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As we enter year three of the Covid-19 pandemic, movies are in a weird place. The theatrical-exclusive is becoming increasingly rare, as more and more films end up going directly to streaming, simultaneously streaming and in theaters, or on one of many streaming services after a 45-day exclusive run in theaters. Whatever the case, there are still lots of movies coming out to be excited about, and the only way to ensure that we’ll keep getting more and more is to go see them. So, whether you’re willing to head out to your local theater or you’re just going to wait to rent or stream at home, the best thing you can do is know what’s coming out and when.
Luckily, 2022 has a lot of good stuff on the horizon. From horror to comedy to superheroes to action, a lot of really innovative movies and talented filmmakers will be putting their stuff on display. Seriously—from stuff like the majestic-looking Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and more, there’s a ton of stuff that we’ve got our eyes on. And, hell, we’re a bit more than halfway through the year, and already have tons of movies that have entertained us, made us think, and downright awed us.
Last year’s version of this list was a little screwy—we ended up counting movies like Promising Young Woman, Nomadland, and Judas and the Black Messiah, all of which were technically 2021 releases but were also nominated for last year’s Oscars (due to Covid-19, the deadline was pushed back). It was an odd situation where “Oscar-contending” films were released in the early part of the year. This year, we’re sticking just to the films that are in the next cycle (so, for example, movies like Nightmare Alley and Licorice Pizza were included also on last year’s list).
A little weird! But mostly just semantics. Anyway, here are the movies we’ve loved in 2022 (though we haven’t seen everything, and this list can always change)—and more that we’re still super eager to check out.
The new Scream, the fifth in the slasher whodunit series, had a lot working against it. It’s been more than a decade since Scream 4 hit theaters, and in the time since, Wes Craven—who directed every prior movie in the series—died. Another sequel could’ve been a disaster. Luckily, Scream was made by directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin with the main goal of being something Craven would be proud of—and they achieved that mission. Legacy cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette are joined by exceptional newcomers like Jack Quaid, Jasmin Savoy-Brown, and Jenna Ortega, for a movie that’s entertaining and fun, but most importantly just feels like a Scream movie. Scream 6 has already been ordered, and to that we say: hell yes.
The guys—Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Wee Man, et cetera—may have gotten older, but the fun, thankfully, remains the same. jackass forever is the high-quality lowbrow humor that fans of this franchise have been loving for 20+ years (even longer if you count the original MTV series). And as long as these guys want to keep taking part in this madness, we’ll be watching.
The term “Hitchcockian” gets thrown around far too often, but one filmmaker who can actually try to be like the master of suspense and come through with 100% success is the great Steven Soderbergh. Sodey teams up with Zoë Kravitz for a fantastic thriller that’s got a simple, premise: basically a modern version of Rear Window. And it crushes it.
I Want You Back is fairly standard stuff for a rom-com, but it’s got a wildly charismatic cast, led by a pair of great leads (Charlie Day and Jenny Slate) and fun supporting players (Gina Rodriguez, Manny Jacinto, and Scott Eastwood). The movie zigs a little bit from the standard formula along the way, and ultimately proves to be a worthy comfort movie for anyone who needs one.
We’ve seen lots of Batman before, but The Batman is something different. We’ve got a new Dark Knight in Robert Pattinson, an actor known to take huge risks. We’ve got a super cool Catwoman in Zoë Kravitz, a Zodiac Killer-esque Riddler played by Paul Dano, and a totally unrecognizable Colin Farrell in a brand new take on the Penguin. Director Matt Reeves has helmed more than a few good movies, and his neo-noir, unique take on Batman is another one for the list. Now, we just wait to see what he does next.
Sebastian Stan is having himself a year. While he spent a few weeks grinding everyone’ gears as the boorish rocker Tommy Lee in Hulu’s Pam & Tommy, he dove all the way into the creepy/horror/ genre with his portrayal of thecharming-on-the-surface-but-with-some-dark-secrets boyfriend of Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People) in Fresh. The movie earned raves out of Sundance and made similar waves when it landed on Hulu and word of its twisted plot hit the internet. Horror fans won’t want to miss this fun one.
