The Best Films of 2022

photo courtesy of A24

2022 was a banner year for movies. From epic action films that push the envelope of mainstream cinema to introspective, intelligent indie dramas, the films of this year were more genre-bending and expansive than ever. In an age where theater-going is at an all-time low and almost anything you want to see, you can stream, movies are more accessible than ever but have become less special. The magic of seeing a movie and being invested in its plot and characters is fading away and films are reduced to background noise, wallpaper that you enjoy and then forget. But some filmmakers are still trying to remind us that movie magic still exists. Here are my picks for the nine best films of 2022.

(Courtesy of DC Comics)

9. The Batman

• MPAA Rating:
  • PG-13
    • Strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, language and some suggestive material
• Genre: 
  • Superhero, mystery, action
• Rotten Tomatoes:
  • Critics: 85%
  • People: 87%
  • Fieldston News: 83%
• Cast: 
  • Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano
• Directed by: 
  • Matt Reeves
• Where to watch:
  • Streaming on HBO Max and available for rent and purchase wherever you watch movies.
• Synopsis:
  • Bruce Wayne has been living a double life for two years. During the day he is an orphaned playboy businessman but at night he takes on the mantle of the Batman. A vigilante who’s name sparks fear in the hearts of criminals. When a code-loving psychopath begins killing off politicians, the Batman must team up with cat burglar Selina Kyle to crack the case and bring the killer to justice.
• Review:
  • This refreshing neo-noir take on the Caped Crusader breathes new life into the DC Extended Universe and cements Matt Reeves as a promising new voice in the action genre. Robert Pattison and Zoe Kravitz give compelling lead performances and their chemistry helps keep the nearly three hour movie from ever feeling languorous. “The Batman” is one of the best superhero movies of the year and most definitely worth a watch.

(Courtesy of Hulu)

8. Prey

• MPAA Rating:
  • R
    • Strong bloody violence
• Genre: 
  • Science fiction, action
• Rotten Tomatoes:
  • Critics: 93%
  • People: 73%
  • Fieldston News: 88%
• Cast: 
  • Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Michelle Thrush
• Directed by: 
  • Dan Trachtenberg
• Where to watch:
  • Available for rent and purchase wherever you watch movies.
• Synopsis:
  • Naru is a young Comanche warrior, trying to prove herself amongst her tribe. However, she is quickly shoved onto the battlefield when a human-eating sentient being emerges, intent on devouring every last member of the tribe.
• Review:
  • This worthy prequel to the “Predator” franchise is a violent and thrilling addition, within seconds going from heartwarming and exhilarating to terrifying. Amber Midthunder plays Naru compellingly, giving an emotional and physical performance, as a young woman fighting for her family and home. The simplistic direction and smart setting all contribute to making “Prey” a thrilling watch.

(Courtesy of Netflix)

7.  Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

• MPAA Rating:
  • R
    • Strong language, drug content, some violence and sexual material
• Rotten Tomatoes:
  • Critics: 93%
  • People: 93%
  • Fieldston News: 82%
• Genre:
  • Mystery, comedy, satire
• Cast
  • Daniel Craig, Janelle Monae, Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn
• Directed by:
  • Rian Johnson
• Where to watch:
  • Streaming exclusively on Netflix.
• Synopsis: 
  • An Elon Musk-esque tech billionaire invites his most successful and famous friends to his private island for a weekend getaway. But when someone ends up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc must solve the case before it’s too late.
• Review:
  • Writer-director Rian Johnson revives the “Knives Out” franchise with style and panache. While “Glass Onion” lacks the same self-contained and quietly brilliant element that the original film, the sequel contains even more twists, even bolder satire and a beautiful setting, making the film not only a mental, but also a visual treat. If you enjoy spending two hours trying to solve a carefully crafted and delightfully wicked mystery, then “Glass Onion; A Knives Out Mystery” is the perfect film for you.

(Courtesy of A24)

6.  Bodies Bodies Bodies

• MPAA Rating: 
  • R
    • Violence, bloody images, substance use, sexual references and language
• Genre: 
  • Mystery, comedy, satire, slasher
• Rotten Tomatoes:
  • Critics: 86%
  • People: 69%
  • Fieldston News: 85%
• Cast:
  • Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, Pete Davidson
• Directed by: 
  • Halina Reijn
• Where to watch:
  • Available for rent and purchase wherever you watch movies.
• Synopsis:
  • A group of affluent Gen Z’s in their early twenties get together to hide out and party during an oncoming hurricane, but when an innocent game of “Bodies Bodies Bodies” turns deadly, they must discover the killer, if their drama doesn’t get in the way.
• Review:
  • A biting satire of Gen Z culture and terminology, “Bodies Bodies Bodies” is as funny as it is accurate. With an excellent ensemble cast led by Amanda Stenberg, the film is less about the gore & violence and more about what happens in between. All this plus a brilliant twist make “Bodies Bodies Bodies” a great watch and the perfect sleepover watch with friends.

(Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

5.  Till

• MPAA Rating:
  • R
    • Thematic content involving racism, strong disturbing images and racial slurs
• Genre: 
  • Biographical drama
• Rotten Tomatoes:
  • Critics: 98%
  • People: 97%
  • Fieldston News: 96%
• Cast: 
  • Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Whoopi Goldberg
• Directed by: 
  • Chinonye Chukwu
• Where to watch:
  • Available for rent and purchase wherever you watch movies.
• Synopsis:
  • When Mamie Till-Mobley’s 14-year-old son Emmett is brutally lynched, all she wants to do is grieve. But she must turn her son into a symbol and use his death to change the way racism is perceived nationwide.
• Review:
  • This incredibly important film is a hard pill to swallow. But it is more than a heartbreaking story of a young boy’s murder. It is the story of his mother, persevering against all odds for the greater good. Danielle Deadwyler breaks your heart and inspires you all at once as Mamie Till-Mobley. This film is a timeless reminder of human capacity in the relentless pursuit of justice and equality. 

(Courtesy of Sony Pictures)

4.  The Woman King

• MPAA Rating:
  • PG-13: 
    • Sexual content, violence & strong language
• Genre: 
  • Action, drama, epic
• Rotten Tomatoes
  • Critics: 94%
  • People: 99%
  • Fieldston News: 93%
• Starring: 
  • Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, John Boyega 
• Directed by: 
  • Gina Prince-Bythewood
• Where to watch:
  • In theaters and available for rent and purchase wherever you watch movies.
• Synopsis:
  • In the 1800s, African kingdom Dahomey was protected by a group of all female warriors, led by aging but ferocious General Nanisca. When a new threat emerges, it is up to Nanisca and her new generation of recruits to protect the kingdom.
• Review:
  • Inspired by real life, the uplifting, inspiring and timeless tale of the against all odds makes for a compelling and downright epic movie, with impressive action sequences, fierce performances and sharp direction. Oscar-winning actress and icon Viola Davis, gives a vicious and unfalteringly strong performance as Nanisca and is backed by an incredibly strong ensemble of fantastic Black actresses.

(Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

3.  Nope

• MPAA Rating: 
  • R:
    • Some violence, bloody images, and language
• Genre: 
  • Science fiction, comedy-drama, neo-Western, horror
• Rotten Tomatoes:
  • Critics: 82%
  • People: 69%
  • Fieldston News: 94%
• Starring: 
  • Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea, Steven Yeun
• Directed by: 
  • Jordan Peele  
• Where to watch:
  • Streaming on Peacock and available for rent and purchase wherever you watch movies.
• Synopsis:
  • After the death of their father, horse wrangling siblings OJ and Emerald Heywood reunite only to find their family ranch has become the new resting place for a territorial UFO. Given a new purpose, they embark on a mission to capture footage of the UFO, no matter what it takes.
• Review: 
  • Oscar-winning writer/director and sketch comedian Jordan Peele returns with his third foray into the horror genre. Bigger and more cinematic than ever, the film continues Peele’s trend of changing the definition of what a horror movie is. A thoughtful thinkpiece and elaborate blockbuster all at once, it expertly deals with themes of spectacle, fame, exploitation and trauma all the while delivering a beautifully shot film with bold Spielbergian direction. Led by an electric Keke Palmer and subtly brilliant Daniel Kaluuya, “Nope” is a blast to watch and a wonder to behold. 

Before we reach the best movie of the year, here are 5 “Reader Recommended Honorable Mentions” for some of your favorite movies of the year.

• Reader Recommended Honorable Mentions

• Smile
• Enola Holmes 2
• The Fallout
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Do Revenge

(Courtesy of Marvel Studios)

2.  Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

• MPAA Rating: 
  • PG-13:
    • Strong violence, intense action, and language
• Genre: 
  • Action, superhero, drama
• Rotten Tomatoes: 
  • Critics: 84%
  • People: 94%
  • Fieldston News: 100%
• Starring: 
  • Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Guirira, Tenoch Huerta
• Directed by: 
  • Ryan Coogler
• Where to watch: 
  • Only in theaters.
• Synopsis: 
  • After the death of their young king and protector T’Challa, the futuristic West African nation of Wakanda, led by their new Black Panther, Princess Shuri, must recover and defend themselves against a new, dangerous world power.
• Review: 
  • The sequel to the smash hit 2018 Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. A cross between the continuation of a Black cultural moment, a tribute to the fallen King Chadwick Boseman, and an all-out incredible superhero movie. A near-perfect movie with an Oscar-worthy performance from Black Hollywood legend Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the best MCU movie since “Avengers: Endgame”.

(Courtesy of A24)

1. Everything Everywhere All at Once

• MPAA Rating: 
  • R:
    • Some violence, sexual material and language
• Genre: 
  • Science fiction, action, comedy-drama, absurdist
• Rotten Tomatoes: 
  • Critics: 95%
  • People: 89%
  • Fieldston News: 98%
• Starring: 
  • Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, James Hong
• Directed by: 
  • Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
• Where to watch: 
  • Available for rent and purchase wherever you get movies.
• Synopsis: 
  • A Chinese American laundromat owner Evelyn Wang, in the midst of an IRS audit, is thrust into a world of chaos and anarchy when she discovers she’s the only person who can save the multiverses from an evil being hell bent on destruction.
• Review: 
  • An expertly crafted film about, well, everything. An absurdist sci-fi comedy-drama with nuanced performances, schizophrenic editing, laugh out loud humor and a brain-bending concept. However, beneath all the craziness and absurdity, at the movie’s core is the heart-wrenching story of an Asian American family trying to stay together. Led by long-underappreciated actress Michelle Yeoh in a career-best performance, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is incredibly fun to watch and a moment in cinema that is not to be missed.