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.
Belgium's official Oscar submission last year (it made the shortlist but ultimately failed to get a nomination), the directorial debut for Laura Wandel is a harrowing tale of playground bullying and family, depicting a schoolyard with the same unflinching, unsentimental intensity as a prison drama or war film, as described by The Wrap critic Ben Croll. Literally seen from a child's POV for most of its runtime, Playground (or Un Monde as it is titled in its native country) centers on a 7-year-old girl who witnesses her older brother being bullied by his classmates at their new school. She attempts to protect him by informing their father, but he warns her to keep quiet—and leaves her to grow up in a hurry and navigate the situation on her own.
“Wandel’s movie is immersive and bruising, full of empathy for its young characters, and unrelenting in its depiction of the challenges they face. And it makes you wonder, with utmost sincerity—how did any of us ever reach adulthood in one piece?” —Chloe Walker, Paste
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