As 2022 comes to an end, it has been 

a year for the film industry. Coming out of a national pandemic, movie theaters 

suffered a considerable loss, and many were unsure if theaters would fade out. Fortunately these new blockbuster movies were able to rescue these movie theaters with business booming as usual.

3. Elvis

When this movie was first announced, no one believed that Elvis could really be captured in the right light, but boy did Austin Butler prove them wrong. The actor Austin Butler, who starred in this movie, was able to truly become Elvis and humanize him while also providing a fun, entertaining aspect. The actor, who was relatively unknown before Elvis, has commented multiple times in interviews about how much preparation truly went into becoming Elvis. Austin himself said that over the past three years, “He [Elvis], got woven into the fiber of my being in a way,” displaying how much he put into this role.

The reason that Elvis truly shined was because of the amazing interpretation of the rockstar himself, but it also excelled in other areas. Not only was the casting phenomenal, but the costumes, settings, and music were jaw dropping and truly caught the eye of e

very member of the audience. The plot of the movie was able to give the audience a deeper understanding of what went into being Elvis, and what he had to sacrifice to become a celebrity.

However, this movie definitely had its faults. The movie was very action packed, and lacked the next level of understanding. The director attempts to overcompensate with the dazzling dances and costumes, but one can still see the lack of depth.

2. Top Gun: Maverick

This movie perfectly appealed to all demographics whether you were there to witness the original and are jonesing for a remake or you just found out Top Gun existed. Either way, fans loved the movie, which was filled with fight scenes and heartwarming conversations. Tom Cruise, who starred in the movie, continued to perfectly portray the role, becoming a type of role model for the younger generation of pilots.

In addition, this movie had a perfect balance of heartfelt scenes to highly action-packed, fighter-jet scenes. The amount of preparation for this movie, according to the cast, was astronomical, especially for the iconic beach scene.

On the negative side, this movie did not accurately display what had happened in the previous movie, leaving new viewers a little confused, especially regarding the love life of Maverick himself, and how his relationship with Rooster used to be. 

1. Avatar: The Way of Water

With 11 years coming and $250 million dollar budget, Avatar: The Way of Water was easily able to secure a position as the number-one blockbuster this year. The new plot continued to focus on Sully and his new family, while the humans continued to ravage Pandora for its natural resources. The settings of the story, whether it be in the rainforest, to diving underwater, were absolutely breathtaking. It is still astounding to a modern audience how much a computer can really do, and how much this movie was able to bring Pandora to life.

This movie centered around the ideas of family and love, when Sully and his family are forced to adapt to a new way of life. Although the main characters may be blue, the audience was able to relate to their plight, of being an outsider and fighting for their family. By far the best thing about the movie is the visual effects, and this was what drew people in initially, but the plot was what truly kept the audience entranced. From every angle, this movie was amazing, from casting to sounds, to effects, to plot.