The 20 Best Movies of 2022 So Far
Which films have impressed critics the most during the first half of the year? Above, we rank the best-reviewed movies first released in North American theaters (or debuting directly on digital/VOD/streaming outlets) between January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022. Films are ranked by Metascore and must have at least 7 reviews from professional critics to be eligible.
Additional content by Keith Kimbell.
Korea's Hong Sang-soo might be the hardest working filmmaker in modern cinema. In just the past decade alone, he has directed 14 films—and they're all excellent (with nothing but green Metascores for those titles that have received a global release). On his latest to arrive in the States, as with many of those previous titles, Hong isn't just the director, but also serves as screenwriter, producer, editor, cinematographer, and composer. (We think somebody else handled craft services, but we can't be positive.) Face spends a little more than 24 hours in the life of a former actress, Sangok (Lee Hyeyoung), who returns to Seoul after years of living abroad to stay with her sister. As they pass their day in a typically casual Hong manner—with a walk and a late breakfast—Sangok seems to be hiding something, but it won’t be revealed until she meets with a celebrated director who wants her to return to acting.
“Typical of Hong’s work, the laid-back anti-storytelling lets daily life flow slowly by without incident, until a revelatory twist in the last act gives the film its meaning. It will certainly appeal to his festival fan base but neophytes beware: It takes patience to get to hidden truths, and even so they are about as clear as a Zen koan.” —Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter
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