Special Report

Most Anticipated Movies Coming Out Before the End of the Year

2022 has already produced a number of box office hits, including “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” and “Jurassic World: Dominion,” but there are still plenty of new films with potential for success slated to hit screens between now and the end of the year, both in theaters and streaming. 

According to Statista, 2021 global box office revenue was $21.3, a little more than half of what it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. But movie-goers appear to be returning to theaters, and fall’s best upcoming movies could give the box office the push it needs to continue to rebound.  (For the standards to meet, here are the highest grossing movies of all time.)

To determine the most anticipated movies this fall, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on Wikipedia pageviews for movies with scheduled release dates between October 19 and December 31 of this year. Films were ranked based on daily average Wikipedia pageviews over the period January 1, 2022 to October 13, 2022. Data on the production company, director, and cast came from IMDb, an online movie and TV database owned by Amazon, and from various production announcements. Note that seven of these films have just been released, while the rest are coming between now and the end of the year.

To stream or not to stream? A 2020 Statista survey revealed that the number of people who strongly prefer seeing a movie for the first time streaming rather than at a theater has more than doubled since 2018. Of the best upcoming 2022 movies, nearly half will be released on some type of streaming service, including Disney+, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, and Netflix – the last of these accounting for seven of the 12 streaming movies on this list.

Click here for the most anticipated movies coming out before the end of 2022

While leading box office hits often fall within the action and adventure genres, the best upcoming films of 2022 span the genres. Five are action and adventure films, five are animated, three are dramas, and two are biopics of famous musicians. Seven of the best upcoming movies are comedies, including black comedies, rom-coms, drama comedies, and even a musical comedy – No. 24, “Spirited.” (These are the 21 best comedies so far this century.)

Six of the best upcoming movies this fall are either reboots or sequels. No. 3, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” is a highly anticipated sequel, years in the making. Fans of the original “Avatar” have waited 12 years since director James Cameron first hinted that there was another “Avatar” to come. 

Marvel fans, meanwhile, are eagerly awaiting No. 1, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” four years after the groundbreaking original. And beyond that modern classic, here’s when every upcoming superhero movie will hit theaters.

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment

25. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (December 21)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 960
> Production company: TriStar Pictures, Black Label Media
> Directed by: Kasi Lemmons
> Cast: Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders

From the writer of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” tells the story of late singer Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie). This musical biopic will invite viewers into Houston’s early life, career, and music. Director Kasi Lemmons won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture for “Talk to Me.”

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Courtesy of Apple TV+

24. Spirited (November 11)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,019
> Production company: Apple TV+, Gloria Sanchez Productions, Maximum Effort
> Directed by: Sean Anders & John Morris
> Cast: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer

“Spirited” is a fresh and comedic take on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” The Ghost of Christmas Present, played by Will Ferrell, teaches skeptic Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) about the spirit of the holidays in this comedic musical. The film will stream on Apple TV+ this November.

Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

23. The Good Nurse (October 19)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,069
> Production company: Netflix, Protozoa Pictures, FilmNation Entertainment
> Directed by: Tobias Lindholm
> Cast: Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Nnamdi Asomugha

Netflix’s “The Good Nurse” is a chilling tale based on the true-life story of nurse and murder suspect Charles Cullen. The film was adapted from Charles Graeber’s book “The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder.” The film stars two Oscar-winning actors, Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne.

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

22. Strange World (November 23)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,124
> Production company: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios
> Directed by: Don Hall
> Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White

This Thanksgiving, Disney will hit our screens with a new animated film called “Strange World.” The feature follows the Clades, a family of adventurous explorers who seek out, well, strange worlds. “Strange World” will be the first Disney cartoon to feature an openly gay character in a leading role.

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Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

21. Devotion (November 23)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,185
> Production company: Columbia Pictures, Black Label Media
> Directed by: J. D. Dillard
> Cast: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson

The Korean War is the backdrop for “Devotion,” a true story about two U.S. Navy pilots (Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell) who form a friendship during their time in service. The action film is adapted from Adam Makos’ book “Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice.”

