The influence of Netflix is well established. It not only has the largest number of subscribers (over 200 million) than any other streaming service (the next closest is Amazon Prime with slightly under 200 million). Netflix collects over 10 billion dollars a month in subscription fees and will probably collect more from its recent price increase.
Netflix’s Big Movie Push
In recent years, Netflix has used its money to produce a lot of original content and has also entered the online gaming space. Currently, new original content (movies and shows) is being added on a weekly basis, and for 2022, Netflix plans to release 70 new movies.
Since Netflix recently announced a monthly price increase, it not only needs to deliver value for that price to keep current subscribers but continue to grow its subscriber numbers. Netflix has racked up a number of Oscars and Emmy nominations and wins for its original movies and shows.
Tip: Second place Amazon recently announced its purchase of MGM (which includes the rights to the James Bond movies), has followed up with its own price increase. It will be interesting if other services create a price-increase bandwagon.
What’s also interesting is that Netflix is in the process of bidding for approval to purchase 300+ acres of land in New Jersey to build a new studio.
Ian White (Ecoustics Editor-in-Chief) has been following this story.
“I run through this vacant piece of land twice a week and people would be thrilled to see a section of the property become Netflix East,” remarked White who lives less than 2 miles from the proposed site”.
The rumors floating around Long Branch, Eatontown, Tinton Falls, and Little Silver is that Netflix desires this location because of its 60-minute drive from NYC, the possible tax abatement on the property, and the recent surge in housing in the area to supply a skilled workforce.
However, even without this facility, the fact that Netflix plans to release 70 films in 2022, very few of which will actually get a limited theatrical run, puts movie studios and movie theaters on notice that they must adapt to the streaming juggernaut or go out of business. If you think movie theaters are coming out of the pandemic on solid ground, the financial numbers tell a very different story.
Key Movies Coming in 2022 From Netflix
Below is a sampling of movie titles that Netflix has committed to offering viewers for 2022. A link to the entire listing will be available at the end of this article. Keep in mind that exact release dates have not been announced for a majority of these films, so keep watch on Netflix’s monthly announcements.
Big Bug (February 11)
Filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet tells the fictional sci-fi story of bickering suburbanites who become stuck together when an android uprising causes their well-intentioned household robots to lock them in the house for their own safety.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (February 18th)
Some things just won’t go away, and Chainsaw wielding Leatherface periodically shows up to terrorize new generations of movie viewers. This Netflix version is supposedly a direct sequel to the 1974 original. Written and produced by Fede Alvarez and directed by David Blue Garcia.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Promo Trailer
The Adam Project (March 11th)
Shawn Levy (the producer of Stranger Things) brings us a tale of a time-traveling pilot who teams up with his younger self and his late father to come to terms with his past while saving the future. The cast includes Zoe Saldaña, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner reunion, and newcomer Walker Scobell.
All Quiet on the Western Front
The original 1930 War Epic All Quiet on the Western Front which is available to watch on several streaming services, is a cinematic classic, so it will be interesting if Netflix will put the resources into its production to make it an effective remake. The story centers around a young German soldier’s terrifying experiences and distress on the western front during World War I. Just like the original, this version will be in German. Netflix is expected to offer English subtitles or English dub.
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood
Netflix and Director Richard Linklater use animation to tell the story of the first moon landing in 1969 from two points of view that converge. One view is of the astronauts and mission control. The other view is through the eyes of a kid growing up in Houston, Texas. The cast includes Glen Powell, Jack Black, and Zachary Levi (the movie is based on his own life experience).
Day Shift
Jamie Fox and Snoop dogg in a vampire movie? Why not. J.J. Perry directs his first major film featuring Jamie Foxx as a San Fernando Valley pool cleaner trying to provide a stable life for his smart daughter, but on the side, he generates more income by hunting and killing vampires and is a member of the International Union of Vampire Hunters. Dave Franco, Meagan Good, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo co-star. Is Snoop Dog a vampire or one of the “good buys”? Watch and find out.
