Movies That Will Blow You Away In Fall 2022
2022 has already presented plenty of box office titans and cinematic bangers that have drawn crowds to the theaters. Matt Reeves' "The Batman" was an early favorite of the year, presenting a dark noir detective take on Batman that audiences were very pleased to see. Meanwhile, "Top Gun: Maverick" continues to be a dominating breakout force at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of all time and bringing Tom Cruise back to one of his most iconic franchises. The horror scene has been a total terror show with the "Scream" franchise crafting a new future for the franchise and Jordan Peele delivering a wild summer breakout for horror fans with his mysterious sci-fi thriller "Nope." There were even some indie breakouts like "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once" and "X" that took theaters by storm this year already.
With the fall movie season just around the corner, though, there are plenty of big movies set to hit theaters soon and blow away audiences. Along with some fresh originals hoping to make their mark, there are some major franchises starting and returning to deliver some cinematic spectacle to superhero hungry audiences. Both Marvel and DC have a big movie hitting theaters this fall that presents new paths for their respective cinematic universes. Also, a major horror franchise's trilogy is coming to an exciting end with a final battle that's surely going to bring blood and brutality. And there are a few more promising pictures on the rise that might just catch audiences' attention and become unexpected hits. Here's a look at the movies that will blow you away in Fall 2022.
Black Adam
Although the Warner-Discovery merger and a lot of casting controversies have made the future of the DCEU incredibly murky, the hierarchy of DC's cinematic universe is about to change with the debut of "Black Adam." The upcoming film is set to tell the story of Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson), one of DC's most beloved villains, as he reemerges into the modern world with incredible powers that he uses to brutally dominate anyone that crosses his path. While Black Adam is often seen as a powerful villain in the comics that fights against Shazam and the Justice League, he's set to take a more heroic turn with the help of some other iconic DC figures.
"Black Adam" will also introduce the Justice Society of America (JSA), which includes iconic DC heroes like Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), and Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell). With the DCEU being in a tough place lately, "Black Adam" has a lot of pressure on its shoulders to reignite hope for DC fans but could easily do so with some epic action and a great lineup of characters. Johnson is shaping up to bring the fan-favorite character to life and the huge lineup of heroes could make the action sequences incredibly unique and visually stunning. "Black Adam" could be the start of a strong new era for DC and maybe will even tease an eventual confrontation between him and Shazam.
Avatar: The Way of Water
It's been over a decade since James Cameron's "Avatar" became the highest-grossing movie of all time before "Avengers: Endgame" surpassed it and displayed some incredible visual effects. Now, James Cameron is delivering a new "Avatar" film, "The Way of Water," which is set to be the first of many sequels to follow. The film will bring fans back to Pandora to catch up with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) as they do everything in their power to protect their family.
As said before, it's been quite some time since "Avatar" hit the big screen so it's tough to say if "The Way of Water" will hit the same box-office and reception marks as the original. Regardless, "The Way of Water" looks to expand even deeper into the world of Pandora and deliver more visually stunning moments of action and emotion. Its new story featuring the return Jake, Neytiri, and even Stephen Lang's villainous Miles Quaritch as well as the debut of new characters like Jake and Neytiri's children could drum up some new interest in the "Avatar" world. Also, "The Way of Water" looks like the incredible visual spectacle that most remember "Avatar" being, so it presents all the opportunity to make "Avatar" a prominent name again.
Halloween Ends
Director David Gordon Green is set to end Blumhouse's "Halloween" trilogy this fall with "Halloween Ends." After "Halloween Kills," Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers are ready for their final bout that's likely going to be their bloodiest and most brutal on-screen confrontation to date. Blumhouse's modern "Halloween" trilogy has resurrected the franchise like never before, delivering plenty of great scares, unbelievably gruesome kills, and a more compelling Laurie than ever before — largely thanks Curtis' great performances. However, all good things must come to an end.
That doesn't mean horror fans should be sad, though. Rather, "Halloween Ends" should serve as a big celebration for the franchise as it not only completes another era but will likely be the last time fans see Curtis as Laurie. A recent "Halloween Kills" teaser certainly gave fans plenty of reasons to be excited, previewing a big final bout between Laurie and Michael Myers full of intense bloodshed. "Halloween Ends" is easily the biggest horror release of the year and will attempt to end Laurie and Michael's rivalry on an incredibly bloody high.
