The most anticipated movies, shows, albums, and games coming out in 2022

We’ve already had a few “Scream” movies, but the self-aware horror franchise is back for a fifth edition. This one mixes the classic series with some freshness. David Arquette, Courteney Cox, and Neve Campbell are back, but so is a new generation. We’re curious to see how this transition works out.

Is the fourth “Jackāss” movie going to do much that is new? No, but it feels weirdly wistful. The gang is getting up there in years. They’ve been beating themselves up for decades. It adds a strange amount of dramatic heft to all the body blows and gross-out bits. They won’t reinvent the wheel, but they will deliver what we all want from “Jackāss.”

Tom Holland seems to want to take a break from the “Spider-Man” world. “Uncharted” is his chance to have a different action film franchise. Based on a popular video game series, this is a globe-hopping adventure movie that has the potential to spark a few films, or maybe it will fall on its face. We’re curious to see.

Another revamp of Batman? OK, let’s see how it goes. We’ll always be there for a movie featuring the Caped Crusader. Robert Pattinson is a fascinating actor, and this film has quite the cast. “The Batman” seems immensely dark, but they call him The Dark Knight for a reason.

The “Downton Abbey” crew is back. This is the second movie based on the hit TV series. The subtitle “A New Era” definitely intrigues us. Plus, any chance to be back in the world of this show is nice.

People are comparing “The Lost City” to “Romancing the Stone,” which is enough for us. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum seem like a winning duo. On top of that, Daniel Radcliffe and Brad Pitt are along for the ride. The trailer definitely has us excited.

2021 ended with the massively-popular “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” It is leading directly into “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” This film seems quite trippy, and we’re happy that Sam Raimi is in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a director now.

“Legally Blonde 2” came out in 2003. It’s been almost 20 years since Reese Witherspoon played Elle Woods. We never expected to see her in the role again. And yet, here we are. What are they going to do with Elle now? Do they have a fresh take on the character? We’re excited to see how “Legally Blonde 3” turns out.

We’ve been waiting a couple of years for the “Top Gun” sequel now. Well, that’s just since the movie was supposed to come out. A sequel has been brewing since the 1980s. Tom Cruise is back. That’s all we need. We feel the need for speed.

The third “John Wick” film got a little murky in all the detail of the mythos of its world, but we still enjoyed it. We imagine “Chapter 4” will be more of the same. As long as there are new ways for Wick to kill people we’re in for it.

It took “The Simpsons” forever to finally make a movie version of the show. “Bob’s Burgers” didn’t wait as long. Sure, the show is coming to a conclusion, but they are getting a movie in under the wire. If you love the show, why wouldn’t you want to see the movie?

We didn’t really care for the first two “Thor” movies. Then, they dropped “Ragnarok” on us and it completely flipped the script. Now, Natalie Portman is back, the “Guardians of the Galaxy” crew is here, and Christian Bale is playing a character named “Gorr the God Butcher.” We can’t wait.

David Leitch co-directed the first “John Wick” and has gone on to direct “Deadpool 2” and “Hobbs & Shaw.” His next effort is called “Bullet Train” and stars Brad Pitt. That title, this start, and this director has us quite excited.

We’ve seen quite a bit of Dwayne Johnson in movies, but we aren’t tired of him just yet. He will be starring in “Black Adam,” based on the DC comic book character. Johnson has been hyping his turn as the superhero for years, and now we will finally see it come to fruition.

Every “Mission: Impossible” movie is a must-see event. Tom Cruise is going to do absurd stunts. There will be great fight scenes and set pieces. This movie series may be at the pinnacle of action cinema at this point.

The first “Spider-Verse” animated film was a real work of art. Apparently, the second event in the story is so big it needed to be split into two parts. We don’t know what to expect, but we feel pretty confident it will be well worth it.

Julia Roberts and George Clooney are starring in a romantic comedy. They are still two of the biggest movie stars out there. They don’t act as often as they used to, which makes it more of an event when Roberts and Clooney are on our screen. It would be nice to have a big, successful rom-com hit theaters, and we think this movie could do it.

We saw “The Flash” in the “Justice League” movie (and the Snyder Cut), but now Ezra Miller’s character is getting his own film. That’s enough for us to anticipate this one. On top of that, though, both Ben Affleck AND Michael Keaton are playing Batman.

We don’t know what Russell’s movie is called or what it’s about, just that it is a period piece. We also know it has an incredible cast. We’re talking Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, and more. Hell, even Taylor Swift has a role in it. Whatever this movie ends up being, we’re quite intrigued.

