If you are a fan of science fiction movies, then you will be eagerly awaiting a host of fantastic films coming out this year. With cinema audiences now making an eager return to their seats, with coronavirus restrictions having been removed after almost two years for many of us, film studios have got a treat or two in store for us all.
A number of big-budget blockbusters, and more intimate indie flicks, are set to be released this year, and for those with a love of aliens, science fiction, and, above all else, dinosaurs, you’ll have a number of trips to the multiplex to plan for.
When it comes to science fiction films, it’s worth noting, as we prepare to count down some great movies in the genre that are about to be released, that great films in this niche have come in the form of those that cost hundreds of millions as well as those produced on a shoestring budget.
The critical factor here is imagination. Sometimes eerie sound effects are as crucial as CGI in engaging with viewers.
Indeed CGI, or VFX (if you are wondering what is VFX, unlike CGI, which uses computers to generate imagery, whereas VFX is usually used in conjunction with genuine footage), is just one part of how you make a fantastical experience seem that little bit more believable.
However, you only have to look at some lower-budget movies, such as the excellent Moon, or the groundbreaking Cloverfield, to see that you don’t need an unlimited budget to win the audience over.
Anyway, back to the films to look forward to in 2022, here are a few that we can’t wait to see.
Distant
This looks like an exciting prospect. In Distant, we encounter an asteroid mine, played by Anthony Ramos (A Star is Born, In the Heights, and Hamilton), who crashes onto an alien planet and must fight to survive numerous obstacles, one of which is the fact he is running out of oxygen, and another is his need to the other survivor of the crash that put him in his predicament, Naomi Scott (Aladdin, Power Rangers, and Charlie’s Angels).
It looks like being one hell of a rollercoaster ride and one that will leave you on the edge of your seat for the duration.
Avatar 2
It’s taken a while, but it’s almost here. A sequel to the hugely successful original, from James Cameron, will see Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana returning in their starring roles as we rejoin them back on Pandora, where they have started a family. Once again, it’s humans who are the ‘bad guys’ in this one, and no doubt, a similar environmental message as the first will be in play.
The first Avatar movie was, for some years, the biggest grossing film of all time before Avengers: Endgame toppled it from the top spot. It’s likely that the sequel, which is released on December 16th, will once again make billions.
Jurassic World: Dominion
The reboot of the Jurassic Park series has proven very effective, not least because of the casting of Chris Pratt in a lead role, and this latest adventure brings back Sam Neill and Laura Dern to reprise their roles from the original series of movies.
Dominion sees what happens when dinosaurs interact with our world, and yes, that interaction is going to be pretty chaotic. It’s sure to be a big box office hit, and we are particularly happy to see Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) back on board for this summer release.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Spiderman: No Way Home proved that the Marvel series is well and truly back on track after the relatively poor showing for the likes of Black Widow and Eternals, and Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Doctor Strange in this May 6th release. Expect a fair amount of time-shifting and multiverse shenanigans, and who knows, maybe that means that some characters who didn’t make it unscathed through Avengers: Endgame might pop up.
Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) is on board, and it’s sure to be another big hit for the MCU (Marvel Comic Universe)
Morbius
Another MCU film to savor, and a whole new character to digest, comes in the form of Morbius. Here we see Jared Leto cast as biochemist Dr. Michael Morbius who conducts an experiment that, unsurprisingly, doesn’t go according to plan.
Morbius becomes The Living Vampire, and mayhem is sure to ensue. Doing a star turn as a villain, we have The Vulture, played by Michael Keaton (who is, of course, no stranger to comic book creations, having played Batman and plays the same character that battled Spiderman in Homecoming.
Lightyear
Though this might be stretching the definition of science fiction a little too much, Lightyear is a highly-anticipated movie for 2022. Here we get to see how Buzz Lightyear became who he is; it’s an origin story for the beloved character from the Toy Story series.
Interestingly Tim Allen, who voiced the character for the original films, has been replaced by no less than Captain America, Chris Evans. This is sure to be yet another hit for the guys at Pixar and, as usual, the type of movie that appeals to both children and adults equally.
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