THE 39 MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIES OF 2022
ASSUMING WE CAN ALL GO BACK TO THE THEATER AGAIN, WE’VE GOT TONS OF 2022 MOVIES TO LOOK FORWARD TO, FROM ACTION, ADVENTURE, AND HORROR TO ROMANTIC COMEDIES AND ANIMATED FAMILY FILMS.
JANUARY
Escape Room 2 (2021)
Directed by: Adam Robitel
Starring: Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Isabelle Fuhrman, Holland Roden
Opening on: January 7, 2022
Taylor Russell and Logan Miller return to reprise their roles from the first Escape Room, a Saw-inspired horror-thriller that became something of a surprise hit when it premiered in January of 2019. Though we don’t know exactly what the second film will be about, the first one ended on a pretty suggestive cliffhanger, so we can expect Ben (Miller) and Zoey (Russell) to take part in a new round of deadly games. Originally slated to debut in 2020, and then in 2021, the film was ultimately pushed even further back to 2022.
(Photo by Universal Pictures)
The 355 (2021)
Directed by: Simon Kinberg
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Diane Kruger, Penelope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Sebastian Stan, Edgar Ramirez
Opening on: January 14, 2022
Veteran X-Men writer and director Simon Kinberg helms this spy thriller about a group of international agents (played by a star-studded A-list ensemble) who band together to recover a top-secret weapon from a dangerous mercenary. This film was delayed one year from its original January, 2021 release.
Scream 5 (2022)
Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jack Quaid, Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Dylan Minnette, Marley Shelton
Opening on: January 14, 2022
The directing duo known as “Radio Silence” who brought us 2019’s Ready or Not take on Ghostface in a new entry in Wes Craven’s meta horror franchise, with veteran stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette all set to return. Details on plot are still thin at the moment, but bet on the film to continue the mythology surrounding Sidney Prescott and her truamatic, very unlucky past.
Sesame Street (2021)
Directed by: Jonathan Krisel
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Bo Burnham, Chance the Rapper
Opening on: January 14, 2022
This one is still a bit up in the air, since the release date was announced all the way back in 2019, and the original start date of production on the film in 202 had to be postponed due to COVID-19. But if everything lines up right, expect to see Anne Hathaway, Bo Burnham, and Chance the Rapper hanging out with Big Bird, Grover, Elmo and the rest of the Sesame Street gang in the third feature film spin-off of the popular children’s educational TV series.
Morbius (2021)
Directed by: Daniel Espinosa
Starring: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, Tyrese Gibson, Michael Keaton
Opening on: January 14, 2022
Sony’s latest entry in its “Spider-Verse” franchise of connected films is the origin story of a scientist who inadvertently turns himself into a vampire in his efforts to cure himself of a rare blood disease. Swedish director Daniel Espinosa (Safe House, Life) takes up the helm, and Michael Keaton — who appeared in the MCU’s Spider-Man: Homecoming as prominent Spider-Man villain Vulture — is set to make an appearance, which has all kinds of crossover implications.
FEBRUARY
Marry Me (2021)
Directed by: Kat Coiro
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Sarah Silverman, John Bradley, Maluma
Opening on: February 11, 2022
After securing some of the most glowing reviews of her career for her stellar turn in 2019’s Hustlers, Jennifer Lopez makes a return to rom-coms in this story about a pop star who marries a stranger in one of her crowds (Owen Wilson) after she discovers her partner has been having an affair. This film was pushed back a year from its planned 2021 release.
Uncharted (2021)
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas, Sophia Taylor Ali, Tati Gabrielle
Opening on: February 11, 2022
This Indiana Jones-styled action-adventure film, based on the popular video game series of the same name, has been floating around in development for more than a decade, but it wasn’t until June of 2019 that we got some solid forward movement on it. Tom Holland was confirmed to star in the film as the central hero, Nathan Drake, and it officially went into production in early 2020. It lands here after several shifts in the release schedule; let’s hope it stays here.
Ambulance (2022)
Directed by: Michael Bay
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza Gonzalez, Garret Dillahunt
Opening on: February 18, 2022
Michael Bay tones down his blockbuster tendencies just a bit (presumably) for this smaller-scale thriller about a pair of thieves who unknowingly rob an ambulance carrying a paramedic and a patient in critical condition. This remake of a Danish film has been in development since 2015, but filming finally got underway in January of 2021.
(Photo by Paramount Pictures)
Rumble (2021)
Directed by: Hamish Grieve
Starring: Geraldine Viswanathan, Will Arnett, Terry Crews, Ben Schwartz, Becky Lynch, Roman Reigns
Opening on: February 18, 2022
What do you get if you cross an animation studio with the WWE? Paramount decided to find out, and their first joint venture with WWE Studios brings us this family comedy set in a world where humans and monsters live alongside each other, except that the monsters are professional wrestlers. Geraldine Viswanathan plays a young girl who aims to coach an inexperienced monster (Will Arnett) to make him a champion.
