At this point, it shouldn't be a surprise that the first six months of 2018 brought a bevy of cinematic riches. Critics and bloggers frequently talk about a certain time or a certain year being "great" for movies, but if we're being honest, there will always be stellar movies to discover. The first half of 2018 has been filled with diverse and exciting films, mainstream blockbusters and indie projects that delivered beyond my wildest expectations. Instead of doing a report of the 10 best and 10 worst films at the halfway point of the year (as I've done for the last few years), I've decided to focus on my 15 favorite films from January-June. So without further delay, here's my list of the best movies of 2018 so far!
15. BLOCKERS
Image: Universal/IMDb
Who would've guessed that John Cena would end up being one of the biggest comedy stars of 2018? The wrestler-turned-actor's unexpected comedic chops stole the show in Blockers, director Kay Cannon's fresh spin on the teen sex movie. The parents may be trying to stop the kids from having sex, but they're not the heroes of this story. Proving that execution is the name of the game in the realm of raunchy comedies, Cannon's directorial debut delivers big laughs and a surprising amount of heart. Bolstered by wonderful supporting turns from Kathryn Newton, Ike Barinholtz, and Geraldine Viswanathan, Blockers balances an absurd number of characters and subplots with astonishing ease. It's crude sloppiness crafted with precision and grace. I even laughed at the ridiculous vomit gag!
14. THE TALE
Image: HBO/IMDb
To call The Tale one of the most uncomfortable viewing experiences of 2018 would be a stunning understatement. Jennifer Fox's urgent and devastating examination of her own sexual assault is painful and shockingly frank, even depicting stomach-churning sequences of pedophilia. Many viewers will likely turn away from the bluntness of Fox's film, but those who stick around will find a powerful and illuminating journey, a story about how memory can fail us. With innovative direction and unbelievably touching performances from young Isabelle Nelisse and Laura Dern, The Tale is harrowing, disturbing, and absolutely necessary.
13. A QUIET PLACE
Image: Paramount/IMDb
I wasn't necessarily scared by A Quiet Place, the smash hit directorial debut of TV comedy superstar John Krasinski. But even if I wasn't jumping out of my seat, I found myself entranced by the economy of the thriller, which is as efficient and direct as any film in 2018. An innovative concept, a straight-forward story, clear characterizations- the stunning simplicity and concision of Krasinski's film is even more impressive in a Hollywood environment built on complexity. A relentlessly tense experience for 90 consecutive minutes, A Quiet Place's "let's get to the point" mantra makes it one of the most clever and enjoyable experiments of the year. And it also looks absolutely gorgeous, assisted by the acting talents of Krasinski and Emily Blunt. It gets the job done in spectacular, refreshing fashion.
12. DEADPOOL 2
Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox
We're almost two months removed from the release of Deadpool 2, and I still haven't decided if I like it better than the original. But honestly, that's probably a testament to the strength of this series and this sequel above all else. The follow-up to the 2016 surprise hit is bigger and crazier than its predecessor, but it's also much more heartfelt, dealing with a story that goes in some unexpectedly poignant directions. It's an R-rated Guardians of the Galaxy, made even better thanks to the additions of Josh Brolin's Cable and Zazie Beetz's Domino. Let's not kid ourselves though- Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool still loves blood, guts, and F-bombs more than anything else. And with Atomic Blonde/John Wick director David Leitch behind the camera, this sequel features some of the finest action sequences of the year.
11. GEMINI
Image: NEON/IMDb
Shaky ending aside (though possibly a thematically fitting one), Gemini is something of a modern noir classic, a smooth and luxurious slice of atmospheric brilliance. As a neon-drenched mood piece, Keegan DeWitt's jazzy score and Andrew Reed's gorgeous cinematography make Gemini one of the most beautiful films of the year, mixing the old school and the new school in a stunning way. But writer/director Aaron Katz takes this one to the next level with an ingenious screenplay, tackling fame, deception, and the difference between artifice and reality in a surprisingly meta, slyly funny way. Lola Kirke and Zoe Kravitz lead the way in a movie that flips the neo-noir upside down, announcing Katz as a major talent.
