Top 40 Most Anticipated Movies of 2022

Hello everyone and here I am bringing you all into the new year! While I may not have done it last year as it was difficult to see if the release schedule would remain as it was, I am optimistic enough that most films will stay put to do a most anticipated list. But that’s not all as instead of merely doing 20 like I did last time, I’m going to double it up as there is so much that I am looking forward to this year that I struggled to put the list to just 20. As always there are plenty of films that may end up being on my radar closer to release so I am bound to miss a couple, but that just means there could be some surprises in store. So without further ado let’s dive into the different kinds of films I am most excited to see in the year 2022!

40. Memory

This one would be higher if it weren’t for the fact there isn’t even a trailer out for it at this moment. Heck many of you may not even know what this is at all. But once I saw what this was I just had to include somewhere on this list as it is a mystery action thriller starring Liam Neeson and Guy Pearce among others about an assassin who suffers from memory loss on the run from the FBI. That alone sounds like it could be an interesting concept, but what really sells me is the director, Martin Campbell. The man re invented the Bond franchise twice with Goldeneye and Casino Royale while also making one of my personal favorite adventure films in The Mask of Zorro. Green Lantern may not have been his finest moment, but he’s recently had a knack for crafting old school action vehicles like Jackie Chan’s The Foreigner (which I really like) and Maggie Q.’s The Protege (haven’t seen yet) and this sounds no different. Plus there’s just something about Liam Neeson having his own action sub genre that amuses me that I’m just curious to see how much of these he has left in him.

39. Under the Boardwalk

Another lower profile title with not much revealed aside from some story details this is the latest attempt from Paramount to get into the animation field. Aside from the first two Spongebob movies and Rango all the way back in 2011, the studio has struggled with crafting a hit animation division with Monster Trucks, Sherlock Gnomes, and Wonder Park all losing money and their latest picture, Rumble, unfortunately being dumped on Paramount+ with no fanfare. Still though I maintain hope that they’ll be able to put something great together and Under the Boardwalk seems like a promising venture. The basic concept is essentially West Side Story but with crabs under a Jersey Shore boardwalk and it sounds like there is potential for a fun musical with director, David Soren, having proven he has the energetic chops for a project like this with the delightful Captain Underpants. Here’s hoping for a solid winner from Paramount Animation and that it will be the hit they need.

38. Minions: The Rise of Gru

Now this may come as a surprise to some as I have expressed my skepticism for this film ever since it was first announced. However certain things have made me become genuinely hopeful for this one. First, while I still remain disappointed by Despicable Me 3, I have actually come to re evaluate the first Minions as while my problems with it’s story still stands, there is still a lot that I actually really enjoy about it and I appreciate it’s willingness to embrace the wackiness and go all out in when it came to the action. Adding to that, the marketing for Rise of Gru seems to indicate that the the movie is doubling down on that and I really am digging the animation and how the film is taking advantage of it’s 70s setting. Plus I think a Despicable Me prequel focused on a young Gru and his relationship with the Minions has a lot of potential and I am especially intrigued by the new villain team that is introduced as their designs are pretty darn memorable. So yeah I have a very good feeling about this one and I’m hopeful this is the DM installment that wins me over after an entry I was personally disappointed in.

37. The Lost City

Sandra Bullock makes her big screen return this year with this comedic adventure concerning an adventure novelist who is forced by a billionaire (played by Daniel Radcliffe) to find the lost city she has written about with her handsome cover model who is played by Channing Tatum. This just looks like a really fun romp with a cast full of people I really like seeing. I’m always down to see Tatum showing off his comedic skills, while it is very nice to see Daniel Radcliffe as the main baddie but the main draw for me is Bullock as she is one of my favorite actors/actresses. She is just able to be so versatile playing so many roles very well and it seems she is having fun in this one. Plus I think the concept is a neat one with potential to be a sweeping adventure with some romance and comedy thrown in for good measure and I like some of the style that was shown in the trailer. While I wish a certain cameo had been saved until it’s release I still think this looks like a blast and one that I think might surprise.

