Here's your definitive guide to summer 2022's movie releases. After two years of heavy disruption, 2022 promises a relatively normal Spider-Man: No Way Home's mammoth success, while the opportunity to witness smaller indie flicks on the big screen is appreciated more now than it was pre-March 2020. Nevertheless, the pandemic has altered movie distribution irreversibly, meaning streaming and VOD services are now bigger cogs in the film industry than ever before.
What hasn't changed is the burning desire of filmmakers, writers and actors to create magic. Nothing demonstrates their ion better than summer 2022's movie releases - a diverse, eclectic, thrilling lineup of feature-length fables that cover the full range of cinema. There's your standard Marvel madness, comforting couch-worthy comedies, and ambitious animated art pieces, available both in movie theaters and on your personal device of choice.
As spring slowly fades into the rear view, the time to plan your summer 2022 movie schedule has arrived. Here are all the releases - of all shapes and sizes - worth your consideration over the coming months.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (May 6 - Theaters)
Marvel Studios' next superhero extravaganza is the Benedict Cumberbatch-fronted Doctor Strange's multiverse headache contains a much broader kaleidoscope of Marvel lore, incorporating established MCU favorites such as Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), parallel variants (Captain Carter, Maria Rambeau and Marvel zombies are among those confirmed), and imports from totally different franchises (Patrick Stewart's Professor X is a near-certain cameo). With Sam Raimi in the director's chair, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promises a feast of trippy visuals and even trippier storytelling, while the ordeals Strange faces here will undoubtedly ripple across future Marvel releases.
Operation Mincemeat (May 11 - Netflix)
Based on the Ben Macintyre book of the same name, Shakespeare in Love, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Operation Mincemeat is also significant for marking one of the final performances from Paul Ritter, who sadly ed away in April 2021.
Firestarter (May 13 - Theaters/Peacock)
The world can never have enough movies based on Firestarter. Andy McGee must protect his pyrokinetic daughter, Charlie, from a shady organization known as The Shop. Zac Efron leads the cast as Andy, who must get his head in the game to break his daughter free. Firestarter's score is composed by none other than horror movie legend, John Carpenter, and despite releasing in theaters, Firestarter will premiere simultaneously on Peacock's streaming service on May 13. One way or another, Firestarter will be among the hottest summer 2022 movies.
Senior Year (May 13 - Netflix)
You'd be excused for wondering whether 40-something Rebel Wilson is wise casting for a high school cheerleader, but that's sort of the point for Netflix's Spider-Man: Homecoming) as the younger Stephanie and Alicia Silverstone as her teacher, Senior Year promises heartfelt teen comedy with a mind-melting young/old twist - essentially 17 Again in reverse. Get ready to crown a new Prom Queen on May 13.
Downton Abbey: A New Era (May 20 - Theaters)
Downton Abbey: A New Era - is almost upon us. Once again written by franchise creator Julian Fellowes, much of the original cast reprise their roles, but this time they're taking a trip to the sunny south of , far away from England's rural estates. Set roughly around 1929, Downton Abbey fans can reasonably expect more of the same class-based comfort viewing. After premiering theatrically on May 20, Downton Abbey: A New Era lands on Peacock's streaming service 45 days later.
Men (May 20 - Theaters)
From Alex Garland comes a horror movie called Annihilation, Men looks primed to become one of the most original horrors on the summer 2022 movie slate. Men will debut first at Cannes Film Festival before premiering in US theaters later that month. Creepy, subversive and visually stunning, this should be a treat. Especially for Rory Kinnear fans.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (May 20 - Disney+)
Set 30 years after the beloved cartoon series that ended in 1990, Disney+ reboot/revival shrewdly adopts a distinctive meta slant, taking place in an authentic live-action setting where "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers" was just a show, and Dale now appears at fan conventions. It's an approach that should appeal equally to younger viewers and long-standing fans now in their 30s with kids of their own. The exciting ing cast includes Eric Bana, Keegan-Michael Key, Kiki Layne, Seth Rogen, and J.K. Simmons.
The Bob's Burgers Movie (May 27 - Theaters)
Originally scheduled for July 2020, Bob's Burgers TV series - and with Bouchard himself co-directing and co-writing - The Bob's Burgers Movie begins when a sinkhole opens directly in front of the restaurant. Having survived a move from Fox to Disney and a global pandemic, the Belchers have weathered much worse. Fans can expect the usual brand of comedy, music and heart.
Top Gun: Maverick (May 27 - Theaters)
A whole 36 years later, Tom Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell returns in Iceman (Val Kilmer), Cruise is ed by Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Glen Powell, and Jon Hamm, but arguably the biggest selling points of Top Gun: Maverick are the cutting-edge flight scenes, which promise to deliver Hollywood's most immersive aerial stunts yet. Early Top Gun: Maverick reactions have proven extremely positive thus far - a curious contrast to the original's mixed reaction back in 1986.
Benediction (June 3 - Theaters)
Nothing to do with Doctor Strange, Benediction captures the tragedy and triumph of British World War I poet Siegfried Sassoon, played by Jack Lowden (young Siegfried) and Peter Capaldi (old Siegfried). Matthew Tennyson appears as fellow poet and close friend Wilfred Owen, while Jeremy Irvine plays future award, Ivor Novello. Benediction premieres in the UK on May 20, followed by US theaters on June 3. Covering Sassoon's ission to a psychiatric hospital, his romantic endeavors, and that famous anti-war stance, don't expect too much in the way of lighthearted frolics from Benediction.
