Barack Obama has named his favorite movies of 2023, an annual tradition for the former US president. The first three films on the list – “Rustin”, “Leave the World Behind” and “American Symphony” – were created by his company Higher Ground, which he founded with his wife Michelle, according to News.ro.

“I’m biased because these movies were made by Higher Ground, but they’re actually the three best movies I’ve seen this year,” Obama wrote.

“Rustin” starring Colman Domingo as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin; “Leave the World Behind” starring Ethan Hawke, Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali in a mysterious apocalypse story; and American Symphony follows the journey of musician John Baptiste and his life partner Suleika Jawad as he tries to write a symphony while she learns that her cancer has returned.

In a post on X/Twitter, Obama further contextualized his list and acknowledged the two strikes that have shaped the entertainment industry in 2023, writing: “Earlier this year, writers and actors went on strike to protest better working conditions and protections. This has led to important changes that will change the industry for the better. Here are a few films that reflect their hard work over the past year, including Rustin, American Symphony, and Leave the World Behind, which we’re proud to release via @HGMedia. What movies did we miss?”

In addition to the projects he personally supported, Obama also listed The Holdovers, Blackberry, Oppenheimer, American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Monster, Past Lives, Air, ” Polite Society” and “One Thousand and One” as his favorite films of 2023.

The list includes independent films (“Past Lives” and “The Thousand and One”), as well as international films (“Anatomy of the Fall” and “Monster”) and Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster historical drama “Oppenheimer”.

Last year, Obama’s favorites included “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Aftersun.”