10 Movies That Turn 30 In 2022 That Everyone Needs To See

With a number of huge box office hits turning thirty in 2022, movie fans are quick to reminisce over some of the biggest movies of the year. 2022 is not only going to be a landmark year in cinema with more tentpole releases than ever before making their way to theaters, but it is also a year where many classic movies celebrate significant milestones. 

In a year where movies like Basic Instinct, Glengarry Glen Ross, Disney’s Aladdin, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York turn thirty, there are many more that should be on anyone’s watch list – not all seen as blockbusters. 

Batman Returns

Tim Burton’s revolutionary 1989 vision of The Dark Knight was an instant hit with fans and critics alike. Becoming the catalyst for future superhero movies and distancing itself from the camp 1960s version, Michael Keaton donned the famous Batsuit for this huge hit, and calls for a second movie were loud.

As with any sequel, the stakes had to be increased, and following Jack Nicholson’s spot-on performance as Joker was always going to be a difficult feat. Burton doubled down on the villainy, bringing two classic enemies to the sequel. Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance as Catwoman stunned audiences, going from skittish secretary to ferocious feline in an outstanding fashion, and Danny DeVito’s Penguin was both haunting and heartbreaking. Batman Returns may not have had the critical acclaim its predecessor had but remains a solid entry in the franchise as Keaton’s Bruce Wayne shows more humanity, helping to make it one of the best Batman movies according to many viewers. The movie also remains a controversial entry in lists of Christmas films.

El Mariachi

Robert Rodriguez has made some of the most iconic movies spanning horror, sci-fi, and children’s movies – along with directing an episode of the Star Wars spin-off The Mandalorian. However, his start in taking major motion pictures began with this low-budget gem in 1992.

El Mariachi is the story of one man on a revenge mission. Armed with a purpose and a guitar case full of weapons, this western-inspired movie genuinely changed the game on its debut. Made for just $7000 – funded from friends and medical trial expenses – with a cast of unknowns, this was true rebel film-making. It is essential to watch to see how El Mariachi has inspired a new generation of filmmakers and resurrected a guerrilla style of making movies.

Malcolm X

Making a film about an immensely famous figure in history was always going to attract huge attention, and Malcolm X – or X, as it was known – did just that as visionary director Spike Lee brought Alex Haley’s book to the screen.

Beset by production issues, budget problems, and controversy over the story, the journey of X coming to the silver screen was not an easy one. The film is a powerful production detailing the life of the activist and tackling difficult matters such as racism, mental health, and criminality. Denzel Washington’s performance as Malcolm is a powerful one that earned him an Oscar nomination and one that is essential to view. 

Reservoir Dogs

Not only is this film thirty years old in 2022, but it also marks the debut of its director and writer, Quentin Tarantino. A genuine love letter to so much that had inspired him, Tarantino’s vision of chapter-based storytelling made a splash on the festival scene. 

Reservoir Dogs is a heist movie that never actually shows the heist, following the color-coded crew of criminals before and after their job and examining the mistrust and deception between them all. Gaining more notoriety after Tarantino’s next release – Pulp Fiction – fans flooded back to Tarantino’s genre-bending debut, appreciating it in a new light. There are many aspects of Reservoir Dogs that still hold up today, keeping it popular.

The Crying Game

Director Neil Jordan tackled a number of issues head-on with The Crying Game. Set against the backdrop of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, this hard-hitting classic touched upon race, national identity, and sexuality – all at a time when coverage of those issues was not like it is today. 

Starring Forrest Whitaker, Stephen Rea, and Miranda Richardson, the film gained a lot of praise from critics worldwide and is one that is still consistently referred to today. The level of intrigue and suspense leading to that shocking twist is a masterclass in storytelling that needs to be viewed and one which still leaves viewers reeling. 

The Muppets Christmas Carol

Of all the series and spin-off movies, this retelling of such a famous story was one that took the world by storm. Instead of following the adventures of Kermit and Miss Piggy, Jim Henson’s workshop decided to reinvent the Charles Dickens favorite. 

The Muppets Christmas Carol followed on from Scrooged in attempting to recreate the magic of the 1843 Dickens novella. Having all the Muppet characters take the place of Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, and others, the story was introduced to a new audience. However, The Muppets Christmas Carol is even more famous for the performance of Michael Caine as Scrooge. Telling GQ that it was his daughter who inspired him to take the part as he had “never made a movie she could see,” Caine gleefully took on the singing and dancing role that is still one of his finest to date.

Wayne’s World

Saturday Night Live veterans Mike Myers and Dana Carvey had been performing as Wayne and Garth on a regular basis on the show, and following on from The Blues Brothers, it was soon time that Wayne’s World headed to cinemas.

One of the first two Saturday Night Live sketches to make it to the cinema, (along with the aforementioned Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi starring The Blues Brothers), Myers and Carvey took their nerdy, rock-loving public TV hosts to the big screen in a film that parodied corporate promotion, constantly broke the fourth wall, and turned into a poignant story of true friendship, creating one of the best SNL movies ever made.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Whereas the Sarah Michelle Gellar starring television series is the one that the majority refer to when it comes to Sunnydale’s vanquisher of vampires, the slayer started out life in 1992 in this much-forgotten adventure.

Starring Luke Perry, Donald Sutherland, and Kristy Swanson as Buffy, this was a different vision to what audiences came to love in the late 90s. It is a slightly lighter and brighter affair than the television show with a heavier comedy element. Directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui and produced by Kaz Kazui, this film would lead to the well-loved show several years later.

Army of Darkness

The third installment in Sam Raimi’s horror series found a bigger budget than previous installments, and Army of Darkness upped the undead count and found Ash going medieval.

Bringing Bruce Campbell back to star as the heroic Ash Williams (along with his evil doppelgänger), Raimi sent his hero back to the Middle Ages for an undead version of Back to the Future. Whereas the horror was dialed down for comedy, the film is still gory enough for horror fans and stands out as the iconic sequel in one of the best horror movie franchises – later spawning a television show of its own.

Unforgiven

Clint Eastwood bowed out of the Western genre with a film that he starred in, directed, and even composed the theme for. Unforgiven has understandably gone down as one of the most significant of his career and, to this day, is still regarded highly – not only with Western fans.

Playing a former cowboy turned pig farmer, Eastwood is dragged back into the life he left behind with violent results as he tackles Gene Hackman’s corrupt sheriff. Unforgiven’s legacy is one that is nearly unrivaled. A film that has been recognized for its cultural significance, along with awards success at the Oscars, Unforgiven also spawned a 2013 Japanese remake with Ken Watanabe. It is a modern western that truly stands out.

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