2022 was an important year for movie-goers. There were so many notable films, some that might change the industry forever. Today I’m going to talk about my top 5 films from this year, and why I think they’re so remarkable. Keep in mind, I have not seen every movie released this year. This list is just from what I have seen. 

#5: X

‘X’ is one of the most recent horror movies released by A24. Starring Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, and more. This movie is a near-perfect modern take on a slasher film, taking all of the good qualities from classic slasher films, and improving upon the bad qualities. It also has one of the most interesting twists that any film has produced this year. (Side note: If you enjoyed this movie, consider watching ‘Pearl’ (2022) and ‘MaXXXine’ when it releases, most likely next year!) 

#4: Nope

Jordan Peele has been making quite the name for himself with his unique horror films in recent years. ‘Nope’ is possibly one of the most interesting and weirdly disturbing horror movies that I’ve seen in the last decade. With amazing performances from Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya, and Steven Yeun, and a bone-chilling alien antagonist, this movie has more than earned its spot on this list. ‘Nope’ is full of unexpected and disturbing turns, with extremely emotional scenes that will crush your heart.

#3: The Northman

What I want to talk about most when it comes to this film is the cinematography. Visually, this is the most appealing film that I’ve seen this year. Taking place in 10th-century Iceland, this Viking thriller is the only film on this list that left me speechless when I left the theater. I can’t think of a more perfect example of a revenge story. Alexander Skarsgård demonstrated his talent with one of the most intense and emotional performances I’ve ever seen. If a slow-paced movie will bother you though, you might skip this one. The plot and dialogue can get a bit confusing at times, but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the film too much.

#2: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Some might say that Marvel Studios has been slacking on their recent projects, and that the quality of their films and shows are going downhill. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was not one of those films. From the opening scene up to the credits, this film is a beautiful, tragic story about what grief can do to a person. How it can change them, and the way they treat the people around them. Many doubted that this film would be special since it was missing the titular character. Performances from Letitia Wright, Lupita N’yongo, Tenoch Huerta, Angela Bassett, and many others blew me away. Not to mention Namor (Tenoch Huerta) was possibly the best comic book movie villain of the year.

#1: The Batman

Director Matt Reeves gave us the first solo Batman adaptation since 2012, and it did not disappoint. This film showed us a side of Batman that we have never seen in live-action before. It’s a 3-hour structured story with an amazing character arc for the titular character. Every performance in this movie blew me away, such as Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, Paul Dano as The Riddler, Colin Farrel as Oswald Cobblepot, and just about everyone in the movie. It also had a very strong third act, possibly the best of any other this year.