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All the 2023 NEON Pictures Releases
The year 2023 proved to be a unique (and thrilling) one for Neon, the independent film distributor known for its bold and eclectic taste. The industry was still grappling with the lingering effects of the 2022 writer’s strike, which had caused delays and disruptions in production schedules. This, in turn, led to a somewhat unpredictable release calendar for Neon, with some of their most anticipated films pushed back to later in the year. Nevertheless, Neon persevered, bringing a diverse slate of movies to theaters throughout 2023.
The year started strong with Infinity Pool, a film about a vacationing couple whose world turns upside down when they leave the safety of their luxury beach resort. Neon quietly released The Quiet Girl to only a few theaters, a beautiful film about a neglected young girl finding her place in the world. Up next was Bait, a British drama from 2019 that follows a struggling fisherman in a picturesque Cornish village. Then, on another island, a volunteer learns big life lessons in the experimental psychological thriller Enys Men. Based on the title, How to Blow Up a Pipeline sounds like a documentary, but no, it’s another thriller with a geopolitical twist.
Taking a break from thrillers, the rom-com Robots entertained audiences with the near-future story of two humans who use robots to do their bidding. Sanctuary lightened up the line up, a romantic thriller featuring sexy Margaret Qualley that felt more like a play than a film. A remastered version of the classic Korean thriller Old Boy released midyear, followed by the Indian horror movie It Lives Inside and the legal thriller Anatomy of a Fall. As if Neon hadn’t put out enough thrillers in one year, out came The Royal Hotel, the story of two young women who find trouble while working at a pub in the Australian Outback.
As fall settled in, Neon released the quiet, reflective drama Perfect Days, which follows a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. In Eileen, secrets are kept in a prison until they can’t be kept any longer. More searching for truth takes place in the biographical drama of writer Isabel Wilkerson in Origin. The year ended with the high-octane drama Ferrari which delves into the tumultuous life of the legendary Italian automotive visionary, Enzo Ferrari.
These releases showcased both established and up-and-coming filmmakers, bringing audiences around the world though a range of genres that challenged expectations. From arthouse horror to provocative dramas and offbeat comedies, Neon’s 2023 offerings reflected the distributor’s commitment to pushing boundaries. Its films sparked critical discussion and often found a devoted audience base, cementing Neon’s role as an essential curator for those seeking something a little different in the cinematic landscape.
INFINITY POOL
While staying at an isolated island resort, James (Alexander Skarsgård) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are enjoying a perfect vacation of pristine beaches, exceptional staff, and soaking up the sun. But guided by the seductive and mysterious Gabi (Mia Goth), they venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism, and untold horror. A tragic accident leaves them facing a zero tolerance policy for crime: either you’ll be executed, or, if you’re rich enough to afford it, you can watch yourself die instead.
Release Date: January 7, 2023
The Quiet Girl
Set against the lush backdrop of rural Ireland, The Quiet Girl is a tenderly crafted, Irish-language film. It tells the story of Cáit, a shy and neglected young girl sent to live with distant relatives for a summer. As she navigates unfamiliar surroundings and the kindness of strangers, Cáit discovers a sense of belonging and the transformative power of unspoken love.
Release Date: February 24, 2023
BAIT
Set amidst the picturesque backdrop of a fading Cornish fishing village, Bait unravels the poignant tale of Martin Ward, a fisherman struggling to survive. Stripped of his boat after his brother repurposes it for tourist excursions, Martin’s fight against gentrification and the displacement of traditional livelihoods serves as a stark reminder of the tensions between local communities and the encroaching tides of change.
Release Date: March 31, 2023
ENYS MEN
A wildlife volunteer on an uninhabited island off the British coast descends into a terrifying madness that challenges her grip on reality and pushes her into a living nightmare. Evoking the feeling of discovering a reel of never-before-seen celluloid unspooling in a haunted movie palace, this provocative and masterful vision of horror asserts Mark Jenkin as one of the U.K.’s most exciting and singular filmmakers.
Release Date: March 31, 2023
HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE
Based on Andreas Malm’s controversial book, How to Blow Up a Pipeline is a taut thriller that follows a group of environmental activists as they escalate their methods in their mission to halt climate destruction. Desperation and a sense of urgency drive them to devise a dangerous plan to sabotage a major oil pipeline. The film explores the moral gray zones of activism as the characters grapple with whether increasingly drastic measures are justified in the face of a global crisis.
