This year was an excellent year for cinephiles. I have taken more trips to the movies than I have in the last two years. One of the best things about all the films we saw this year is that we here at Fangirlish get to break down the ones we loved so much. That brings us to our favorite movies of 2022. Let’s get into it, shall we?
(these are in no particular order)
The Batman
Who knew that Robert Pattinson would be such a badass as the infamous caped crusader? Well, we did. We already knew that he had acting chops, so it did not surprise us that his performance was incredible. The Batman was a little on the long side, but it kept our attention the whole time. Pattinson’s performance as both Batman and Bruce Wayne were played in a way we hadn’t seen before, and he made the character his own. It’s safe to say that he is our new Batman. We also have to give a shout out to Zoe Kravitz who played a very good Catwoman.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
In a time when Marvel Studios projects are aplenty in a way they’ve never been before, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was an easy favorite and clear masterpiece amongst not only 2022 Marvel films and shows but also media in general. The movie served as a tremendous tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and didn’t shy away from emotion. (If you watched it and didn’t cry, we don’t trust you.) It highlighted the power of grief and the numerous ways such a feeling affects people while doing a nice job at helping set up what’s to come in the MCU.
After Ever Happy
Now, I know this one stirs up controversy for some After fans because of THAT ending, but I loved After Ever Happy. As a fan of the After series, it hit the most critical parts of Anna Todd’s book. The Hessa feels were everything I needed and wanted. Even though they chose to end Hardin and Tessa’s story on a cliffhanger nobody asked for, After Ever Happy is one of my favorite installments in the After franchise. I think director Castille Landon brought it to life in a magical way.
Don’t Worry, Darling
Don’t Worry Darling is the psychological thriller that kept us guessing at every turn. The Olivia Wilde-directed film, which starred Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, was a crazy and unexpected story, unlike anything we had seen before. Think Stepford Wives meets Get Out. We were caught entirely off guard by the things that happened. When I watched it, I had an idea of what was happening but what it turned out to be was shocking, to say the least.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Everything Everywhere All at Once is my favorite movie of the year and it might objectively be the best movie of the year, if not the most original. I will never know how the pitch of “A woman tries to file her taxes” got greenlit and then became “The Multiverse of Michelle Yeoh” but I’m so glad it did. I will happily watch anything with Michelle Yeoh in it, but goodness, I was not prepared for the emotional gut punch that came with Everything Everywhere All at Once. The icing on the cake for this film is the triumphant return of Ke Huy Quan as Waymond Wang. A film filled with incredible martial arts, stuntwork, and practical effects, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a delight for the eyes, in addition to being the most hopeful movie about nihilism I’ve ever seen. I wept throughout the last half hour and felt like I’d had a counseling session by the end. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the spectacular performances of Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis as well. With an incredible cast, and a story filled with humor, pain, and hope, Everything Everywhere All at Once is THE must-see movie for 2022.
Gigi And Nate
Gigi And Nate is one of those feel-good films you can watch if you want to feel joy but also have a good old cry. Nate’s story is relatable. It’s about perseverance and finding your way through the darkest times. His love and strong bond with his best friend, Gigi, a monkey, proved that you can find love in the most unique ways and that not all your friends have to be human.
The Invitation
It’s been a long time since we got a good vampire film that featured a sexy vampire guy. Director Jessica M. Thompson heard our pleas and graced us with Thomas Doherty as Walter Deville in her film The Invitation. We loved everything about this film, especially Nathalie Emmanuel as the lead Evie. We still can’t believe this was her first lead role in a movie. That is unreal because we loved her and want more lead roles for her after this. Not only was she bubbly and charismatic, but she also had incredible chemistry with Doherty. The Invitation is a fun and sexy film that is deliciously evil in the right places.
My Policeman
2022 brought us a double dose of Harry Styles gracing our movie screens. His starring role as a gay man in My Policeman, based on the book by Bethan Roberts, was emotional. The film is a love story that is both touching and heartbreaking. It’s a story that reminds us that it’s never too late to start over and always to be true to yourself.
Nope
We love Jordan Peele’s movies. We think he’s a cinematic genius. Nope was an odd film that had a basic premise. It was about an alien invasion, but it involved so much more than that. As is Peele’s style, Nope was a film that made us think deeply about the hidden meanings behind everything. As it turned out, Nope was a movie about the need to go viral and the lengths we are willing to go to, even if it means life or death.
Scream
In 2022, Ghostface came back to ask us the same question he’s been asking since 1996, and if you don’t know what that question is, we’re judging you. Anyway. Scream (2022, not to be confused with 1996) proved it’s still a great candidate for our favorite scary movie — and a favorite movie from this year, overall. There’s nothing quite like seeing Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott trade barbs with, and take down, yet another stupid killer. And the next generation, with stars like Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera at the forefront, is looking terrifyingly good, too.
The Woman King
The Woman King was one of my absolute favorite films of 2022. With such great performances from Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, and Thuso Mbedu this one was a pure masterpiece. The film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood was an epic historical story that needed to be shared with the world. So many women including myself felt inspired by it. That’s because The Woman King isn’t just a film about a group of female warriors, it’s also a film about finding strength within yourself and uplifting the women around you.