Writer/director Ti West is at his best when he’s in nostalgia-horror mode (check out The House of the Devil!), and he went for it big time with X, an A24-produced comedy about a group of young filmmakers (including lead Mia Goth, playing a dual role, along with Brittany Snow, Kid Cudi, and new Scream Queen Jenna Ortega)who set out to make an adult film in Texas, before shit gets really out of control. The movie is a slow-burn, but really pays off in the end—and is a far better tribute to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre than the other 2022 movie that actually holds that franchise’s name.
Ti West and Mia Goth have a second elite horror movie in 2022 with Pearl, an origin story prequel to X. The film follows Goth as the titular character, set against the backdrop of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. Where X is more of a slasher, Pearl is a horror-driven character study that builds and builds as it goes; West has described it as a “demented Disney movie,” and that feels just about right. You’ll need to lock in to appreciate the intricacies of this character-driven story, but the last 20-30 minutes or so—and Goth’s masterful performance within it—make it so, so worth it.
With these two X films—and a third, titled MaXXXine coming soon—West and Goth have created the best original horror franchise of the last decade.
We’re All Going To The World’s Fair
We’re All Going To The World’s Fair was a hit at Sundance back in 2021, but it was officially released—and later landed on HBO Max—in 2022. The movie is a low-budget but incredibly inventive and interesting type of grounded horror centered on the modern world of internet “challenges” and the kinds of weird things that can stem from them. Part real horror, part unsettling realism, if you’d imagine a combination of Candyman, Unfriended, and The Ring with the terrifying realism of the little-seen Compliance, you’d get We’re All Going To the World’s Fair. And for my fellow short attention span havers, even more good news: it’s only 85 minutes or so long.
We’re not going to pretend like this Sandra Bullock/Channing Tatum vehicle is about to win any Oscars, but it’s fun. Bullock plays a writer of romance adventure novels, while Tatum is the guy depicting her fictional characters on the covers of the books. Add in Daniel Radcliffe as a crazy rich guy who thinks something written in her books is a real treasure hunt, and so he drops the two of them into the jungle. A fun movie with incredibly fun lead performances. A truly great smooth brain cinematic experience.
OK, fine: CODA technically came out in May of 2021. But most of us either saw it in the lead-up to, or aftermath of, the 2022 Academy Awards. Because in case you didn’t watch, something far more interesting than the slap-heard-around-the-world happened (in the world of cinema at least): a movie with the majority of its dialogue in American Sign Language won best picture. CODA isn’t breaking any film barriers with its story (you’ve seen this arc before), but it’s a delightful, feel-good film that has a few moments that are just beyond affectionate. Troy Kotsur, who is deaf and uses ASL, was a well-deserving winner of the Best Supporting Actor Oscar this year for his role as unfiltered fisherman father Frank Rossi.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
You’re going to be hard-pressed to find a movie more universally acclaimed—by both critics and fans alike—than Everything Everywhere All At Once. This multiversal tale has it all: action, drama, humor, intrigue, and even deeply emotional moments. It’s a triumph of storytelling and film, and despite its release in the first half of the year, stands a real chance of being an awards contender. You won’t forget the performances by Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis any time soon.
After doing a combination old-school monster movie/slow-burn psychological thriller with his last movie The Lighthouse, director Robert Eggers switched things up and making an epic with The Northman. Alexander Skarsgård stars as a Viking prince who seeks revenge for his murdered father; Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Björk, and Willem Dafoe are among the rest of the stacked cast. This movie is an artsy take on an epic, and the violence is INTENSE. But stick around for the performances and the sheer visuals of it all; Kidman delivers a knockout, and Anya Taylor-Joy has a late monologue that will blow you away.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
If you’re a sucker for meta, you’ll be very into The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, which centers on Nicolas Cage playing…Nicolas Cage. This fictionalized movie takes the notorious and eccentric actor on an adventure where he gets involved with a drug lord (Pedro Pascal) who loves his work. Imagine Cage’s turn in Charlie Kaufman’s Adaptation, but updated and made a lot, lot, goofier. Fun stuff.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Superhero and horror movie godfather Sam Raimi gets to a little bit of both of those specialities in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which has proven to be one of the more polarizing Marvel Cinematic Universe movies to date. We fall on the side of loving it—Raimi’s directorial flourishes are all over the movie, which is something that you rarely see in a movie with as many chefs in the kitchen as a Marvel film. At the end of the day, you’ll be thinking about the horror elements that the director snuck in, and Elizabeth Olsen’s dynamic performance as Wanda Maximoff—who has become without question Marvel’s most compelling post-Endgame character.
The sequel to Top Gun may have come decades after the 1986 original, but man oh man was it worth it: Maverick is an upgrade in just about every way possible. The action, visuals, and sound here are incredible, and in case you may have been worried, the story and characters aren’t too shabby either. Tom Cruise leads the way here of course, but this theme park ride of a movie (in a good way! a great way!) also includes great performances from the likes of Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Glen Powell. The movie has absolutely crushed at the box office, and will continue to be talked about all year long.
Ethan Hawke plays a creepy villain named The Grabber in The Black Phone, a horror based on a story of the same name from Joe Hill. The movie marks a return to horror for director Scott Derrickson, who most recently directed Doctor Strange, but before that was behind Sinister (also with Hawke!) and The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
Hustle is both one of the best sports movies and one of the best Adam Sandler movies you’ll ever see. That’s right—it’s joining prestigious lists that include Field of Dreams and Moneyball and Uncut Gems and Billy Madison. The movie tells the story of an NBA scout (Sandler) who believes he’s found the next international superstar (played by real-life NBA player Juancho Hernangomez). Countless NBA figures make cameos, and the movie is a compelling and fun watch.
If you were worried about Jordan Peele keeping his winning streak going, well, it’s time to stop. Nope is different from his other films, going for something bigger in scale and spectacle than either Get Out or Us, but it still works to perfection, in that exact Jordan Peele manner. AKA: you’ll be thinking about Nope, and talking about Nope, long after you have actually seen nope. Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Brandon Perea, and Michael Wincott are all fantastic in this movie—one of the very best of the year.
Bodies Bodies Bodies is one of the most unique, fun, and stylized horror movies in recent memory (and, my goodness, what a great theme song from Charli XCX). Centered on a group of 20-somethings stuck in a mansion (including Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalava from Borat 2, Rachel Sennott from Shiva Baby, and Pete Davidson among others)during a hurricane (along with an older dude played by Lee Pace), the movie has twists and turns that you won’t see coming. It’s funny, disturbing, and truly subversive.
If you’re looking for a sharply-written, darkly-comedic satire about the world we live in today, don’t miss Vengeance, which was written by, directed by, and stars BJ Novak. The movie follows a 30-something NYC media guy (Novak) who ends up in rural Texas following the death of a girl he hardly knew—and finds himself entrenched in what may or may not be a murder mystery. Novak is joined by an exceptional cast that also includes J. Smith Cameron, Ashton Kutcher, and Boyd Holbrook. Holbrook in particular gives a fantastic performance—he’s the movie’s driving force, turning the audience from coastal elites into true Texans one one-liner at a time.
Based on a novel by Kotaro Isaka, Bullet Train is an action movie with an absolutely stacked cast: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Zazie Beetz, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Shannon, Logan Lerman, Bad Bunny, and Sandra Bullock are among the many names involved. The story is simple enough: five assassins are on a high-speed train in Japan, and then they realize their assignments are interconnected.
It’s one you don’t have to think about too much: it’s a stylized, fast-paced, funny-at-times action movie, with big stars and big violence. Turn your brain off and enjoy this one.
Despite the drama, darling, Don’t Worry Darling turned out to be very much what the trailers promised: a fun, twisty, and (mostly) well-acted (sorry, Harry) film that essentially feels like a long episode of Black Mirror.
Darling boasts a star-studded cast for director Olivia Wilde—Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, and Wilde herself, among others—and while its not a movie that’s going to make cinema history or win any Oscars, it’s certainly a good time, and one that you won’t regret spending some money on a ticket to go see (or waiting for streaming, if you so choose). Luckily for everyone involved, the film is worth more than just the vehicle for Spitgate.
