2022 was a great year for film. From horror to drama and everything in between, we saw the very best of each genre. However, some were, of course, better than others. Here’s my list of the top 20 films of 2022. It’s important to note that this list is compiled by me and me alone as the lead film critic here at FandomWire.
#20. Women Talking
Women Talking is about… well, women talking. And while that may sound boring, the film is anything but. A small group of women in an a remote and isolated religious community are tasked with decided the course of action that all of the women will take. Following repeated sexual, emotional and physical abuse, the women must choose whether to stay, leave or fight.
#19. The Northman
For Robert Eggers third feature film, and his first not associated with A24, the filmmaker teamed up with Alexander Skarsgård to bring the intensely brutal The Northman to the big screen. And it was epic. That’s really all you need to know.
#18. Babylon
Did you see that trailer for Babylon? It was the most bombastic, manic, high energy trailer of the year. And film delivered on every bit of that trailers promise. The forth film from Damien Chazelle, Babylon is more ambitious than anything the filmmaker had tackled before. With Margot Robbie giving her best performance to date (even if it is a bit reminiscent of her Harley Quinn) and Brad Pitt shining in a supporting role, this film is everything you want it to be… and more.
Also Read: Babylon Review – Pure Adrenaline Pumping Cinema
#17. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
We have to specify here that we’re referring to Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. Although, there should be no confusion between this magical tale and the lifeless Disney adaptation from earlier this year. As always, Guillermo del Toro brings perfection to this age old story.
#16. The Whale
The Whale was highly anticipated primarily for the performance of fan favorite actor Brendan Fraser. And trust me when I say, his performance is fantastic. The Whale is a heartbreaking film, filled with fantastic performances. Probably Darren Aronofsky’s most impactful film since The Wrestler.
Also Read: The Whale Review – Brendan Is Back
#15. X
Ti West hits the big screen in a major way with X, the throwback horror film that pays homage to 70’s slashers and skin flicks. X is the filmmaker’s most mainstream horror film to date, as he partners with A24 for the first time. But as we’ll learn later in the list, it wasn’t his last.
#14. Marcel The Shell With Shoes On
This shell is so damn adorable. And honestly, that cuteness is the driving force of the movie. Based on a series of YouTube shorts, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On tells the story of a young shell who misses his family, all told in the style of a documentary. It’s sure to pull on your heart strings, but in the best possible way.
#13. RRR
RRR took the world by storm after dropping on the streaming giant Netflix. American audiences had never seen anything like what RRR brought to the screen. A mish mash of genres and musical numbers that are impossible to look away from that’s best described as a an epic action musical about two bros.
#12. The Batman
The last thing that anybody wanted was another rebooted adaptation of DC’s Batman. Especially since DC already had Batfleck in their mess of a shared cinematic universe. But Matt Reeve’s The Batman proved itself as a gritty detective noir with a phantastic turn from Robert Pattinson. Long live Battinson.
Also Read: The Batman Review – Perfectly Crafted Noir Thriller
#11. The Menu
The Menu takes an incredibly basic premise and tells it with enough tension and black humor to elevate it. A tightly paced 1 hour and 47 minutes with terrific performances from Anya Taylor-Joy, John Leguizamo and Ralph Fiennes, this film holds endless re-watchability and is pure fun.
#10. The Fabelmans
Steven Spielberg is undoubtedly the most accomplished and well known American filmmaker working today. Ever since terrifying audiences with an animatronic shark and a fantastic score in 1975, the director regarded as a master of the art. And The Fabelmans only proves his genius once again. A semi-autobiographical film, it’s the director’s most personal film to date.
Also Read: The Fabelmans Review – One of Spielberg’s Most Tender Films Yet
#9. EO
EO follows the simple, yet tragic life of a donkey. The donkey doesn’t talk, he’s just a regular donkey; however, as we watch his life unfold through his own eyes we can’t help but connect with the animal on a level that is extremely rare in film. As EO moves from owner to owner, he experiences the up and downs of life while seeing the best… and the worst of human nature.
#8. All Quiet On The Western Front
Based on the classic 1928 novel, All Quiet On The Western Front is a soul crushing and devastating look at the horrors and tragedies of war. It’s brutality is matched only by the beauty of its cinematography and the intensity of its score creating a truly unnerving viewing experience.
#7. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
These days Rian Johnson is most talked about for his extremely divisive Star Wars: The Last Jedi. A film that split fans down the middle. However, he proves once again how great he is at telling a story with this years Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. This sequel to the hit mystery film from 2019 is a twisty and unpredictable detective story like no other.
#6. Top Gun: Maverick
THIS is how a legacy sequel should be done. More the three decades later, Tom Cruise returns to the word aerial combat and ups the ante in nearly every way imaginable. The rare sequel that surpasses the original. With death defying stunts, beautiful cinematography and a heart pounding score, Top Gun: Maverick fires on all cylinders.
#5. The Banshees of Inisherin
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunite with filmmaker Martin McDonagh for The Banshees of Inisherin. A movie about a simple man who just wants to know why his best friend doesn’t like him anymore and all of the consequences that come from his quest to answer that question. If anybody is giving Brendan Fraser a run for the Best Actor Oscar, its Colin Farrell.
#4. Decision To Leave
Park Chan-wook is best known for Oldboy, especially to American audiences. Decision To Leave may just change that. A mesmerizing tale of deceit, betrayal and murder following a detective, and his strange relationship with the beautiful suspect he’s investigating.
#3. Pearl
The surprise prequel to Ti West’s X, Pearl tells the story of the elderly mass slasher before she slaughtered a team of adult filmmakers and actors on her rural farmhouse property. With an awe inspiring performance from Mia Goth, Pearl is a bloody good homage to the roaring 20s and the early days of film.
#2. Bones and All
A cannibal love story for the ages, Bones and All is the most beautiful film about flesh eating teenagers that has ever existed. Timothée Chalamet and Luca Guadagnino reunite for another mesmerizing tale of growing up different and overcoming obstacles in strange and magnificent fashion.
#1. Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everything Everywhere All At Once is the most ambitious film of the year (perhaps the decade). Written and directed by Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) this is a movie that has to be seen to be believed. There’s hotdog fingers, butt plugs and Racaccoonie. Go see this movie!
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