Best of 2023

We’re almost at the end of the year, so that means that I give you the best films and series of 2023. This list consists of 30 films and 30 series which makes it a total of 60 releases. It wasn’t easy to choose because this was an amazing year with a lot of great films and series. But I did it and I’m starting with the 30 best films of this year.

Best films of 2023:

1. Barbie: For me, this is the best film that was released this year and one I’ll be watching again a few times in the next few years. Not only the film is unforgettable, the soundtrack is also amazing. From I’m Just Ken to the Billie Eilish song and Dance the Night by Dua Lipa, they were big hits this year as well and those will be classics one day. Margot Robbie was made to play Barbie and with Ryan Gosling by her side as Ken this was an iconic duo. it’s really fun to see all those Barbies and Kens together. Greta Gerwig is an amazing director which she showed once again with this film. If you haven’t seen Barbie in theatres, you can watch the film at home now.
2. Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse: I am a big fan of Marvel and already loved the first Spider-Verse film, but this one was even better. The animation is so different and beautiful that you want to watch this film over and over again. All the Spider-Men we get to see in this film and all the Easter Eggs make it even more fun. I can’t wait for the sequel that is coming.
3. Poor Things: One of the best performances from Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo. They are great together in this film. I saw it during the Film Festival in Ghent and I loved it. It’s so different from all the other films that were released this year and really a must-watch. The film is only releasing officially in theatres this January, but because I saw the film already it had to be in this list, but if you haven’t seen the film yet, you really should see it when it officially releases in theatres.
4. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes: As a big fan of the original Hunger Games films I was looking forward to this prequel. I even read the book before going to the theatre to see it. And I’m happy I did. Even if there are some things in the book that were left out in the film, it was an amazing experience. I was feeling like a teenager again going to see a Hunger Games film. Rachel Zegler was made for this role as Lucy Gray and the soundtrack is also amazing with especially the song from Olivia Rodrigo that is still stuck in my head.
5. Past Lives: one of the best drama films of this year. Greta Lee is amazing in this film directed by Celine Song who made her feature directorial debut with this film. And what a debut! If you don’t have to cry or have your heart broken after seeing this film, you don’t have emotions.
6. Oppenheimer: Besides Barbie, this is the other big film that was released this year. Because of the whole Barberheimer thing, people were talking about films again and were going to the theatre to see them. Even if it’s a long film, it’s three hours long, it’s a great film with some beautiful shots and a wonderful cast.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3: As a Marvel fan I had to put some Marvel films in this list, and the best one that was released this year, besides Spider-Verse, was this third and last film of the Guardians of the Galaxy. It was a beautiful ending to the trilogy and I am not going to lie, yes, I left a few tears at the end of the film.
8. John Wick Chapter 4: Keanu Reeves is one of my favorite actors and he is amazing as John Wick. I always loved this franchise and was amazed by how they can keep it coming. This is also a long film that is almost three hours long, but with all the action and fight scenes, you quickly forget that it’s that long.
9. The Creator: A beautiful sci fi-film with John David Washington in the lead role. This is one of the best science fiction films of this year. With robots and AI, the story it tells is becoming more and more real.
10. Killers of the Flower Moon: Martin Scorses is one of the best directors there is and he showed it once again with this film. Leonardo DiCaprio and Lil Gladstone are amazing in this film as well as Robert De Niro, Brendan Fraser and Jesse Plemons. It’s also a very long film, but it’s all worth it.
11. Anatomy of a Fall: One of the best European films of this year. It’s not for nothing that the film won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year. It also won the National Board of Review Award for Best International Film and won six European Film Awards including Best Film. It also received four nominations at the Golden Globe Awards, so the film can win even more awards.
12. The Zone of Interest: This is another great European film that was released this year. This historical drama film written and directed by Jonathan Glazer is loosely based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Martin Amis and tells the beautiful story of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife as they strive to build a dream life next to the concentration camp. The film won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and was selected as the British entry for the Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards.
13. The Super Mario Bros. Movie: This year was the year of films made based on games and toys. Besides Barbie we had this Mario film that was one of the box office successes. The film grossed 1.36 billion US dollars worldwide and broke multiple box-office records, including the biggest worldwide opening weekend for an animated film and the highest-grossing film based on a video game. It also became the second-highest-grossing film of 2023, the third-highest-grossing animated film, and the highest-grossing film produced by Illumination. The film received three nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, including one for Best Animated Feature Film.
14. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: Another fun film about the popular board game that became even more popular because of Stranger Things. And this year there was this live-action film that was released based on the board game. With a great cast including Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant, the film was fun to watch. And we will even more Dungeons & Dragons with a spin-off television series that  is in development at Paramount+.
