FILMS OF ThE YEAR

Five picks that had us opening up cinema

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

how do you juggle the biggest ensemble cast in action movie history? huge fight scenes, buckets of hilarity and one of the best movie baddies ever. We still can’t look at dust in the same way.

MANDY

Nicolas cage told us in october that he was channelling Dave mustaine in this bizarre, psychotic horror romp. he was also channelling the most Nicolas cage Nicolas cage performance ever. and it’s bloody brilliant.

HEREDITARY

It was billed as the new Exorcist, and while the longterm influence of ari aster’s directorial debut remains to be seen, its stunning mixture of genuine scares and black humour makes this a bona fide modern classic.

DEADPOOL 2

Bigger. Badder. Stupider. and we finally got a Juggernaut that didn’t totally suck (sorry, Vinnie Jones). Deadpool 2 proved once again that comic book movies don’t have to be fluffy.

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Deputy editor eleanor Goodman really loves fish and told us to put this in here, so here it is. hope you’re happy, el. You and all your squid mates.