These 22 Movies And TV Shows From 2022 Genuinely Took People By Surprise With How Good They Were

"We left the golden era of teen comedies ages ago, but Do Revenge deserves a spot in the hall of fame."

Sometimes you go start a movie or show with very little (or no) great expectations, and you get a very welcome shock to find it thoroughly enjoyable.

Netflix

So, we recently asked the BuzzFeed Community what movies and TV shows they were pleasantly surprised by in 2022, and here are some of the best suggestions.

1. Moon Knight

Disney+

"I went in expecting something wacky and gritty but what I ended up getting instead was a genuinely compelling character study of Marc/Steven. It also included phenomenal central performances (particularly from Oscar Isaac) and a pretty respectful portrayal of dissociative identity disorder. 

Episode five is definitely the best episode of any Disney Plus Marvel series and Moon Knight as a whole quickly eclipsed the top spot of my favourite MCU shows list. It also ended up being the best thing the MCU put this year IMO alongside Wakanda Forever and Werewolf by Night."

—iamrey2771

Where to watch: Disney+

2. The Bear

Disney+

"I avoided it for a while because the plot seemed dull but I ended up loving it. Now I can't wait for season two!

—dontdrinkmytea

"It has moments of incredible tension but the whole show is stitched together with humour and heart. I saw it as something to throw on in the background and it quickly became one of my favourite shows of the year!"

–bendzialdowski

Where to watch: Disney+

3. Top Gun: Maverick

Paramount Pictures

"I thought it was gonna be really overhyped and cheesy like the original. I basically put off watching it until two weeks ago. I was very, very wrong."

—ripcharlieswan

Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV or Amazon

4. They/Them

Peacock

"I’d heard bad things about it and went into planning to cringe and criticise it with my husband. But we both liked it! The premise sets you up to be agitated: a gay conversion camp. Everything feels off to start, but each scene is increasingly unsettling, to downright intense. 

Kevin Bacon plays a really sinister character. The characters were all excellent, really well-developed and interesting, and not just a bunch of stereotypes. I thought it was a great slow burn!"

—am301394wne

Where to watch: Peacock

5. The Sandman

Netflix

"It was just amazing from start to finish, I was hooked and can't wait to see the next series!"

—neonfluff

Where to watch: Netflix

6. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"Marvel movies have been hit or miss lately, and sequels tend to struggle with living up to the hype of the first film. Not to mention Chadwick's passing meant the loss of the titular character and it's a big struggle to find the right replacement.

But WF blew me away. Everything about it was perfect, and it managed to not only recapture the love and passion of the first film; but magnify it. It surpassed all expectations, and was just truly a beautiful, stunning film to see."

—redwulfgirl

Where to watch: Cinemas 

7. Derry Girls Season 3

Channel 4

"I was concerned that Derry Girls wouldn't be able to end its fantastic run in a satisfactory way, but as it turns out, I had nothing to be worried about! The third and final season is so brilliant, and a superb way to round off a one-of-a-kind show."

–sam_cleal

Where to watch: All 4, Netflix, Sky

8. Do Revenge

Netflix

"We left the golden era of teen comedies ages ago, but Do Revenge deserves a spot in the hall of fame. I was expecting it to be unoriginal but all the references and Easter eggs were so cleverly placed, and the twists? Iconic. It’s already a classic in my eyes."

–hanifahrahman

Where to watch: Netflix

9. A League of Their Own

Prime Video

"I was cautious as a lifelong fan of the film, but the series far exceeded any expectations I had. The focus on the stories we didn’t get to hear about in the 1992 film quickly made the show one of my all-time favourites, especially as a queer individual who is so used to subpar and queer-baity representation."

—duct_tape_heart

Where to watch: Prime Video 

10. Nope

Universal Pictures

"I had high expectations for this movie, and it literally went above and beyond them. Jordan Peele has made two masterpieces, but to me, this one exceeds them both."

—catperez

Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV, Amazon

11. Bodies Bodies Bodies

A24

"I thought it was going to be just a bunch of Gen X or Millennials trying and failing at embodying Gen Z but it turned out to be a hilarious slasher with some gore and twists I didn't expect."

