17 Movies That Blew Us Away in 2018

"Take your boring, stuffy period pieces and throw them out the window! The Favourite has all the makings of an epic and sprawling historical romp: it takes place in 18th century England, during the time of Queen Anne, and it's filled with elaborate costumes, jaw-dropping set design, and even very British accents. The one thing that sets it apart from other such films, though, is Yorgos Lanthimos's complete willingness to make everything absolutely ridiculous. The result is something that feels much truer to reality (regardless of whether or not it actually is). Complex, catty women who are stabbing each other in the back and flinging legendary insults, impeccable comedic situations, lesbian subtext . . . I could go on, but I would much rather you rush to the theatre and see it immediately." — Ryan Roschke, Staff Writer

"Would any end of year list be complete without Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born? The answer is a hard, enthusiastic NO, since the film is not only a moving drama, but also a full-blown pop culture phenomenon. Despite being a remake of a remake, the 2018 update to the classic tale of a jaded, alcoholic rocker stumbling upon a fresh new talent and rocketing her to stardom still finds ways to break new ground. As Ally, the titular star, Lady Gaga shows off an acting talent that many didn't realise she had. And her voice? Well, hopefully I don't need to tell you how great it is." — Quinn Keaney, Entertainment Editor

"When I first saw director Debra Granik's Winter's Bone in 2010, I was floored by her delicate touch with such course, grim material, and the way she was still able to eek out the curiosity and humanity of her characters. The same can be said of 2018's Leave No Trace, which stars Ben Foster as a veteran suffering with PTSD who decides to raise his daughter, Tom (Thomasin McKenzie, a wildly gifted young actress), in a remote area of Forest Park, a lush nature reserve near Portland, Oregon. Their tranquil way of life is destroyed when a jogger spots Tom in the forest, setting off a chain of events that threatens to keep the pair apart forever. What follows is gut-wrenching, to be sure, but the deeply raw, moving story unfolds with grace." — QK

"This film set the bar unbelievably high early on this year when it came to onscreen representation. Because of my intersectional identity as a woman of colour, seeing this cinematic masterpiece and witnessing the beauty of black culture in theatres was incredibly important to me. The movie came right around the time a certain someone made offhanded remarks about African countries that perpetuated a notion of black inferiority. But Black Panther completely flips the script by depicting Wakanda, an African country I would absolutely love to live in, as a beautiful and technologically advanced land that has preserved its richness and balance by remaining hidden in plain sight.

Huh, an African nation is secretly far more superior in resources and intellect than the rest of the world because it's untouched by colonial influence — see the irony? The Wakandans living and thriving in their own land, and throwing a bit of shade toward the "primitive" ways of the rest of the world, gave me a sense of pride in my culture that I honestly had never really felt while watching a movie before." — Brea Cubit, Editorial Assistant

"Annihilation: I don't even know where to begin with this one! The film, adapted from Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy, is a thrilling masterpiece that's rich with stunning visuals, great thematic depth, and some truly chilling sequences of terror. It's not often a horror movie affects me on a visceral level while also making a larger point. You're definitely going to have to thaw out from this one." — RR

"Eighth Grade is one of those movies that left me sitting in the theatre chair for a solid two minutes, because all I could do was sit in my feelings and say, 'Wow.' It was impossibly relatable, insanely funny, perfectly awkward, and so, so heartwarming. I kind of can't believe how much Bo Burnham hits the nail on the head with every single reference and example of what it feels like to be in middle school. And Elsie Fisher's performance? Get outta here. Phenomenal." — Erin Cullum, Trending and Viral Features Editor

"If Beale Street Could Talk is such an intimate movie, I felt like a voyeur watching it. Everything about the movie is soft — the characters, the voices, and the devastation it brings you. I got so lost in the sheer beauty of the clothing, the people, and the visceral love between KiKi Layne and Stephan James's Tish and Fonny, that when the harsh reality of their situation would come back into focus, I found myself crushed under how helpless they felt. Barry Jenkins and co. have woven such a rich world that it's impossible not to find yourself drawn into every word uttered, every soul-piercing gaze exchanged. The attention to detail is obvious, from the way streetlights illuminate the dark streets of the city to the lush colours of Puerto Rico.