15. The Marvels: The reviews for this Marvel film were very mixed with people loving it or hating it. I was on the side that loved it. Brie Larson is an amazing actress and is great as Captain Marvel. Iman Vellani stole the show in the film as Ms Marvel and Teyonah Parris is also amazing as Monica Rambeau, and seeing the three of them together was really fun. It was a feelgood film that made you laugh from ear to ear.
16. Wonka: Another feelgood film that was just released this month is Wonka with Timothée Chalamet doing an amazing job. He really can do anything. In this film he dances, sings and acts like it’s nothing. Calah Lane who plays Noodle, the girl that helps Wonka, is also amazing and has a bright future in front of her. It’s a perfect film to watch during the holidays.
17. Scream 6: I’m not such a fan of horror films, but Scream is one worth seeing. This sequel to Scream from last year stars Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Hayden Panettiere and Courteney Cox, all reprising their roles from previous installments, with Josh Segarra, Jack Champion, Devyn Nekoda, Liana Liberato, Tony Revolori, Samara Weaving, Henry Czerny and Dermot Mulroney joining the ensemble cast. We got a new Ghostface in this film set in New York which made it quite different from the other films, but still fun to watch as a fan of the franchise.
18. The Boy and the Heron: animation films are mostly seen as films for kids, but this one is really worth seeing by everyone. The colors and the design are just wonderful. This is one of the best animated films of this year and one of the best films from Hayao Miyazaki.  It was nominated for many awards, including Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Score.
19. Saltburn: Barry Keoughan is really making a name of himself. After starring in Eternals in 2021 and in The Banshees of Inisherin last year, this year was also a great year for the actor. In Saltburn he stars beside Jacob Elordi, who also had an amazing year and will have another great year in 2024, with the two of them having great chemistry in the film. It might be a little weird what happens in the film, but it is really worth your time. The film is now on Prime Video, so you can watch it there.
20. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One: Tom Cruise was back this year as Ethan Hunt in this first part of Dead Reckoning. The Mission Impossible films are always fun to watch with all the action. And we’re getting even more Mission Impossible films with the next one coming in 2025.
21. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: Also back this year was Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. It has been since 2008 that Ford played Indiana Jones and this film was the last time he did. It was fun to see Ford again in this iconic role of him. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you can watch it now on Disney+.
22. Bottoms: a fun queer film is not always easy to find, but this one with Ayo Adebiri and Rachel Sennott in the lead roles is a good one. I laughed and even cried a little watching the film and was also a little shocked by the end. It was a fun film to watch. You can watch the film on Prime Video now if you haven’t seen it yet.
23. Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantomania: I’m here again with another Marvel film that was released this year that was maybe not so popular with the audience, but I kinda liked it. Especially finally seeing the quantum world. I really like the daughter-father moments as well and I’m excited to see even more of Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang.
24. Asteroid City: Wes Anderson can do no wrong. This is another typical film from the director which stars an ensemble cast that includes a lot of big stars. We have Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Steve Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan and Jeff Goldblum. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where the cast arrived at the premiere in a big bus.
25. Elemental: A fun animated film that shows you that even though we have our differences, we can live together. Disney and Pixar are still making amazing films and this is one of them. It was nominated for several awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film. You can watch the film on Disney+ if you haven’t seen it yet.
26. Napoleon: There is no doubt that Joaquin Phoenix is a great actor. I look forward to see him in the sequel to the Joker with Lady Gaga, but this year he also showed his talent as Napoleon in this film from Ridley Scott. Even if historians are talking about the things that didn’t really happen, it’s still a great film about the Emperor.
27. May December: Julianne Moore and Nathalie Portman should make more films together, especially when you see them in this film. Charles Melton was also amazing and really deserves the recognition. In the US and some other countries you can watch the film on Netflix, in some other countries the film is releasing in theatres. Directed by Todd Haynes, who made an amazing film with Carol, did it again with this film.
28. No Hard Feelings: Jennifer Lawrence can be funny and she showed it in this film. I have been following her career since The Hunger Games and have been a fan since. It was really fun to see her again in a film like this.
29. Passages: I have been a fan of Adèle Exarchopoulos since she played in Blue Is the Warmest Colour and this year she starred in this amazing new French film. There’s romance, there’s drama, there’s everything. Franz Rogowski and Ben Whishaw are also amazing in this film that is now on Mubi. So if you haven’t seen the film yet, you can go watch it there.
30. M3GAN: I’m ending this list with another horror film that took over the world at the beginning of the year. You saw the Megan doll everywhere when the film was released. Because the film was released at the very start of this year, you might have forgotten it, but I didn’t. There’s even a sequel coming in 2025 with Allison Williams and Violet McGraw reprising their roles. So we will get even more Megan in the future.

