2022 will be known as the year of movies post-pandemic. The new movie release schedule seemed to have stabilized for both theatrical and streaming releases as there appeared to be something to look forward to each month. 2022 movies kicked off with Robert Pattinson as the new Batman in The Batman and capped off with the long awaited release of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water. So now as 2022 draws to an end, what was 2022 like for the year in movies?
Throwbacks & Comebacks
Top Gun: Maverick shows the competition how it’s done
The biggest movie of 2022 (so far) was supposed to have been released in the summer of 2019. Top Gun: Maverick, which tells the story of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell trying to find his place in an era of automation nearly 40 years after the first Top Gun, finally landed on the auspicious Memorial Day long weekend. Top Gun: Maverick was lauded for its universal appeal, but that’s just a nice euphemism to say that Top Gun: Maverick was void of “wokeness.”
This absence of social signals and cultural themes was heavily credited for luring all sides of the political spectrum and filling as many theatre seats as possible. But ultimately, Top Gun: Maverick has all of the ingredients of the blockbuster movie that we’re so used to from yesteryear. It’s got the big A-list movie star and a big budget. But most importantly, Top Gun: Maverick has a story filled with emotion, thrills, and laughs.
The most welcomed back comebacks: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Brendan Fraser, Ke Huy Quan
Tom Cruise wasn’t the only oldie but goodie who recaptured moviegoers’ hearts. 2022 was a year filled with welcomed returns by a slew of big names and names that were big in a different decade. Members of the modern old Hollywood era like Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, and Julia Roberts all had successful (but surprising) reappearances on the big screen in 2022.
Sandra Bullock starred and produced in the comedy/adventure The Lost City which netted nearly $200M. George Clooney and Julia Roberts tag teamed for a throwback romantic comedy about a bickering divorced couple determined to stop their only daughter from making the same mistake they did at the altar.
Gen X heartthrob Ethan Hawke has transformed himself into a ubiquitous and reliable working actor. Hawke carried the hit supernatural horror film, The Black Phone as the child killer. And he was just as menacing in Marvel’s Moon Knight series.
2022 also saw the return of familiar faces who haven’t been seen on the big screen for a while.
Brendan Fraser, who was on top of the cinematic world with blockbusters like The Mummy and George of the Jungle, seemed to fade into the background unexpectedly due to health issues and alleging that he was sexually assaulted by the former head of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Fraser returned to critical praise in The Whale as an obese man who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.
Similarly, Ke Huy Quan, who was a successful child actor in blockbusters like Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, was forced to step behind the camera as Hollywood roles for Asians were few and far between. Quan decided to give it a go in front of the camera after seeing the success of Crazy Rich Asians. Quan proves that it wasn’t just luck as his turn as the sensitive and long suffering husband to Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All At Once has him locked as the Oscar favorite for Best Supporting Actor.
Neo Horror Storytelling
The horror genre has recently been dominated by the creators of the Conjuring Universe and Insidious. It’s not a surprise that horror masters like James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, Malignant) and Jason Blum (Get Out, Halloween, The Invisible Man) are seeking to merge their production companies. But Wan and Blum aren’t the only horror show in town. In 2022, there were several quirky, creepy surprises like Pearl, Smile, and Barbarian. It’s not just good enough for these neo horror films to be scary, but the origins of the horror are more complex with stories and characters that have modern twists to them.
Superhero Schadenfreude
Everyone loves a winner, but not if they’re the one who’s always the loser. Since 2008, Marvel movies have dominated the box office with the lowest earning $265M (The Incredible Hulk) and the highest earning $2.7B (Avengers: Endgame). The three Marvel films released in 2022 earned a combined total of $2.5B. The guaranteed financial success has seen budget dollars being dedicated to the production of these types of movies and perhaps making it harder for other stories to be told. Maybe that’s why iconic directors like Martin Scorsese and James Cameron have tried to take the Marvel films down a couple of notches.
Show Business Shakeups
Movies like any other product are part of a business. And in show business, if economic hard times are ahead, then there will be shakeups. In 2022, David Zaslav officially became the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery after the merger of AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery. Zaslav’s casualties so far include: Wonder Woman 3, Henry Cavill as Superman, Black Adam 2, Batgirl, CNN+, and several shows on HBO Max.
Disney has also had a 2022 of dramatic changes. Bob Chapek took over as CEO from Bob Iger in February 2020, but Chapek’s reign didn’t last long. Bob Iger returned to the CEO seat in November 2022. The sudden switcheroo will no doubt result in changes and all eyes are on Marvel’s future phases.
The Streaming Screen
Despite the campaigns by directors and actors to encourage people to return to the theatres--remember when Tom Cruise famously stepped inside a theatre during the pandemic--the executives in charge are still betting big on streaming. Movies that seemed special enough to be on the big screen with its sizeable budgets and big named casts were sidelined to streaming screens. Several movies released to streaming in 2022 maybe in a different time would be seen exclusively on the big screen including: Turning Red, Glass Onion, Disenchanted, Hellraiser, Prey, Hocus Pocus 2, Samaritan, Thirteen Lives.
Big Buzz Bombs
It’s always a bummer when films with big buzz bomb their landings. Each year there’s great anticipation for movies that everyone is waiting to see. It’s like a balloon being popped in mid-air when your expectations are not met. 2022 is no different. There were several movies that were hyped to be that movie this year that unfortunately missed the mark. These included comic book movies like Morbius and Black Adam. Star studded ensembles like The 355, Babylon, Amsterdam, Lightyear, and Don’t Worry Darling. And franchises like Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and Halloween Ends.
Familiarity Breeds Success
Audiences love a familiar story and a familiar face. Based on box office figures, the top 10 grossing movies in North America so far for 2022 are all sequels or part of a franchise. Top Gun: Maverick is the sequel to 1986’s Top Gun and it is the top grossing film so far for 2022 with $1.4 billion. Other notable familiar films include Jurassic World: Dominion ($1 billion), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ($955 million), Minions: The Rise of Gru ($939 million).
Animation Stagnation
There was a time when a Pixar branded animated film was a guarantee hit at the box office. But since Toy Story 4 (2019) or post-pandemic times, animated films have seem to hit a slump. Whether it’s the films debuting on streaming like Soul and Turning Red. Or the films not being exciting enough like Strange World and Lightyear, there’s something amiss with today’s animated features compared to the glory days of the Toy Story’s or Secret Life of Pets. Even the very promising Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is performing below expectations besides unanimous strong reviews. Are audiences not willing to buy movie tickets for a “cartoon” anymore?
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