The Woman King
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood ("The Old Guard") looks to deliver an incredible historical action epic with the upcoming star-studded film "The Woman King." The film depicts the Agojie, an all-female warrior army that protects the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century, along with shielding their kingdom from a group of European invaders. To say that this film and its cast look fierce would be an understatement, as its all-star cast is made up of greats like Viola Davis, Lashawna Lynch, John Boyega, and Sheila Atim, while newcomer Thuso Mbedu is just booming with talent.
The film looks like a true action epic, as the vibes of recent trailers have been absolutely intense. "The Woman King" looks like it's got the vision and budget of a blockbuster action flick. Prince-Bythewood certainly looks to take her direction to ambitious new heights with "The Woman King" and those waiting for that Dora Milaje-focused MCU project supposedly in the works will likely love what "The Woman King" is offering. "The Woman King" is showing a lot of potential to be the breakout film of the fall with the intense action its showing and the big talent it has both in front of and behind the camera.
Pearl
Earlier this year, director Ti West delivered a compelling and gruesome homage to '70s slashers with "X," and just a few months later he's already ready to deliver a prequel with "Pearl." The film brings viewers back to 1918 to focus on the origins of the "X" main killer Pearl (Mia Goth) as she goes to bloody lengths to escape her dull farm life for a place in the spotlight. Those that saw "X" will remember the dusty and grimy atmosphere and will immediately see that "Pearl" looks like the complete opposite at first.
Its bright and almost heavenly cinematography and music act as the perfect ruse for the sinister and bloodthirsty nature of its titular killer to creep in. Where West maybe hid some of bloodshed and horror within the first looks at "X," he's hiding nothing with "Pearl" as gory explosions and the beginnings of murder are clear as day. Also, just from what's seen in the trailer, "Pearl" is already looking like a breakout moment for Goth, a rising acting force who shouldn't go unnoticed. Horror fans look like they're in for another gory treat from West this fall with "Pearl" and certainly don't want to miss it.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Phase 4 of the MCU is set to come to a close with the upcoming "Black Panther" sequel, "Wakanda Forever," that will chart a new path forward for the character in the wake of actor Chadwick Boseman's death. At the moment, it's unclear who exactly will be taking T'Challa's place as Black Panther, but we do know that they are set to go to war with a fierce Atlantian army led by the powerful Namor (Tenoch Huerta). Boseman's passing certainly left a big hole that's tough to fill in the MCU, but director Ryan Cooglar looks like he's tapping into the emotion and devastation left by Boseman's death to create a celebration for both T'Challa and Boseman.
If you're not holding back tears when watching the first "Wakanda Forever" trailer, then you might be a little soulless as it beautifully captures the dour emotions and heartbroken nature of Boseman's untimely passing. Other than that, "Wakanda Forever" looks like an absolutely stunning return to Wakanda while it's at war meaning that we could get one of the most emotionally charged and action-packed MCU films to date. Plus, we know that were going to get some big new players to the MCU, including Namor and Ironheart (Riri Williams), and fans will be eagerly awaiting to see who will become the new Black Panther.
Strange World
Disney's latest animated adventure is set to hit theaters this fall and looks to bring viewers on weird and wild sci-fi adventure that'll live up to the title of "Strange World." The film follows the Clades family, a family of legendary explorers that thrive on an adventurous spirit, except for Searcher (voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal) who has only been a farmer, as they explore a strange world filled with weird creatures. From the '50s sci-fi style of the trailer to the incredible look of the world, "Strange World" looks vastly different compared to anything Disney has worked on in recent years.
"Strange World" instantly feels like a breath of fresh air due its deep sense of adventure in uncharted worlds and almost looks like a callback to cult-Disney favorites like "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" and "Treasure Planet." Not to mention, it looks absolutely gorgeous and seemingly boasts a vivid world you'd want to get lost in. At the moment, not much has been said or shown for "Strange World," but it could be another can't miss animated hit from Disney.
