As a film festival, South by Southwest frequently unleashes the best and boldest movies of the year months ahead of their theatrical debut. Just last year, the Austin-set fest played host to the sex-splashed slasher X, the rollicking whodunnit Bodies Bodies Bodies, the bonkers Nicolas Cage-as-himself romp The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, the action-packed rom-com The Lost City, and — most notably — the heart-warming (and ultimately Oscar-winning) sci-fi comedy Everything Everywhere All At Once.
This year at SXSW, Mashable was on the ground, seeking out the essential cinema for 2023. Over scores of screenings, we took in a fantasy epic, surprising political thrillers, a high-kicking coming-of-age story, bawdy buddy comedies, goosebump-raising horror, zesty family fun, and thought-provoking documentaries. From all these, we've collected our favorites to offer you a heads up on the must-see movies coming later this year.
Here, listed by release dates, as the best movies out of SXSW 2023 and where you can see them. Stay tuned, as we'll update when more theatrical debuts are announced.
1. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Ahead of the fest, our hopes soared high that this adaptation of the seminal tabletop role-playing game would finally be the epic fantasy fans have craved. Thankfully, Game Night directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein took their quest seriously and rolled high on action and humor.
As a charismatic bard, Chris Pine leads a motley party of a wry barbarian (Michelle Rodriguez), a socially awkward sorcerer (Justice Smith), a shapeshifting druid (Sophia Lillis), and a noble paladin (Bridgerton's Regé-Jean Page) on a campaign to topple a nefarious thief (Hugh Grant) and his right-hand red witch (Daisy Head). Together, this posse encounters curious creatures, rousing battles, and snappy punchlines.
As I summarized in my review: "A brilliant pick for SXSW's Opening Night, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a rollicking crowdpleaser, bursting with action, comedy, and spectacle."
How to watch: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves opens in theaters March 31.
2.Tetris
SXSW had a running theme with Tetris, BlackBerry, Air, and Flamin' Hot, four films that had fun with the facts and apocryphal lore of some of the once-iconic elements of pop culture we may have come to take for granted. The most surprising of this curious quartet is director Jon S. Baird's Tetris. Rather than trying to turn its puzzling blocks into an entrancing narrative, screenwriter Noah Pink unfurls a tale of intrigue, double-crosses, and Cold War paranoia, creating a thriller that refuses to lose its sense of play.
Taron Egerton is an absolute delight as a video game publisher devoted to getting this addictive puzzle out from behind the Iron Curtain. Dusted with some deeply nostalgic aesthetics, "Tetris is a thrilling romp full of humor, heart, and a kinetic message of hope."
How to watch: Tetris debuts on Apple TV on March 31.
3. Polite Society
Nida Manzoor first thrilled us with her sensational comedy series We Are Lady Parts, which explores the highs and lows of an all-female Muslim punk band. Now, ahead of a much-anticipated Season 2, this witty writer/director brings us Polite Society, a martial arts comedy about Ria Khan (Bridgerton's Priya Kansara), a British-Pakistani girl who dreams of being a famous, butt-kicking stunt woman. Until then, her love of theatrics and spin kicks finds an outlet in her quest to prevent the arranged marriage of her beloved older sister Lena (The Umbrella Academy's Ritu Arya).
As showcased in the film's tantalizing trailer, high school hysterics get amped up by Ria's runaway imagination, resulting in comical disguises, hair-brained heists, outrageous battle scenes, and Ms. Marvel's Nimra Bucha as a boss-level baddie. Simply put, Polite Society is a blast.*
How to watch: Polite Society opens in theaters April 28.
4. Joy Ride
If you love Bridesmaids, Girls Trip, or The Hangover, then you'll want to jump aboard Joy Ride.
Screenwriter Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon) makes her directorial debut with this rambunctious road trip comedy, which centers on four friends traveling around China in search of a long-lost birth mom. Along the way, they'll sling foul-mouthed barbs, enjoy wild sexcapades, strike out in slap fights, and hoover up some hard drugs — all in the name of friendship!
Sabrina Wu, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Ashley Park bring incredible verve to this wacky ride. And if you can't wait, get a glimpse of this hilarious comedy from its red-band trailer.
How to watch: Joy Ride opens in theaters July 7.
5. Talk to Me
We first screamed for this seance horror trip out of Sundance 2023, calling it "a terrifically scary horror offering thanks to powerful performances, creepy creature designs, a splash of blood and gore, and practical effects that'll blow your mind and chill your spine."
Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou (aka Youtubers RackaRacka), Talk to Me begins with the twisted kind of party game adored by thrill-seeking teens. A gnarly spin on the Ouija board comes in the form of a cryptic hand, which welcomes in the spirits of the dead. When one kid can't let go, it's up to his friends to save or damn him.
Full of scares and chills, Talk to Me not only gained buzz at Park City but also got picked up by A24. So, expect this one to hit with a splash.
How to watch: Talk to Me opens in theaters July 28.
6. Bottoms
Shiva Baby's writer/director Emma Seligman and star Rachel Sennott have reteamed for a furiously funny follow-up that had the audience at Austin's Paramount Theater roaring with laughter. Sennott and Ayo Edebiri tackle teen comedy as a pair of high school besties who are hilariously terrible at impressing their cheerleader crushes. That is, until they start a fight club in the name of female empowerment.
