Top 50 Best Films of 2022

2022 has been an outstanding year for cinema with countless unique and important cinematic expressions that deserve recognition. While historically Buttered Popcorn's end-of-the-year list celebrates the Top 30 films of the year, 2022 had simply too many good films, and looking at the list it felt like there was a clear need for expansion. The choice was made and this year instead of looking at the Top 30 films of the year, it will be a celebration of the Top 50 films of the year! Know that even though 269 feature films were viewed this year, there are of course movies that simply didn't have time to be viewed so this is incredibly subjective based on what was able to be seen in time and what qualifies under Buttered Popcorn's own ruling of release date which can differ from other sources. As always, this is also just a subjective opinion and is not meant to be taken objectively. Disagreeing about art is part of the fun and should be encouraged rather than criticized. Without further ado, here are the Top 50 Films of 2022!

If applicable, click on a poster to see my full review of a film!

Honorable Mentions: Barbarian, Framing Agnes, Happening, Not Okay, The Outfit, She Said, & Top Gun: Maverick

#50-Palm Trees and Power Lines

Palm Trees and Power Lines is everything that Red Rocket should have been. An absolutely haunting and brutal look at grooming and abuse, the film is rightfully haunting and mature with two of the best performances of the entire year!

#49-Strange World

Despite getting absolutely buried at the box office, Strange World surprises as one of the stronger recent Disney releases. Not only does the film contain stunning animation, but it has genuinely worthwhile conversations on topics such as parenting, the value of a legacy, and environmentalism that can subvert expectations and give the film a deeper meaning. The LGBTQ+ representation is also some of the better work from Disney; even if there is still room for improvement.

#48-Sr.

A heartbreakingly complex documentary capturing the legacy and life of Robert Downey, Sr., Sr. is a wonderful look at family and the power cinema has to capture what words can fail to express. While messy, the film allows multiple sides to tell their own stories and express life how they think is deserved leading to a uniquely captivating holistic angle that is both memorable and heartbreaking.

#47-Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

Even in a time where comedic pop-culture references and self-awareness is growing old, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers stands tall as one of the funniest films of the year. Breaking beyond the expected barriers of crossover humor and using this to tell an actually moving and purposeful story on the horrors of the Hollywood industry, it is shocking this randomly released on Disney+ rather than getting a full theatrical release which it clearly deserved based on quality alone.

#46-Everything Everywhere All at Once

The Daniels are undeniably becoming some of the most promising voices working in modern Hollywood with Everything Everywhere at Once being a fantastic follow-up to the masterpiece which was Swiss Army Man. While far messier than that previous film, Everything Everywhere At Once is still an emotionally moving look at family and fear that highlights some of the very best that filmmaking had to offer in 2022. It is unlike anything else released in recent memory and is absolutely deserving of the love it is thankfully receiving.

#45-The Territory

The Territory is one of the most shocking and urgent documentaries of the year! Filled with incredibly tense sequences and undeniably engaging filmmaking, this is immediately one of the most memorable films of the year!

#44-The Quiet Girl

The Quiet Girl is one of the most moving pieces looking at childhood abuse and trauma in recent memory. The film is calculatedly tender and loving only to know how to rip that reality away with the fear of a darker tomorrow. Catherine Clinch is a star and hopefully will continue on to a wonderful career from here.

#43-The Good Nurse

Randomly dropped on Netflix with little attention or promotion, The Good Nurse is an intense psychological thriller that will have audiences on the edge of their seats! Both Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain have excellent chemistry while the direction given by director Tobias Lindholm is calculated and brooding.

#42-Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Ryusuke Hamaguchi's Drive My Car lives up to the hype with a compelling and empathetic look at flawed characters searching for belonging and satisfaction with the lives they live. With some of the best dialouge and writing of the year, this is an engrossing and rewarding feature that while long, is undeniably worthwhile.

#41-Causeway

Causeway is a compelling little drama featuring a wonderful duo of performances by Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry who both would not look out of place in a best performances of the year lineup. While the film might not be revolutionary, it is still a strong capturing of PTSD which continues Apple TV+'s overall strong feature efforts.

#40-Spoiler Alert

Spoiler Alert is the newest Michael Showalter effort and is yet another strong showing for the filmmaker. While the emotional impact of the project is rather obvious right from the start, there is no denying the effectiveness of the formula with Jim Parsons giving one of his best performances to date. While it is clear Showalter is somewhat out of his element in certain scenes, specifically when it comes to the lived queer experience, his talent continues to shine!

#39-Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams

The first Luca Guadagnino film on the list, Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams is a poetic biopic that sees Guadagnino bring a narrative craft to create a story of emotion and passion. Michael Stuhlbarg is also predictably excellent in the role of narrator.