36. Hotel Transylvania: Transformania

The Hotel Transylvania series has proven to be one of the most financially successful animated franchises in recent memory making this last one’s move to streaming all the more surprising (especially considering how successful the third one was). My disappointment in it going out like this notwithstanding (still maintain Sony should have just delayed it to this year when they had the chance) I still am looking forward to seeing how this series wraps up. I’ve enjoyed the prior films quite a bit as they work as fun family films that have a really fun sense of energy with the zany animation style. While I’m not a fan of the second film I still do like the first one and highly enjoy the third, Summer Vacation, to the point where I consider it my favorite of the trilogy. Thus I’m excited to see what this fourth has in store and especially interested in seeing how this one will fair without Genndy Tartakovsky at the helm as he is a big reason as to why these movies works as well as they do. Still I’m confident that Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon will fill in his shoes nicely and the concept of the monsters turning into humans and Johnny becoming a monster is a neat idea that has comedic potential. The trailers seem to promise a fun adventure and while I’m glad it’s ending here (just so that this doesn’t become the next Ice Age) I will say that I’m gonna miss these crazy monsters and their shenanigans.

35. The Black Phone

Many may know Scott Derrickson as the guy who directed Dr. Strange, but before that he made quite a name for himself helming horror titles such as Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. With The Black Phone he returns to those roots and it looks to be one well worth taking. The film follows a young boy who gets abducted by a masked killer and when the disconnected phone on the wall in his room starts to ring, he hears the voices of the murderer’s previous victims who are trying to help him escape. This already sounds like a very promising high concept with a ton of potential and the trailer works in laying it out and presenting some genuinely creepy imagery. I’m especially excited to see Ethan Hawke (who has stated that he never plays bad guys) take on the role of a deranged killer as it’s something new for him and he looks to be doing a solid job. While I’m worried that the first trailer may have given away a bit too much I still think this looks like a very solid horror feature and the positive buzz from festivals has me even more eager to check it out.

34. Scream (2022)

The fifth installment in the highly influential horror series finally arrives this year and I’m actually a newcomer when it comes to this series. While I plan on reviewing these fairly soon I might as well say that I absolutely love the first two Scream films as they are two of my favorite horror movies and work as great examples of their genres as well as clever deconstructions. The last two entries on the other hand left a bit to be desired despite there being certain elements I like in both. Naturally I am a bit unsure as to how this new one will play out but I have reason to be optimistic. The trailers promise an interesting new set up with the killer targeting those related to the previous movie’s killers and it is nice seeing the whole gang together with Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette reprising their roles as Sydney, Gail, and Dewey respectively. Plus the new cast is full of up and coming talent such as In the Height’s Melissa Barrera and The Boys’s Jack Quaid to name a couple which just furthers my optimism. Heck done right we may have a horror franchise re born on our hand here.

33. Uncharted

Here’s one that you’d think would higher as Uncharted is one my, if not my favorite video game series with it’s wonderful characters, investing stories and mythology, and addictive gameplay that makes the player feel like they are playing through a movie. So it seems like a natural fit for the silver screen and from what I’ve seen of the marketing the action does feel straight out of the game and could be a lot of fun. I also do think the idea of going the prequel route is interesting as it gives fans a chance to spend more time with Nathan Drake in his earlier years (even though the games did show us a couple of looks into that aspect of his life) and serve as a solid way to introduce newcomers to the franchise. So why isn’t this higher? Well naturally I get a little bit nervous when something I have pretty strong attachment to gets the big budget treatment like this as it really can go either way. Also while I actually think Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg as Nathan and Sulley is actually pretty solid casting their performances in the trailers feel a bit off for some reason like it should be working but they come off as less charismatic and fun than they should be. Still only way to see if that holds any truth is to wait and see the finished product so I’ll remain cautiously optimistic for now.

32. The Gray Man

The Russo Bros. return to the directors chair once again, this time to helm an adaptation of the 2009 novel, The Gray Man, for Netflix. Judging by the premise, which concerns a CIA operative betrayed by his own agency and is forced to go on the run it seems like the type of movie I’d be interested in seeing them do as I love spy thrillers and they’ve proven with the likes of Captain America: The Winter Soldier that they can handle this type of material nicely. Then you have the cast which includes Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana De Armas among others which has me hooked even more. My only concern is that it is said that this will be the first installment of a franchise Netflix has planned and certain interviews with those involved have mentioned that this is something of a set up film for everything that comes next which tends to be a little annoying, but as long as the movie itself works beyond franchise set up that may end up being a moot point.

