Let’s Talk…22 Favorite Films I Watched at 22
22 has been a big year for me. And while I feel like I say that every year, I mean that this year was filled with more milestones than I could ever imagine. I graduated from college with two degrees and highest honors, I received and accepted a prestigious job offer, I launched this very space where I can discuss my love for film, I saw Tom Cruise in the flesh, I traveled more, and I have learned to continue to always discover more about myself throughout this process called life. I have no doubt that 23 will bring more milestones for me, and I cannot wait to meet the person I become at the end of it.
At 22, I imagined that I’d keep watching movies, but I underestimated the impact that they had on me. So many of the films I watched at 22 are from a variety of genres, languages, and styles. But, there were some films that stood out to me because of their themes and messages, some films helped me find my love for anything made in Italian, and some films I turned to every time I needed comfort were still waiting for me. So, in no particular order, here are 22 of my favorite films I watched at age 22.
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Gladiator II; dir. Ridley Scott (2024)
Aftersun; dir. Charlotte Wells (2022)
Interstellar, 10th Anniversary IMAX Release; dir. Christopher Nolan (2014)
Nosferatu; dir. Robert Eggers (2024)
A Real Pain; dir. Jesse Eisenberg (2024)
I Used To Be Funny; dir. Ally Pankiw (2023)
Arrival; dir. Denis Villeneuve (2016)
The Picture of Dorian Gray; dir. Albert Lewin (1945)
Conclave; dir. Edward Berger (2024)
Wicked; dir. Jon M. Chu (2024)
Four Weddings and a Funeral; dir. Mike Newell (1994)
Mickey 17; dir. Bong Joon Ho (2025)
The Florida Project; dir. Sean Baker (2017)
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé; dir. Beyoncé, Ed Burke (2019)
Happy as Lazzaro; dir. Alice Rohrwacher (2018)
Queer; dir. Luca Guadagnino (2023)
I Am Love; dir. Luca Guadagnino (2009)
Pride and Prejudice, 20th Anniversary Release; dir. Joe Wright (2005)
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage; dir. Dario Argento (1970)
Sinners; dir. Ryan Coogler (2025)
Thunderbolts; dir. Jake Schreier (2025)
Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning; dir. Christopher McQuarrie (2025)
I cannot emphasize more how much these films have helped me develop, not only my critical lens, but also my own character. The year of 23 will bring more self-realization, joy, and heartbreak. These which are the basis of all human life. To this next mission, I’ll say what Jack Dawson said: “I love waking up in the morning not knowing what’s gonna happen or who I’m gonna meet, where I’m gonna wind up” (Titanic, 1997).
