2022 has a lot to carry on its shoulders following the last couple of years, but when it comes to the upcoming sci-fi movies for 2022, there’s a lot on offer. With superheroes and villains, out of this world animations, and returning franchises, movie fans can fill their calendars with release dates to look forward to. Put it this way, if we thought 2021 looked good, 2022 looks even better.
Considering there’s so much sci-fi goodness to sift through, to make your life a bit easier we’ve put together this upcoming sci-fi movies for 2022 guide detailing the movie title, release date, cast, and a little about what you can expect. Of course, there’s not room for everything here, but we’ve got a little something for everyone and have focused on some of 2022’s expected big hitters.
Whilst you await these sci-fi movie releases, why not take a look back in time with the help of our guides to the best sci-fi movies and best space horror movies ever made? It’s never too late to watch one of the space greats for the first time, or relive the experience all over again.
Moonfall
- Release date: February 4, 2022
- Cast: Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley
Next up, we’ve got a ‘hold your breath for the entire movie’ kind of space disaster thriller. Moonfall does what it says on the tin. In this movie, the moon is literally falling as a mysterious force shunts it towards Earth, threatening to obliterate our planet and everyone on it.
No stranger to the disaster sci-fi genre, director Roland Emmerich has done this to us time and time again, with both Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, leaving viewers unsettled and lost in an existential abyss. The wonderful expanse of space mixed in with some apocalyptic chaos makes for a great sci-fi flick and will give the best asteroid movies a run for their money.
The Batman
Batman is a character not short of time on the big screen with multiple movies already under this DC Comics superhero’s belt, and, surprisingly, none yet have been called The Batman, until now. Matt Reeves, of Cloverfield and War for the Planet of the Apes fame, took over in the director’s chair from the previously signed up Ben Affleck (a former caped crusader himself). This time round, The Batman sees Robert Pattinson step into the iconic black suit as he swoops across Gotham City fighting crime and fan-favorite villain, the Riddler. An exciting addition that exists outside of the DC Extended Universe.
Moonshot
- Release date: March 24, 2022
- Cast: Cole Sprouse, Lana Condor, Zach Braff
A little something different for the list of upcoming sci-fi movies for 2022 with the sci-fi rom-com, Moonshot, which is set to depict life and love on Mars. Starring teen drama favorites, Cole Sprouse of Riverdale and Lana Condor of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, we look to a future where Mars has been colonized and now houses the best of the best humans who once populated Earth.
Two college students (Sprouse and Condor) hitch a ride, sneakily, to the red planet to seek out their other halves. We know very little else about Moonshot at this time (there aren’t even any promotional shots out yet). What we do know is that Moonshot will head straight to HBO Max with its premiere on March 24.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Release date: March 25, 2022
- Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Elizabeth Olsen
2022 is slathered with MCU goodness and we’ve got more for you with the next instalment of Doctor Strange’s journey: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. We’ve talked about the multiverse with the new Spider-Man movie and Doctor Strange’s role in that, but with this movie it seems we’ll be going even deeper as Benedict Cumberbatch reprises his role as Dr. Stephen Strange. Now would definitely be a good time to refresh your memory by watching the Marvel movies in order.
With some more space-time continuum warping and even more research into the Time Stone, an unspeakable evil is unleashed on the MCU and we know that Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff (aka Scarlet Witch) will have a big part to play.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Release date: March 25, 2022
- Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Ke Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis
Produced by the Russo Brothers and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known collectively as the Daniels, this upcoming sci-fi flick follows a Chinese-American woman as she’s quite literally everywhere all at once in this insanely hilarious venture spanning across multiple universes. If that wasn’t enough warped escapes for you, the movie revolves around her just trying to finish her taxes. A tumultuous task at the best of times. Everything Everywhere All at Once looks set to marry laughter, adventure, and sci-fi in some great trifecta of film greatness.