31. DC League of Super-Pets

Honestly I’m surprised it has taken this long for a movie about the DC super pets like Krypto the Super-Dog and Ace the Bat-Hound to get made as it is something that lends itself naturally to an animated family adventure. Now it is the next film from WAG (Warner Animation Group) and from what we’ve gotten thus far I think this looks like fun. While some may carp at the celebrity casting I honestly think the Rock seems to be a solid choice for Krypto and Kevin Hart has proven in the past that he can do solid vocal work as has Kate McKinnon, Diego Luna, Marc Maron (good choice for Lex Luthor) and Keanu Reeves among the others in the cast. Not only that but most of the jokes in the trailer landed for me and I like the zany direction that is being taken as there seems to be a lot of wacky super powered hijinks going down. I also really dig the animation style as the designs of both the animals and super heroes look really neat and it has a nice cartoony feel to it. Also the director, Jared Stern, was involved in the Green Eggs and Ham series which I am a big fan of. So yeah here’s hoping for a fun romp from these unlikely heroes!

30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Here’s another movie that one would think would be higher up on this list. After all, Black Panther is one of my personal favorite MCU films and the world it sets up naturally lends itself to further exploration. Plus Ryan Coogler is back in the director’s chair along with most of the supporting cast reprising their roles as well. However after Chadwick Boseman’s tragic passing (and the controversy surrounding Letitia Wright) it’s been hard to get too excited given what’s happened as I thought Boseman truly played the character so well and I’m a little worried if the creatives have the direction they want to do things all figured out. Still though I will admit to being interested in how Coogler will pull this off under these circumstances and I am excited to see more of Wakanda and what conflicts will arise.

29. The Flash

After years waiting, we are finally getting the promised Flash solo movie that was announced all the way back in 2014! It also seems to be taking on a different form than what I once thought. While I suspected that it was going to go in the same direction of the Flashpoint comic series, I never once thought that Michael Keaton’s Batman would show up as a major character, a new Supergirl would be introduced (played here by Sasha Calle), or that Michael Shannon would return to reprise his role of General Zod from Man of Steel. Looks like they are really going hard on the multiverse angle and honestly I think if It director, Andres Muschietti, and co. take full advantage of the possibilities it could be a lot of fun while also hopefully working as a solid Flash story for Ezra Miller’s take on the character. If there is one thing I don’t quite like, it’s the recent rumor going around that this is going to serve as a reboot for the current DCEU continuity and erase the events of Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. In my opinion I think this is rather pointless as DC is in an arguably better place artistically speaking and have gone in the direction of making very stand alone films with their own unique flavor, in universe or not,(heck one of the amusing things is knowing that all of these vastly different projects take place in the same universe), and it will just turn off a good chunk of the fanbase that appreciates those films. I just don’t understand going in that direction but maybe there’s more to it than that when we see the finished product.

28. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom/Batgirl

This one right here is a tie but really the only reason that is, is because I highly doubt Aquaman is going to maintain its current release date given the other very similar big budget sequel that is opening on the same day so I put Batgirl on here just in case it moves. Still I am looking forward to it as I really enjoy the first Aquaman as I thought it was a solid origin with an epic scope and awesome visuals and James Wan seems to be turning things up for this sequel. He has promised that the scale and action will be bigger, the story will be darker, the visuals will be insane, and that it will be a natural continuation of where the first left off. That all sounds great to me and judging by the concept art his words seem to be accurate. Also awesome to see Black Manta step up to the role of the main villain as he is a character I want to see more of. As for Batgirl it also has a lot of potential as Batgirl herself is a great character, Leslie Grace is a solid pick for the lead, the directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, did a great job revitalizing the Bad Boys series, and the rest of the cast is top notch with J.K. Simmons coming back to play Commissioner Gordon, Michael Keaton again reprising his Batman role, and Brendan Frasier out of all people (nice to see him in a big movie again) suiting up to take on the role of Firefly. While it is a little disappointing that it’ll be an HBO Max release, that still isn’t an indicator of the quality and I’m hoping that it will be a great debut for Barbara Gordon nonetheless.

27. Nope

I find it really neat that Jordon Peele has gone from being that guy from Key and Peele to one of the most prolific directors working today with his two directorial efforts Get Out and Us being both massive financial and critical hits. I’ve actually not seen the former but have seen parts of the latter (really liked what I saw), yet I am still excited about this project due to the sheer mystery it is shrouded in. All we know is that it is another phycological horror feature from him starring the likes of Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun and that is about it. The poster itself gives nothing away, but it is a very effective piece of imagery teasing interesting events are about to occur this summer.

26. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Here’s one that when I heard the premise I became immediately onboard. The basic premise concerns a fictionalized version of Nicholas Cage accepting a fan’s birthday party invitation, as the CIA is getting him involved in a mission to infiltrate this fan played by Pedro Pascal. This just sounds and looks absolutely wild and is the perfect type of movie for Nic Cage to star in as it just seems like something he would do. The trailer had some funny jokes in there and I do like the basic idea as it has the potential to be a fun, meta action comedy. We really don’t get too many wacky film premises like this and I for one am all for it! Plus any time Nic Cage does something, it is bound to get my attention no matter what he does.