Sadly, Chadwick Boseman is not around. He will not be replaced as Black Panther. Instead, the world of Wakanda is getting fleshed out in this sequel. While the lack of Boseman is going to cast a pall on the proceedings to some degree, we’re still looking forward to it.

Steven Spielberg is getting personal in his new movie. “The Fabelmans” is a thinly-veiled take on his own childhood, which has impacted many of his films. This will likely be a big player in the Oscars race, and prestige Spielberg is always interesting.

We’ve been waiting for a sequel to the highest-grossing movie of all time for over a decade. It has gotten to the point many are skeptical that we will ever see James Cameron make good on his “Avatar” plans. That being said, “Avatar 2” is scheduled for a December 16 release. It’s on the calendar. If it actually hits theaters, we’ll definitely have to see how it turns out.

“Aquaman” was better than it had any right to be. James Wan wisely made the movie over-the-top and just a bit self-aware. It’s fun, it’s goofy, it's action-packed. Can Wan strike gold twice? Or was “Aquaman” a fluke? We can’t want to find out.

“Super Mario Bros.” was a disaster. Somehow, we’ve never really gotten a Mario movie that works. You would think that would have been a huge goal for Nintendo. Mario is one of the biggest pop-culture characters ever! We’re not sure about Chris Pratt voicing Mario, but this movie is definitely a fascinating offering.

Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” was a hit. It won Oscars. Now, Chazelle is making a Hollywood period piece in “Babylon.” Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie are starring, and Robbie is playing Clara Bow, the silent star. The last time Chazelle made a period piece set in LA he knocked it out of the park. Will he do it again?

John Cena’s Peacemaker was a standout in James Gunn’s “The Suicıde Squad.” Since this is modern times, naturally the movie set up a TV series for him. Cena will be starring as Peacemaker in an HBO Max show. We liked his work in the film enough to definitely want to give the series a shot.

The CW has done a lot of superhero shows. Why is “Naomi” one we are anticipating? Because it was developed by Ava DuVernay. Her presence in “Naomi” adds a little bit of extra excitement.

We mentioned “Downton Abbey” earlier. Julian Fellowes is also returning to TV. This time, he’s on HBO, and he’s tackling 1880s New York. He’s also got notable names in this cast like Christine Baranski and Carrie Coon. Could this be a plussed-up version of “Downton Abbey” with an American twist?

A murder happens at a high school reunion. The events of that night are unveiled to us in each episode from a different person’s perspective. Some of the actors include Sam Richardson, Ben Schwartz, and Tiffany Haddish. That’s got us hooked into wanting to watch this Apple TV+ show.

A reboot of “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?” Hey, why not? Peacock got some meat out of “Saved by the Bell” with its reboot, and “Fresh Prince” was a better show. Maybe Jabari Banks can ride it to superstardom as Will Smith did.

This is a sci-fi thriller set at a company where they separate work memories from non-work memories at the company. Adam Scott does a lot of comedy, but he can do dramatic acting when called upon. Also, Christopher Walken and John Turturro have roles.

Brian Koppelman and David Levien, the guys who created “Billions,” are at it again for Showtime. “Super Pumped” is an “anthology series,” but all we know is the first season is going to be about Uber. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is playing the CEO of Uber, and it seems like this show is going to be willing to get its hands dirty.

We trust Sharon Horgan with a horror-comedy. Especially when she had Sherilyn Fenn, Courtney Cox, and Greg Kinnear in the cast. Fenn was in “Twin Peaks.” Cox is still making “Scream” movies. They can handle idiosyncratic horror-tinged worlds to be sure.

Adam McKay making a show about the 1980s Lakers? John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss? Adrien Brody as Pat Riley? Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as characters? “Winning Time” has us absolutely fascinated. Here’s hoping it pans out.

This anthology series seems to be focused on three notable First Ladies of American history: Michelle Obama, Betty Ford, and Eleanor Roosevelt. That means Barack, Gerald, and Franklin are characters too. If that wasn’t enough, here are the women playing those three ladies: Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Gillian Anderson. Expect Emmys from this show.

Hey, it’s a “Star Wars” show. You know we’re interested. “Andor” is a “Rogue One” prequel about the titular character, who is still played by Diego Luna. Now, though, he has a new crew that he’s working with.

This is a Disney Channel show, so it will likely be more on the family-friendly side, or perhaps even designed for kids. And yet, we’re still looking forward to at least watching a bit of it. Why? Because it’s called “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” and it’s based on a Marvel Comic. What more could you want to know?

Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk hasn’t got his own movie yet, but She-Hulk is getting a Disney+ show. Tatiana Maslany, who has an Emmy, will be playing Jennifer Walters, the lawyer who can also Hulk out. Oh, and Ruffalo is along for the ride as well.

