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.
Just released a few weeks ago on VOD services (after an American theatrical release in May), writer-director Audrey Diwan’s sophomore feature won the Golden Lion as the top film at last year's Venice Film Festival. Adapted (with Marcia Romano) from Annie Ernaux’s autobiographical novel, Happening stars French-Romanian actress Anamaria Vartolomei as Anne, a university student in 1963 France who finds few options when she wants to terminate her pregnancy. Certainly a tough (but rewarding) watch, Happening's ticking-clock, social-realist approach takes cues from two other critically acclaimed films about abortion: Cristian Mungiu’s 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and Eliza Hittman’s Never Rarely Somtimes Always.
“Happening is set in the sixties, but Diwan’s stark, unwavering direction, coupled with sparing costumes and cinematographer Laurent Tangy’s intimate lens, lend the film a sense of timelessness. The power of Happening is in the terrifying knowledge that Anne’s struggles could be happening to anyone, at any time.” —Amil Niazi, The Globe and Mail
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