Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Avatar: The Way of Water:
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
I rarely subscribe to the notion that a movie can be “so bad that it’s good,” but there’s a rhythm to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom that occasionally worked for me. I acknowledge so many of the aspects that cause it to fall short, but in an era of superhero movies (particularly DC superhero movies) that are content with being unadventurous, at least The Lost Kingdom finds some glossy, overly indulgent ways to be weird. It has the usual James Wan touch.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is an admirable demo tape for director Wes Ball. The movie shows his talent for directing large-scale action sequences and consistent CGI-driven work, but it doesn’t quite have the succinct and emotionally powerful story to match.
Predator: Badlands
Predator: Badlands is a baffling turn for Dan Trachtenberg after the clean thrills of Prey and the surprise bite of the animated Predator: Killer of Killers. Coming off those entries in his Predator reboot, I expected craft, tension, and clever constraint. What arrives is scale without spectacle, a loud, CG smeared detour that forgets why this series works.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
I had fun, and the filmmaking is rarely less than impressive, but Avatar: Fire and Ash is named for a new corner of Pandora that it only partially explores. If these films are going to keep coming, I want Cameron to keep pushing into unfamiliar terrain instead of returning to the same interpersonal circuits. Otherwise, what is the point of having a world this big?
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The margin for error in Ryan Coogler’s sequel to 2018’s Black Panther was always going to be slim. He was tasked with delivering a film that matched the intensity and significance of its tight, universe-expanding first film that set the tables for one of Marvel’s most diverse storylines in a world dominated with white male superheroes doing battle with the most cosmic villains imaginable. Needless to say, there was a lot of pressure for Wakanda Forever to deliver on a monumental level.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania serves as a critical turning point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie simultaneously introduces Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror and tries to steer the inconsistent MCU back on track. It may not entirely succeed, but Paul Rudd‘s latest movie has a few glimmering pieces.
Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049 tries to operate in two separate modes, as a humane and personal drama, and a science fiction epic. While these two styles work in their own separate veins, they cross to make a visually stunning, emotionally hollow movie. Denis Villeneuve directs himself into a corner with this one.
65
Despite Adam Driver‘s attempt to deliver cinema’s next best science fiction thriller movie, 65 doesn’t successfully convey much that feels new or enticing. Lackluster pacing and storytelling make up a generally bland film stripped of any exciting elements.
Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick still feels fresh – for its direction, for its acting, and for its precise attention to emotion and payoff. Every moment feels important and finely tuned, and every actor and actress fits perfectly within this nostalgia-laden juggernaut. A real hit, and one of my favorite movie theater experiences of all time.
Nope
Nope delivers on its promise of spectacle. Its set-up helps deliver one of the most rewarding third acts of the year, and one I’ll surely return to in years to come. Those don’t come around very often, only a handful of films lend themselves to repeat viewings, and Nope is certainly one of them. A dazzling and hypnotic viewing, and one that doesn’t leave your mind once you leave your theater. The best films make you think, and Jordan Peele‘s Nope gives you plenty to sink your teeth into.
READ MORE: Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Movies Like Avatar, Movies Like Avatar: Fire and Ash