Courtesy of Focus Features

20. Armageddon Time (October 28)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,241
> Production company: Focus Features
> Directed by: James Gray
> Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, Banks Repeta

This Cannes Film Festival nominee is about a Jewish family living in America during the Reagan administration. “Armageddon Time” explores ideas of generational trauma and prejudice in the 1980s. The film is based on the life of its writer and director, James Gray.

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Courtesy of Netflix

19. Wendell & Wild (October 21)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,280
> Production company: Netflix, Netflix Animation, Monkeypaw Productions
> Directed by: Henry Selick
> Cast: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Lyric Ross

Henry Selick (“The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Coraline”) and Jordan Peele (“Nope,” “Get Out”) teamed up to create “Wendell & Wild.” The stylized, stop-motion animation film is set to be released on Netflix this month. “Wendell & Wild” follows a pair of demon brothers as they travel between the underworld and the land of the living.

Courtesy of Netflix

18. The School for Good and Evil (October 19)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,408
> Production company: Netflix, Roth/Kirschenbaum Films
> Directed by: Paul Feig
> Cast: Sophia Anne Caruso, Sofia Wylie, Laurence Fishburne

“The School for Good and Evil” is a Netflix release based on the book series of the same name by Soman Chainani. This fantasy film follows two friends who are taken to a school where magic reigns, villains and heroes are created, and the balance of good and evil in the universe is maintained.

Courtesy of Netflix Studios

17. White Noise (November 25)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,467
> Production company: Netflix, Heyday Films
> Directed by: Noah Baumbach
> Cast: Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle

Noah Baumbach’s “White Noise” is adapted from the novel of the same name by author Don DeLilo. The dark comedy explores themes of mortality, relationships, and family life. Jack (Adam Driver) and his wife Babette (Greta Gerwig) have a deep fear of death, and must grapple with their mortality when exposed to a toxic environmental contaminant.

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

16. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (December 21)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,531
> Production company: Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation
> Directed by: Joel Crawford
> Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillén

Cats may have nine lives, but Puss in Boots has used up eight of them. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” comes from DreamWorks’ “Shrek” universe, and follows the adventures of Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas). The animated adventure comedy will be the fourth “Puss in Boots” movie.

Courtesy of Netflix

15. Enola Holmes 2 (November 4)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,560
> Production company: Netflix, Legendary Pictures
> Directed by: Harry Bradbeer
> Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Louis Partridge

The Holmes family is filled with talented detectives. Sherlock’s younger sister, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) is on the case of a missing girl in “Enola Holmes 2.” The Netflix production is a follow up to the original “Enola Holmes,” which was released in 2020. Both films are adapted from the series of novels by author Nancy Springer.

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Courtesy of Amazon Prime Video

14. My Policeman (October 21)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 1,802
> Production company: Amazon Studios, Berlanti-Schechter Films
> Directed by: Michael Grandage
> Cast: Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, David Dawson

“My Policeman” follows a married couple whose lives shift in response to a new man who enters their world, kindling a love triangle. The film jumps between the lives of the protagonists at an older age, and 40 years prior. The film was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival, and stars Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, and David Dawson.

Courtesy of The Roku Channel

13. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (November 4)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 2,067
> Production company: The Roku Channel, Funny or Die
> Directed by: Eric Appel
> Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson

Weird Al Yankovic gets his very own biopic in “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” Director Eric Appel was the mind behind the comedy series “Silicon Valley.” Here, he explores the comedian-musician’s unexpected rise to fame.

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

12. The Banshees of Inisherin (October 21)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 2,126
> Production company: Searchlight Pictures, Blueprint Pictures, Film4
> Directed by: Martin McDonagh
> Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon

In “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell star opposite one another for the first time since “In Bruges.” The film follows two friends in a small Irish town who have a mysterious falling out, leading one to stop speaking to the other. The “The Banshees of Inisherin” already has a 100% Tomatometer score, and critics have called it some of director Martin McDonagh’s best work.

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Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

11. The Menu (November 18)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 2,333
> Production company: Searchlight Pictures, Hyperobject Industries
> Directed by: Mark Mylod
> Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult

When a couple’s (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) visit a private luxury restaurant, a disturbing, high-stakes evening ensues. The film pokes fun at the ultra wealthy who are willing to drop top dollar on any new experience, regardless of how ridiculous it is. Mark Mylod, who directed “The Menu,” is the creative mind behind HBO’s “Succession.”

