Best Movies of 2023 – Great Movie Moments and Scenes of 2023

Continuing my look back at the best movies of 2023, I will now look at some of my favorite movie moments and scenes from the movies of 2023. Whether it was a masterclass scene of acting, a great line-reading, or a thrilling piece of action, these were all scenes and moments from 2023 movies that I loved. There were a ton of options to choose from, but this group of movie moments and scenes are some that I could rewatch by themselves. Here are my favorite movie moments and scenes of 2023.

 

Pitch to the Jordans – Air

Ben Affleck’s Air is an exciting and inspiring sports film about a struggling Nike basketball division’s pursuit to sign Michael Jordan in 1984. The film’s climax features the Nike team, led by Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) and Phil Knight (Affleck), pitching Michael Jordan, his mother Deloris (an awards-worthy Viola Davis), and his father James (Julius Tennon). They use all the pomp and circumstance in their pitch: a slideshow, fake magazines and news articles, and a showcase of the shoe built around Jordan. 

But it’s a speech by Vaccaro that seals the deal for the Jordans. In one of Damon’s finest moments as an actor, he gives an impassioned, show-stopping speech about the greatness of Michael Jordan, about how his story will inspire people, how he’s going to change the world, and how his story is, “gonna make us want to fly.” It has the makings of becoming an iconic sports speech.

Full scene can be watched here.

 

Welcome to Barbieland – Barbie

While I didn’t love Barbie as much as many other critics and people, there is one thing undeniable about Great Gerwig’s film: it is easily one of the best-looking movies of 2023. The opening sequence, a homage to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, was great fun, but our introduction to Barbieland and the Barbie world of the film was jaw-dropping. It was a bright, colorful, fun world that looked like all the Barbie toys, houses, and clothes came to life. It’s impressive work by Sarah Greenwood and her production team set the vibe for the entire film.

Full scene can be watched here.

 

Stop-Motion Final Fight – Divinity

Eddie Alcazar’s little-seen sci-fi thriller was easily one of the cooler movies I saw in 2023. Set in a futuristic reality, the film looks at two men who kidnap a mogul whose father invented a serum called “Divinity” which causes immortality. The film is dark, brutal, twisted, and fantastically made, culminating in a stop-motion fight as its finale that is truly one of the wildest scenes I saw all last year. The animation is flawless, the fight is tough, and it was a unique and surprising ending to a unique and surprising film.

 

Ginza Attack – Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One is the best Godzilla film in years and was one of the best surprises of 2023. One of the aspects that made the film so good was the terrifying design of the Godzilla monster. Director Takashi Yamazaki did a brilliant job of utilizing Godzilla like the shark in Jaws, only showing the monster a few times, but doing it effectively to show their terror and destruction. The most terrifying scene in the film is when Godzilla destroys the city of Giza. The iconic Godzilla score blares as the towering monster destroys buildings, roads, and trains like it is nothing. It is the most terrifying Godzilla that has ever been portrayed on screen.

 

God’s View Gun Fight – John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a relentless barrage of bullets, blood, and bodies spread over its epic three-hour runtime. The film is loaded with great scenes, like the battle of the Japan Continental, the nightclub card game, or the final duel between John Wick (Keanu Reeves) and Caine (Donnie Yen). But the moment that took my breath away, and amazes me every time I watch it, came during the epic climax in Paris.

As Wick mows down dozens of hitmen trying to kill him, he is chased into an abandoned mansion. Armed with a Dragon’s Breath shotgun that shoots fire along with pellets, Wick continues to take down several nameless hitmen. During the scene, the camera moves from ground level to the sky to give us an aerial view of the destruction Wick is inflicting in this mansion. It’s a masterful piece of filmmaking watching the camera slowly glide in a one-shot action sequence that had me audibly saying, “Holy shit.” in the theater.

Full scene can be found here.

 

Rome Car Chase – Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Much of the hype around Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One was around the latest stunt Tom Cruise was going to perform himself in which he drove a motorcycle off a cliff and opened a parachute on the way down. It was an awesome stunt and just another legendary Tom Cruise cinematic story.

But that wasn’t my favorite scene from the latest Christopher McQuarrie action film. My favorite scene features Cruise and Haylee Atwell (a welcome newcomer to the franchise) driving around Rome in a tiny yellow car being chased by cops, agents, and everyone else trying to stop Ethan Hunt. In a scene that played like it was ripped from a Buster Keaton comedy, the scene finds Cruise and Atwell handcuffed together and must drive the hell out of this little yellow Fiat so that they don’t die. It’s as hilarious as it is thrilling, and Cruise and Atwell have perfect chemistry.

Full scene can be found here.

 

Celebration Speech – Oppenheimer

Christopher Nolan’s latest film was one of the great achievements of 2023. Several scenes in this movie could have made this list, from the Trinity Launch to Cillian Murphy’s haunted reading of “I Think We Did” in the film’s final moments. The scene that stood out to me the most and stuck with me the entire year was Oppenheimer’s speech following news that the United States had dropped the atomic bomb that he led the creation of. Oppenheimer (Murphy) is giving a speech to a gymnasium full of young Americans who could not be happier that the war is over because of his bomb. While hyping up the crowd, Nolan embeds us inside the mind of Oppenheimer for the first time, showing us the world around him is collapsing as he realizes the enormity of his creation to powerful and effective results. The scene features a perfect combination of editing, score, and cinematography and is one of Nolan’s finest moments as a director.

 

Spider-Men Chase – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was the best animated film and superhero film of 2023. The film’s animation is unlike any I have ever seen in a movie before. It featured six different styles of animation, each unique in their design. The most astounding moment in the film is towards the film’s finale when Miles Morales (voiced by Shamiek Moore) is being chased by every Spider-Man variation in the Spider-Society. The Spider-People vary in design and how they are drawn and they all swarm together to attack Miles. It’s awe-inspiring to see all the animation and technology and history of Spider-Man come together in one fantastic moment. 

Full scene can be found here. 

 

 

 

 

Follow Kevflix on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd @kevflix and on Facebook by searching Kevflix.