Yes, another Marvel show. Hey, they are kind of running pop culture right now. “Secret Invasion” kind of picks up from “Captain Marvel” in that it stars Nick Fury, Talos (the Skrull played by Ben Mendelsohn), and Colbie Smulders’ Maria Hill.

The popular fantasy movie from the ‘80s is now a Disney+ show. Not only that, but Warwick Davis is back starring as the titular character. We assume this will be set sometime after the events of the film to account for the fact Davis is over 30 years older than he was then. Honestly, that kind of makes us more interested.

Even if you were disappointed at the end of “Game of Thrones,” you have to at least be a little excited for “House of the Dragon,” right? Maybe the hit HBO show didn’t stick the landing in your book, but this is a whole new show set within its universe. Plus, there are dragons!

Video game adaptations are hit-or-miss in film, but what about in television? “The Last of Us” series is super popular, and its story definitely lends itself to long-form storytelling. Will fans of the game be happy with the series?

This “Gremlins” prequel set in 1920s China is animated, but it still involves Gizmo. Yes, apparently Gizmo was quite old. While the show has been brewing for a bit, a second season has already been ordered, so we can trust that this animated story of Mogwai and Gremlins is actually going to happen.

O’Brien left the late-night talk show game, but he isn’t leaving television for good. Hey, if David Letterman can stick around in his own way, so can Conan. We don’t know what his show will be, and it seems like he doesn’t either. Still, we’re excited about O’Brien’s next (non-podcast) chapter.

It seems like “Star Trek” is figuring out how to do television again. “Discovery” has popped, and now it has a spinoff in “Strange New Worlds.” On top of that, it’s a prequel to the original series, which means the main character is Christopher Pike.

Remember that brief talk of a “Daria” reboot? Well, it morphed into this. Now Jodie is the star of his own show, though it will focus on her in adulthood. Will the Comedy Central series live up to the legacy of “Daria?” There is definitely more substance to a show about Jodie than there would be about, say, Kevin or Upchuck.

One of David Bowie’s first big forays outside the realm of music was when he starred in the 1976 film version of this story. Now, it’s a TV series and one that has improved upon the acting caliber of the cast. No offense to Bowie, but obviously he isn’t an actor on the level of Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Douglas Adams’ “Hitchhiker’s” stories have been beloved for years, though admittedly they have never hit in the United States as well as they did in his native United Kingdom. A movie adaptation starring Martin Freeman was a middling success, but now the story will get to stretch its legs in TV series form.

This thriller coming to FX on Hulu has us super excited for one reason. The premise of a former intelligence officer returning to that world is one thing. No, what’s exciting is that Jeff Bridges is playing that intelligence officer. Oh, and John Lithgow is along for the ride as well.

It was inevitable that the story of Elizabeth Holmes would get the TV treatment at some point. There are just too much intrigue and juicy details. The Hulu miniseries has put together quite the cast as well. While Kate McKinnon had to drop out from playing Holmes, she’s been replaced by Amanda Seyfried.

Oscar Isaac frankly seems like too big of a movie star to be doing a TV show, even a miniseries. Even people like Nicole Kidman waited until they were on the other end of superstardom to do it. Maybe Isaac just really wanted to dig into the “Moon Knight” story. Hey, we get Isaac in a Disney+ show based on a Marvel character. We aren’t complaining.

The “Star Wars” prequels are officially no longer persona non grata. Thus, a TV series like “Obi-Wan Kenobi” can exist. Ewan McGregor is back as Obi-Wan, with the show focusing on his time on Tattooine in exile. Not only is McGregor back, but Hayden Christensen is also playing Darth Vader.

David E. Kelley is delving into the realm of true crime for a miniseries for HBO Max. It seems sordid, ax murder is involved, but it also screams prestige. The two stars are Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons. Those two make this worth watching basically by themselves.

Apple TV+ secured the rights to Jim Henson’s beloved puppet program “Fraggle Rock,” and even started making some new shorts. Those proved popular enough that the show is getting a full-on reboot. We’re going back to the rock, and we’re ready to dance our cares away.

When “MST3K” returned to Netflix, it was huge. Its next step isn’t as significant in some ways, but it’s arguably more significant in some others. The Netflix revival is in order, though the stars will remain the same. Now, “MST3K” has moved to the Gizmoplex, their own personal, self-funded online platform.

No, we weren’t just thirsty and nostalgic when we included “Capri Sun” on our list. FKA Twigs’ new album has us intrigued. Her eclectic music style is never easy to predict, so any new album from her is loaded with intrigue.