MARCH
The Batman (2021)
Directed by: Matt Reeves
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Jeffrey Wright, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell
Opening on: March 4, 2022
If you’re looking for yet another iteration of the Caped Crusader, you’re in luck. Despite the ongoing DC Extended Universe of films (which includes other entries in 2022 like The Flash and Aquaman 2), Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves tackles what looks to be an even darker take on Batman than we’ve already seen, with an impressive cast that includes Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, Colin Farrell as the Penguin, Paul Dano as the Riddler, and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon.
Turning Red (2022)
Directed by: Domee Shi
Starring: TBD
Opening on: March 11, 2022
The first of two Pixar offerings in 2022 is this fantastical coming-of-age tale about a 13-year-old girl who transforms into a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited about something. We don’t have any cast information as of yet, but it will be the feature directorial debut of Domee Shi, who won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for Bao in 2018.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Xochitl Gomez
Opening on: March 25, 2022
Anticipation will be high for this entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — the first of three in 2022 — that will directly tie in with the events in Marvel’s first Disney+ series, WandaVision. After some behind-the-scenes shake-ups, director Sam Raimi jumped on board, and it’s been reported that the story will see the return of familiar characters from the first film.
APRIL
(Photo by Paramount Pictures)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
Directed by: Jeff Fowler
Starring: Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter
Opening on: April 8, 2022
Sonic the Hedgehog was one of the last big movies to hit theaters before coronavirus lockdowns went into effect, and it became one of the highest-grossing films of 2020. With that in mind, Paramount got right to work developing a sequel, securing director Jeff Fowler and stars Ben Schwartz (the voice of Sonic) and Tika Sumpter. No official word yet on the return of James Marsden’s Tom or Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik, but it’s difficult to imagine they won’t be back, and if the mid-credits sequence can be taken at face value, we’ll also get Tails.
The Lost City of D (2022)
Directed by: Aaron Nee, Adam Nee
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum
Opening on: April 15, 2022
This romantic action-adventure stars Sandra Bullock as a reclusive romance novelist who embarks on a book tour with the cover model (Channing Tatum) of her latest book, only for the pair to be swept up in a jungle adventure when a kidnapping attempt goes awry. Not much else is known, except that the film will be directed by the Nee brothers, whose last film was the “Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn are modern day treasure hunters” movie Band of Robbers.
MAY
Legally Blonde 3 (2020)
Directed by: Jamie Suk
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Coolidge
Opening in: May, 2022
We don’t know what the story will entail, but we do know that a third entry in the beloved Reese Witherspoon comedy franchise Legally Blonde is set to come out sometime in May of 2022. The film has been in development since 2018 and was originally scheduled to open in 2020, but various delays — including, yes, the coronavirus — set it back. We know that Jennifer Coolidge is returning, and the film will be the feature debut of Jamie Suk.
(Photo by Jasin Boland/©Marvel Studios)
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff
Opening on: May 6, 2022
Marvel’s second film of 2022 is the highly anticipated follow-up to Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok, which reinvented the character to the delight of critics and audiences alike. Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster will return to the franchise, and it’s been teased that she will wield Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, at some point. We also know that Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie will be back, and Thor will meet up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to face Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher. So, you know, good times all around.
DC Super Pets (2021)
Directed by: Jared Stern
Starring: TBD
Opening on: May 20, 2022
Back in August of 2020, the DC Fandome event presented our first look at their upcoming animated film DC Super Pets — which centers on Superman’s equally heroic dog teaming up with a flying cat to stop crime — but we haven’t heard much about it since then. The release date was set all the way back in 2019, so here’s hoping the film doesn’t have to be pushed back due to production delays.
Dungeons & Dragons (2022)
Directed by: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Starring: Regé-Jean Page, Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith
Opening on: May 27, 2022
For those old enough to remember, there was, once upon a time, a feature film based on the seminal role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons… and it was generally thought to be pretty awful. So bad, in fact, that it’s taken over two decades for anyone to give it another go. Can Chris Pine and Bridgerton sensation Regé-Jean Page help breathe new life into the fantasy-adventure franchise? We’re itching to find out.
(Photo by David Lee/©Summit Entertainment)
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2022)
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves
Opening on: May 27, 2022
John Wick Chapter 4 is reportedly being shot back-to-back with Chapter 5, so while we don’t quite know where the story is going to go in this next installment, we can be sure it won’t be the end of the saga. Keanu Reeves is set to return as the puppy-loving assassin extraordinaire, and we expect the action set pieces will be top notch, as usual.
