Tis the season for lists and recaps, and here is the big one: my picks for the best movies of 2022. This year through the aid of Letterboxd, I kept a thorough record of the 2022 movies I watched. And I watched 125+. There were a lot of great movies this year, especially in the horror genre, so limiting things to the best of the best was tricky, as it always is.
Before we get to the list, a few caveats. First is what qualifies as a 2022 movie. My parameters are “things I could only legally and reasonably see in 2022.” This will include a handful of movies that ran through the awards circuit last year. So be it. If I had no legal or reasonable opportunity to see a movie until March of 2022, that’s a 2022 movie. By that same token, there are a few notable “2022” movies that I can’t see yet that won’t be on this list such as The Son, Women Talking, and The Quiet Girl. If they’re good, I’ll talk about them as soon as I can, but I had no opportunity to see those movies yet (as they don’t have any kind of wide release for another month).
Second caveat. I saw a lot of movies, but I couldn’t see everything, and this is especially true for recently released movies. So my apologies to Avatar: The Way of Water, Babylon, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Whale, and especially White Noise (it’s the only one here that I think has a good chance of cracking the top 15, but stupid Netflix won’t release it till New Year’s Eve). Additional apologies to Both Sides of the Blade, Stars at Noon, All Quiet on the Western Front, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Corsage, Triangle of Sadness, and Armageddon Time. I’ll continue to cross these and others off my watchlist throughout the coming weeks and months but they just didn’t get watched in 2022.
Third caveat. This list doesn’t feature documentaries for two reasons: I’m not very good at ranking documentaries and, again, I haven’t had the opportunity to see some of the year’s essentials. There will be a paragraph on documentaries before I cover the top 10. I’ll also have some honorable mentions prior to the top 5.
What Are The Best Movies Of 2022
Cinema has had a rough year. From Tom Cruise’s reassessment of his supremacy as the reigning king of the summer to Top Gun: Maverick, A24’s Everything Everywhere’s amazingly All at once the well-received blockbuster status of his current constant percolation across the industry. There were certainly stories of optimism that accompanied the horrors. At once – the fact remains that the “film” is in a state of upheaval and uncertainty. Do many mainstream audiences still prefer original, mature movies? And if streaming is the future for dramas, comedies, and other “mid-budget” movies, the recent crisis in this market should be considered. Thinking about it, what does the future of streaming look like?
Weird time. But one thing remains the same. That’s the satisfaction that a good movie brings. Whether this movie makes you laugh, cry, or shudder, losing yourself in the dark for a few hours is an indescribable delight. It’s getting a little harder, but trust me there’s gold in the mountains…and sometimes the glow is as big and dazzling as one could hope for, like F/A 18F passing by an IMAX camera.
To prove this fact, I have gathered the list of best movies of 2022.
And as we roll through awards season, I’m going to keep talking about these movies in pieces on who I would nominate for Oscars and then thoughts on the actual nominees, so plenty of discussion of these movies, and those that slipped past me, still to come in the near future.
But for now, here are the top 15 movies of 2022!
Bodies Bodies Bodies, Best movie of 2022
The debut feature from director Halina Reijn was very much my jam. It’s a horror comedy that leans hard on the comedy side and, in doing so, becomes a fascinating deconstruction of the genre and audience expectations. It’s also really, really queer, from the characters to the jokes to just the overall vibe. Response to it seemed mixed but I absolutely loved it.
The Menu, Best movie of 2022
I saw the trailer for this a dozen times, and it never lost its bite or made me less excited for it. And then it absolutely delivered. Anya Taylor-Joy and especially Ralph Fiennes shine in this dark comedy of satire and privilege. Some found it predictable, but I thought it did well to subvert easy expectations at many turns. It’s a movie that’s best to just see knowing as little as possible, beyond the trailer, so go in blind! It’s delicious fun.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Best movie of 2022
Knives Out (2019) is one of my favorite movies of the past five years, and I’m pleased to report—and kind of surprised—that this “sequel” -ish is basically everything I love about the first one done again but in a way that still feels fresh. The political commentary is even sharper this time around. Between it, The Menu, and presumably Triangle of Sadness (I still need to see that one), this fall was ruthless toward super-rich people, and I am here for it.
Barbarian, Best movie of 2022
It was a great year for horror, so figuring out which horror movies to place on this list, and where, was a real challenge. But of all the great horror movies this year, Barbarian was certainly the one that kept me on my toes the most, and the only movie I saw twice in theaters. The story takes many sharp and unexpected turns ending up closer to Promising Young Woman (2020) than most of its horror movie peers. An absolute must-watch of the genre.