#38-Metronom

A smaller release coming out of the Cannes Film Festival, Metronom is an intense and shocking feature with an infectious energy and emotional power. The cinematography is often a genuine work of art and the film wisely uses the power of humanity to showcase the dangers and horrors that can come from government forces to create a juxtaposition of the human condition.

#37-Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

While ahead of release there were plenty of questions regarding the purpose of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, on release every concern and question faded into the background as the film proved itself to be one of the most engaging and creative animated films of the year! With a haunting take on death and stunning animation, it is hard not to fall in love with the film and have a wonderful time with it!

#36-Close

Out of every film this year, there has never been a tense silence quite like there was in the theater during the second half of Close. Easily one of the most emotionally devastating films of the year with a mature and bold look at the state of bullying, this is sure to leave an impact on most and the child actors are easily some of the best of the year.

#35-After Yang

Kogonada's sophomore effort only further proves the talent and craft of the filmmaker with a clear influence being drawn from the legendary Yasujirō Ozu. Evolving from Columbus and finding a unique meditation on the concept of existence and the shared human experience, it is truly criminal that After Yang was dumped on streaming how it was with the film clearly being deserving of so much more.

#34-Bad Axe

There has been no cinematic capturing of 2020 quite as strong as Bad Axe. Following a small immigrant family running a restaurant in the time of the pandemic, the film not only properly expresses the rollercoaster of emotions that was 2020 but also finds a deeper political voice that is unique and needed. The film is messy yet this feels authentic to the time it was capturing and the documentary truly feels like the definitive holistic capturing of the year.

#33-Saint Omer

Not only is Saint Omer one of the best courtroom dramas of the past decade, but it also has one of the best ensembles of the year! This emotionally moving feature is sure to engage audiences and push them with captivating and layered discussions on motherhood and life itself.

#32-TÁR

Todd Field is back with possibly one of the best #MeToo films to date! While long, TÁR is a rollercoaster of emotion that sees Cate Blanchett give one of the her best performances to date. The film is a tragedy told through the perspective of the villain with a maturity and challenging voice that will make audiences thing and question everything.

#31-The Banshees of Inisherin

After he left many cold with Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Martin McDonagh finds himself once again with The Banshees of Inisherin. A poignant piece on legacy and kindness with a magnificent ensemble, it is impossible not to become emotionally hooked on the film and the personal drama that erupts at its core.

#30-Decision to Leave

Wow! While Park Chan-wook has impressed before, none of his works have felt quite as dynamic and tender as Decision to Leave. A crime psychological thriller with deeper roots to the emotion of love, this is a shocking emotional rollercoaster that is one of the most gripping films of the year. The editing is also just mind-blowing and really should be in any awards lineup.

#29-Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

A passion project over a decade in the making, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio smashes any expectations to become the best Pinocchio adaptation to date! This emotional look at death and family is mature and bold with a true sense of artistry within its visuals and technical craft. Definitely for the older crowd unlike most Pinocchio adaptations, this is undoubtedly the best animated film of 2022!

#28-Fire Island

2022 was a fantastic year for queer cinema with one of the best queer outings being that of Hulu's Fire Island. What starts as a hysterical queer romantic comedy quickly becomes a deeper exploration of queer culture and the toxic standards that can come with it. The entire ensemble is fantastic and the film will have audiences both howling with laughter and wiping away their tears by the end!

#27-Blanquita

A highlight of the Venice Film Festival, Blanquita is not just a well-made film, but is an incredibly important one. With fantastic performances and strong filmmaking, the feature finds a powerful and demanding voice that strikes with a burning fire!

#26-The Innocents

The Innocents is the freshest take on the superhero genre from 2022! Almost feeling like a Wachowski effort at times at times, in the best of ways, the film blends fun with terror in a unique and shocking manner that is sure to catch many audiences off-guard. What an incredible effort and proof of talent for director Eskil Vogt!

#25-X

Ti West did not come to fuck around in 2022! Immediately carving himself a place in the modern horror landscape, West shocked many with X which turned out to be one of the best horror films of the year! Not only is the film an effective slasher, but it is a wonderful look at sex and the relationship it has with American culture specifically through the lens of cinema. While Mia Goth might be getting more recognition for X's sequel, Pearl, she proves her talents as a star here and holds together an all-around inspired horror effort!

#24-Pleasure

While there have been multiple films recently to analyze the porn industry, none have felt quite as authentic and worthy as Ninja Thyberg's Pleasure. While absolutely haunting and tragic, the film never negates the sense of community or the positivity that can come from the industry creating a complexity that is perfectly showcased through Sofia Kappel's breakout role!

