Binge Watch: Best of the Year So Far

Here we are in July, meaning we’re halfway through the year. That seemed like a good time to take a minute and look back at the best of what I’ve seen this year so far. So, below are my Top 10 movies of the year through now. We’ll see how many make it to the end of the year roundup in early January!

10. Downton Abbey: A New Era (Released May 20)
About: This one is the follow up to the first feature film and follows the successful series. I thought it was a step up over the first stand alone film and I enjoyed the story here. There were some fun and emotional moments, and that was enough for it to sneak into my Top 10… so far.

9. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (Released April 22)
About: This one first debuted at festivals but then released in theaters in April. Nicholas Cage plays a version of himself, and his team up with Pedro Pascal is nothing short of hilarious. I enjoyed the movie a lot. It’s a very clever and creative comedy.

8. Jurassic World: Dominion (Released June 10)
About: I know that some didn’t care for the latest Jurassic film. I, myself, would be happy if it was the final installment. It brought some great callbacks to the original and mixed in the new cast. I loved the fan service moments, the action and the way the whole thing played out. Jurassic Park is a personal favorite, and this one delivered on all my hopes as a fan.

7. Emergency (Released May 27)
About: This film first made its debut at Sundance in 2021 and then dropped on May on Amazon Prime. It’s a stirring tale about a trio of college students of color who find a white girl passed out on their floor. They know they need to get her help, but struggle with the implications it might have for them. It’s a fantastic and gripping film, one that puts some cultural issues in the spotlight and makes you think. I loved the lead performance from Donald Elise Watkins as well.

6. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (Released June 17)
About: Another Sundance film, this one is a two-hander between an aging woman who lived in an unsatisfying marriage and her time spent with a male escort. While the set-up sounds scandalous, it’s the conversations between Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack that make this one crackle. I enjoyed it very much.

5. After Yang (March 4)
About: You guessed it, another film that debuted at Sundance. I actually saw this one at Sundance before it debuted on Showtime in early March. It’s a future story, but it’s really about the nature of life and humanity. I loved Colin Farrell here. This is one that has stuck with me since I saw it in January.

4. Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul (Releases September 2)
About: You probably haven’t seen this one, and that’s because it releases in a couple months. But I saw it at Sundance (this is the last one from the festival, I promise) and I’ve loved it ever since. It’s the story of a disgraced minister (Sterling K. Brown) and his wife (Regina Hall) as they try to mount a comeback. It was funny at times but also deeply moving.

3. The Batman (Released March 4)
About: Robert Pattinson steps into the shoes of Bruce Wayne/Batman, but this is really about the story approach from Matt Reeves. It’s long and it’s darker but I thought it was executed well. It doesn’t surpass my Top 3 Batman films, but it’s one of the best films of the year so far.

2. Top Gun: Maverick (Released May 27)
About: This long-gestating sequel was released for Memorial Day Weekend. Tom Cruise is excellent in a film that surpasses the original in every way. This is one of the most intense and incredible action films I’ve seen in a long time. It demands to be seen on the big screen.

1. Everything Everywhere All At Once (Released 25)
About: This one also debuted at festivals before being released to audiences in late March. The film from The Daniels is a multi-verse adventure, and the best of the year so far. It’s possibly the most visually creative film I’ve ever seen. Michelle Yeoh is great in the lead role. This was a film that had me captivated and moved, and I doubt it comes off this list at any point in 2022, no matter what the rest of the year holds for us.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.