JUNE
Untitled Elvis Biopic
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Gary Clark Jr., Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Opening on: June 3, 2022
Baz Luhrmann directs this slice-of-life biopic about the relationship between a young Elvis Presley and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Austin Butler went through an extensive casting process to land the lead role, and he’ll be playing opposite Tom Hanks, who was the first major celebrity to announce he had tested positive for COVID-19 while he was in Australia to shoot the film.
(Photo by ©Universal Pictures)
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, Omar Sy, BD Wong
Opening on: June 10, 2022
Jeff Goldblum closed out the last chapter of the Jurassic franchise by declaring humans would have to learn to co-exist with dinosaurs, and though the plot of this trilogy-capper is being kept under pretty tight wraps, it’s safe to assume it will deal with the ramifications of Lost Kingdom. The big news here is that original stars Laura Dern and Sam Neill are both returning alongside Goldblum, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Chris Pratt.
Lightyear (2022)
Directed by: Angus MacLane, Bledsoe Sophia
Starring: Chris Evans
Opening on: June 17, 2022
The Toy Story franchise proper has come to an end (presumably), but Pixar says there’s still more fun to be had with these characters… just, in a different way. Fresh off his stint as the MCU’s Captain America, Chris Evans will lend his voice to the “real” Buzz Lightyear, the astronaut who was the inspiration for the action figure voiced by Tim Allen, in a prequel that will explore how he became so famous that they turned him into a toy.
JULY
(Photo by ©Marvel Studios)
Black Panther II (2022)
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Winston Duke, Martin Freeman
Opening on: July 8, 2022
In a truly sad and shocking turn of events, we lost Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman to colon cancer in 2020, and both filmmakers and fans across the world mourned his passing. This obviously led to questions about what would happen to the Marvel character, as he was set to become an important piece of the MCU’s future. As it turns out, we’re still getting a second film in 2022, but Boseman will not be recast, and the story will instead shift to focus on King T’Challa’s spunky sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright. Outside of that, we don’t know what the film will entail, including how T’Challa’s absence will be addressed.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3 (2022)
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Mads Mikkelsen, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol
Opening on: July 15, 2022
Eddie Redmayne returns as inquisitive wizard Newt Scamander in the third chapter of this magical spin-off/prequel series that takes place decades before Harry Potter enrolled at Hogwarts. The story picks up after the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald, as Newt and his compatriots continue to pursue the evil wizard (now played by Mads Mikkelsen), leading up to World War II.
Untitled Jordan Peele Horror Film (2022)
Directed by: Jordan Peele
Starring: Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya (rumored)
Opening on: July 22, 2022
After the runaway success of Get Out and Us, Jordan Peele got real busy real fast, but he’s finally getting around to making his third feature. As to be expected, we don’t really know anything about the film except that it will star Keke Palmer (and maybe Daniel Kaluuya, who’s currently in talks) and remain in the horror genre.
Indiana Jones 5 (2021)
Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Harrison Ford
Opening on: July 29, 2022
Fourteen years after we last saw Indiana Jones on the big screen, Harrison Ford is set to reprise the character in a new film to be directed by James Mangold. Last we heard, the script was still being worked on, so we don’t know what the story will entail just yet, nor do we know if Karen Allen or Shia LaBeouf will appear in the film. That said, the current release date — which, of course, is the result of a coronavirus-related delay — hasn’t changed in a bit, so that’s a good sign.
OCTOBER
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2022)
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors
Opening on: October 7, 2022 (maybe)
Peyton Reed gets the rare MCU trifecta as he returns to direct the third installment of the Ant-Man franchise (who would have thought Ant-Man would be one of the few heroes to get an entire standalone trilogy?). Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly will suit up as the titular heroes again, and Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors is on board to play the villain, Kang the Conqueror, but it’s a little early to know where the story will go. Also, it’s worth noting that the October 7 release date isn’t official; we just know Quantumania is coming in 2022, and Marvel has October 7 reserved for… something, so we did the math.
(Photo by ©Columbia Pictures)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 (2022)
Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos
Starring: Shameik Moore
Opening on: October 7, 2022
If there’s any reason to think Marvel might not fill that blank spot on October 7 with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it’s the fact that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 is currently scheduled for the same day. The Oscar-winning animated feature was a big hit with critics and audiences, and Spider-Verse 2 is probably one of the few movies that could give an MCU film a run for its money. Shameik Moore is set to voice Miles Morales again, and we suspect the plot will involve more dimension-hopping, but we don’t know who else will join him at this point.
Halloween Ends (2021)
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Nick Castle
Opening on: October 14, 2022
Director David Gordon Green and writers Danny McBride and Scott Teems successfully sequel-booted (is that a word now? reboot-queled, maybe?) the Halloween franchise with 2018’s Halloween, and based on its reception, they decided to go ahead and give us all a full trilogy. That trilogy ends with the appropriately titled Halloween Ends, in which Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode will presumably defeat Michael Myers forever.
