” succeeds in every frame.
How to See It: In theaters now.