25. Don’t Worry Darling

One of the more mysterious titles coming out this year this is the latest film from acclaimed filmmaker, Olivia Wilde, who some may know as the one behind Booksmart. Well now she comes to tackle the phycological thriller genre with this one about a 1950s housewife living in a utopian experimental community with her husband whom she starts to learn some dark secrets about. That’s about it in terms of plot and It’s one of those plots that doesn’t really reveal much but yet gets me immediately intrigued as I tend to really dig thrillers like this. another big enticement is the cast with Florence Pugh, one of my favorite talents on the rise, in the lead role along with Gemma Chan, Chris Pine, Nick Kroll, and Harry Styles out of all people as the husband. Like Nope it’s shrouded in mystery and that is just exciting to me.

24. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

After scoring solid critical and financial success with The Gentlemen and Wrath of Man, Guy Ritchie returns to the director’s chair for the latest venture with Jason Statham at the lead once again following their collaboration on the latter film. I’m a big fan of spy related media and this looks like a ton of fun with Ritchie once again bringing his signature energy to the proceedings and the he proves he has a knack for crafting fun action set pieces. The big selling point for me though is the eclectic cast which includes the likes of Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Bugzy Malone, Cary Elwis, Josh Hartnett, and Hugh Grant. Many of these like Hartnett (as the movie star forced to take part in a dangerous mission) and Grant (as the main baddie) are inspired casting choices and all of them look to be having a blast together and I really can’t wait to see how this ensemble adventure pans out in March.

23. Thor: Love and Thunder

It is quite telling how much the God of Thunder’s popularity has become, when he becomes the first MCU hero to get a fourth solo outing with Thor: Ragnarok director, Taika Waititi back at the helm. Judging from what has been revealed it seems like he going to double down on the wackiness and go all out with everything, which is something I am looking forward to seeing as I highly enjoy that third Thor outing and am curious to see what Waititi does with the character next. Plus I think it is neat that Natalie Portman is returning to play Jane Foster, who is now Lady Thor in this film as I’m curious to see what direction her character will be taken and what her relationship with Thor will be like. Also great to see familiar faces such as Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, Waitit’s Korg (always a delight that one), and even the Guardians of the Galaxy making an appearance. I’m also very excited to see Christian Bale in a villainous role as Gorr the God Butcher as for me that’s a big added value element. My one concern is that I hope that it can succeed a little bit more in terms of having any emotional scenes and serious moments resonate as that is the one area where Ragnarok did struggle at times in my eyes. Still I can always admire a filmmaker’s willingness to let loose and this is no exception!

22. Creed III

Michael B. Jordan steps up to helm the third installment in the Rocky spin off series, although without Stallone returning in any capacity as Rocky Balboa (which I don’t mind as Creed II was a solid and sweet end point for the character). I’m very curious to see what Jordan does as a director and I think it is very impressive how this series has been able to move beyond just being installments in the Rocky series and becoming it’s own popular beast thanks to strong writing, great direction, phenomenal performances, and compelling characters that the audience wants to see more of. I’ve highly enjoyed both entries thus far and while not much is known about this one beyond the casting of Jonathan Majors as the potential antagonist, I am looking forward in see this series continue to move forward and how Adonis Creed will continue to craft his own legacy.

21. Killers of the Flower Moon

Legendary director, Martin Scorsese, has a new film coming this year to Apple TV+ and like his last film, The Irishman, it is set to be quite the financial endeavor at a cost of around $200 million, but if this is anywhere near as good as his last film, then it will be money well worth spent. It is set to be about the murder of members of the Osage Tribe in Oklahoma in the 1920s and the FBI investigation that follows and it has a very stacked cast with Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons (always eager to see what he does), and Brendan Fraser (again nice to see him in high profile stuff again) among many others. Naturally I’m interested in this as this types of investigation movies tend to be up my alley and with all the talent on display it’s hard to not be excited. Plus it’s just great to see Scorsese still making movies as big as this in this day and age.

