Slowly but surely, the world is coming back to normal while in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. That being said, the emerging omicron variant has begun to hamper a lot of these plans. Nevertheless, 2022 as of right now looks to be a promising year in terms of movie releases as the film industry continues its resurgence. Whether or not things go according to plan remains to be seen. However, here are our picks for the top 22 most anticipated movies of 2022 in alphabetical order.
Armageddon Time
Armageddon Time written and directed by James Gray, is a coming-of-age story inspired by his life in a pre-Reagan America set in Queens, New York and features an all-star cast including Anthony Hopkins, Jeremy Strong, Andrew Polk, and Anne Hathaway. Meanwhile, the film also sees Gray reunite with Darius Khondji, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer who also worked on The Immigrant and The Lost City of Z. Focus Features will be releasing the film which has now wrapped production.
Asteroid City
When you thought The French Dispatch was Wes Anderson’s most star-studded project, cue Asteroid City, a film that may very well challenge the star power (pun intended) of the former. Not much is known about the story but back in September 2020, it was revealed that Anderson would be writing a romance film about a group of brainy teenagers. Cast member Fisher Stevens claimed that the film would include “the wildest cast since The Bridge on the River Kwai“, and added that the cast and crew “were all bubbled together in a hotel, which was an old monastery.” All of this checks out while Alexandre Desplat will return to compose the film’s score.
Avatar 2
James Cameron has been tinkering away at his passion project ever since the release of the first Avatar back in 2009. Now 13 years later, do we still care? Suffering from delay after delay for reasons that were not all Cameron’s fault, he has persisted with his plan to release 4 sequels every other year until 2028. A combination of live-action and motion capture, whether or not the franchise will continue beyond this latest sequel remains to be seen and will depend on its success. After revolutionizing cinema with the first Avatar, there’s no reason to think Cameron can’t do it again.
Babylon
Damien Chazelle is arguably one of the best directors working today. Dazzling with such films as Whiplash and La La Land, Chazelle looks to up the ante with Babylon, a film that sees the young writer/director tackle a period drama set in the golden age of Hollywood when the silent film era transitioned into sound. Starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, the film was postponed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, now getting the coveted Christmas Day spot.
Crimes of The Future
Kristen Stewart’s first project following Spencer, Crimes of the Future, will see her team up with iconic Canadian director David Cronenberg, a wild sci-fi tale alongside Cronenberg regular Viggo Mortensen. The early synopsis reads as:
Taking a deep dive into the not-so-distant future where humankind is learning to adapt to its synthetic surroundings. This evolution moves humans beyond their natural state and into a metamorphosis, altering their biological makeup. While some embrace the limitless potential of trans-humanism, others attempt to police it. Either way, ‘Accelerated Evolution Syndrome’ is spreading fast. Saul Tenser is a beloved performance artist who has embraced Accelerated Evolution Syndrome, sprouting new and unexpected organs in his body. Along with his partner Caprice, Tenser has turned the removal of these organs into a spectacle for his loyal followers to marvel at in real-time theatre. But with both the government and a strange subculture taking note, Tenser is forced to consider what would be his most shocking performance of all.
Get ready for a crazy one.
Disappointment Blvd.
As far as most are concerned, Ari Aster is two for two following his first two films, Hereditary and Midsommar. There’s no reason why that streak can’t continue with his third film, Disappointment Blvd.. Teaming up with Joaquin Phoenix, the film looks to be another chilling tale described as “An intimate, decades-spanning portrait of one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time.” With a cast featuring the likes of Meryl Streep, Parker Posey, Nathan Lane, and Patti LuPone alongside Aster’s long time cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski, it’s definitely going to be some beautiful chaos.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
What more can be said about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? The film on paper may be a sequel to Doctor Strange but in reality, appears to be so much more though hopefully something that doesn’t forget that main character. Bringing back Strange and Wanda, this entry looks to expand the MCU across the multiverse where the possibility are endless but what we do know for sure is to expect a cavalcade of cameos and new characters with the potential to possibly shake up the MCU going forward. And Sam Raimi is back.
Don’t Worry Darling
Olivia Wilde dazzled with Booksmart, her directorial debut but suffice it to say that her next film has gone in a much different direction. Don’t Worry Darling is a period psychological thriller following a housewife named Alice (Florence Pugh) living with her husband Jack (Harry Styles) in an experimental community who begins to worry that his glamorous company may be hiding disturbing secrets. Joining Pugh and Styles is a stellar supporting cast featuring the likes of Chris Pine and Gemma Chan. Pugh’s rise has been great to see and hopefully this film will cement her as a bona fide movie star.
