10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching 2023's Biggest Movies

Introduction

2023's biggest movies were true pop culture events that easily swept up audiences in a torrent of hype, but have some glaring weaknesses that are impossible to ignore. 2023 has proven to be an incredibly strong year for new releases, producing some astounding box office records that are sure to stand the test of time. Suffice it to say, most, if not all, of 2023's big box office winners deserved their numbers, whether they were daring new stories like Oppenheimer or the latest entry in lauded franchises like the MCU.

Paul Rudd as Ant-Man and Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

The excitement of recognizing a generally good blockbuster makes it easy for audiences and critics alike to look over any faults, the good clearly outweighing the bad. However, coming back to these high-grossing films after having some time to digest them unearths some unfortunate truths, revealing some unpleasant flaws that are impossible to ignore without the benefit of being swept up in the potent buzz of a well-received new release. This doesn't take away from their achievements, but is worth acknowledging as time passes by.

Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania

For many, Ant-Man 3 represents the beginning of the end for Marvel. If there's one film of 2023 whose box office numbers could be said to have been carried by brand recognition alone, it's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Reportedly, Marvel was shocked by Quantumania's bad reviews, figuring that the bizarre world of the Quantum Realm and Kang's introduction in-earnest to the MCU would be enough to carry critical consensus. Unfortunately, fans and reviewers alike admonished the film for its sterile CGI environments, lack of heart, and clear status as a stepping stone to bigger projects, leaving a sour legacy for the third Ant-Man film to inherit.

Kang (Jonathan Majors) scowls in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania

Elemental

For a long time, Pixar's films were synonymous with quality, consistently pumping out hits like Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. that could dazzle children and critics alike. However, the lukewarm reception of Elemental was the final straw in a period of critical flops that many Pixar fans saw as the end of the company's logo being a guaranteed mark of quality. Elemental isn't a terrible film by any means, but fails to live up to the lofty reputation of the studio, lacking the trademark heart and thoughtful character work more well-known Pixar entries are known by.

Ember Lumen and Wade Ripple sitting in a theater from a scene in Elemental

Mission: Impossible

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One was a triumph for the action-packed caper series on a level that hadn't been seen since Ghost Protocol. Over the last two films, Isla has proven herself to be a courageous linchpin of the team whose skills rival Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt himself, only to be killed with little ceremony by Mission Impossible's latest villain, Gabriel. For being such a prominent character, Isla's death felt like it only happened to pave the way for Hayley Atwell's Grace to take over the team's single slot for a powerful female operative.

Mission impossible 7 Can Payoff A Cut Ethan and Isla Scene tom cruise rebecca furgeson