Courtesy of Disney+

10. Disenchanted (November 24)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 2,517
> Production company: Disney+, Walt Disney Pictures
> Directed by: Adam Shankman
> Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Maya Rudolph

“Disenchanted” is the sequel to the 2007 film “Enchanted.” The romantic fantasy film follows the story of Giselle Philip (Amy Adams), Robert Philip (Patrick Demsey), and their daughter Morgan (Gabriella Baldacchino), who move to a new town and face some challenges. Giselle attempts to improve her situation using magic, under the scrutiny of her nemesis Malvina Monroe (Maya Rudolph).

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Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

9. Ticket to Paradise (October 21)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 2,679
> Production company: Universal Pictures, Working Title Films
> Directed by: Ol Parker
> Cast: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Kaitlyn Dever

In Julia Roberts’ first rom-com in 20 years, a divorced couple (Julia Roberts and George Clooney) travel to Bali to stop their daughter from throwing away her life with an unsuitable fiancé. “Ticket to Paradise” is the fourth film Roberts and Clooney’s have made together.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

8. The Fabelmans (November 11)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 2,837
> Production company: Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment
> Directed by: Steven Spielberg
> Cast: Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen

“The Fabelmans” centers around a child’s exploration of cinematography and storytelling, loosely based on director Steven Spielberg’s early life. The screenplay is by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (“Angels in America”), and was well-received by audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People’s Choice Award.

Courtesy of Netflix

7. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (November 23)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 2,987
> Production company: Netflix, Lionsgate, T-Street
> Directed by: Rian Johnson
> Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe

Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back on a new case after the original “Knives Out.” In “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” Blanc must solve a murder on a private island amidst a group of tech billionaires. The sequel will be released on Netflix around Thanksgiving.

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Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

6. Pinocchio (November 25)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 3,120
> Production company: Netflix, Netflix Animation, The Jim Henson Company, Pathé
> Directed by: Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson
> Cast: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann

Netflix’s animated reboot of the Disney classic “Pinocchio” has a different ending than you’d expect, and a fresh new look using today’s animation technology. Co-director Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) brings a whimsical twist to the oft-told story.

Vivien Killilea / Getty Images

5. Babylon (December 25)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 4,700
> Production company: Paramount Pictures
> Directed by: Damien Chazelle
> Cast: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva

“Babylon” is a period drama-comedy that gives audiences a window into 1920’s Hollywood and the transition from silent films to talkies. The film’s director, Damien Chazelle, is no stranger to telling film industry-based tales, having directed the Oscar-winning “La La Land” in 2016.

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Courtesy of Elevation Pictures

4. The Whale (December 9)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 8,489
> Production company: A24, Protozoa Pictures
> Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
> Cast: Brenden Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau

Brenden Fraser has already brought home a Toronto International Film Festival award and won a six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in “The Whale.” The film is about an obese teacher who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter.

Director Darren Aronofsky has won a variety of awards for previous films, including “Black Swan” and “Requiem for a Dream.”

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

3. Avatar: The Way of Water (December 16)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 8,939
> Production company: 20th Century Studios, Lightstorm Entertainment, TSG Entertainment
> Directed by: James Cameron
> Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver

Director James Cameron’s world of “Avatar” is back this December, with a highly-anticipated sequel to the original film. Over ten years after the original took place, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) must work with the army of the Na’vi to save his planet.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

2. Black Adam (October 21)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 9,221
> Production company: Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, DC Films, Seven Bucks Productions
> Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
> Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo

From the DC universe, “Black Adam,” based on the DC comic books of the same name, was one of the most highly anticipated films of 2022. The title character, played by Dwayne Johnson, is part former super-villain and part hero, armed with the ability to defeat great evil due to powers granted by a wizard.

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Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

1. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November 11)
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews, Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 13, 2022: 13,074
> Production company: Marvel Studios
> Directed by: Ryan Coogler
> Cast: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira

After the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman, who played T’Challa in the 2018 original “Black Panther,” the Marvel universe is bringing back the fictional world of Wakanda. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” follows Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and others as they protect their land from foreign involvement.

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