Yahoo Movies The most underappreciated movies of 2023 and how to watch them
From Passages to Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, there were some great movies that failed to make it big despite being standout films.
Movies always prove to be a great talking point for cinephiles every year, and 2023 proved this was the case with the release of films like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Wonka. But not every film was able to get the recognition it deserved.
Read more: The most searched for movies of 2023
For every big budget blockbuster there has been a film to fall under the radar, whether they are independent or not. To explore this more, Yahoo looked back at 2023 at the movies to reveal which films are the most underappreciated, and why.
The First Slam Dunk
Based on Takehiko Inoue's hit manga series Slam Dunk, The First Slam Dunk is an exhilarating sports drama that proved the skills of its creator as a writer, and as a first-time director. While it did incredibly well at the box office in Japan and abroad, the movie's release in the UK did not receive as much fanfare as other anime releases in 2023 like Makoto Shinkai's Suzume or Hayao Miyazaki's forthcoming film The Boy and the Heron.
The First Slam Dunk will be released on digital soon.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
A charming fantasy comedy based around an iconic tabletop game which stars the likes of Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page and Hugh Grant — what's not to love? Well, despite all its strong points, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves underperformed at the box office. The film has everything going for it: a fun heist story, thrilling actions scenes, and a group of loveable rogues brought to life by its excellent cast.
Watch Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves on Paramount+.
Scrapper
Charlotte Regan's British independent film Scrapper delivers a touching narrative about grief, loss and the bond that develops between 12-year-old Georgie (Lola Campbell) and her father Jason (Harris Dickinson) who comes into her life after learning of her mother's death. It is a moving portrait of family and what it means, with Campbell and Dickinson proving strong scene partners.
Watch Scrapper on the BFI Player.
Sisu
Action movies are a dime a dozen so it sometimes happens that a gem like Sisu will be missed by viewers. The Finnish film follows the bloody quest for vengeance of former commando officer Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) against a Nazi death squad and its brutal leading officer (Aksel Hennie). Full of action-packed scenes and violence, director Jalmari Helander delivered a brutal and thrilling historical drama.
Sisu is available to rent or buy on digital.
Joy Ride
Similar in spirit to films like Bridesmaids and Crazy Rich Asians, Joy Ride follows a group of Asian American friends as they search for one of their birth mothers. Starring Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola, and Sabrina Wu, the raunchy comedy struggled at the box office despite being a charming film about family and friendship.
Joy Ride is is available to rent or buy on digital.
Polite Society
Directed by Nida Manzoor, Polite Society is a martial arts action comedy of a different kind. It follows teen Ria Khan (Priya Kansara), an aspiring stunt performer who goes on a quest to save her sister Lena (Ritu Arya) after she decides to give up on her dreams and get married instead. Full of stylistic action and a fun storyline, Polite Society gained recognition at Sundance Film Festival and from critics but felt underappreciated upon its release.
Polite Society is available to rent or buy on digital.
Bottoms
Starring The Bear's Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott, Bottoms is a queer comedy that seemed to fall under the radar despite being akin to hit films like Booksmart. The movie follows teens Josie (Edebiri) and PJ (Sennott) as they start a fight club at their high school in a bid to have sex before they reach graduation. The film was only given a limited theatrical release and so struggled to make an impact despite its merits.
Bottoms will be released on Prime Video in January.
Passages
Ira Sachs' Passages stars Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, and Adèle Exarchopoulo, and the gripping romantic drama explores the way in which couple Tomas (Rogowski) and Martin's (Whishaw) marriage is put at risk when the former begins an affair with a woman, Agathe (Exarchopoulo). The film was highly praised by critics, with Rogowski's performance gaining particular acclaim, but it has struggled to make as much buzz as similar films like All of Us Strangers.
Watch Passages on Mubi now.
Pearl
Horror films are often overlooked and one highlight of 2023 was Pearl, the newest collaboration between Ti West and Mia Goth. A prequel to X, the film depicts the origin story of its titular villain and how her desire to become a movie star lead her to becoming violent. While the film did well at the box office, and has led to a third film in the franchise being released, it wasn't as much of a talking point as its predecessor.
Watch Pearl on Sky Cinema and NOW.