10. THE DEATH OF STALIN
Image: IFC/IMDb
The Death of Stalin may just be the most purely funny movie in a shockingly good year for comedies. Although if I'm being honest, calling the latest project from Veep creator Armando Iannucci a "comedy" feels reductive in a way. This is a biting satire of the highest order, featuring humor so dark that many viewers will likely shy away if they're not laughing maniacally. A scathing look at Communist Russia in the days after the death of its most infamous leader, Iannucci's film has no problem generating laughs from mass executions, but it's also littered with the kind of incidents so crazy that they must be true. Beyond the gut-busting humor of The Death of Stalin, this is a somewhat tragic look at cyclical nature of Communism, an amusing study of a group of craven, soulless individuals who will do anything for even a modicum of power. This movie is funny as hell, but Iannucci has more on his mind than mere jokes.
9. REVENGE
Image: NEON/IMDb
Revenge is the kind of film that will knock you flat on your ass. Coralie Fargeat's debut feature is a work of uncompromising violence and stylish beauty, an intense, painful, and utterly cathartic tale of vengeance. Led by the unbelievably physical performance of Matilda Lutz, who throws herself headfirst into a role that requires her to go to some dark and terrifying places, this French horror film thrives on its relentless, gripping intensity. But despite some early sequences of sexual violence and stomach-churning brutality (an impalement scene will send your jaw to the floor), Fargeat flips the entire film upside down, turning a story of objectification and cruelty into an epic, insanely gory revenge fantasy. Watching Lutz's Jen hunt her abusers one-by-one is thrilling, and Fargeat's stylish direction announces her as one of the most talented genre filmmakers in a very long time.
8. FIRST REFORMED
Image courtesy of A24
Paul Schrader's First Reformed is a remarkable descent into existential crisis and profound despair, the kind of precise spiritual and environmental examination that feels all too timely in 2018. This is a film that asks big and unanswerable questions about the mind of God and the consequences of humanity, and it does so in the most methodical, chilling way possible. At the center of it all is the phenomenal Ethan Hawke as Reverend Ernst Toller, an alcoholic minister grappling with the pollution of his body, his church, and the planet he calls home. Set in the dead of a New York winter, First Reformed presents terrifying contrasts between purity and encroaching darkness, slowly approaching an act of violence that could shake this sleepy town to its core. It's a mesmerizing work of composition, a haunting and eerie experience that will linger in your mind for days.
7. READY PLAYER ONE
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
This is undoubtedly the most divisive pick on my list, but I fully stand by it. Ready Player One features Steven Spielberg working in a mode that I thought he abandoned long ago, creating a wondrous, technologically innovative blockbuster with imagination to spare. This is not a profound or complex movie, and if you're looking for any depth from the characters, I have some very bad news for you. But Ready Player One is an expansive and magical journey for all 140 minutes, a sugar rush of a film that delivers some of the most spectacular action scenes in recent memory. A trip to the Overlook Hotel, a race that feels uncontrollable and thrilling, an all-out assault of a finale- this is eye-popping, jaw-dropping, heart-pounding stuff from the man who created the modern blockbuster. Put simply, this is a mind-blowing spectacle of pure Spielbergian magic, and I adore every second of it.
6. GAME NIGHT
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
There's no doubt about it- Game Night is the surprise of the year thus far. This is one of the finest studio comedies of the decade, announcing the arrival of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein as a directorial duo to watch. It's the rare modern comedy with actual jokes, punchlines and gags with setups and payoffs that work beautifully. It also has the benefit of a magnificent ensemble- the ever-reliable pairing of Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams (the film's stealth MVP), a sleazy Kyle Chandler, an awkwardly funny Jesse Plemons, and a stellar turn from rising star Billy Magnussen. Daley and Goldstein keep the whole thing chugging along, giving the film a much-needed dose of directorial style (I love the little trick that shows the settings as game pieces) and using Cliff Martinez's techno score to great effect. Game Night is a blast from start to finish, and I find myself admiring it more and more as the year goes on.
5. YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
Image: Amazon/IMDb
In the final scene of Lynne Ramsay's masterful and disturbing You Were Never Really Here, Joaquin Phoenix's Joe shoots himself in the middle of a diner. Blood splatters everywhere, getting on the food, the walls, and even the customers. But nobody notices. Life goes on, time moves forward- the waitress keeps serving food while she's covered in blood. Of course, it's not real. But it's a stunning way to culminate one of the most daring films of the year, a visceral thriller that explores the tortured mind of a brutal hitman. Ramsay's intimate style makes this a paralyzing journey, a film that suffocates the viewer with Jonny Greenwood's ever-intensifying score and a truly terrifying soundscape. And then there's Phoenix, whose physicality and emotional range are never anything less than astonishing. An empathetic and painful look at mental illness, You Were Never Really Here is a grueling and breathtaking piece of pure cinema.
4. BLACK PANTHER
Image: Marvel/IMDb
Black Panther is undoubtedly the cultural event of the year, and it further cements Ryan Coogler as one of the great populist filmmakers of his generation. This film is technically part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it's a testament to the work by Coogler and co-screenwriter Joe Robert Cole that Black Panther feels like something else entirely. Even in a year that brought us the biggest Marvel movie in history, this is the studio's first genuine epic, an examination of culture, family, and legacy that just so happens to be an enormous popcorn blockbuster. Wakanda itself is a thing of beauty, so rich and vibrant and full of life, a world that I can't wait to explore more in future years. But perhaps the most compelling aspect of all is the conflict between Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa and Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger, an ideological battle that prompts debate and offers no easy answers. Mixing the sweeping grandeur of a royal drama with the slick thrills of a spy thriller, Black Panther is the most important Hollywood film of 2018.
3. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR
Image: Marvel/IMDb
I wouldn't argue with anyone who claims that Black Panther is superior to Avengers: Infinity War. Coogler's film is a singular vision, a significant and thrilling blockbuster that offered us something we'd never really seen before. Infinity War is the culmination of several individual visions, and things can get a little messy. But I would be lying if I said that I wasn't fully captivated by this third chapter in the Avengers saga, which pits Earth's Mightiest Heroes in a battle for their lives against Josh Brolin's Thanos. Infinity War delivers moments of thunderous applause and sequences of shocking loss, prompting cheers, tears, and plenty of much-needed laughter. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, this monumental, relentlessly intense project balances spectacular action with maybe a dozen storylines, somehow doing justice to each character in the process. It's a brilliant juggling act, and it stands as maybe the only fully satisfying modern blockbuster to end with such a gigantic cliff-hanger. May 2019 can't come soon enough.
2. PADDINGTON 2
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
On a stylistic level, Paddington 2 is the greatest movie Wes Anderson never made. Directed by Paul King (who also helmed the first chapter), this is a colorful cornucopia of quirky energy and visual splendor, a whimsical film that constantly delivers pure doses of joy. Taking place in an alternate version of London, Paddington 2 is a feast of humor and warmth from start to finish, moving at a mile-a-minute until the very end. But it's also a beacon of kindness in an unkind world, highlighted by the unending optimism of the movie's central character. Ben Whishaw's Paddington is such a gentle and lovable individual, and his mantra of "If you're kind and polite, the world will be right" is perfect. Underneath all the jokes and inventive action scenes lies an unexpected tear-jerker, a movie that has the ability to touch your emotions in a way you won't see coming. Paddington 2 is a delight, one of the finest children's films of the decade.
1. HEREDITARY
Image courtesy of A24
After a dynamite debut at Sundance, Hereditary carried the weight of huge expectations when it arrived in theaters in June. Somehow, Ari Aster's debut film managed to surpass those lofty hopes, delivering a horror show that is as dramatically thrilling as it is genuinely, truly terrifying. This is a horror film for the ages, an intricate puzzle of a supernatural drama that will get under your skin in a major way. Hereditary is unshakable, digging into its nightmarish treatment of family before revealing a demonic turn that will rock your world. The twists are shocking, the performances by Toni Collette and Alex Wolff are thrilling, and the finale is a work of relentless, gasp-inducing terror. Hereditary obviously won't be to everyone's liking, but for those who love meticulous horror that blends macabre surrealism and uncomfortable reality with such dark, uncompromising precision, Aster's film is something of a masterpiece. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, no matter how hard I try. This one is seared into my brain forever.
And that's it for now! Here's to a great second half of the year.
15. BLOCKERS
Image: Universal/IMDb
Who would've guessed that John Cena would end up being one of the biggest comedy stars of 2018? The wrestler-turned-actor's unexpected comedic chops stole the show in Blockers, director Kay Cannon's fresh spin on the teen sex movie. The parents may be trying to stop the kids from having sex, but they're not the heroes of this story. Proving that execution is the name of the game in the realm of raunchy comedies, Cannon's directorial debut delivers big laughs and a surprising amount of heart. Bolstered by wonderful supporting turns from Kathryn Newton, Ike Barinholtz, and Geraldine Viswanathan, Blockers balances an absurd number of characters and subplots with astonishing ease. It's crude sloppiness crafted with precision and grace. I even laughed at the ridiculous vomit gag!
14. THE TALE
Image: HBO/IMDb
To call The Tale one of the most uncomfortable viewing experiences of 2018 would be a stunning understatement. Jennifer Fox's urgent and devastating examination of her own sexual assault is painful and shockingly frank, even depicting stomach-churning sequences of pedophilia. Many viewers will likely turn away from the bluntness of Fox's film, but those who stick around will find a powerful and illuminating journey, a story about how memory can fail us. With innovative direction and unbelievably touching performances from young Isabelle Nelisse and Laura Dern, The Tale is harrowing, disturbing, and absolutely necessary.
13. A QUIET PLACE
Image: Paramount/IMDb
I wasn't necessarily scared by A Quiet Place, the smash hit directorial debut of TV comedy superstar John Krasinski. But even if I wasn't jumping out of my seat, I found myself entranced by the economy of the thriller, which is as efficient and direct as any film in 2018. An innovative concept, a straight-forward story, clear characterizations- the stunning simplicity and concision of Krasinski's film is even more impressive in a Hollywood environment built on complexity. A relentlessly tense experience for 90 consecutive minutes, A Quiet Place's "let's get to the point" mantra makes it one of the most clever and enjoyable experiments of the year. And it also looks absolutely gorgeous, assisted by the acting talents of Krasinski and Emily Blunt. It gets the job done in spectacular, refreshing fashion.
12. DEADPOOL 2
Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox
We're almost two months removed from the release of Deadpool 2, and I still haven't decided if I like it better than the original. But honestly, that's probably a testament to the strength of this series and this sequel above all else. The follow-up to the 2016 surprise hit is bigger and crazier than its predecessor, but it's also much more heartfelt, dealing with a story that goes in some unexpectedly poignant directions. It's an R-rated Guardians of the Galaxy, made even better thanks to the additions of Josh Brolin's Cable and Zazie Beetz's Domino. Let's not kid ourselves though- Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool still loves blood, guts, and F-bombs more than anything else. And with Atomic Blonde/John Wick director David Leitch behind the camera, this sequel features some of the finest action sequences of the year.
11. GEMINI
Image: NEON/IMDb
Shaky ending aside (though possibly a thematically fitting one), Gemini is something of a modern noir classic, a smooth and luxurious slice of atmospheric brilliance. As a neon-drenched mood piece, Keegan DeWitt's jazzy score and Andrew Reed's gorgeous cinematography make Gemini one of the most beautiful films of the year, mixing the old school and the new school in a stunning way. But writer/director Aaron Katz takes this one to the next level with an ingenious screenplay, tackling fame, deception, and the difference between artifice and reality in a surprisingly meta, slyly funny way. Lola Kirke and Zoe Kravitz lead the way in a movie that flips the neo-noir upside down, announcing Katz as a major talent.
