2022 has been an exceptional year for entertainment, especially so when it comes to movies and the cinematic experience. An impressive new slate of films, both in movie theaters and on streaming services, broke records and helped take the medium to new heights.
Some of the biggest movies from the past decade came out in 2022, including certain tentpole pictures like Halloween Ends, Nope, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, 2022 also featured some exceptional pieces of cinema that didn’t set the box office on fire and were completely overlooked. A huge gross and mainstream word of mouth is never a bad thing, but they don’t always dictate the best movies. 2022 had some great underrated films that deserve to be seen before 2023 comes around.
10 A Passionate Love Letter To The Nature Of Storytelling
Three Thousand Years Of Longing
Any George Miller film should be a cinematic celebration, and yet 2022's Three Thousand Years of Longing was barely marketed and failed to make an impact at the box office. This movie is full of Miller's signature visual flair, but it's also a patient movie about the nature of storytelling that's full of quiet scenes where two characters talk and listen.
There's electric chemistry between Idris Elba's Djinn and Tilda Swinton's Dr. Alithea Binnie that really ties the movie together. Simultaneously intimate and sprawling, Three Thousand Years of Longing is a cinematic experiment that deserves to be experienced.
9 A Ruthless Revenge Story That’s Steeped In Norse Mythology
The Northman
Robert Eggers is one of the most exciting names to come out of cinema over the past decade, thanks to evocative and atmospheric films like The Witch and The Lighthouse. Eggers’ The Northman is a huge action epic on a scale that’s rarely seen in the modern film industry.
Alexander Skarsgård stars as Prince Amleth, a rage-filled Viking who is finally set to end a grudge against his conniving uncle that's lasted two decades. The emotional family drama connects, but Skarsgard has never been better. His raw performance and lumbering gait as he devastates villages are a sight to behold.
8 A Woman Trains To Fight Her Double To The Death
Dual
Karen Gillen has quietly been making a name for herself through big-budget action films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jumanji, but some of her best work can be found in 2022's Dual. Dual is a smart science fiction story set in a futuristic version of society where clones have been perfected to help the rich recover from illnesses and physical limitations.
Gillen does double duty as both the terminally ill Sarah and her clone, who are forced into a duel to the death. This grim tale of identity is a thoughtful character study that features a rich world and a strong supporting performance from Aaron Paul.
7 An Unpredictable Account Of The Supernatural Subverts The Found-Footage Genre
Something In The Dirt
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead cut their teeth on trippy science fiction and horror hybrids. The duo has recently joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe machine after directing episodes of Moon Knight, but 2022's Something in the Dirt brings the duo back to their low-budget horror roots.
Presented as a faux documentary, Something in the Dirt chronicles two LA apartment neighbors as they attempt to document what they believe is proof of paranormal activity. What begins as a fun and creepy project becomes a complex deconstruction of meaning, fate, and unreliable narrators.
6 An Animated Documentary Presents A Nostalgic Blast To The Past
Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood
There have been some incredible innovations in documentary filmmaking, and certain films have decided to tell their stories through animation. Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood comes from Richard Linklater and shines a light on an unbelievable piece of space history that's largely overlooked.
The best documentaries are the ones that enlighten audiences about prolific people and situations. Apollo 10 ½ succeeds in that area, but its use of animation actively improves its storytelling capabilities and the imagination of its subjects. It's not just an arbitrary aesthetic decision.
5 A Haunting Idea Manifests Into Provoking Psychological Horror
Smile
Initially set to be released straight to streaming on Paramount+, Smile has proven to be one of the biggest horror surprises of 2022 and a genuine success story. There are countless horror movies like Smile that seemingly stretch a single idea too far, but there’s surprising substance in Smile.
The movie functions as a thoughtful and dark meditation on grief and loss that actually has something to say. This deep message, combined with the jarring premise, stunning practical effects, and haunting score, all turn Smile into an unexpected triumph.
4 America’s Favorite ‘90s Slackers Return For A Spectacular Sci-Fi Story
Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe
Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head are puerile, simplistic creations who have had a surprisingly long shelf life between multiple feature films and television revivals. More than 25 years after the release of Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe on Paramount+ is an exceptional return to form.
Most audiences don't even know that a new entry in the series exists. However, it's one of the year's best animated films, and it's proof that these juvenile characters haven't missed a beat.
3 A Nightmarish Tone Poem From A Stop-Motion Master
Mad God
Phil Tippett is an Academy Award-winning visual effects legend responsible for some of the most impressive stop-motion in cinema, including Jurassic Park's T-Rex and Robocop. Tippett's work is present in some of the all-time cinematic classics, but 2022's Mad God is a stop-motion feature film that's been three decades in the making.
Mad God truly feels like a vision into another world. Grimy, crunchy creations move through a hellish environment that's an endless spectacle. Mad God is light in story and won't be for everyone, but it's a pure vision and expression of Tippett's talents.
2 A Rainbow-Colored Rock Opera About The Power Of Music
Inu-Oh
Animation is a medium that’s constantly pushing boundaries, and Masaaki Yuasa’s anime projects are fearless and fluid expressions of passion. Inu-Oh is the culmination of decades of Yuasa refining his voice, and the end result is an imaginative rock opera set in 14th-century Japan.
Tomona, a blind musician, and Inu-Oh, a disfigured dancer, form a legendary alliance and unite a nation through their passionate performances. Inu-Oh is an enlightening look into Japanese folklore and history, but its visuals are gorgeous and impossible to ignore.
1 An Emotional And Unpredictable Tech-Driven Mystery
Decision To Leave
Park Chan-Wook is a South Korean filmmaker with a true flair for creative visual storytelling and complex melodrama. Oldboy, Lady Vengeance, and The Handmaiden are among Park’s best work, but his newest movie, Decision to Leave, is arguably his magnum opus. A suspenseful murder mystery plays out where a detective and his primary suspect find themselves on a destructive collision course.
Decision to Leave has received a major push towards the end of the year, and it’s South Korea’s frontrunner for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. However, there are still many people in mainstream audiences who have no idea that this movie exists.