Avatar: The Way of Water

Avatar: The Way of Water is a 2022 epic science fiction action film from legendary director James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and Josh Friedman, and produced by 20th Century Studios. It is the second film in Cameron's Avatar franchise, following Avatar (2009), and is set more than a decade after the events of the first film. Similar to the trendsetting first film, Cameron, going all out as usual, decided it necessary to develop new technology in order to film performance capture scenes underwater, something never accomplished before, leading to significant delays to allow the crew more time to work on the writing, preproduction, and visual effects.

Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the planet of Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their planet.

Starring Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, and Kate Winslet.

Avatar: The Way of Water is set to hit theaters and IMAX on December 16th. Watch the official trailers below.

The Recruit

The Recruit is a 2022 spy adventure television series created by Alexi Hawley for Netflix. Hawley previously created the crime drama series The Rookie, an extremely popular show which is set to return for a 5th season. If her name sounds familiar its because she is the sister of Noah Hawley, the creative mind behind hit shows like Legion and Fargo.

A fledgling CIA lawyer gets caught up in a dangerous game of international politics when a former asset threatens to expose the nature of her relationship with the agency unless they clear her name.

The cast includes Noah Centineo, Aarti Mann, Daniel Quincy Annoh, and Vondie Curtis-Hall.

The Recruit is set to debut on Netflix December 16th. Watch the official trailer below.

The Whale

The Whale is a 2022 psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky, from a screenplay by Samuel D. Hunter, based on Hunter's 2012 play of the same name. The film had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2022.

A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.

The film stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton.

The Whale and is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 9th, courtesy of A24. Watch the official trailer below.

Nanny

Nanny is a 2022 horror film written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu in her feature-film debut. Nikyatu, who is making a name for herself in the film festival circuit, is a tenure track Assistant Professor in the Film & Video department at George Mason University. The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival winning the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, and was soon acquired by Blumhouse and Amazon in a deal rumored to be worth around $7 million.

Immigrant nanny Aisha, piecing together a new life in New York City while caring for the child of an Upper East Side family, is forced to confront a concealed truth that threatens to shatter her precarious American Dream.

The cast includes Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls, Morgan Spector, and Rose Decker.

Nanny is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on November 23rd courtesy of Amazon Studios, prior to a streaming release December 16th on Prime Video. Watch the official trailer below.

Emancipation

Emancipation is a 2022 historical action drama directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by William N. Collage. It is based on the true story of Gordon (named "Peter" in the film), a former slave, and the photographs of his bare back, heavily scourged from an overseer's whippings, that were published worldwide in 1863, giving the abolitionist movement proof of the cruelty of American slavery.

Peter, a slave, flees a plantation in Louisiana after he was whipped within an inch of his life. He has to outwit cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on a torturous journey north.

The film stars Will Smith, Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Gilbert Owuor, Mustafa Shakir, and Steven Ogg.

Emancipation had its first screening in Washington, D.C. on October 1, 2022, and is scheduled to be released in limited theaters on December 2nd, before its streaming release on December 9th on Apple TV+. Watch the official trailer below.

Spoiler Alert

Spoiler Alert is a 2022 biographical romantic drama from director Michael Showalter (The Big Sick), from a screenplay written by David Marshall Grant and Dan Savage, based on the memoir Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies by Michael Ausiello.

Writer Michael Ausiello embarks on a roller-coaster ride of emotions when his partner gets diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The cast includes Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Ben Aldridge, Sally Field, Bill Irwin, Jeffery Self, and Nikki M. James.

Spoiler Alert is set to debut in theaters December 9th, courtesy of Focus Features. Watch the official trailer below.

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, or simply Pinocchio, is a 2022 stop-motion animated musical fantasy film directed by Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water) and Mark Gustafson, based on Grim Grimly’s design from his 2002 edition of the 1883 Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. It marks the animated feature film directorial debut of del Toro. The film was written by del Toro and Patrick McHale (Adventure Time) and stars the voices of Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Trainspotting), David Bradley (Game of Thrones), Gregory Mann, Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Cate Blanchett (Thor: Ragnarok), John Turturro (The Big Lebowski), Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Tim Blake Nelson (O’Brother Where Art Thou?), Burn Gorman (Pacific Rim), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) and Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton).

Produced by Netflix Animation, The Jim Henson Company, and ShadowMachine in co-production with El Taller del Chucho and Necropia Entertainment, Pinocchio was announced by del Toro in 2008 and originally scheduled to be released in 2013 or 2014, but the project went into development hell. In January 2017, McHale was announced to co-write the script, but in November 2017, the production was suspended as no studios were willing to provide financing. The production was revived the following year after being acquired by Netflix.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio will serve as a darker version of the classic children’s fairy tale of a wooden puppet that transforms into a real living boy and is scheduled to be released in select theaters in November 2022, followed by its streaming release on Netflix December 9th, 2022. Watch the official trailers below.

