After nearly two years of shuttered movie theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most film productions are now back on schedule, Hollywood studios are cranking out film after film, and seats are filling back up. We’ve already seen the release of box-office action flicks, like The Batman, and streaming services have delivered incredibly heartwarming films, such as Turning Red on Disney+. But we’re only a few months into the year. So although some of the best movies of 2022 have already debuted, there’s still so many top-tier films to look forward to.
The best movies of 2022 so far include cute romances that you can watch now, spine-chilling new horror flicks, gripping thrillers, and everything in between. The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand as the next highly anticipated installments of franchises arrive, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. All in all, there are a number of noteworthy films making their debut throughout the year and there’s something for every moviegoer.
Moonshot
Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse star in this futuristic rom-com as Sophie and Walt, two twenty-something college students who board a space shuttle to Mars — a planet that is now colonized by humans — to reconnect with the ones they love. Moonshot is directed by Christopher Winterbauer and also features Mason Gooding (Booksmart, Love, Victor), Lukas Gage (The White Lotus, Euphoria), Zach Braff, and Michelle Buteau.
Release date: March 31, 2022
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
In the latest installment of the Wizarding World, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and a team of witches and wizards to help stop the growing influence of Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen).
Release date: April 15, 2022
Along for the Ride
Based on the novel of the same name by author Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride tells the story of college-bound Auden (Emma Pasarow) and mysterious Eli (Belmont Cameli). The two meet while Auden spends the summer with her father in the small, seaside town of Colby. Auden and Eli bond over their shared experience with insomnia, and soon form a strong friendship that allows Auden to be more carefree. The new rom-com comes from the screenwriter behind the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, Sofia Alvarez.
Release date: April 22, 2022
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts a spell and now must confront the aftermath of opening the door to the alternate realities of the Multiverse. Directed by Sam Raimi, the filmmaker behind the Tobey Maguire-led Spider-Man trilogy, the movie also stars Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer, Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez, Benedict Wong as Wong, and Michael Stuhlbarg as Dr. Nicodemus West.
Release date: May 6, 2022
Legally Blonde 3
Elle Woods is back! Well she’s almost back, at least. Everyone’s favorite Harvard Law graduate is expected to return to the silver screen in May of this year, after Reese Witherspoon — a.k.a Elle Woods herself — confirmed Legally Blonde 3 back in June 2018. Not many details are known about the franchise’s third installment, but we do know that Reese and Jennifer Coolidge (who plays Pauline Parcelle) will reprise their roles, and Mindy Kaling is writing the script.
Release date: May 20, 2022
Nope
The first trailer for Jordan Peele’s latest horror film, Nope, dropped on February 13, and appears to be as bone-chilling as his previous projects, Get Out and Us. Not many specific details are revealed, but it mainly focuses on Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya’s characters. A dark, ominous cloud circling overhead seems to suggest that some evil forces are at play, as Keke, Daniel, and Steven Yeun’s characters stare up to the sky in sheer horror. Barbie Ferreira, Brandon Perea, and Michael Wincott also join the cast.
Release date: July 22, 2022
