As we wind down 2022 and look to the promise that 2023 brings, let’s take a look at the best films of 2022.
Outside of the Fabelman and maybe The Woman King, many of the expected oscar contending films like Amsterdam and Babylon fell short. However, the impressive box office number for films like The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever featured surprising depth beyond the commercial appeal.
Before diving into the top 10 films of 2022, let’s dive into a few honorable mentions. Also, feel free to look back at last year’s best films list as well.
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Honorable Mentions
- The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent: The bromance between Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal leads to the best comedy film of the year.
- The Northman: Every muscular limb, facial contraction and thought coursing through Alexander Skarsgård shines in Robert Eggers‘s latest film.
- The Whale: Brendan Fraser delivers the best male performance of the year as a 600 lbs man saddled with tremendous guilt.
- Everything Everywhere All at Once: Michelle Yeoh delivers a tour-de-force performance in Dan Kwan‘s exciting take on multiverses.
- The Banshees of Inisherin: Martin McDonagh‘s brilliant screenplay allows Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan to shine in this unique take on an old Irish fable.
Best Films of 2022: The Top 10
10. Emancipation
Will Smith shines in this runaway slave thriller. Smith won the oscar in last year’s King Richard, but he’s even better in Emancipation as Peter. Smith plays a slave in Louisiana who is separated from his family. The difference between Emancipation and other runaway slave films is it takes place after the slaves were supposed to be released. Ben Foster also delivers a strong supporting performance as the antagonist tasked with hunting down runaway slaves.
Shot in black-in-white, this is easily Antoine Fuqua‘s best directing job since Training Day. The rush 3rd act holds the film back a bit, but Emancipation is an impressive film for Apple TV Plus.
9. Hustle
This Netflix sports drama shines thanks to Adam Sandler‘s performance as a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. Stanley Sugerman is a basketball lifer who has been scouting players for years. In Spain, he discovers a street ball player who could be his ticket back to the coaching bench. Sandler’s performance has a rare authenticity only seen in the best sports dramas (Brad Pitt in Moneyball is the best example). Hustle shines by showing the struggles going on with Stanley as well as with Bo Cruz, the prized prospect, who has to adjust to the United States and overcome his own demons. Queen Latifah also provides a great supporting performance as Stanley’s wife.
With a sports film that features a mentor-mentee relationship, there’s always a risk of the mentee feeling used. The authenticity in Hustle never crosses that line. Bo is clearly important to Stanley’s professional goals. Stanley clearly cares about Bo which allows for some great character moments.
8. Turning Red
Pixar’s Turning Red is another strong entry in the animation studio’s pantheon of great films and easily the animation studio’s best film of the year. Like some of the studio’s best films, Turning Red takes an emotional life stage and turns it into an uplifting, beautifully animated story. Turning Red centers around a 13-year-old girl Meilin who suddenly discovers the terrible pangs of puberty.
Meilin is a wonderful character full of quirky energy. She is uncomfortable in her own skin, which makes her a relatable character for anyone who has gone through awkward teen years.
7. The Woman King
Viola Davis is terrific, but The Woman King is far from a one-woman show. Gina Prince-Bythewood is sensational behind the camera. The action set pieces are fantastic and spread out well throughout the film. Basically, there’s a battle in each act. The Woman King is much more focused on what makes these women warriors.
The incredible supporting cast with Lashana Lynch leading the way dazzles and the dialogue concocted by Dana Stevens is terrific. Her screenplay does a great of introducing some levity at precise moments which enables the layered performances to consistently land.
6. The Fabelmans
Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical look at his early childhood through high school in The Fabelmans is a movie lover’s delight. The Fabelmans is a deeply felt, personal journey that shines brightest when Sammy has a camera and only falters slightly when the film expands the depth of field. Michelle Williams is sensational as Sammy’s mother. However, it’s Sammy’s father, Burt played by Paul Dano, who knocked me out with his subtle performance.
Tony Kushner and Spielberg’s story at its core is about geniuses and how their world-changing ideas impact those around them. For some, being around a genius is a form of inspiration. For others, genius can feel like an inescapable, ever-present shadow. It’s the battle between a budding visionary and his family responsibilities where The Fabelmans shines brightest.
5. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Black Panther: Wanda Forever is a fitting capper to phase 4. Director Ryan Coogler succeeds in crafting a loving sendoff for Chadwick Boseman. He also succeeds in setting up a conflict between Namor and the Wakandans. The conflict allows Shuri to come into her own. Coogler warrants plenty of praise for his ability to mesh immense grief with humor, action and everything else required of a Marvel film.
Angela Bassett was incredible as Ramonda and Tenoch Huerta delivered an intriguing villain as Namor. However, not enough credit is going out to Letitia Wright for her performance. Wakanda Forever is an overstuffed, heartfelt, terrifically acted film that closes out this phase with some sorrow, but ample hope for the future.
4. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Guillermo del Toro‘s take on this age-old fairytale is the best-animated film of the year. The stop-motion animation is stunning and the perfect animation style for this interpretation. del Toro wisely updates the story to World War I and keeps the focus on Geppetto. There isn’t another film this year that brought me on the verge of tears more than Pinocchio. The voice cast is terrific with David Bradley, Ewan McGregor and Cate Blanchett each shining in different ways.
Similar to this year’s The Sandman, Pinocchio‘s immortality is given an interesting examination that shows del Toro’s willingness to dive into the weird corners of this storied tale.
3. The Batman
The Batman is the best Batman solo film since The Dark Knight and in many ways is an even better “Batman” centric film than Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece. Matt Reeves delivers a dark, grisly take on Gotham City that plows deeper than even the dark, destitute streets of “the narrows.
The ensemble is fantastic. Lead by a mesmerizing performance by Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne aka Batman. Damaged is a moniker thrown around the character often. In Pattinson’s hands, Bruce is almost completely detached from humanity. Zoë Kravitz is seductive and tough while showing just the right of vulnerability as Selina Kyle. Colin Ferrell nearly steals the show. Paul Dano is terrifying as The Riddler.
Every scene is soaked (sometimes literally) with tension. Every character with the exception of Batman feels like they’re in danger. Whether it’s The Riddler, Falcone, Catwoman or just a wayward cop, everyone presents a psychological threat to Batman and Reeves captures it all. Reeves also manages to inject great action scenes, a wonderfully designed batmobile and stealth you’d want to see in a Batman film.
2. Glass Onion
Rian Johnson tops himself with Glass Onion. The mystery at the center of Glass Onion is quite different from the first film. Knives Out was mostly a family affair over who will inherit a patriarch’s fortune. Glass Onion is once again about wealth. In this case, it’s a group of friends who placate their wealthy friend by reuniting annually.
Daniel Craig is just perfect in this role as Benoit Blanc. He’s joined by the best ensemble cast of 2022.
Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista are hilarious. Hudson plays Birdie, a fashion designer, whose racism has weakened her social media influencer status. Bautista plays Duke a conservative former Twitch streamer who lives with his mom and has a gun strapped to his side at all times. Leslie Odom Jr. as Lionel and Kathryn Hahn as Claire represent the more sensible members of the group. Odom is a scientist who works for Miles. Claire is a governor who has received considerable financial support from Miles.
Last, but certainly, the star of the ensemble is Janelle Monáe as Andi. She and Miles started the company together but Miles cut her out of the company that was her idea. Monae is sensational and should receive a supporting actor nomination for a role that surprises at every turn.
Similar to Knives Out, the reveal of who killed who is predictable. However, Johnson’s whodunnit still shines due to the terrific setup and the fallout following the reveals.
1. Top Gun: Maverick
After more than 35 years, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick. The sequel isn’t just superior to the original 1986 film, it’s also the best film of 2022. Cruise gives his best performance since Collateral. Yes, Cruise defies death once again by flying actual planes as do the other actors. However, it’s his performance and the moments of doubt creeping across his face that shines the most. Cruise’s performance is backed up by a fantastic script by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie.
Also aiding Cruise is a great supporting cast. Glen Powell oozes leading man charisma as a hotshot pilot known for hanging his wingmen and women out to dry. Miles Teller also proves he’s one of the best actors under 40 as Goose’s son Rooster. The relationship between Rooster and Maverick is terrific and provides the film with an emotional quality lacking in less thoughtful reboots.
Joseph Kosinski does a sensational job as director. The flight scenes are show-stoppers, but he still takes time to let the scenes breathe. Whether characters are in the cockpit or on solid ground, every scene has meaning.
The insane decision to train actors to fly planes pays off in brilliant fashion. Top Gun: Maverick may be the most immersive film in years.
