The Best Movies of 2022: A Critic’s Look Back
Determining the Best Movies 2022 offered is always a subjective exercise, and after years of doing this, I know that any year-end ranking is, at best, provisional. It’s impossible to know immediately what films will truly stand the test of time, which ones we’ll revisit and revere in future years. Perhaps I’ll eventually regret omitting Avatar: The Way of Water from this year’s list, but I suspect not; much like the first Avatar, it feels like a film demanding the specific context of a theater, and revisiting such cinematic events at home isn’t straightforward. Honestly, there’s probably a higher chance I’ll regret leaving out Jackass Forever—I genuinely struggle to recall when I last laughed so intensely in a cinema; it might never happen again—but only time will tell.
I have given precedence to theatrical releases in compiling this list because I strongly value the theatrical viewing experience. Only two of the films listed below were seen at home on my television rather than in a movie theater. While the age of streaming is undeniably upon us, I can’t shake the feeling that productions made primarily for platforms like Netflix and others often resemble glorified TV movies, carrying all the implications that come with that label. There’s nothing inherently wrong with television; indeed, some of my most cherished entertainment experiences have been televisual. Yet, to me, movies are synonymous with the large screen, and it’s a position I’m willing to defend to the end, perhaps muttering about cultural decline as I go.
One significant exception to my rule favoring theatrical releases is the realm of animation. Frankly, many of the major animated features released in theaters during 2022 were underwhelming. However, streaming services provided access to some true masterpieces. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, for instance, stands out as one of the most exquisitely crafted pictures I have ever witnessed, while Phil Tippett’s Mad God is unequivocally one of the most unsettling. Both are works of genius. Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½ offers a delightful dose of rotoscoped nostalgia. Beavis and Butthead Do the Universe elicited more than a few robust laughs, and although I’m not a regular viewer of Bob’s Burgers, I found myself quite charmed by its movie adaptation. Perhaps I should give that show a watch? The landscape of movies out in 2022 was vast, spanning various platforms and styles globally, including films from different regional cinemas.
2022 proved to be a strong year for horror films and those adjacent to the genre. I genuinely enjoyed Orphan: First Kill, The Menu, and Smile. Terrifier 2 presented one of the most fascinating box-office narratives of the year. While X and Pearl didn’t personally resonate deeply with me, I’m pleased they found appreciative audiences (plus, I’ve long appreciated watching Mia Goth in her distinctively quirky roles; her performance in A Cure for Wellness is worth seeking out sometime). Men and Nope were misses for me, but I am encouraged that directors like Alex Garland and Jordan Peele continue to receive funding for their somewhat unconventional and clearly deeply personal projects within the broader category of horror movies 2022 offered.
This year marks the first time in a while that I didn’t even consider a comic-book movie for my shortlist of top films. I don’t believe this reflects any increase in my maturity level—see my comments on Jackass Forever above—but rather a sense that the genre feels somewhat depleted creatively. Despite this, five of the ten highest-grossing films domestically in 2022 belonged to this genre. Even if some of these movies met with modest commercial disappointment (I’m looking at you, Wakanda Forever and Black Adam), it’s evident that audiences still have a strong appetite for heroes in capes and what my friend Matt Labash derisively refers to as “codpieces.”
Ah well. Shall we move on to my personal picks for the top movies 2022 brought us?
My Top 10 Movies of 2022
10. Ambulance
Michael Bay's Ambulance features intense car chase sequences
There is a deeply satisfying quality to Michael Bay’s unwavering commitment to detonating actual objects with real explosives. Furthermore, the innovative drone cinematography used in this film serves as a powerful reminder that we are on the cusp of developing a fundamentally new visual vocabulary for filmmaking, even if I feel Bay hasn’t quite mastered the art of seamlessly integrating it with more conventional camera techniques yet.
9. Crimes of the Future
Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux in David Cronenberg's Crimes of the Future
This year has seen a number of films preoccupied with the nature of movies themselves (Pearl, X) or those marketed with a meta, film-about-film angle (The Fabelmans, Empire of Light). However, in my view, the film that offered the most compelling observations on the tension between artistic creation and contemporary technology was David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future. Viggo Mortensen imbues the phrase “suffering for your art” with entirely new meaning, and Kristen Stewart’s nervously eccentric performance is undeniably worth the admission price alone.
