2021 was the year of returning to the theater, and we certainly saw some incredible movies this year. Whatever your taste, be it tentpole superhero entries, laugh out loud comedies, or horror that makes your skin crawl, 2022 is going to have something for you. As we look ahead to 2022, here are some movies we just can’t wait to see:
The Batman (In theaters March 4 2022):
Fans of the Caped Crusader are getting another solo entry of one of DC’s most beloved superheroes, Batman. This time, Robert Pattinson will be suiting up as the Batman, the alter ego of kazillionaire Bruce Wayne. He will be joined by an incredibly star-studded cast including Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Zoë Kravitz as Selena Kyle/Catwoman, Andy Serkis as Bruce Wayne’s long-suffering butler Alfred Pennyworth, and Barry Keoghan as Officer Stanley Merkel.
Fans hoping to see a showdown between Batman and his most well-known nemesis the Joker are likely going to be disappointed as we don’t have any indication that the Clown Prince of Crime will be anywhere in this entry. However, it seems we are going to get a Batman-Riddler and a Batman-Penguin face-off with Paul Dano and Colin Farrell playing these villains respectively. Batman has no shortage of great villains to go up against, and it will be nice to have villains who have gotten way too screen time have a chance to take center stage. The Batman promises to be a darker (if that’s even possible), grittier take on this character than perhaps fans have seen in a long time, and we are definitely here for it!
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (In theaters May 5, 2022):
Now that we’ve seen Benedict Cumberbatch in Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans are going to have to wait until the spring of 2022 to see Doctor Strange get his next solo entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There have already been so many theories about what the Doctor Strange sequel will involve. We know that it will be Marvel’s first horror movie, and that so many Marvel properties have been leading to the moment of breaking the multiverse.
Fans also know we’ll get to see the return of Wanda (Elisabeth Olsen), as she made a brief appearance in the teaser we saw at the end of No Way Home. It also seems that we’ll see the evil version of Doctor Strange that fans were introduced to in What If…?, and it will no doubt be intriguing to see a live action alter-ego of Marvel’s most powerful Avenger.
Marry Me (In theaters February 11, 2022):
Romantic comedy fans are in for a treat when Marry Me premieres in theaters just in time for Valentines Day. Jennifer Lopez will play a pop star wronged by a man (and how dare you wrong J-Lo!). According to the movie’s description, Kat Valdez (Lopez) is a half of a superstar couple with a new hit single “Marry Me”. Through a sequence of comedic events, she ends up entangled with Owen Wilson, a divorced math teacher who was taken to a concert by his daughter.
Owen Wilson is coming off of his time on Loki, and honestly we aren’t sure if he can keep up with J-Lo, the Queen of the romantic comedy. That being said, romantic comedies in general are making a comeback, and there’s no better time to get our fill of a simple, sweet love story on Valentine’s Day to make us believe in love.
Lightyear (June 17, 2022):
Pixar fans who have ever wanted a backstory on the beloved character Buzz Lightyear of Toy Story fame are in for a treat this summer. Chris Evans will be providing the voice of half of Toy Story’s dynamic animated duo of beloved toys Woody and Buzz. The trailer looks very sweet, and we’re always excited for more Chris Evans in our lives. Character backstories are always iffy, and we’re not 100% sure if this is a character we need to see an entire movie about how he came to be. However, it promises to be the standard, exceptional quality we’ve come to expect from Pixar. Lightyear promises to be a fun ride for the entire family, and a perfect comfort summer movie.
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022):
Almost 30 years after Hocus Pocus was released, a sequel is coming hopefully just in time for the Halloween season. Hocus Pocus has gained a cult following in the years since it was first released, and it has become a beloved haunted classic to revisit every Halloween. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimi are set to reprise their roles as the comedic trio of witches that fans continue to love.
Sequels, remakes and reboots on principle can be disappointing overall. However, this sequel is being directed by Anne Fletcher and written by Jen D’Angelo and we are always about more women in front of and behind the camera. Hopefully, the second installment of Hocus Pocus will incorporate everything that made the original great, and focus on the characters we’ve waited almost three decades to see again.
Legally Blonde 3 (In theaters May 20, 2022):
Legally Blonde was nothing less than a cultural moment that arguably hasn’t been re-created since. Reese Witherspoon led a phenomenal cast of characters in a story about female empowerment and the power of women supporting women. The 2001 movie was based on a book by Amanda Brown of the same name and spawned a sequel that was…not as well received, a direct-to-DVD spin-off Legally Blondes, YA novels by Natalie Standiford, and a Broadway musical that premiered in 2007.
As far as sequels go, this is one that could also go one of two ways. The second Legally Blonde did not inspire confidence in fans. Although we always want to see more Reese Witherspoon and more stories of amazing women, we can only hope Legally Blonde 3 is up to the task of capturing what made the original a near-perfect movie.
Downton Abbey A New Era (In theaters March 18, 2022):
Downton Abbey fans thought we were done when we got a standalone movie to wrap up the franchise in 2019. Fans were absolutely enthralled with the series that followed members of the British aristocracy, their staff, and everyone around them. Downton Abbey The Movie did leave fans with an open-ended yet satisfying conclusion. We knew these characters and their way of life were on the way out, and that made perfect sense.