#23-To the North

A smaller release to come from the Venice Film Festival, To the North is a stunning analysis of religion and ironic tragedy that is thematically rich and well-crafted. Soliman Cruz is an absolute gem here and hopefully, 2023 will provide many more the chance to view this as it is incredibly deserving of attention and praise.

#22-Leave No Trace

One of the most brutal documentaries of 2022, Leave No Trace is a telling of the history of sexual abuse within The Boy Scouts of America and is expectedly an emotionally devastating experience as no one holds back and the truth is exposed for the horrific reality that it is. While a massive trigger warning is needed, this is a film that demands to be seen.

#21-Is That Black Enough For You?!?

Is That Black Enough For You?!? should be required viewing for anyone interested in the history of film. Curated by filmmaker Elvis Mitchell, the film is a dynamic exploration of the 1970s Black Revolution in cinema and the impact it had both for the wider industry and those watching the films in theaters. Not just is the film informative, but it is wildly engaging. Make no mistake that for 2022, this is the real love letter to cinema!

#20-Till

Not only does Till contain one of the best performances of the year from Danielle Deadwyler, but the film itself is one of the most moving cinematic pieces 2022 has to offer. Focusing on emotions of love to tell a story of brutal tragedy, even for those who know the story it is hard to imagine anyone not walking away from Till with tears in their eyes.

#19-Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is an absolute treat! Not only is the film endlessly charming with an innocent and pure soul, but there is genuine depth to the film when it comes to its views on what people value and the impact of material goods. While it might seem obvious from the outside where this message will land, the film is rather bold and goes a different direction that is authentically validating rather than preachy. Truly the warm dessert against the meal that was 2022 in film!

#18-Alaskan Nets

Even for those with absolutely no interest in sports, Alaskan Nets is a must-watch!. Looking at the local high school basketball team from a small native reserve in Alaska, what appears from the outside to be a standard sports documentary quickly becomes a far grander message on pressure and the need for an outlet for not just kids, but the wider community. The film is heartbreaking and complex with powerful emotions making an already difficult conversation nearly impossible. Still, the film carries out this conversation with fantastic craft!

#17-Sam Now

Yet another fantastic documentary to come out in 2022 that sadly flew massively under the radar, Sam Now is basically a home movie that features two brothers set off to try and find one of their moms who vanished without a trace. This is an authentic look at the complexity of family trauma and has a fascinating perspective as the audience sees these kids grow into adults and find new perspectives on these complex emotions that they are forced to wrestle with.

#16-Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande might just be the best sex comedy to ever exist. An equally funny and emotional examination of age, purpose, morals, and of course sex; the film is one of the most memorable films of the year. It also undeniably helps that the film contains two of the best performances of the year with Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack both showing incredible talent and a perfect chemistry together.

#15-Living

While filmmaker Oliver Hermanus has shown his potential in efforts like Moffie, he realizes this talent in Living. Adapting the Akira Kurosawa's classic Ikiru through a fresh British lens. The film is one of the most well-crafted films of the year with an emotional maturity that proves the value of Hermanus as a director. Bill Nighy is also extraordinary here giving a devastating performance of regret and fear. Absolutely stunning stuff and yet another gem to come out of the Sundance Film Festival!

#14-Fire of Love

One could genuinely be brought to tears just by thinking of Fire of Love. A palpable love story that ultimately becomes a dissertation on the emotion and what some are willing to risk for it, there is a real magic to the film that is simply undeniable. Miranda July gives a poetic narration as the film features some of the most striking visuals and editing of the entire year. For those who already have fallen in love with Fire of Love, it is easy to recommend Werner Herzog's 2022 effort, The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft which works wonderfully in conversation with Fire of Love as a more focused exploration of the scientific work the couple were able to capture.

#13-Cha Cha Real Smooth

Cooper Raiff does not miss! Easily the biggest breakout hit of Sundance, Cha Cha Real Smooth is a poignant reflection on growing up and the expectations of adulthood with some not knowing how to control their emotions or handle themselves in tough situations. Raiff continues to prove himself both in front of and behind the camera with such a strong voice for capturing the nuanced pain of the lived human experience.

#12-All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front is one of the most brutal war films to come out in the last decade. Holding nothing back and wisely using emotion to structure its story, the film is truly haunting and succeeds on a grand scale with some of the best production quality of any film this year! With the film being widely available on Netflix, there is no reason to skip this one as the message rings as incredibly true and needed even to this day.

#11-Last Flight Home

Death is one of the scariest concepts of the human experience and documentary filmmaking has provided some of the most unique and moving explorations of this topic. Last Flight Home follows a family who prepares for their father to take his own life through assisted suicide. The emotions are as raw as one can get with the film not just being incredibly haunting, but also relevant with an eye-opening look at the process and the struggles those suffering will face along the way.

