Ranked roundup
The best films of 2022
25 ranked · updated June 2026
The cinematic landscape of 2022 was defined by a profound search for redemption and the weight of legacy across diverse genres. From high-octane aerial maneuvers to intimate animated character studies, these fifteen selections demonstrate how stories of human connection and perseverance resonated deeply with audiences throughout the year.
How this ranking works
Ranked by a Bayesian-weighted score combining each title's average rating and rating count (minimum 200 ratings to qualify, weighted toward titles with more votes), filtered to films released in 2022.
Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick earns its top spot for its masterful blend of practical aviation spectacle and a poignant, earned arc of personal redemption.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
This film secures its position by balancing high-stakes action with a surprisingly mature and heartfelt meditation on the value of life and mortality.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Del Toro’s stop-motion masterpiece is essential viewing for its bold integration of historical political critique into a classic tale of fatherhood and growth.
Purple Hearts
Purple Hearts succeeds by grounding its familiar marriage of convenience premise in an honest exploration of opposing worldviews and the potential for genuine redemption.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Tetsuro Kodama
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero earns its place through its vibrant celebration of martial arts legacy and the ongoing evolution of its iconic superhero roster.
The Whale
Darren Aronofsky
The Whale is a harrowing character study that demands attention for its unflinching look at estrangement and the desperate human need for final redemption.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Daniel Scheinert
This film is a triumph of absurdist storytelling, using the concept of the multiverse to tackle complex themes of intergenerational trauma and the immigrant experience.
Suzume
Makoto Shinkai
Suzume stands out for its hauntingly beautiful depiction of grief and environmental loss, woven into a uniquely Japanese perspective on fate and free will.
A Man Called Otto
Marc Forster
A Man Called Otto earns its spot by perfectly capturing the heartwarming transformation of a grieving widower through the power of unexpected intergenerational friendship.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
This short film is a profound achievement in minimalist storytelling, stripping away complexity to focus on the essential human values of kindness and self-discovery.
20th Century Girl
20th Century Girl captures the universal sting of nostalgia and the specific intensity of first love with remarkable emotional precision and period-accurate charm.
The Batman
Matt Reeves
The Batman is a definitive neo-noir achievement that treats the superhero genre with the gravitas of a gritty detective thriller focused on moral decay.
Prey
Dan Trachtenberg
Prey succeeds by stripping the franchise back to its primal roots, emphasizing the resilience of an underdog warrior against a technologically superior alien threat.
Thirteen Lives
Ron Howard
Thirteen Lives is a masterclass in tension, highlighting the power of international cooperation and human resourcefulness during an impossible, life-or-death survival situation.
Hustle
Jeremiah Zagar
Hustle earns its place as a quintessential sports drama that leans into the classic underdog narrative with genuine heart and a focus on mentorship.
Common questions
What are the best animated films of 2022?
The top-rated animated films of 2022 include the visually stunning Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, the emotionally resonant Suzume, and the poignant short film The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
Which 2022 movies deal with themes of redemption?
Several films from 2022 explore redemption, most notably Top Gun: Maverick, which follows a veteran pilot's journey, the romance-focused Purple Hearts, the psychological drama The Whale, and the inspirational sports film Hustle, which features a scout seeking a second chance.
Are there any good survival movies released in 2022?
Yes, 2022 featured several notable survival films. These include Prey, which depicts a Comanche warrior's battle against an alien predator, and Thirteen Lives, a biographical drama detailing the real-world mission to rescue a soccer team trapped in a flooded cave.