Close

Close is a 2022 French-language Belgian drama film directed by Lukas Dhont, from a screenplay by Dhont and Angelo Tijssens, reteaming after their first feature film Girl. The film stars Eden Dambrine, Gustav de Waele, Emilie Dequenne and Léa Drucker.

Two 13-year-old boys have always been incredibly close but they begin to drift apart after their relationship is questioned by schoolmates. When tragedy strikes, one is forced to confront why he distanced himself from his closest friend.

The film premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, on May 26, 2022, where it was later awarded the Grand Prix. The film will be released by Lumière in Benelux, by Diaphana Distribution in France, and by A24 in the United States. On September 16th, 2022, the film was announced as Belgium's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards. Watch the official trailer below.

Violent Night

Violent Night is a 2022 action dark comedy directed by Norwegian native Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters), from a screenplay by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, who also co wrote Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022). The film is produced by 87North who previously produced Nobody, John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train, and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.

When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (David Harbour, Black Widow, Stranger Things series) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.

The film also stars Emmy winner John Leguizamo (John Wick), Cam Gigandet (Without Remorse), Alex Hassell (Cowboy Bebop), Alexis Louder (The Tomorrow War), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), and Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise).

Violent Night is set to debut in theaters December 2nd, courtesy of Universal Pictures. Watch the official trailer below.

The Inspection

The Inspection is a 2022 drama film written and directed by Elegance Bratton, in his feature-film debut. It will have its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022.

Ellis French enlists in the Marine Corps and ends up at boot camp on Parris Island, South Carolina. He initially meets the physical requirements, but is not as successful in disguising his sexual orientation, making him the target of a near-lethal hazing from training instructor Leland Laws and a fellow recruit, Laurence Harvey.

The cast includes Jeremy Pope, Raúl Castillo, McCaul Lombardi, Aaron Dominguez, Eman Esfandi, Aubrey Joseph, Andrew Kai, with Bokeem Woodbine, and Gabrielle Union

The Inspection is set to debut in theaters November 18th, courtesy of A24. Watch the official trailer below.

Devotion

Devotion is an upcoming American action war drama film written by Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart, and directed by J. D. Dillard (Sleight, Sweetheart). The film stars Jonathan Majors (The Harder They Fall, Loki), Glen Powell (Hidden Figures, Top Gun: Maverick), Christina Jackson, Joe Jonas (yes, the member of the Jonas Brothers), Nick Hargrove, Spencer Neville, and Thomas Sadoski (The Newsroom, Life in Pieces).

The film is based on the book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by Adam Makos, and the film’s synopsis tells the true story of camaraderie and friendship between U.S. Navy aviators Jesse L. Brown and Thomas J. Hudner Jr. during the Korean War.

Devotion will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022 and is scheduled to be released on November 23, 2022. Watch the official trailer below.

Strange World

Strange World, formerly titled Searcher Clade, is a 2022 animated adventure film directed by Don Hall, and written/co-directed by Qui Nguyen. It is produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, and will be their 61st animated feature. It is the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film to be composed by Alexandre Desplat.

The legendary Clades are a family of explorers whose differences threatened to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

The voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal and Alan Tudyk, with other cast members to be named later.

Strange World is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 23rd. Watch the official trailers below.

Bones and All

Bones & All is a 2022 coming-of-age romantic horror road film directed by Luca Guadagnino, from a screenplay by David Kajganich. Based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis, the film had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 2nd, 2022.

A story of first love between Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee (Timothée Chalamet), an intense and disenfranchised drifter, as they meet and join together for a thousand-mile odyssey which takes them through the back roads, hidden passages and trap doors of Ronald Reagan's America. But despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and to a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their otherness.

The cast includes Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, Mark Rylance, André Holland, Jessica Harper, Michael Stuhlbarg, Chloë Sevigny, and David Gordon Green.

Bones and All is set to debut in theaters November 23rd, courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Watch the official trailer below.

Welcome to Chippendales

Welcome to Chippendales is a 2022 drama streaming television miniseries created by Robert Siegel, inspired by the book Deadly Dance: The Chippendales Murders by K. Scot Macdonald and Patrick MontesDeOca.

The origin story of Somen "Steve" Banerjee, an Indian American entrepreneur who started the stripper troupe, Chippendales.

The cast includes Kumail Nanjiani as Banerjee, Murray Bartlett as Nick De Noia, Annaleigh Ashford as Irene Banerjee, Dan Stevens as Paul Snider, and Juliette Lewis as Denise.

Welcome to Chippendales will premiere November 22nd on Hulu. Watch the official trailer below.

Wednesday

Wednesday (also known as Wednesday Addams in promotion for the series) is a 2022 comedy horror television series directed by Tim Burton (Batman, Big Fish), based upon the character Wednesday Addams of The Addams Family. It will star Jenna Ortega (You, X) as Wednesday Addams.

