Best Movies of 2018 So Far

It’s that time of year again. We have reached the halfway point of 2018 so it’s time to take a look at the best movies of 2018. Below is a consensus list of our top 10 movies of the year so far.

Now how did we get this list? Myself, along our other contributors (Daniel Azbel, Dylan S. Phillips, Critics Without Credentials, Jason from Jason’s Movie Blog) took our individual top 10 lists and scored each movie from 1 to 10 with our #1 movies getting 10 points and our #10 movies getting 1 point. The 10 movies with the most points make up our list.

1. Annihilation 24points(tie)

As seen through this list, with films like Hereditary, A Quiet Place and Unsane, 2018 is absolutely the year of the genre film. And with Annihilation, our collective favorite of the year at Keith Loves Movies, Alex Garland continues his hot streak with one of the most exhilarating and original films in recent memory. With excellent performances, unforgettably creepy imagery and a brilliant message, Annihilation does everything right, and is absolutely a work of art.

-Daniel Azbel

2. Avengers: Infinity War 24points(tie)

It was the cinematic event that every Marvel fan was waiting for. Avengers: Infinity War brought all the MCU movies together, pitting their almost full roster of well-developed superhero characters against one of the most powerful adversary they have ever faced. The movie was awesome experience, promising not just being a grand blockbuster spectacle, but also a poignant turning point for the franchise. Add in the film’s beautiful visual effects, the Russos’ direction and handling of the enormous project, and the incredible cast of talented actors and actresses of this well-developed pool of characters, and you get the ultimate fruition of superhero movie. When it’s all said and done, Avengers: Infinity War is a massively solid and a tremendously entertaining superhero blockbuster that delivers on its promise; a crowning achievement at being the biggest and most elaborate, and most unprecedented superhero cinematic adventure to date,.

-Jason

3. A Quiet Place 22points

Although gimmicks in film are often used without true justification, in A Quiet Place- silence is golden. Here, John Krasinski has crafted one of the most creative movies of the year, with an extremely tense backdrop and the catch of pure silence to boot. Definitely a highlight in modern horror, this is a film that presented a director/writers voice that we should be seeing lots of in the years to come.

-Daniel Azbel

4. Love, Simon 17points

This is the feel good film of the first half of the year. It is packed full of emotions and helps open the audience’s’ eyes to a world of problems they might have been uneducated in. The story is heartwarming, the characters are easy to relate to and invest in and it will have you crying at least once by the end of it. It teaches us to love ourselves and be who we are and what’s a better message to come out of a film with than that?

-Dylan S. Phillips

5. Tully 16points

Tully was one of the biggest surprises of the year so far for me. I’m admittedly not a huge fan of Diablo Cody, however, her work has matured over the span of her career and with Tully she has finally found a voice that resonated with me as a viewer. It boasts an incredibly strong screenplay that offers a surreal twist in the final act all brought to life by a perfect cast in Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, and Ron Livingston. It’s clever in its paced delivery as the film quietly lulls you into a place of comfortability in thinking that you know exactly what is coming next but just as you are settling in it quickly changes gears and expands into this rapidly evolving story of the extreme lengths that one can go in order to cope with their situation. I was mesmerized at the film’s ability to shift tones so effortlessly and was rewarded for patiently watching until the end.

-Critics Without Credentials

6. Ready Player One 16points

Based on the literary success of Ernest Cline’s novel, Ready Player One was a visual feast for the eyes, bringing a plethora of pop-culture references that populate the motion picture from onset to conclusion. Its film itself shine impressively with its visual presentation and imagery as well as adding an entertaining cinematic endeavour that’s brimming with nostalgia nuances and classic “hero”narrative. All of which is helmed by legendary film director Stephen Spielberg. In the end, the movie may not be Spielberg’s “magnus opus”, but Ready Player One, which definitely has a lot of replay value, is indeed a memorable and noteworthy addition to Spielberg’s catalogue of films.

-Jason

7. Hereditary 15points

So maybe it doesn’t live up to all the hype, comparing it to some of the best horror movies ever made. They aren’t the best for nothing but at the end of the day, this one won’t be too far behind. It may be a horror movie by definition, however in reality, it was more of a strong family drama with horror elements. While not overly scary, some people should still get scared though most will surely get creeped out by the proceedings. What the film does better than most is create a palpable unsettling feeling throughout. What will stand out the most will be its performances, specifically that of Toni Collette. She better get nominated for an Oscar or we riot!!!!

-Keith Noakes

8. Black Panther 13points

Wakanda forever! This film was a cultural phenomenon ever since its release for obvious reasons by offering a different kind of superhero story by offering a different perspective from what we’re used to seeing. While it didn’t make my personal top 10 list, it’s hard to dismiss the ambition on display here behind the fictional African nation of Wakanda, first introduced in Captain America: Civil War. From the excellent cinematography, to the set design, and the costumes, everything was top notch. The story was arguably not the most original and the female characters perhaps overshadow T’Challa but you can’t deny Michael B. Jordan’s performance as one of the best MCU villains, Erik Killmonger.

-Keith Noakes

9. Unsane 10points(tie)

Steven Soderbergh is out of retirement for this one, and this was definitely a solid reason to. Unsane is a masterclass in tension and camp, presenting a uniquely shot and thrilling film that not only is a great commentary on mental health, but also a nail bitingly tense experience. Not only that, but we have truly reached peak Claire Foy here!

-Daniel Azbel

10. Incredibles 2 10points(tie)

No matter what comes out over the next few months, this is the big summer action movie of 2018. Not only does Incredibles 2 live up to the hype and expectations of its excruciatingly long 14 year wait, but it even exceeds them and proves to be the best Pixar sequel outside of a film with Toy Story in the title. Its layered story is not only action-packed and hilarious, but the themes it tackles allow for a thought-provoking and enjoyable watch for the whole family. Pixar has raised the bar.

-Dylan S. Phillips

11. Chappaquiddick 10points(tie)

From the first trailer, I knew I wanted to see this film simply based upon its cast. What made this one of my favorite movies of the year so far was its incredibly disciplined storytelling that slowly escalated with each changing scene. All the while, the audience is left with their own thoughts as we are forced to watch someone clearly conduct manslaughter and get away with it. Over time, we have been conditioned to always expect the bad guy to be served justice at some point, but Chappaquiddick never hints at that reprieve. For me, the film played like a slow and steady horror movie that once started, kept gaining momentum right up until the very last scene to the point where I could hardly sit still in my seat at the thought of this person getting away with everything and we are helpless and forced to watch.

-Critics Without Credentials
Honorable Mentions

12. First Reformed 8points(tie)

13. Eight Grade 8points(tie)

14. Beirut 8points(tie)

Here are our individual top 10 lists:

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.