2022 was a landmark year for The Film Magazine. Behind the scenes we refined our approach and broadened our editorial vision, allowing a growing roster of talented contributors to publish more varied and deeper film writing than ever before. Over the year we published work from more than forty independent writers across six countries and two continents, each bringing unique perspectives grounded in a strong background in the arts.
Thanks to our readers, we set new records for pageviews and engagement. Your clicks, comments and shares across social media have been vital in amplifying our work and encouraging our contributors to keep producing thoughtful, passionate pieces. Every interaction has helped our most resonant articles reach other film lovers and critics around the world.
Below are the 22 Most Popular Articles of 2022, ranked by reader engagement and search visibility. These features earned the most attention for their insights, debates and cinematic passion.
22. 10 Best Spirited Away Moments
Author: Margaret Roarty
Twitter: @ManicMezzo
A selection of the ten most unforgettable moments from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece, Spirited Away, tracing the magical and eerie beats of a young girl’s journey into another world.
Read here.
21. 1990s Superhero Movies Ranked
Author: Sam Sewell-Peterson
Twitter: @SSPThinksFilm
A ranking of 1990s superhero movies from worst to best, covering 18 films including The Crow, Guyver, The Mask, Blade and The Mystery Men, and examining how they influenced the genre’s later success.
Read here.
20. 100 Unmissable BBC Films
Authors: Katie Doyle, Sam Sewell-Peterson, Joseph Wade
Twitter: @Katie_TFM, @SSPThinksFilm, @JoeTFM
A curated list of 100 essential films associated with the BBC, from classics like Billy Elliot to modern standouts such as The Power of the Dog, Iris and His House, highlighting the breadth of British filmmaking.
Read here.
19. 10 Best The Dark Knight Moments
Author: Joseph Wade
Twitter: @JoeTFM
A countdown of the ten standout sequences in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 Batman epic, The Dark Knight, celebrating its performances, set pieces and cultural impact.
Read here.
18. 10 Best Jackass Number Two Moments
Author: Joseph Wade
Twitter: @JoeTFM
A look back at the ten most outrageous moments from Jackass Number Two, from the Toro Totter to the Bee Hive Limo, featuring Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera and the rest of the crew.
Read here.
17. ‘Wanderlust’ and Its ‘Bizarro Cut’ at 10
Author: Nicholas Armstrong
Twitter: @mfshrimp
Ten years after David Wain’s cult comedy Wanderlust, this essay explores the movie’s alternate ‘Bizarro Cut’, and what the version reveals about the mechanics of comedy and creative process.
Read here.
16. Jackass Forever (2022) Review
Author: Joseph Wade
Twitter: @JoeTFM
A review of Jackass Forever (2022), the long-awaited reunion of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and the rest of the crew for a fourth feature film of stunts, pranks and shock comedy.
Read here.
15. Paul Thomas Anderson Films Ranked
Author: George Taylor
Twitter: @MrGeorgelax
A comprehensive ranking of Paul Thomas Anderson’s nine films, from Hard Eight to Licorice Pizza, including Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood and The Master.
Read here.
14. Best Animated Feature Oscar Winners Ranked
Author: Sam Sewell-Peterson
Twitter: @SSPThinksFilm
All twenty films that have won the Best Animated Feature Oscar ranked, from early favorites like Shrek to modern triumphs including Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Spirited Away and Frozen.
Read here.
13. Train to Busan (2016) Review
Author: Kae M
A review of Yeon Sang-ho’s South Korean zombie thriller Train to Busan, which confines its tension and heartbreak largely to a moving train and has become a modern horror classic.
Read here.
12. 10 Sexiest Movie Vampires
Author: Margaret Roarty
Twitter: @ManicMezzo
A look at ten of cinema’s most alluring vampires, spanning silent-era chills to contemporary teen classics and bloody modern interpretations.
Read here.
11. A Ghost Story for Christmas Films Ranked
Author: Kieran Judge
Twitter: @KJudgeMental
An evaluation of the BBC’s long-running anthology series A Ghost Story for Christmas, ranking each short film in the collection and reflecting on the series’ seasonal chill.
Read here.
10. 10 Most Important Comic Book Movies Ever
Author: Joseph Wade
Twitter: @JoeTFM
An examination of the ten most influential comic book films in cinema history—those that changed the industry, inspired successors, or reshaped audience expectations for the superhero genre.
Read here.
9. 2022 Oscars Best Picture Nominees Ranked
Author: Joseph Wade
Twitter: @JoeTFM
A ranking of the 2022 Academy Awards Best Picture nominees, from Belfast and West Side Story to CODA, Dune and Licorice Pizza, with commentary on each film’s strengths.
Read here.
8. The Windshield Wiper (2021) Short Film Review
Author: Joseph Wade
Twitter: @JoeTFM
A review of Alberto Mielgo’s animated short The Windshield Wiper, nominated for Best Animated Short at the 2022 Oscars, notable for its visual style and musical collaboration with SoKo.
Read here.
7. 10 Best Spider-Man: No Way Home Moments
Author: Jake Gill
Twitter: @Jake95Gill
The ten most memorable moments from the multiverse-spanning hit Spider-Man: No Way Home, from major reveals to emotional character beats and fan-favorite cameos.
Read here.
6. Death on the Nile (2022) Review
Author: Kieran Judge
Twitter: @KJudgeMental
A review of Kenneth Branagh’s star-studded adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, praising Branagh’s showmanship as he leads an ensemble cast with his take on Hercule Poirot.
Read here.
5. Scream (2022) Review
Author: Kieran Judge
Twitter: @KJudgeMental
A critical take on the 2022 revival of the Scream franchise, noting its blend of gore and nostalgia alongside the tonal struggles that come from continuing a storied horror series.
Read here.
4. 10 Best Moments from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy
Author: Katie Doyle
Twitter: @Katie_TFM
A celebration of the ten standout sequences across Sam Raimi’s influential Spider-Man trilogy, including moments from Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 that shaped superhero cinema.
Read here.
3. Elvis (2022) Review
Author: Sam Sewell-Peterson
Twitter: @SSPThinksFilm
A review of Baz Luhrmann’s biopic Elvis (2022), starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, argued by some to be the director’s most ambitious work to date.
Read here.
2. Jackass Movies Ranked
Author: Joseph Wade
Twitter: @JoeTFM
A ranking of all four feature-length Jackass films, from the 2002 original to 2022’s Jackass Forever, assessing the series’ evolution and most memorable stunts.
Read here.
1. 2022 Animated Feature Oscar Nominees Ranked
Author: Joseph Wade
Twitter: @JoeTFM
An assessment of the five films nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 94th Academy Awards—where titles like Encanto and Luca land against their peers.
Read here.
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Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. Without our readers, none of this would be possible.