10 Overhyped 2023 Movies & TV Shows That Actually Delivered

2023 has been a year full of hotly anticipated TV and movie releases, and surprisingly, many of the most overhyped series and films actually managed to live up to audience expectations. The generation of hype is a great thing, but can sometimes work against a given piece of media, overhyping movies or TV shows and setting up impossible expectations the final product can never live up to. But when a title manages to actually justify massive amounts of hype, it’s a wonderful experience that will have viewers chasing the next hot release.

The past year has had an above-average number of TV seasons and films that have fit this category. Many of them were preceded by years of sequels or previous seasons, or were new adaptations of beloved properties for a new medium. However, a significant number of releases that generated critical levels of hype leading up their premieres were completely original stories, proving that audiences in the modern day are becoming increasingly tired of huge franchises and legacy series based on pre-existing IP.

10 Barbie

Great Gerwig’s bubblegum pink vision paid off

Barbie got one of the most impressive infusions of free marketing ever seen with the phenomenon that was Barbenheimer, juxtaposing the grimness of Oppenheimer‘s morose biopic with the lighthearted sensibilities of the Barbie IP. The film’s first trailer further lured in audiences, curious to see how a plastic doll could convincingly carry a feature film. Luckily, those who committed to Barbie weren’t disappointed, finding the film to be an unquestionably fun comedy that managed to address powerful feminist topics without feeling overbearing or preachy. Ryan Reynold’s career-defining Ken was just the bright pink cherry on top of this cinematic success.

9 Oppenheimer

Christopher Nolan’s historical epic held its ground

As the member of the Berbenheimer duo with less widespread appeal, Oppenheimer had to truly perform in order to impress the droves of audiences who were only there for the memes, alongside returning fans of Christopher Nolan’s work. Despite a relatively drier subject matter, the legendary director managed to knock it out of the park with a visually compelling period drama that conveyed the Earth-shaking consequences of the world’s first nuclear detonation with the reverence it deserved. Not only did Oppenheimer live up to the hype, it surpassed it, becoming one of Nolan’s greatest films in the process.

8 The Last Of Us

Max’s daring apocalypse show impressed returning fans and new viewers

The Last Of Us was one of the most critically-acclaimed titles of the Playstation 3 era, surviving well into the modern age with countless remasters. When it was announced that HBO would be adapting the game into a moody live-action drama, those who hadn’t played the games were intrigued, while returning fans remained cautiously optimistic. The Pedro Pascal-led series exceeded the expectations of both, delivering a heartfelt story with triumphant performances, powerful changes to the game’s narrative, and a hauntingly-faithful re-creation of the game’s post-apocalyptic setting, breaking the video game curse once and for all as far as TV was concerned.

7 The Bear Season 2

The down-to-Earth Dramedy could stand the heat, and stayed in the kitchen

A surprise hit of 2022, the fast turnaround on The Bear’s second season barely gave TV audiences the time to get hungry for more. The success of the first season left the series’ next installment with big shoes to fill, but not only did season 2 clear returning viewers expectations with flying colors, but it actually managed to improve the formula, tossing its characters into a pressure cooker as Carmy and his crew of misfits navigate the relaunch of the titular restaurant. The stellar performances, keen editing, and continued ability to channel hunger and stress into its viewers kept eyes on The Bear, regardless of the hype it had built.

6 The Succession Finale

The lauded family drama managed to stick the landing

Hailed as one of the greatest shows to come out of the late 2010s, Succession had slowly snowballed tremendous amounts of hype leading up to its finale in 2023. The cutthroat antics of the Roy family as they navigated their corporate battlefield captivated many, but also unraveled a mess of loose ends the final season would have to clean up. Luckily, the ending to Succession managed to avoid the common pitfalls of prestige TV by providing a satisfying, yet surprising climax that paid off the loyalty of its fans.

5 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Lord and Miller caught lightning in a bottle a second time

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a revolutionary superhero film, entrancing Spider-Man fans with its groundbreaking use of Miles Morales as a protagonist, influential animation style, and heartfelt writing that truly understood the heart of the comic book character. The hype going into the second installment in the animated Spider-Man series was a massive weight that the sequel carries effortlessly, further developing its characters in believable ways while introducing audiences to a whole new world of Spider-People. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse lived up to expectations with one of the best Spider-Man movies ever made.

4 Killers Of The Flower Moon

Scorsese proves he’s still got it

In the modern age, Scorsese has become an unabashed critic of the direction cinema is going in, loudly bemoaning the devolution of cinema into a vehicle for recognizable franchises to rule. Luckily, Scorsese’s name has the weight to command unique stories, and prestige film lovers were chomping at the bit to get a look at Killers of the Flower Moon. Telling a heartbreakingly familiar story of America’s historic mistreatment of its indigenous peoples, critics and audiences alike were braced for impact, but still stunned by Scorsese’s enduring vision even at the ripe age of 81.

3 The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The animated adaptation didn’t fumble its IP

After the disaster that was the 1993 live-action Mario movie, Nintendo was understandably nervous about leasing their most iconic character to Western filmmakers for quite some time. When Illumination Studios’ announced they were taking a swing at an animated take on the beloved plumber, the interest of video game fans across the world was piqued, doubly so after the film’s baffling casting announcements made headlines. For all the anticipation, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a strong enough showing to absolutely devour the box office, shattering the record for biggest worldwide opening weekend for an animated film.

2 John Wick: Chapter 4

Keanu Reeves’ action legacy adds another ring

Each installment of the John Wick franchise seems to have made a bigger impression than the last, the dashing assassin’s battles with the High Table cranking up the stakes with each additional film. By the time John Wick: Chapter 4 was ready to release, the hype for Keanu Reeves’ return as the 2010s’ most iconic action hero was immeasurable. The fourth movie in the series didn’t disappoint, with some of the most intricately crafted action choreography to ever grace the big screen, earning its three-hour runtime with pure, glorious spectacle.

1 Fargo Season 5

The anthology series enjoys a thrilling return to form

Loosely based off the Cohen brothers classic of the same name, Fargo is anthology series that loosely ropes together a series of murderous crimes scattered across the American Midwest. With each season being a self-contained story a la American Horror Story, Fargo has had some wobbles in quality over the years, but TV audiences were eager to partake in a new story with the arrival of Jon Hamm and Juno Temple in a modest Minnesota town. Though not yet finished at the time of writing, the fifth season of Fargo is shaping up to be one of its strongest yet, justifying the excitement of returning fans who may have skipped the last couple of seasons.