There have been some great 2022 sci-fi movies released so far this year, but there are still plenty of impressive entries in the genre yet to come, from Jurassic World: Dominion to Don’t Worry Darling. 2022 has been a good year for sci-fi movies. A24’s Everything Everywhere All At Once proved that multiverse movies weren’t only relegated to the realms of big-budget blockbusters, while After Yang showed the genre’s more pensive side.
However, not every highly anticipated 2022 sci-fi movie lived up to its pre-release hype. Director Roland Emmerich’s would-be comeback Moonfall flopped with critics and viewers alike, proving to be a bigger disaster than the movie’s own Earth/moon collision course. Meanwhile, the much-mocked Morbius proved that not every supervillain could sustain a spinoff of their own (despite a scene-stealing Matt Smith’s best efforts). Luckily, there are still plenty of exciting sci-fi movies set to arrive throughout the rest of 2022.
The sci-fi slate for 2022 includes the return of two legendary sci-fi horror directors, Jordan Peele and David Cronenberg. There will also be a slew of new franchise additions arriving in the coming months, from the concluding chapter of the Jurassic World trilogy to a Toy Story spinoff. For those who prefer their sci-fi a little stranger, an offbeat Olivia Wilde-directed thriller, an Arctic-set alien invasion comedy, and a much-anticipated George Saunders short story adaptation add some odd, stylish, and alternative titles to 2022’s range of upcoming sci-fi movies. Here’s every sci-fi movie yet to come in 2022.
Crimes of the Future – June 3 (Theaters)
The long-awaited Crimes of the Future sees Viggo Mortensen play a performance artist whose extensive body modifications blur the line between man and machine. As the character displays his latest grisly innovations, a shady group attempt to uncover the connection between his experiments and the future of human evolution. The return of influential body horror legend David Cronenberg makes Crimes of the Future an exciting prospect for lovers of the genre, as does an impressive cast including Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux, and Scott Speedman. However, a strong stomach will undoubtedly be required for this gruesome melding of satire, sci-fi, and horror.
Jurassic World: Dominion – June 10 (Theaters)
2015’s Jurassic World was a promising addition to the Jurassic Park franchise, but its 2018 sequel, unfortunately, fell short of the high bar set by its predecessor. Luckily, director Colin Trevorrow returns for the final chapter in the trilogy. Franchise newcomer Emily Carmichael co-wrote the script alongside Trevorrow, and the writer’s work on 2019’s short film The Battle of Big Rock proves the screenwriter is a perfect fit for the series. Reuniting the cast of Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park and pairing them off with Jurassic World’s franchise heroes makes this action-adventure all the more exciting and ensures that Jurassic World: Dominion will likely be one of the biggest sci-fi hits of 2022.
Lightyear – June 17 (Theaters)
Chris Evans will play Buzz Lightyear (the “real” person upon whom the toy is based, not the action figure) in Lightyear, an origin story for the iconic Toy Story character. This marks the first time that one of the Toy Story crew has earned a spinoff movie of their own, and what makes Lightyear look exciting is the fact that the animated adventure seems to be playing its premise fairly straight judging by early trailers. That said, while not over-reliant on meta-humor, Lightyear will still no doubt find room for laughs in its space-set adventure story.
Spiderhead – June 17 (Netflix)
Immediately after Top Gun: Maverick’s stellar reviews, director Joseph Kosinski is already returning to screens less than a month later with another exciting action project. Adapted from the acclaimed dystopian short story “Escape from Spiderhead,” Spiderhead sees Chris Hemsworth star as a deceptively friendly CEO who offers reduced sentences for convicts who allow themselves to be experimented on with mood-altering drugs. Miles Teller plays one such prisoner who matches wits with Hemsworth as he attempts to escape the titular island jail. Despite the critical acclaim heaped on author George Saunders’ body of work, Spiderhead marks the first screen adaptation of the writer’s spiky, darkly funny style. Screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick couldn’t be better suited to Saunders’ unique fusion of satire and sci-fi, making Spiderhead one of 2022’s most promising projects in the genre.
Thor: Love And Thunder – July 8 (Theaters)
While Spiderhead sees Chris Hemsworth in rare villainous form, Natalie Portman’s Thor: Love And Thunder comeback will see the actor return to his more familiar heroism as the titular Avenger. This time around, Thor is attempting to find inner peace after the trauma of the Infinity Saga, only for him to be pulled out of the search for transcendence when Gorr the God Butcher begins killing off his kind. With Portman returning as Jane Foster and Christian Bale making his MCU debut, this superhero sequel has something for everyone. Most compelling, however, will be the return of director Taika Waititi, helming his first MCU addition since 2017.
Nope – July 22 (Theaters)
Judging by the cryptic trailers for Nope, Jordan Peele’s sci-fi horror will revisit the concept of Cowboys & Aliens. However, this creepy experiment in genre fusion is likely to fare far better than that 2011 flop. For one thing, Peele has a superb cast in Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya, and Steven Yeun, and for another, Nope follows a pair of critically-adored sci-fi horror efforts from the director. Peele is quickly becoming one of the foremost sci-fi horror directors working right now, which makes Nope’s story of a horse ranch that is invaded by mysterious forces all the more compelling for the genre.
Prey- August 5 (Hulu)
Just when the Predator franchise appeared to be out of ideas, Hulu and director Dan Trachtenberg managed to find an ingenious way to revive the sci-fi horror series. Set long before Arnold Schwarzenegger tangled with the Predator, Prey takes place in the 1700s in Comanche Nation, following a warrior’s attempts to protect her tribe from the infamous franchise villain. While earlier Predator movies pitted the advanced technology of the alien species against heavy human artillery, Prey will force its protagonist to defend herself using much more modest means and looks set to be an intense thrill ride as a result.
