Top 10 Best Movies of 2022
#10: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022)
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Following a film as successful and impactful as “Black Panther” was a daunting task. Continuing the story after Chadwick Boseman’s unexpected passing sounded like an impossible task. In a king-sized effort, Ryan Coogler delivered a sequel that worked as a touching tribute to Boseman and a respectful passing of the torch. While it’s hard to top the original, “Wakanda Forever” improves upon several elements, namely the CGI. The performances are as captivating as ever with Angela Bassett turning in a Best Supporting Actress-worthy performance. The film is also another feat of world-building with locales like Wakanda and Talokan being grounded in fiction, but feeling real. You’ll cry within the first minutes and just when your tear ducts are dry, the ending will get to you.
#9: “The Banshees of Inisherin” (2022)
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Martin McDonagh reunites Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, but “The Banshees of Inisherin” is a much different film than “In Bruges.” It’s an anti-buddy picture about a bromance crumbling. As the Irish Civil War looms in the background, another war arises between Farrell and Gleeson’s characters. While the story takes some twisted turns, it’s a surprisingly relatable film about human nature. We empathize with the lonely Farrell’s desire to preserve their friendship, but we can also identify with Gleeson’s need to focus on his legacy. Stuck in the middle is Kerry Condon in a breakthrough role as Farrell’s sister, who dreams of a better life beyond her dreary island. Funny, tragic, and at times almost mystical, “Banshees” is a profound breakup movie unlike any other.
#8: “The Woman King” (2022)
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Hollywood historical epics aren’t what they used to be. “The Woman King” takes us back to a bygone era of rousing battles and almost Shakespearan drama, but with a few progressive twists. Viola Davis is such a commanding screen presence that it’s a wonder why she hasn’t played more action heroines. It’s difficult to imagine anyone other than Davis starring as General Nanisca, who leads an equally fierce ensemble that includes the charismatic Lashana Lynch and relative newcomer Thuso Mbedu. With her debut film over twenty years ago, “Love & Basketball,” director Gina Prince-Bythewood sought to normalize seeing women in athletic roles. “The Woman King” pulls off a similar feat, but on a grander scale, showing women everywhere that there’s a warrior and leader within.
#7: “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022)
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“Avatar” was an experience that many thought James Cameron wouldn’t be able to replicate. It took 13 years, but Cameron has done it again with a sequel that’ll have you in awe from the first frame and sustain that wonderment for the next three hours. Once again, the story is familiar, but we’d argue that “The Way of Water” is stronger on a character level with welcome additions like Sigourney Weaver’s Kiri and Zoe Saldaña giving one of her most emotional performances. Cameron excels in the visual storytelling department, taking us to new parts of Pandora that are atmospheric, layered, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous. The action sequences are also among Cameron’s best, the climax being a triumph of cinema. Three more sequels? Yep, we’re in!
#6: “The Batman” (2022)
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There are several live-action “Batman” movies, but Matt Reeves’ interpretation stands out for an assortment of reasons. It’s arguably the first to feel like a genuine detective movie. We can’t think of a superior villain to challenge Batman’s detective skills than the Riddler, who’s never felt more menacing or grounded thanks to Paul Dano. Colin Farrell’s Penguin and Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman are also among the best versions we’ve seen of those classic characters. The story belongs to Robert Pattinson’s Batman, though. When we say that, we mean that Bruce Wayne largely takes a backseat to his alter ego. It goes to show that Bruce is the true mask in a story that sees a young Batman decide what kind of hero he wants to be.
#5: “The Fabelmans” (2022)
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“The Fabelmans” might not be Steven Spielberg’s absolute best movie, but it is his most personal. And for anyone who has grown up watching Spielberg’s films, this family drama is bound to be a deeply personal experience as well. Between Michelle Williams’ angelic mother figure and Paul Dano’s more practical father figure, we receive a better understanding of how Spielberg became the filmmaker he is today. Sammy Fabelman serves as a vessel for the legendary director with Gabriel LaBelle and Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord being the spitting images of a young Spielberg. In addition to celebrating Spielberg’s youth, “The Fabelmans” is a love letter to cinema, from its craft to the real-life stories that inspire what we put on the screen.
#4: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (2022)
The latest version of “Pinocchio” opens by telling us that this isn’t the story we think we know. Yeah, we’ve heard that one before, but del Toro’s take on the classic story is not only unique, but arguably the first to rival the Disney classic. The decision to tell this tale through stunning stop-motion animation was brilliant on multiple levels. Of course, Pinocchio himself is a puppet, but the same can be said about many others in Benito Mussolini’s Italy. This approach amounts to a fresh story about individuality while still maintaining the core messages about showing others empathy. It’s a film just as much for adults with themes of parenthood, mortality, and personal growth tying in perfectly with the story we thought we knew.
#3: “RRR” (2022)
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Sometimes the simplest titles pack the most powerful punches. When we think of contemporary epics, “RRR” immediately comes to mind. “Epic” is just one genre that this beast of a motion picture manages to encapsulate. It’s also 2022’s most invigorating musical and most satisfying buddy picture with insanely inventive action sequences that put most Hollywood blockbusters the shame. You might be wondering how one film can flawlessly balance so many elements that seemingly shouldn’t go together. In so few words, it’s an experience you need to see to believe. Director S. S. Rajamouli had already produced some of India’s most successful films. Still, he outdid himself with this herculean effort that’ll have you rising, roaring, and revolting against more conventional entertainment.
#2: “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022)
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Even in an era of nostalgia, there’s always a risk in resurrecting a decades-old franchise like “Top Gun,” especially with the pandemic forcing audiences to be more selective. Although “Maverick” was flooded with streaming offers, Tom Cruise insisted that the long-awaited sequel be reserved for the big screen. This gamble paid off in spades, becoming Paramount’s biggest movie domestically and Cruise’s highest-grossing film worldwide. With spectacular action that places you right in the cockpit, this wasn’t just a movie you needed to see on the largest screen possible. It was an experience that required second, even third viewings. It’s the kind of summer blockbuster that Hollywood just doesn’t seem to produce anymore. With any luck, though, perhaps more studios will follow director Joseph Kosinski’s example.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Barbarian” (2022)
The Year’s Most Surprising, Unsettling, & Occasionally Hilarious Horror Offering
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022)
Rian Johnson Pulls the Rug Out From Under Us Again in the Best Way Possible
“The Northman” (2022)
Robert Eggers’ Grandest & Most Gorgeously Shot Film Yet
“All Quiet on the Western Front” (2022)
A Worthy Successor to the 1930 Best Picture Winner That Stands On Its Own
“Babylon” (2022)
“Singin’ in the Rain” Meets “Boogie Nights” Makes for an Exhilarating Time
#1: “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022)
Top 10 Anticipated Movies of 2022
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” is something of a miracle by modern standards. A film that’s funny, touching, heart-racing, visually ambitious, philosophically stimulating, and boldly original. To top it all off, audiences sought the film out almost through word of mouth alone, making back almost four times its $25 million budget. The exceptional ensemble includes a career-best performance from the legendary Michelle Yeoh, a comeback from Ke Huy Quan, and a star-making turn from Stephanie Hsu. In more ways than one, the film is the equivalent of an everything bagel. It’s topped with everything a true cinemagoer could ask for. It’s possible to have too much of a good thing, but the Daniels knew exactly how much to bite off with this tour de force.
