It’s hard to categorize superhero movies for those of a certain age, those of us who vividly remember a time when the cinematic landscape just didn’t have many superhero movies. , or even none. Supermannothing, nothing, nothing, Superman 2nothing, Batman…you get the point. Having superhero movies released on a regular basis, with far better special effects than we could ever have dreamed of, gives an appreciation of those movies that can’t be easily understood by those who have never experienced a time when it There wasn’t at least one DC or Marvel property in local theaters. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. Having an appreciation for the journey to get here is one thing, but what comes from the end result is something completely different. And so, we’ve set our sights on the superhero movies of 2022, acknowledging how great it is to have a number of movies to make such a list while admitting there’s a discernable range of quality. , counting up to the best of 2022 from the lowest film on the front of the stage…
10. Morbius
… Morbius. An interesting choice of character to build a movie around, given that Morbius isn’t exactly a household name like Spider-Man, but the character has a rich comic book history that could have made for a really great and unique movie. could have. The film that follows Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) unfortunate experiences to heal himself and Milo (Matt Smith) of a rare blood disease, leading them to become living vampires, is not good. It’s ironic, then, that it’s the only film on the list to get a second theatrical release, with Sony completely missing the point of “It’s Morbin Time” memes as an embrace of the film as a “so bad it’s good ” adventure. That said, the likelihood of it succeeding over time is high, so it’s still a win!
9. Samaritan
Sylvester Stallone is no stranger to superhero movies, with an appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Ravager Stakar Ogord and the voice of King Shark in The Suicide Squad. Even its iconic characters Rocky and Rambo are awfully close to being superheroes themselves. Thus, appearing as a recluse whom a neighborhood boy believes (wrongly… or rightly) to be a superhero, the one who was believed to have been killed twenty-five years ago, in Samaritan had promised. It hasn’t quite lived up to its potential, but nonetheless, it’s entertaining, with a nice ending twist.
8. Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor: Love and Thunder is arguably the most controversial film on the list. Christian Bale‘s Gorr the God Butcher is one of the best villains to come out of the MCU, the action scenes are top notch and Chris Hemsworth is completely at home with his character in this fourth Thor solo outing. The division comes from Taika Waititicreative decisions for the film, including dubbing the comedic elements introduced in Thor: Ragnarok. Some enjoyed the fantasy a lot, while others felt it was too much, sacrificing the story for a laugh. Love it, hate it, but if not, see it.
7. Night Werewolf
Technically not a movie – it’s Marvel Studios’ first special presentation – we’d say it’s pretty close (as is the second special presentation, which has yet to make it on this list). Five monster hunters are called to Bloodstone Manor to compete to become the new leader of the group and wield the mighty Bloodstone. One of the monster hunters is a monster himself, Jack Russell, aka Werewolf by Night (Gael Garcia Bernal). Jack Russell… how terrier-fying… Oh, and the Bloodstone is attached to his friend “Ted”, aka Man-Thing. night werewolf is a stark departure from most MCU fare: filmed in black and white, using practical effects, and evoking nostalgia for classic Universal Creature features.
6. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness isn’t all that far off from standard MCU fare, with its promise of a “multiverse of madness” limited to three universes, and not-so-mad madness. What’s special about him is what he Is deliver: lovely newcomer Xochitl Gomez like America Chavez, a reunion of Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), jaw-dropping character variant cameos (Marvel, if you’re listening, please keep Jean Krasinski around like you-know-who), and a wildly deranged and horrifying Scarlet Witch, a tour de force performance by Elizabeth Olsen.
5. Black Adam
Of course, the plot is weak and full of holes (how does a character magically imprisoned for hundreds of years speak a language fluently that didn’t even exist when he was free?). But damn, black adam is funny. Dwayne Johnson is perfect as a charismatic anti-hero, freed from his imprisonment and driven to protect his home, the nation of Kahndaq, and its people, from the grip of the Intergang crime syndicate. Aldis Hodge‘s Hawkman looks spectacular on film, a big step up from previous live-action about the hero who just looks goofy and weird, while Pierce Brosnan gives Dr. Fate the wisdom and gravitas the character deserves. Great action set pieces, complete with a hugely popular mid-credits scene, make DC’s first entry on the list a must-watch.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
The second Marvel special presentation is quite worthy of the adjective “special”, taking the world of james gunnthe motley crew of in the Christmas season. The film mainly focuses on Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis’ (Pom Klementieff) efforts to restore Quill’s (Chris Pratt) the Christmas spirit by giving him a present. Not an iPod or a tie, but Kevin Bacon. Yes, this Kevin Bacon. The couple’s navigation of the city of Earth and the exploits to get the actor back are hilarious, and the Christmas decor and spirit covering Knowhere are heartwarming. And if “I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here)” isn’t the earworm of the season, there’s something seriously wrong with society.
3. DC League of Super Pets
Speaking of fun, the lively, family DC League of Super Pets is an absolute blast. The inseparable couple of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart play as Krypto, Superman’s dog (John Krasinski), and Ace, Batman’s dog (Keanu Reeves) dog, respectively. They lead a team of super-powered pets — the title’s “super-pets” — to free the Justice League, which has been captured by Lex Luthor (Marc Maron). It’s simple entertainment, not revolutionary or innovative, but one of the most charming and hilarious family movies of the year, made even better by stellar voice acting (Keanu’s Batman is so, so great).
2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
To probably no one’s surprise, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in the top two. The film picks up as the Wakandan nation says goodbye to its king, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), and the aftermath of Wakanda’s worldwide discovery and use of vibranium. Countries around the world are trying – through legal means to nefarious acts – to obtain vibranium for their own uses, only to find that Wakanda is not one to freely export its most valuable resource for its inevitable use. as a weapon. The American effort to find another source of vibranium puts the hidden undersea kingdom of Talokan and its ruler, Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia), in danger, leading to a battle between Talokan and Wakanda, and the emergence of a new Black Panther (no spoilers here). Angela Bassette knocks her out of the park as Queen Ramonda, delivering an award-worthy performance as a grieving mother and default ruler of the kingdom. M’Baku Returning Characters (Duke Winston), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), and Okoye (Call Gurira) are excellent, as is the newcomer Dominique Thorne like the brilliant genius Riri Williams. Letitia WrightShuri, however, is the one to take on most of the film, and she’s up to the task, with Wright delivering a powerful performance as well. The film itself balances respect for the late Chadwick Boseman while pushing the story forward, a difficult but successful achievement.
1. The Batman
No competition. The Batman manages to step out of its many predecessors to deliver a truly unique take on the character and his mythology. The Batman is the first Dark Knight film to effectively show the detective side of the character while adding a gripping realism to the story itself. Robert Pattinson quickly puts opponents aside with a strong and, again, unique twist on the character. His Batman doesn’t have an abundance of “bat tools”, his Batmobile is a realistic, decked out muscle car and not something Back to the future. Paul Dano‘s Riddler is a radically altered portrayal of the character from literally anywhere before, and it works. Zoe Kravitz is a great Catwoman. Jeffrey Wright makes a perfect James Gordon. Andy Serkis, Colin Farrel: excellent and excellent. And not forgetting an exciting little cameo from Barry Keoghan as the new clown on the block. Sort of, director matt reeves reinvigorated a franchise that apparently didn’t need it but is all the better for it.