Is Smile reinventing the horror genre? No. Is Smile a load of fun for horror fans? Hell yeah. With a unique premise, a game cast led by a breakout performance by Sosie Bacon, and some really unique camera work and exciting scares from writer/director Parker Finn, Smile is one of the most unexpected and exciting horror movies we’ve seen this year. Violent, engaging, funny at times, and most importantly: totally bonkers. You might not be done with a laugh when you realize just how wildly fast your heart is beating. Fun times.
Billy Eichner is best known for his hilarious on-the-run quiz show Billy on the Street, but he gets to make the jump to rom-com in this year’s Bros, which he co-wrote with director Nicholas Stoller (Neighbors, Forgetting Sarah Marshall). The story is basic enough—two guys with commitment problems attempting a relationship—but with Eichner and Stoller, and Judd Apatow the movie became a bonafide win.
If we’re being completely honest, music biopics can kind of be a slog. So that’s why Elvis, handled by the ever-stylish Baz Luhrmann and led by a star-making performance from Austin Butler, feels like such a fresh air—it’s fast pace and constant action sets it apart from the bunch. Of course, the movie is 2 hours and 40 minutes long—but once you’re in, you’re in. And you’ll probably be humming songs by the King for a few weeks after you’re done watching too.
Anyone who loves a good teen movie—think 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless, Dazed and Confused, or even Not Another Teen Movie—is in for a modern day treat with Do Revenge. This dark comedy is led by Riverdale‘s Camila Mendes and Stranger Things’ Maya Hawke, and is funny, clever, and always fun. Plus, it makes the interesting case that Austin Abrams is actually the best Euphoria alum actor not named Zendaya, and features a cameo role from one of the teen movie genre’s greatest. If you like movies with a million twists and an absolutely banging soundtrack, Do Revenge is for you.
The Banshees of Inisherin
Fans of Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges will be thrilled to see the writer/director re-team with both Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson for The Banshees of Inisherin, a period piece set during the Irish civil war about the random dissolution of a friendship. It’s a simple, basic story with some great acting by its leads, along with Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon, among others. Of course, considering it’s Martin McDonaugh, things get dark—but it all makes sense in the end. Don’t skip this one.
Werewolf by Night isn’t quite a TV show, and it’s not quite a movie either—but as a one-off 52-minute TV “special,” movies feels like the right place to include it. The first feature directed by Academy Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino, Werewolf by Night is a focused story that is firmly set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (the Werewolf by Night comics are actually where Moon Knight debuted, though we don’t get that crossover here) and pays heavy tribute to all sorts of classic horror movies. Led by Gael Garcia Bernal as Jack Russell and Laura Donnelly as monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, Werewolf by Night is one of Marvel’s best projects in a while.
Director David Gordon Green’s trilogy of Halloween movies comes to a conclusion with Halloween Ends, which one again brings Jamie Lee Curtis back in the lead role. The movie had a polarized reception (largely due to the larger-than-expected presence of franchise newcomer Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham), but in our book it was a franchise entry that took chances, felt unique, and, as always with Gordon Green, was quite well directed. If this is really the end of Curtis with Halloween, it’s not a terrible way to go out.
Part of the fun thing about the horror movie community is that if there’s a movie that is best experienced knowing absolutely nothing going in, people who’ve already had the chance to see the moviewill pass that note along. That is without question the case for Barbarian, the film that comes from former Whitest Kids U Know sketch comedian Zach Cregger and stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long. Without getting too deep into Barbarian‘s plot, we’ll just say that it’s impeccably shot and paced, and takes some clear influence from movies like Psycho, Evil Dead 2, and even the work of David Fincher (and that comes from Cregger himself). If you like horror, this is a must-see.
We’ve been waiting essentially since the end of Mad Men for Jon Hamm to land a movie role that really seems worthy of his endless talent and charisma, and we finally got it with the charming and funny Confess, Fletch. Based on the novels that also inspired the films starring Chevy Chase, Confess, Fletch finds Hamm as I.M. Fletcher, who’s accused of murder and needs to clear his name before it’s too late.