20. Black Adam

Finally after so many years since he promised it, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson will be playing the titular DC anti hero. I remember back when Shazam! was first announced that he would be playing the character and for a while that was the only piece of information on that movie… which he makes his absence from the feature all the more ironic. Instead they decided to give him his own solo movie first and judging from interviews with the Rock it is quite the passion project for him as he been wanting to play this character for so long. I’ve really dug the concept art that’s been shown teasing the film’s scale and size and the footage shown at DC FanDome showed off the brutality of the character in an effective manner. It’s also exciting to see the introduction of the Justice Society with the likes of Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan) making their big screen debuts and I’m curious to see how they play into the plot. There’s a risk in having so many big characters being introduced in a movie like this but I’m optimistic Jaume Collet-Serra (who recently teamed up with the Rock for Jungle Cruise which I really enjoyed) and co. will craft a solid origin that does this interesting character justice.

19. Everything Everywhere All at Once

Here is one that kind of came out of nowhere for me as had no idea of it’s existence until the first trailer dropped and I became sold instantly once I saw it. Of course Michelle Yeoh leading the pictures gets me excited as she has proven to be one of the finest martial arts action stars and Jamie Lee Curtis is always someone I like seeing onscreen especially in a seemingly villainous role like this. But the actual idea of doing a full on multiverse movie that is original and one that fully embraces the concept and all the possibilities is tremendously exciting. It seems to have a lot of style to it and the best part is I don’t really know what to fully expect from it which is always exciting. This is one that I’m very happy is on my radar and I’m eager to see how it turns out!

18. Knives Out 2

The original Knives Out was one of my favorite movies of that year as I thought it was an extremely entertaining mystery that subverted expectations of the genre and was elevated by Rian Johnson’s direction and a game cast, in particular Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc. He will be returning for this follow up set in Greece along with a murderer’s row of talent including the likes of Edward Norton, Dave Bautista, Jessica Henwick, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Kate Hudson, Ethan Hawke, Janelle Monae, Madelyn Cline, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Naturally I’m excited to see what Johnson has in store for us this time and I think Knives Out lends itself naturally to more films as it is a detective mystery series, so I’m happy that this is the direction the creatives are going with. Plus expanding the scope to Europe and bringing all this talent only furthers the anticipation. I will admit the fact that it is going to Netflix does disappoint me as the original was such a great theater experience, especially when with a crowd, but I still don’t see that as a sign that final product will be inferior in any way.

17. Wendell and Wild

Legendary filmmaker, Henry Selick marks his first feature length directing debut since Coraline in 2009 and judging by the information we’ve been giving it sounds like one heck of a return. It will be released on Netflix sometime later this year (presumably close to the spooky season) and it concerns the misadventures of two demon brothers (played by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele). It will also be animated in stop motion (always nice to see that art form still thriving) and it looks to have a horror comedy flavor to it. Not much is known beyond that, but this is one of those project where everything revealed so far has me excited to see how it will turn out. Plus the small little teasers that have been released have intrigued me and shows off the animation nicely (which looks pretty darn great).

16. The Fabelmans

Whenever Steven Spielberg makes a new movie, it’s always going to be a big deal for me as he is one of my favorite directors and one of the most influential and iconic filmmakers of all time. With this film though he seems to be scaling back down from the big scale productions of Ready Player One and West Side Story (2021) to a small scale auto biographical family drama that is loosely based off of Spielberg’s childhood in Arizona. It is set to star Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Paul Dano, Julia Butters, David Lynch, and more portraying various variations on figures in Spielberg’s life. This seems to be a very personal project for the director and one that he apparently has had on his mind for a very long time. I am aware of a few aspects of his childhood through various biopics and articles so I’m interested in seeing how he brings it to life and conceptually it’s an interesting project for him and a bit different since it is a coming of age family drama, something he hasn’t quite done before if I’m not mistaken. Plus like Scorsese it’s awesome that Spielberg is still making films at his age and is willing to try new things at the same time.

15. Avatar 2

Unless it gets delayed an entire year yet again, James Cameron will finally unleash the sequel to the highest grossing movie of all time, Avatar. But that’s not all as this is just the start of what Disney and Cameron hope is a huge franchise with 3 more films after this one dated all the way through December 2028. This is an incredibly ambitious venture and I honestly find it neat that Cameron has this entire story to tell in the world of Pandora and I am more than eager to see how he will pull it off. I like the original quite a bit, as I thought it was a well executed variation on a familiar story with gorgeous visuals and a world I would love to see more of. It seems like we will be exploring the underwater regions of Pandora this time around and joining the cast alongside returning players, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang are Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, Vin Diesel, and Jemaine Clement among others. Much has also been stated on the technology that is set to bring the motion capture to under water to life and I’m very interested in seeing just how that goes and how this will play out coming so long after it’s predecessor.

