Best Drama Movies 2023

Critics Consensus: Oppenheimer marks another engrossing achievement from Christopher Nolan that benefits from Murphy's tour-de-force performance and stunning visuals.

Synopsis: During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Critics Consensus: Enormous in runtime, theme, and achievement, Killers of the Flower Moon is a sobering appraisal of America's relationship with Indigenous peoples and yet another artistic zenith for Martin Scorsese and his collaborators.

Synopsis: Based on David Grann's broadly lauded best-selling book, "Killers of the Flower Moon" is set in 1920s Oklahoma and depicts the serial murder of members... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Lily Gladstone

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

Critics Consensus: With intelligence as sharp as its humor, BlackBerry takes a terrifically entertaining look at the rise and fall of a generation-defining gadget.

Synopsis: 'BlackBerry' tells the story of Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, the two men that charted the course of the spectacular rise and catastrophic demise of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson, Rich Sommer

Directed By: Matt Johnson

Critics Consensus: A tribute to parental devotion and a testament to Teyana Taylor's talent, A Thousand and One presents a heart-wrenching portrait of perseverance in the face of systemic inequity.

Synopsis: A THOUSAND AND ONE follows unapologetic and free-spirited Inez (Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Teyana Taylor, Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney, Josiah Cross

Directed By: A.V. Rockwell

Critics Consensus: Gently devastating in its compassion, Monster is a masterpiece of shifting perspectives that surprises to the end.

Synopsis: When her young son Minato starts to behave strangely, his mother feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher is responsible, she storms... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sakura Andô, Eita Nagayama, Soya Kurokawa, Mitsuki Takahata

Directed By: Hirokazu Koreeda

Critics Consensus: Dispassionately examining the ordinary existence of people complicit in horrific crimes, The Zone of Interest forces us to take a cold look at the mundanity behind an unforgivable brutality.

Synopsis: The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Medusa Knopf, Daniel Holzberg

Directed By: Jonathan Glazer

Critics Consensus: All of Us Strangers examines profound grief and love through a fantastical lens that is always grounded on human emotion.

Synopsis: One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam (Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal), which... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy

Directed By: Andrew Haigh

Critics Consensus: Brought to life by the empathetic efforts of a talented cast and further distinguished by striking black-and-white cinematography, Fremont takes a thoughtful -- and wryly funny -- look at the immigrant experience.

Synopsis: Donya works for a Chinese fortune cookie factory in San Francisco. Formerly a translator for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, she struggles to put her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anaita Wali Zada, Gregg Turkington, Jeremy Allen White, Hilda Schmelling

Directed By: Babak Jalali

Critics Consensus: Led by Laure Calamy's gripping performance, Full Time serves as a sobering reminder that just staying financially afloat can sometimes feel like a white-knuckle thriller.

Synopsis: Single mother Julie (César award-winning actress Laure Calamy) works a grueling job as a head chambermaid in a five-star Parisian hotel. Julie's daily balance of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Laure Calamy, Anne Suarez, Geneviève Mnich, Cyril Gueï

Directed By: Eric Gravel

Critics Consensus: Bridging times past with issues that are still current, Blue Jean resonates intellectually and emotionally thanks to thoughtful direction and authentic performances.

Synopsis: England, 1988 -- Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government is about to pass a law stigmatizing gays and lesbians, forcing Jean, a gym teacher, to live a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rosy McEwen, Kerrie Hayes, Lydia Page, Stacy Abalogun

Directed By: Georgia Oakley