There has been a lot that I have seen, but there are a few that I may have missed.
Honorable Mentions: First Reformed, The Death of Stalin, Disobedience, RBG, Deadpool 2, Tully, Love Simon, Incredibles 2, and Thoroughbreds.
Starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams
US Release: 23 February 2018
I did not get a chance to experience Game Night in theaters when it was initially released. This out-of-nowhere box office success has a great cast including Bateman and McAdams, as well as Kyle Chandler and Jesse Plemons.
Centered around a sibling rivalry that goes awry when a murder-mystery game night theme becomes real, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but also has great set design and isn't too long that it overstays its welcome. I'm glad I didn't miss it because Game Night is my favorite comedy of 2018.
Starring Chadwick Boseman and Micheal B. Jordan
US Release Date: 16 February 2018
The first of two MCU films to make my Top 10 favorites, Black Panther continued Phase 3 where its 2017 predecessors Guardians 2, Spider-Man Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok left off.
There is so much to love about Black Panther, whether it be its full-fledged introduction of the title character, a villain in Killmonger (Jordan) that we can sympathize with, or its strong female presence from Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, and especially Letitia Wright as Surri. Ryan Coogler directed an amazing film, but his writing made us feel more invested than any fight sequence could.
Starring Fred and Joanne Rogers
US Release Date: 8th June 2018
2018 is turning out to be the year of stellar documentaries with the likes of RBG and The Gospel According to Andre, and the Fred Roger's doc Won't You Be My Neighbor tops that list of my favorite documentary of 2018.
Documentaries have a line they have to tread that they usually don't reveal the warts of the character they are studying. It deals with a lot of touchy subject matter in terms of race relations and current events but does so with a light hand. A truly touching films that will have you laughing and crying by the end for all the right reasons.
Starring Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac
US Release Date: 23 February 2018
Director Alex Garland has directed his second consecutive sci-fi masterpiece with Annihilation, adapted from Jeff VanderMeer's 2014 novel.
Saying this film is visually stunning would be an understatement. The set designs and cinematography are near flawless, and this is another February 2018 release that touts a strong female cast that includes Portman, Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, and Tuva Novotny. The ending may leave people scratching their heads, but so did Garland's debut Ex Machina.
Starring every MCU hero not named Ant-Man or Hawkeye
US Release Date: 27 April 2018
Usually, movies that go in with this much hype lead to nothing but disappointment, but Avengers Infinity War proved that the hype was real.
With a film this packed, it's hard to say who were the standouts in terms of heroes. However, this is the film that kicked off the Summer of Brolin, and his portrayal of Uber-Villain Thanos gave of something we could really sink our teeth into. Much like Killmonger in Black Panther, the MCU is finally showing us that they can do bad guys right.
Starring Matilda Lutz and Kevin Janssens
US Release Date: 11 May 2018
You may be asking yourself, "Hey MovieBirb, how could a movie centered a rape-revenge plot be considered a favorite". My answer? This film kicks all the ass.
I am normally not a fan of movies where the mindset is "start movie, turn off brain". If you don't turn off your brain with this one, you're going to hate it. However, Lutz as the victim-turned-ass kicker is amazing, and first-time director Coralie Fargeat gave us a spectacle of epic proportions. The bloodshed in this movie would make Tarantino blush.
Starring Bryan Cranston and Edward Norton
US Release Date: 23 March 2018
Wes Anderson doesn't do these stop-motion animated films enough. Much like his first The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Isle of Dogs is funny, heart-warming, and in true Anderson form, a little quirky.
The voice cast really makes this film along with Anderson's script. The list of credits is long (you know if you've seen the trailers), but the best comes from more under-the-radar characters, such as Frances McDormand as the interpreter, and Tilda Swinton as the Oracle.
Starring: Hugh Grant and Sally Hawkins
US Release Date: 12 January 2018
This is another film I didn't see in theaters, but Paddington 2 should be the benchmark for how non-Pixar companies should do family films.
I am sure it helps to see the first before seeing the sequel, but I went into it not seeing the original Paddington and loved every moment. Hugh Grant gets the opportunity to ham up the screen as baddy Phoenix Buchanan, and the visual effects of the film are stunning. This is a film that the entire family can enjoy over and over again, and hopefully, we can all experience a third Paddington sooner than later.
Starring John Krasinski and Emily Blunt
US Release Date: 6 April 2018
My top two were difficult to decide, but the runner-up of my 2018 favorites is the John Krasinski directed A Quiet Place, which he stars in alongside his wife in real life Emily Blunt.
Being parents themselves, you can tell that this was a real passion project for them with the storyline of what would you do to protect your family. It is a fast-paced thrilling movie that does so many things right that horror/thrillers recently somehow can't figure out to do. If it is still in theaters when you read this and you somehow haven't seen it yet, stop reading and go see it. I'll wait patiently.
Starring Toni Collette and Gabriel Bryne
US Release Date: 8 June 2018
There was so much pre-release hype surrounding Hereditary that I had to see this twice just to ensure I was able to grasp the full effect of this film, and I am glad I did.
There is so much to praise about this movie. Toni Collette gives a tour-de-force performance that it would be a crime if she's not nominated for an Oscar. The story is a tight package that you need to need to unravel. The set design makes it feel like you are in one of Annie's miniature models. A true thriller more than a classic horror film, Hereditary is my favorite film thus far in 2018.
So that's my list. What are your thoughts? Do you agree with my picks or are there some films you think should be there instead? Follow me on facebook and instagram and let me know. If you want to know more about the films I have seen, check out my list of 2018 films on letterboxd.
-birb
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