Best Movies of Each Month in 2022 That’ll Make Your Year Grand Finale

Hello binge watchers and movie lovers! The high-power 22nd year of the futuristic era draws to a close, with mere hours separating us from a calendar reset. But time doesn't reset for us as every year sees the continuation of new film debuts and seasons upon seasons of our treasured shows. 

However, before we forge ahead, it’s time to reminisce on the best films the year had to offer. Fresh out of the Christmas festivities, it’s time to grab some hot chocolate, get cozy and watch or re-watch the year’s best releases as you take a trip down memory lane.

Starring Jenna Ortega as the main character, The Fallout is a teen drama film that tells the story of Vada, a high schooler who begins to push her social boundaries to reinvent her life after sudden tragic events. She makes a new BFF, Mia (Maddie Ziegler), with whom they share life experiences. 

The Fallout also stars Julie Bowen, Shailene Woodley, John Ortiz, Austin Zajur, Lumi Pollack, Will Ropp, Niles Fitch, Christine Horn and Vindra Zayas. 

The film scores 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and is described as “empathetic and well-acted” by critics.

A perfect film for the ultra-modern month of love, I Want You Back is a romantic comedy that chronicles the events of thirty-something freshly heartbroken Peter (Charlie Day) and Emma (Jenny Slate), who team up to get their exes back by ruining their new relationships. 

The film’s ensemble cast is rounded up by Scott Eastwood, Gina Rodriguez, Clark Backo, Manny Jacinto, Luke David Blumm, and Isabel May, among others. 

I Want You Back (86% on Rotten Tomatoes) is praised for delivering just the right balance of comedy and romance as well as its stellar cast playing well-rounded characters.

Rescued by Ruby is a sentimental film that tells the moving tale of a state trooper, Dan (Grant Gustin), who aspires to join the K-9 Search & Rescue Team in vain. Meanwhile, the adorable but stubborn shelter dog Ruby dreams of finding a home, but no one has adopted her so far. Destiny brings Dan and Ruby together, and the touching unshakable bond between the two helps them overcome their biggest hurdle. 

Rescued by Ruby is based on a true story and stars Scott Wolf, Kaylah Sandler, Camille Sullivan, Tom McBeath, Sharon Taylor, Eileen Pedde, Jude Culham-Keays, Giacomo Baessato and Brad Mann, joining Grant. 

It scores an impressive 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and is applauded as one of the best films for dog lovers.

Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood is a sweet drama adventure animated film that takes you through a nostalgic trip to America in the 1960s. 

It tells the story of the triumphant moon landing in 1969 Summer from two interlinked lenses- from the eyes of a boy in Houston, Texas, aspiring to be an astronaut and from the perspective of the astronaut and mission control, recording his victorious event. 

The film hosts the amazing voices of Jack Black, Bill Wise, Lee Eddy, Milo Coy, Natalie L’ Amoreaux, Josh Wiggins, Glen Powell, Zachary Levi, Samuel Davis, Jessica Brynn Cohen, and Sam Chipman, among others. 

Ranking 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood is praised for its nostalgic staples that remind generation X viewers of their beautiful youth.

This year's entrée is a remake of 2006 The Valet. It follows actress Olivia (Samara Weaving), who's captured by paparazzi getting cozy with her married boyfriend Vincent (Max Greenfield). To cover up the scandal, Olivia enlists valet Antonio (Eugenio Derbez), who accidentally appeared in her shots, as her boyfriend. 

The rom-com’s cast is also rounded up by Betsy Brendt, Marisol Nichols, Amaury Nolasco, Noemi Gonzalez, Ravi Patel, Armando Hernández, Carmen Salinas and John Pirruccello. 

The Valet received generally good reviews, scoring 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Another teen drama romance film that won the hearts of many, Hollywood Stargirl, sees the lead character Stargirl Caraway (Grace VanderWaal) journey from Arizona to Los Angeles with her mom Ana (Judy Greer), a newly hired costume designer for a movie. 

Caraway's world is opened to new possibilities and dreams in the world of music as she interacts with various eclectic characters, including aspiring filmmakers siblings Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams) and Evan (Elijah Richardson), her role model musician Roxanne Martel (Uma Thurman) and her neighbor Mr Mitchell (Judd Hirsch). 

The film is a sequel to Disney Plus’s Stargirl (2020). It scores an impressive 70% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Girl in the Picture is a documentary film that gives a gripping account of the demise of a young lady Sharon Marshall, who was kidnapped as a girl by federal fugitive Franklin Delano Floyd. Floyd then raised the girl as his child while sexually abusing her over two decades and forcing her to marry him. Sharon died of a questionable hit-and-run accident in 1990. 

The film is derived from the 2004 Matt Birkbeck books A Beautiful Childhood and Finding Sharon.

The haunting story managed to capture the audience, ranking 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.

A prequel to the acclaimed Predator, Prey is an action thriller film about a young warrior Naru (Amber Midthunder) of the Comanche nation, who sets out to protect her camp when a highly evolved alien predator with a developed arsenal threatens their existence. The two nemeses confront each other in a vicious and frightful battle. 

Prey boasts the remarkable talents of Dane DiLiegro, Dakota Beavers, Michelle Thrush, Stefany Mathias, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat, Julian Black, Antelope, Mike Paterson, Bennett, Taylor, Stormee Kipp, Nelson Leis and Troy Mundle. 

It also brags an exemplary rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film is a historical drama inspired by the true story of Julio César Strassera (Ricardo Darín), Luis Moreno Ocampo (Juan Pedro Lanzani) and their team of young mediocre attorneys who attempt a legal battle against Argentina’s bloody military dictatorship. They race against time to win the court case and bring justice to the junta victims. 

The Spanish film presents an incredible cast of Alejandra Fletcher, Laura Paredes, Carlos Portaluppi, Norman Briski, Héctor Díaz, Alejo Garcia Pintos, Claudio Da Passsano and Leyla Bechara. 

It garnered a high score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The ultimate spooker for the Halloween season, Significant Other follows a couple, Harry (Jake Lacy) and Ruth (Maika Monroe), who backpack through the Pacific Northwest. 

However, their trip takes a terrifying turn when sinister events begin to happen, and the couple realizes they are not alone in the woods.

The mystery thriller garnered a 71% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.

A follow-up to the 1983 A Christmas Story, the yuletide film chronicles the events of Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), a dad who decides to offer his family a magical Christmas like the one he had as a youngster. 

Besides Billingsley, A Christmas Story Christmas sees the return of Ian Petrella, Zack Ward, Scott Schwartz, R.D. Robb and Yano Anaya from the previous film. 

The movie has an 80% Rotten Tomato rating and is classified as a celebrated long-awaited sequel.

Though Top Gun: Maverick debuted in theaters in May, it has been recently added to Paramount Plus's catalogue on December 22. 

A sequel to the 1986 Top Gun, the action drama film sees Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprise their roles as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. 

The new installment introduces a new stellar cast comprising Miles Teller as Maverick’s late best friend’s (Goose) son Bradley Bradshaw, Glen Powell, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Monica Barbara, Lewis Pullman, Jay Ellis, Ed Harris and Danny Ramirez. 

Top Gun: Maverick is the year's highest-grossing film ($ 1.488 billion) and scores 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.