Digging boldly into a parody of teen sex comedy tropes, this trio creates a movie that is rousingly outrageous. As I wrote in my review, "Hitting hard with a potent combination of humor, angst, and raunchiness, Bottoms is not only riotously entertaining but also sure to establish itself as a queer, chaotic landmark among its iconic predecessors."
How to watch: Bottoms will be released by Orion Pictures, details TBD.
7. Problemista
One of the biggest surprises out of SXSW was the unhinged hilarity of Problemista. Los Espookys co-creator Julio Torres makes his directorial debut with a comedy he wrote and headlines — opposite the one and only Tilda Swinton.
Set in a magical yet grungy New York City, Problemista follows a Salvadoran immigrant and aspiring toymaker whose desperate need for a green card sponsor leads him to aiding an eccentric art critic (Swinton) on a confounding quest. Amid overpriced salads and outrageous outbursts (often about FileMaker Pro), a chaotic but charming friendship blossoms, leading to a climax that is trippy and terrific.
Last year, SXSW unleashed Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All At Once. This year, Problemista may not follow those footsteps to near-universal acclaim, but it does relish in a similarly exhilarating mix of weirdness and warmth. Mark our words: Torres is a comedy genius.
How to watch: Problemista will be released by A24, details TBD.
8. The Arc of Oblivion
On a long enough timeline, nothing lasts. So, what's the point of preserving an archive? Documentarian Ian Cheney pursues this question into the personal and poignant in The Arc of Oblivion, named for the eccentric project he's assigned himself. As a home for his own archive of footage, he builds a towering arc like the one Noah built to save his family and a slew of partnered-up animals. But this movie is about much more than quixotic construction.
In interviews with friends, families, and fellow filmmakers, Cheney explores memory, mortality, and the possible virtues of oblivion. The documentary winds into talking with a man who aspires to be a literal fossil, record keepers who detail their processes and flaws, and the one and only Werner Herzog to scratch at the meaning of oblivion. Though this is essentially a doc about death and decay, Cheney's low-key but humming enthusiasm keeps the tone surprisingly light, urging audiences to look to the end with less dread and more wonder.
How to watch: Arc of Oblivion's release plans are TBD.
9. Cora Bora
We were stoked about this ahead of the fest thanks to leading lady Megan Stalter, who kept us sane during COVID with her hilarious TikTok skits. After seeing it at SXSW, we proclaimed her "the new queen of screwball comedy."
Directed by Hannah Pearl Utt, Cora Bora stars the Hacks scene-stealer as an aspiring musician in a desperate bid to save her floundering relationship with her long-distance girlfriend. Far from the fuzzy humor of studio rom-coms, this indie gleefully dips into debaucherous meanderings, group sex, and social embarrassment to the point of virtual annihilation.
With the kind of jokes that pull not only giggles but barking cackles, Cora Bora is a wickedly funny film you best keep a watch for.
How to watch: Cora Bora's release plans are TBD.
10. Late Night with the Devil
Before SXSW kicked off, Late Night with the Devil was one of our most anticipated picks because of its pairing of premise and promising leading man. Written and directed by Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes, the freaky film stars unforgettable character actor David Dastmalchian (Prisoners, Ant-Man, The Suicide Squad) as a 1970s talk show host who will do anything to best Johnny Carson in the rating game, even if that means bringing a potentially possessed child onto live television.
In Mashable's review, I declared, "Late Night with the Devil is steeped in the era's aesthetic and its emerging moral anxiety, as well as the methodical pacing that draws us in, grabs on tight, and won't let go until that final ghoulish moment."
And I'm not alone in my adoration. Horror legend Stephen King has weighed in with his praise as well.
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How to watch: Late Night with the Devil's release plans are TBD.
11. With Love and a Major Organ
If you treasure the hazy surrealness of Michel Gondry, then you'll want to keep an eye out for With Love and a Major Organ. Like Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Science of Sleep, this imaginative film blends quirky comedy, earnest romance, and a mind-bending conceit with enchanting appeal.
Written by Julia Lederer and directed by Kim Albright, With Love and a Major Organ exists in an offbeat world where humans might pluck out their hearts and plug in any ol' object to replace it. This translates into a twisted sense of self-care through emotional repression. But when one passionate young woman (Anna Maguire) gifts her heart to a stoic crush (Hamza Haq), both their lives change immensely once he runs away with the sacrificed organ.
Odd yet endearing, this romance is a hidden gem that deserves a spotlight.
How to watch: With Love and a Major Organ's release plans are TBD.
12. Last Stop Larrimah
True crime docs can range from grisly to goofy, exploitative to extraordinary. Director Thomas Tancred lands his Last Stop Larrimah in good, rich, terrain, digging deep into the strange missing person's case of Patrick "Paddy" Moriarty. Gone missing from an Outback town of just 11 residents, this MIA barfly threw Larrimah into a spin of finger-pointing and increasingly wild speculation.
Rather than dragging out the particulars in too many episodes, Tancred uses five chapters in just under two hours to guide audiences through the curious folks of the titular town, their theories on what became of Paddy, and the facts of the case. Along the way, he's careful to make room for character and empathy, shading every figure — friend, foe, victim, or suspect — with complexity that demands we see all as human and not just a true crime archetype.
As I wrote in our review out of SXSW, "He delicately walks the line between the lurid side of true crime and its humane potential, creating a documentary that is in turns joyful, devastating, and profound."
How to watch: Last Stop Larrimah will be released by HBO; dates are TBD.