Now the 30 best series of this year with a lot of new series that were released, but also new seasons we got from series that already existed. We even had some amazing series that ended this year.

Best series of 2023:

1. The Last of Us: The best new series that was released in my opinion. I was already a big fan of the video games which I played several times and played again when the series was released. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are amazing as Joel and Ellie and I can’t wait for the second season, even if I know what happens.
2. Gen V: I already was a big fan of The Boys and was looking forward to this series. Besides having an amazing cast, with Jaz Sinclair and Chance Perdomo doing a Chilling Adventures of Sarina reunion, it was a great show that gives us more from The Boys world. I can’t wait to see even more from our heroes, with first the fourth season of The Boys itself coming.
3. The Bear season 2: The Bear, one of the best shows from last year, was back this year with a second season and it was once again amazing. Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri are great together and I can’t wait to see more.
4. Yellowjackets season 2: another great show that has an amazing cast and crazy story. This second season was even crazier than the first one. Sophie Nelisse was especially amazing in this second season. I look forward to see even more, because it ended in a really crazy way.
5. Sex Education season 4: this year we had to say goodbye to Otis but not before getting this fourth season. We got to know a few new faces in this last season and a new school. This was a very fun and really important series that talked about things you don’t always see on your screen.
6. Only Murders in the Building season 3: a trio you never thought you needed, but we really do and they were amazing once again in this third season. And they were joined by big names like Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep showing once again how great of an actor they are. I look forward to what we will get next from our trio.
7. Succession season 4: we also had to say goodbye to the Roy family this year. One of the best drama series from the last few years, we followed the Roy family and their world.
8. One Piece: it’s not always easy to make a live-action version of a popular manga series, but with this one they did an amazing job. It’s really fun to watch and it has also been renewed for a second season which I look forward to.
9. Daisy Jones & The Six: I still have some songs in my head from this series. This was a fun series to see with some great songs that were made for it.
10. BEEF: one of the best comedy series from this year. Ali Wong and Steven Yeun stole the show together. Every episode gets crazier and crazier.
11. Loki season 2: this year we got another view at Loki in this second season of the Marvel series which is also probably the last time we got to see Loki. Tom Hiddleston has been playing the role since 2011 which is a long time. It had a beautiful ending.
12. Dead Ringers: I already knew that Rachel Weisz was an amazing actress and with this series she really shows it playing both roles of the twins. Some scenes are a little much and not for everyone, but it’s a series you really should see. It ends with a crazy twist.
13. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story: Bridgerton was already fun to watch and seeing a younger Queen Charlotte was also a lot of fun. The casting for the younger and older version of the characters we see in the series was really well done. We will get more Bridgerton next year with the new season releasing.
14. Never Have I Ever season 4: another series we had to say goodbye to this year. This was an amazing coming-of-age series which was the big start for Maitreyi Ramakrishnan who plays the lead role of Devi. Mindy Kaling, who created the series with Lang Fisher, showed with this show that she can do it.
15. The Witcher season 3: the third season of The Witcher which also was the last one with Henry Cavill as Gerald of Rivia was another fun series. Too bad that Cavill is not reprising his role in the fourth season, but Liam Hemsworth, who is taking over the role of Geralt of Rivia, is going to do a good job as well in my opinion. Freya Allan and Anya Chalotra are also back in this third season and are amazing as well.
16. Heartstopper season 2: also back this year with a second season was Heartstopper which is based on the webcomic and graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman who wrote and created the show. Joe Locke and Kit Connor are great as Charlie and Nick who are officially together in this season.
17. Shadow and Bone season 2: this second season of the fantasy series is going to be the last one after Netflix announced they cancelled the show. I was really upset when I heard the news because I loved this show and was looking forward to see more of Alina and her story. But that won’t happen. Luckily there are still the books.
