The 30 Best Netflix Original Movies of 2022
There's much more to Netflix's batch of originals than The Good Nurse. (But yes, that one too.)
Anyone remember when Netflix was just a movie rental service? Back then, in the early aughts, you could scroll through a list of films and order them straight to your door. Shipping took around three days, and all you had to do was mail the discs back in their paper packaging when your rental period was over. Who knew! I can still remember my parents' joy when they discovered Netflix as an alternative to Blockbuster. (“Three-day shipping?! How quick and convenient!”) What a simple time.
Fast-forward 15 years or so, and things are much different. When Netflix expanded its platform into a streaming service, it promised even more convenience. Honestly? It delivered. Nowadays, there are thousands of options to choose from, including an impressive collection of Netflix originals. But with so many options at our disposal, picking a movie nowadays has become a bit taxing. Just for you, we’ve rounded up what's worth the watch, from The Good Nurse, a bone-chilling true story, to Me Time, a buddy comedy that will have you laughing from start to finish. Keep reading for the best Netflix original films of 2022 so far.
The Good Nurse
The Good Nurse is a horrifying, but true story about America’s most undetected serial killer. The film follows Amy Loughren, a nurse who works with the police to arrest her coworker, Charlie Cullen, a man responsible for killing hundreds of patients.
Luckiest Girl Alive
Mila Kunis stars as Ani Fanelli, a seemingly perfect writer in Luckiest Girl Alive. Her past comes back to haunt her when she’s asked to participate in a true-crime documentary that investigates a tragic event from her high-school days.
A Jazzman’s Blues
Tyler Perry’s latest film, A Jazzman's Blues, is a harrowing love story that unravels 40 years of family drama and deceit. When Bayou (Joshua Boon) and LeAnne (Solea Pfeiffer) fall for each other, their families do just about everything to keep them apart. Turns out, their efforts prove to be more dangerous than anticipated.
End Of The Road
End Of The Road is an action-thriller starring Queen Latifah and Christopher Bridges (AKA Ludacris). Brenda (Latifah) and her family embark on a cross-country road trip, which turns into a fight for their lives when they become the targets of a brutal killer.
Wedding Season
If you love an enemies-to-lovers scheme, then Wedding Season is perfect for you. The rom-com follows Asha and Ravi, two perpetually single adults who pretend to date for their parents' approval. When they’re tasked with attending a series of summer weddings, the pair realizes they might actually be a good match.
Look Both Ways
Lily Reinhart stars in Look Both Ways, a film that explores a woman’s parallel realities following a pregnancy scare. In one life, she’s a young mother who moves back home to raise her child, and in the other, she moves to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams.
Me Time
Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg star in this buddy comedy, which follows a dad who leaves his wife and kids behind for a weekend trip with his childhood best friend. What starts as an ordinary vacation threatens to ruin his cushy suburban life.
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between
In this romantic-drama, teenagers Claire and Aiden decide to break up before going to college. They may call themselves the “queen and king of ending things,” but an epic final date might change their plans.
A Perfect Pairing
Victoria Justice stars in A Perfect Pairing as Lola Alvarez, an ambitious wine executive who abandons her Los Angeles life for an Australian adventure. But when Lola arrives, her work endeavors are uprooted by a handsome local.
Incantation
Incantation is a Chinese thriller, shot in a found-footage style a la The Blair Witch Project. The film follows Li Ronan, a woman who is cursed after breaking a religious practice then has to protect her daughter from the consequences.
Persuasion
Dakota Johnson joins the Jane Austen canon in this adaptation of the novel, Persuasion. A story about true love and second chances unravels in this quirky and modern twist on the classic tale.
Do Revenge
If you feel like you can't get enough Riverdale, or you've always want to know what Strangers on a Train would be like if it took place in a high school in 2022, then Do Revenge is the movie for you. Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke play high school outcasts who decide to take care of each other's bullies.
Day Shift
Day Shift is a star studded action comedy that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Jamie Foxx plays a pool cleaner by day and a vampire hunter by night, who is struggling to make ends meet, and is teamed up with Dave Franco, who plays his partner and co-vampire hunter. Oh, and Snoop Dogg makes a special appearance. What more could you ask for in a movie?
The Weekend Away
In this film starring Leighton Meester as a young woman named Beth, two friends travel to Croatia for a getaway, but things spiral out of control quickly. After a drunken night out, Beth is suddenly thrust into a world of mystery as her friend goes missing. This suspenseful and engaging tale will keep you on your toes.
Spiderhead
Based on the short story by George Saunders, this film starring Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, and Jurnee Smollett, follows incarcerated people at a penitentiary who volunteer to test experimental mind altering drugs in exchange for reduced sentences. This dystopian sci-fi flick will take you to a world unlike any you've ever seen.
The Gray Man
This breakout film of the year has a star-studded cast, lead by Ryan Gosling and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo of Marvel film fame. Gosling plays Sierra Six, a secret agent, who resembles a Marvel superhero in many ways. The film offers breakneck speed action and the action stunt antics of actors like Chris Evans, Regé-Jean Page, and Ana de Armas. The Gray Man was such a hit that it's already been tapped for a sequel and a spinoff.
Metal Lords
Two high school outcasts played by Jaeden Martell, of IT fame, and Adrian Greensmith, decide to form a metal band and compete in their school's battle of the bands. As if growing up isn't hard enough, try forming a successful metal band with your best friend and getting your girlfriend to join the crew, too. This movie will take you right back to your angsty high school days.
Senior Year
Rebel Wilson's new comedy, Senior Year, is definitely worth the watch if you'd like to unwind with something that'll make you laugh. Wilson plays a grown woman who has to return to high school due to an unfortunate accident. Weird and hilarious hijinks ensue.
The Sea Beast
This film from Chris Williams, the filmmaker behind Moana, serves up a classic tale of fantasy and adventure. Set in a world where sea monsters are lurking everywhere, a brave sailor and monster hunter named Jacob Holland embarks on a quest. Holland is hunting down his next monster, when he finds himself partnered with a young girl stowaway—and the two kick off an epic adventure.
Love and Leashes
This Korean romantic comedy puts a spin on a typical workplace romance. Seohyun, a member of the hugely popular K-pop group Girls Generation, plays an office worker named Jung Ji-Woo who has a crush on her co-worker, Jung Ji-Hoo, played by Lee Jun-Young. When she finds out that her crush has a BDSM fetish, she begins a sexy (yet wholesome!) new relationship.
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