Bros, Best movie of 2022
For many reasons, bad marketing among them (there was a lot of that this fall), Billy Eichner, and Nicolas Stoller’s Bros fell flat at the box office. Comedies haven’t been a big draw for the better part of a decade and movie-going in general was way down this fall. Blame for this movie’s performance also fell on its marketing which may have turned cis straight people off it. And you know what? I DON’T CARE. 95% of all major American movies and TV in a given year don’t care if their marketing appeals to queer people, and you want to complain about the one that leans into this fact? Mini-rant over. I’m sad that this movie didn’t do well at the box office because I adored every single moment of it. It’s chock full of My Humor from people who have made me laugh for more than a decade in a genre that has always been my “guilty” pleasure. This one is streaming now on Peacock, and I really recommend checking it out if you like movies like Superbad (2007) or Neighbors (2014).
A moment for documentaries.
As usual, there were some great documentaries this year. W. Kamau Bell’s 4-hour Showtime miniseries We Need to Talk About Cosby is pretty much the definitive statement on the matter, highlighting the full extent of what Bill Cosby meant for Black childhood in the 80s and the depth of the betrayal. Amy Poehler’s Lucy and Desi was a stunning portrait of the relationship of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz that highlights both their powerful affection and the harsh pressures of stardom. “Sr.” was a stirring and enlightening glimpse as Robert Downey Sr, his life, work, and relationship with his famous son. And Fire of Love asked big questions about what it means to be human in the context of time and change as seen in volcanoes.
Having not yet been able to see All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, my top documentary of the year is, easily, Is that Black Enough for You?. Available on Netflix, this movie is simply a 2+ hour journey through the full scope of Black American film with director Elvis Mitchell as a guide. There’s special emphasis on the Blaxploitation era of the 70s, but there’s a good sense of everything that led up to that, too. It’s a movie that reframes one’s conception of film and underscored to me just how often, despite my best efforts, I still overlook the contributions of Black film to the larger scope of film history (be it in trends, pioneering roles for women, or innovations like the modern soundtrack). If you call yourself a movie fan, I think it’s an essential watch.
Pearl, Best movie of 2022
The consensus seems to be that Pearl is slightly lesser than Ti West’s other 2022 feature X, but I disagree. Both are amazing, but I find Pearl the stronger and more innovative film, with its powerhouse performance from Mia Goth and blending of old Hollywood musicals with horror ideology like that of Psycho (1960). The Wizard of Oz (1939) plus Psycho doesn’t sound like it should work, but in a perverse way, it very much does. Also, everything about this movie made me appreciate X more, which is worth something in a prequel.
Tár, Best movie of 2022
Director Todd Field’s first film in over 15 years, Tár sees Cate Blanchett dominate in the titular role as a high-level classical conductor with a proclivity for abusing her power (and her musicians). It’s a good companion to Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash (2014) as both deal with similar themes and similarly, embody the musical flavor of their subject. This one will be all over year-end lists and should garner a lot of awards and attention for good reason.
Everything Everywhere All at Once, Best movie of 2022
If you’d told me back in April when this came out that it wouldn’t even be top 5 at year’s end, I would have laughed at you. But it’s been a great year for movies and here we are. Part of it not being higher is that April was a long time ago, but wherever it falls in the top 10, this is a special movie full of sprawling visuals, inventive humor, and an incredible core mother/daughter dynamic. It’s got more than a little in common with the #7 movie…
Turning Red, Best movie of 2022
The best Pixar movie in well over a decade, if not the best ever, Turning Red is a revelation of animation and storytelling. It’s bold and hilarious while also being powerfully moving, an infectious treat from a studio that hadn’t served one up in a while (even while they had put out a lot of very good movies like Inside Out (2015) or Coco (2017)).
We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, Best movie of 2022
The debut feature of trans director Jane Schoenbrun, this film unsettled me unlike anything else I saw in 2022. On one level, it’s a very good movie about the terrifying place of the internet and interacting with strangers. On another level, it’s a queer body horror masterpiece basically operating in the same territory as Titane last year. The difference is it’s much harder to articulate why this movie works as body horror other than that it just does. This movie, kind of like Shiva Baby last year, embodies the paranoia and tension of being queer. There’s a moment where a character on a computer screen pulls carnival tickets out of their forearm. I can’t explain it, but no other moment I saw this year hit me as that one did, and that’s the best I can do at trying to capture the essence of this movie.
Honorable mention of time! Here are some movies I really, really liked that fall just outside the top 15. (The order of these is subject to change).
- 16. The Worst Person in the World. Amazing comedy-drama with a standout performance
- 17. The Eternal Daughter. The latest from director Joanna Hogg; is likely higher on rewatch.
- 18. Prey. Much better than the expected suspense/action movie.
- 19. The Black Phone. Another great horror movie from this year.
- 20. Nope. Jordan Peele delivers again with maybe his most conceptual movie yet, if not his best.
- 21. Pleasure. A dark comedy about the complex labor realities of sex work. On Showtime at the moment and highly recommended if you liked Red Rocket (2021).