Based on the book of the same name, She Said tells the story of how two New York Times reporters (Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, played respectively by Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan) uncovered the truth about Harvey Weinstein’s sexual misconduct allegations. On top of telling an important and compelling true story, the movie (which also features Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, and Tom Pelphrey) packs a Spotlight-esque punch.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever faced the impossible task: pay tribute to late star Chadwick Boseman, and tell a story that follows up on one of the MCU’s best films. In a true testament to his skill as a filmmaker, Ryan Coogler achieved at both. Standout performances from Tenoch Huerta (as Namor) and Angela Bassett (as Queen Ramonda) make Wakanda Forever a keeper.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Rian Johnson retuned to his Knives Out seat with Glass Onion, once again writing and directing a story centered on his star detective—Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig—as he’s surrounded by a new mystery and a new cast (including Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monet, Kathryn Hahn, Ethan Hawke, Edward Norton, and more) in front of a stunning Greece backdrop. Glass Onion is a sequel done right. While the movie is just as compelling as Knives Out, it comes with a completely different structure that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Keep the Knives Out movies coming as long as possible, please!
From the moment Tár ended, I wanted to see it again. The movie stars Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár, an EGOT-winning classical music conductor at the very top of her field; Tár is a fictional creation, but this story of her rise, place in the world, and reckoning, feels real. Director Todd Field (in his first film since 2006’s Little Children) makes some stunning choices, and one scene—a single-take set at New York City’s The Juilliard School—is particularly memorable. It might be the best performance of Blanchett’s career and she seems likely to come away with her third Oscar.
Tár is a slow movie, and one that takes time for the viewer to even really figure out what it is they’re seeing unfold. But like Glass Onion—and this is basically the only thing these two films have in common—Tár is a movie that you only will really fully understand what you’ve seen once it’s over. And it is a trip.
This black comedy/horror film follows a young couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) who wind up at a culinary experience that is…not what they expected, led by an intense head chef played by Ralph Fiennes. If you were looking for something along the lines of The Bear crossed with Ready or Not, this is the movie for you.
The Whale is perhaps the most important piece so far of the long-awaited Brendan Fraser comeback; he’s become one of the favorites for the Best Actor Oscars as The Whale has earned him rave reviews.Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, mother!, The Wrestler, etc) directed Fraser in this A24 film where he plays as a 600-pound man who’s become isolated from his friends and family. His daughter is played by Stranger Things standout Sadie Sink, and his friend/nurse, played by Hong Chau, could also merit an Academy Award nomination.
I mean, this one is a pretty easy sell. David Harbour as Santa Claus. But this time Santa Claus is more like John McClane from Die Hard. You know what you’re getting, and it’s fun!
Look, we can admit it: we had our doubts. And you know what no one should ever do? DOUBT JAMES CAMERON! Yes, Avatar: The Way of Water is a little bloated (its runtime is 3 hours and 10 minutes), but the movie is the spectacle to end all spectacles. Cameron promised that his long-in-the-works sequel would be better than the original, and with a better story, stronger character arcs, and visuals that have developed in the 13 years since the original Avatar, it really is. Worth seeing on the biggest screen you can possibly find.
The king of body horror is back doing what he’s best at, folks. David Cronenberg takes on the weird, the creepy, and the gross for the first time since the ’90s in Crimes of the Future, a movie set some time in the future where humans modify themselves, grow new organs, and have them removed as some kind of performance art. Deeply strange! Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux lead the way, but attention must also be called to Kristen Stewart’s deeply strange and thoroughly magnetic supporting turn. She’s not on screen a ton, but, honestly, she makes the movie.
If you liked Aubrey Plaza in The White Lotus (or, you know, anything else she’s in, including Parks and Recreation, Safety Not Guaranteed, Black Bear, Legion, etc), you won’t want to miss her starring role in the tight, exciting thriller Emily the Criminal. The movie is an easy watch—coming in at just about 90 minutes—but comes with social commentary and great performances that will stick with you. A fun little movie that keeps Plaza’s great streak in indie films alive (check out Ingrid Goes West too if you haven’t seen it).
Damien Chazelle—the Academy Award-winning director behind Whiplash and La La Land—is heading back out west for Babylon, a period drama that may or not take place in Hollywood and will reteam Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood duo Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. The Tobey-ssaince will also continue, as Tobey Maguire is producing and appearing in a supporting role.
Evan Romano
Evan is the culture editor for Men’s Health, with bylines in The New York Times, MTV News, Brooklyn Magazine, and VICE.
