Almost four years ago, the COVID-19 put a stop to Hollywood productions. As things started to get back to normal, there was a delay in every component of moviemaking, which meant months of playing catch up. We went through a period of movie weirdness, like love stories where no one kissed, but even afterward the effects can be seen if you look hard enough. The films that actually hit theaters in 2023 were either conceived during the lockdown, influenced by it, or altered by the changes the industry experienced during that time.
The movies of 2023 are as varied as they ever are, in subject, tone, budget, and scope, but Bill Bria, who sees all the movies, saw a particular trend in how these movies were made. Limitations, such as budget restrictions, can force amazing creativity in the right hands. The limitations of the pandemic were different. Filmmakers who launched ideas while under lockdown saw how their production might be affected and framed their ideas early on. Even when the restrictions were lifted, you can see the ghosts of those limitations in the core planning. That's not a bad thing- it made the movies of 2023 a unique bunch, even when they are very different from each other. Read how the last few years led to some innovative filmmaking at Slashfilm.