As the year draws to a close, we look back at the finest works in cinema across languages and genres to compile a list of must-watches.

From summer blockbusters to film festival specials. From indie darlings to award season baits. Here are the most captivating pieces of cinema that 2022 had to offer (not in any order) :

22. Jujutsu Kaisen: 0

Yuta Okkotsu gains control of an extremely powerful, cursed spirit and gets enrolled in the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School by sorcerers to help him control his power and keep an eye on him.

Marked with fantastic action sequences and an emotional narrative at its core, Jujutsu Kaisen: 0 brings to the fore MAPPA’s spectacularly animated stories.

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

21. Gangubai Kathiawadi

 

After being duped and sold to a brothel, a young woman takes control of the world she was once a pawn in, utilising her underworld connections to rule it.

Gangubai Kathiawadi dramatises its titular character's life with elegance with its lead giving her all. As expected, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's aesthetic is another highlight.

Where to watch: Netflix

20. Kantara

A fiery young man clashes with an unflinching forest officer in a south Indian village where spirituality, fate and folklore rule the lands.

An ambitious blend of fantastical horror, Kantara is rooted in genre-specific scares endemic to its folklore riddled with controversy.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

19. Top Gun: Maverick 

After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.

A remarkable display of technical prowess, Top Gun: Maverick builds off of the original without losing touch of its charm and blockbuster value. 

Where to watch: Theatrical release

18. Qala

Haunted by her past, a talented singer with a rising career copes with the pressure of success, a mother's disdain and the voices of doubt within her.

With a career best efforts from its music producers, Qala stands out among other Indian Netflix originals as a visually and thematically haunting look at the rise of an artist.

Where to watch: Netflix

17. Hustle

After a down-on-his-luck basketball scout discovers an extraordinary player abroad, he brings the phenom back without his team's approval.

The newest take on sports movie tropes, Hustle is a heartwarming story of perseverance and determination, one that will be remembered for Sandler’s captivating performance and a staunch reminder of his ability outside the realm of comedy.

Where to watch: Netflix

16. Crimes of the Future 

Saul Tenser, a performance artist, grows new organs in his body and showcases their removal for his audience along with his partner. Things get complicated when they catch the fancy of a journalist.

A fascinating addition to the body-horror canon, Crimes of the Future brings out the best in Cronenberg in this audacious social dystopian commentary.

Where to watch: MUBI

15. RRR

A fearless revolutionary and an officer in the British force, who once shared a deep bond, decide to join forces and chart out an inspirational path of freedom against the despotic rulers.

RRR follows the footsteps of over-the-top masala movies but with its ridiculously creative action sequences and dance choreography, it is truly one of a kind.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

14. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 

Led by Queen Ramonda, the nation of Wakanda must fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together to defend their home from a new threat.

With higher stakes and compelling new characters, Black Panther Wakanda Forever does justice to its culturally rich comic book mythos.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

13. The Northman

Adventure awaits Prince Amleth, whose father was killed and mother was abducted by his ruthless uncle. However, the journey takes him through twists which unravel a dark truth about his family.

Breathtaking in its scope and brimming with the richness of Norse legends, The Northman is a marvelous Shakespearean epic that leaves you awestruck in its spectacle. 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

12. Prey

A skilled Comanche warrior protects her tribe from a highly evolved alien predator that hunts humans for sport, fighting against wilderness, dangerous colonisers and this mysterious creature to keep her people safe.

A refreshing new addition to a failing franchise, Prey prioritises its well-rounded characters in this blockbuster creature-feature.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

11. Barbarian

A young woman discovers the rental home she booked is already occupied by a stranger. Against her better judgment, she decides to spend the night but soon discovers there's a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest.

The pinnacle of contemporary horror canon, Barbarian strikes when you least expect, making it one of the most terrifying cinematic experiences of the year.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

10. She Said

The New York Times journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor publish a report that exposes sexual abuse allegations against powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The shocking story also serves as a launching pad for the #MeToo movement, shattering decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault and harassment.

