Drama
The Banshees of Inisherin 2022
McDonagh's most satisfying film since In Bruges, and a chess move to thin the Oscar category.
The Big Picture · Draft
The 2022 Movie Draft
December 17, 2025/ 86 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Chris Ryan
Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins draft the movies of 2022 across six categories, a year they agree runs high at the very top and thin most everywhere else. Chris's last episode of the year.
18 films across 1 segment.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
The teams drafting the movies of 2022
Chris Ryan
Action / Horror / Thriller
Ambulance 2022
Michael Bay's one-crazy-day-in-LA heist; the front half wants to be Heat, the back half is one of the century's best chase movies.
Oscar Nominee
Top Gun: Maverick 2022
took it in Oscar rather than Blockbuster; calls the coffin-run stretch near-perfect cinema.
Sequel
Confess, Fletch 2022
Greg Mottola's undersung revival with Jon Hamm as Fletch; buried on streaming, wants three more.
Blockbuster
The Batman 2022
Reeves' fully-built Gotham, a solid Pattinson, and the Dano-behind-the-glass meme.
Wild Card
Emily the Criminal 2022
John Patton Ford's Straight Time-adjacent crime portrait; Aubrey Plaza against type.
Sean Fennessey
Drama
Babylon 2022
Chazelle's near-masterpiece; a box-office bomb Sean helped build a fan hive around. His peace-offering pick to leave Tár on the board.
Action / Horror / Thriller
Barbarian 2022
Zach Cregger's debut and a new director he'll follow for 25 years; still waiting on the 4K.
Oscar Nominee
Avatar: The Way of Water 2022
Cameron's return 13 years on; moved him, though he swears no tears were shed.
Sequel
Prey 2022
Trachtenberg's largely silent Predator prequel; stunned Chris left it on the board.
Blockbuster
Nope 2022
his favorite film of the year and favorite Peele, seen on 70mm at the Egyptian.
Wild Card
Everything Everywhere All at Once 2022
likes it as a genre mashup and immigrant-family portrait, apart from the awards spin cycle that he thinks hurt it.
Amanda Dobbins
Drama
The Fabelmans 2022
Spielberg's under-celebrated self-portrait, written with Tony Kushner; Gabriel LaBelle standing out.
Action / Horror / Thriller
Pearl 2022
Ti West and Mia Goth's lockdown-born prequel; watched to complete the X trilogy and was charmed.
Oscar Nominee
Tár 2022
Sean's peace offering; her co-favorite of the year for going for capital-C cinema.
Sequel
Downton Abbey: A New Era 2022
the best of the Downton movies: a straight Singin' in the Rain crib on the French Riviera.
Blockbuster
Minions: The Rise of Gru 2022
spent more airtime recapping the Minions choir than she did on Tár.
Wild Card
Halftime 2022
the Jennifer Lopez doc she's thought about third-most all year, for the backstage Golden Globe meltdown.
On the board, undrafted honorable mentions
Women TalkingThe Lost CityBullet TrainArmageddon TimeAftersunX
Also mentioned raised along the way
Top of the 2022 box office Jurassic World DominionDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever
The year's low end MorbiusFirestarterThe BubblePinocchioHalloween EndsBlondeGuillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
In passing AvatarA Quiet Place Part IIOldGladiatorHigh FidelityThe Dark Knight RisesZack Snyder's Justice LeagueGet OutUsIn BrugesLa La LandA Star Is BornGreen BookStraight TimeGildaSingin' in the RainThe Jazz SingerPredatorPredator 2PredatorsPredator: BadlandsWeaponsF1After the HuntJay KellyEleanor the GreatJurassic World RebirthMaXXXineDune: Part TwoHustlersFrankenstein
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV Mussolini: Son of the CenturyPresumed InnocentBates MotelPluribusLaw & Order
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