NOVEMBER
The Flash (2022)
Directed by: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Ezra Miller, Ben Affleck, Sasha Calle, Billy Crudup, Michael Keaton
Opening on: November 4, 2022
In case you hadn’t heard, multi-verses are going to be all the rage in 2022, and this movie is looking to be DC’s contribution to the trend. Like a lot of the films on this list, we don’t yet know anything about the story, but the casting of Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne is either a super meta stunt or a big hint as to what we’ll see. There are rumors that the plot will follow the “Flashpoint” storyline from the comics, in which case, yes, expect some crossover shenanigans.
(Photo by David James/©Paramount Pictures)
Mission: Impossible 8 (2022)
Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Vanessa Kirby, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham
Opening on: November 4, 2022
This is the second of two Mission: Impossible movies that were shot back-to-back, though COVID-19 did set back production on Mission: Impossible 7 just a tad. Assuming everything is back on schedule — and people are adhering to social distancing protocols, per Tom Cruise’s request — we should see the further adventures of Ethan Hunt and his merry band of super spies back in action just in time for Thanksgiving.
Captain Marvel 2 (2022)
Directed by: Nia DaCosta
Starring: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton
Opening on: November 11, 2022
The last MCU offering of 2022 also has ties to WandaVision, as the latter portrays a grown-up Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), otherwise known as the daughter of Captain Marvel’s (Brie Larson) bestie, Maria Rambeau. How she will factor into the story is yet to be seen, but the film will also feature Kamala Khan, A.K.A. Ms. Marvel, who will have debuted in her own Disney+ series.
DECEMBER
(Photo by Warner Bros.)
Aquaman 2 (2022)
Directed by: James Wan
Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison
Opening on: December 16, 2022
James Wan returns to the director’s chair for another go at the world of Atlantis and the DC superhero Aquaman (Jason Momoa), who will be joined by Amber Heard (Mera), Patrick Wilson (Ocean Master), and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Black Manta). No other details about the film are available as of yet.
Avatar 2 (2022)
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Lang
Opening on: December 16, 2022
It’s taken almost a decade and a half, but we’re finally getting the long-ago-promised follow-up to James Cameron’s once-highest-grossing film of all time, Avatar. Sam Worthington’s Jake Sully and Zoe Saldana’s Neytiri now have a family on Pandora, but when old enemies return, they’re forced to evacuate and find a new home. Kate Winslet, Michelle Yeoh, and Edie Falco are among the new additions to the cast.
TBD
Chip ’n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
Directed by: Akiva Schaffer
Starring: John Mulaney, Andy Samberg
Opening on: Spring, 2022
Another film announced during the big Disney Investor Day was this adaptation of the popular Disney cartoon, which some believe will lead directly into a revival of the series on Disney+. John Mulaney and Andy Samberg will voice Chip and Dale, respectively, and considering Samberg and director Akiva Schaffer make up two-thirds of the comedy group The Lonely Island, it’s a fair bet the live-action/animation hybrid film will take on a slightly different tone than its predecessor.
The Bad Guys (2022)
Directed by: Pierre Perifel
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Marc Maron
Opening on: TBD
This latest project from DreamWorks Animation is a heist comedy based on popular series of children’s books about a handful of reformed villains who decide to go straight and so some good in the world. In this case, the “bad guys” are Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, and Ms. Tarantula. It was originally slated for release in 2021, but now remains undated in 2022.
(Photo by Jonny Cournoyer/©Paramount Pictures)
Untitled A Quiet Place Spin-Off (2022)
Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Starring: TBD
Opening on: TBD
In late 2020, as we awaited the delayed release of A Quiet Place Part II, Deadline reported that Jeff Nichols (Mud, Midnight Special) had been hired to write and direct a film “in the Quiet Place universe” based on an idea that original director John Krasinski came up with. The announcement stated the film was set for a 2022 release, and that was that, so now we wait for more information to trickle out.
Super Mario Bros.: The Movie (2022)
Directed by: Bledsoe Sophia
Starring: TBD
Opening on: TBD
We don’t have a lot of information on this one, except that it is being produced by Chris Meledandri of Illumination (Despicable Me) and the creator of Mario himself, Shigeru Miyamoto. We also know that it will be a CGI film, so it’s likely it will be much truer to the iconic character than the oft-ridiculed 1993 feature film adaptation.
Cheaper by the Dozen (2022)
Directed by: Gail Lerner
Starring: Gabrielle Union, Zach Braff
Opening on: TBD
Disney unleashed a ton of new projects and release dates during their Investor Day presentation in December of 2020, including this new adaptation of the book that inspired the 1950 comedy and its 2003 remake starring Steve Martin. This one is being developed by black-ish creator Kenya Barris with director Gail Lerner and stars Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff on board. In contrast to all previous versions, this one will also be about a blended family of 12.
