Film and television criticism can be very subjective, but thankfully, millions of users on the film review-oriented social media app Letterboxd have already weighed their thoughts. Whereas Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb have undergone difficulties managing “review bombing” and similar gatekeeping tactics, Letterboxd is widely regarded as an inclusive community. Here’s where you can stream the most popular and highly rated films and miniseries of 2023 (so far) on Letterboxd.
Rye Lane
British filmmaker Raine Allen-Miller got her directorial debut out on streaming quickly due to a connection at BBC Film, and streamers agree her rise to notoriety is purely merit-based: Rye Lane is this year’s top answer to the romantic comedy overload of the 21st century. Though not credited as a screenwriter here, Allen-Miller certainly added the visual acumen this charming story needed. Set primarily in the director’s familiar stomping grounds in and around Brixton, Rye Lane shows two young adults connecting over post-relationship struggles, all told in a single-day setting a la Linklater’s Before trilogy.
Rye Lane is streaming now on Hulu.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Kelly Fremon Craig’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s eternal 1970 novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. perfectly captures everything the book intended to say. Teenage actress Abby Ryder Fortson, playing the movie’s main character, feels personal yet universal, creating the feel of growing up as a girl in the early 1970s with ease and translating the book into an equally relevant time capsule for modern audiences. Though not a commercial success, critics hailed the film as one of the best this year; fans will no doubt continue supporting Margaret’s tale online and on home video sales.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is available to rent for as low as $5.99 wherever you get your rentals.
Daisy Jones & The Six
Though not as critically well-regarded as the other entries on this list, Daisy Jones & The Six struck a chord with Letterboxd users, who heartily praised the Fleetwood Mac-inspired drama and the female characters and performances. Lead actors Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, and the rest of the cast proved to be an inspired match on-screen, and the miniseries quickly became Prime Video’s top show for a short while.
Daisy Jones & The Six is streaming now on Prime Video.
John Wick: Chapter 4
Chad Stahelski’s long-awaited fourth installment of the Keanu Reeves-led action franchise John Wick was, for most, worth the wait: this year, Wick and co. shot and fought their way into the highest-rated entry of the series. With some of the best set pieces and choreographed sequences featured in John Wick to date, Chapter 4 is remarkably pleasing both standalone and as a semi-concluding chapter for the now-iconic character.
Beef
The battle for the Number One streaming film or miniseries on Letterboxd is not even remotely close. Lee Sung Jin’s unforgettable debut series Beef twists through drama and dark comedy over nearly six hours of purely nasty bliss. Streaming Now, as well as the entire internet, marks Beef as an essential watch for dark comedy lovers; bingeable content in 2023 has yet to top this potent miniseries.
