We are now officially in July! That means that the year is already halfway over. That also means that it’s time to acknowledge the best that movies have had to offer so far in 2022.
A couple of disclaimers first. I have, of course, not seen EVERY single movie that has come out this year. I mostly only watch movies nowadays that I have some form of interest in. That will most likely be my mindset until I’m actually able to get a paying job for reviewing movies. Also, there have been some well-received movies that I’ve not been able to catch up with yet such as Fresh, After Yang, The Bad Guys, and Crimes of the Future. I promise I will get to do those movies whenever I can but for now, this list is what I have to offer. Finally, the movies that are placed on this list can change by the end of the year. Don’t think I’m all that strict on it’s rankings or rating that I gave each film (at least the ones I’ve reviewed on this site). Anyways, here is my list of the top 10 best movies of 2022 so far that I’ve seen.
10.) Scream (2022)
I still don’t know how this series can keep getting away with the “have your cake and eat it too” formula but it’s able to work yet again with the fifth installment of this popular meta franchise. This entry contains some of the bloodiest and most brutal kills in Scream history along with it’s gloriously intentionally unsubtle commentary on fandom and franchise maintenance. Sure, it doesn’t quite balance the old and new characters as well as other “re-quels” out there like say Creed and has easily the most predictable killer reveal imaginable but still makes for a solid entry regardless. Can’t wait for Scream 6! And pay Neve Campbell the money she deserves!
9.) Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Arguably the most divisive MCU installment since Iron Man 3, Multiverse of Madness is a movie that uses it’s setpieces and effective imagery to flirt with and mock the kind of fandom that care more about filmmakers making their bizarre fan theories coming true instead of making a genuine work of art. It doesn’t quite reach it’s ambitions with quite a bit of characterization being paper thin and not taking as much advantage of the actual multiverse as much as it should but Sam Raimi’s unique style is on full display here, the setpieces that work here are some of the best in the entire MCU, and Elizabeth Olsen is an absolute force to be reckoned with as the Scarlet Witch. It’s not the best movie involving multiverses that has come out this year (Hinty hint hint) but it’s a pretty damn good one regardless.
8.) X
A far superior Texas Chainsaw movie than the actual Texas Chainsaw movie that came out this year. X is unquestionably excessive with it’s content and gore but man is it all well-crafted and well done. It’s ridiculously gross but in a way that feels necessary, it’s creepy but as plenty moments of shock, it has some sharp commentary but does it in a way that makes sense for the story and it’s characters. It’s one of the few slasher films that I can actually describe as being smart. I wonder if this will lead to A24’s first franchise.
7.) The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
You can never get enough of Nicky Cage. Regardless if a movie he’s in is bad or good, you can always count on him to deliver a committable batshit crazy performance that makes him the standout. And here is a movie that is basically all about that and how the way Cage has built the reputation he has over the course of this career can be seen as both a blessing and a curse. The plot is nothing groundbreaking but to be along with this wild ride with Cage and Pedro Pascal absolutely makes it all worthwhile. It’s one of the funniest movies of the year so far plenty of amusing meta banter and has surprisingly quite a bit of heart. You can Nicky Cage in, you can Nicky Cage out. You can never have too much Nicky Cage.
6.) The Batman
No, it’s not my favorite Batman movie ever made but I’d be hard-pressed to think of a movie that didn’t feel more Batman than this one. Matt Reeves brings his style and influence on the Caped Crusader and David Fincher films to make a well-crafted detective tale showcasing the early years of Bruce Wayne as Batman. We get to see a Gotham City that has never been more corrupted, Batman in a younger, insomniac, and more reckless stage, and get a glimpse of the criminals/vigilantes in the underworld that has helped made a corrupt town the way it is now. The near three-hour long runtime may be taunting to some and has a sequel tease that feels needlessly tacked on but The Batman does it’s job at ticking the right boxes for what most people want out of a proper Batflick movie. Bring on the sequel and the Penguin show!
5.) The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson returns to the horror genre after his departure from Doctor Strange 2 to make what is perhaps his best film to date. A chilling suspenseful thriller with a haunting atmosphere and superficial elements that proves Derrickson knows how to properly build tension without strictly resulting into cheap horror tropes. The two child actors are a big stand out here along with Ethan Hawke’s superb turn as the villain despite having his face covered for the majority of the film. Smart, tight, and entertaining, this is about as good as horror and summer movies to get. Looking back, it looks like having Sam Raimi take over the Multiverse of Madness and Scott Derrickson crafting this gem ended up being a win-win for both parties.
4.) The Northman
This is proof that The Witch and The Lighthouse were no flukes and Robert Eggers should be notified as one of the next big directors to keep an eye on for future projects. While it’s not as has well-made as the former or as bizarrely entertaining as the latter, this is undeniably Egger’s biggest and most ambitious film to date. While a familiar premise and lack of tears might hold it back a bit, it’s spectacle and craftmanship more than makes up for any possible shortcomings. It looks amazing, the cast is terrific, it’s delightfully excessive and action packed, and has probably one of the most satisfying third acts I’ve seen in quite some time. The Northman is proof that it’s not just the big blockbusters that are worth savoring the theaters for, it’s also the big independent films as well!
3.) Turning Red
There are definitely Pixar films I’m more attached too and some I think are better than this one, but I can’t recall a Pixar movie that is just so open and honest with itself as this one is. It take risks and tackles subject matter that at least 99% of other animation studios are probably afraid of tackling for a supposed kids film, it has a strong thematical and emotional core that holds the whole thing together near perfectly, and has animation that serves it’s purpose and executed in all of the intent and purpose imaginable. Turning Red is a wonderfully, lovable movie about an awfully, cringe-able time period that we all have or will have to go through that I can’t recommend enough.
2.) Top Gun: Maverick
I probably would have had this near the bottom of the list if I did this list about a week after I saw it. However, the more time passes, the more I’ve come to love and appreciate this movie. Not just for what it has done at the box office (grossing over a shocking billion dollars worldwide) but what it does for these kind of sequels. You can say what you want about Tom Cruise as a person but he definitely knows his own reputation as an actor and will do whatever it takes to entertain his audience. Whether it’s Mission Impossible, Jack Reacher, or Top Gun, he still act as the best kind of action hero that anyone can except. Unlike other legacy sequels, Maverick seems to give the notion that it’s titled main character is still on top form with what he is still able to do even if he can’t seem to do anything else. Sometimes it’s okay to let Tom Cruise be the Tom Cruise that audience knows and loves about him without the need for anything else.
1.) Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everything Everywhere All At Once is a movie that feels like existing at all seems like some sort of miracle. It’s proof that there are still movie directors out there that aren’t afraid to put their own stamp on filmmaking. It’s proof that creativity and surprise is still possible for movies out there. It’s proof that you can take a concept that is sure to get tiresome soon or later by some can still make for something worthwhile. It’s has if the Daniels are taking a great look at the future of films and decided to make a movie with a familiar concept, not to simply mock it, but show the best version they can of it possible without the need to neglect or devalue the ones that come before it or will after. Not since seeing Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015 have I come out of the movie thinking that this will hands down be the best movie I see all year. We’re now in July and I’ve still have yet to anything like this marvelous achievement for the rest of 2022.
Some Honorable (or Special Mentions)
- Kimi
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- The Bob’s Burgers Movie
Happy 4th of July everybody! Let’s all hope that the rest of 2022 is much better than it has been so far!
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