They Cloned Tyrone, May December, and the 13 best Netflix movies (plus the 10 worst) of 2023

Best: May December

May December came to Netflix on Dec. 1 after a limited release in theaters, and it’s not surprising the movie is at the top of many “best of the year” lists, not just specific to the streaming service. The drama stars Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, and Charles Melton, an outstanding trio I hadn’t realized needed to be in a movie together.

Directed by Todd Haynes, the film follows an actress named Elizabeth (Portman) who begins spending time with a woman and her family in preparation to play her in an upcoming role. This woman, named Gracie (Moore), has a criminal past and her relationship with her husband Joe (Melton) is shrouded in controversy, even decades after their big scandal went down. Through dinners, shopping trips, and other activities, Elizabeth studies Gracie in an attempt to understand how she could’ve done what she did and how she lives with it now.

As the movie unfolds, we also learn about Elizabeth’s motives as she attempts to peel Gracie’s layers back and gets close to Joe. May December is melodramatic throughout, incorporating campy moments to drive home the point the movie is making. It’s incredibly well-written, acted, and scored, and it will leave you laughing uncomfortably in one moment and crying in the next.

May December is already winning awards, as it should be, and many are predicting Melton will receive his first Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Joe. It would be incredibly deserved if so.

Written by Natalie Zamora