- 22. Catherine Called Birdy. The delight of feminism, witty jokes, and female agency. Really wonderful little movie on Amazon Prime.
- 23. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Come of the Nic Cage meta humor, stay for the Paddington jokes. Loved it.
- 24. The Banshees of Inisherin. Another winner from Martin McDonagh may move up on rewatch.
- 25. Bones and All. Worked for me so much more than the director’s previous Call Me By Your Name (2017). Basically a queer 1970s road trip movie.
(Several of the movies mentioned at the top of this post, like White Noise, that I haven’t been able to see yet likely fall in this range, too)
Drive My Car, Best movie of 2022
My most controversial “this is a 2022 movie,” I’m sticking with the designation because I had no chance to see this until March. And the hype it garnered last year was well-earned. It’s a long, methodical, 3-hour journey through poetic images and grief that also does well to encourage everyone to read Chekhov (one of the greatest writers ever). This is very much not my kind of movie compared to much of this list, but when it’s this good and meticulously well-crafted, such matters of style cease to be relevant.
Aftersun, Best movie of 2022
Every year there’s at least one movie that truly comes out of nowhere to surprise and captivate me. Last year it was Mass and this year, it’s Aftersun. It’s the story of a young father (Paul Mescal) and his daughter (Frankie Corio) spending a week at a low-level vacation hotel in Turkey, cataloging the time through video diaries and fragmentary memories. It’s quite apparent that it’s based, to some extent, on the experiences of director Charlotte Wells, but this does nothing to change the universal power of the subtle story. Chock full of images and moments that seared themselves into my brain instantly, it’s indie movie perfection.
Petite Maman, Best movie of 2022
Enough time has passed that I feel safe in saying Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) is a contemporary masterpiece and one of the greatest films ever. Her earlier films like Tomboy (2011) are also excellent. Still, it’s hard to make two incredible movies in a row, but Sciamma certainly did just that. In just 70 minutes, she delivers a story of loss and childhood innocence that is truly note perfect. It has been quite the year for phenomenal movies about mother/daughter relationships (see #8 and #7 on this list), but this one tops them all.
Decision to Leave, Best movie of 2022
Park chan-wook’s first major film since 2016’s The Handmaiden, this is near perfect movie cocktail mix of Drive My Car, the first half of Memories of Murder (2003), with a dash of Basic Instinct (1992) thrown in. It’s a strange blend that probably shouldn’t work but it very much does. And the cinematography is just gorgeous. An unreasonably good story of intrigue, romance, and all of what it means to be human. An absolute masterpiece.
The Fabelmans, Best movie of 2022
This movie opens with parents Mitzi (Michelle Williams, will she finally win an Oscar for this?) and Burt (Paul Dano, who also should have won an Oscar by now) taking their young son Sammy to DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth (1956). Captivated by the film, Sammy recreates a key scene with his toy train and such, crashing it over and over, eventually filming it. And I was enraptured. Director Steven Spielberg has always meant a lot to me, even before I could see most of his movies, and this filmic love letter to the craft of filmmaking is, honestly, one of his best-ever films. I say this a year after West Side Story, which I also think ranks in the top tier of his filmography. Basically, every single shot of The Fabelmans is perfect, evoking mystery, wonder, and the indescribable magic of film constantly. It’s less another movie about movies than it is a movie about how film transports us, changes us, and alters our reality. It takes the top spot because it does all that with extreme technical skill while also being incredibly enjoyable. It had me on the verge of tears the whole time, moved by Spielberg’s love of film and the technical mastery of the movie itself. I truly couldn’t ask for more.
Where To Watch These Best Movies Of 2022
You can now watch it on Disney Plus. These movies are available for download on Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, Redbox, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and DIRECTV, or to rent on Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, and Google. I can also do that. Play movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Redbox, DIRECTV, AMC On Demand, and Spectrum On Demand online.
And that is it for an incredible year at the movies. All of these are streaming or should be streaming soon, with physical media releases on the way for many of them. 5 of the 15 were directed by women and only 3 of the 15—Glass Onion, Drive My Car, and Petite Maman—were among the films I expected to be great at the start of 2022 (The Fabelmans probably would have been, if I had known about it).
I’ll be back soon with a preview of 2023. Until then, I highly recommend checking these out, and a happy New Year to you all! Thanks for reading and I look forward to whatever new TV and film journeys 2023 will hold for us.
What Are The Best Movies Of 2022?
Here is the list of best movies of 2022
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Nope
- The Batman
- The Banshees of Inisherin
- Glass Onion
- RRR
- Tár
- Moonage Daydream
- Top Gun: Maverick
- Barbarian
- The Northman
- Decision to Leave
- The Woman King
- The Fabelmans
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- The Black Phone
- Bodies Bodies Bodies
- Do Revenge
- Mad God
- Triangle of Sadness
- Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
- Bones and All
- The Menu
- Elvis
- Living
