10 – Sonic 2 the movie (Jeff Fowler, $401 million)
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The first adaptation of Sonic will have shown that fans are right to complain on social media, the design of the blue hedgehog was basically quite a mess, but it was changed along the way, and in the end, it was a good surprise. Its sequel goes in the same direction, a very sympathetic mainstream film carried by Jim Carrey playing a perfect Dr. Robotnik, while fans were able to discover some of Sonic’s friends, like Tails and Knuckles, on screen.
REVIEW of Sonic 2, the movie: the sequel without the ideas
9 – Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets (David Yates, $405 million)
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Third part of the adventures of Norbert Scamander, Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets has mainly been talked about because of a big cast change. Johnny Deep, then accused of domestic violence, was put aside and it was Mads Mikkelsen who took over the role of Gellert Grindelwald. The Dane doesn’t deliver his best performance here (watch The Hunt by Thomas Vinterberg instead), the film was received rather lukewarm, but it remains enjoyable for hardcore fans of the Harry Potter universe.
8 – The Battle at Lake Changjin II (Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, Dante Lam, $626 million)
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Also known as the Water Gate Bridge, this is the sequel to The Battle at Lake Changjin, which was already a hit last year, especially in China. The first installment was based on the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War, as Chinese soldiers defended Changjin Lake. This time, these same soldiers launch an assault on a bridge held by the Americans, and it’s still a great spectacle tailored for the Chinese market, the film was also released there on February 1, during New Year’s Eve, but it has still not been screened in France.
7 – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Ryan Coogler, $732 million)
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Black Panther will have marked Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in particular thanks to a Chadwick Boseman more charismatic and impressive than ever. Unfortunately, the actor left us in 2020, but the writers have integrated this terrible loss into the lore of the MCU, for a Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as beautiful as it is epic, and obviously very touching, as Wakanda must defend itself against Namor, an amphibian man who rules the aquatic kingdom of Talokan.
6 – Thor: Love and Thunder (Taika Waititi, $760 million)
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Another MCU film that will have done very well this year, the fourth installment of the adventures of the God of Thunder. Sort of a bridge between Avengers: Endgame and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Thor: Love and Thunder reconnects with the muscular hero and marks the return of Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). With the help of their friends, here they face Gorr the Butcher of the Gods, who as his name suggests slaughters the gods of the universe, Thor being next on his list. Well, despite this scenario which promised a dark tone, the film disappointed the fans because of its not very well controlled humor, a shame for Taika Waitiki (Jojo Rabbit, Vampires in all intimacy), but if the jokes released matter when you don’t mind, Thor: Love and Thunder also knows how to be great entertainment for a wide audience.
REVIEW of Thor: Love and Thunder, love is eternal… humor too!
5 – The Batman (Matt Reeves, $770 million)
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The DCU may be far less popular than the MCU, but a few independent films in the saga manage to stand out. We had the great Joker, we now have the equally immense The Batman, an almost choral action film where the Dark Knight, carried by a disillusioned Robert Pattinson, Catwoman, Riddler (alias Enigma, the Sphinx, the Man -Mystery), the Penguin, or even Carmine Falcone. The spectator is caught up for nearly three hours in this Gotham where crime and corruption reign, with a 5-star cast and a particularly neat realization. Too bad the Batmobile is so little present.
REVIEW The Batman: Dark History
4 – Minions 2: Once Upon a Time Gru (Kyle Balda, Jonathan De Val, Brad Ableson, $937 million)
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Sequel to the Despicable Me spin-off, this time we discover Gru’s first misdeeds in the company of his new little and yellow friends (the Minions, not the chicks) in order to be recruited by the Vicious 6. Little Gru Plunges here into the world of adults very quickly, for a very light and funny animated film, more for young audiences, but which can be watched with pleasure by adults as well.
3 – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Sam Raimi, $955 million)
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And here is the Marvel Cinematic Universe film that will have the most success in 2022. It must be said that the first part had succeeded in introducing a new charismatic character and proposing real visual ideas, and when Sam Raimi was attached to the project, the Evil Dead and 2000s Spider-Man fans were hyped. What’s more, the film finally immerses us fully in the Multiverse after Spider-Man: No Way Home, but it remains woefully underutilized, as does the directorial talent of Sam Raimi. What remains is a tortured Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and an ever so classy Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedic Cumberbatch) who save the whole thing for an MCU movie that delights fans, and that’s all that’s asked of it.
REVIEW of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: MCU magic at its peak!
2 – Jurassic World: The World After (Colin Trevorrow, $1 billion)
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Almost 30 years after the release of Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, the franchise with big dinosaurs continues, and it still attracts as many people in theaters. Taking place a few years after Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, this third installment with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard shows prehistoric creatures living among humans on the continents, far from Isla Nublar. The cohabitation obviously does not go so well, our heroes accompanied by Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler and Ian Malcolm (the protagonists of Jurassic Park) will have to counter the plans of unscrupulous men wanting to exploit the dinosaurs for their purposes. It’s not very well written, there are still impressive creatures on screen, and what a pleasure to find Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum in the franchise, even if it’s just to play around.
1 – Top Gun: Maverick (Joseph Kosinski, $1.4 billion)
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The 1986 Top Gun, directed by the late Tony Scott, is cult and will have marked an entire generation at the time, propelling Tom Cruise to the rank of international star. But sequels to old franchises, we’ve had quite a few, and they were rarely good. Forget it, Top Gun: Maverick is a real slap in the face, for those nostalgic for the first film as well as slightly younger viewers. The feature film by Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy, Oblivion) features Maverick, called back by Iceman to train a team of young recruits from the Top Gun school to prepare for a particularly perilous mission. Between the clever nods to the first installment, the well-written and embodied characters, the gripping script and a stunning realization with crazy aerial sequences, Top Gun: Maverick is a generous blockbuster that makes you want to play Ace Combat and playing beach volleyball at the beach.