Summer 2022 Movie Preview: 50 Must-See Films To Watch

Callin’ out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer’s here and the time is right, for dancing in the street. They’re dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street), down in New Orleans (dancing in the street). In New York City (dancing in the street). All we need is music, sweet music, there’ll be music everywhere. There’ll be swingin’ and swayin’ and records playing, dancing in the street. Oh, it doesn’t matter what you wear. just as long as you are there. So come on every guy grab a girl. everywhere around the world, there’ll be dancing (dancing in the street) They’re dancing in the street. Dancing in the street! It’s just an invitation, across the nation, a chance for folks to meet. There’ll be laughing, singing, and music swinging. Dancing in the street!

READ MORE: Summer 2022 TV Preview: Over 35 Shows To Watch

Yes, summer’s basically here, rejoice. You know the drill n’ stuff. Here’s our summer movie preview, enjoy.

“All My Puny Sorrows”
A movie adaptation of the award-winning novel from Miriam Toews, “All My Puny Sorrowsfollows two sisters who could not be more different from one another. While Elfrieda, played by Sarah Gadon, is a successful and celebrated concert pianist, Yolanda (Alison Pill) is somewhat of a failure. But when one sister makes continuous attempts to take her own life, the other makes it her life goal to save her, against her will (read our review).
Release Date: May 3, 2022, via Momentum Pictures.

“Happening”
Winner of the Golden Lion at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, aka the top prize, writer/director Audrey Diwan’s “Happening” has never been more timely and relevant given some of the seemingly medieval decisions of the Supreme Court around Roe V. Wade. The drama follows a promising young student (Anamaria Vartolomei) in 1960s France, but when she falls pregnant, she stares down the possibility of a very different life.  As her final exams approach, she must confront the choice of abortion and all the shame and pain she may endure (read our review).
Release Date: May 6, 2022, via IFC Films.

“Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”
How strange can things get in the Marvel universe? We’re about to find out. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6, with Benedict Cumberbatch returning as Dr. Strange. Fans of the MCU will remember Strange’s spell-binding drama in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and in the ‘Multiverse of Madness,’ we find him dealing with the aftermath of his actions alongside Elizabeth Olson (Wanda Maximoff) and Benedict Wong (Wong). Read our review.
Release Date: May 6, 2022, via Marvel Studios and Disney.  

“Operation Mincemeat”
Operation Mincemeat was a successful British deception operation of World War II where two British intelligence officers hatched an outlandish plan to trick the Nazis. The plan? Dressing a dead body as a member of the Royal Marines and planting forged documents on the body with the hope of having the papers end up in Hitler’s hands. Based on a true story, “Operation Mincemeat” stars Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Ruby Bentall, and Rufus Wright
Release Date: May 6, 2022, in theaters, May 11, 2022 streaming via Netflix.  

“This Much I Know To Be True”
It’s sometimes hard to capture the love and creative connection between musicians, but that is what director Andrew Dominik and cinematographer Robbie Ryan set out to capture when working with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Filmed in the spring of 2021, “This Much I Know To Be True” explores the creative relationship between the pair and documents their process of bringing their albums to life ahead of their UK tour (read our review).
Release Date: May 11, 2022, via Trafalgar Releasing.

“Montana Story” 
From Scott McGehee and David Siegel, “Montana Story” follows Cal Thorne (Owen Teague), a young man drawn back to his family ranch to take care of his father, Wade. Wade has dug his family into crippling debt and Cal is not prepared to take over. His sister Erin (Haley Lu Richardson) doesn’t agree with the decisions Cal wants to make. “Montana Story” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to much acclaim as small intimate tale worth watching. (read our review)
Release Date: May 13, 2022, via Bleecker Street Media.

“Pleasure”
Bella Cherry is strong, self-confident, and determined. She arrives in Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an adult film star and she is on a mission to become the best at any cost. Writer-director Ninja Thyberg explores the porn industry and examines what is expected and allowed from those in the business. “Pleasure,” Thyberg’s debut feature film, stars Sofia Kappel, Evelyn Claire, Chirs Cock, and Dana DeArmond (read our review).
Release Date: May 13, 2022, via NEON.

“On The Count of Three”
The trailer for “On the Count of Three” describes the film as a “true marvel of pitch-black comedy.” The film centers on Val and Kevin, two depressed best friends who make a pact to end each other’s lives at the end of the day. Directed and starring Jerrod Carmichael, the film also stars Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, and Henry Winkler (read our review).
Release Date: May 13, 2022, via Annapurna Pictures.

“Firestarter”
Adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name, “Firestarter” is a story about a couple desperately trying to keep their daughter safe from a federal agency that wants to turn her and her pyrokinetic gift into a weapon of mass destruction. Zac Efron stars as the father of the gifted Charlie (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), and the cast also includes Gloria Rueben, Tina Jung, Michael Greyeyes, and Vas Saranga.
Release Date: May 13, 2022, via Universal Pictures and Peacock.

“Men”
Writer-director Alex Garland (“Ex Machina,” “Annihilation”) is back with a new horror film starring Jessie Buckley. The synopsis states “in the aftermath of personal tragedy, Harper retreats alone to the beautiful English countryside, hoping to have a place to heal.” But nothing good happens in the woods, especially when you’re alone. Alongside Buckley, the cast has only three other names, Rory Kinnear, Gayle Rankin, and Paapa Essiedu.
Release Date: May 20, 2022, via A24.