March 18, 2022
Almost a year ago, I wrote a piece about feeling like the world was getting back to normal after attending one of my son’s concerts at a local bar. Well, I might have been a little too early with that prediction (Did I jinx it? Probably), but things are certainly better than they were a year ago and DEFINITELY better than two years ago. So, as we start to learn to adapt to whatever our new definition of normal is, we learn how to interact with each other in person again, and enjoy what life has to offer, I enter this Spring season with a sense of optimism.
The movie industry is also feeling more optimistic than two years ago, as the box office appears to be back, there is an insatiable demand for content with many streamers competing for viewers’ eyeballs (and wallets), and the era of “Peak Content” has never been higher. With that in mind, I’m looking forward to a number of 2022 film releases headed our way and this week, I’m going to share some of my most anticipated titles. Yes, people are still trying to catch up on the best of 2021, especially with the Oscars coming up next weekend (my preview is available here in case you missed it), but it’s never too early to look ahead.
State of the Industry
Before I get into my picks for this year, it’s probably worth a brief update on what is going on in the movie industry. With an endless list of streaming options available, we’re entering a phase where people are starting to get frustrated about the number of subscriptions they will need to see the next big movie or TV show. A few years ago, we could say “I’ll just wait till it’s on Netflix.” That’s no more. The decision about where and when a movie shows up on a streaming service is entirely dependent on the production studio that made the film, whether that studio has a streamer readily available, or they have a contract with a streaming service.
We are also in the midst of seeing the clunky logic of contracts that were signed a few years ago, playing out. For instance, there is a logical business reason that some movies (West Side Story and Nightmare Alley) are available on two services at the same time. And why you can’t find the new Spider-Man movies on Disney+ even though they are partially owned by Marvel, which is owned by Disney. There is even logic as to why you can watch Yellowstone on the Paramount cable channel, but not the Paramount+ streaming app, but instead you have to find it on Peacock, owned by Comcast. As these deals start to wind down, you will see a more logical home for content – for instance The Office moving from Netflix to Peacock (it was produced by Universal Television, also owned by Comcast) and Friends moving to HBO Max (it was produced by Warner Media, the parent company of HBO Max), even though it aired on NBC. There is a logic to this madness. As with anything, if you are looking to find where to watch something, I highly recommend JustWatch or IMDB.
So, with the constant treadmill of content creation ramping up faster and faster, we are seeing a wealth of movies and television shows coming our way. It’s been a little disjointed the last several months as studios are still recovering from the production shutdowns during the early days of the pandemic. It threw a monkey-wrench into a number of projects, leading to delays in not only the release of a product, but the actual making of it. But it appears that things are getting back on track and we are headed for another fun year at the movies (or in our living rooms).
That’s right – studios will continue to tinker with how they release their movies. Warner Media took the bold step in 2021 of releasing all of their films on HBO Max for thirty days on the same day it premiered in theaters. Despite the controversy (and anger from some directors, including Christopher Nolan who left the studio to make his next picture, Oppenheimer, with Universal Studios, who has promised him a long theatrical run) I think the strategy was smart. HBO Max launched in May 2020, in the early days of the pandemic, in a tumultuous and confusing rollout, with people not understanding the difference between HBO Max and “regular” HBO. By offering subscribers a new film to watch from their living room (instead of having to go to the theater in a pandemic), it was the perfect enticement. But the smartest moves were offering a new movie every month of 2021, and leaving it on the service for only 30 days. This helped them build a strong subscriber base, as well as limit their churn rate of people who would subscribe to watch one picture, and then cancel the next month. But their strategy for 2022 is back to normal – new releases in theaters, but with a shorter window. For instance, the biggest hit of the year so far will be on HBO Max only 45 days after its premiere in theaters.
I actually think HBO Max has the best quality content of any service – their film library is exceptional (including a partnership with Turner Classic Movies), their original films have been very good, and their television catalogue is outstanding – not just the classics (that are all there), but some of the newer shows. If Netflix is the junk food streamer (with their subpar movies and bulk of reality television), HBO Max is the filet mignon. That being said, Warner Media (and HBO Max) are being spun off by their corporate parent (AT&T) and combined with Discovery (and its reality based content like HGTV and Food Network) into a new company in the next few months. Like any industry that is going through massive transformation, expect the consolidation trend to continue. We just saw Amazon complete their purchase of MGM Studios this week and some of the lower level streamers will be scooped up by the bigger companies. And they won’t be buying them for their technology – it will be all about their television and movie libraries. Because as we have learned over the last several years, content is king.
OK, let’s dive into my 2022 movie preview. I’m going to offer up 22 movies I’m looking forward to (including a few I’ve already seen), plus some bonus picks for those you might be interested in, even if they aren’t near the top of my list. Note that some of these release dates and locations (theater vs. streaming) are subject to change.
The Leader in the Clubhouse
It takes a big movie to cause studios to clear the decks of their release schedule to avoid getting steamrolled by a juggernaut, but that is what happened when studios heard the cash register ringing over and over again since Spider-Man: No Way Home was released late last year. With every other movie in its path (including some wonderful awards contenders) getting crushed as the webslinger racked up almost $800 million domestically and almost $1.8 billion worldwide, studios took a pause when they saw the next comic book phenomenon schedule for release on March 4th – The Batman, which is the only major title we’ve seen this month.
There have been several films about the Dark Knight in the last thirty years (don’t worry, I’m not going to bore you with my rankings, except to say that the original 1989 version is still pretty fun, and I think Nolan’s films were brilliant, particularly The Dark Knight). I recently checked out the new iteration, starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, and thought it was excellent. But there is a big caution here – this definitely doesn’t feel like a typical comic book movie. It’s pretty dark – not just in content, but it’s LITERALLY dark. And raining. A lot. It feels a lot like David Fincher’s Seven – more in the way that it is a crime procedural film, not a flashy movie with a lot of special effects. It’s also long – the runtime is pushing three hours, which it didn’t need to be. But I still thought it was great. And audiences are loving it – it’s already pushed past $250 million in domestic box office receipts since its release two weeks ago. The Batman is now playing in theaters and is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max in late April. Not to be outdone by this DC Comics release, Marvel is geared up with its own slate of movies this year. So, if you are a fan of the MCU, you can look forward to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in May, Thor: Love and Thunder in July and the eagerly anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in November. As always, expect these pictures to be the dominant titles when the box-office winners are tallied up at the end of the year.
The Sure Things
Well, they are to me anyway, because I watched both of these pictures as part of the Sundance Film Festival’s virtual screenings in January, and liked them both a lot. After Yang is a beautiful family story told in the near future and stars Colin Farrell and Jodie Turner-Smith as the parents of a young girl they adopted from China, and the android child they acquired to help with their daughter’s acclimation as a Chinese adopted child. When the android (named Yang and played by Justin Min in an excellent performance) malfunctions and becomes unresponsive, the father sets out on a mission to have him repaired. Along the way, he learns about Yang’s history and the life that he was living and the friends he made. Farrell is outstanding in this film, which is not a technology heavy view of the future. This is not a “futuristic robot” movie. It is the story of a family coming to terms with grief, what it means to live a life with others, and finding what is important in our lives. It’s a quiet film that will make you think a lot. It also features an excellent opening credit sequence. After Yang is playing in select theaters and is now streaming on Showtime.
The other film from Sundance that I really liked was the sophomore effort from writer-director Cooper Raiff, whose debut picture, Shithouse, was one of my favorite movies of 2020. While that film was about a young man struggling to adapt to being away at college, his new picture Cha Cha Real Smooth explores the next phase of life – the recent college graduate who has no idea what he is going to do with his life. Raiff once again plays the lead role as Andrew, a man working a dead-end job, living with his mom, whose life is changed when he meets Domino, played by Dakota Johnson. They strike up a friendship at a bar mitzvah when he establishes a connection with her autistic daughter. He soon pursues a career as a party-starter and his feelings for Domino become stronger. Cha Cha Real Smooth is a nice comedy-drama that isn’t overly complicated – it’s a sweet story about friendship, trying to find love, and Raiff and Johnson make for a great pair in the movie. Cha Cha Real Smooth is scheduled to be released on Apple TV+ on June 17th.