18. Abbott Elementary season 2: also back this year with a second season was Abbott Elementary. The first few episodes were released at the end of 2022 but the whole season was out this year, so it’s in the list of 2023. This is one of the best comedy series there is with Quinta Brunson, who not only stars in the series but also created it, and some other great cast members like  Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. A third season is coming which I look forward to.
19. Black Mirror season 6: we had to wait a while for this new season of the British anthology series, but it was worth it. We once again got some crazy stories like Joan is Awful and Loch Henry. We will get a seventh season of the show with some more crazy stories coming.
20. Ginny & Georgia season 2: this year we also got the second season of Ginny and Georgia with Antonia Gentry and Brianne Howey reprising the titular roles. We finally got to know what happens next. This was one of the most viewed series on Netflix this year and was really great. We will get to see even more of Ginny and Georgia because the series has been renewed for a third and fourth season.
21. Swarm: Dominique Fishback is amazing in this series which also stars Chloe Bailey and Billie Eilish. It’s a crazy story but also so creative. If you know Donald Glover is one of the creators, you know it’s a good series.
22. Sweet Tooth season 2: Based on the comic book series created by Jeff Lemire, this fantasy series was back with a second season this year. Christian Convery reprised his role as Gus who was captured at the end of the first season and has to try to get out in this second season. It’s a really fun series that will get a third and final season.
23. Silo: A lot of films that were released this year were based on books, but we also got series based on books released this year and one of them is Silo with Rebecca Ferguson in the lead role. This science fiction dystopian series is created by Graham Yost and based on the series of novels of the same name by author Hugh Howey. It’s set in a dystopian future where a community exists in a giant underground silo comprising 144 levels. It was a food show that was renewed for a second season so we will see even more of Ferguson in this show.
24. Poker Face: Natasha Lyonne was already amazing in Orange is the new Black, one of the all-time favorite series, but in this one she is also really great. This crime comedy series is created by Rian Johnson who you can know from the Knives Out films. Stylized as a “case-of-the-week” murder mystery series, Natasha Lyonne plays the lead role as Charlie Cale, a casino worker on the run who entangles herself into several mysterious deaths of strangers along the way. We will see even more of Natasha as Charlie, because the series has been renewed for a second season.
25. You season 4: this season Joe was in Europe. The season was a little different from the other seasons, but still very intense. We will get to see Penn Badgley once more time as Joe in the fifth and final season of You which is set to release in 2024.
26. Class of 07: an apocalyptic series which is also fun, this is Class of 07 which stars Emily Browning as Zoe Miller, one of the girls we follow that goes to the 10-year reunion of an all-girls high school. After an apocalyptic tidal wave hits the world, the group has to find a way to survive on the island peak of their old high school campus, while dealing with old high school drama. I would like to see more of this group of girls, so I hope we’re getting a second season.
27. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off: in 2010 the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was released and this year the entire main cast reprised their roles for this animated series. It serves as an alternate retelling of the original Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series and film. If you were a fan of the film, you probably also loved the series.
28. Human Resources season 2: Big Mouth also could be in this list with the seventh season that was released, but this spin-off series that was made from Big Mouth was also back this year with a second and last season, so I put this one in the list. I really liked the show and was a nice extra to the main show. With a lot of amazing guest stars voicing a character in the series, it was really fun to watch.
29. The Power: Maybe a little less known, but I liked this series with Toni Collette, Auliʻi Cravalho and John Leguizamo starring in the series. In this science fiction series all women in the world suddenly get a special power that changes everything. We follow several women and how they deal with that new power.
30. Lockwood and Co: I’m ending with a fun British supernatural detective thriller series which is based on Jonathan Stroud’s book series of the same name. Besides Shadow and Bone, this is another great show that was cancelled this year by Netflix. We will only get one season of this show in which we see the trio of psychic investigators fighting against ghosts. It was a nice show which I liked to see more of, but that won’t happen.