Distant – September 16 (Theaters)
Distant stars Anthony Ramos as an asteroid miner who becomes trapped on an alien planet and is forced to navigate the treacherous terrain as his oxygen rapidly runs out. His situation goes from bad to worse as he discovers his co-worker is also trapped in an escape pod and mysterious creatures are hunting him down. While this all sounds very dramatic, Distant comes from Blades of Glory screenwriters Josh Gordon and Will Speck, meaning the movie’s balance of horror and comedy is likely to lean toward the former. In a year with only a handful of sci-fi comedies, Distant makes for a welcome addition to the fall slate.
Don’t Worry Darling – September 23 (Theaters)
Director Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling sees Florence Pugh star as a housewife whose seemingly idyllic suburban existence harbors some dark secrets beneath the surface. Borrowing imagery from The Stepford Wives and Jordan Peele’s Us, Don’t Worry Darling looks set to be a trippy, cryptic satire of Americana. With a stellar supporting cast including Gemma Chan, Chris Pine, and Harry Styles, this sci-fi mystery has style to spare judging by its first trailer. Those who love its star can be guaranteed another tour de force from horror movie heroine Florence Pugh.
Black Adam – October 21 (Theaters)
After trying his hand at every other major form of action franchise, Dwayne Johnson is now set to finally join the world of superhero—or rather, antihero—movies with Black Adam. The superstar plays the titular mythological villain, the historical enemy of Shazam who will face off again the Justice Society of America in his movie debut. Viewers can expect this blockbuster to fuse The Mummy-style action horror with standard superhero movie heroics in an unusual villain-centric story that only Johnson could pull off.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – November 11 (Theaters)
The long-awaited Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be headed by Lupita Nyong’o and Letitia Wright after the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman. Playing T’Challa’s former love interest and the hero’s sister respectively, the duo will head the highly hyped follow-up. Plot details are mostly under wraps, but most of the original movie’s ensemble will return alongside impressive new addition Michaela Coel. Repeatedly delayed, Black Panther’s sequel will hope to recapture the critical success of 2017’s original movie when the Wakanda Forever arrives in November 2022.
Avatar: The Way of Water – December 16 (Theaters)
Director James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water promises to show more of Pandora than ever before, judging by the lush visuals of the sequel’s trailer. However, stunning vistas won’t be the only thing convincing moviegoers to revisit Pandora when Avatar 2 arrives in December. The plot of Avatar: The Way of Water is set to flesh out the world of the franchise while the cast will include an impressive string of newcomers such as Kate Winslet, Jermaine Clement, and Vin Diesel. Alongside these new faces, original Avatar villain Stephen Lang will be back along with Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods – December 21 (Theaters)
Zachary Levi’s likable champion Billy Batson is back in returning director David F. Sandberg’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods. The first Shazam proved both a critical and commercial success upon its 2019 release and this sequel, which adds both Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu to its cast list as a pair of villainous Greek gods, will hope to recapture that magic. This shouldn’t be too difficult when Shazam! Fury of the Gods also has Rachel Zegler, one of Hollywood’s most exciting young talents, added to the sequel’s lineup, meaning this could be a rare sequel that manages to outdo the well-liked original movie.
Crater (Disney+)
Director Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s Crater follows the story of a young boy who grew up in a lunar mining colony as he goes in search of the titular mythical crater after the death of his father. With a cast that includes Kid Cudi as the boy’s later father and Ghostbusters: Afterlife heroine and Young Sheldon guest star Mckenna Grace as one of the kid’s companions, it is hard not to get excited about this coming-of-age sci-fi adventure. Judging by the synopsis, this one will be a bittersweet fusion of dramedy and sci-fi action, but viewers will find out for certain when Disney+ releases Crater sometime in late 2022.
Landscape with Invisible Hand
The intriguing Landscape with Invisible Hand is adapted from the 2017 novel of the same name. A sci-fi satire, the movie tells the story of an alien invasion where the extraterrestrials take control of humanity indirectly by taking over the earth’s economy. With no other options available, a teenage couple broadcast their relationship to the fascinated aliens to bankroll their families, only to run into trouble when they soon grow to hate each other. Starring Tiffany Haddish, William Harper Jackson, and Asante Blackk, Landscape with Invisible Hand has the potential to, like the novel it is based on, be a clever, sharp satirical sci-fi that deftly comments on the way identities are commodified and personalities are transformed into marketable brands in late-stage capitalism.
Borderlands
The anarchic sci-fi comedy Borderlands will see divisive director Eli Roth bring the cult video game sensation to life onscreen. Although video game movies are notoriously hard to get right, Borderlands benefits from being based on a property with plenty of inventive visuals, dark humor, and character comedy, all of which fit with Roth’s usual style. Not only that, but the impressive cast of Borderlands includes Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Cate Blanchett as well as genre movie royalty Jamie Lee Curtis, meaning Roth’s adaptation has pulled together one of the most impressive ensembles in video game movie history.
Slash/Back
A Canadian Inuit sci-fi movie, Slash/Back tells the tale of young Inuit girls who are forced to face down an alien invasion on Nunavut, a hamlet located on Baffin Island. Completed in 2019, Slash/Back is the first movie shot on Nunavut and received a rave reception upon its debut at SXSW earlier in 2022. Written, directed, and produced by Nyla Innuksuk, Slash/Back promises to be one of the most exciting independent 2022 sci-fi movies left to arrive later this year.
