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Most Underrated Films of 2022

2022 wasn’t a great year for movies. It was especially problematic for all the supposedly “great” movies that ended up being either disappointing or downright overrated. But for all of these frustrating flicks we got a handful of movies that were a shining example of underappreciated gems across different genres. Here are five of those movies with some honorable mentions.

5. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

The third Fantastic Beasts movie is inferior to the first one, but superior to its lackluster predecessor. Yes, it’s messy in pacing and overstuffed narrative, but there is no denying the power of the main Dumbledore-Grindelwald relationship. Mikkelsen and Law were both terrific here and the beasts have never before been better incorporated into the plot. Yes, this new series isn’t quite on the Harry Potter level, but it is solid enough and quite underrated, so it gets the fifth spot on this list.

4. Babylon

Babylon is a lot. It has many scenes that are overwhelmingly excessive and even ridiculous. However, despite all of that excess, there is a lot of raw cinematic power to be mined from this gorgeous-looking, incredible-sounding ode to the silent era and the first talkie years of Hollywood. It received quite polarizing reviews, but I find even the weakest Damien Chazelle movie more interesting than the vast majority of films from other directors.

3. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is a wonderful sex dramedy that preaches sex positivity without ever being too edgy in its approach. The movie has its flaws, but Emma Thompson was incredible in the main role where she expertly delivered all of those tumultuous emotions that the role demanded of her. The dialogue is mostly excellent and interesting while the ending was quite powerful. It is such a well made, fun film that it’s surprising that it failed to attract bigger audiences.

2. Three Thousand Years of Longing

In an era when fantasy epics are pretty much dead, we have George Miller to thank for actually going and making one on his own. Three Thousand Years of Longing is definitely more suitable to a literary medium, but this is still a wonderfully made fantasy that is so well acted, scored and directed. The emphasis on the power of imagination and storytelling is especially important in this era of nihilism and cynicism. It’s such a poetic, wonderful genre film that will undoubtedly be appreciated more in the future than it is now.

1. To Leslie

To Leslie is the best independent film of the year and easily the most underappreciated and underseen movie of 2022. The first half is this difficult to watch, but important story of a woman who loses everything and who plunges deeper into the abyss, but the second half offers her a chance at redemption through that beautiful happy ending that was very much earned in its emotion. This is a rare movie today that is quite positive in its ending, which to me was refreshing. The central performance from Andrea Riseborough was simply incredible. It’s the type of old-fashioned, character-driven drama that would have fared much better back in the seventies and eighties, but hopefully it will age like fine wine.

Honorable Mentions:

Lightyear – While Lightyear is familiar in its SF influences, this is still a fun space adventure that features a terrific end twist and excellent animation. It’s an underrated Pixar flick.

Causeway – While definitely quite small-scale in narrative and ambition, Causeway is still an independent drama that is beautifully acted and ultimately quite moving.

Halloween Ends – This flick concluded the newest trilogy in this franchise in a surprisingly solid fashion. It featured the most interesting mythology changes so far. It’s immensely underrated.