Bones & All
"Call Me by Your Name" and "Suspira" (2018) director Luca Guadagnino brings together his distinct style of coming-of-age romance and horror with his upcoming film "Bones & All." Based on the book of the same name by Camille DeAngelis, the film follows two cannibalistic lovers (Taylor Russell, Timothee Chalamet) as they travel across America during the 1980s. Not much has been shown for the movie aside from a very brief and ambiguous teaser, but there's already a lot to be excited about with "Bones & All."
Just the fact that we're seeing Chalamet and Guadagnino reunite is a treat in itself and having a rising talent like Russell on board as well only makes "Bones & All" more of a must-watch. Given what Guadagnino has shown in his last couple films in the more character-driven and atmospheric elements he's brought to his stories and worlds, "Bones & All" could be a perfect blend of his talents. Also, it could be a major Oscar contender given all the names involved making it a film everyone should have on their watchlist.
The Fabelmans
Steven Spielberg is currently set to show off his next film this fall, "The Fabelmans," which is meant to be a semi-autobiographical look at Spielberg becoming inspired by film. The film follows young aspiring filmmaker Sammy (Gabrielle LaBelle) as he discovers the power of film while dealing with an emerging family secret in post-World War II America. Given that Spielberg is mostly known for big blockbusters or character-driven Oscar contenders, "The Fabelmans" feels much more like a passion project for Spielberg and could be the most personal story he's told yet.
"The Fabelmans" cast is filled with talent, including Paul Dano, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, and even director David Lynch portraying iconic director John Ford. The film seems like a personal homage to film, which Oscar voters are always suckers for, and Spielberg's take on a slice of life story could make for a deeply engaging story. There's still no word on when we could get our first look at "The Fabelmans," but it could be one of the most talked about movies of the fall, especially once awards season rolls around.
I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Although it's been flying under the radar lately and hasn't gotten a lot of promotion, there's actually a Whitney Houston biopic directed by Kasi Lemmons set to hit theaters this Christmas fittingly titled "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." The film will depict the life and career of the late, great music icon Whitney Houston, who will be played by Naomi Ackie. At the moment, there isn't much known about the film, and we still don't have a trailer to obsess over, but it's undoubtedly one of the biggest films coming this holiday season.
Lemmons has proven herself time and time again as an excellent director with films like "Eve's Bayou" and "Harriet," and Ackie could certainly have a breakout performance as Houston. There's nothing like a good music biopic and with "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" being focused on Whitney Houston and coming right in time for Christmas, it feels like the perfect combination for audiences to head to the theaters.
Babylon
Director Damien Chazelle returns with his new film "Babylon" towards the end of the year, and it is set to be a star-studded affair. The film brings viewers back in the 1920s Jazz Age to look at the transition from silent films to talkies. With each new film, Chazelle has become a more prominent director and based on the cast and premise of "Babylon," it is poised to become his biggest and most ambitious film to date.
With the film being about a pivotal era in movies, it has attracted a pretty incredible cast featuring the likes of Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Tobey Maguire, Samara Weaving, Spike Jonze, and many others. As said with "The Fablemans," award show juries love movies about movies, so "Babylon" should definitely be considered an awards favorite of the fall and its initial Christmas release heavily improves its chances at awards glory. Chazelle always makes movies worthy of seeing on the big screen and with it delving into a historic period of film and incredible ensemble cast, "Babylon" is yet another film of that caliber. Now, all we need is a trailer.
Don't Worry Darling
After delivering a breakout comedy in 2019 with "Booksmart," Olivia Wilde returns as a director with a new psychological thriller titled "Don't Worry Darling." The film follows a 1950s housewife (Florence Pugh) who realizes that her seemingly perfect life is a lie as she makes horrifying discoveries about her husband (Harry Styles) and the "perfect" community they live in. Just from the trailers, the film presents a great mix of steamy romance and utopian glee that's torn down by psychological terror and terrifying discoveries.
Alongside Pugh and Styles, "Don't Worry Darling" features an immensely talented cast that includes Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, Wilde, Nick Kroll, and Kiki Layne. With this film, Wilde looks to create a purely nerve-raking thrill ride full of slow-burning realizations and strong performances that heighten the horror. "Don't Worry Darling" is going to be one of the biggest films to kick off the fall season, and if Wilde can pull out another strong showing as a director with the film, she should immediately be considered a top working talent.