If you google “things to look forward to in 2022” and click the top link, you will find a list titled “8 Things to Look Forward to in 2022.” This list includes things like the Winter Olympics, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee — whatever that is — and the Fifa World Cup, but the very first thing on this list… is films. That right there, is someone after my own heart.
2022 promises for more highly-anticipated movies to finally see the light of the silver screen, and for last year’s favorites to make their way to streaming and Blu-ray. It looks like it’s going to be a great year for movies, so great in fact, that this list had to be turned up to 11 to include the bare minimum of exciting releases. From superhero blockbusters and indie darlings to classic Hollywood pictures, there will be something for everyone at the movies this year.
This list is ordered by release date. Films which have yet to receive an official release date have been placed at the bottom.
Uncharted
Expected: February 18, 2022
Serving as a prequel to the beloved video game franchise, “Uncharted” will look to cash in on the Tom Holland wave currently sweeping Hollywood. Co-starring Mark Wahlberg and Antonio Banderas, “Uncharted” seems to be going for a classic, Indiana Jones meets “The Mummy” style globetrotting archeological adventure. Audiences have certainly been burned by video game adaptations in the past — but if the trailers mean anything — Sony seems to have a good one on their hands this time around.
The Batman
Expected: March 4, 2022
The night is darkest just before the dawn, and the dawn of Battinson is almost upon us. This new take on the World’s Greatest Detective is being helmed by Matt Reeves — director of the final two installments in the “Planet of the Apes” trilogy — and stars Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano and Colin Farrell. “The Batman” centers on a Caped Crusader in his second year on the job who must outsmart the Riddler and unravel a history of corruption in Gotham City. Reeves appears to be pulling from classic Batman comics “The Long Halloween” and “Year One” for his new interpretation of the character. Taking into account the director’s track record and two incredible trailers, this film could end up on the same level as “The Dark Knight” when it’s all said and done.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Expected: March 25, 2022
Starring Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” might end up being the most insane movie of the year. Yeoh stars as Evelyn, a Chinese immigrant who gets pulled into a multiversal adventure in which she is the key to saving not only her own universe, but the infinite others in which different versions of her exist. Just watch the trailer, it looks nuts.
The Northman
Expected: April 22, 2022
The third feature-length release from budding auteur Robert Eggers promises an epic Viking revenge film with a stellar cast including Alexander Skarsgård, Willem Dafoe and Anya Taylor-Joy. If Eggers’ previous two films “The Witch” (2015) and “The Lighthouse” (2019) are any indication, “The Northman” will be a brilliantly-written and directed film full of verbose, elevated dialogue and incredible camera work. Eggers’ previous films were rather contained by their settings — “The Lighthouse” necessarily so — but his new picture looks like a time and country-spanning revenge tale of epic proportions.
Here’s the trailer.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Expected: April 22, 2022
The trailer for this film promises “the most Nicolas Cage movie ever” and it sure seems like that might be the case. “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” is a meta-comedy in which Nicolas Cage plays himself as he attempts to help his bank account by appearing at a billionaire fan’s (Pedro Pascal) birthday party. Judging from the trailer, Cage’s latest film should be a balls-to-the-wall comedic commentary on Cage’s industry stature and public persona, as well as a deeper look at fame itself.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Expected May 6, 2022
The trailer for the follow-up to 2017’s “Doctor Strange” first found viewers following the end credits of the biggest movie of 2021, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and has since made its way to the internet. “Multiverse of Madness” will find Steven Strange grappling with the lasting damage to the multiverse he and a chatty Peter Parker were responsible for. Before embarking on his quest across the multiverse, Strange recruits the newly anointed Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff), hot off a massive power upgrade from 2021’s “Wandavision” and presumably in search of the children she lost in the Disney+ show’s finale. The 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will feature returning cast members Rachel McAdams and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and includes an appearance from the evil variant of Doctor Strange first seen in Marvel’s “What If…” series. Marvel has also recruited original “Spider-Man” trilogy director Sam Raimi to helm the project, finally bringing that Doctor Strange line in “Spider-Man 2” full circle. Based on the premise — and the rumors that Hugh Jackman will be returning as Wolverine — the Strange sequel looks like a wild ride through the MCU multiverse with possibilities for some big character introductions.
Thor: Love and Thunder
Expected: July 8, 2022
When director Taika Waititi made “Thor: Ragnarok” in 2017, he didn’t just blow the franchise’s previous two installments all the way to Jotunheim, he almost sneakily made one of the best — I would argue the best — Marvel Cinematic Universe films ever. This time around, Waititi promises more Korg, the Jane Foster version of Thor, and an early appearance from the Guardians of the Galaxy — as well as Thor shedding his “Endgame” beer gut. The franchise is in good hands with Waititi behind the wheel — and based on his previous performance — MCU boss Kevin Feige would be wise to hand the reins over completely for this one. “Love and Thunder” has been delayed five separate times at this point, having been originally expected to hit theaters in November of 2021. Let’s pray to the Allfather that it finally meets its date with destiny.
Nope
Expected: July 22, 2022
The next release from acclaimed modern horror maestro Jordan Peele is — much like his previous two films — a complete mystery. Plot details are scarce, but the cast boasts Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun and Daniel Kaluuya, the star of Peele’s 2017 debut hit “Get Out.” His transition from half of “Key and Peele” to feature film horror staple netted him the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay the following year. The director’s sophomore effort “Us” had the impossible task of following the phenomenon of its predecessor, but saw Peele flex his imagination and dip even deeper into the horror genre. Don’t expect to glean much from the eventual trailers either. Knowing Peele, we likely won’t truly know what “Nope” is about until the final credits have rolled.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)
Expected: October 7, 2022
In 2018, filmmaking tandem Phil Lord and Christopher Miller pulled viewers into the Spider-Verse; this year, they’ll take them on part one of a journey across it. “Into the Spider-Verse” was a runaway hit and simultaneously served as Ultimate Spider-Man Miles Morales’ introduction to the big screen and gave Sony and Marvel executives the confidence to green light “No Way Home” a few years later. The original Spider-Verse movie boasted a great sense of humor, superb voice acting and dazzling animation. The film’s first teaser-trailer shows off more awesome visuals, and the rest will surely follow suit. This is a part one of two, which hints towards a more grandiose and large-scale, Spider-Verse-spanning story this time around. As Alfred Molina's Doc Oc would say: ladies and gentlemen, buckle your seatbelts.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Expected: November 11, 2022
After the tragic death of T’Challa actor Chadwick Boseman in 2020, speculation has swirled around how Marvel would respond to the actor's sudden passing. Nate Moore, Marvel’s VP of Development stated that there are no plans to recast the titular hero, which leaves the door open for several interesting possibilities. Letita Wright’s Shuri was an early candidate for successor among some fans, but the actor’s vaccine stance has her future with Marvel up in the air due to the company’s requirements. Recent internet rumors suggest that Michael B. Jordan will return as Killmonger, but in what form is unclear. With Ryan Coogler returning to direct, Marvel will surely pay great homage to Boseman — but who they get to fill his shoes is yet to be seen.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Expected: 2022
The latest offering from living-legend Martin Scorsese has yet to confirm an exact release date, but the 1920s F.B.I murder investigation film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Brendan Fraser has been confirmed for a 2022 release. The plot centers on the murders of memebrs of the Osage tribe in the Unites States, which sparks an F.B.I investigation involving J. Edgar Hoover. Scorsese needs no introduction at this point, he’s one of the very best filmmakers of all time. Any new Scorsese movie is sure to be a treat for cinema-lovers, and if it contributes to the Hollywood comeback of Brendan Fraser, all the better.
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