The 20 best movies of 2018

17 December 2018 at 0:42 pm

Over 50 films made the Yahoo Movies UK long list, with critically-acclaimed titles such as *Black Panther*, *First Man*, and *Creed II* narrowly missing out on places in the top 20. Click through to find out what made the number 1 spot.

This is more than a film, it’s a feminist manifesto that had me fist pumping in my seat. Loved the aesthetic, the style, the dialogue, the cinematography and the message. (Hanna Flint)

Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep are on top form in Steven Spielberg’s political thriller about the Pentagon Papers and the Washington Post’s determination to publish them. It’s a poignant story of journalistic integrity that came at a time when American needed to be reminded of the importance of a free press.

After 54 years, Mary Poppins finally returned, and it was absolutely worth the wait. Emily Blunt is practically perfect as the super nanny in this neatly updated sequel. With foot-tapping tunes, imaginative animated sequences, and note-perfect emotional beats, it’s an effective companion piece to the much-loved Disney musical, and it may end up winning just as many Oscars as the original.

Steeped in classic cinematic tradition, Cold War features a romance so irresistible, and so timeless, beautifully presented in a striking black and white aesthetic. And yet while so wondrous and beguiling, like any good on-screen love story, this is one tarnished with anguish. Pawel Pawlikowski’s intimate & sweeping masterpiece. (Stefan Pape)

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga sizzle on screen as a drug-addicted rock star and young ingenue who helps get her break into the music industry. Though at times it veers into overly sentimental territory there is a rawness to the performances and cinematography that grips your heart all the way through.

Absolutely gripping film from Lynne Ramsey featuring Joaquin Phoenix’s best performance yet. It’s a tense thriller and a character study of grief, loss, and the lasting traumas of war. Spellbinding. (Scott J Davis)

A strong and thought-provoking debut from Boots Riley that tackles discriminatory class system of America as well as racial discrimination through a pop art lens. Lakeith Stanfield and Armie Hammer are on top form in this Oakland set satire for the YouTube generation.

Spike Lee is back with his textured and provocative brand of filmmaking drama as he tells the story of a black cop who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan. Yes it’s funny where it needs to be, but don’t get it twisted, the film refuses to shy away from the shocking state of racism in America that has been seen since the birth of the nation. That’s where it’s greatness hits hardest and why it won the Grand Prix at Cannes.

A spectacular visual feast that manages to make the familiar feel fresh again. Not only the best superhero film in a year of excellent superhero films but the best ‘Spider-Man’ movie of all time. (Amon Warmann)

Steve McQueen delivers a slick, suspenseful heist movie with a feminist core grounded by Viola Davis and stand-out performances from Elizabeth Debecki and Daniel Kaluuya. This isn’t just a good female heist movie, it’s a great heist movie. Period.

Peter Jackson’s groundbreaking World War I documentary painstakingly restored 100-year-old archive footage from the Great War, making it look and feel like it was shot yesterday. The deliberately apolitical doc shines a light on stories of the real men who sacrificed everything for the future that many would not live to see. This is essential viewing that will endure another 100 years at least.

A visual delight and an emotional thrill ride with killer tunes to boot, *Coco* has everything you could possibly want from a Pixar animated musical and then some. You’d have to have a heart of stone not to be wiping away tears by the movie’s end.

Martin McDonagh’s black comedy takes a mish-mash of social and criminal issues and throws them against the backdrop of a midwestern town. The film is clever, its narrative zig-zags between comedy and tragedy in entertaining fashion but it would be nothing without the delivery of both Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell, who earned Oscars for the trouble.

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt’s first jaunt on screen together is everything you could hope for in this smart horror that has you holding your breath throughout. A brilliant marriage of tension, action and family drama *A Quiet Place* is a worthy addition to the genre.

One of those rare occasions where the film is actually better than the book, *Annihilation* is a profound parable of self-reflection and the fractal complexity of human nature. The ending melted my face. (Chris Edwards)

A deserved winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or, this is Hirokazu Kore-eda’s most accomplished film to date, which is quite something. It’s a film about family and identity, enriched by a profound, moving narrative that is so representative of this great filmmaker’s work. They didn’t give it that award for nothing. (Stefan Pape)

The Russo Brothers managed to bring the entire 20-film MCU together without sacrificing tone, style, action, or humour for each hero as ten years of storytelling came to a shocking climax.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s high fashion period drama was a cut above the rest. Delicately mannered and exquisitely funny, *Phantom Thread* featured the final screen performance of Daniel Day-Lewis who proved that, as well as being the most decorated actor of his generation, he had godlike comedic timing too. Seriously, who knew a man simply ordering breakfast would prove to be one of the best movie moments of 2018? (Tom Butler)

Alfonso Cuarón has created a beautifully soulful and heart-wrenching tribute to the woman that raised him in this family drama set in early 1970’s Mexico City. But it would be nothing without a powerful yet nuanced central performance by Yalitza Aparicio whose every move has you glued to the screen.

And so, Yahoo Movies UK’s favourite film of 2018 is the sixth *Mission: Impossible* film. Christopher McQuarrie delivered an incredible piece of action cinema that raised the stakes to impossible levels, while never underselling the human story beneath.
“Exhilarating, fun and without a shred of CGI, this is what action blockbusters films should look like. The helicopter scene actually took my breath away.” (Ben Falk)

2018 has been one of the best years at the cinema in ages with something for everyone from romantic musicals and low budget comedies to epic superhero event movies. Cinema attendance has bounced back in U.K. making 2018 a record year at the box office, which means you’ve probably seen a ton of great movies over the last 12 months.

In compiling the Yahoo Movies UK best movies of 2018 list, we polled over a dozen movie journalists, critics, and writers, and over 60 films made it into the long list.

This range of titles speaks to a terrific 365 days of films, with a diverse selection of movies catering for all tastes. Votes were cast far and wide, leading to a tightly fought battle for the number one spot. The film that made the top spot is a true crowdpleaser, and while only one writer named it their favourite film of the year, it featured in nearly every top 10 we received.

Join us now as we share Yahoo Movies UK’s list of the 20 best movies of 2018.