Halloween Ends
The modern Halloween trilogy serving as an end to the franchise hit a snag with last year’s disappointing Halloween Kills but that has not hampered anticipation for the final film in the trilogy, the aptly-titled Halloween Ends. It’s hard to imagine it actually ending but it will certainly not be without incident or bloodshed. With Kills essentially feeling like exposition to set up this final instalment, hopefully that will make for the finale we and Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode deserve. It’s sad that this will be the last time we will see her in the role she originated 40+ years ago.
John Wick: Chapter 4
Who doesn’t want to see Keanu Reeves’ John Wick do more John Wick things in John Wick: Chapter 4? Donnie Yen also join in on the fun.
Killers of The Flower Moon
Who doesn’t want to see Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro do Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro things? But seriously, anytime those three names collaborate on anything, it is an event. Killers of the Flower Moon, based on the book of the same name by David Grann is worthy of such an event. Another film too big for a traditional studio, following The Irishman being saved by Netflix, Apple TV+ comes in with the assist this time around as the film will surely be a boost for the still relatively new service though it will inevitably also get a theatrical release in some form. At the end of the day, we’ll take it however we can get it.
Knives Out 2
The original Knives Out was a surprise hit back in 2019, earning Rian Johnson an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. It was only inevitable that there would be a sequel. This in face will be the first of two sequels following the acquisition by Netflix. While the main selling points of the original was its stellar cast, this does not look to change come this sequel. Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc of course returns as he is joined by Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Ethan Hawke, Edward Norton, Madelyn Cline, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, Jessica Henwick, and Kate Hudson. However this mystery will go remains to be seen but hijinks and dysfunction are sure to ensue.
Lightyear
The trailer of Lightyear seemingly plays before every movie so it must be good? The origin story that inspired the toy of Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story series, it definitely goes in an unexpected direction as a sci-fi adventure tale unlike most Disney/Pixar productions. Instead of Tim Allen, Chris Evans voices the lead which is only fitting. The trailers haven’t given too much away but nevertheless, expect some gorgeous animation and an exciting adventure which may very well spawn more or at least more merchandise sales.
Mission Impossible 7
Who doesn’t want to see Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt do more Ethan Hunt things in Mission Impossible 7? How far will Cruise go for our entertainment?
Nope
Another Jordan Peele effort with Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun. Yep to Nope!
Scream
The OG horror franchise of the 1990s is back with the confusingly-titled Scream (which is actually the fifth movie in the franchise). Wes Craven may have passed away but the franchise appears to be in the ample hands of Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Bringing Ghostface back for the current generation has plenty of potential for carnage while having Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette back is also a bonus. Early reaction has been good as well.
The Batman
Originally a solo film for Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne/Batman where he would also write the script an direct, the film has taken quite the journey since then with Matt Reeves taking over as director and Robert Pattinson now starring. Not part of the main DCEU, The Batman offers a different take on the character and the world has brought upon plenty of excitement and hype and rightfully so. The film looks to mark the beginning of a new universe that will go beyond this movie so it is about to be a fun time for Batman fans.
The Fabelmans
The Fabelmans sees Steven Spielberg writing and directing a semi-autobiographical tale based on his own childhood with a cast including Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and newcomer Gabriel LaBelle, regardless of his recent success, is definitely a recipe for success.
The Northman
Robert Eggers is another up-and-coming director, earning acclaim for his first two features, The VVitch and The Lighthouse, but his next movie looks to take things to a completely different level. The Northman is an epic Viking revenge thriller with an equally epic cast featuring the likes of Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Björk, Willem Dafoe, and Ethan Hawke. A much different movie than his previous two, this one is going to be breathtaking based on what has been released so far.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a ridiculous action-comedy that sees Nicholas Cage play a heightened version of himself. That’s enough.
Thor: Love and Thunder
Who would have guessed that the first original Avenger to get a fourth film is Chris Hemsworth’s Thor but nevertheless here were are. Thor: Love and Thunder sees Hemsworth re-team with Thor Ragnarok director Taika Waititi. Ragnarok took the character and franchise in a much different direction and this does not look to change this time around. Not much is known about this film but it will feature Natalie Portman reprising her role of Jane Foster who is expected to assume the position of Mighty Thor and Christian Bale is rumoured to play the film’s villain Gorr the God Butcher while the Guardians of the Galaxy are also expected to make an appearance. It’s going to be wild.
White Noise
Coming off the heels of 2019’s Oscar-winning Marriage Story, writer/director Noah Baumbach, is back with White Noise where he is once again directing and co-writing the script. The story follows a man named Jack Gladney (Adam Driver), a professor who has made his name by pioneering the field of Hitler studies. Joining Driver is a cast that includes Don Cheadle, Jodie Turner-Smith, Raffey Cassidy, André 3000, and Alessandro Nivola.
still courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
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The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.