Top 10 Movies of 2022

2022 saw the return of cinema in a very big way. After 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, audiences flocked back to cinemas to catch some of the best films in recent years. It has been a great year for blockbusters, action films, drama and horror films. To celebrate the year that was, I will be counting down the 10 best films of 2022. This list will contain the 10 best films of the year (in my humble opinion) of the year, in no particular order. Hopefully there is something in here for everyone. So without further ado, lets go!

Scream –

After an 11-year hiatus, the Scream franchise returned with one of the franchises best entries. ‘Scream’ 2022 marks the fifth entry in the franchise, and even after 5 entries, the franchise feels as fresh and innovative as it ever has. With new films to satirise in the horror genre, the film manages to strike a perfect balance of satire, humour and thrills and scares that the franchise is known for. Our legacy characters return with scream queen Sidney Prescott, played superbly by Neve Campbell, Gail Weathers, once again played by Courtney Cox and Dewie played again by David Arquette. It was a lot of fun seeing the iconic trio back on screen again, blending well with franchise newcomers Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera and Jack Quaid. If you’re a fan of the horror genre, than this is a must watch!

Buy Scream on DVD or Blu-ray here

Top Gun: Maverick –

If you had of told me that ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ would be the highest grossing film of 2022, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are in December of 2022 and ‘Top: Gun Maverick’ is still reigning supreme as box office king. It’s been 36 years since Tony Scott’s original ‘Top Gun’ film, and it feels like absolutely no time has passed. We jump back into Maverick’s world, with a new group of hotshot recruits, and a new threat. Rooster, played by Miles Teller is the latest recruit to challenge for the spot of top dog, having a turbulent history with Tom Cruise’s Maverick, as Rooster is the sun of Maverick’s late wingman, ‘Goose’. The film is filled with some of the best action set-pieces ever put to film, with the breathtaking visuals transporting audiences to the cockpit along with these characters. I was blown away by just how much I enjoyed this film. This is a must watch even if you weren’t the biggest fan of the original.

Buy Top Gun Maverick on DVD or Blu-ray here

Nope –

Its been said before, but Director Jordan Peele is easily one of the biggest and best talents working in Hollywood today! His ability to blend genres and provide the audience with though-provoking messaging without ever being too preachy, is admirable. His 2022 effort ‘Nope’ may just be his most bold and poignant film to date. The film blends science-fiction with horror this time, focussing on UFO or UAF’s in the sky. The film is filled with amazing performances from its leading trio, OJ played by Daniel Kaluuya, Emerald played by Keke Palmer and Jupe played by Steven Yeun. The three are dynamite and blend together oh, so well. The film isn’t shy of horrific moments as well, with one of most visually striking scenes in recent horror, seeing a blood drenched house after the events of an alien abduction, really sticking with me long after the credits rolled. This is a must watch for horror fans and those who love Jordan Peele. There really is a bit of something in here for everyone.

Buy Jordan Peele Movies including Nope on DVD or Blu-ray here

3000 Years of Longing –

George Miller at the age of 76, still remains one of the best filmmakers in Hollywood. His 2022 effort ‘3000 Years of Longing’ was a beautiful piece of cinema that I didn’t know I needed this year. Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba star as the leads of this pircular, albeit poignant film. As we have come to expect from a George Miller production, the film is filled with dazzling visuals that will be sure to make your jaw drop. The performances are simply delightful and memorable, with Idris Elba continuing to flex his star power muscle, and Tilda Swinton being as amazing as ever. A lot of people missed this one in cinemas, so be sure to check it out on Blu-Ray, it's well worth your time.

Buy Three Thousand Years of Longing DVD or Blu-ray here

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once –

Studio A24 struck gold with their most successful film to date, ‘Everything, Everywhere, All At once’. The film was utterly insane, with some of the strangest visuals I have seen in a big-budget film for quite some time, but man does it work! The action sequences are fun, inventive, and breathtaking. The story is fun, unique, and emotionally resonant and the performances are among some of 2022s best. Michelle Yeoh is amazing in this film, and I hope she receives all the awards come award season, as she is very deserving of them all. If you want to see a wholly original, non-franchise film this year, then this is the one for you. It's great to see original films still getting made and released on the big screen.

Buy Everything Everywhere All At Once on DVD or Blu-ray here

The Black Phone –

After it was announced that Director Scott Derickson was leaving the production of ‘Dr Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness’, many people, including myself, were wondering what he would do next. And boy, was it worth the speculation. Derickson’s 2022 film ‘The Black Phone’ based on Stephen King’s son, Joe Hill’s novel of the same name, is without a doubt the best horror film of 2022. The best horror films are always those that manage to evoke other emotions out of you as well, and ‘The Black Phone’ does this very well. The film does a great job of creating amazing characters, with the child performers here by relative newcomers to film, ‘Mason Thames’ as Finney and ‘Madeleine McGraw’ as Gwen giving truly amazing performances. Ethan Hawke’s scene-stealing turn as ‘The Grabber’ is also worth mentioning, as his iconic look will be a horror staple for years to come. This film is raw and so well-executed. A must watch for horror fans and those looking for something a little different.

