2022: The Top 10 Films

10. Bodies Bodies Bodies

Not a lot of films this year felt so modern, relevant, funny and unique as Bodies Bodies Bodies, which is a murder mystery film wrapped up with a lot of themes surrounding social media, ghosting, cyber bullying and much more. The ending absolutely floored me!

9. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Marvel has had a few misses recently but Wakanda Forever pulled all the punches worthy of a year of Marvel films. Letitia Wright carries the film with a lot of emotional baggage which makes the story grounded, and having Namor as a villain balances the heavy themes of loss beautifully.

8. Bullet Train

Originality doesn’t come as original as this film. The visuals of Atomic Blonde mixed with a Tarantino-esque story bring Bullet Train to life with a cast of colourful characters, some stylish action sequences and Brad Pitt doing what Brad Pitt does best!

7. Turning Red

Pixar has decided to tweak their formula, and their visuals, for a film that sinks into the Canadian-Chinese culture for a film that feels both nostalgic and refreshing at the same time. The music, the characters and the story are typically emotional but also wildly compelling.

6. Avatar: The Way of Water

Spectacle galore in this mighty sequel to the biggest film of all time! James Cameron whisks us away to the oceans of Pandora with a story about a family torn apart by war. The 3D, the visuals and the world building are just as epic as the first film.

5. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Glass Onion is a film where you’re constantly on your toes, joining all the pieces of this cinematic puzzle only for surprise after surprise to hit you with a story that’s both smart and entertaining. Full of comedy, tension and a sense of lightheartedness for a film with a winning formula.

4. Prey

I’m not a fan of the Predator film series, it’s basically a battle for which male is the Alpha Male. This version however has an interesting sci-fi premise, a hunter who is smart and cunning with Amber Midthunder stealing the film from the Predator itself!

3. CODA

The Academy Awards were truly deserved for this masterpiece. Emilia Jones pulls a riveting performance as someone torn between a silent world and a world where she has a voice to breaking point. Emilia sings her heart out and wears it on her sleeves.

2. Nope

Original sci-fi storytelling is hard to come by, let alone one with a concept that works as well as Nope. There’s so much mystery to keep you invested from start to finish, with multiple stories that all come together in a chilling and terrifying film that has you on the edge of your seat. Nope feels very Spielbergian mixed with some horror, and that combination made this film unforgettable.

1. Top Gun: Maverick

This is pure cinema. The adrenaline. The cinematography. Everything about Top Gun: Maverick is what the cinema experience was built for. I felt every rush and every goosebump from the dogfighting and the ending was just as tense, not knowing what is going to happen and that for me helped fuel my excitement. This is the film that will be remembered for years to come.

Thanks for reading today’s blog!

Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions