2023 Film Year Critiqued for Universal Appeal Over Specificity

In 2023, many films targeting a wide audience often compromised on storytelling depth. Greta Gerwig's Barbie surpassed $1 billion at the box office, sparking discussions about its audience and feminist themes. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer played a significant role in the 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon, fueled by social media. Independent projects like Celine Song's Past Lives and Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers were critiqued for their lack of character development. Danny and Michael Philippou's horror film Talk to Me also stirred emotional responses. Major studios leaned on universal themes, a tactic examined by Jeremy D. Larson in a 2019 New York Times article, during the SAG-AFTRA strikes over AI. In contrast, Todd Field's Tár and Todd Haynes's May December presented intricate narratives, while Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon involved Osage Nation members in recounting the 1920s murders, drawing attention for its historical sensitivity.