Buy Black Phone on DVD or Blu-ray here

Elvis –

The late, great Elvis Presley has always been a figure the public have been wanting to know more about, especially in foreign countries outside the U.S as many didn’t get to see him perform. His abrupt death and steep decline have been something I have always wanted to know more about and thankfully in 2022, ‘Elvis’s life' received the biopic treatment this year with Baz Lurhman’s film simply titled ‘Elvis’. The film is told from the perspective of Elvis’s long time manipulative manager ‘The Colonel’, played superbly by Tom Hanks. Whilst Hanks' performance in the film is notable, the real star is Austin Butler, who crushes it as ‘Elvis Presley’, in a career defining performance. Butler looks, sounds and embodies Elvis incredibly well. The film has all the hallmarks of a ‘Lurhman’ production, with dazzling visuals, extravagant costume and set designs and all the music and style you could hope for in a musical biopic. This is a must watch for Elvis fans and those who were unfamiliar with his backstory and rise to fame should also give this one a spin.

Buy Elvis on 4K UHD, DVD or Blu-ray here

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent –

Nicolas Cage, the man, the myth, the legend, has appeared in over 100 films, but never has he played himself, until now. Nicolas Cage plays an exaggerated version of himself as Nic Cage in the hilarious, and well-crafted action/comedy ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’. The film is fantastic, celebrating the amazing career of Nicolas Cage, whilst never making him the joke of the film. There’s references galore here to Cage’s films, which is a lot of fun especially for those who are fans of Cage and have been following his career for years. The pairing of Pedro Pascal’s fanboy character ‘Javi’ with Nic Cage was a stroke of genius. The two are wonderful together on-screen, giving audiences one of the best bromances in recent years. This is a must watch for film fans and those looking for a fun action, adventure, and comedy.

Buy The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent on 4K UHD, DVD or Blu-ray here

The Northman –

Period epics have been seen less, and less in recent years, with there being a huge gap in the cinematic landscape for these types of releases. Thankfully in 2022, rising star, Robert Eggers filled that void with his Viking epic, revenge story ‘The Northman’. The film stars Alexander Skarsgard as Amleth, a man hellbent on revenge, to avenge the murder of his father. We have seen stories such as this play out before on the big screen, with the most obvious comparisons being ‘Gladiator’ and ‘The Lion King’, however, Robert Eggers brings his signature style to this production, making the film feel darker, more nuanced, then we have seen before. The performances here are great with Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman and Ethan Hawke all giving stunning performances in the film. This is a must watch for genre fans and if you like Robert Eggers style, then you will love what he has created here.

Buy The Northman on 4K UHD, DVD or Blu-ray here

X –

To round-out the list, I have included Ti Wests’ little film that could, ‘X’. When watching ‘X’ I had no idea it would be the first entry in a trilogy that was filmed back-to-back, with ‘Pearl’ making its way to cinemas this year also and the third entry ‘Maxxxine’ hitting cinemas in 2023. ‘X’ however was fantastic. The film managed to provide a thoughtful meditation on growing old, the loss of youth, whilst also creating a fun, and a tense horror flick. It’s a good hour into the film before things start to take a turn, but thanks to Mia Goth’s amazing dual role as the film's villain ‘Pearl’ and the scream queen, ‘Maxine’. Ti West doesn’t hold back too, when the film hits its stride in its closing act. It's full of all the horror and gore fans of the genre want to see. If you haven’t seen ‘X’ then you need to, it's easily one of the best films of 2022.

Honourable Mentions:

The Batman –

After a 5-year hiatus from the big screen, everyone’s favourite caped crusader returned to the big-screen in his eighth solo outing. This time Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne are played by Robert Pattinson. Pattinson shines as the character giving a truly gripping and haunting portrayal of the character. Batman has never been as dark and brooding as he is in ‘The Batman’, which is great. This feels like an accurate portrayal of the character. The real standouts here though are the film's villains, ‘The Penguin’ played by Colin Farrell and ‘The Riddler’ played by Paul Dano. Both of these actors are unrecognizable in their roles, completely disappearing into their characters. Matt Reeves’s ‘The Batman’ is fantastic and is easily one of, if not the best superhero film of 2022.

Buy The Batman on 4K UHD, DVD or Blu-ray here

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies –

The horror genre received a real boost in 2022 with the likes of Scream, X, Pearl, Smile, The Black Phone, Halloween Ends, Barbarian, The Menu and The Invitation all making waves, however, one of the highlights was A24’s subtle horror/comedy ‘Bodies, Bodies, Bodies’. This film is fantastic from start to finish boasting a unique concept, thrills and a lot of laughs. The performances are all fantastic from its impressive cast, with Pete Davidson and Lee Pace almost stealing every scene that they’re in. This is a must watch for horror fans.

Buy Bodies, Bodies, Bodies on DVD here

2022 has been quite the year, with so many amazing films and the promise of more greatness in 2023. These films all hold a special place in my heart, and I can say, without a doubt, are worthy additions to the film archive. Head to your local Sanity either in store or online to secure your copies of these films today.

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here