Superheroes dominated the box office in 2018, making up six of the top ten highest grossing films of the year. But did Marvel’s creations give cinema-goers the action and excitement that they were hoping for?
Verdict has researched every film released in 2018, using audience and critic scores from film review website Rotten Tomatoes to pick out the best.
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Only films that grossed more than $3m internationally have been included in this list, so indie film fans may be disappointed. However, this list provides a decent blend of genres and budgets, so there is surely something for everyone.
Box office results and scores were correct in mid-December, but are subject to change.
The 51 best films of 2018 according to audiences and critics
1. Won’t You be My Neighbor?
Genre: Documentary
Box office: ($m): 22.6
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By GlobalData| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 98/100 | 95/100 | 97/100 |
2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Genre: Superhero
Box office ($m): N/A
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 98/100 | 94/100 | 96/100 |
3. Shoplifters
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 55.2
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 99/100 | 91/100 | 95/100 |
4. Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Genre: Action
Box office ($m): 791
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 97/100 | 89/100 | 93/100 |
5. Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero
Genre: Adventure
Box office ($m): 3.8
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 86/100 | 97/100 | 91.5/100 |
6. Eighth Grade
Genre: Comedy
Box office ($m): 13.5
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 99/100 | 84/100 | 91.5/100 |
7. Leave No Trace
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 7.4
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 100/100 | 82/100 | 91/100 |
8. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 7.2
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 98/100 | 84/100 | 91/100 |
9. Love, Simon
Genre: Romance
Box office ($m): 66.3
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 92/100 | 89/100 | 90.5/100 |
10. Incredibles 2
Genre: Superhero
Box office ($m): 1,241
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 94/100 | 87/100 | 90.5/100 |
11. Searching
Genre: Thriller
Box office ($m): 71
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 92/100 | 88/100 | 90/100 |
12. The Rider
Genre: Western
Box office ($m): 3.4
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 97/100 | 82/100 | 89.5/100 |
13. A Quiet Place
Genre: Horror
Box office ($m): 340.7
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 95/100 | 83/100 | 89/100 |
14. Blindspotting
Genre: Comedy
Box office ($m): 4.8
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 93/100 | 85/100 | 89/100 |
15. Isle of Dogs
Genre: Adventure
Box office ($m): 64.2
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 89/100 | 88/100 | 88.5/100 |
16. BlacKkKlansman
Genre: Comedy-drama
Box office ($m): 88.6
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 95/100 | 82/100 | 88.5/100 |
17. Green Book
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 21.6
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 82/100 | 95/100 | 88.5/100 |
18. Black Panther
Genre: Superhero
Box office ($m): 1,347
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 97/100 | 79/100 | 88/100 |
19. Loveless
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 4.8
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 94/100 | 82/100 | 88/100 |
20. Avengers: Infinity War
Genre: Superhero
Box office ($m): 2,048
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 84/100 | 91/100 | 87.5/100 |
21. The Hate U Give
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 32
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 97/100 | 78/100 | 87.5/100 |
22. The Death of Stalin
Genre: Comedy
Box office ($m): 24.6
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 96/100 | 77/100 | 86.5/100 |
23. Ben is Back
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): N/A
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 83/100 | 90/100 | 86.5/100 |
24. Upgrade
Genre: Thriller
Box office ($m): 16.4
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 86/100 | 86/100 | 86/100 |
25. A Fantastic Woman
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 3
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 94/100 | 77/100 | 85.5/100 |
26. A Star is Born
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 371.4
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 90/100 | 81/100 | 85.5/100 |
27. American Animals
Genre: Crime
Box office ($m): 3.9
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 88/100 | 82/100 | 85/100 |
28. Crazy Rich Asians
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Box office ($m): 238
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 92/100 | 78/100 | 85/100 |
29. Deadpool 2
Genre: Superhero
Box office ($m): 735.2
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 83/100 | 85/100 | 84/100 |
30. Creed II
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 122
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 83/100 | 84/100 | 83.5/100 |
31. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Genre: Superhero
Box office ($m): 622.7
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 88/100 | 78/100 | 83/100 |
32. Instant Family
Genre: Comedy
Box office ($m): 62.9
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 81/100 | 85/100 | 83/100 |
33. Indivisible
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 3.5
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 72/100 | 93/100 | 83/100 |
34. The Mule
Genre: Crime
Box office ($m): N/A
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 64/100 | 100/100 | 82/100 |
35. Sorry to Bother You
Genre: Comedy
Box office ($m): 17.9
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 92/100 | 71/100 | 81.5/100 |
36. Teen Titans Go! To The Movies
Genre: Suprehero
Box office ($m): 51.9
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 91/100 | 72/100 | 81.5/100 |
37. A Simple Favor
Genre: Mystery
Box office ($m): 93.1
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 85/100 | 78/100 | 81.5/100 |
38. Game Night
Genre: Comedy
Box office ($m): 117.5
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 84/100 | 78/100 | 81/100 |
39. The Wife
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 15.7
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 84/100 | 78/100 | 81/100 |
40. First Reformed
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 3.8
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 93/100 | 68/100 | 80.5/100 |
41. Pope Francis: A Man of His Word
Genre: Documentary
Box office ($m): 8.5
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 84/100 | 77/100 | 80.5/100 |
42. Juliet, Naked
Genre: Comedy
Box office ($m): 4
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 82/100 | 79/100 | 80.5/100 |
43. Disobedience
Genre: Romance
Box office ($m): 7.4
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 83/100 | 77/100 | 80/100 |
44. Tully
Genre: Comedy
Box office ($m): 15.6
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 85/100 | 75/100 | 80/100 |
45. Whitney
Genre: Documentary
Box office ($m): 4.7
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 88/100 | 72/100 | 80/100 |
46. Bleach
Genre: Action
Box office ($m): 4
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 80/100 | 80/100 | 80/100 |
47. The Favourite
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 4
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 94/100 | 66/100 | 80/100 |
48. Colette
Genre: Drama
Box office ($m): 6.2
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 87/100 | 72/100 | 79.5/100 |
49. Mid90s
Genre: Comedy-drama
Box office ($m): 7.3
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 76/100 | 83/100 | 79.5/100 |
50. Christopher Robin
Genre: Adventure
Box office ($m): 197.4
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 72/100 | 85/100 | 78.5/100 |
51. Ralph Breaks the Internet
Genre: Adventure
Box office ($m): 262
| Critic score: | Audience score: | Average score: |
| 88/100 | 69/100 | 78.5/100 |
