State Theatre announces top 10 movies of 2022, previews year ahead

“Top Gun: Maverick,” the action film that featured Tom Cruise’s return as a top naval aviator, finished 2022 as the top-grossing movie at U.S. box offices.

That held true at Sioux Falls’ State Theatre too. The State has released its top 10 movies for last year, and “Top Gun: Maverick” topped the list.

The only other new release in 2022 to crack the State’s top 10 is “Coda,” which had its primary release on Apple TV+ but won the Oscar for best film along with best supporting actor and best adapted screenplay.

Others on the State’s top 10 list include previous releases that drew in families and Star Wars fans.

The mix of new and familiar will continue this year, said Allison Weiland, the State’s executive director.

“One thing about being an independent cinema, we get to curate what we’re bringing to our screen,” Weiland said. “It’s one of the little benefits we can do.”

The State has been open two full years since its resumed full-time showing of films Dec. 11, 2020. Last year, 34,488 moviegoers saw 204 movies at the nonprofit cinema, which is continuing to renovate the historic theater. The building opened in downtown Sioux Falls in 1926 and closed in 1991.

The top offerings last year are a mix of Christmas and Halloween classics like “Elf” and “Hocus Pocus,” the Star Wars trilogy and the new releases.

“The one that’s kind of funny to me is ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,’” Weiland said. “It’s been on the top list both years.”

The State will continue mixing new releases with classic movies and offering various events and a repertory program, Weiland said. With Oscar season approaching, she plans to bring in films that won’t be seen anywhere else, such as the Oscar short list for best foreign films. Last weekend, the State offered “EO,” a film about a donkey and Poland’s official entry as best international feature film for the upcoming Academy Awards. “We just heard amazing things about it,” she said.

This month, the State also will pair with Andy Heller, host of the podcast “Fat Dude Digs Flicks.” The Sioux Falls man often chats with his guests about movies that had a major impact on their lives.

“He curated a variety of movies that need to be seen on the big screen,” Weiland said.

According to the State’s email featuring coming attractions, it will offer 3D for the first time with a showing of “Friday the 13th: Part 3” on Friday, which, of course, is the 13th.

The State also allows its employees to have a say in the films that are chosen. It’s a perk of working for a nonprofit independent cinema, the executive director said.

“There’s a lot of building left to restore, so come to the movies and support the State Theatre,” she said. “If you haven’t been here yet, we’d love to see you in 2023.”

Last year, the theater announced it was the recipient of a $50,000 Dorothy Day Davenport Grant Award from The Mary Chilton Daughters of the American Revolution Foundation. It’s going to help restore the third floor, where the vision is to create a central location for private events and corporate meetings. That could include a microcinema with up to 30 seats for private screenings as well as showings programmed by the State Theatre.

Here’s the complete list of the State Theatre’s top 10 movies for 2022.

1. Top Gun: Maverick
2. Elf
3. Finding Nemo
4. Star Wars
5. White Christmas
6. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
7. Coda
8. Hocus Pocus
9. The Empire Strikes Back
10. Return of the Jedi