14. Super Mario Bros. (or whatever it ends up being called)

After so many years after the infamous 1993 disaster, the most iconic character in gaming will be making a return to the big screen completely animated. Not gonna lie I have been wanting to see a big budget animated feature starring the Italian plumber as I feel he and his world lends itself so well to the medium. Many may ridicule how Illumination is the one behind it, but A) I actually have come to appreciate them as a studio more over time and think they can deliver a fun movie out of this, B) Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto are heavily involved with it, meaning they aren’t just going to give Illumination the keys to their prize jewel if they really didn’t think they were up to the task, C) While many may carp at the celebrity voice casting (okay Chris Pratt admittedly took some getting used to) I think at the very least most of them fit their roles pretty well like Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong (not to mention the inclusion of professional voice actors such as Kevin Michael Richardson and the voice of Mario himself, Charles Martinet). Plus I think with the right tone and direction this could really be something special so I am more than happy to be optimistic about this one!

13. Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Mario and Sonic getting movies in the same year? As a fan of both, I say bring it on! My excitement for Sonic is a tad higher largely because there is a lot more revealed/shown from this one including some really strong marketing thus far (have really been digging the trailers and various pieces of footage shown). What I love most about this follow up is how it seems to be really going all out with the video game elements and mythology after the first (which I enjoyed quite a bit) did the job of laying the groundwork and getting audiences acquainted with Sonic in a simple story. Now the scale is bigger, the stakes are higher, the action looks to go all out even more, and I like the references from different eras of Sonic games (nice visual cues taken straight out of Sonic Adventures, a personal favorite of mine). Not to mention the return of a new and transformed Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey still having the time of his life) and the introduction of both Tails (voiced by longtime VA of the character, Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles the Echidna (set to be played by Idris Elba, who has been getting an impressive amount of high profile roles recently). As a Sonic fan it is really cool seeing all of these characters in a big feature film and they look to be brought to life spectacularly thanks to the efforts of the VFX team. And to think this is all happening because of a (justified) fan outrage over a design. Going from dread to hot anticipation is something we don’t see often so I can’t help but be impressed by what Jeff Fowler and co. is doing with this property and I am all for it.

12. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

The first of three MCU films set for this year, Benedict Cumberbatch returns yet again as the Sorcerer Supreme himself and it’s honestly hard to believe that are just now getting his second solo film given how popular he has become with the many appearances he has made in other projects (including just recently with Spider-Man: No Way Home). I’ve really liked Cumberbatch in this role and have been wanting to see how certain plot threads from the first would continue, in particular Mordo’s quest to eliminate all sorcerers. The film will also see the the return of Elizabeth Olson’s Scarlett Witch and the debut of American Chavez (played by Xochitl Gomez) who is set to be a big player for the franchise going forward, as Strange embarks on a perilous journey through the multiverse. While some may be most excited for the prospect of cameos from other marvel universes (I myself am curious as to who will appear as well), I’m personally most stoked for the visual potential as one of my favorite aspects of the original was just how psychedelic it got at times and I’m hoping Sam Raimi goes all out here with the weirdness and makes the movie his own, which seems to be the case judging by the teaser. In general this has always been among my most anticipated MCU projects for a while and I am more than looking forward in seeing how it affects this universe and how it further Strange’s story.

11. Strange World

For as long as I can remember, Walt Disney Animation Studios has been on quite the winning streak for me recently with quality films that feel like the filmmakers visions and stories that aim to stand out from one another. That looks to continue with their next film, Strange World, a film where not a whole lot is known beyond that it is an adventure type film following a family explorers who journey into a treacherous land full of fantastical creatures. Judging from the premise it seems like it is going to be a nice throwback to old school adventure stories and the concept art indeed teases the scale of the picture as well as teases of the different creatures that this family will face. This seems right up my alley as a fan of adventure stories and again I am really happy at how willing the people at WDAS are to make each movie they make different from the one that came before which has really benefitted them in a creative manner.

10. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Now here’s a movie that I frankly thought was not going to happen. Yes I know Dreamworks Animation has been at work on a Puss in Boots sequel ever since the first came out but the constant delays (it was at one point set for 2018), the fact that it has been more than a decade since the original’s release, and director changes, plus the re structuring at the studio, led me to believe that this would be quietly canned… which made my shock when it announced for a 2022 release date all the greater. I’m glad I was wrong about it, because I really enjoy Puss in Boots as a fun adventure with solid characters, action, heart, and a clever spin on fairy tales where it focused less on parodying them (like the Shrek films) and more integrating them into the story in fun ways. So yeah I am more than down for a sequel, especially with Antonio Banderas returning to voice the titular cat and the fact that Joel Crawford, who helmed The Croods: A New Age (a film I enjoyed a lot) will be taking directing duties here as well and while watching that film I knew this film was going to be in good hands as he brought so much energy to that movie. I know many may be confused why Dreamworks won’t be doing Shrek 5 before this so as to re introduce the franchise, but honestly I prefer this.