Apparently, Springtime is Crazytime
OK, now we’re moving on to movies that I haven’t seen yet, so these could be masterpieces or they could suck – buyer beware. The first three picks are ones that look pretty batshit crazy. First up is Everything Everywhere All At Once which has been described as a science-fiction movie about a woman experiencing a strange phenomenon involving multidimensional worlds. It stars Michelle Yeoh, who is known for her action work in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The movie premiered at South by Southwest to strong reviews and based on the trailer, it looks like a wild ride. Everything Everywhere All At Once opens in theaters on March 25th.
Next up is Nicolas Cage playing…..well, Nicholas Cage. That’s right, the fun-loving actor plays himself in the meta action-comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. The premise has him down on his luck and desperate for any quality part (not unlike his real career) and agreeing to take a $1 million paycheck to attend a billionaire’s birthday party overseas. Things get wacky when he is recruited by the CIA to become an operative against the dangerous billionaire and he is forced to play out some of his most iconic roles. This one also got strong reviews at South by Southwest and looks like a lot of fun. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent premieres in theaters April 22nd.
The last one in this group comes from Robert Eggers, the director of the Puritan era horror film The Witch and the crazy tale of two men losing their minds in The Lighthouse. The Northman continues the director’s tradition of taking risks in bringing unconventional stories to the big screen. The film centers on a group of Vikings in 10th century Iceland and one man’s search for revenge after his father’s murder. This one looks dark, violent and action packed, so not for the faint of heart. The cast is stacked though – Alexander Skarsgård leads the way with Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke and….Bjork (?!?!?) in supporting roles. The Northman premieres in theaters April 22nd.
A Miraculous Rescue
I briefly touched on Thirteen Lives during my year-end review of the documentary The Rescue, which I covered here. This upcoming film comes from Ron Howard and recounts the dramatic 2018 rescue of the boys soccer team who was trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand. The documentary we saw last year was excellent, although it received some criticism for not enough conversations with the families (it focused on the rescuers). Apparently the families had already negotiated to tell the story for a Netflix limited series that is also in production and weren’t able to speak with The Rescue’s filmmakers. Oh well – it didn’t hamper my opinion of it. Despite the potential for this one to slip into melodrama in the wrong hands (Howard has made some turkeys), the film’s release was pushed back to later in the year to make an awards season push based on very positive early screenings. Fingers crossed this is a good one. Thirteen Lives is scheduled to premiere in theaters in November.
Return of the Champ
After several strong projects over a five year period, Michael B. Jordan is in a bit of a slump. Last year, he had two films released – the underwhelming Without Remorse based on a Tom Clancy book and the disastrous A Journal for Jordan, which was panned by critics and audiences. At least he got the chance to work with Denzel Washington, who directed the latter film. Look for Jordan to bounce back quickly this year with his directorial debut, Creed III. He will also star as Adonis Creed, like he did in the first two installments of the Rocky spinoff trilogy. Despite a strong performance in the first two movies, Sylvester Stallone will reportedly not be back for the third film. I still think he will have a small cameo, even if it isn’t a major role, but that’s just a hunch. Look for Creed III in theaters in November. That’s not the only sequel we have coming our way this year. In addition to the MCU franchise films I mentioned above, we also have a number of traditional sequels on the release calendar. These aren’t necessarily up my alley, but they include Avatar 2 (December in theaters), Downton Abbey: A New Era (May in theaters), and Halloween Ends (October (when else?) in theaters)
Will We Actually See This Movie?
