The year 2022 has brought some of the greatest films from the DCU and MCU with The Batman and Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness with so many more to come later on this year. The films released this year have gone on to reach records in their respective genres and categories.
From Chinese films to animated creations, the box office has seen its fair share of chart-topping movies for 2022. Whether these films were made for theater or went straight to streaming, they've managed to earn the big bucks over these past 5 months and still have 7 more months to earn much more.
The Lost City / $175.8M
The Lost City follows reclusive author Loretta Sage who's kidnapped at her book signing by an eccentric billionaire. This billionaire kidnaps her in the hopes that she will lead him to a lost city’s ancient treasure. This action-adventure film is wrought with comedic humor and some very cringe-worthy scenes that are perfect with the direction of The Lost City.
The 2022 film stars the amazing Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, and Brad Pitt (for a short time) and premiered exclusively on the streaming service Paramount+. Although the film was not released in theaters, this didn't stop the money from rolling in with The Lost City raking in over $175M at the box office worldwide.
The Bad Guys / $182.1M
When 5 animal outlaws who are notorious for pulling off the biggest heists ever are caught, they must become law-abiding model citizens with the help of Professor Marmalade in The Bad Guys. The animated action-comedy entertains adults and children alike with its jokes and alluring animation starring Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, and many more talents.
With only a budget ranging from $69 to 80M, the film made its money back and then some. The film took over $182M to the box office worldwide making $74.3M domestically and $107.8M internationally.
Nice View / $211M
A Chinese film that tells the story of a young man who's desperate to save his sister, Nice View follows Jing Hao as he takes the opportunity to change his life and fate by starting a business that will either be his way out or fail miserably.
Released in February 2022, Nice View is highly praised in the Chinese film industry and is considered a holiday favorite. The film relays the contribution of ordinary people to the country's progress and development. With this being the case, it's not surprising that the film has grossed over $211M worldwide at the box office, making over $104M in its opening weekend.
Too Cool To Kill / $217.2M
Another Chinese film to come out big worldwide, Too Cool To Kill gives viewers a look into the life of a young comedian looking to catch his big break for a starring role. When he receives an offer from a popular actress, he's pulled into a conspiracy that's too outlandish to believe.
The film was released during the Chinese New Year on February 1, 2022, with a run time of 109 minutes. Too Cool To Kill went on to make $110.5M in the first week of its release and over $217M worldwide. The film is currently available in China and a limited number of cities in the US and Canada.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 / $375M
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 tells of the journey of Sonic and his sidekick Tails as they try to thwart Doctor Robotnik and his new partner Knuckles before they can get their hands on a mystical emerald with the power of destroying civilizations.
Just as humorous and filled with action as the first film, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is an exciting and entertaining animated action film. It was released slowly to international markets before being released in the United States in April of 2022. A great film based on a Sega video game, it has become the highest-grossing video game film pulling in over $375M worldwide at the box office on a suspected budget between $90M to $110M.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore / $387.9M
The third installment of the Fantastic Beasts series, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore sees Professor Dumbledore entrust Newt Scamander with commandeering a team to stop the powerful and dark Gellert Grindelwald as his followers grow and his threat rises. As the team journeys on their mission, they encounter many beasts, old and new, and discover secrets from the past.
Directed by David Yates and premiering on April 15, 2022, this film received a batch of mixed reviews with the film had one too many plot holes and being showered in drama and controversy, however, the film was able to make back its $200M budget at the box office bringing in more than $387M worldwide.
Uncharted / $400.8M
Starring the talented Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, Uncharted is an action-adventure film that follows treasure hunter Sully and a young man named Nathan Drake on a quest to find a 500-year-old lost treasure. The two must learn to work together if they are to thwart the ruthless Santiago from getting to the treasure before they do.
Uncharted was released on February 18, 2022, under Sony Pictures Releasing. It received high criticism because of the differences from the video game version, however, the film has brought in over $400M worldwide since its release.
Water Gate Bridge / $626.2M
It seems to be a good year for Chinese movies because Water Gate Bridge is the third and highest-grossing film worldwide in the foreign category. The film is a sequel to The Battle At Changjin and follows the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) during the Korean War as they are handed the mission of attacking a crucial bridge which is the retreat route for the American troops.
The film was released as a Chinese New Year film and had the second-biggest Chinese New Year opening day ever. So far, the film has raked in over $626M worldwide at the box office even with mixed reviews and can be considered one of the best foreign war films of 2022 considering its number 3 spot on the list.
The Batman / $768.4M
The must-see film of the year, The Batman is a cinematic experience all on its own. The film follows Bruce Wayne (Dark Knight) as he journeys to uncover a sadistic killer known as The Riddler. Through his journey of discovery, he must also rid Gotham City of corruption and dirty law officials.
Batman stars the talented Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight alongside the beautiful Zoé Kravitz as Catwoman. From the cinematography to the storytelling, the film had audiences around the world talking with the film taking $760.3M to the box office worldwide so far.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Madness / $803.1M
One of the most anticipated MCU films of the year, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness sees Doctor Strange teaming up with a teenage girl from his dreams that can travel across the multiverse. They seek help from Scarlet the Witch and many others as they battle threats across the universe that threaten to wipe out millions of people.
The film was highly criticized after its release and sits among a few comic book movies that pushed the limit of its PG-13 rating, however, this has not affected the film raking in money. With a domestic box office count of $342M domestically and a total of $803M worldwide currently, the film has the potential to be the highest-grossing film of the year.