It's never been a more rewarding time to be a fan of movies. The level of ambition and spectacle present in the cinematic experience has never been greater, which has led to an incredible slate of feature films that have come out in the past decade. The film industry has become increasingly interested in huge blockbusters and the next big franchise with connected cinematic universes.
These trends have caused a certain level of transparency regarding the cinematic slate of the next few years and what's set to become the next big hit. Some highly anticipated movies are on the way and set for release in 2022.
10 2022's Scream Marks The Return Of An Iconic Slasher Series
The horror genre has gone through frequent Renaissance periods over the years, and it currently feels like it's never been more popular. There's been a radical influx of both new properties as well as returns to cherished archetypes of the genre.
Wes Craven's Scream redefined the slasher genre with its self-aware meta approach to horror, which its subsequent sequels cleverly extrapolate upon. 2022's Scream is the fifth entry in the series, the first without Craven, and is set to combine the series' legacy characters with new figures.
9 John Wick: Chapter 4 Features More Gonzo Action From Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves has grown into one of the most trusted actors in the action genre due to the meticulous level of dedication that he puts into his performances. John Wick has become Reeves' flagship series, and the chaotic action movies never struggle to consistently raise the stakes when it comes to brutal choreography and fight sequences.
The third film in the series might be the strongest yet, which has expectations quite high for John Wick: Chapter 4. Considering that the fourth John Wick was filmed back-to-back with a fifth movie, it's clear that the John Wick series isn't going away anytime soon.
8 The Black Phone Is A Dark And Disturbing Story That's Ready To Terrify
Exceptional horror films like Sinister helped put director Scott Derrickson on the map, and much of the talent associated with that Blumhouse picture is back for 2022's The Black Phone.
Based on a haunting short story by Joe Hill, The Black Phone is a brilliant mix of grounded human horrors and supernatural ideas, with a gripping hook that ties it all together. The Black Phone's disturbing visuals and accomplished cast guarantee that it will be one of the scariest films of the year and another hit for Blumhouse.
7 Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Might Be The Wildest MCU Movie Yet
Avengers: Endgame was a turning point for the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Phase Four is now in full swing with constant superhero projects in production and on the way. All of these efforts make up some of the most anticipated cinematic events of 2022, but Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness looks to be the most appealing of all.
Not only is the movie the first Doctor Strange sequel, but it'll make heavy use of Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch, push the MCU deeper into the horror genre, and it also marks Sam Raimi's return to superhero cinema.
6 Halloween Ends Brings Michael Myers' Murderous Mayhem To A Close
The horror genre has found a lot of success through the advent of legacy sequels, which attempt to unburden franchises of their copious sequels and instead continue the original's story. There have been a slew of unfulfilling Halloween sequels and remakes, but David Gordon Green's 2018 effort seemed to be a mature course correction.
Halloween Kills is a more polarizing successor, but it's very much the middle entry in a trilogy. 2022's Halloween Ends is set to resolve this modern trilogy and perhaps, finally, put an end to Michael Myers' undying evil.
5 The Batman Reinvents The Classic DC Hero In A Gritty Fashion
The popularity of superhero cinema has allowed tertiary characters to receive feature films and origin stories that would have seemed impossible a decade ago. It's exciting that overlooked characters can finally get their due. Still, some of the most famous heroes, like Batman, continue to get new opportunities as well.
Batman is a DC superhero who's had many different cinematic interpretations, and 2022 is set to mark Matt Reeves' gritty take on the property. Robert Pattinson is the new Batman, and Reeves' movie will explore more of the characters' detective skills as he faces off against a deeply twisted take on the Riddler.
4 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore Digs Deeper Into The Wizarding World
Harry Potter remains one of the most successful series of all time, and there's still plenty being done with the main franchise. At the same time, a third entry in the Fantastic Beasts series, The Secrets of Dumbledore, is set to hit theaters in 2022.
The Secrets of Dumbledore will continue the growing conflict between Newt Scamander and his team to stop Gellert Grindelwald. Longtime fans of the series will finally get some closure with the film, as well as see Mads Mikkelsen step into the Grindelwald role as he replaces Johnny Depp.
3 Bob's Burgers: The Movie Puts The Lovable Belcher Family In Their Biggest Adventure
Bob's Burgers has become a modern animated classic with over 150 episodes under its belt and has kept audiences entertained for over a decade. It can be difficult for a television series to transition into a feature film, and vice versa, but Bob's Burgers has certainly earned the opportunity to experiment with a more grandiose storyline.
Music has always been an important element to Bob's Burgers, but the movie is set to be a full-on musical. Fans are understandably excited to finally see the Belchers on the big screen.
2 Legally Blonde 3 Marks The Return Of Reese Witherspoon's Cherished Elle Woods
It's been nearly two decades since the release of 2003's Legally Blonde 2, but it's become increasingly in vogue for established actors to return to their classic franchises and attempt to do something new with them.
Legally Blonde 3 would have been shot down twenty years ago, but there's a newfound appeal in Reese Witherspoon returning to her beloved Elle Woods character. Plot details and a full cast list for Legally Blonde 3 have yet to come to light. However, Mindy Kaling has penned a current draft of the script, which bodes well for its quality.
1 Nope Is Jordan Peele's Latest Attempt To Rejuvenate The Horror Genre
Jordan Peele has only directed two horror movies, but Get Out and Us are accomplished genre films with so much to say. Peele has been elevated to a standout auteur in the genre and it's turned each of his new projects into cinematic events.
Nope is Peele's 2022 feature film, but beyond the cast and a very foreboding teaser poster, the movie's details have remained sparse. Peele understands how to build anticipation and knows what elements from a film should remain a surprise. Nope could very well be his best movie yet.