• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » 10 Films to Catch You Up on What You Missed this Summer
Film

10 Films to Catch You Up on What You Missed this Summer

FacebookTweet
73
commons.wikimedia.org
Sydney Schmidt August 29, 2022

Whether you consider yourself a film geek or just a casual surveyor of smart horror films, this summer’s listing turned up a few gems. Ranging from frightening, to light-hearted and artsy, to educational, summer 2022 offered a variety of viewing experiences. Finding yourself in a time crunch for catching up on movies before school starts? Need recommendations for that long plane or car ride back to campus? Look no further than this list.

Check out these 10 Summer 2022 movies that are actually worth watching.

1. Nope

youtube.com

Jordan Peele’s widely anticipated Nope saw the best opening weekend for any original film since Peele’s 2019 Us. The film stars Get Out’s leading actor Daniel Kaluuya, alongside Keke Palmer and Steven Yuen. Hard to describe without giving too much away, you only need to know one thing to spark your interest this time: Peele puts his talents into a UFO-based plot set on a California horse ranch. Not convinced? Just look at the reviews. With an 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and a whopping four-star average on Letterboxd, this movie promises not to disappoint fans of Peele or enjoyers of the unsettling.

2. The Black Phone

youtube.com

If Nope leaves you with a thirst for more scary movies, don’t worry. The Black Phone will satisfy all your spooky desires. With a villain who seems to take some inspiration from It’s Pennywise, The Black Phone pushes the concept of a mask-wearing, balloon-bearing creepy guy even further. A child abductor and killer known as The Grabber (played by Ethan Hawke) kidnaps thirteen-year-old Finney. Trapped in a soundproof basement, a single black phone on the wall begins to ring, revealing to Finney the voices of The Grabber’s previous victims. The only downside of this movie: it might leave you incapable of ever looking at Ethan Hawke the same again. Consider yourself warned.

3. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

youtube.com

trending

106

How Graduation is Causing Me a (Good) Existential Crisis

Gretchen Rubin, author of Life in Five Sense
96

Awaken Your Five Senses with #1 NYTs Bestselling Author Gretchen Rubin

77

Adulting with Your Mom Is Fun


Not one for horror? No problem. This summer saw several high-quality, non-horror films take the stage. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande will make a great addition to the watchlists of those who enjoy journeys of self-discovery. Widow Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson) hires sex worker Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) to show her good sex. Addressing sexual shame and repressed female sexuality, this film centers on themes of body positivity and sex positivity. The reviews? A 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 3.7/5 on Letterboxd. The ratings, the plot and the cast promise to make this film one of your unexpected favorites of the summer.

4. Official Competition (Competencia oficial)

youtube.com

This Spanish language comedy makes an entertaining watch for anyone, but especially those intrigued by acting and directorial approaches. Penelope Cruz plays the eccentric Lola Cuevas, a director known for her often weird but brilliant films. Cuevas’ latest project (and the focus of the film) brings together two renowned actors who have never worked together. Esteemed dramatist Iván Torres (Oscar Martínez) and popular celebrity movie star Félix Rivero (Antonio Banderas) will fill the roles of two brothers constantly at odds. The three leading personalities will surprise you at every turn, always leaving you unsure of Cuevas’ next rehearsal method or whether Iván and Félix will ever get along.

5. Prey

youtube.com

Still wanting something a bit eerie? Set in 1719, skilled Comanche warrior Naru finds herself faced with a mysterious predator. Revealed as an alien creature, Naru stalks the predator through the wilderness to protect her tribe. Technically a prequel to the Predator films, but you don’t actually need any knowledge of the franchise to enjoy this movie. If you have seen the Predator films, and remember the disappointing 2018 installment The Predator, fear not. Prey proves itself in its own right. A 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 3.7/5 on Letterboxd promise Prey will take the place of one of the best sci-fi/horror films in years.

6. Emily the Criminal

youtube.com

College students especially may find this film entertaining. Aubrey Plaza plays Emily, a college grad drowning in student debt and unable to find a job. Her solution? Credit card scamming. As she sinks into the criminal underworld of L.A., Emily finds herself faced with dangerous consequences. This thriller makes a perfect addition to your movie night with a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.5/5 on Letterboxd. If you love thrillers, Aubrey Plaza and want to see a unique take on the struggling college grad trope, Emily the Criminal has it all.

7. The Janes

youtube.com

If you prefer documentaries to fictional films, you’ll want to check out The Janes. Available on HBO, this film takes a look at pre-Roe v Wade America. Going by the name of “Jane,” an underground network of activists developed to help provide abortions to women. An estimated 11,000 women received low-cost and free abortions through this network. For those wanting to learn more about the history of abortion rights and access in the U.S., you definitely need to add The Janes to your watchlist. Plus, with a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 3.9 out of 5 stars on Letterboxd, clearly viewers find this documentary informative and worthwhile.

8. Three Thousand Years of Longing

youtube.com

Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, Three Thousand Years of Longing reportedly received a six-minute standing ovation. What’s it about? Well, on a trip to Istanbul, scholar Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) accidentally happens upon a djinn (Idris Elba). He promises her three wishes in exchange for his freedom, but Binnie struggles to make a decision. A scholar of mythology herself, Binnie worries over the concept of wishes gone wrong. With a trailer promising flavorful visuals, a talented cast and already glowing reviews before its August 26 release date, this movie belongs on your must-watch list.

9. Brian and Charles

youtube.com

Brian: a lonely inventor residing in rural Wales whose projects never quite work. Charles: his most ambitious creation yet. Fans of the lighthearted but touching will love Brian and Charles. The film will have you chuckling as Brian’s artificially intelligent robot Charles learns English from a dictionary and the two develop a companionship. The problem? As Charles’ intelligence grows, he longs for autonomy. What’s beyond the little cottage where he and Brian live?

10. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

youtube.com

Charming and humorous, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris will also find you chuckling and smiling over the escapades of its titular character. A cleaning lady in 1950s London, Mrs. Harris dreams of owning a pricey dress designed by Christian Dior. Coming into a sum of money, Mrs. Harris takes a trip to Paris to track down her dream dress. Equal parts amusing and heartwarming, the charming sets, costumes and characters will draw you in. With a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 3.6/5 stars on Letterboxd, what do you have to lose?

About Sydney Schmidt

A junior majoring in International Affairs and Journalism & Mass Communication at George Washington University. Avid playlist maker and explorer of used bookstores.

Need a Thrill? Give These 10 Halloween Flicks a Try!

Calling All Film Nerds: The Top 10 Best Films Requiring Subtitles 

Top Ten Most Iconic Speeches from Teen movies

College Magazine’s Must-Watch 2021 Movie Recommendations

Top 10 Movies to Binge Before Watching Spider-Man: No Way Home (No Spoilers!)

Reality or Dream? 5  Surreal TV Shows to Keep You Questioning Your Sanity 

Black Widow Through the Eyes of an Actual Eastern European

CM’s Guide to Hosting the Ultimate Film Screening to Rival Cannes

7 Films to Guide You Through Summer’s Peaks and Throughs

Previous Post:Top 10 Must Try Delicacies for Your Next East Coast Road Trip 
Next Post:Covid: The C–kblock of Vacations

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding