Welcome to Film Friday’s special edition! Here’s a curated list of the top seven films and TV series of 2023. From mind-bending thrillers to heartwarming dramas, these captivating stories and performances have taken the industry by storm. Grab your popcorn and join us on this unforgettable journey through the best of 2023’s film and television.

Secret Invasion: Season 1

Season 1 is a 2023 TV miniseries on Disney+ based on Marvel Comics characters. It stars Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn as Nick Fury and Talos. The show follows them uncovering a Skrull invasion conspiracy. It premiered on June 8, 2023, with episodes releasing weekly until July 29, 2023. Critics praised the performances, direction, and visual effects, giving it an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. They appreciate its darker tone and serious approach to the MCU. Overall, Secret Invasion is a well-made spy thriller that pleases fans.

The Bear: Season 2

The Bear: Season 2 is a hilarious and heartwarming show about a young chef inheriting his family’s sandwich shop. Carmy, joined by a new sous chef, Sydney, strives to turn the Beef into a Michelin-starred restaurant while facing challenges like difficult customers, staff drama, and financial constraints. This surprisingly heartwarming show will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on the significance of food and community. Whether you’ve seen Season 1 or not, The Bear: Season 2 is a must-watch for fans of all types of television.

The series is a well-made and suspenseful spy thriller that will please Marvel Cinematic Universe fans.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 16

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 16 is another hilarious and outrageous season of the long-running comedy series. The gang is back at it, getting into all sorts of crazy and depraved schemes. The writing is sharp, the characters are well-developed, and the show never fails to make me laugh.

Of course, no season of It’s Always Sunny would be complete without some truly disgusting and offensive moments. In one episode, the gang tries to create a new flavor of frozen yogurt by using human breast milk. In another episode, they try to start a new religion based on the teachings of Dennis Reynolds.

If you’re a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, then you’ll definitely enjoy Season 16. The show is still as funny and irreverent as ever, and it never fails to push the boundaries of good taste.

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY

While the two big superhero movies easily took No. 1 and 2 this month, two more blockbusters tied for the third position. We’ll start with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which comes a decade and a half after the last installment (the somewhat divisive Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and finds Harrison Ford’s adventuring archaeology professor entering the Space Race of the 1960s. The film held its world premiere at Cannes last month, where it earned underwhelming reviews, but it’s hard to discount the enthusiasm of longtime fans who just can’t wait to see Indy crack that whip one last time.

Elemental

There wasn’t nearly as much love for any of the films outside of the top four, but two movies did earn enough votes to tie for the final spot this month, even if they lagged far behind the rest. The first is Pixar’s latest effort, Elemental, which takes place in a world populated by anthropomorphized elemental beings and charts the budding friendship between a young woman made of fire and a young man made of water. Like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, this film also debuted at Cannes, and the few reviews we’ve seen thus far haven’t been super positive, but it’s Pixar after all, and aside from The Little Mermaid, it’ll be the only game around for the youngest audiences until Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken hits theaters two weeks later.

The Boogeyman

There has been a resurgence of horror films since 2022 as fans got to watch some spine-chilling movies like Smile and The Barbarian. Recently, we also got the gory flick, Evil Dead Rise, which turned out to be a success story. Now, The Boogeyman will also join the list of these great horror movies as it is another Stephen King adaptation.

The film will follow a little girl who tries to tell her older sister and her psychiatrist that the Boogeyman in her closet is real and it continuously wreaks havoc throughout the film. The movie will star David Dastmalchian from The Suicide Squad.

No Hard Feelings 

On the brink of losing her home, Maddie finds an intriguing job listing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son out of his shell before college. She has one summer to make him a man or die trying.

The film’s premise may seem like a rehash of other coming-of-age comedies, but No Hard Feelings distinguishes itself with its strong performances and sharp writing. Lawrence is particularly good as Maddie, bringing a vulnerability and warmth to the role that makes her easy to root for. Feldman is also excellent as Percy, perfectly capturing the awkwardness and innocence of a teenager on the cusp of adulthood.

The film’s humor is often bawdy and raunchy, but it’s also grounded in genuine emotion. There are several scenes that will make you laugh out loud, but there are also moments that will touch your heart. No Hard Feelings is a funny, heartwarming, and ultimately satisfying film that is sure to please fans of Jennifer Lawrence and coming-of-age comedies.