#10-Girl Picture

Girl Picture is a stunning portrait of three women finding their place in the world and confronting all the confusing yet powerful emotions around them. Largely thanks to some stellar editing and performances, this is one to both tug at the heartstrings and throw the audience in the air with joy!

#9-Navalny

Following Russian activist and politician Alexey Navalny and the attempted assassination on his life, Navalny is the most shocking film of 2022! Not since Icarus has a political documentary been this shocking and revealing as a strong pace and personality brings to life a story of attempted murder and political debate. Stunning stuff that truly feels unbelievable to be watching!

#8-Elvis

No one does it like Baz Luhrmann! Featuring an unbelievable lead performance by Austin Butler and a shockingly venomous turn by Tom Hanks in the supporting role, Elvis exposes the true turmoil that plagued Elvis' life that ultimately lead to tragedy. The editing and style is electric and even for those who do not care about the singer, this is a captivating watch that is beyond worthy of attention!

#7-Therapy Dogs

Ethan Eng's Therapy Dogs is an enigma. Part Jackass and part Lady Bird, the film both in practical and thematic identity, is one without lines between real and fake. Similar to the emotions felt as the transition between childhood and adulthood begins, the film is a patchwork of highs and lows with no concern given to anything being clean or clear. What is real? What is fake? Why does that matter? Films like this are truly something special and have the ability truly push the cinematic art form and find something so uniquely poignant that it needs to be experienced to be understood.

#6-Bones and All

Another year, another Guadagnino masterpiece! Bones and All is a disturbing and bloody love story that is incredibly tender and human. The aesthetic is instantly one of the best of the year with Chalamet, Russell, and Rylance all delivering massively. The thematic exploration of love and forced loneliness is beyond moving and there is no doubting the poetic tragedy of the film's final act. Serve me this meal anytime!

#5-Ticket to Paradise

When it comes to the romantic comedy genre, Ol Parker is quickly defining himself as a modern master. Not only is Ticket to Paradise an adorable love story that hits every expected emotional beat with complete success, but the film finds a deeper and more worthy conversation on happiness that expands the emotional impact of the film and gives it a deeper soul. The ensemble is all incredible and it is clear that the film is easily one of the most watchable efforts of the year. It is a shame so many are so quick to downplay and ignore the genre as there are real gems such as this out there!

#4-The Son

It almost felt unfair that Florian Zeller was going to have to follow-up his 2020 masterpiece The Father, but somehow Zeller has outdone himself and possibly even topped his previous cinematic outing. The Son is a raw and complex look at a broken family with a not-a-perfect soul in the entire cast. The film is excellent at showing the small nuances and complications that make certain conversations and moments of drama just impossible as everyone is human and everyone is dealing with their own wounds. There is nothing within The Son that is easy or perfectly nice, but this is a reflection of reality and for everyone who has come from a family in turmoil, there is a real sense of reality to the picture that has sadly been misunderstood and ignored by many.

#3-Stay Awake

Sadly without a proper release, it is almost certain that no one reading this list will have seen Stay Awake which is a shame as it is absolutely one of the best films of the year. A heartbreaking look at two brothers trying to find their paths forward while being ultimately held back by a mother struggling with addiction, the film wisely uses love and empathy to explore its darker emotions. The film is raw and honest with the main trio of actors truly giving some of the best performances of the year with Wyatt Oleff especially proving himself to be a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully this sees the light of day and more can check it out!

#2-Bros

Say what you want about the response to Bros, I certainly did, but no one can take away the power and magic of the film especially for queer audiences who have never seen themselves on a stage this big in the world of cinema. Not only is the film hilarious, but it is a wonderful examination and celebration of LGBTQ+ culture with a loving look towards the past helping pave the way to a, hopefully, better tomorrow. Billy Eichner spills his heart and soul both into the screenplay and his performance and it is a genuine shame to see so many critics who celebrated the film on release choose to completely ignore the film as soon as the box office results were disappointing and it became the trend to look down upon the film. Everyone spent months defending and celebrating Jane Campion for her inauthentic and horribly cliched queer effort, why not do the same here?

#1-Babylon

Babylon is not just the best film of 2022, it is one of the best films ever made. A true epic in every sense of the word, Babylon is a tragic Hollywood tale that attacks the world of cinema through the medium itself. Make no mistake that Chazelle is not writing a love letter to cinema in Babylon, he is writing a death threat. A grand look at the tragedy of progress and the unforgiving world of cinema that is quick to throw individuals to the curb with no concern on if they even survive, the grit that Chazelle brings is unmistakably a result of his own experiences with the brutality of the film industry after the reaction to First Man and the result is masterful. There is no film this year that even comes close to touching the ability and richness of Babylon which absolutely stands as the best film of 2022!