23 overlooked movies because of Barbenheimer

The year 2023 will be remembered for many things, but one of the most glorious was that moment in July when two movies that could not be more opposite debuted on the same weekend. One gave life to an iconic American figure, and the other laid out a history lesson throughout three technically and wonderfully acted hours. Barbie and Oppenheimer got so much attention that it was easy for moviegoers to miss the other amazing films that hit theaters and streaming services throughout the year.

So it’s time to give them some love and perhaps influence audiences to watch them now because these movies were just a little overlooked thanks to the hype that was Barbenheimer.

Plane

Gerard Butler and Luke Cage's Mike Colter starred alongside one another in this action-packed thriller that found them as a pilot and a fugitive being transferred grounded in the Philippines after their flight had to partake in an emergency landing. It's an exciting watch for those who love suspense.

Photography: Lionsgate

When You Finish Saving the World

Usually, A24 movies get a lot of press around them, but when a movie paints the town pink, it's hard for the indie gems to shimmer. However, When You Finish Saving the World is not one to miss out on. Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg wrote and directed this dramedy about a mother and son in his big debut behind the camera. The icing on this cake is that it stars Julianne Moore and Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard.

Photography: A24

Magic Mike's Last Dance

Channing Tatum’s swan song to the titular exotic dancer should’ve made more noise than it did, but it seemed to have gyrated quickly and disappeared into the night.

Photography: Warner Bros. Pictures

We Have a Ghost

Marvel's Anthony Mackie leads this cast as the father of a family who make the wise decision to purchase an abandoned house. However, with comedic gems like Tig Notaro and Jennifer Coolidge, this one leaned more towards hilarious than horror.

Photography: Netflix

65

Adam Driver, space travel, dinosaurs. What else does one need from a movie?

Photography: Columbia Pictures

Champions

Bobby Farrelly of the infamous Farrelly brothers delivered directing Woody Harrelson as a basketball coach who winds up doing community service coaching a team of players with intellectual disabilities, who all perform on the same level as Harrelson when it comes to comedic wit.

Photography: Focus Features

Tetris

Movies about products were a trend in 2023, and Apple Studios built upon that, literally. They dropped a movie about the man behind one of the most classic arcade games ever.

Photography: Apple Studios

Mafia Mamma

Who hasn't gone to their grandparent's funeral and discovered that they were in a mafia family?

Photography: Bleecker Street

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Judy Blume's 1970 classic book came to life in one of the most well-done adaptations thanks to its young cast led by Abby Ryder Fortson as the titular character and Rachel McAdams as her mother. It's a coming-of-age film as timeless as the book it spawned from.

Photography: Lionsgate

Book Club: The Next Chapter

One thing is certain: When a movie puts Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen together on screen, it will be a delight, which Book Club: The Next Chapter is.

Photography: Focus Features

Extraction 2

Chris Hemsworth is known around the world for playing Thor, but he primed himself to be a great action star outside of the superhero realm with 2020’s Extraction and did it again for its sequel.

Photography: Netflix

The Blackening

For some reason, The Blackening, a humorous horror movie, dropped in June instead of taking advantage of the fall months. It fared well but could've soared with an October release.

Photography: Lionsgate

Wildflower

Kiernan Shipka stars as Bea Johnson, a teenage girl on the verge of graduation who is stuck between wanting to chase her future and sticking around to help her intellectually disabled parents. No spoilers, but have tissues ready for this heartfelt ending.

Photography: eOne

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

It's hard for new animated movies to find their audience. This was the reality for Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. Hopefully, more families will take the time to discover this animated action-adventure via streaming.

Photography: Universal Pictures

Joy Ride

Joy Ride should have been as big as Bridesmaids or Girls Trip, but with a July release, it struggled to find its footing despite being one of the funniest films of the year.

Photography: Lionsgate

The Out-Laws

The strikes throughout Hollywood took promoting movies off the plate, so when films like The Out-Laws dropped, the cast was barred from hyping the Netflix original up. However, Adam DeVine kills it as a man marrying into a family that has a lot of secrets up their sleeves.

Photography: Happy Madison Productions

They Cloned Tyrone

Conspiracy theorists unite! Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris have something for you!

Photography: Netflix

Air

Michael Jordan is an icon in sports, but Air tells the story of how one man and Jordan’s mother made sure his name would live on forever off the court.

Photography: Amazon Studios

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is one of the few things in pop culture that has been able to translate across several generations, and Mutant Mayhem is no different. The crime fighters are showcased in a new light as teens who just want to be a part of the world. It's got the same humor and action as the others that came before it but also a huge dose of teen angst that felt refreshing for the franchise. Plus, Ice Cube is the villain and nails it!

Photography: Nickelodeon Movies

Red, White & Royal Blue

The 2000s felt like the golden age of romantic comedies, but 2023 might have opened the door for a renaissance thanks to Red, White & Royal Blue.

Photography: Amazon Studios

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah

Adam Sandler has two wonderful daughters, Sadie and Sunny, who clearly inherited his comedic timing because they both slayed in the teen comedy You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.

Photography: Happy Madison Productions

Bottoms

For those who ever wondered what would happen if Superbad and Fight Club had a baby, and that baby was just as awesome as its parents, Bottoms answers that. Plus, the final scene is what some would call iconic.

Photography: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer