2022 is looking to be another year of big movies at the theater. In terms of blockbusters, there’s really only one genre that dominates so easily: action movies. Whether it’s a comic book picture, a star-studded epic, or a thrilling adventure, action is the usual go-to for theatrical movies making bank. You need only look at how popular Spider-Man: No Way Home became as the biggest movie of 2021. If you’re seeking more of that excitement in 2022, here are five action movies you should seek out this year.
The Batman
Director Matt Reeves (War for the Planet of the Apes) takes on the Batman (streaming options) mythos in this gritty crime drama centered around the caped crusader. Robert Pattinson plays the billionaire Bruce Wayne who masquerades Gotham City at night as the mysterious hero Batman, currently in his second year on the job. Batman’s latest case involves solving the intricate, mysterious, and deadly riddles of The Riddler. At the same time, he’ll also have to handle the cunning thief Catwoman and the corrupt businessman Penguin. In addition to Pattinson, the film also stars Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell.
Jurassic World: Dominion
In third entry of the Jurassic Park sequel series, dinosaurs are now running rampant across the globe. Following the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the cloned and imprisoned dinosaurs are unleashed upon the world and humanity struggles to contain such vicious creatures. Chris Pratt returns to the role of Owen Grady, the dinosaur expert once more ready to jump into adventure, but he’ll also have some help from some Jurassic Park alumni. The likes of Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum will return to their respective roles of Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm, the trio of doctors who are very much familiar with dinosaurs causing chaos.
Top Gun: Maverick
Tom Cruise returns to one of his most notable early roles as the hotshot pilot Maverick from the 1980s hit Top Gun. While still serving as one of the best if not cocky pilots of the Navy, Maverick will find himself facing his toughest challenge when he’s forced to confront his own past. At the same time, he’ll have to muster up the courage to train a raw batch of recruits to become the next flock of pilots to take to the sky and feel the need for speed. This long-awaited sequel comes from director Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy) and additionally stars Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer.
Thor: Love and Thunder
The fourth Thor superhero movie will find director Taika Waititi returning to direct another cosmic adventure for the mythological god of thunder. Following his role in Avengers: Endgame, Thor now finds himself setting off new adventures across the stars with the Guardians of the Galaxy. But he’s not quite leaving Earth behind as his love interest of Jane Foster will be joining him. And she may be taking on a much bigger role in the fight against evil than Thor initially thought. This mixture of fantasy and science fiction will continue the Marvel Cinematic Universe with an ensemble cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, Jaimie Alexander, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Jeff Goldblum, and Vin Diesel.
Doctor Strange and The Multiverse of Madness
When Doctor Strange tried to undo his spell that opened portals to other universes in Spider-Man: No Way Home, he might not have closed them all. The wizard now finds himself trying to figure out the complex web of the multiverse and why it’s been broken by a series of catastrophic events. Needing some help, he seeks the magical abilities of Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, to help him repair the damage done to untold universe. And Strange may not be ready to face the real villain of this plot, as it may just be himself. This action-packed fantasy comes from director Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Elizabeth Olsen, and Xochitl Gomez.
