Almost halfway through the year, there are still several exciting movies releasing in 2022, both for theaters and streaming. So far, 2022 has seen the usual big IPs doing great at the box office, with The Batman and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness being good examples. This year has also seen video game adaptations doing good numbers, namely Uncharted and Sonic The Hedgehog 2, as well as surprising original releases like Everything Everywhere All At Once.
While Hollywood's biggest films are still mostly reserved for theaters only, some of the most anticipated movies of 2022 are streaming releases. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a process that was already ongoing, and now big talents like Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo and Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson are producing content for streaming platforms. At a time when a good box office performance for movies outside major franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe is not always guaranteed, interesting stories with high production value can also be found in streaming.
For the rest of 2022, audiences will have plenty of options to watch both at theaters and at home. This year still has two MCU theatrical releases, two DCEU films, sequels to beloved stories, original action films, animated entries, and a cinematic event that has been awaited for 13 years. Here are the most anticipated movies of 2022 still to be released.
Jurassic World: Dominion - June 10 (Theaters)
Any entry to the Jurassic Park franchise is exciting, but there are a couple of reasons that make Jurassic World: Dominion even more special. The film will be the conclusion to the Jurassic World trilogy, and while sequels cannot ever be ruled out, the Colin Trevorrow film is expected to wrap up the stories of the characters introduced in Jurassic World. Not only that, but Jurassic World: Dominion will also reunite the original Jurassic Park trio – Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum – for the first time since Jurassic Park.
Lightyear - June 17 (Theaters)
It is hard for a Pixar release not to be among the most anticipated movies of any year, and that is not different for Lightyear. Besides the great visuals and the usual top-notching 3D animation techniques, Lightyear will also be the first Pixar movie to have an IMAX release. The story also sounds intriguing, and it will feature Buzz Lightyear as if he was a real person – thus explaining the inspired casting of Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear instead of Tim Allen.
Elvis - June 24 (Theaters)
Biopics of music legends are becoming common, and Elvis is the next major one after films like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman. The Baz Luhrmann film, however, promises to be far from a conventional biopic. The movie has been shown at the Cannes Festival, and the early reviews are making sure to point out the incredible visuals and Austin Buttler's performance as Elvis.
Minions: The Rise of Gru - July 1 (Theaters)
It has been seven years since the first and so far only Minions solo movie, but its sequel, Minions: The Rise of Gru, is exciting nonetheless. The first Minions is one of the best examples of a successful spin-off, one that ranks as the highest-grossing film in the Despicable Me franchise. In terms of summer 2022 releases for younger audiences, Minions: The Rise of Gru is a great option.
Thor: Love and Thunder – July 8 (Theaters)
After Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU returns to the big screen with Thor: Love and Thunder. The film will mark the first time an MCU hero gets a fourth solo adventure, and it brings Taika Waititi back in the director's chair after Thor: Ragnarok. Given how innovative Ragnarok was for Thor, it will be exciting to see how the character evolves in Thor: Love and Thunder after the tragic events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Thor: Love and Thunder will also bring two major new additions to the MCU, namely Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher and Russel Crowe as Zeus, and it will see the return of Natalie Portman's Jane Foster now as Mighty Thor.
The Gray Man – July 15 (Theaters/Streaming)
An action-packed spy film starring names like Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, and Regé-Jean Peage is a description good enough to make The Gray Man one of the most exciting movies of 2022. In addition to the stellar cast, the Netflix film also has recognizable names behind the cameras: Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. The Gray Man will have special screenings in the US on July 15, one week before it releases worldwide on Netflix.
Nope – July 22 (Theaters)
After Get Out and Us, any new Jordan Peele project is promising. Nope will continue the director's deep dive into the horror genre, and it promises to blend sci-fi elements with a thrilling, mysterious story. Even before its release, Nope is already drawing theories and speculation about its true plot, which goes to show how rich the movie looks. Nope will see the reunion of Peele and Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya, and it will also feature names like Keke Palmer and Steve Yeun.
DC League of Super-Pets – July 29 (Theaters)
Black Adam will not be the only The Rock DC film in 2022 as DC League of Super-Pets will bring Dwayne Johnson as the voice of Krypto the Superdog. The CG-animated film will also feature Kevin Hart as the voice of Ace, Batman's dog, as well as Keanu Reeves as Batman, and John Krasinski as Superman. The movie will have other Justice League heroes like Aquaman, Cyborg, and Green Lantern Jessica Cruz. Given DC's great record of 2D, straight-to-home-video animated films, it will be interesting to see a 3D, theatrical DC animated release.
Bullet Train – August 5 (Theaters)
Deadpool 2 and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw director David Leitch is behind what could be one of the best action movies of 2022, Bullet Train. If Brad Pitt leading an action film set inside a train was not exciting enough, Bullet Train also assembled a stellar cast of names like Sandra Bullock, Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Zazie Beetz. With such a fun premise, a cherry-picked cast, and a director who has proved his talents in the genre more than once, Bullet Train has the potential to be a highlight of 2022.
Three Thousand Years of Longing – August 31 (Theaters)
Furiosa, the Mad Max: Fury Road prequel, might still be far away, but audiences will have a chance to take a look another look at George Miller's mind in Three Thousand Years of Longing. The curious fantasy story based on the The Djinn in The Nightingale's Eyes short story added to Miller's unmatched visuals makes Three Thousand Years of Longing an unpredictable, exciting release. As if that was not enough, the movie stars Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton.