10. THE DEATH OF STALIN
Image: IFC/IMDb
The Death of Stalin may just be the most purely funny movie in a shockingly good year for comedies. Although if I'm being honest, calling the latest project from Veep creator Armando Iannucci a "comedy" feels reductive in a way. This is a biting satire of the highest order, featuring humor so dark that many viewers will likely shy away if they're not laughing maniacally. A scathing look at Communist Russia in the days after the death of its most infamous leader, Iannucci's film has no problem generating laughs from mass executions, but it's also littered with the kind of incidents so crazy that they must be true. Beyond the gut-busting humor of The Death of Stalin, this is a somewhat tragic look at cyclical nature of Communism, an amusing study of a group of craven, soulless individuals who will do anything for even a modicum of power. This movie is funny as hell, but Iannucci has more on his mind than mere jokes.
9. REVENGE
Image: NEON/IMDb
Revenge is the kind of film that will knock you flat on your ass. Coralie Fargeat's debut feature is a work of uncompromising violence and stylish beauty, an intense, painful, and utterly cathartic tale of vengeance. Led by the unbelievably physical performance of Matilda Lutz, who throws herself headfirst into a role that requires her to go to some dark and terrifying places, this French horror film thrives on its relentless, gripping intensity. But despite some early sequences of sexual violence and stomach-churning brutality (an impalement scene will send your jaw to the floor), Fargeat flips the entire film upside down, turning a story of objectification and cruelty into an epic, insanely gory revenge fantasy. Watching Lutz's Jen hunt her abusers one-by-one is thrilling, and Fargeat's stylish direction announces her as one of the most talented genre filmmakers in a very long time.
8. FIRST REFORMED
Image courtesy of A24
Paul Schrader's First Reformed is a remarkable descent into existential crisis and profound despair, the kind of precise spiritual and environmental examination that feels all too timely in 2018. This is a film that asks big and unanswerable questions about the mind of God and the consequences of humanity, and it does so in the most methodical, chilling way possible. At the center of it all is the phenomenal Ethan Hawke as Reverend Ernst Toller, an alcoholic minister grappling with the pollution of his body, his church, and the planet he calls home. Set in the dead of a New York winter, First Reformed presents terrifying contrasts between purity and encroaching darkness, slowly approaching an act of violence that could shake this sleepy town to its core. It's a mesmerizing work of composition, a haunting and eerie experience that will linger in your mind for days.
7. READY PLAYER ONE
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
This is undoubtedly the most divisive pick on my list, but I fully stand by it. Ready Player One features Steven Spielberg working in a mode that I thought he abandoned long ago, creating a wondrous, technologically innovative blockbuster with imagination to spare. This is not a profound or complex movie, and if you're looking for any depth from the characters, I have some very bad news for you. But Ready Player One is an expansive and magical journey for all 140 minutes, a sugar rush of a film that delivers some of the most spectacular action scenes in recent memory. A trip to the Overlook Hotel, a race that feels uncontrollable and thrilling, an all-out assault of a finale- this is eye-popping, jaw-dropping, heart-pounding stuff from the man who created the modern blockbuster. Put simply, this is a mind-blowing spectacle of pure Spielbergian magic, and I adore every second of it.
6. GAME NIGHT
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
There's no doubt about it- Game Night is the surprise of the year thus far. This is one of the finest studio comedies of the decade, announcing the arrival of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein as a directorial duo to watch. It's the rare modern comedy with actual jokes, punchlines and gags with setups and payoffs that work beautifully. It also has the benefit of a magnificent ensemble- the ever-reliable pairing of Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams (the film's stealth MVP), a sleazy Kyle Chandler, an awkwardly funny Jesse Plemons, and a stellar turn from rising star Billy Magnussen. Daley and Goldstein keep the whole thing chugging along, giving the film a much-needed dose of directorial style (I love the little trick that shows the settings as game pieces) and using Cliff Martinez's techno score to great effect. Game Night is a blast from start to finish, and I find myself admiring it more and more as the year goes on.
5. YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
Image: Amazon/IMDb
In the final scene of Lynne Ramsay's masterful and disturbing You Were Never Really Here, Joaquin Phoenix's Joe shoots himself in the middle of a diner. Blood splatters everywhere, getting on the food, the walls, and even the customers. But nobody notices. Life goes on, time moves forward- the waitress keeps serving food while she's covered in blood. Of course, it's not real. But it's a stunning way to culminate one of the most daring films of the year, a visceral thriller that explores the tortured mind of a brutal hitman. Ramsay's intimate style makes this a paralyzing journey, a film that suffocates the viewer with Jonny Greenwood's ever-intensifying score and a truly terrifying soundscape. And then there's Phoenix, whose physicality and emotional range are never anything less than astonishing. An empathetic and painful look at mental illness, You Were Never Really Here is a grueling and breathtaking piece of pure cinema.
4. BLACK PANTHER
Image: Marvel/IMDb
Black Panther is undoubtedly the cultural event of the year, and it further cements Ryan Coogler as one of the great populist filmmakers of his generation. This film is technically part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it's a testament to the work by Coogler and co-screenwriter Joe Robert Cole that Black Panther feels like something else entirely. Even in a year that brought us the biggest Marvel movie in history, this is the studio's first genuine epic, an examination of culture, family, and legacy that just so happens to be an enormous popcorn blockbuster. Wakanda itself is a thing of beauty, so rich and vibrant and full of life, a world that I can't wait to explore more in future years. But perhaps the most compelling aspect of all is the conflict between Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa and Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger, an ideological battle that prompts debate and offers no easy answers. Mixing the sweeping grandeur of a royal drama with the slick thrills of a spy thriller, Black Panther is the most important Hollywood film of 2018.
3. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR
Image: Marvel/IMDb
I wouldn't argue with anyone who claims that Black Panther is superior to Avengers: Infinity War. Coogler's film is a singular vision, a significant and thrilling blockbuster that offered us something we'd never really seen before. Infinity War is the culmination of several individual visions, and things can get a little messy. But I would be lying if I said that I wasn't fully captivated by this third chapter in the Avengers saga, which pits Earth's Mightiest Heroes in a battle for their lives against Josh Brolin's Thanos. Infinity War delivers moments of thunderous applause and sequences of shocking loss, prompting cheers, tears, and plenty of much-needed laughter. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, this monumental, relentlessly intense project balances spectacular action with maybe a dozen storylines, somehow doing justice to each character in the process. It's a brilliant juggling act, and it stands as maybe the only fully satisfying modern blockbuster to end with such a gigantic cliff-hanger. May 2019 can't come soon enough.
2. PADDINGTON 2
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
On a stylistic level, Paddington 2 is the greatest movie Wes Anderson never made. Directed by Paul King (who also helmed the first chapter), this is a colorful cornucopia of quirky energy and visual splendor, a whimsical film that constantly delivers pure doses of joy. Taking place in an alternate version of London, Paddington 2 is a feast of humor and warmth from start to finish, moving at a mile-a-minute until the very end. But it's also a beacon of kindness in an unkind world, highlighted by the unending optimism of the movie's central character. Ben Whishaw's Paddington is such a gentle and lovable individual, and his mantra of "If you're kind and polite, the world will be right" is perfect. Underneath all the jokes and inventive action scenes lies an unexpected tear-jerker, a movie that has the ability to touch your emotions in a way you won't see coming. Paddington 2 is a delight, one of the finest children's films of the decade.
1. HEREDITARY
Image courtesy of A24
After a dynamite debut at Sundance, Hereditary carried the weight of huge expectations when it arrived in theaters in June. Somehow, Ari Aster's debut film managed to surpass those lofty hopes, delivering a horror show that is as dramatically thrilling as it is genuinely, truly terrifying. This is a horror film for the ages, an intricate puzzle of a supernatural drama that will get under your skin in a major way. Hereditary is unshakable, digging into its nightmarish treatment of family before revealing a demonic turn that will rock your world. The twists are shocking, the performances by Toni Collette and Alex Wolff are thrilling, and the finale is a work of relentless, gasp-inducing terror. Hereditary obviously won't be to everyone's liking, but for those who love meticulous horror that blends macabre surrealism and uncomfortable reality with such dark, uncompromising precision, Aster's film is something of a masterpiece. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, no matter how hard I try. This one is seared into my brain forever.
And that's it for now! Here's to a great second half of the year.
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