The Biggest Blockbuster Movies of 2022 (According to IMDb)

Movies have long been a popular form of entertainment for the masses, but in recent years social media platforms and online streaming sites like Netflix, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube have provided alternative options. Despite this, movies continue to be the dominant form of mainstream entertainment. However, the conventional movie going experience has taken a dip but there have been few movies which went against the tide and made lots of money on the global box office. So, here is a list of The Biggest Blockbuster Movies of 2022.

Avatar: The Way of Water ($1,713,093,812 and Counting..)

One of the most awaited or perhaps the most awaited movie of of 2022 ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ had the 11th-biggest global box office opening of all time and the 3rd-biggest global opening for a film in the pandemic era behind Spider-Man: No Way Home and the aforementioned Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, earning $441.7 million in its first week. Disney’s release of “Avatar: The Way of Water” propelled the studio to the top of worldwide box office grosses, reaching the $4 billion mark for the eighth consecutive year. As we write, the film is still running strong on the global box office. And seeing the previous trends of James Cameron’s films, it’s evident that the movie will only grow strong on the box office and make & break more records.

Top Gun: Maverick ($1,486,657,76)

The sequel to the critically acclaimed 1986 film directed by Tony Scott, Maverick, was a hit with both audiences and critics. The film’s success can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as Tom Cruise’s status as a Hollywood A-lister and the appeal of seeing a beloved character back on screen. The film also broke records by becoming Tom Cruise’s highest-grossing film worldwide, surpassing Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018). Director Joseph Kosinski, who had previously worked with Cruise on Oblivion (2013), crafted Maverick to be both a dramatic and thrilling experience that acknowledged the changes in the world. The film avoided the militaristic tone of the original and instead conveyed a sense of melancholy, raising questions about the future of pilots. While not perfect, the film featured impressive aerial stunts and a nerve-wracking final act, making it one of the most thrilling cinema experiences of 2022.

Jurassic World: Dominion ($1,001,978,080)

The final installment of the Jurassic World saga, Jurassic World Dominion, performed exceptionally well at the box office, becoming the tenth film franchise to gross $6 billion. Despite its financial success, the film received less praise and was criticized for being a shallow, uninspired cash grab that failed to do justice to its talented cast, particularly Laura Dern. It is disappointing that this subpar film performed so well and it is likely that the franchise will continue to be milked for financial gain in the future.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ($955,775,804)

MCU’s Phase 4 received a lot of criticism from Marvel fans this year, as it was perceived as an overdose of TV shows and mediocre releases which led to superhero fatigue among the fans. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, directed by horror maestro Sam Raimi, was a major contributor to this feeling. The film was not strange, mad or multiverse-y enough and it even ruined the established character of Wanda, also known as The Scarlet Witch, that was created in the series Wanda Vision. It may not be the worst release of the MCU this year, but it felt like another forgettable addition to the MCU and an underperforming compared to Everything Everywhere All At Once, which showed that multiverse can be done well when executed properly.

Minions: The Rise of Gru ($939,433,210)

The movie, set in the 1970s, follows the story of a young Gru (Steve Carell) who is growing up in the suburbs and idolizes a group of supervillains known as the Vicious 6. In his quest to become evil enough to join them, he gets help from his loyal followers, the Minions. Together, they work on building their first lair, experimenting with weapons and executing their first missions. Although the movie is flawed and not as charming as previous installments, it still manages to deliver some laughs. However, it made $939,433,210 globally.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ($831,224,940)

The one redeeming film among the MCU releases this year was Ryan Coogler’s powerful but unwieldy sequel to the cultural phenomenon that was Black Panther. The film’s main theme of loss and grappling with legacy, in the wake of the untimely death of its lead actor, Chadwick Boseman, was the strongest aspect of the film. Although it had issues with focus and trying to include too much, it served as a reminder that the key to success in films lies less in explosions and extended universes and more in emotions.

The Batman ($770,836,163)

The superhero action thriller directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson as Batman generated a lot of excitement from the time of its announcement, much of which centered around Pattinson’s casting as the iconic character. Batman is one of the most beloved and financially successful characters in the DC universe, and the Batman franchise is one of the most iconic and successful superhero franchises of all time. There were some concerns about Pattinson’s ability to play such a complex and dark character, but the movie exceeded expectations and can be considered one of the best superhero movies of 2022. It also made $770,836,163 on the Box Office.

Thor: Love and Thunder ($760,672,134)

Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi and starring Chris Hemsworth as Thor, generated a lot of hype and anticipation prior to its release. However, the film failed to meet expectations and received mixed reviews. The storyline and screenplay were criticized and even some Marvel fans were disappointed. Despite this, the movie was a financial success, earning over 750 million dollars at the box office and being considered one of the biggest hits of 2022.

Water Gate Bridge ($626,571,280)

Water Gate Bridge, also known as The Battle At Lake Changjin II, is a Chinese war film that was not well received by many critics, but it still managed to be the ninth highest-grossing film of 2022. The film tells a fictionalized version of the story behind the fighting at Funchilin Pass during the Korean War. It is a sequel to The Battle At Lake Changjin, which was commissioned by the Chinese Communist Party and was released on Chinese New Year. Despite being criticized as propaganda by many foreign critics, the film grossed over $600 million in China and was a commercial success.

Moon Man ($460,237,662)

It is unexpected for many to see Chinese-made films, especially Chinese-language films, in the top ten highest-grossing films of the year. However, Moon Man managed to gross over $400 million without being released in US cinemas. This demonstrates the growing influence of the Chinese box office on the world stage. The film tells the story of a man who believes himself to be the last person alive in the universe after an asteroid wipes out most of the Earth. He is stranded on the moon with his red kangaroo companion and tries to make it back home as the remaining people on Earth in bunkers use his survival as a source of hope.

Also Read: 10 Most Searched Movies On Google in 2022