Movies are back, baby! And if the end of 2021 showed us anything, it’s that audiences are ravenous for their big flick fix. Nothing beats that smell of fresh cinema popcorn, but sadly we’ve endured two years of countless release date delays keeping us from a long list of anticipated films. 

Fear not though! Good things come to those who wait (and wait). With recent blockbusters No Time to Die and Spider-Man: No Way Home bringing in over US$770 million and US$1.6 billion respectively at the global box office, it’s safe to say the shared cinema experience is coming back in full force. 

Guy Burbidge, Managing Director of Val Morgan, said recently, “The slate of new content dropping into 2022 is the biggest we’ve ever seen. We know that young, high-value audiences are looking to escape and indulge in immersive experiences to catch up on the lost time in lockdown, cinema will be at the forefront of their summer schedules. As Australia’s number one cultural activity, cinema is here to stay, offering an unmatched experience that Aussies are craving to get back to.”

With that in mind, it’s tough to whittle down the huge list of new movies coming out in 2022, but let’s sink our teeth into just some of the most anticipated.

Uncharted

Tom Holland is on top of the world right now, casually swinging from the sixth highest grossing film of all time (Spider-Man: No Way Home) to another high-octane action-adventure. Holland plays a young Nathan Drake in this prequel to a wildly popular series of video games, which shows us details of how the young treasure hunter came to meet and befriend Sully (Mark Wahlberg). If the trailer is anything to go by, this big-budget flick promises to deliver. Is there anything Tom Holland can’t do?

The DCEU 

We found a loophole here and decided to group the five (count them) FIVE DCEU films hitting cinemas this year. Let’s indulge in a little superhero action for a moment, shall we?

• The Batman

In his second year of fighting crime, Batman (Robert Pattinson) uncovers corruption in Gotham City connected to his own family. Director Matt Reeves takes a darker, grittier approach here with Pattinson donning the cowl and cape alongside Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as The Riddler and an unrecognisable Colin Farrell as crime boss Penguin. With a confirmed runtime of 2 hours and 55 minutes, you’ll have to train your bladder for this one so you don’t miss a frame! Pattinson may not seem like an obvious choice for the Dark Knight, but everything points to an epic Gotham City showdown with the Caped Crusader’s biggest foes. 

• DC League of Super-Pets

In this animated adventure, Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime in Metropolis. However, Krypto must master his own powers for a rescue mission when Superman is kidnapped. With an all-star voice cast behind the mic, this one is sure to get families to the cinema for some big laughs and fun times. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, John Krasinski, Kate McKinnon and Natasha Lyonne are just a few of the Hollywood big-hitters ready to sit, stay and save the world.

•  Black Adam

It’s no secret that Popcorn Podcast loves a bit of Dwayne Johnson action, and we are so ready for him to rock our world once again with this epic superhero movie. A passion project for Johnson, this Shazam spin-off has been generating incredible buzz, especially with the first look revealed at DC FanDome last year. The story follows an imprisoned anti-hero from Kahndaq who breaks free after five thousand years with a furiosity that will leave everyone quaking in their superhero boots and, as Johnson says, “will change the hierarchy of the DCEU forever.”

• The Flash

Ever since Michael Keaton was confirmed to return as Bruce Wayne/Batman in this standalone story, the fandom has been going wild (Popcorn Podcast included). Keaton was last seen in the role in 1992 for Tim Burton’s Batman Returns and 30 years away is too long! Ezra Miller is back as Barry Allen in this time-travelling adventure, but there isn’t much else known about the plot. What’s extra exciting is the introduction of Supergirl, played by Sasha Calle. Fans love her costume, as seen in recent behind-the-scenes set pics. The Flash also features the reappearance of Ben Affleck’s Batman and Michael Shannon’s General Zod. Will its cameos live up to the hype and triumph like Spider-Man: No Way Home did? Only time will tell!

• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Aussie director James Wan returns for this sequel to the wildly successful Aquaman, which made an astonishing US$1 billion at the global box office back in 2018. Jason Momoa is once again king of the ocean, reprising his role as Arthur Curry. Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman are also back as Mera and Atlanna, along with Patrick Wilson as King Orm and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta. We’ve seen images of the new suit and are ready to dive in this December.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Described as the most Nic Cage movie EVER, this is the one we need and deserve this year. But what on earth is it about? Nicolas Cage plays, well, a cash-strapped Nicolas Cage who agrees to make a paid appearance at a billionaire super-fan's (Pedro Pascal) birthday party (still with us?), but he is really an informant for the CIA , as the fan is a drug kingpin. This sounds so wild and will no doubt be one of the most meta films of all time. Bring. It. ON!

The Bad Guys

Based on the New York Times best-selling book series by Australian author Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys flips the script on family films. DreamWorks Animation are the team behind one of this year’s most exciting offerings, described as “Tarantino for kids”. Director Pierre Perifel has assembled a bad-arse bunch of voice actors from Oscar-winners to comedians and Broadway stars, with Sam Rockwell leading the cast as Mr Wolf, Anthony Ramos as Mr Piranha, Marc Maron as Mr Snake, Craig Robinson as Mr Shark and Awkwafina as Ms Tarantula. This crew of criminals is planning to pull off the ultimate heist by pretending to be good.