Morbius
- Release date: April 1, 2022
- Cast: Michael Keaton, Jared Leto, Adria Arjona
We’re back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with the introduction of a new superhero, biochemist Dr. Michael Morbius. Like many of the superhero origin stories, it’s an experiment gone wrong as Morbius attempts to cure his own rare blood disease but instead ends up infecting himself with a form of vampirism from bats. Jared Leto becomes Morbius, fronting the movie and introducing the world to the dark nature of The Living Vampire, and presumably some superhuman strength, speed, and acute senses to show off.
And, like many MCU movies, there’s hints at more crossover with Michael Keaton aka The Vulture making an appearance in the teaser trailer. Originally slated for January, Morbius has since been delayed to April.
65
- Release date: April 29, 2022
- Cast: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, Chloe Coleman
Up next, sci-fi thriller, 65, which follows an astronaut (Adam Driver) who crash lands on a mysterious planet only to find out that he’s not alone. Whilst it’s a sci-fi genre specialty to ask the age old ‘is there anybody out there?’ question, we’re weirdly excited for this movie because, apart from this little bit of info, there’s a mysterious lack of plot details. There are also no official shots of the movie yet, so please enjoy this shirtless picture of Adam Driver.
As this movie has the impressive Adam Driver (of the Star Wars sequel trilogy) up front and center, and the very talented screenwriters behind A Quiet Place, we have a feeling this is one that is not to be missed. If you’re looking for an unnerving experience, we have no doubt this team can provide it.
Jurassic World: Dominion
- Release date: June 10, 2022
- Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Daniella Pineda
Jurassic World: Dominion marks the third in the Jurassic World trilogy, four years on from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in 2018. Fallen Kingdom ended on a cliffhanger with the dinosaurs being let loose into the world and so we know Dominion is set to pick up where it left off.
There’s only a teaser trailer out for now so we’re not quite sure what to expect but it doesn’t feel too wild to suggest some Jurassic staples with epic dinosaur fights and breath-taking CGI in this one. And, we imagine, some more romance between lead actors Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt. Hold onto your butts!
Lightyear
- Release date: June 17, 2022
- Cast: Chris Evans
Will we ever have enough of Toy Story? In 1995, Pixar’s first feature-length movie introduced the world to Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and his adventures with the toys of Andy’s bedroom, namely Woody the cowboy. Well, Buzz is getting his very own spin-off movie in 2022 that invites viewers to the origin story of Buzz from test pilot to the ultimate Space Ranger that we know and love.
For this one, the voice acting reins have been handed over to Chris Evans instead of Buzz original, Tim Allen, so it’ll be interesting to see and hear Buzz in a whole new light(year).
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)
- Release date: October 7, 2022
- Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac
Not to be confused with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this is the sequel that follows on from the final teaser scene where (spoiler alert) Gwen calls out to Miles Morales through a portal to another universe, and Spider-Man 2099, teased at the end. It’s a two-parter as Miles continues to hurtle across the Spider-Verse, and according to the official description will “join forces with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-People to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered.” Our Spidey sense is tingling for this one.
Avatar 2
- Release date: December 16, 2022
- Cast: Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Kate Winslet
Avatar is reportedly the most expensive movie ever made and only lost its box office crown for the top-selling global release of all time in 2019 when Avengers: Endgame took top spot. 13 years on, we’re getting Avatar 2 with another incredible budget of 250 million dollars to bring the story back to life on the big screen.
Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana reprise their roles as Jake Sully and Ney’tiri as we learn they’ve now formed their own family in Pandora. But all is not well in this sequel as an ancient threat forces them out of their home and ignites a war that must be fought against the humans. We’ve waited a long time for this one.
Chariot
- Release date: 2022 TBC
- Cast: John Malkovich, Rosa Salazar, Thomas Mann
Chariot is an upcoming sci-fi for 2022, release date TBC, that looks at John Malkovich, a doctor that oversees the process of reincarnation. All is running seemingly smoothly until a glitch in the system occurs as a young man (Thomas Mann) encounters a woman (Rosa Salazar) whom he loved in a previous life and throws the whole concept into turmoil.
We don’t know too much about this one just yet, but what we do know is that director Adam Sigal is very passionate about sci-fi, even publishing his own sci-novel at the age of 18, so add this to your must-watch list of upcoming sci-fi movies for 2022.