The series will be a coming-of-age supernatural mystery comedy focusing on Wednesday Addams and her years as a high school student at Nevermore Academy, where she attempts to master her psychic powers, stop a monstrous killing spree of the town citizens, and solve the supernatural mystery that affected her family 25 years ago—all while navigating her new relationships.

Wednesday will be produced by MGM Television, and the series is set to premiere on Netflix on November 23, 2022. Watch the official trailer below.

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football is a 2022 family sports comedy directed by Anton Cropper (Black-ish, Jessica Jones). A joint production between Nickelodeon Movies, NFL Films, and Genius Productions, the film will debut exclusively on Paramount Plus streaming service. 18-year-old actress Marsai Martin founded Genius Productions, and was recognized in 2020 as the youngest Hollywood executive producer to work on a major production.

A daughter discovers she can magically control the performance of her football-playing father through her gaming console.

The cast includes Marsai Martin, Omari Hardwick, Kelly Rowland, Rome Flynn, Elijah Richardson, and Tony Gonzales.

Fantasy Football will debut November 25th on Paramount+. Watch the official trailer below.

The Menu

The Menu is a 2022 horror comedy directed by Mark Mylod, from a screenplay by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy. Mylod is best known for his directorial work in television, having worked behind the camera on hit shows like Game of Thrones, Shameless, and Succession.

A couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) travel to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

The cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Fiennes, John Leguizamo, Judith Light, and Hong Chau.

The Menu is set to debut only in theaters on November 18th, courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Watch the official trailers below.

She Said

She Said is an upcoming American biographical drama film directed by Maria Schrader (Love Life, Unorthodox), written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz (author of Her Naked Skin), and produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner. It is based on the 2019 book of the same name by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, journalists from The New York Times who exposed Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women. The film stars Carey Mulligan (Wildlife, Promising Young Woman) and Zoe Kazan (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Big Sick) as Twohey and Kantor, respectively, and it depicts the work they did to break the story of Weinstein’s sexual misconduct allegations.

The book was optioned in 2018, and the film was announced in 2021 as a co-production between Annapurna Pictures and Plan B Entertainment. Filming took place in New York with cinematographer Natasha Braier (The Neon Demon, Honey Boy). During post-production, editing was completed by Hansjörg Weißbrich and the musical score was composed by Nicholas Britell (Succession, Don’t Look Up).

She Said is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 18, 2022, by Universal Pictures. Watch the official trailer below.

The Wonder

The Wonder is a 2022 period drama film directed by Sebastián Lelio (Gloria, A Fantastic Woman) from a screenplay by Emma Donoghue (Room), Lelio, and Alice Birch. It is based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Donaghue. The film stars Florence Pugh (Midsommar, Little Women), Tom Burke (The Souvenir, Mank), Niamh Algar (Raised by Wolves), Josie Walker, Elaine Cassidy, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Toby Jones (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Dermot Crowley, Brían F. O’Byrne, and Ciarán Hinds (Justice League, Belfast).

Set in the Irish Midlands in 1859 as an English nurse, Lib Wright (Pugh), goes to a tiny village to observe what some see as a medical anomaly and others a miracle, that a girl has survived without food for months. Tourists flock to see 11-year-old Anna O’Donnell (Cassidy), and a journalist has come to cover the sensation as two strangers transform each other’s lives in a story of love pitted against evil.

The Wonder had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2022, and is scheduled to be released in select cinemas on November 2, 2022, before its streaming release on November 16, 2022, by Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.

A Christmas Story Christmas

A Christmas Story Christmas is a 2022 holiday family comedy from director Klay Curtis (A Christmas Chronicles), based on a screenplay by Curtis and Nick Schenk (Cry Macho), and a story by Peter Billingsley. It is based on the book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd. It is the highly anticipated follow-up to the holiday classic, A Christmas Story (1983). More impressive than the fact that it has been nearly 40 years, the star of the original film Peter Billingsley returns to reprise his role.

Ralphie, all grown up, returns to the house on Cleveland Street to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child, reconnecting with childhood friends, and reconciling the passing of his Old Man.

Starring alongside Billingsley as Ralphie Parker are Erinn Hayes (“Bill & Ted Face the Music”) as Ralphie’s wife, Sandy; Julianna Layne (“Prodigal Son”) as their daughter, Julie; River Drosche (“Miracle Workers”) as son Mark; Scott Schwartz returning as Flick; RD Robb returning as Schwartz; Ian Petrella reprising his role as Ralphie’s brother, Randy; Davis Murphy (“Looking for Dr. Love”) as Delbert Bumpus; with Zack Ward returning as Scut Farkus; and Julie Hagerty (“Instant Family”) as Ralphie’s mom, Mrs. Parker.

A Christmas Story Christmas will debut on HBO Max November 17th. Watch the official trailer below.