Best movies of 2022 to stream right now

The latest film from acclaimed auteur Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza was actually released in 2021 in the US but only made its way to UK cinemas on New Year's Day 2022. The freewheeling film charts the misadventures of teenager Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffmann) and his older crush Alana Kane (Alana Haim) in the San Fernando Valley in 1973 – and features all manner of memorable set pieces, scenery-chewing supporting turns and perfectly chosen needle drops.

The second feature from Zach Cregger, this cleverly constructed horror film follows a young woman who arrives at a Detroit rental home only to find it already occupied by a mysterious stranger – with things only getting more disastrous from there. A large part of the film's irresistible entertainment value comes from the unpredictable manner in which it unfolds, while Cregger proves himself equally adept at eking out tension from relatively mundane interactions as crafting more traditional horror scares.

The latest remake of DH Lawrence's classic novel stars Emma Corrin and Jack O'Connell in the central roles – and proves to be a brilliant retelling of the familiar tale, with the chemistry between the two leads especially worthy of a mention. French filmmaker Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre directs with sensitivity, with the iconic dancing in the rain scene an undisputed highlight.

A wickedly funny riff on the works of Agatha Christie that unfolds against the backdrop of 1950s London, this comedy whodunnit features a stellar cast including Saoirse Ronan, Sam Rockwell, and Adrien Brody. The film affectionately sends up the tropes of the genre while serving as a compelling and riotously entertaining murder mystery in its own right, with the script remaining sharp throughout and, crucially, including a final reveal that will leave audiences very satisfied.

One of the breakout hits of the year – and most likely a contender for awards next year – this mind-bending sci-fi comes courtesy of Swiss Army Man directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (known collectively as Daniels). An extremely ambitious, spectacularly original, and sometimes rather dizzying affair, the film follows events after seemingly ordinary middle-aged launderette owner Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) is sent into the multiverse – where she learns some key lessons about herself while trying to save the world as we know it.

This Siegfried Sassoon biopic from legendary British filmmaker Terence Davies, which premiered at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, is a beautiful but melancholy portrait of the wartime poet. It explores some of the obstacles he faced as a gay man in the first half of the 20th century, charting his marriage to Hester Gatty and eventual conversion to Catholicism, anchored by two absolutely superb performances from Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi, who play the poet at different stages of his life.

Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage has for a long time had something of a cult following – and that is the premise of this wacky film which sees the star play a fictional version of himself when he is caught between a superfan (Pedro Pascal) and a CIA agent (Tiffany Haddish). The film sees Cage forced to channel several of his most iconic characters and is a must-watch for any Cage fanatic.

The latest film in the long-running Predator franchise – and arguably the best since the original – this innovative prequel pits the vicious extra-terrestrial against a skilled warrior in the Comanche nation in 1719. By adopting a rather refreshing back-to-basics approach that does away with convoluted plot contrivances in favour of a simple, pared-down narrative, the film overwhelmingly succeeds – and Amber Midthunder is a standout in the lead role.

This animated documentary follows the story of Amin Nawabi, an alias for a real individual who fled his country, evading war, imprisonment and death. It includes a mixture of animated segments and archival footage to create a truly unique feel, while exploring the refugee experience in a form that truly hasn't been seen on screen before.