The votes have been cast. Nine of our editors nominated a total of 49 movies, and it all comes down to our final ten. Mimicking the year itself, our list is eclectic and loaded with surprising blockbusters and wonderful stories from the fringes of cinema. You can check out our full ballots here, where you'll find even more hidden gems - spare a thought for old Hatching, the Finnish horror on my own list, which racked up just a single point in the voting procedure. With that out of the way, let's move on to the winners themselves - no superheroes in sight (The Batman finished 11th), which probably makes us woke communists or something.
10 . The Woman King
In a month or so, outlets are going to start announcing their entirely-pointless-with-zero-influence Oscars picks, and we'll be right there with them. Despite finishing tenth here, I've got a spoiler for you - The Woman King is looking like it's our call for Best Picture. Harrowing and action-packed in one devastating story, The Woman King sinks beneath your skin like teeth and nestles there. Carried by a searing performance at its centre by Viola Davis, The Woman King is not to be missed.
Related: Please Stop Comparing The Oscars And The Game Awards
9. Argentina, 1985
The first of two foreign language movies on our list, Argentina, 1985 follows the Trial of the Juntas, but in a much broader sense, it is a movie about justice as a human ideal. Too many legal dramas become fascinated in their own plot, but Argentina, 1985 finds the universal in the specific, and tells a story that resonates beyond the final verdict.
8. X
As a concept, the merging of horror and pornography that X gives us might be 2022's cleverest. Despite both inspirations slipping into exploitation and titillation, X walks a tight line and relies on chills, tension, and dread to keep you sweating. A triumph of how horror can keep old concepts fresh and carried by Mia Goth in a dual role, X was my personal movie of the year and I'm glad the rest of the editors have good enough taste to place it on the list.
7. The Northman
Robert Eggers' biggest project to date sees him tackle historical action the way only he ever could. Led by Alexander Skarsgård and Anya Taylor-Joy, the retelling of Amleth is violent, haunting, intimate, and strangely compelling. Though Eggers is expected to stick to smaller scopes and budgets in the near future, it was fascinating to see how Hollywood money can be spent with a different vision to the norm.
6. The Banshees of Inisherin
Martin McDonagh's bleakly funny story of what happens when one man decides he doesn't want to be friends with another man was one of the most original and relatable tales 2022 brought to the silver screen. The eternally underrated Colin Farrell turns in one of the best performances of his career, while Barry Keoghan showed why he's one of the most exciting up and coming stars around.
5. Top Gun Maverick
Like the woke communists we are, we ranked Tom Cruise's high octane plane adventure as the fifth best movie of the year. With fantastic support from Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Jennifer Connelly, and a bon voyage from Val Kilmer, Maverick was peak dad movie cinema, and the definition of a story that needs to be experienced on the big screen. You don't see this movie, you strap in and feel the Gs.
4. RRR
Rise, Roar, Reach The Top Four Of TheGamer's Movie Of The Year List. S. S. Rajamouli's three-hour epic tale of Indians revolting under British rule was one of the most spectacular cinematic events of the year. Released quietly on Netflix, it exploded around the world as folks flicked on the subtitles and watched two men sword fight with motorbikes. Naatu Naatu for Best Original Song anyone?
3. Pearl
As it did in real life, Pearl follows on from X and builds on the world magnificently. The X prequel saw Mia Goth return as the titular Pearl, delivering 2022's best monologue and most intense final credits sequence. Goth also served as co-writer on this second outing, and shows even more range the second time around. She's a star! Watch out for the third movie, Maxxxine, heading our way next year.
2. Nope
Guys, you'll never guess what I just thought of for this one. Hold on to your hats. We give Nope a big yep! Oh, humour. In any case, Jordan Peele's layered deconstruction of fame, cinema, and Black heroism rose above all comers like a monster in the clouds, hovering menacingly. All comers but one, at least.
1. Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everyone Everywhere All At TheGamer picked this as our movie of the year, with three individual movie of the year picks, two further runner up spots, and another two appearances elsewhere on the list. With seven of nine voters putting this in their top ten, it's as close to a universal winner as this list was ever going to get. Exciting, hilarious, tragic, and soulful, it understood the multiverse and, more importantly, understood people in ways that few stories do.
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