As we approach the end of the year, it’s natural to start looking back at the movies that have been released and to reflect on the best and most memorable films of the year. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the top movies of the year, including blockbuster franchises, independent films, and everything in between.
The Batman: The long-awaited reboot of the iconic character was released in March of 2022 and has been a critical and commercial success. The film stars Robert Pattinson as the titular character and follows his early days as the Caped Crusader as he battles against some of Gotham City’s most notorious villains, including the Riddler and the Penguin, portrayed by Colin Farrell. The Batman has been praised for its dark and gritty tone, its talented cast, which also includes Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman and Paul Dano as the Riddler, and its engaging storyline, and has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year. But, this is only the start of Matt Reeves’ Bat-verse, as 3 spin-off projects, including a sequel to the film and 2 spin-off shows focused on Arkham Asylum and the Penguin, are on their way.
Everything Everywhere All at Once: This independent film was released in April 2022 and has been praised by critics and audiences alike. The film follows the story of a young woman named Evelyn, played by Michelle Yeoh, a Chinese immigrant that is unwillingly embroiled in an epic adventure where she must connect different versions of herself in the parallel universe to stop someone who intends to harm the multiverse. Along the way, she meets a cast of interesting characters, including her husband from the multiverse, who helps her to understand the complexities of the dangers, if she doesn’t aid him. Everything Everywhere All at Once has been praised for its compelling performances, its engaging storyline, and its beautiful cinematography, and has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year.
Top Gun Maverick: The long-awaited sequel to the 1986 classic was released in May 2022 and has been a critical and commercial success. The film stars Tom Cruise as the titular character, now a retired Navy pilot, and follows his return to the cockpit as he faces off against a new generation of pilots and confronts the demons of his past. Top Gun Maverick has been praised for its thrilling action sequences, its talented cast, which also includes Miles Teller as a rival pilot and Jennifer Connelly as Cruise’s love interest, and its engaging storyline, and has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year.
Black Adam: The latest installment in the popular superhero franchise was released in October 2022 and has been a critical and commercial success. The film stars Dwayne Johnson as the titular character, a powerful superhero with ancient powers, and follows his journey as he battles against his enemies and seeks redemption for his past mistakes. Black Adam has been praised for its impressive action sequences, its talented cast, which also includes Aldis Hodge as Hawkman and Sarah Shahi as Isis, and its engaging storyline, and has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year. However, don’t get your hopes up to be viewing these characters again, it is very unlikely, due to the new management of the DC properties.
Ambulance: This independent film was released in March 2022 and has been praised by critics and audiences alike. The film follows the story of a man named Danny, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who robs an ambulance with his brother, with a policeman hostage. Ambulance has been praised for its gritty tone and pacing, and has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The latest installment in the popular superhero franchise was released in November 2022 and has been a critical and commercial success. The film stars Letitia Wright as the titular character, the Black Panther, and follows her journey as she grieves the loss of her late brother and mother, whilst protecting the kingdom of Wakanda from Tenoch Huerta’s Namor and Talocan. Wakanda Forever has been praised for its impressive action sequences, its talented cast, which also includes Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger as a cameo and Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, and its engaging and emotional storyline, and has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The sequel to the popular video game adaptation was released in April 2022 and has been a critical and commercial success. The film stars Ben Schwartz as the titular character, a lovable blue hedgehog with superhuman speed, and follows his journey as he battles the newly introduced character, Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba and tries to save the world from an evil scientist. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has been praised for its thrilling action sequences, its talented cast, which also includes James Marsden as Tom and Tika Sumpter as Maddie, and their heroic arcs, has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year.
Bullet Train: This action thriller was released in August and has been a critical and commercial success. The film stars Brad Pitt as a hitman who finds himself caught up in a dangerous game of cat and mouse on a high-speed train. Along the way, he encounters a diverse group of characters, including Sandra Bullock as a mysterious assassin and Joey King as a young girl caught in the crosshairs of danger (or is she?……). Bullet Train has been praised for its intense action sequences, its amazing cast, and its fast-paced storyline, and has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year.
The Northman: This independent film was released in February 2022 and has been praised by critics and audiences alike. The film follows the story of a Icelandic prince, played by Alexander Skarsgård, who embarks on a journey through the frozen wilderness of the Northland in search of his missing father. Along the way, he encounters a cast of interesting characters, including Nicole Kidman as a powerful queen and Willem Dafoe as a wise old man, who help him to understand the complexities of life and the importance of family. The Northman has been praised for its captivating performances, its compelling storyline, and its beautiful cinematography, and has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year.
Halloween Ends: The final installment in the popular horror franchise was released in October 2022 and has been a somewhat critical and commercial success. The film brings together all of the previous films in the franchise and follows the story of Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, as she finally confronts her mortal enemy, Michael Myers, once and for all. Halloween Ends has been praised for its intense action sequences, its huge cast, which also includes Kyle Richards as Lindsey and Nick Castle as Michael Myers.
Avatar 2: The highly anticipated sequel to the 2009 blockbuster was released in this month and has been a success. The film, which is directed by James Cameron, follows the story of Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington, as he returns to the world of Pandora and battles against a new threat to the balance of the planet. Avatar 2 has been praised for its stunning visuals, its talented cast, which also includes Zoe Saldana as Neytiri and Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine, and its heart-warming elements, and has solidified its place as one of the top movies of the year.
In conclusion, it has been a great year for film, with diverse performances and amazing cinematography. We cannot wait for wait 2023 has in store!