Mitski saw her star rise with 2016’s “Puberty 2,” though it felt like her follow-up “Be the Cowboy” didn’t hit as well. It’s been four years since that album came out, and her next release “Laurel Hell” is ready to make its way into the world in 2022. We’ve already heard the first single. Now it’s just a matter of the rest of the album living up to that.

Dream pop and shoegaze may not be as popular as they were once upon a time, but some bands are able to keep those fires burning. Beach House is one of them. They manage to satisfy both the My Bloody Valentine-loving shoegaze purists as well as just general indie music fans. That has us excited for their new album.

Ghostface Killah is a rap legend. He doesn’t need to make music anymore. He is, after all, 51. Of course, we’re not going to be the ones to try and stop him, especially when he’s teasing a de facto sequel to his breakthrough 2000 album “Supreme Clientele.”

Charli XCX knows her way around an earworm. She is, after all, the one who blessed us with “I Love It,” which ended up in the hands of Icona Pop. “Crash” will presumably have a handful of songs that get the dance floor moving and hearts pumping.

Posthumous albums are a tricky thing. Phife Dawg died in 2016, but in his life, the A Tribe Called Quest staple only released one solo album. In 2022, he gets his second. “Forever” will hopefully be a fitting tribute to the life and career of Phife.

Maybe Father John Misty’s new album will be excessive and pretentious. Maybe it will be beautiful and haunting. Honestly, it will probably be a bit of both. That’s the nature of the beast with the singer-songwriter-showman.

Alright, so maybe her turn in “Cinderella” didn’t go great, but you can’t blame Camila Cabello for that too much. She’s back in the realm that made her famous in 2022 with her latest album. While it doesn’t have an official or even unofficial, release date, it does have a title, which makes us more confident we will see “Familia” in 2022 than some of the other expected but unscheduled albums.

“Windjammers” came out in 1994 for the Neo Geo, a forgotten game on a forgotten platform. Then, it suddenly became a cult hit. Emulated versions became super popular. In fact, the cult of “Windjammers” grew so much it is now getting a sequel that’s coming out on the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. What a turnaround.

“Pokemon” and the Nintendo Switch feel like a perfect match. After all, the original game rose to legendary status on the Game Boy. It’s a prequel game that seems to be going pretty old school, and we’re digging the artwork of the game we’ve seen so far.

“Evil Dead” began life as a brutal, low-budget horror film. Then it gave us a horror-comedy, a time-traveling horror-comedy, and a TV show. Now? We get a video game. While it seems like the game is mostly based on the “Ash vs. the Evil Dead” lore, there is still only one word for it: Groovy.

No, we haven’t become unstuck in time. We know “Saints Row” came out in 2006 and spawned a whole series. Like with movies, video games get rebooted from time to time, and the time has come for “Saints Row” to get the reboot treatment.

For the first time in 25 years, Bethesda is beginning a new video game franchise. They spent years building up 300 years of history for the world within the game. “Starfield” is the culmination of a ton of work, and it if lives up to the hype it should be tremendous.

Maybe our old buddy Thor from the Marvel universe has hooked us into being excited about anything that involved the word “Ragnarok.” Nevertheless, we also enjoy the “God of War” video game series. The ninth entry into said series definitely promises an ominous aura by evoking the apocalypse of Norse mythology. Let’s see that in action.

There have been several “Harry Potter” video games, but they’ve mostly just felt…perfunctory. Or they involve Legos. “Hogwarts Legacy” feels a little different. This open-world game is set in the 1800s and seems more interested in investigating the space of the Wizarding World.

We think Kirby is underrated. That pink cloud of coolness should be up there with Mario and Link and Yoshi as a Nintendo star. This new Kirby game is the first 3D game in the main series, which is just another reason to be excited for it.

The “Lego Star Wars” games are more fun than they have any right to be. This one, though, is super ambitious. It’s covering all nine movies of the so-called “Skywalker Saga.” Are all those characters being involved in this Lego-filled universe? Count us in.

Can you do anything all that new in the world of “Lord of the Rings?” This video game does have us intrigued. It’s focused on Gollum, for starters, and on top of that it’s set before the events of both “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit.” A Gollum-focused game does definitely intrigue us.

“Splatoon 2” was one of the first games on the Nintendo Switch, back when some were skeptical the console would work. Oh, it worked big time. Now, “Splatoon 3” will be released in a world that is more Switch-friendly. We think this game could be even better as a result.

This one is for the old-school “TMNT” fans. The game has an art style meant to evoke the ‘80s cartoon series. Not only that, the game is intended to call to mind the old “TMNT” games from that era as well. If you ever busted out the Game Genie so that you could actually beat “Teenage Mutant Ninjas Turtles” for the Nintendo, this one is for you.