Barack Obama's Favorite Movies Of 2023 Revealed: Here's The Complete List
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has shared his favorites among the films he watched in 2023 on X, formerly Twitter.
"Earlier this year, writers and actors went on strike to advocate for better working conditions and protections. It led to important changes that will transform the industry for the better," he wrote in a tweet.
Obama continued, "Here are some films that reflect their hard work over the last year -- including some like 'Rustin,' 'American Symphony' and 'Leave the World Behind' that we were proud to release through @HGMedia."
Aside from his top three films, which were produced by Higher Ground, an American production company he founded in 2018, he listed 10 other movies among his 2023 favorites.
Here are all the 13 films that made it to Barack Obama's Favorite Movies of 2023 list.
1. "Rustin"
Director George C. Wolfe's civil rights biopic "Rustin" stars American actor-writer Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin, the architect of 1963's momentous March on Washington.
2. "Leave The World Behind"
The apocalyptic thriller "Leave The World Behind" starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke and Myha'la follows the story of how a family's getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn.
3. "American Symphony"
The music documentary "American Symphony" starring Jon Batiste showcases an "intimate portrait of two artists (John Batiste and his wife Suleika Jaouad) and the healing power of love and creativity."
4. "The Holdovers"
Alexander Payne's boarding school dramedy stars multi-awarded American actor Paul Giamatti. "The Holdovers" chronicles the story of an ill-tempered instructor who eventually develops an unlikely bond with a handful of students he babysits during Christmas break on campus.
5. "BlackBerry"
The corporate biopic "BlackBerry" tells the true story of the "meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone." The film was helmed by director Matt Johnson and produced by Matthew Miller.
6. "Oppenheimer"
Christopher Nolan's historical epic "Oppenheimer" stars Irish actor Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and British actress Emily Blunt as his wife Katherine "Kitty" Oppenheimer.
7. "American Fiction"
Cord Jefferson's "hilarious" directorial debut in "American Fiction" confronts "the culture's obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes." It stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Sterling K. Brown.
8. "Anatomy of a Fall"
"Anatomy of a Fall," the 2023 Palme d'Or winner, is a French courtroom thriller by Justine Triet starring Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner, Antoine Reinartz and Samuel Theis.
9. "Monster"
Multi-awarded Hirokazu Kore-eda's Japanese slow-burn drama film "Monster," scored by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, features "a powerful yet delicate story of love and humanity" and "a moral tale about school bullying."
10. "Past Lives"
"Past Lives," which received several nominations at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, is a romance film by director Celine Song centered on two childhood friends. It stars Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro.
11. "Air"
"Air" is an American biographical sports drama film helmed by director Ben Affleck and writer Alex Convery. The film is based on the origin story of Nike's Air Jordan.
12. "Polite Society"
Writer-director Nida Manzoor's martial arts action comedy film "Polite Society" follows the story of teenager Ria Khan, who aspires to become a movie stunt performer like Eunice Huthart.
13. "A Thousand and One"
The family drama film "A Thousand and One" by A.V. Rockwell is described as "a love letter to mothers, sons and hustlers of NYC." It was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