Release Date: April 7, 2023
ROBOTS
Science-fiction romantic comedy Robots offers a quirky exploration of the complexities of love and self-discovery. The film revolves around Charles, a self-centered womanizer, and Elaine, a materialistic gold digger, who find themselves reluctantly teaming up when faced with robotic duplicates of themselves. This chaotic encounter forces them to confront their shallow tendencies and unexpectedly discover a deeper connection within their flawed humanity.
Release Date: May 19, 2023
SANCTUARY
A wickedly dark comedy follows dominatrix, Rebecca (Emmy Award® nominee Margaret Qualley), and her wealthy client, Hal (Christopher Abbott), as they engage in a high stakes role playing game for power and control.
In the wake of inheriting his father’s hotel chain, Hal attempts to end his long and secret relationship with Rebecca. A battle of wills ensues over the course of one incredibly fraught night, with both Rebecca and Hal struggling to keep the upper hand as the power dynamics swing wildly back and forth.
Release Date: May 19, 2023
OLDBOY REMASTERED
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Park Chan-Wook’s cinematic masterpiece, Oldboy will be released in theaters, restored and remastered in stunning 4K. After being mysteriously kidnapped and imprisoned with no human contact for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su (Choi Min-sik) is suddenly released without any explanation. In a twisted game of cat and mouse, he has only five days to retrace his past, track down his captors, and get his revenge.
Oldboy, which remains a cult classic and has served as inspiration for auteurs for nearly two decades, will return to theaters for the first time in 20 years.
Release Date: August 16, 2023
IT LIVES INSIDE
Sam is desperate to fit in at school, rejecting her Indian culture and family to be like everyone else. When a mythological demonic spirit latches onto her former best friend, she must come to terms with her heritage in order to defeat it.
Release Date: September 22, 2023
THE ROYAL HOTEL
The tense and unnerving thriller The Royal Hotel follows two young American women, Hanna and Liv, who find themselves stranded in a remote Australian Outback mining town after taking a temporary job at a local pub. Lured by the promise of a quick adventure and some cash, they soon discover that the locals aren’t as friendly as they first seemed. What starts as a raucous introduction to Australian culture quickly descends into a nightmarish situation as the girls confront toxic masculinity and a dangerous, male-dominated environment.
Release Date: October 6, 2023
ANATOMY OF A FALL
For the past year, Sandra, her husband Samuel, and their eleven-year-old son Daniel have lived a secluded life in a remote town in the French Alps. When Samuel is found dead in the snow below their chalet, the police question whether he was murdered or committed suicide. Samuel’s suspicious death is presumed murder, and Sandra becomes the main suspect. What follows is not just an investigation into the circumstances of Samuel’s death but an unsettling psychological journey into the depths of Sandra and Samuel’s conflicted relationship.
Release Date: October 13, 2023
PERFECT DAYS
Hirayama, a humble toilet cleaner in Tokyo, finds contentment in his unassuming life. His structured routines, love of music, and appreciation for the beauty in the ordinary give his existence a quiet meaning. However, a series of unexpected encounters forces Hirayama to confront hidden aspects of his past and challenge the delicate balance he has carefully maintained. In “Perfect Days,” director Wim Wenders crafts a poignant story of a man searching for his place in a world that often overlooks the profound within the seemingly insignificant.
Release Date: November 10, 2023
EILEEN
Based on the book of the same name by bestselling author, Ottessa Moshfegh. Set during a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) becomes enchanted by Rebecca (Anne Hathaway), the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path.
Release Date: December 1, 2023
Origin
Ava DuVernay’s critically-acclaimed biographical drama Origin chronicles Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson’s profound journey as she writes her groundbreaking book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. The film deftly weaves Wilkerson’s global exploration of deeply embedded caste systems with moments of personal tragedy and resilience. Origin serves as a powerful testament to the enduring impact of history, the complexity of social structures, and one woman’s unwavering search for truth within them.
Release Date: December 8, 2023
FERRARI
Michael Mann’s high-octane drama Ferrari delves into the tumultuous life of the legendary Italian automotive visionary, Enzo Ferrari. Set against the backdrop of the summer of 1957, the film chronicles a critical juncture for Ferrari as both his company and personal life face severe crises. Bankruptcy looms large, threatening the empire he meticulously built, while his marriage crumbles under the weight of loss and secrets. In a desperate gamble for survival, Ferrari places his hopes on a perilous race – the iconic Mille Miglia.
Release Date: December 25, 2023