9. The Northman

After having won over critics and divided audiences with the likes of The Witch and The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers will try out something very different with his latest feature, an epic revenge tale based off of a Norse legend that inspired Hamlet. Truthfully I have yet to have seen Egger’s previous films (though I should probably get to that eventually), but I tend to really dig epic stories about people going on some sort of journey and I think it is really cool to see a director try something new with his/her sensibilities at play. Plus the marketing promises a dark tone, brutality, gorgeous visuals, a large sense of scale, and a stacked cast that includes Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke, and more. With all that it would be pretty hard to not get me excited to see just how this ambitious tale will turn out.

8. Bullet Train

As an action movie fan it always thrills me when a movie like this is announced and boy was I excited when I first heard about this. Based off of a Japanese novel, the main premise concerns an assassin who has to collect a brief case on a speeding bullet train which is heading from Tokyo to Kyoto, but has to fend off a whole bunch of other assassins whose objectives may be connected in some way. A simple, but effective premise for an action movie and with David Leitch (co director of John Wick and director of Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, and Hobbs and Shaw) at the helm I’m expecting some knock out set pieces. It also just so happens to contain one of the most stacked cast of actors/actresses in recent memory. We’ve got Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock (another big movie with her this year), Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brain Tyree Henry, Joey King, Bad Bunny, Michael Shannon, Zazie Beetz, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Karen Fukuhara all on this train beating the crap out of each other and I am all for it when this hits theaters in July.

7. Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio

This right here is a project that has been in development for quite some time and will now finally be hitting Netflix later in 2022. Needless to say, Guillermo Del Toro is one of my favorite directors working today as he is very passionate about the craft of filmmaking and always brings a lot of imagination to the table. With his take on the classic tale of the wooden boy who can’t tell a lie, this will actually be his directorial debut for an animated film which only heightens my excitement as his brand of storytelling fits the medium perfectly. Plus he has had plenty of experience working on animated projects in some capacity such as executive producing many films for Dreamworks Animation and is the one responsible for Netflix’s hit Tales of Arcadia franchise. I’m also intrigued as to how he will go about with his version of the story as it is to be done in stop motion and is a dark twisted re telling that takes place in 1930s Fascist Italy. He seems to be doing something different with this oft told tale and I am more than ready to see how this passion project turns out.

6. The Bad Guys

Dreamworks Animation strikes back into the number six spot and this time they are adapting a very popular children’s book series into a feature length production. Funny enough I keep forgetting that they have a habit of doing this as they’ve done a lot of these throughout their existence as a studio like with Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Rise of the Guardians, Home, The Boss Baby, and Captain Underpants (curious how many audience members knew these movies were based off of existing source material). This one in particular concerns a rag tag group of bad guys comprised of Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mrs. Tarantula (Awkwafina), and Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) who are trying (emphasis on trying) to become good guys with the help of one Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade). Ever since this was announced as a film in the vein of Ocean’s 11 and with an animation style that makes the movie feel like it popped straight out of the books, I was already sold and everything that’s been shown has impressed me. The animation looks stylistic and fast paced, the humor has been on point, the characters seem like a fun group to hang out with, and I’m really digging the vibe of it all. As a big Dreamworks Animation fan I am very excited at what they have cooked up for this year and if both this and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish are as good as I hope they are then this is going to be a knock out year for them!

5. Babylon

Set to potentially be a big awards contender come the end of the year is the latest from Damien Chazelle (director of Whiplash, La La Land, and First Man) another one of my favorite talents working today. This time around he will be covering the Golden Age of Hollywood and the transition from silent movies to talkies and not a whole lot is known other than it stars Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Tobey Maguire, Meryl Streep, Samara Weaving, Emma Stone, Olivia Wilde, and more. Aside from that stacked list of talent, I really like the idea of exploring a landmark era in film history and am curious as to how Chazelle and co. will go about exploring it as it is said that it will combine both fact and fiction. I also enjoy films that are about the film industry or the making of film as I tend to find them interesting looks into the ins and outs of making a movie or the industry as a whole. Given that it doesn’t come out till December it’s going to be a good while till we get to this, but I’m confident that Chazelle will deliver once again.

