Movie theaters have gotten off to a hot start in 2022 with a couple big blockbusters taking the world by storm and sparking the box office. Matt Reeves’ The Batman quickly became explosive hit that dominated the box office while kicking off a new cinematic era for The Dark Knight and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 continues Sonic’s success on the big screen with a sequel that brings viewers on a fast-paced, colorful adventure everyone can enjoy. Even the indie scene has had some breakout hits as A24 has found immense acclaim and success with Ti West’s 70s inspired slasher X and Daniels’ mind-bending multiverse trek Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.
Even better is that we’re only at the start of 2022’s most exciting films as the summer movie slate is full of heavy hitters. Horror fans have a lot to look forward to with both Jordan Peele’s Nope and Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone and Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor returns to the big screen for an interstellar adventure in Thor: Love and Thunder. From major blockbuster franchises making a huge return to the big screen to star-studded originals hoping to bring in big audiences, there are a lot of major releases to look out for this summer.
Upcoming Releases
Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8th)
Marvel Studios finally released the trailer for the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder recently, and it set the stage for Thor to possibly go on his final solo adventure and introduce a new wielder of Mjolnir.
Although Thor will be the central character in his latest adventure that sees him trying to chart a new path for himself post-Endgame, there are so many other characters appearing that already have fans raving. From most of the Guardians of the Galaxy to Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster returning as a new version of Thor, Love and Thunder already has MCU fans excited.
Nope (July 22nd)
The third horror film from the mind of Jordan Peele, Nope, is one of the most anticipated films hitting theaters this summer and has all the makings of a massive hit.
With Nope, Peele delivers a modern alien invasion story that features a strong leading cast of Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun. Even with a recent trailer, the mystery and suspense around Nope is higher than ever and many are ready to see what Peele has in store for us.
Bullet Train (July 29th)
Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2 director David Leitch is set to unleash his most ambitious action epic to date with the star-studded Bullet Train.
The film follows the destructions and complications that ensue when competing assassins go head-to-head aboard a moving bullet train to complete their shared assignment. Bullet Train looks like the incredibly fun, action-packed thrill ride audiences are constantly seeking and with it featuring the likes of Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Joey King, Brian Tyree Henry, and many others, it could draw a wide audience.
Previous Releases
Minions: The Rise of Gru (July 1st)
Love them or hate them, the Minions are returning with a sequel that sees the titular goofballs first help a young Gru fight against a group of eccentric villains.
Illumination’s first Minions movie absolutely killed it at the box-office and captured the hearts of many to make the minions pop culture icons. This sequel adventure looks to be just as wildly fun as the first and having a young Gru running could make Minions: The Rise of Gru an equally fun prequel.
The Black Phone (June 24th)
Doctor Strange and Sinister director Scott Derrickson’s latest film, The Black Phone, is finally just around the corner and is one of the biggest horror flicks of the summer.
The Black Phone’s story of a young boy trying to survive against a sadistic masked serial killer with the help of past victims features a great mix of grounded, gruesome horror and personal coming of age storytelling and based on the rave reviews the film received out of its premiere at last year’s Fantasia Fest, horror fans have every reason to be excited about The Black Phone.
Elvis (June 24th)
Director Baz Luhrmann returns this summer with a biopic centered on the story of Elvis Presley, played by Austin Butler, that could feature two standout performances.
Elvis will chronicle the rise and struggles of the titular king of rock n’ roll as well as his complex relationship with his manager Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. Both Butler and Hanks look to give some possibly award-worthy performances within Luhrmann’s signature glitzy visual style that could combine for a can’t-miss Elvis story.
Lightyear (June 17th)
Pixar’s first theatrical spin-off of Toy Story, Lightyear, is set to take fans into a wild and visually stunning space adventure that focuses on the origins of the titular adventurer who inspired the iconic toy Buzz Lightyear.
Lightyear has been impressive since its first trailer and continues to look like Pixar’s most expansive film to date with it featuring a fresh cast that’s led by Chris Evans voicing Buzz and exploring a vast space setting that beautifully realized and epic.
Jurassic World: Dominion (June 10th)
The end of the Jurassic era is upon us as Jurassic World: Dominion brings the legacy of the franchise together for a globe-trotting, dinosaur-filled finale.
While central plot details around Dominion haven’t been fleshed out much, fans are already excited to see Dominion just because Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum are returning as their respective characters. Dominion looks like it could be a fun cinematic finale for the legacy of this franchise and will undoubtedly be a box-office titan.
Top Gun: Maverick (May 27th)
Over 25 years after the original Top Gun released, Tom Cruise returns in the upcoming sequel, Maverick, in one of his most iconic roles to lead a new band of fighter pilots through some high-flying, cinema-caliber action.
While Maverick has been one of the many victims of the pandemic closing theaters and causing multiple delays, it’s set to kick off the 2022 summer slate with intense dogfights and an evolution of the original film that looks worthy of taking it all in on the biggest screen possible.
Men (May 24th)
On the indie film front, A24 looks to continue their dominance this year with the latest film from Annihilation and Ex Machina director Alex Garland, Men, that looks disturbing as hell.
The film follows a woman heading to the English countryside to heal after a tragic death only to find herself in a terrifying cat and mouse game with a shapeshifting entity with unknown motivations. Men looks totally chilling with its intriguing premise and Garland’s signature craft of suspense and mystery showing strong potential for it to be a huge horror hit.