These last few weeks there were also a lot of great new films and series that were released that didn’t make the list because they were released too late. So here I give you six more films and series that are worth mentioning that were released in the last few weeks of 2023.

Films and series worth mentioning that didn’t made the list:

Six movies released this last month worth mentioning:

• The Color Purple: the newest film based on the stage musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker. It is the second film adaptation of the novel, following the 1985 film directed by Steven Spielberg. He returned to produce this version with Quincy Jones, along with the stage musical’s producers Scott Sanders and Oprah Winfrey, the latter of whom also starred in the 1985 film as Sofia. The film stars Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, and Fantasia Barrino in her film debut. Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks both reprise their roles from productions of the stage musical. The film tells the story of the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s.
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom: the sequel to Aquaman which I saw on December 22 when it was released. This new superhero film, based on the DC character Aquaman, is directed by James Wan from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. It stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman alongside Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman. This sequel is set several years after the events of the first film and follows Arthur Curry / Aquaman who is forced to protect Atlantis and his loved ones from devastation after an ancient power is unleashed by David Kane / Black Manta obtaining the cursed Black Trident.
• Ferrari: a biographical drama sports thriller film directed by Michael Mann and written by Troy Kennedy Martin about Enzo Ferrari, the Italian founder of the car manufacturer Ferrari. It is based on the 1991 biography Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine by motorsport journalist Brock Yates. It stars Adam Driver in the lead role as Enzo Ferrari alongside Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Gabriel Leone, Sarah Gardon, Jack O’Connell and Patrick Dempsey. The film was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered on August 31, and it was released in theatres on Christmas Day on December 25. I already saw the film when they showed it at Film Fest Ghent.
• Rebel Moon: the first part of the epic space opera film directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay he co-wrote with Kurt Johnstad and Shay Hatten, and based on a story Zack Snyder also created. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Michiel Huisman, Djimon Hounsou, Doona Bae, Ray Fisher, Cleopatra Coleman, Jena Malone, Fra Fee, Ed Skrein, and Anthony Hopkins. Rebel Moon is split in two parts with part 1, named A Child of Fire, that was released on Netflix on December 22. A follow-up, Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver, is set for release on April 19, 2024.
• Maestro: the new biographical drama film that centers on the relationship between American composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre. It is directed by Bradley Cooper, from a screenplay he wrote with Josh Singer. It was produced by Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Bradley Cooper, among others. The film stars Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein alongside Carey Mulligan as his wife Felicia Montealegre. Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke and Sarah Silverman also star in the film. Maestro premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Lion, and had a limited theatrical release on November 22, before streaming on Netflix on December 20.
• American Fiction: a new satirical comedy drama film written and directed by Cord Jefferson, in his feature directorial debut. It is based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett and stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Sterling K. Brown. We follow Monk, a frustrated novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from ‘Black’ entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk uses a pen name to write an outlandish ‘Black’ book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, where it won the People’s Choice Award, and was released in limited theatres on December 15 with an expansion on December 22.

Six series released this last month worth mentioning:

• The Curse: the newest satirical black comedy thriller series created and written by Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, and starring Emma Stone, Fielder, and Safdie. The series premiered in November of this year, but not all episodes were released yet with the tenth and last episode releasing on January 24, 2024. It’s seen as one of the best series released this year, but because not the whole season is out yet, I put it here instead of in the list of the 30 best series of 2023. It will probably make the list of 2024.
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians: another great new series that only released this month, so it was released too late to make the actual list, but it’s a beautiful remake that deserves to be mentioned. New episodes are still releasing weekly which means it’s also kinda releasing in 2024 and it makes it possible to be in the list of the best series of 2024, we will see. You can watch the series on Disney+.
• The Crown season 6: the very last season of The Crown was split in two parts with the second part that was released on December 14. We got to the end of the story this year with also Queen Elizabeth dying this year after a reign of over 70 years, being  the longest of any British monarch and the second longest verified reign of any monarch of a sovereign state in history. After six seasons it was time to close of the story.
• Fellow Travelers: the newest historical romance political thriller miniseries based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon. Starring Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey, it centers on the decades-long romance between two men who first meet during the height of McCarthyism in the 1950s. The series premiered on October 29 on Showtime with the eighth and last episode that was released on December 17, so a little too late to make the list. But it’s a wonderful series that tells a beautiful story and deserves to be mentioned.
• Alter Ego: Besides all those American and English series, I also want to talk about Belgian series. Because besides amazing films, there were also amazing Belgian series that were released and one of them is Alter Ego that was released at the end of November. It’s a mind-blowing series with Ward Kerremans and Taeke Nicolaï in the lead roles. Taeke even plays three different characters in the series. I really loved it and I hope there will be a second season coming.
• High Tides aka Knokke Off: one of the best Belgian series and series in general of this year was Knokke Off, or as you can know it now in ENglish High Tides. Since this month you can find this series on Netflix where it has been a big success. It stars an ensemble cast including Pommelien Thijs, Willem De Schryver, Eliyha Altena, Ruth Becquart, Geert Van Rampelberg, and Manouk Pluis. Set at the coastal city Knokke, we follow a group of teenagers as they spend the summer at the Belgian seaside while searching for love, friendship and most importantly, for themselves. It was recently renewed for a second season, so we will be seeing more of this.

This year there were also great new Belgian films that were released. Because I’m from Belgium and want to show them some support, I also have the six Belgian films from 2023 for you:

• Zillion: Technically this film was released in 2022 in Belgium, but in other countries it was released later in 2023. So Zillion deserves to be in this list, especially if it’s one of the best Belgian films ever made. Directed by Robin Pront, it stars Jonas Vermeulen, Charlotte Timmers, Matteo Simoni and Barbara Sarafian. It follows the true story of Frank Verstreaten who started with the nightclub Zillion. Because of the film, there was a revival of the whole night club with Zundays, special events on Sundays that happened in the Zillion back then, being back. It was an amazing film that really showed how it was back then.
• Zeevonk: a beautiful film shot in my hometown of Ostend. Directed by Domien Huyghe and titled Sea Sparkle in English, the film stars Saar Rogiers in the lead role of Lena. When her father dies at sea in a shipwreck, she is determined to prove that a huge, unknown creature is roaming the deep and is responsible for her father’s death. Director Domien worked on the film with his sister Wendy who suddenly lost their father and  processed this drama with this very personal and imaginative poetic film.
• Het Smelt: The directorial debut from Veerle Beatens, an amazing actress and with this film showed she also has a talent as a director. Titled When It Melts in English, the film stars Charlotte De Bruyne and Rosa Marchant in the lead roles as the older and younger version of Eva. Many years after a sweltering summer that spun out of control, she returns to the village she grew up in with an ice block in the back of her car. In the dead of winter, she confronts herself with her past and faces up to her tormentors. The film is based on the bestseller from Lize Spit and tells a very dramatic story.
• WIL: another great movie that was released that is based on a book. This film, which is set in Antwerp at the start of World War II, is based on the novel of the same name by  Jeroen Olyslaegers and is directed by Tim Mielants. It stars an ensemble cast including Stef Aerts, Matteo Simoni, Annelore Crollet, Kevin Janssens, Koen De Bouw, Gene Bervoets, and Jan Decleir. We follow Wilfried Wils who must survive as an auxiliary policeman during the Nazi occupation of Antwerp. It’s a beautiful war film that shows how it was during the war here in Belgium.
• Baghdad Messi: War and sports are two very different things, but in this film they belong together. Set in war-torn Baghdad, Iraq, we follow the young football fan Hamoudi whose big dream is to become a big star like his hero Lionel Messi. But during a match with friends, his village is attacked. The boy loses a leg, and his dream of becoming a professional player. Despite the guilt felt by his parents, and his inability to play, Hamoudi tries to keep his passion for football alive in this war-torn country.
• Holly: I’m ending with this drama film written and directed by Fien Troch. It had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival and was the opening film at Film Fest Ghent. The film stars Cathalina Geeraerts in the lead role as Holly who, after seeming to have predicted a deadly school fire, has all eyes on her. Her teacher invites her to volunteer in the grieving community. Holly gives peace, warmth and hope. Soon people start demanding more and more of her. Geeraerts did a wonderful job as Holly. Her performance was so good that she won the Bisato d’Oro Award for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. This is another beautiful Belgian film that was released this year.

So, we looked back to this year, now it’s time to look forward to 2024 which will be another great year full of amazing new films and series. Here are some films and series to look forward to that are coming in 2024.

