It appears 2022 was a good year to be a movie fan. For the first time in more than two years, it felt like we were back in the groove of looking forward to seeing big releases in theaters again, and even more quality movies also debuted on streaming services. Now that the endless pandemic-related production delays seem to be behind us, practically every month brought a brand new blockbuster movie that has us looking forward to the 2023 Academy Awards.
From the highly anticipated premiere of Top Gun: Maverick starring Tom Cruise to movies such as Don't Worry Darling, which came with a large helping of behind-the-scenes drama that was almost more entertaining than the movie itself, we were treated to a lot of great flicks this year. And good news, everyone: The rom-com seems to be launching a comeback, and we got a good one this year starring Julia Roberts, which is just as it should be.
Ready to look back on the films that will end up defining the past year? Read on for the 20 best movies of 2022.
'Marry Me'
In one of the first rom-com releases of 2022, Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson star as a mismatched couple who finds each other unexpectedly. Owen's character takes his daughter to see her favorite singer, who's played by Jennifer. Sparks fly, resulting in one of the most adorable movies of the year.
'Everything Everywhere All at Once'
Everything Everywhere All at Once stars Michelle Yeoh as a Chinese American immigrant who finds herself in the precarious position of having to save the universe — NBD. The movie has already received a lot of critical acclaim, including six Golden Globe Awards nominations.
'The Batman'
The lead-up to the release of The Batman (which stars Robert Pattinson in the title role) involved a lot of memes, but even the most dedicated fans of the DC Comics franchise ended up approving of his portrayal. Zoë Kravitz and Paul Dano also appear in this action adventure.
'Turning Red'
One of Disney and Pixar's biggest movies of the year ended up being Turning Red, which tells the coming-of-age story of a teenage girl in the early 2000s after she discovers a family secret that involves her turning into a red panda whenever her emotions get the best of her. This one has it all: an amazing soundtrack, complicated mother-daughter relationship dynamics, and characters you just can't help but fall in love with.
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Top Gun: Maverick was originally slated to premiere in 2019, but thanks to several different delays, that (obviously) never ended up happening. It wasn't until May that fans finally got to see Tom Cruise return to his iconic role, and considering that the movie grossed more than $1 billion in the first 13 weeks, it's safe to say that everyone felt like it was well worth the wait.
'Fire Island'
In this Hulu original written by and starring Joel Kim Booster, a group of friends go on vacation to Fire Island for the last time before the vacation home they always return to together each year is sold. Also featuring Margaret Cho and Bowen Yang, Fire Island has been praised for the way it portrays gay relationships.
'Marcel the Shell With Shoes On'
Inspired by the viral stop-motion Youtube videos featuring a shell character who is voiced by Jenny Slate, Marcel finally got the chance to shine on the big screen in 2022. The A24 film is an origin story for Marcel, revealing what was really going on behind the scenes when those videos were going viral.
'Elvis'
Austin Butler took on the role of Elvis in this biopic, which also stars Tom Hanks and Olivia DeJonge. The movie tells the story of famed singer Elvis Presley's rise to fame (including his personal life with wife Priscilla) from the perspective of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
'Nope'
This is another movie from Jordan Peele that definitely does not disappoint. Released in July, it stars Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya as siblings working on a ranch who find a UFO that's been stealing their horses. Along the way, they make some horrifying discoveries.
'Persuasion'
The Netflix adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel Persuasion got a lot of flak when it originally dropped during the summer, but all that hype is exactly why you should watch it. Dakota Johnson stars in this movie that's mostly a period piece but includes more modern slang. It's a fun watch if you're a fan of the genre who isn't a stickler for historically accurate details.
'Where the Crawdads Sing'
Another big movie this summer was the big-screen adaptation of the Delia Owens novel Where the Crawdads Sing. It stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya, a girl who is abandoned in the marshlands of North Carolina by her abusive father and is forced to find a way to survive until years later when she is accused of murdering a popular man in town.
'Don't Worry Darling'
If you haven't seen Don't Worry Darling yet, there's a good chance you've already heard about the drama surrounding the cast. Olivia Wilde directed this film — starring Chris Pine, Florence Pugh, and Harry Styles — about a community that's a little too perfect and what happens when it all starts to fall apart.
'The Woman King'
The Woman King, starring John Boyega and Viola Davis, is based on a true story about a group of women warriors who defended an African kingdom called Dahomey in the 1800s. The women are training the next generation of warriors when they are attacked by a group associated with slave traders.
'Ticket to Paradise'
What more could we have asked for this year than a romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney as a divorced couple forced to spend time in the same place when they learn their daughter is getting married? Oh, just watching them try to sabotage her wedding before it even happens, of course.
'Luckiest Girl Alive'
In this Netflix thriller, based on Jessica Knoll's best-selling book of the same name, Mila Kunis plays a woman whose life is falling into place when she's suddenly forced to confront her past. A documentary is being made on a school shooting she survived as a teenager, and now she must speak out for the first time in fear of one of her fellow survivors ruining the reputation she's worked so hard to earn as an adult.
'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'
Given how popular Knives Out was (and still is), it makes sense that the follow-up movie, Glass Onion, is already breaking records. With an all-star cast who includes Daniel Craig, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monae, and Kathryn Hahn, fans of the original are loving this story told in the same universe.
'Wakanda Forever'
The sequel to the Marvel blockbuster Black Panther finally arrived in November, more than two years after Chadwick Boseman's death. Wakanda Forever takes place after the death of their king, T'Challa, and has already scooped up two 2023 Golden Globes nominations.
'The Fabelmans'
Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Michelle Williams, Paul Daniel, and Gabriel LaBelle, The Fabelmans is a fictionalized version of Steven's own younger years as he discovered his love of filmmaking. This coming-of-age drama only just hit theaters in November but is already receiving rave reviews.
'Emancipation'
In Emancipation, Will Smith plays a slave who escapes a Louisiana plantation in the 1860s after he is whipped so badly that he is almost killed. It's based on the true story of what happened to a real slave named Gordon. The movie is now streaming on Apple TV+.
'The Banshees of Inisherin'
The Banshees of Inisherin is directed by Martin McDonagh and stars Colin Farrell. The movie is set in 1923 and tells the story of the falling-out between lifelong friends during the Irish Civil War and the events that unfold as one of the friends tries to figure out why he's getting the silent treatment from his old pal.
