Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Wicked:
Wonka
In a surprising turn of events, Wonka emerges as one of the standout success stories of 2023, defying initial skepticism surrounding its release. Helmed by director Paul King and starring Timothée Chalamet, this imaginative take on the world of Willy Wonka offers a refreshing and delightful experience that captivates audiences from the opening title sequence to the end.
The Little Mermaid
As far as the collection of Disney live action remakes goes, The Little Mermaid is better than The Lion King, Aladdin, Mulan, and others. But it still has the same problems entrenched in it as the latter movies. There is still little reason for its existence beyond making a few dollars.
Mean Girls
Mean Girls doesn’t cover enough new ground to warrant the movie’s existence. The music is surprisingly fresh, and the performances are often the best aspects, but it’s a copy-and-paste concept executed to marginally acceptable results. Tina Fey relies heavily on the original material to render the movie passable.
Spirited
Spirited is an overly-indulgent holiday mess that sets the bar extremely low for the seasonal slate coming up. Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell are wasted in a highly convoluted plot that ultimately leaves you feeling nothing.
Sing 2
Sing 2 is occasionally more entertaining than the first movie, but it rarely competes with some of animation’s recent bests. Hopefully someday they’ll make Kids Bop-adjacent animal movies that are better than this.
Wish
Disney’s newest animated movie Wish proves to be a frustrating and occasionally grating cinematic experience. The sporadic moments of enjoyment, courtesy of lively voice acting and catchy tunes, are overshadowed by the movie’s misguided conceptual foundation and lack of narrative cohesion. Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine shine in an otherwise unworthy film.
Barbie
Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie deliver one of 2023’s most colorful and sincere trips to the movies. Barbie is a movie that transcends style and set design, offering a visual feast with enough laughs along the way.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Tim Burton didn’t need to revisit the Beetlejuice universe—but here we are. In an era when nearly every beloved classic is revived, it was only a matter of time before Burton reached into his own catalog, which includes hits like Batman, Edward Scissorhands, and Sweeney Todd.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
To put into words how exhilarating Everything Everywhere All at Once is isn’t easy to do. A film unlike any other, it pushes every filmmaking possibility to the brink in 2022. Many films come and go with the wind, but Everything Everywhere All at Once will be in our culture for years – even decades. The phrase “modern classic” doesn’t apply to films very frequently, but this is one of those instances where it feels justified.
Moonrise Kingdom
Moonrise Kingdom is a quintessential Wes Anderson film, showcasing his signature style and themes while also standing on its own as a beautifully crafted and deeply affecting work of art. It is a film that, in many ways, encapsulates the singular vision of its director. From its symmetrical compositions to its meticulously curated soundtrack, every element of the film is crafted with an almost obsessive attention to detail. But unlike some of Anderson’s later films, which can feel like hollow exercises in style over substance, Moonrise Kingdom is a film that balances its idiosyncratic aesthetic with genuine heart and emotion.