One scene that gets me every time I think about it is between Layne, James, and Brian Tyree Henry. Henry's portrayal of a man fresh from prison is at once joyful and bleak, his description of the treatment he suffered at the hands of his jailers terrifying in how easily it's imagined. Everything and everyone in this film is quietly beautiful and heartbreaking in the best way." — Mekishana Pierre, Assistant Entertainment Editor

"John Krasinski's sci-fi horror masterpiece, A Quiet Place, made me snap to attention after its shocking first death, and I remained 100 percent engrossed from that point on. Knowing that no character is off limits from the deadly, sound-hunting aliens (not even the small children) raises the stakes in such a significant way that it's impossible not to sit rapt as you watch Krasinski and real-life wife Emily Blunt try to protect their offspring from the dystopian horrors lurking just outside. One of the many refreshing aspects of the film is it doesn't spend precious minutes explaining how the aliens came to earth, how many other survivors are out there, or even what's up with the government — it drops us straight into the action and ratchets up the tension with each scene until you find yourself gasping for air. Everything about the film is excellent, but Blunt in particular gives a jaw-dropping performance." — QK

"While Ocean's 8 is a fun addition to the all-female heist genre, the ensemble cast's tough-as-nails performances elevate Widows into being not only the best heist movie of the year, but one of the best movies of the year, period. I mean, how could I possibly pick a favourite character? Viola Davis's Veronica is intelligent beyond belief, the owner of the most perfect dog alive, and ready to take down anyone and everyone who gets in her way. Elizabeth Debicki's raw vulnerability as Alice? Devastating (and devastatingly good). Even the scare-you-sh*tless villains — Brian Tyree Henry and Daniel Kaluuya's Manning brothers — are painfully good. If you need me, I'll be sending a personal thank you note to director Steve McQueen for bringing this film into existence." — QK

"Listen, I've got love for Marvel, I really do. But Incredibles 2 is easily the best superhero film of the year (please don't tell Thanos). 14 whole years passed between the first and second instalments of the Pixar family-friendly action franchise, and clearly writer/director Brad Bird used that time wisely. The sequel is slick, hilarious, feminist as f*ck, and chock full of excellent voice performances from Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and the perfectly cast Catherine Keener. Let's hope we don't have to wait another two decades for a third." — QK

"There's a big reason this charming dramedy has been getting award show buzz, and it's two words long: Regina Hall. OK actually it's six words long: Regina Hall AND Haley Lu Richardson. OK, OK — there's no way I'll ever be able to narrow down the best performance; they're all that good. The Girls Trip star (who can do no wrong, let's be real) has already taken home the best actress award at the New York Film Critics Circle for playing Lisa, the manager of a Hooters-like sports bar who has her faith in the world tested at every turn. The movie, directed by Andrew Bujalski, will sweep you off your feet while also reminding you to have empathy for those around you. Fingers crossed it gets the award season love it so deserves." — QK

"Spike Lee's latest joint, BlacKkKlansman, also happens to be one of his greatest. The film, based on the true story of Ron Stallworth's '70s-era infiltration of the KKK, is a master class in examining the cultural and institutional racism that's been running rampant in America since . . . well, forever. It's the film 2018 so needed and deserved, and Adam Driver and John David Washington's stand-out performances are just the cherry on top." — QK

"Unsurprisingly, this year's biggest tear-jerking rom-com, Crazy Rich Asians, pulled at my heartstrings in more ways than one. I'm not the biggest romantic-comedy fan, but somehow the film turned me into a giant puddle of tears not only because of the love story but also because of its nuanced depiction of Asian men and women. The film challenges the stale — and perfunctory — Hollywood portrayal of Asians as geeks, perpetual foreigners, and other stereotypes. Movies like this matter because they broaden the scope of what romance looks like, which makes room for more narratives and voices that are more reflective of the world. And that empowers people to embrace who they are, something I can definitely get behind." — BC

"It's got a pretty simple concept that, in the end, is kind of silly. But Game Night has an ace in the hole, so to speak. (Heh.) It's grounded by great performances that really sell the jokes and the story. In the end, this one has more heart and unique jokes than you think it will." — RR

"When I first saw the premise for Searching — a man (John Cho) searches for his missing daughter by going through her laptop, with all the action occurring on the screen of the computer itself through YouTube videos, Facetime conversations, home movies, and texting apps — I couldn't help but be reminded of other not-so-great stabs at similar narrative devices (*cough* Friend Request *cough*). Fortunately Aneesh Chaganty's digital age thriller is not only effectively chilling and able to deliver a spectacular twist, but it's also unexpectedly emotional. The first sequence focusing on the wife of Cho's character, which kicks off the film, had me crying within a few minutes." — QK