—staceypine

Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV, Amazon

12. Andor

Disney+

"After the colossal disappointments that were Book of Boba Fett and Kenobi, I was bracing myself for another major letdown. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised with one of the best action TV shows I’ve watched recently. It’s absolutely fantastic and deserves all the praise in the world."

—321missmaximoff

"I’m afraid people are missing out because of the blandness of recent Star Wars shows. Andor feels like it has much more in-universe naturalism and stakes."

—benp417c7d533

Where to watch: Disney+

13. Stranger Things

Netflix

"I think I thought of watching it a couple of years ago but never actually started it. I watched all four seasons about three months ago and I found myself on the edge of my seat more than once! Truly an amazing show ESPECIALLY the last season!"

—aries97

Where to watch: Netflix

14. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Lionsgate

"Nic Cage playing Nic Cage is something I never knew how much I needed. Honestly, his and Pedro Pascal's on-screen energy was frankly hilarious, as was the bizarre plot. It exceeded my expectations, not that I really know what they were, and turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable film."

–casualgem30

Where to watch: Prime Video 

15. The Midnight Club

Netflix

"Despite Mike Flanagan's fondness for using the same cast members over and over again, the age of the leads means he had to seek out lots of newcomers, and each and every one of them killed it. 

It was a more straightforward adaptation than he'd done previously, but the screenwriting was still excellent. I was wary about the pilot setting the record for the number of jump scares in a single episode, but it was brilliantly lampshaded."

—dingospleen

Where to watch: Netflix

16. Vengeance

Universal Pictures

"I just happened upon it while killing time one afternoon, and didn't expect much of it, just BJ Novak playing a Ryan-from-The Office-like character, but I was blown away. This was an excellent movie, with much more emotional depth than I was prepared for, and easily the best performance I've ever seen from Ashton Kutcher."

—jrmanley0

Where to watch: Rent on Amazon

17. Everything Everywhere All At Once

A24

"I had no real idea what I was walking into when I went to see this film, and I honestly couldn't have enjoyed it more. It makes you cry with laughter, cry with sadness, it shocks you, and it's also visually stunning. I wish I could unwatch it so I could see it for the first time again!"

–bendzialdowski

Where to watch: Prime Video 

18. She-Hulk

Disney+

"I avoided it cause of all the hate I heard and as an MCU super fan, I didn't want to be disappointed. But my sister convinced me to try it and not to expect it to be like all the other MCU stuff, and I have to say that I liked it.

It’s silly, light, and funny – I don’t take it seriously. Oh yeah, there are tons of mistakes and room for improvement, but please – Dardevil's walk of no shame and the episode with Madisynn is *chef's kiss*! Not perfect, not for everyone (which is fine), but it is fun and different."

—luthy_one

"I knew I liked the actress already from watching Orphan Black but I was kind of unsure about the story of She-Hulk. I wasn’t expecting it to be so funny! I love that she breaks the fourth wall so many times, it’s a clever show. I loved it. I would love to see Jennifer Walters in more Marvel content."

—panda_13

Where to watch: Disney+

19. REBOOT

Hulu

"It is outstanding! WOW. All the actors are on top of their game, the writing is amazing and it is so creative."

—jamesarthurwrites

Where to watch: Disney+

20. The Man From Toronto

Sony Pictures Releasing

"I laughed my ass off during the movie, so much funnier than I thought."

—s463b03bd4

Where to watch: Netflix 

21. The Greatest Beer Run Ever

Apple Studios

"My husband made me watch it when I had zero interest. I'm so glad I caved and watched it, it was so much funnier than I expected and surprisingly heart-wrenching."

—beckichino

Where to watch: Apple TV Plus

22. Prey

Disney+

"For being in the Predator franchise, Prey was phenomenal!"

—audreyt4fe9df5f9

"I’ve never liked anything to do with the predator series, but Prey was excellent."

—panda_13

Where to watch: Disney+

Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity. 

Don't forget to let us know the films and TV shows that you were pleasantly surprised by in 2022 in the comments below. Want to be featured in similar BuzzFeed posts? Be sure to follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter.