The Best Films of 2022

Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko, Pexels

If 2021 was the great resurgence of cinema after the COVID-19 pandemic, then 2022 saw the continuation of blockbusters and independent cinema. I want to highlight some of my personal favorites of the past year. First, I want to point out I haven’t even seen every film that came out this year, so this list may include some omissions, especially from international cinema and smaller independent films. Before I start, I want to give some honorable mentions to films that didn’t make my list: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Barbarian,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” and “Babylon.” Now here are my picks for the best films of 2022:

Ambulance 

Directed by Micheal Bay 

No this isn’t a joke, “Ambulance” is a high velocity, 100 miles-per-hour nonstop car chase focused on constantly upping stakes and reveling in its bonkers premise. After the Transformers films, Bay has created an action movie that is not only full of insane stunt work and innovative cinematography but is another film pushing action cinema forward. The story follows a bank robbery gone wrong with two bank robbers, an EMT and an injured cop fleeing police in a claustrophobic ambulance as stakes rise on a LA afternoon.

The Northman 

Directed by Robert Eggers 

After the murder of his father, Amelth (Alexander Skarsgård) sets on a long journey of vengeance in the 9th-century world of Vikings. “The Northman” is the best Viking movie made. It puts savagery and violence on full display of the time period, offering a visual treat with its naturalistic cinematography and historically accurate production design. Skarsgård’s performance is one that was unfortunately forgotten in awards season, but his physicality and emotional depth switching from wrath to somberness in scenes are masterfully done.

Nope

Directed by Jordan Peele 

One of the most ambitious and original blockbusters in recent memory, “Nope” is Jordan Peele’s third film. It follows two siblings (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer) who must take over their father’s ranch, but as strange occurrences happen they believe a UFO may be above them in the skies. Both equally entertaining and full of interpretation, the film is Peele at his best, as the screenplay is strange yet hilarious, the cinematography uses scale and framing in truly spectacular ways and the film is full of themes and scenes for the audience to analyze. Furthermore, “Nope” might have the best scene of the year. If you have a fear of chimpanzees or 90s sitcoms or a combination of both – be warned. 

Triangle of Sadness 

Directed by Ruben Östlund

2022’s Palme d’Or winner, this satirical comedy follows two social media influencers (Harris Dickinson and Charlbi Dean) as they embark on a high-luxury cruise on a yacht. With a razor-sharp blade, Östlund’s direction and screenplay show the pure decadence of the rich and elite. Where other satires and comedies fail, “Triangle of Sadness” excels; the writing is not only witty and self-aware but not pretentious. As the film’s over 20-minute sequence of sea storm seasickness shows, it doesn’t shy away from the absurdity of the situation. One of the best comedies in years and my pick for Best Picture for this year. 

Resurrection 

Directed by Andrew Semans

Probably the least-known film on my list, “Resurrection" is the first feature by director Andrew Semans as it follows Margaret, played by Rebbecca Hall, whose professional and family life gets shattered when her dark past reemerges. “Resurrection” isn’t an easy movie in its subject matter or presentation; it covers topics of loss, abuse and trauma, and has a lot of room for interpretation that many could find frustrating. However, I found its story and the central performance by Hall absolutely mesmerizing. “Resurrection” is a bizarre physiological horror-thriller that excels due to its exploration of love, guilt and reality. 

The Batman 

Directed by Matt Reeves 

“The Batman” understands Batman and Gotham City like no other film before it.  The rain pours down night after night as neon lights flash, stores are robbed and trains scream by on their rails, as our central hero searches for answers to a series of murders by any means necessary. Robert Pattison brings his all to the title character and gives one of the best performances of his career as he portrays Wayne as a broken and realistic person, not a superhuman. On top of this, “The Batman” is the best technical movie of the year, the cinematography by Greig Fraser is flawless, the score by Micheal Giacchino is iconic and the sound packs so much weight. “The Batman” is a thrilling, beautiful, dark and atmospheric action-thriller that shows that blockbuster films can be equally entertaining and artistic. 

Fire of Love

Directed by Sara Dosa 

My favorite documentary of the year, “Fire of Love” is the story of two volcanologists, Katia and Maurice Krafft. The film shows decades of archival footage of their natural discoveries. The third character in this documentary is the dozens of volcanoes presented, both equally an awe-inspiring and terrifying power of the natural world. The real reason why “Fire of Love" is one of my favorite films of the year is the absolutely stunning footage of seas of lava, walls of fire behind scientists in oppressively heavy silver suits and the billowing smoke rising from the underworld of the Earth. It is truly stunning and one of the most gorgeous documentaries out there.  

RRR 

Directed by S.S. Rajamouli 

The best film of 2022 is “RRR,” a 3-hour-long Indian action-drama-epic following our two central characters Bheem and Raju (N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan Teja) as they discover they are best friends and take down the British Empire in India. “RRR” is bombastic, hilarious, heartwarming and insane, with some of the most entertaining sequences of the decade. Full song and dance scenes, action sequences, friendship montages – and this is just the first hour. It’s a film that shouldn’t work because it's so massive that it appears at any moment it will collapse under its own weight. Thankfully it never does, and it only gets better as it goes along. “RRR” proves that Indian cinema has the world’s attention and is a serious contender for Hollywood.