4. Turning Red

Like Dreamworks, Pixar seems to be coming in strong this year with two very different projects and for me that is extremely exciting. Their first offering is the feature directorial debut of Domee Shi who previously helmed the short film Bao, a short I find to be extremely touching and unique in the way it tells it’s story and judging by the marketing and interviews Turning Red looks to have similar qualities. It concerns a young girl named Mei who suddenly gets the ability to turn into a giant red panda every time she gets too excited, anxious, etc. It just looks like a delightful and relatable coming of age tale that looks to tell a nice, small scale, slice of life story with some really great looking animation as well. I love how the talent at Pixar are being allowed to tell these types of stories that aren’t beholden to a single formula and I greatly appreciate them being willing to try different visual styles as well. Not much else to say except I’m excited for what is cooking at the studio this year (in fact we will be talking about them again very soon).

3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part 1)

Not much explaining for this one, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of my favorite movies in recent memory with it’s well written characters, strong origin story for Miles Morales, hilarious comedy, and phenomenal animation (nice to see other animated films take note and have more stylistic animation). So of course I am beyond hyped to see where Miles’s story will go next and just how big the stakes are for this one as everything seems to be kicked up a notch. Not only does the animation look to push more boundaries, but the story looks to be going all in with the multi verse concept as the people involved have promised that we will be seeing more Spider-Men and more alternate worlds with the plot shrouded in mystery with the exception of the fact that Oscar Isaac will be reprising his role as Spider-Man 2099 from the previous films’ post credits scene and that Issa Rae will be playing the role of Jessica Drew (AKA Spider-Woman). Still though I’m certain this will end up being a worthy successor to the original that maintains what made it work while going into new territories as well. Oh and the fact that this is part 1 of 2 only further my anticipation as to how this will go.

2. Lightyear

Pixar’s second feature after Turning Red is a surprising yet intriguing return to the mythos of Toy Story and I’m telling you when Disney did their whole investor showcase in late 2020 this was the project that excited and shocked me the most! I’ve actually had thoughts about there being movies or TV shows of Andy’s stories in the movies actually getting a full fledged adaptation and while some may find this project a cynical cash grab (the director has made it clear this is a passion project for him that he pitched to the studio a long while back and this is not remotely an entirely safe bet as will general audiences care for something like this?) I think it is a brilliant way to continue the Toy Story franchise as there is so much potential for exciting stories. Not only that, but the concept of Buzz Lightyear lends itself wonderfully to something like this and it allows Pixar to tread into new territory (a sci fi action adventure). What’s really sold me however was that teaser trailer, perfectly set to an epic rendition of David Bowie’s Starman, which showed off the gorgeous animation, teases of the worlds, plenty of subtle references to the Buzz Lightyear mythology, and hints of what the story could be (perhaps involving one giant purple robot that we see in that one shot…). I’m telling you that is probably my favorite trailer for a movie in recent memory and even if this were an original project I would be just as excited as this is the type of project I’ve been wanting to see from Pixar for a long time. Can’t wait to go to Infinity and beyond this summer!

And my most anticipated movie of the year 2022 is…

The Batman

Now some may tire of there being some many stories about Batman (which is totally fair), but for me, I’m always down to see what is done with the Caped Crusader in any medium as he is my favorite super hero. So when a new solo film is announced with Matt Reeves of the Planet of the Apes trilogy at the helmed and Robert Pattinson starring as the titular character… I’m going to be at least very intrigued. Fortunately everything that has been shown/revealed about this one from the supporting cast (Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, Paul Dano as the Riddler, Colin Farrell as the Penguin, and Jefferey Wright as Commissioner Gordon), to the promise of Batman doing more detective work, to tone being akin to that of a serial killer thriller, to the fantastic trailers that have promised everything I just mentioned and more (Michael Giacchino’s score looks to be a banger) has sold me and I eagerly await to see what Reeves has in store for the World’s Greatest Detective.

And that’s a wrap on my most anticipated movies of 2022 list. It’s a big one but I had a lot of fun making it as it’s nice to get excited about movies. With that said what films are you looking forward to the most this year? Are there any ones to are excited about that I didn’t put here? If so let me know what your most excited for as this looks to be a packed year for film (hence why I decided to do 40 instead of the usual 10-20 picks for this types of lists). Hoped you enjoyed it and let’s look forward to what the future has in store!

Please leave your thoughts down below in the comments and see you guys later!

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