The Best Movies of 2022: A Must-Watch List for Film Lovers
Lights, camera, action! 2022 has been an exciting year for movie buffs, with a lineup of films that have left us on the edge of our seats. From heart-pounding thrillers to heartwarming dramas, there's something for everyone in the world of cinema. In this section, we'll be exploring the best movies that have graced the silver screen in 2022.
The Best Movies of 2022: Must-Watch Films of the Year
The list of movies I am sharing here is a mix of both audience- and critic-approved films. Some of the movies on the list, such as Top Gun: Maverick and Turning Red, were huge commercial successes and were also well-received by critics. Other movies on the list, such as The Banshees of Inisherin and The Fabelmans, were more critically acclaimed but didn't have as wide an audience.
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I tried to choose movies that I thought were both entertaining and thought-provoking, and that would appeal to a wide range of viewers. I also tried to include a variety of genres, so there's something for everyone on the list.
Ultimately, whether a movie is "best" is a matter of personal opinion. But I hope you'll find some movies on this list that you enjoy!
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Here are the 20 best movies of 2022.
20. The House (Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy)
A group of friends rent a remote house for a weekend getaway, only to find themselves trapped inside a mysterious maze of ever-changing rooms.
- Directed by Ari Aster.
- Stars Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, and Alex Wolff.
19. The Fabelmans (Comedy, Drama, Coming-of-age)
A semi-autobiographical film about Steven Spielberg's childhood, following a young boy as he grows up in post-war Arizona and dreams of becoming a filmmaker.
- Directed by Steven Spielberg.
- Stars Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, and Seth Rogen.
18. Brian and Charles (Comedy, Sci-Fi)
A lonely inventor in rural Wales creates a robot for companionship, only to find that his creation is more than he bargained for.
- Directed by Jim Archer.
- Stars David Earl and Chris Hayward.
17. The Quiet Girl (Drama, Mystery)
A young girl sent to live with her grandparents in Ireland in the 1980s begins to unravel a dark secret from the past.
- Directed by Colm Bairéad.
- Stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal.
16. Petite Maman (Drama, Fantasy)
A young girl who is helping her mother clean out her deceased grandmother's house meets a girl her age who is also exploring the property. The two girls quickly become friends, but they soon discover that they are not who they seem to be.
- Directed by Céline Sciamma.
- Stars Joséphine Sanz and Gabrielle Sanz.
15. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Comedy, Crime, Mystery)
Detective Benoit Blanc is called in to investigate the death of a young woman at a luxury hotel in Greece. The film is a sequel to the 2019 film "Knives Out."
- Directed by Rian Johnson.
- Stars Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, and Janelle Monáe.
14. Top Gun: Maverick (Action, Drama, Aviation)
After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
- Directed by Joseph Kosinski.
- Stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Jennifer Connelly.
13. Happening (Drama, Horror)
A young woman in 1960s France begins to experience strange and disturbing symptoms as she comes to terms with her unplanned pregnancy.
- Directed by Audrey Diwan.
- Stars Anamaria Vartolomei and Kacey Rohl.
12. The Northman (Action, Adventure, Drama)
A young Viking prince on a quest to avenge the murder of his father.
- Directed by Robert Eggers.
- Stars Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, and Anya Taylor-Joy.
11. Men (Horror)
A widow goes on a solo vacation to the English countryside, only to find herself being stalked and harassed by a mysterious figure.
- Directed by Alex Garland.
- Stars Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear.
10. The Batman (Action, Crime, Drama)
A dark and gritty take on the Caped Crusader, following Batman as he investigates the corruption in Gotham City while pursuing the Riddler, a serial killer who targets Gotham's elite.
- Directed by Matt Reeves.
- Stars Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, and Paul Dano.
9. Nope (Horror, Sci-Fi)
The residents of a small California town witness a mysterious and abnormal event, which sets off a chain of strange and frightening occurrences.
- Directed by Jordan Peele.
- Stars Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun.
8. All Quiet on the Western Front (War, Anti-war, Coming-of-age)
All Quiet on the Western Front is a 1930 German anti-war film based on the novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque. The film follows a group of German soldiers on the Western Front during World War I. The film is a powerful and moving depiction of the horrors of war, and it is considered to be one of the greatest anti-war films ever made.
- Directed by Lewis Milestone.
- Stars Lew Ayres, Louis Wolheim, and John Wray.
7. The Banshees of Inisherin (Comedy, Crime, Drama)
Two old friends who have a falling out on a remote Irish island find themselves trapped together when a stranger arrives.
- Directed by Martin McDonagh.
- Stars Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell.
6. Aftersun (Drama, Romance)
A young boy on holiday with his father in Greece begins to question his relationship with his father as he witnesses his father's infidelity.
- Directed by Charlotte Gainsbourg.
- Stars Paul Mescal and Frankie Smith.
5. Turning Red (Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family)
A 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl experiences the awkwardness of puberty while also dealing with the supernatural ability to turn into a giant red panda.
- Directed by Domee Shi.
- Stars Rosalie Chiang and Sandra Oh.
4. Avatar: The Way of Water (Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi)
The sequel to the 2009 film "Avatar," following the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids) as they battle the forces that threaten their home.
- Directed by James Cameron.
- Stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, and Sigourney Weaver.
3. Tár (Drama, Music)
A woman returns to her childhood home to care for her ailing mother, only to find herself haunted by the memories of her past.
- Directed by Todd Field.
- Stars Vanessa Kirby and Rooney Mara.
2. The French Dispatch (Comedy, Drama, Mystery)
A collection of stories from the final issue of an American magazine based in a fictional French city.
- Directed by Wes Anderson.
- Stars Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Frances McDormand.
1. Everything Everywhere All at Once (Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi)
The best film of 2022, in my opinion. An exhausted Chinese-American woman is swept up in an insane adventure where she alone can save the world by connecting with parallel universes.
- Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.
- Stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan.