Enola Holmes 2
2020’s Enola Holmes was a hit for Netflix, so why not a sequel? Millie Bobby Brown is back as the younger sister of Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft Holmes. Helena Bonham Carter is also back as Eudoria Holmes. Immersing herself further into the detective world, Enola is on the trail of a missing girl, but there is more to the story…
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochio
Using the art of Stop Motion Animation, Academy Award-winner Guillermo del Toro is taking on this classic about a wooden marionette brought to life to soothe Geppetto’s grief. Adventure and emotion abound. The star-studded voice cast includes Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson, Burn Gorman, and Gregory Mann.
Interceptor
One-word titles often mean one thing: Action and adventure. This time Elsa Pataky (who is Chris Hemsworth’s real-life wife) is bringing the big guns in a movie produced by husband Chris and directed by Matthew Reilly (his first big movie). Elsa plays an army lieutenant who uses her “years of tactical training and military expertise to save humanity as we know it,” after nuclear missiles are launched at the US.
JUNG_E
South Korean horror master Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan, Hellbound) directs a dystopian movie about“a desolated Earth in the 22nd century that’s no longer inhabitable due to climate change. Amid chaos, an internal war breaks out in the shelter built for human survival. Victory — meaning the end of the war — now hinges on finding a way to clone legendary mercenary JUNG_E into a scalable robot.”
Knives Out 2
Knives Out was a big theatrical success, but for the sequel, Netflix has ponied up the money and brought it to the small screen. Rian Johnson returns to the director’s change as does Daniel Craig in the role of Benoit Blank solving another mystery involving murder where there are a lot of suspects to sort through. “Guest Stars” include Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Jessica Henwick, and Madelyn Cline. Stay tuned as Netflix also has Knives Out 3 in the works.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
A new adaptation of the classic D.H. Lawrence novel about privileged Lady Chatterley, who goes beyond the boundaries of her loveless marriage and into an adventurous affair with her estate’s gamekeeper which changes her life’s direction. Stars include Emma Corrin and Jack O’Connell. Directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre.
Matilda
A great family movie entry slated for December 2022, Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch, and Newcomer Alisha Weir (who plays Matilda) star in this adaptation of the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical about “an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.”
The Mothership
Halle Berry re-enters the Sci-Fi world. The story centers on Sara Morse (Berry) whose husband (cast member Omari Hardwick) mysteriously vanishes from their rural farm. In an interesting twist, Sara discovers a strange extraterrestrial object under her home. Is it connected to her husband’s disappearance? We might find out after she and her kids (cast members Jaiden J. Smith and Quinn McPherson) seek to find out the truth.
The Sea Beast
Another 2020 animated film takes on terrifying sea beasts and heroic monster hunters. You can be sure that you will see epic adventure. Directed by Moana and Big Hero 6 director, Chris Williams.
Spiderhead
Based on a short story with a science-fiction bent by George Saunders that appeared in New Yorker Magazine, two young convicts grapple with their pasts in a facility run by a brilliant visionary, who experiments on inmates with emotion-altering drugs. Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller and Jurnee Smollett star.
Troll
In 2010 the independent Norwegian Movie Troll Hunter became a cult favorite and is widely available on streaming services. Now, another Norwegian, Roar Uthaug (who directed the most recent Tomb Raider movie), takes on his own giant Troll movie, this time, with more destruction and suspense as one of the giant creatures heads towards Oslo. Can it be stopped in time?
There is more!
As mentioned previously, the above movies are just a sample of what Netflix is offering in 2022. Check out the entire film list, as there are lots of interesting entries.
Note: The anticipated sequel to Netflix’s 2020 action hit Extraction (Extraction 2) is not on the list, but may still be added to the 2022 schedule. Also, keep in mind that in addition to all the movies, Netflix is debuting several new series during the year, as well as continuing many current ones.
Netflix 2022 Movie Preview Trailer
