The last two articles I have written have been about reminiscing over the good and bad in 2021. Even with its ups and downs, 2021 could be labeled a good year for film. At the very least, it was better than 2020, even though that’s not much of a comparison. 

But with a new year should come a forward-thinking mindset that looks ahead to new possibilities. With its mixture of exciting new projects from both new and established talent, 2022 has the power to be even better than 2021.

To get you all excited as much as I am, this article will detail twenty-five (I wanted to add fifty more, but space wouldn’t allow) of my most anticipated films expected to be released sometime this year. Films will be listed in alphabetical order, with known release dates and distribution strategies (i.e. streaming or not) provided. 

Asteroid City

Wes Anderson returns with another love story set in Europe. Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, and Jeff Goldblum are a few names within the starry cast. 

Avatar 2 (December 16)

James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel to the highest-grossing film of all time.

Babylon (December 25)

“La La Land” writer/director Damien Chazelle’s period drama about Hollywood’s transition from silent to sound films. Starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.

Bullet Train (July 15)

Five assassins aboard a fast-moving bullet train find out their missions have something in common. From “Deadpool 2” director David Leitch. 

Canterbury Glass (November 04)

Writer/director David O. Russell returns with a stacked cast, including Christian Bale and Margot Robbie, for a story about a doctor and lawyer who swindle their way to a fortune. 

Disappointment Blvd.

“Hereditary” and “Midsommar” writer/director Ari Aster’s “nightmare comedy” on the life of a successful entrepreneur, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role. 

Don’t Worry Darling (September 23)

Florence Pugh stars as a 1950’s housewife living with her husband (Harry Styles) in a utopian experimental community. She begins to worry that his glamorous company may be hiding disturbing secrets.

Elvis (June 24)

The legendary rock star gets the biopic treatment by “Moulin Rouge” and “The Great Gatsby” director Baz Luhrmann. Newcomer Austin Butler stars as The King, while Tom Hanks plays his manager.

Emancipation (Apple TV+)

Will Smith plays a runaway slave who has to make the treacherous journey from the Louisiana swamps to the free north. 

Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple TV+)

Martin Scorsese’s true-crime western surrounding the mysterious murders of the Osage tribe in the 1920s. Jesse Plemons, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro star. 

Knives Out 2 (Netflix)

Detective Benoit Blanc must solve another mystery, this time with an entirely new assortment of nefarious characters.

Next Goal Wins

“Jojo Rabbit” and “Thor: Ragnarok” writer/director Taika Waititi tells the true story of the American Samoa soccer team, who suffered the worst loss in World Cup history, losing to Australia 31-0 in 2001.

Nope (July 22)

“Get Out” and “Us” writer/director Jordan Peele’s mysterious new social horror film starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun.

Poor Things

Weirdo writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos tells the story of Belle Baxter, a Victorian woman who is brought back to life by an eccentric scientist. Emma Stone stars as Ms. Baxter, with Willem Dafoe as the brilliant madman.

See How They Run

Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan are detectives solving a murder mystery where actors performing in a murder mystery are being offed one by one.

Spaceman (Netflix)

Adam Sandler looks to maintain his dramatic streak by starring as the first Czech astronaut. Carey Mulligan and Paul Dano also star. 

The Batman (March 04)

Robert Pattinson dons the cape and cowl in Matt Reeves’ new take on the early days of the dark knight.

The Fabelmans

Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiography based upon his own childhood.

The Gray Man (Netflix)

Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans star as dueling spies in this action-thriller from “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” directors Joe and Anthony Russo. 

The Killer (Netflix)

David Fincher (“The Social Network,” “Gone Girl”) directs Michael Fassbender as an assassin who slowly begins to lose his mind.

The Northman (April 22)

“The Lighthouse” writer/director Robert Eggers’ action-filled Viking epic about a prince’s quest to avenge his father’s murder.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (April 22)

Nicolas Cage goes full meta as he plays himself, playing the part of a CIA informant as he meets his biggest fan, who happens to be a drug kingpin. 

The Way of the Wind

Revered auteur Terrence Malick retells several episodes in the life of Jesus Christ.

The Whale

Brendan Fraser stars as a severely obese father who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”) directs this dramedy. 

White Noise (Netflix)

Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig reteam with writer/director Noah Baumbach for the offbeat story of a professor pioneering the field of Hitler studies.