The best movies and TV of 2023, picked for you by NPR critics
Whether you plan to head out to the theater or binge from the couch, our critics have gathered together their favorite films and TV shows of the year. Happy watching!
TV Reviews
Don't underestimate the power of Dad TV: 'Reacher' is the genre at its best
It may have started out as an insult, but there's nothing wrong with Dad TV. You can see it all – responsibility-free wish fulfillment, fistfights, romantic fantasy – in the new season of Reacher.
'Monk' returns for one 'Last Case' and it's a heaping serving of TV comfort food
Tony Shalhoub slips back into his Adrian Monk character after nearly 15 years with assurance and precision, nailing the comedy while still making room for somber themes of loss and depression.
'Murder in Boston' is what a docuseries should look like
In 1989 Charles Stuart killed his wife in what he claimed was a carjacking by a Black man. A series about that murder and the police investigation that followed is more than another true-crime story.
'The Challenge' is understanding why this 'Squid Game' game show was green-lit
Squid Game: The Challenge is a reality game show based on the sensational South Korean drama series. But this gruesome, creatively misbegotten concept should never have made it past the first meeting.
Humor and violence collide in what might be the strongest season of 'Fargo' yet
Season 5 of the FX series kicks off with a brawl at a junior high school board meeting. When an unimposing Minnesota housewife is arrested, a string of special thrills and unexpected alliances follow.
'Stamped From the Beginning' is a sharp look at the history of anti-Black racism
Professor Ibram X. Kendi's documentary kicks off with a provocative question: What is wrong with Black people?
Why does Apple TV+ have so many of the best streaming shows you've never heard of?
People may grumble about Apple's higher monthly fee, but there are a lot of original series packed in their lineup that many viewers haven't yet considered.
'The Crown' shines in its final season — just remember it's not the History Channel
The Crown shifts seamlessly from highly accurate depictions to invented moments. In its sixth season, deeply personal scenes once again may make viewers wonder if what they're seeing really happened.
Charming and mysterious, 'The Curse' is a real estate venture worth buying into
Emma Stone and show co-creators Benny Safdie and Nathan Fielder star in a satire about a team of would-be TV producers as they try to make a TV series about the "off the grid" homes they're building.