2022 has been stuffed full of high-octane blockbusters, but what were the best action movies of 2022? Audiences have been thrilled by the action genre for decades, whether that's characters getting flung into space, spies infiltrating the criminal underworld, or superheroes taking down dastardly villains. With special effects better than ever and budgets skyrocketing, 2022 has delivered some groundbreaking action movies, full of jaw-dropping stunts that often defy the laws of physics.
The backlog of delayed projects due to the coronavirus pandemic has meant that 2022 has been a fantastic year for action movies, as studios have waited for theaters to be full again before releasing their potential box-office hits. The year has been stacked full of original action movies, highly anticipated sequels, and adaptations of beloved novels. With that in mind, here are the best action movies of 2022.
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10. Bullet Train
An adaptation of Kōtarō Isaka's novel of the same name, Bullet Train is a comedy following the unlucky hitman Ladybug attempt to complete his latest mission peacefully but is forced into action when the world's deadliest assassins board the same train. Bullet Train's biggest strength is its ever-reliable leading actor, Brad Pitt, who continues his fine run of comedic performances following recent hits The Lost City and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Director David Leitch brings his wealth of experience in the action genre to Bullet Train to create hilarious set pieces that take full of advantage of the movie's unique setting, Japan's high-speed railway.
9. The Northman
After the critical success of The Witch and The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers' third movie, The Northman, was one of the most exciting prospects of 2022. Set in 9th-century Iceland, The Northman is an epic journey centered on a Viking prince's quest to avenge his father, save his mother, and kill his traitorous uncle. Eggers' signature dark style is at the forefront of The Northman, but his latest movie's brutal violence is what separates it from his earlier projects. Although The Northman's box-office performance was disappointing, its distinctive aesthetic and intensely absorbing leading performance from Alexander Skarsgård makes it an unmissable cinematic event.
8. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
2022 has been an up-and-down year for the MCU, with Thor: Love and Thunder and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness failing to live up to expectations, but thankfully Black Panther: Wakanda Forever proved to be a success. Centered on Wakanda’s battle against Namor and the Talokans, Black Panther 2 is unsurprisingly a box-office hit, but more importantly, it is a fitting tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman that strikes all the right emotional notes following the star's death. Wakanda Forever also overcomes recent criticism aimed at Marvel’s sloppy VFX and finds a way to respectfully move the franchise forward with Shuri becoming the new Black Panther.
7. Avatar: The Way Of Water
13 years in the making, Avatar: The Way of Water is another awe-inspiring spectacle from James Cameron. Set over a decade on from the original Avatar, the deceased Colonel Quaritch is resurrected in avatar form to hunt Jake Sully and his new Na'vi family to support military efforts to colonize Pandora. While criticisms of Avatar 2's bloated run time and thin plot are fair, The Way Of Water surpasses its predecessor, and every other 2022 movie, in the visuals department. Avatar 2’s phenomenally immersive action sequences make it a must-watch in theaters and more than justify Cameron's decision to delay the sequel to develop Avatar 2’s ground-breaking motion capture technology.
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6. The Batman
The latest incarnation of Gotham's Dark Knight, Robert Pattinson's The Batman focuses on a less experienced version of the vigilante than general audiences are familiar with as he takes on The Riddler. The grounded detective story is full of action as Bruce Wayne squares off with several hired goons, police officers, and even Catwoman, and makes good use of the billionaire's expensive gadgets and famous Batmobile. The Batman is the sixth highest-grossing movie of 2022 and the popularity of the Caped Crusader means it is no surprise that it is just the first installment of a new Batman franchise, with a sequel and multiple Batman spinoff series in the pipeline.
5. RRR
Outside this year's English-language blockbusters, RRR is 2022’s biggest action movie. RRR is a fictional take on the real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, as they fight off British colonizers. With a budget of $72 million, RRR is the most expensive Indian movie ever, and that is put to good use as the absurd self-aware action film sees its central characters fight a tiger, pull off a ridiculous prison break, and take down their British enemies in a dance-off. RRR has followed in the footsteps of Parasite and Squid Game by offering unmissable entertainment that has shattered the Western language barrier to become a global sensation.
4. The Woman King
Historical epic The Woman King sees the all-female warriors of the Dahomey tribe revolt against slave traders. Sure to please Braveheart and Gladiator fans, The Woman King's heroes overcome impossible odds in savage fashion to defend their treasured homeland. While The Woman King boasts an impressive ensemble cast, Viola Davis is the highlight. Davis proves once again why she is one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors, with a physically imposing performance that is underpinned by her ability to evoke emotion, which will undoubtedly make her a front-runner for major accolades in the 2022/23 awards season.
3. Prey
A prequel to the Predator movies, Prey follows a determined Comanche warrior, Naru, trying to prove herself by hunting a bloodthirsty alien Predator that is murdering her village's people. Prey smartly blends together practical effects alongside CGI to create realistic action sequences, culminating in the intense final battle between Naru and the Predator which is arguably the franchise's greatest fight scene. The patient thriller is proof that prequels can be done well as Prey stays true to Predator's roots by keeping viewers on edge throughout before launching into violent action, but breathes fresh life into the stalling franchise with its creativity and emotional punches.
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2. Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everything Everywhere All At Once is 2022's most imaginative action movie that follows a laundromat owner who is being hassled by the IRS when she discovers that she can connect with versions of herself in parallel universes. Everything Everywhere All At Once seamlessly stretches across genres with comedy, action, sci-fi, and romance all expertly blended into a satisfyingly absurd triumph. Despite its small budget, A24's Everything Everywhere All At Once offers viewers an alternative to the in-fashion multiverse blockbusters like the MCU, and does so in a way that is smarter and more polished than the likes of Marvel Studios, making it a genuine candidate to be the first sci-fi Best Picture winner.
1. Top Gun Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick is the most breathtaking action movie of the year. 36 years since the original, Maverick puts Captain Mitchell through his hardest test yet as he teaches a young group of pilots to fly an impossible mission while he battles with the traumatic death of his best friend Goose. The sequel was well worth the wait, earning this year's biggest box office and becoming Tom Cruise's first movie to make over $1 billion. Top Gun: Maverick rewards Top Gun fans and is also a joy to watch for newcomers thanks to its jaw-dropping jet stunts and emotive storyline, making it the best action movie of 2022.
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