Films to look forward to coming in 2024:

Six film you really should see:

• Dune Part 2: the second part of Dune which was supposed to be released this year but was delayed due to the strike. Instead it’s releasing on March 1, 2024.
• Deadpool 3: Deadpool is back in 2024 with a third film which will be the first time in the MCU. It will also be the only MCU film releasing in 2024.
• Furiosa: The trailer was already amazing, so I’m very excited for this one. Anya Taylor-Joy looks perfect as Furiosa which we will see in the film releasing in theatres May 24, 2024.
• Joker: Folie à Deux: Joaquin Phoenix will be back as the Joker in 2024 and will be accompanied by Lady Gaga. Joker was already amazing, so hopefully this sequel will be even better. The film is releasing in theatres on October 4, 2024.
• Bob Marley One Love: in 2024 we’re getting this beautiful film about the life of the legendary Bob Marley. Kingsley Ben-Adir stars as Bob Marley in the film which is releasing in theatres on January 20,2024.
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: the apes are coming back in 2024 with this sequel to War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). This will be the first film in the franchise without Caesar being in it. The film is releasing in theatres on May 24, 2024.

Besides these six films, here are ten other great films coming in 2024:

• Mean Girls, coming to theatres on January 12.
• Argylle, coming to theatres on February 2.
• Madame Web, coming to theatres on February 14.
• Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, coming to theatres on March 29.
• Mickey 17, coming to theatres on March 29.
• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, coming to theatres on April 12.
• Challengers, coming to theatres on April 26.
• The Fall Guy, coming to theatres on May 3.
• Inside Out 2, coming to theatres on June 14.
• Kraven The Hunter, coming to theatres on August 30.

Series to look forward to coming in 2024:

Six series you really should see:

• Avatar: The Last Airbender: In 2024 we’re getting a live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender which is a show a lot of people are looking forward to. One Piece was a big success this year, hopefully this will also be that good. It’s coming to Netflix on February 22.
• The Penguin: after playing the role in The Batman (2022), Colin Farrell is reprising his role for this new spin-off series that explores the Penguin’s rise to power in Gotham City’s criminal underworld. The series is coming on HBO Max in late 2024.
• Echo: besides DC we’re also getting new Marvel series including Echo, which is a spin-off of the series Hawkeye (2021). It sees Maya Lopez return to her hometown where she must come to terms with her past, reconnect with her Native American roots, and embrace her family and community. Alaqua Cox reprises her role as Maya Lopez / Echo from Hawkeye with also Vincent D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox being back as Kingpin and Daredevil. The series is releasing on Disney+ and Hulu on January 9, 2024.
• 3 Body Problem: During Tudum Netflix showed a clip of this sciencefiction series  created by David Benioff, D. B. Weiss and Alexander Woo based on the novel of the same name by Liu Cixin. It looked very nice and I look forward to it. The series is releasing on Netflix on March 21, 2024.
• Masters of the Air: a new war drama series that is based on the 2007 book Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany by Donald L. Miller. It follows the actions of the 100th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, a unit nicknamed the “Bloody Hundredth” due to the heavy losses it incurred in combat missions. The series serves as a companion to Band of Brothers (2001) and The Pacific (2010) and is releasing on Apple TV+ on January 26, 2024.
• The Brothers Sun: I’m ending with a new comedy series that is coming to Netflix and stars Michelle Yeoh. Once again she will be playing someone that is fighting and using martial arts. This looks like another fun series that is coming to Netflix on January 4, 2024.

Besides these six series, here are ten other great series coming in 2024:

• Griselda, coming to Netflix on January 25.
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith, coming to Prime Video February 2.
• Halo season 2, coming to Paramount+ on February 8.
• Fallout, coming to Prime Video April 12.
• Dead Boy Detectives, coming to Netflix early 2024.
• The Umbrella Academy season 4, coming to Netflix in the summer of 2024.
• House of the Dragon season 2, coming to HBO in the summer of 2024.
• Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, coming to Disney+ in 2024.
• Daredevil: Born Again, coming to Disney+ in 2024.
• Orphan Black: Echoes, which was already released in Australia, is coming to other countries in 2024.

There are a lot of amazing new movies and series to look forward to that are coming in 2024, so it will be another fun year. I wish you all a happy new year full of great new movies and series to see!