The biggest blockbusters of 2023 leaned on cities as backdrops for the most iconic characters of the year. Barbie rollerbladed her way out of Barbieland right to Venice Beach and into Century City. John Wick’s finale at Montmartre in Paris gave Amelie a run for her money. Meanwhile, the Fast X family took us from Rome to Rio then back to Los Angeles and Lisbon. And who would J. Robert Oppenheimer be without Los Alamos?
After workers, including actors and writers, went on strike across the US to demand better pay and working conditions, Hollywood is back — and so are the cities that make those stories come to life. From the glamorous and messy characters of reality TV to the bizarre yet relatable comedy-dramas, here’s a guide to some of CityLab’s favorite films and series from 2023.