It's that time of year again! The Bitesize crew has put their brains together to go through all the films and series that 2023 has had to offer thus far to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Midyear Report. All films had to be released by June 30th and series concluded their season by the same date to become eligible.
Each writer ranks his or her top 15 releases in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. ABBOTT ELEMENTARY: SEASON TWO
Abbott Elementary already had me and millions of others in the palm of its hands due to its hilarious and inviting nature, but the second season doubled down on what made the first one so amazing. With more than double the episodes, this season allowed Quinta Brunson and her obscenely funny and talented co-stars to evolve their characters to the point that I feel like I know them personally, making for one of the best seasons of television this year. - Adriano
4. PAST LIVES
One of the best films of the year thus far is one that many of you probably have not seen, writer/director Celine Song’s Past Lives. Once again, A24 manages to strike while the iron is hot with yet another amazing film about the human connection. It’s deep and thoughtful, but most importantly, it will pull at your heartstrings through soulful performances that will resonate with you long after the film is over. This sweet, intimate drama is one that you shouldn’t miss. - Paige
3. THE LAST OF US: SEASON ONE
Few video game adaptations can call themselves good; fewer still can call themselves great. That The Last of Us operates at a higher level than even the latter descriptor is a genuine miracle and a testament to the immense adaptational talents of Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The decisions made regarding where to cut out certain sections of the game to make room for more narrative storytelling are brilliant, as are the added narratives themselves; not to mention every performance throughout the season’s run. It all makes for, without a doubt, the year’s best single season of television to date. - Jacob
2. THE BEAR: SEASON TWO
You might want to make sure you don’t have a heart condition before watching The Bear because once you start (whether binging both seasons back to back like me, or you’ve already seen Season One like people smarter than me), there is no way you are taking your eyes off this intense, gripping, beautiful, and stressful-ass show. The “no weak link” cliché attributed to great ensembles applies tenfold here, as top to bottom…from the leads down to the stacked cameos…everyone is delivering award-worthy performances to match the top tier story elements. The Bear: Season Two is an absolute must-see season of television - Amarú
1. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE
With the "hot" thing in superhero films these days being the exploration of a multiverse, no one has managed to do it better than Sony. The follow-up to Into the Spider-Verse brings together a wonderful voice cast, dynamic visuals, and expands on the themes explored in its predecessor. This is not only a shoo-in for Best Animated Feature, but it warrants consideration for Best Picture overall. - Nick
HONORABLE MENTIONS
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4
SUCCESSION: SEASON FOUR
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES
HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE
SHRINKING: SEASON ONE
Photo Credits: Photo 1 - ABC; Photo 2 - A24; Photo 3 - HBO; Photo 4 - FX; Photo 5 - Sony Pictures Releasing