8. Thirteen Lives
Underwater rescue scene from Ron Howard's Thirteen Lives
Ron Howard’s depiction of the Thai cave rescue is one of the two films on this list I did not have the opportunity to see in a theater, and honestly, I was somewhat relieved by that fact. I experience a degree of claustrophobia, and this film is arguably the most intensely claustrophobic cinematic experience I’ve had since The Descent. It’s a superb, detail-oriented rescue narrative delivered by the same director who gave us what I consider the greatest nuts-and-bolts rescue film of all time, Apollo 13.
7. Athena
Crowd gathered in a tense scene from Romain Gavras' Athena
This is the other film from my list that I watched at home rather than on the big screen. The technique of stitching together long takes is prevalent in many films now, and frankly, the effect can feel a bit overused, but Athena manages to keep it fresh by continuously escalating the intensity throughout its runtime. Furthermore, the film’s coda introduces a welcome note of ambiguity, a refreshing change in our current era often defined by political rigidity. As my friend Ali Arikan aptly characterized it: Centrism Le Movie.
6. Barbarian
Georgina Campbell looks apprehensive in the horror film Barbarian
Hands down, this is genuinely one of the most unpredictable and wild films released in 2022, and I have no idea how it translates to a home viewing experience. I can definitively say that witnessing its unfolding narrative in a packed theater, surrounded by an audience that was constantly reacting with snorts and glances around to gauge others’ reactions, constituted at least half of its undeniable charm.
5. The Banshees of Inisherin
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson stand on a scenic Irish landscape in The Banshees of Inisherin
Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges remains, in my estimation, one of the finest films of the 2000s. However, I harbored a slight concern that he might not reach those creative heights again; Seven Psychopaths felt a bit too self-contained and meta for my taste, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri struck me as a rather disjointed and difficult watch. But The Banshees of Inisherin is hauntingly beautiful, offering a wonderfully intimate portrayal of how friendships can fracture and turn bitter. Kerry Condon delivers what I believe is career-best work, and she deserves every accolade she receives.
4. Bodies Bodies Bodies
A group of young people look scared in the dark in Bodies Bodies Bodies
This film is simultaneously extremely funny and remarkably sharp in its critique. Alongside the “Decolonativization” episode of the television series Reservation Dogs, it represents the most incisive skewering of Gen Z’s political and personal sensibilities that I encountered throughout 2022. The variety of films released globally during the year, including vibrant outputs like Telugu movies 2022, highlights the diverse cinematic landscape.
3. Top Gun: Maverick
Tom Cruise as Maverick in the cockpit of a fighter jet
Frankly, I wasn’t anticipating much from this sequel, despite my admiration for Tom Cruise, director Joseph Kosinski, and co-writer Christopher McQuarrie. The original Top Gun, beloved as it may be, functions more as a collection of striking moving images than a cohesive narrative feature. However, Paramount clearly recognized they had something truly special with Maverick, and their decision to patiently wait for the optimal release date paid off handsomely. This is pure Hollywood spectacle, delivered with a taut, propulsive narrative that nevertheless succeeds in hitting all the appropriate nostalgic beats. To find information on other top releases, check out movies 2022.
2. Everything Everywhere All at Once
Michelle Yeoh in a dynamic pose from Everything Everywhere All at Once
This stands out as one of the rare films that affected me so profoundly that I felt compelled to start writing about it immediately upon returning home. I am perfectly willing to acknowledge that this film will not appeal to everyone; it oscillates between being profoundly silly and perhaps trying a bit too hard to be profound. Nevertheless, I view it as a monumental cinematic achievement that seamlessly weaves together disparate styles and sensibilities into something that feels simultaneously entirely new and comfortably familiar. For more on genre releases, exploring horror movies 2022 offers a different perspective on the year’s films.
1. Tár
Cate Blanchett conducting an orchestra in Tár
In the sense that it is the film from 2022 that I anticipate will offer the most rewarding viewing experiences upon repeated rewatches for years to come, Tár feels distinctly Kubrickian. From the meticulous framing of its shots to the intricate unraveling of its plot, its insightful engagement with contemporary issues, and the complex nuances of its performances, there is simply a wealth of material here ripe for contemplation and analysis. Furthermore, it has managed the impressive feat of inspiring both some of the most insightful and some of the most misguided critical writing published this year. If you’re looking for where to find various kinds of films online, resources like those for ibomma movies might be relevant to explore.
In conclusion, 2022 presented a diverse array of cinematic offerings, from high-octane action and thought-provoking dramas to innovative animation and sharp social commentary. While personal preference will always shape individual rankings, the films on this list represent what I believe to be the standout achievements of the year, particularly those that leveraged the unique power of the theatrical experience. The conversation around the movies out continues as we look back on the year’s best.
