22 Movies That Deserved an Oscar

There have never been more films for people to watch from the comfort of their own homes. That should be nothing but a positive. But sometimes — in fact, a lot of times — it can cause a huge problem. With so much to see, making a selection has never been tougher.

Now that we're at the end of 2022, film critic Gregory Wakeman — who has written for the BBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Vulture, and Rolling Stone — has decided to help those of you who feel like you’ve fallen behind over the last 12 months by compiling a list of movies that almost certainly passed you by, but most definitely deserve your attention.

We even arranged them into handy categories. That way, the next time you need inspiration for something to watch, you can pick from the winners of OZY’s Alternative Oscars.

It always makes things much easier when you know exactly what sort of film you want to watch. Whether you want to be thrilled, scared, enlightened or just to have a giggle, there are plenty of options to satisfy your craving. So, what are you in the mood for?

Sci-fi: ‘Slash/Back’
Set in the northernmost territory of Canada, “Slash/Back” tells the story of a group of friends who discover that an alien invasion is threatening their tiny hometown. Using their knowledge of horror movies and weapons they built themselves, they tackle the visitors on their own. The result is a sweet, brutal and thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes.

Horror: ‘Deadstream’

Horror fans should already know about the wonders of Shudder, the streaming service dedicated to the genre. In 2022, Shudder has delivered a fine selection of gloriously gory films. “Deadstream,” a tale of a disgraced internet personality trying to win back his followers, just about pips the rest: It's smartly created, entirely unpredictable and absolutely riveting.

Comedy: ‘Brian and Charles’
There are slim pickings for good American feature film comedies, the genre Hollywood studios left behind. It’s not the same across the pond, though, and the wonderfully weird “Brian and Charles” is English humor at its sweet and silly best. The mockumentary follows Brian, a lonely inventor, who builds Charles (a robot) to be his best friend.

Rom-com: ‘Dinner in America’
It’s impossible not to be charmed by this punk rock, coming-of-age romantic comedy. Kyle Gallner’s rebellious musician is unexpectedly joined on tour by die-hard fan Emily Skeggs, and they make their way across the American Midwest. Sure, it’s insanely intense, but it’s also undercut with a sweetness that keeps you hooked.

Documentary: ‘Navalny’
On August 20, 2020, Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was poisoned and left on the brink of death. Daniel Rohr’s always gripping — and deeply informative — documentary tells Navalny’s story, while highlighting the lengths people have to go in Russia to fight authoritarianism.

Film stardom is in an odd place at the moment. Only Tom Cruise can entice viewers into movie theaters without the help of a superhero or major franchise. There’s still plenty of incredible acting talent around, though.

Over the last 12 months, several actors have thrived in roles that didn’t deserve their talents, providing performances that you just can’t take your eyes off of — in films that you’ll instantly forget.

Who doesn’t want to see Adrien Brody getting his own “John Wick” revenge film? “Clean” delivers that, just without the style. Meanwhile, Tim Roth gives a career-best performance in the simmering, character-driven “Sundown,” about a family vacation cut short by an emergency back home.

“Umma” repeats the cliches of the supernatural horror genre, but Sandra Oh is as utterly compelling as ever, playing a farmer being haunted by her estranged mother's ghost. “Nope” shows that Keke Palmer is arguably America's most entertaining actor, and her performance in the uneven “Alice” might just be the ultimate proof. Palmer is utterly captivating as an enslaved woman time-traveling to 1973, even though the film itself fails to make the most of its intriguing premise.

Being formulaic doesn’t always ruin a film. Some stories flourish because you know exactly what’s coming.

That’s certainly the case for “A Perfect Pairing,” a Netflix rom-com that does exactly what you expect. It has a very silly premise: an LA wine executive has to work with an Australian sheep farmer to prove her expertise to a client. But Victoria Justice and Adam Demos are just so watchable it doesn’t matter.

On the other end of the scale is “Bull,” which stars Neil Maskell as a former contract killer out for revenge after he is separated from his son. You can’t help but get pulled in as Maskell dishes out the expected violence, plus you’ll be left surprisingly moved by the film’s conclusion.

Then there’s “Honor Society,” a Paramount+ coming-of-age high school comedy, starring Angourie Rice and Gaten Matarazzo. While you might think you know exactly where the film is heading after 10 minutes, its performances are so enjoyable — especially from a supporting Christopher Mintz-Plasse, aka “McLovin” — you won’t see its twists and turns coming.

Of course, sometimes you just want to watch a television show instead. Especially when its episodes are under 30 minutes and you can decide whether to watch one, two, or all in one sitting.

“Single Drunk Female” is the sort of show that instantly hooks you in. Sofia Black-D’Elia is sensational as Samantha, a 20-something alcoholic who has to move home with her mom. It’s similar in tone to “The Bear,” which was obviously too popular for this list.

Season 2 of “Starstruck” is also so charming you can easily spend an afternoon watching all six episodes of Rose Matafeo struggling to deal with the fact that her new boyfriend is a world-famous actor. A mockumentary set in the world of esports, “Players” tells its truly modern story in a hilarious and evocative manner, which just gets better and better as its 10-episode first season goes on.

Saul William’s sci-fi romantic musical “Neptune Frost” revolves around an intersex African hacker, a coltan miner and the virtual marvel they create. Words can’t do the film’s idiosyncrasies justice. This truly unique experience just needs to be seen to be believed.

“Playground” will make even the most hardened filmgoer weep. After 7-year-old Nora sees her big brother Abel being bullied, she tries to tell her father, but her sibling forces her to stay silent. It’s so heartbreaking and heartfelt that you can’t help but get drawn into the story, and maybe even think back to your own childhood.

Dark comedy “On the Count of Three,” about two friends trying and failing to commit suicide, is the directorial debut of comedian Jerrod Carmichael. Unsurprisingly, there’s a deliciously dark edge to the humor. Carmichael’s stellar direction and performance, alongside the equally superb Christopher Abbott, leaves you constantly surprised.

Carey Williams’ comedy-drama “Emergency,” about three POC college students who return to find an unconscious white woman in their apartment, is so smart, funny and thrilling that it’s genuinely frustrating it didn’t find a bigger audience. Especially since the story is so timely and handled with such dexterity.

French filmmaker Celine Sciamma follows up the huge success of “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” with “Petite Maman,” her most personal movie to date. It tells the fantasy story of an 8-year girl who has just lost her grandmother and meets her mother at the same age in the woods. Expertly crafted, “Petite Maman” is a delightful reminder of the power and wonder of cinema, and its simple yet ingenious story will stay with you for days.

The chaotic Iranian road-trip “Hit the Road” will leave you feeling mentally and emotionally drained, in the best possible way. The comedy-drama follows a family of four as they drive across the country. During their journey, they bond over their past adventures, try to care for their sick dog, and deal with years-old conflicts that arise. Utterly enchanting as well as deeply human and beautiful to look at, “Hit the Road” mixes joy and despair with aplomb, while slowly revealing hidden depths that you can’t help but be moved by.

Which is the best!? They’re all incredible. But if I had to pick, “Emergency” and “Hit the Road” would be neck-and-neck, with the latter just coming out on top.

What is your favorite underrated show of 2022? Tell us about it!