Powerful, relevant and a sign of the times, She Said perfectly balances its dramatisation in its emotional narrative.

Where to watch: Theatrical release

9. The Menu

A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant run by a celebrity chef who has prepared a lavish molecular gastronomy menu where food is treated as conceptual art. However, his approach to cuisine has some shocking surprises for the wealthy guests.

Crafted like a fine seven-course meal, The Menu functions as a seething critique of pompous gourmet culture that pervades the realm of haute cuisine.

Where to watch: Theatrical release

8. Aftersun

At a vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum. As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood.

Impeccably crafted in its unusual found-footage style, Aftersun is a beautiful tale of reconciliation and lost love powered by its heartrending lead performances.

Where to watch: Theatrical release

7. The Banshees of Inisherin

Set during the final chapter of the Irish Civil War in the early 1900s on the fictional Irish island of Inisherin, the film follows a scuffle between two drinking buddies when one fine day, one of them decides to ignore the other solely because he doesn’t like him anymore.

A hilarious tragicomedy exploring the frailty of the male ego, The Banshees of Inisherin runs a fine line between entirely absurd and sweepingly cinematic, featuring a powerful ensemble of performances all round.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

6. The Fabelmans

Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see "The Greatest Show on Earth." Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.

A delightful ode to the art of cinematic storytelling, The Fabelmans is a poignant self-portrait of one of the greatest auteurs of all time.

Where to watch: Theatrical release

5. Triangle of Sadness 

A cruise for the super-rich sinks, leaving survivors, including a fashion model celebrity couple, trapped on an island.

A hilarious dark comedy, Triangle of Sadness showcases the very best of this year’s satire, exposing the tawdry relationship between power and beauty.

Where to watch: Theatrical release

4. Nope

Two ranch siblings discover something sinister in the skies above their horse ranch, while the owner of a nearby theme park tries to profit from the mysterious, otherworldly phenomenon.

An exhilarating homage to its genre, Nope doubles as a clever critique on the fetishization of the spectacle under the guise of a thrilling summer blockbuster.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

3. Everything, Everywhere, All At Once

The story of a Chinese immigrant laundromat owner who is swept up in an interdimensional adventure, where she alone can save her world and all the rest from annihilation.

A fever dream of bizarre realities, absurd characters, and just the right blend of psychedelia - equal parts disorienting and entertaining - Everything Everywhere All At Once is one of the most original, endearing and feel-good pieces of filmmaking that this year has had to offer.

Where to watch: Theatrical release

2. Tár 

Renowned musician Lydia Tár is days away from recording the symphony that will elevate her career. When all elements seem to conspire against her, Lydia's adopted daughter Petra becomes an integral emotional support for her struggling mother.

Navigating the treacherous waters of the politically correct, Tár is a tantalizing character study driven by a career-best performance its outstanding lead.

Where to watch: Theatrical release

1. Athena

Set in a French banlieue, the plot of the film concerns the chaos erupting in a neighborhood known as Athena in the wake of the brutal killing of a young boy. The narrative tracks the plight of the deceased's brothers Karim, Moktar, and Abdel amid the riots.

Athena’s electrifying long-take shots immerses us in the torrents of chaos in this seething political thriller like never before, making it the most distinct and impressive cinematic experience of the year.

Where to watch: Netflix

NOTABLE MENTIONS:

Avatar: The Way of Water (Theatrical release)
The Batman (Amazon Prime)
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (Amazon Prime)
Cha Cha Real Smooth (Apple TV+)

THE GUILTY PLEASURES:

Brahmastra (Disney+ Hotstar)
Elvis (Amazon Prime)
Thor: Love & Thunder (Disney+ Hotstar)
Bullet Train (Amazon Prime)

THE TRASH:

Falling For Christmas (Netflix)
Ram Setu (Amazon Prime)
Blonde (Netflix)
Gehraiyaan (Amazon Prime)

But let's not forget, the single greatest piece of cinema to ever grace humankind, for which, we should consider ourselves blessed to have gotten to witness within the spans of our lives. The greatest film, not just of this year, rather, in recorded history since civilisation came to be....