I did watch more but could not think of anything to put at 10 so I am just keeping this list to 9. There was a bunch of stuff I missed and not that the other stuff was bad of anything I just did not think they had a place on a top 10.
#9 Turning Red
Good solid, coming of age film from Pixar. Loved the 90s throwback especially the music also the expressiveness of the character and their designs. Story was good, very well executed, pretty funny movie as well. Also shout out for also having an Asian lead.
#8 The Batman
It’s a bit long but very good back to basics Batman movie, I would probably still prefer the Nolan Trilogy over this but this movie keeps it real, keeps it grounded (about as much as you can with Batman). The Batman is an amazing looking movie, love the gritty Gotham and aesthetics in general of pretty good. Some really good set pieces as well though I thought the ending was a bit of a retread of the Nolan films. Overall really good, slightly up itself and the Nirvana soundtrack inclusion is borderline Lego batman but yeah it works for the most part.
#7 Nope
Jordan Peels Nope, its pretty good very much a dense movie with lots of themes, references to other works. Cast is great, has some great moments. Def not as much a horror so if that was an issue before this movie should be fine. Obviously that initial alien mystery is compelling but if you like film, tv, show business, Hollywood and the general mechanics of film making then you will probably like this.
#6 Three Thousand Years of Longing
From the director of Mad Max Fury Road comes Three Thousand Years of Longing, a fantasy romantic drama and its quite the fantastical movie. We follow Tilda Swinton's Alithea Binnie as she discovers Idris Elba's as Gennie of Djinn trapped in a bottle. They relay stories and life experiences to each other, most of the movie centers around Idris's adventures as Djinn through the ages. I would not say it’s the most romantic thing but there is definitely a connection there, a mutual understanding. Movie is pretty good, a bit different from the rest of the list if it sounds interesting to you check it out.
#5 Black Panther Wakanda Forever
The follow up to just to the original black Panther but the tragic passing of its lead Chadwick Boseman. For the later this works amazing a tribute to Chadwick from the opening credits to the reaction of its characters you can feel the impact of his loss and it's really unfortunate that such a great actor was taken so young. So the movie falls to our supporting cast and turns out they are pretty good, Letitia Wright's Shuri is especially good, going through her grief but also coming into her own. This movie introduces Namor, also its breakout star who is an amazing villain and in general the look, of the Talokan people is so good. One highlight is when we first see Talokan and we have this music playing during the scene and it looks and sounds amazing. Is the third act a bit of a letdown in light of Avatar the Way of Water, yes but overall the movie is good. Best marvel project of the year. Rise Talokan and Wakanda Forever
#4 Glass Onion
The Follow-up to Knives Out we see Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc joined by a another large impressive ensemble to solve a another murder. It's pretty similar in premise though with new characters a new location and whole lot of twists this ends up being pretty different though with the same feel as the first. Don’t want to spoil too much obviously but the cast does a pretty great job, aside from Craig big ups to Janelle Monae who does a terrific job and Ed Norton who plays a billionaire. Speaking of Billionaires this movie is strangely precinct with a certain other billionaire being in the news so often lately. Anyway it’s a really good movie, check it out on Netflix.
#3 Avatar The Way of Water
10 years coming, quite possible the most expensive movie ever made and turns out its pretty good. The real highlight is the visuals especially the water related stuff, the HFR works pretty well and things like the space whales/Tulkun look amazing. Story wise we are back with our main characters and their family over a decade after the first movie. The way of water despite being a 3hr movie does a pretty good job at holding your attention. It isn't perfect, aside from legacy issues and concept of the Navi the movie introduces a lot of characters and it has to pick and choose what to focus on. The biggest triumph of the movie is the final set piece a culmination of everything James Cameron from Titanic, Terminator, Alien, the deep sea exploration and the original Avatar. It's quite a sight to behold.
#2 Top Gun Maverick
There is so much about this movie that should not work, its s sequel to a not very good movie, its military propaganda, it's so indulgent, its functionally a four act movie, not much of the prior cast return but damn if this is not one of the best movies of the year. This thing was close to releasing back in 2021 on paramount+ and Cruise and Co fought for a theatrical release and wow was it worth it. Picking up some time after the original we follow Pete "Maverick" Mitchel who is a test pilot, sympathetically stuck in career lull. Eventually there is a mission and it's up to Maverick to train the next generation of Top Gun for this nebulous mission. So far very run of the mill but damn if the movie is not executed super well and by the end the thing just goes off the rails but it sticks the landing. The new characters are pretty good, it's funny but this a movie about pilots and planes and it nails it. You're really put into the shoes of the pilot, its so slick and so well done so much better than the original. I had the opportunity to see this in 4D and I super regret not seeing it in that format, VMAX was good but I'd say go for the biggest screen you can.
#1 Everything Everywhere All at Once
Obvious best movie of the year is obvious, from start to finish this Is an amazing movie. From the darkness of some of the characters to the relentlessly optimistic ending EEAO is just perfect. The different worlds the different possibilities, how this movie incorporates Michelle Yeoh's career its so good. The premise is an immigrant mother who runs a laundromat with her husband is on the brink when she meet an alternate version of her husband and can access skills/memories from the alternate selves through the multiverse. Multiversal conflict ensues and we get a story about a mother and her family, her life and all its possibilities. It's pretty hard to describe aside from just saying the name of the movie. Every amount of praise heaped on this movie is well deserved and you should probably watch it right now.