She Said

German actor-director Maria Schrader could be bringing us the most powerful film of the year with She Said. It’s about New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who broke one of the most important stories in a generation – a story that helped launch the #MeToo movement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood. Staring Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, Patricia Clarkson and Samantha Morton, this important film will continue the crucial conversations around sexual assault and help give a voice to so many women affected by the atrocities of men in power.

The MCU 

Ok, we are doing it again (a.k.a. cheating) with another grouped entry, this time taking a look at the MCU’s new movies in 2022. 

• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Doctor Strange has cast a forbidden spell that opens the door to the Multiverse, welcoming an alternate version of himself whose threat to humanity is too great for the combined forces of Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Wong (Benedict Wong) and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). It’s safe to say the stakes are pretty high in this one! What’s most exciting is that director Sam Raimi returns to comic book films for the first time since his celebrated Spider-Man offerings in the early naughties. Raimi takes us to dark places here, which sets up incredibly foreboding events for our Marvel heroes. We can’t wait to go on this adventure, especially with the return of Olsen as Scarlet Witch.

• Thor: Love and Thunder

Natalie Portman returns to the franchise (the crowd goes wild), but not just as Thor’s love interest… Jane Foster will become Lady Thor in this fourth instalment. Can we get a “hell yeah!” In his next galactic adventure, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is joined by Zeus (Russell Crowe) and Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), and the Guardians of the Galaxy also show up, with Chris Pratt and Karen Gillan reprising their roles as Peter Quill and Nebula respectively. Be assured that writer/director Taika Waititi has plenty of laughs and action coming our way.

• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

We can’t imagine a Black Panther film without the immeasurable Chadwick Boseman playing the titular hero. But since his tragic death means that isn’t possible, director Ryan Coogler has promised a tribute. The cultural impact of Black Panther in 2018 was an inspiring one and no doubt Wakanda Forever will replicate the incredible influence with Letitia Wright’s Shuri tipped to take on the Black Panther mantel. Nothing more is known about the plot just yet, but we’ll enjoy the ridiculously talented cast, featuring Angela Bassett, Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke. We love you 3000, Boseman!

Elvis

Not much is known about Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis biopic besides the fact it offers a look at the life of legendary rock and roll star Elvis Presley. Lurhmann hasn’t directed a feature since 2013’s The Great Gatsby, but the illustrious filmmaker always takes his time when deciding his next film project – and the wait is worth it. Filmed Down Under, this one promises to be as dazzling and spectacular as the rest of Lurhmann’s filmography and he once again partners with his wife, production and costume designer Catherine Martin. Get your blue suede shoes ready to tap along when Austin Butler thrusts his hips as Elvis and Tom Hanks plays his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.  

Lightyear

One word. Pixar. The Toy Story franchise is beloved by millions all over the world and everyone has a favourite character. It seems the emotionally manipulative (we’re still mad about that opening scene in UP!) wizards at Pixar do, too, as they’re bringing us this origin story of Buzz Lightyear and his space adventures. You won’t need to go to infinity and beyond to see Lightyear, it’s just around the corner this June with Chris Evans voicing the iconic hero who inspired the toy.

Nope

Jordon Peele (Us, Candyman) returns with this elevated horror flick. The plot is being kept under wraps, so all we have to go off is a sinister looking poster that’s already making us squirm in our seats. Nope has an assembly of brilliant actors with Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreira, Emmy-winner Keke Palmer and Oscar-nominees Steven Yeun and Daniel Kaluuya rounding out the cast. Peele is a filmmaker who challenges his audience with a unique take on the horror genre that rely less on traditional jump-scares and gore, focusing instead on allegorical subtext, artistic mood and social commentary. 

Don’t Worry Darling

Olivia Wilde’s follow-up to her brilliant directorial debut Booksmart could not be more different to the coming of age comedy. Don’t Worry Darling is a psychological thriller about a 1950s housewife living with her husband in a utopian experimental community who begins to worry that his glamorous company may be hiding disturbing secrets. Wilde has assembled a stellar cast – including Gemma Chan, Florence Pugh, Harry Styles and Chris Pine – for her sophomore film.

The Son

Last year, Popcorn Podcast sat down with Oscar-winner Florian Zeller to discuss his masterpiece directorial debut The Father. In 2022, Zeller returns with an aptly named follow-up: The Son. Adapted from his play about teen depression, it stars Hugh Jackman and Vanessa Kirby as a couple whose life is upended when Jackman’s ex, played by Laura Dern, shows up with their troubled teenage son. Zeller is once again tackling family drama and mental health in his nuanced storytelling, buoyed by (no doubt) award-winning performances. 

Avatar 2

Who else is taking bets on whether we’ll actually see James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel to the highest-grossing film of all time this December? It’s been 13 years since we’ve met Jake Sully (Aussie Sam Worthington), who still lives with his newfound family on Pandora. When a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and the army of the Na'vi to protect their planet. With nothing but a few behind-the-scenes pics and concept art shared, fans have been kept in the dark about this film – the first of four planned sequels. Cameron promises to push the boundaries of filmmaking once again, with most of Avatar 2 tipped to take place underwater. Did you know that Kate Winslet held her breath for seven minutes and 14 seconds to perform her own underwater motion capture stunts?