One of the breakout stars of 2019 was Ana de Armas after her fantastic performance in Knives Out. It seemed like the sky was the limit for her career and she quickly signed on for a number of projects. But it’s been a long time since we’ve seen her demonstrating her strong acting abilities. She had a small (but excellent) role in last year’s No Time to Die but she also made two high-profile projects that have been sitting on the shelf. One of the most controversial movies to be released this year is Blonde, with de Armas playing Marilyn Monroe in a film that reportedly holds no punches in portraying the Hollywood legend. The movie is based on a novel and is not considered a biopic – it’s been described as a fictionalized account of her life. Blonde was scheduled to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year, but that fell apart. There have also been rumblings about Netflix’s concern about the explicit nature of the movie that director Andrew Dominick chose to make. He recently said that the film is done, he’s not making any more edits, and it’s going to be rated NC-17. Oh boy, buckle up for some controversy on this one. Reportedly, de Armas’s performance is amazing, based on the small number of Hollywood insiders who have seen the movie. Blonde will be released on Netflix later this year.
Another project de Armas made two years ago, but is only now getting released is Deep Water. If you remember any social media activity about Ben Affleck and de Armas entering into a very public relationship, this film’s movie set is where it started. Deep Water has been described as an erotic thriller that calls back to the heyday of the genre (think 1980s and 1990s) and is directed by Adrian Lyne, whose work includes 9 ½ Weeks, Indecent Proposal, and Unfaithful. So….ummmm…..yeah, this one could be good or cheesy bad (Lyne hasn’t made a movie in 20 years, so we’ll see). This film’s release has been delayed a few times, and was eventually moved to streaming – it’s unclear if it was because of poor response from early screenings, or Affleck and de Armas breaking up. Either way, you can see for yourself as Deep Water is now streaming on Hulu.
A Steamy Thriller
Speaking of suspenseful films that may fog up the windows, Don’t Worry Darling is the second project from Olivia Wilde, whose debut film, Booksmart, was one of my favorite movies of 2019. Her next project created a major bidding war due to her talent and the enticing story, a psychological thriller set in the 1950s about a suburban housewife whose husband might be hiding a dark secret. The couple is played by Florence Pugh (one of the best actresses working today) and Harry Styles (who, I guess, is in a band? – just kidding, I’ve heard of him.) He has had a few small roles in movies, but this will be his first time as a major character. On the one hand, I wonder if his inexperience will show. On the other hand, he replaced Shia LaBeouf, who was fired by Wilde for poor behavior on the set. She reportedly invoked a rule she has as a director – a “No Asshole on the Set” rule. I kind of like that – if only every workplace could have that kind of rule. Although, I’m sure the fact that Wilde and Styles dating had a heavy influence on his casting. I guess we will find out when we see it. Don’t Worry Darling will be released in theaters in September.
Portrait of a Legend
Get ready to learn the name Austin Butler. That’s because this Summer we are going to see him on the big screen as the king of rock n’ roll in Elvis, a biopic from director Baz Luhrmann. The major star in this movie is Tom Hanks, who plays Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and is hardly recognizable under all of the makeup he is wearing. Luhrmann has a unique filmmaking style, so this one might not be for everyone. His takes on Romeo + Juliet (the one with Leo and Claire Danes), Moulin Rouge!, and The Great Gatsby (the one with Leo and Tobey Maguire) were quite divisive – people either loved them or hated them. Fun fact about Elvis – remember when Tom Hanks got COVID two years ago and we all realized shit got real? Well, he was in Australia filming this movie when that all went down. Feels like yesterday or 20 years ago – I can’t figure out which. Elvis will be released in theaters in June.
Leading Men in Action Thrillers
It’s been four years since we have seen Ryan Gosling on the big screen, after a very successful run in The Big Short, La La Land, Blade Runner 2049, and First Man. He is back this year in the action-packed suspense thriller The Gray Man. Gosling plays a CIA mercenary who goes on the run when he uncovers incriminating information about the agency. Chris Evans also stars in the film as a bounty hunter who is tasked with hunting down and killing our leading man. This one is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who directed four MCU movies, including the ones that featured Evans prominently as Captain America. There have only been a few small video clips of this one so far, but it’s safe to say, this is not a comic book movie. The Gray Man premieres on Netflix in July.