Don't Worry Darling – September 23 (Theaters)
Olivia Wilde continues her promising director career now with Don't Worry Darling. The psychological thriller stars Harry Styles, in one of his first major acting roles following Dunkirk and Eternals, along with Florence Pugh. Wilde's distinct directing style, the unsettling premise, and the inspired cast place Don't Worry Darling as an exciting upcoming 2022 film.
Halloween Ends – October 14 (Theaters)
What the future holds for the Halloween franchise is unknown, but the series of David Gordon Green-directed films that started in 2018 will be concluded with Halloween Ends. Despite the mixed reviews of Halloween Kills, the solid performance of the film on Peacock goes to show that there's still a place for Laurie and Michael Myers in the audiences' hearts. For being a finale, Halloween Ends has the potential to make the sage come full circle and end this particular series on a high note.
Black Adam – October 21 (Theaters)
Fifteen years after The Rock was first announced as Black Adam, the Black Adam movie will finally hit theaters in 2022. Despite all the waiting for it to pick up, Black Adam is clearly a passion project for Dwayne Johnson, and the fact that it is now a reality is exciting by itself. On top of being the first live-action appearance of Black Adam, the Black Adam film will also see the Justice Society movie debut. Dr. Fate, Hawkman, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher will form this iteration of the team, and Black Adam will have the chance to go far back in the DCEU timeline. Although DCEU's plans for the future are still not clear, Black Adam has the potential to be both a successful standalone entry and the beginning of a new series of movies and spin-offs centered around Black Adam and the Justice Society.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - November 11 (Theaters)
Even before a trailer is released, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is already sure to be a bittersweet experience. On the one hand, Wakanda Forever is a sequel to one of the highest praised MCU films to date. On the other hand, it will be the first Black Panther film following the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020. How exactly Wakanda Forever will continue the Black Panther franchise without T'Challa is hard to know, but the film will for sure be an emotional tribute to the actor who redefined Black Panther despite the short time playing the character. In terms of the story, Wakanda Forever is expected to feature Namor, and other connections to the MCU, such as links to Doctor Doom and Storm, have also been theorized.
Creed III – November 23 (Theaters)
While Both Creed and Creed II served as a continuation of the Rocky films as well as the beginning of a new story, Creed III will focus entirely on Adonis – which is exciting. As much as Sylvester Stallone's presence as Rocky adds to any movie, a Creed film that places Michael B. Jordan's talent at the center of it is a great choice for what will be the ninth film in the Rocky/Creed franchise. Creed III will also be special behind the cameras, as it will mark Michael B. Jordan's directorial debut.
Disenchanted – November 24 (Streaming)
The longer the wait for a sequel for some films, the better. That seems to be the case for Disenchanted, a Disney+ original film that will continue the story of Enchanted 15 years later. The first film was already an unconventional take on a fairy tale, and a sequel set all those years later could be even more fun. The original cast led by Amy Adams returns, making Disenchanted a truly special sequel.
Avatar: The Way of Water – December 16 (Theaters)
Avatar: The Way of Water is not only one of the most exciting movies of 2022 but one of the most anticipated movies of the decade. Despite today's skepticism towards the Avatar franchise, especially after so many years went by with almost no updates on the sequels, the first Avatar movie is still a pop-cultural landmark. It is the highest-grossing film of all time, and not even Avengers: Endgame could surpass Avatar's box office for too long. The first Avatar will also be re-released in selected theaters in September 2022, which could sparkle an even bigger interest for Avatar 2. James Cameron has promised yet another leap in technology for Avatar: The Way of the Water, and one of the reasons why the Avatar sequels took so long was because moviemaking techniques had to catch up with what the director had in mind for Pandora.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – December 21 (Theaters)
The amount of time that has passed since the last Puss in Boots film, or any Shrek in film in general, is enough to make Puss in Boots: The Last Wish an interesting film. The CG-animated sequel will bring Antonio Banderas back as the famous Puss in Boots, a character that managed to stand out on its own outside the Shrek films. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish actually happening when Shrek 5 continues to be in limbo may have been surprising, but that does not make it less exciting.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods – December 23 (Theaters)
For its budget and lack of major connections with the wider DCEU, Shazam! was a pleasant surprise. The David F. Sandberg film managed to combine a Christmas, coming of age story with a superhero adventure in a fun movie. Now, Shazam! Fury of the Gods has the potential to expand on the first film and dive deeper into the magical side of the DCEU. Black Adam, Shazam's greatest enemy, will have had a film couple of months prior, so a possible connection with The Rock's character could also be part of Shazam! Fury of the Gods – making it an even more important entry in the DCEU.
Knives Out 2 – TBA (Streaming)
While Knives Out 2 does not have an official release date yet, it has been reported and later confirmed by star Daniel Craig that the film is expected to premiere in late 2022. Knives Out 2 could receive a theatrical run on top of the Netflix worldwide release, though that also has not been confirmed. Either way, the first Knives Out made its mark for being an original take on the classic "whodunit" genre, and no less is expected from the sequel. The fact that Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc is the only character from the first movie returning for the sequel makes Knives Out 2's story completely unpredictable, thus placing it as one of the most anticipated movies releasing in 2022.