The Best Movies of 2022 (So Far), and Our Most Anticipated Films for the Rest of the Year
Plus, how to watch everything that's available to stream already.
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While the past couple of years have been rough for film fans, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing havoc for release schedules, 2022 shows that the movies are back. In theaters and streaming, new cinematic offerings are plentiful every weekend for the foreseeable future. While a many big titles have already been released, there's still much to look forward to, too. Whether you're looking for romantic comedies, action movies, family films or superhero movies — lots and lots of superhero movies — there's something to look forward to on the horizon. The best movies of 2022, listed in order of release date with the oldest first, will add on to our favorite franchises, bring back beloved characters, translate the real lives of some amazing trailblazers on screen or show us all something totally new. Here are our favorite movies that have come out so far this year — plus where to stream them online — and our most anticipated for the rest of the year.
One thing to keep in mind: Movie studios relationships to streaming services are always in flux, as is the movie release schedule in general. It's very possible that these release dates will shift around as the pandemic ebbs and wanes, or that they'll go straight to streaming or VOD instead of theaters. Before you head out to the cinema, check your local listings to make sure the schedule hasn't changed.
Looking for something to watch with the whole family? You might also want to check out the best kids' movies of 2022.
The 355
Release Date: January 7, 2022
Named after a female spy during the Revolutionary War, The 355 follows a group of international agents — all women — who band together to track down a dangerous mercenary with a powerful weapon. The cast brings together a set of amazing actresses, including Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Diane Kruger, Penelope Cruz and Fan Bingbing.
Scream
Release Date: January 14, 2022
Just when you think you've seen the last of Ghostface, he pops back up again, usually with a knife in hand. And once again, Sidney Prescott, Dewey Riley, Gale Weathers and the Woodsboro crew have to figure out how these new murders are connected to the ones from 25 years ago.
The King's Daughter
Release Date: January 21, 2022
Pierce Brosnan plays the titular King — Louis XIV, to be exact. When he goes on the hunt for a mermaid, looking for the secret to immortality, his daughter tries to find a way to save the creature.
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Munich – The Edge of War
Release Date: January 21, 2022
This movie takes place in Germany in the run-up to the war, and follows two former friends working for opposing governments. They put their differences behind them to expose Hitler's plans. Jeremy Irons also co-stars as Neville Chamberlain.
Jackass Forever
Release Date: February 4, 2022
The Jackass team has been doing ill-advised stunts for more than two decades now — you think approaching their 50s would stop them? They prove they're up for anything, from encounters with bears, bulls and spiders to physical challenges likely to give them concussions.
Moonfall
Release Date: February 4, 2022
Director Roland Emmerich, master of the art of the disaster epic (see: Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, etc.), takes on a catastrophe on a galactic scale: The moon gets knocked out of orbit and comes hurtling towards Earth. Can a ragtag team of scientists save the planet in time?
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Kimi
Release Date:February 10, 2022
KIMI might be like certain other smart devices you know — the kind that you can shout out a question like, "What's the weather?" and it'll respond in a pleasing voice. This thriller gets underway when an agoraphobic tech worker, played by Zoë Kravitz, monitors anonymous KIMI feeds for quality control, and thinks that tone of the devices may have picked up evidence of a crime in progress.
Marry Me
Release Date: February 11, 2022
Bring back the big-screen rom-com! In this one, Jennifer Lopez plays — what else? — a musical mega-star. When her plans to marry another celebrity on stage go awry, she picks a random guy (played by Owen Wilson) to wed instead. They then have to figure out if they made a huge mistake, or if they should make a go of the relationship.
Death on the Nile
Release Date: February 11, 2022
Belfast's Kenneth Branagh directs and stars in the second of his Agatha Christie adaptations. In it, famed detective Hercule Poirot is called to solve a murder on the S.S. Karnak, and the list of suspects is long and played by actors like Gal Gadot, Annette Bening, Russell Brand and Sophie Okonedo.
Bigbug
Release Date: February 11, 2022
This Netflix film is written and directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, creator of offbeat movies like Amélie and Delicatessen. This one is no different: It takes place in 2050, when AI stage a coup and a group of suburbanites (and their household robots) lock themselves in for their protection.
I Want You Back
Release Date:February 11, 2022
Jenny Slate and Charlie Day star as two friends who have recently been dumped. They decide to team up to sabotage their exes' new relationships in a bid to win them back. Is it a plan doomed to failure, or just crazy enough to work?
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Tall Girl 2
Release Date: February 11, 2022
Netflix has become the home of the romantic-comedy franchise. First, there was The Kissing Booth series. Then, To All The Boys I've Loved Before. Now, Tall Girl gets a sequel. This time, Jodi is in a school play, which starts to affect her relationship.
Blacklight
Release Date: February 11, 2022
Liam Neeson stars as a very Liam Neesony character, a freelance government "fixer" known for strong-arming bad guys. But when his daughter and granddaughter are threatened, he has to unravel an operation hidden within the FBI, along with the help of a journalist.
Uncharted
Release Date: February 18, 2022
This movie serves as a backstory to the famed video-game franchise of the same name. It stars Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg as two adventurers who go on a quest for "the greatest treasure never found."
Dog
Release Date: February 18, 2022
In this film, Channing Tatum plays an Army Ranger whose assignment is to escort Lulu to her partner's funeral. Lulu, though, is a Belgian Malinois military working dog, and the partner was handler. Tatum also directed the film.
The Cursed
Release Date: February 18, 2022
For fans of creepy, atmospheric horror, The Cursed follows what happens after a brutal land baron does a violent act that unleashes a curse on his village. Some people suspect an animal is attacking, but are other forces at work?
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Release Date: February 18, 2022
There's just something about Leatherface that keeps bringing filmmakers back for more. In Netflix's take on the franchise, the horror icon terrorizes influencers who move into his Texas territory.
Cyrano
Release Date: February 25, 2022
Director Joe Wright, who's previously taken on adaptations of literary heavyweights like Pride and Prejudice and Anna Karenina, turns his attention to anther classic. This time, he's filmed a musical version of Cyrano de Bergerac, based on the 2018 stage show with music by The National.
Studio 666
Release Date: February 25, 2022
Dave Grohl stars in the part he was born to play ... Dave Grohl! The movie, which was filmed in secret, follows what happens when the Foo Fighters move into a spooky house and try to record their tenth album. Can the band withstand the supernatural forces there?
A Madea Homecoming
Release Date: February 25, 2022
Tyler Perry's most enduring character is back! (On Netflix, at least.) This time, Madea and "Mrs. Brown’s Boys" cause drama at Madea's great-grandson's college graduation.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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