It’s also been awhile since we saw Brad Pitt in a movie, at least in front of the camera. His production company is always very busy, with a number of quality films released each year. But this Summer, we’ll see him back in action in Bullet Train, as an assassin looking to call it quits and decides to retire. But, he is recruited back for one more job (isn’t that always the way?) in which he must retrieve a briefcase while on a high-speed train. Turns out, there are other assassins on the train with the same mission. A trailer for this one was just released and it looks fantastic. Expect this one to be high on the box-office list when the dust settles on 2022. Bullet Train premieres in theaters in July.
The Master is Back
Ready to be scared shitless in the theaters? If so, you’re in luck. Jordan Peele, the director of Get Out and Us is back with a new feature, called simply Nope. While I don’t know for sure what the title is referring to, I can only guess it represents the reaction to someone facing something terrifying, as in “Nope. I’m outta here.” Peele reunites with his Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya who stars as a ranch owner in a California town confronted by what is described as “an abnormal event.” An intriguing teaser trailer has been released and it looks like there could be aliens involved, but having seen Peele’s work, I expect a very creative plot that will be kept secret until the film comes out. Nope will be released in theaters in July.
Wishful Thinking
I’m going to hit these three films quickly as we’re not even sure if they will be released in 2022, or if they will slip to next year. But with the actors and directors involved, they are high on my list of anticipated movies.
Master director David Fincher returns to his specialty after dabbling with pet project Mank two years ago. He is now filming The Killer, described as an action / noir / thriller picture, based on a graphic novel series. It stars Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton and if it’s anything close to his earlier work in this type of genre, we are in for a treat.
Legendary director Ridley Scott shows no signs of slowing down, still going strong at the ripe old age of 84. He follows up his strong 2021 doubleheader of The Last Duel and House of Gucci with Napoleon, based on the French Revolution leader. Joaquin Phoenix reunites with his Gladiator director to play the title role, with Vanessa Kirby attached to play his wife. The film apparently focuses as much on the couple’s relationship as the events of the times in which they lived. Scott is a master at period pieces, so expect this one to be good.
Lastly, I’m looking forward to the next directorial project from Bradley Cooper, after his Oscar-nominated turn directing The Star is Born. The film is Maestro and Cooper will not only be behind the camera, but he will also be starring as legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. I’ve written many times that I can run hot or cold on biopic films, but I’m guessing with Cooper behind this project, it will be a good one.
Hopefully we see all three of these before the year is out.
OK, as much as I am looking forward to all of those movies, here are the five I am most excited about.
#5 Top Gun: Maverick
I’ve written about this one many times, especially since it’s been in the can waiting to be released for almost two years. We don’t know a lot about the plot of this one, which is not a bad thing. Tom Cruise returns as Maverick, now a teacher at the naval training academy. While there, he encounters the son of his old partner Goose (who died in the original – spoiler), played by Miles Teller. The film also features Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris and (what is likely a brief cameo) Val Kilmer returning as Maverick’s main rival Iceman. During the early days of the pandemic, when some films were dumped onto streaming services or sold off to make some money, there was some brief discussion about whether Paramount Pictures would give us Top Gun: Maverick in our homes. It never gained any serious traction and at one point co-star Jon Hamm told an interviewer that he recently saw the final version of the movie and that fans really needed to see it in theaters because it was amazing, telling them to be patient. Well, having seen the trailer for this one a few times in the theater over the last year or so, I think we’re in for a fun experience when we finally get to see it. Top Gun: Maverick is scheduled to premiere in theaters Memorial Day Weekend.
#4 The Fabelmans
Coming off one of his most critically-acclaimed movies in years (and that’s saying something), Steven Spielberg’s follow up to West Side Story has been described by the director as his most personal film since E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The Fabelmans is a coming of age story inspired by Spielberg’s time growing up in Arizona. The characters are reportedly “inspired” by Spielberg and his family with the exceptional Michelle Williams and Paul Dano (coming off of a white-hot performance in The Batman as The Riddler) playing the parents. Spielberg cast a newcomer in the role inspired by himself and it will be interesting to see how this choice pays off – he has a history of finding diamonds in the rough when casting child actors (Drew Barrymore and Christian Bale come to mind). Lastly, he cast Seth Rogen in the role of his fun uncle. I run hot and cold on Rogen, but I trust Spielberg saw something in him for this part, and he could be a surprisingly good part of the movie. It’s likely Spielberg’s name will once again be the talk of Hollywood come Oscar time later this year. The Fabelmans is scheduled to be released in theaters in November.
#3 Knives Out 2
In 2017, writer-director Rian Johnson’ vision of the Star Wars universe was released for the world to see. The Last Jedi was the second film in the “new trilogy” and was met with a very divisive reaction. Some fans loved the dark vision and bold plot choices that he brought to the film, while others thought it didn’t do enough “fan service” to diehard followers of the franchise. Johnson was offered the opportunity to direct the next film in the franchise, but decided to move on to a new project he had been wanting to do for a while, a take on the murder mystery genre with a quirky detective, inspired by the works of Agatha Christie. The result was 2019’s Knives Out, a clever mystery with an all-star cast and enough humor to balance the suspenseful nature of a whodunnit. The film was a massive success at the box-office and earned Johnson an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Johnson, decidedly, had the last laugh at the critics of his work on The Last Jedi. You know what also helps? Netflix plunking down over $400 million for the rights to two sequels, the first of which we will see later this year. Daniel Craig, having wrapped up his James Bond commitments, is back for the sequel as Detective Benoit Blanc. Much like the stories of Christie’s famous detective Hercule Poirot, Knives Out 2 features a new plot and a new cast, including Edward Norton, Ethan Hawke, Kathryn Hahn, Kate Hudson, and many more. Expect more fun, mystery and laughs when this one arrives. Knives Out 2 is expected to premiere on Netflix in late 2022.
#2 Babylon
A film about old-time Hollywood set in the 1920s when the silent movie era ended and “talkies” emerged to take their place? Sounds intriguing. Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie starring? OK, now you really have my interest. Directed by Damien Chazelle, who is 3-for-3 in delivering outstanding pictures as a filmmaker? OK, when can I see this? Like, right now? Well, maybe not. Babylon was yet another casualty of the pandemic production delays, but recently wrapped production, so we’ll see it this year. Chazelle, who won the Oscar for directing La La Land, and whose other pictures (Whiplash and First Man) were also amazing for very different reasons, is back with this period drama. In addition to Pitt and Robbie, the film features an extensive cast of big names in what will likely be smaller parts, playing Hollywood legends of this transformative era in movies. Babylon is scheduled to be released in theaters in late December.
#1 Killers of the Flower Moon
Scorsese. DiCaprio. De Niro. Yup, this one has me excited. I’ve had this film circled for about four years, ever since I heard that this team had acquired the rights to the 2017 book on which it is based. The film is the story of a series of murders that occur in a Native American community in 1920s Oklahoma. The Osage tribe had been awarded the rights to substantial oil deposits on their land and suddenly a number of them started getting killed. The federal government sends in some investigators during a time when the FBI was just being established by J. Edgar Hoover. The lead investigator in the film will be played by Jesse Plemons, one of the hottest actors working today. The role was originally planned for DiCaprio, but he thought he was too old for the part and suggested to Scorsese that Plemons take the role. Leo will now play the nephew of De Niro’s character, a shady resident of the Oklahoma community.
Killers of the Flower Moon is a production of Paramount Pictures, who brought on Apple to help with the financing. The budget has ballooned to over $200 million as Scorsese is sparing no expense in bringing this story to life, including filming on location in Oklahoma and consulting with members of the Osage tribe for historical accuracy purposes. Apple is certainly bringing out the big guns in an effort to win its first Oscar for Best Picture (unless they do next weekend for CODA – that’s right, I said it!). Having read the book this movie is based on, I can say that this is a fantastic story. And with all of the talent on board, my hopes are very high for this one. Killers of the Flower Moon is expected to premiere in theaters and on Apple TV+ in November.
That’s all for this week. I hope you enjoyed my look at the upcoming year in film and found some good choices for your watchlist. Thanks for reading and see you next week.