The trailer for A New Era shows our beloved characters in what looks to be the 1920s. It looks like we’re going to see Branson’s (Allen Leech) wedding, and although we will never stop loving Sybill (Jessica Brown Findlay), it’s good to see the former chauffeur turned family member get another chance at love. Hopefully this Downton entry will contain lots of good jazz music and a proper ending to characters that amassed so much love over six seasons and a movie.
Nope (July 22, 2022):
Jordan Peele’s next feature film Nope will be in theaters for horror fans just in time for summer. Details about this movie have been kept very much under wraps. We do know that the cast list is incredible, and includes Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Barbie Ferreira, Brandon Perea, and Michael Wincott. If Peele’s previous work including Get Out, Us, and Candyman among others is anything to go on, we know we are absolutely in for an epic ride that will have us on the edges of our seats.
Sneakarella (On Disney+ February 18, 2022):
There are so many Cinderella adaptations out there, and one more is landing on Disney+ in February. Sneakerella will feature a gender-flipped version of the classic fairytale, and will star Chosen Jacobs as El and Lexi Underwood as Kira King. El is an aspiring sneaker designer in a twist on the lost shoe part of the story, and Kira King is the daughter of a basketball star and sneaker tycoon. The color scheme is absolutely gorgeous, and this version of Cinderella is set to distinguish itself from previous versions. Fans of the classic tale will no doubt enjoy another entry, and new fans can hopefully enjoy what looks to be a unique story. This version promises an amazing cast, and a unique way to tell a story that have captivated fans for generations.
Thor Love and Thunder (July 8 2022):
After the resounding success of Thor: Ragnarok, it was no surprise at all that the great Taika Waititi will be back to direct another entry featuring the God of Thunder. Thor: Ragnarok was arguably the only Thor solo movie that truly understood the character, and fans know Waititi’s vision absolutely works for this character.
Thor: Love and Thunder is set to see the return of Chris Hemsworth in what may be his last outing in a solo Thor movie. Fans will also see the return of Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, and Natalie Portman as the oft-forgotten former girlfriend of Thor, Jane Foster. Portman will apparently be becoming The Mighty Thor, and fans can only hope this means at the very least an actress of Portman’s caliber will finally be given something substantive to do in a Marvel movie.
Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse Part One (In theaters October 7 2022):
We’re all still reeling from Spider-Man: No Way Home, and it’s still to be decided if we ever get over it, honestly. It’s going to be an emotional return to the Spider-verse in all of the best ways, and we are definitely ready to feel all of the emotions.
Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse was the definitive Spider-Man movie, and hit absolutely all of the right notes. It was fan service of the highest quality, paying tribute to characters we know and love while having fun at the franchise’s own expense in the best way. It will be a privilege for fans to return to the Spider-verse, and if the trailer is anything to go by, it is going to be quite the ride for all of us.
Don’t Worry Darling (In theaters September 23, 2022):
Olivia Wilde has returned to the director’s chair for the upcoming psychological thriller, Don’t Worry Darling. This time, she will be taking a deep dive into the life of a “typical” suburban couple, the perfect premise for a horror movie if I’ve ever heard one. This movie looks to have a perfect combination of suspense, steamy romance, and fantastic period costumes.
It looks like it will be a cautionary tale and a thriller of the best kind. The cast is incredibly stacked, and will feature Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, and Nick Kroll among others. With such heavy hitters, we’re definitely in for a show, and it may be the perfect movie to close out the summer season.
The Outfit (In theaters February 25, 2022):
If you’re a fan of historical tales combined with a gangster thriller, The Outfit might be for you. Starring Mark Rylance, Zoey Deutch, and Dylan O’Brien, the movie will introduce viewers to Leonard, an English tailor. After suffering a personal tragedy, he relocates to Chicago where he continues his art for the only people who can afford his services, a family of mobsters. Fans of crime dramas will also likely find this a worthy entry into the genre. This movie, which is set to be released at the end of February, may just be the perfect movie to end off the long, dark winter.
Everything Everywhere All At Once (Premiers at South by Southwest Film Festival March 11 2022):
We can never get enough of Michelle Yeoh, and we’re going to be getting more of the absolute Queen in March 2022. She’ll be leading the cast of sci-fi movie Everything Everywhere All At Once, and we have to ask, what did we do to deserve this level of amazing? The answer of course is nothing, and we can’t wait to have Yeoh grace us with her on-screen presence as she always does. Marvel fans may enjoy this movie as it gives off so many Multiverse vibes. If we all enjoy Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, hopefully even more fans will go out to support what looks like a very dynamic movie.
John Wick Chapter 4 was originally set to be released in May 2022, however it has now been pushed back to 2023. The second Avatar movie is coming out after over ten years since the first, and…is it something we really need? The Flash is also currently set to be released in 2022, but I personally will believe that when I am sitting in the theater myself. 2022 promises movies for fans of all genres, and we are more than ready to dive right in!
