WHAT A GREAT 2018
10 Solo: A Star Wars Story Released: May
Despite a troubled production, this spin-off was far from the disaster many feared.
Alden Ehrenreich gave a charismatic, charming performance as Han and Donald Glover’s Lando was the epitome of cool.
The set-pieces peaked with a thrilling, wintry train robbery and nice callbacks featured throughout.
9 Searching Released: August
Who would’ve thought a movie by a debut director shot almost entirely on smartphones and computer screens would be worthy of comparison with Hitchcock.
But Aneesh Chagant’s Searching was a heartpounding thriller packed with shocking twists, unbearable tension and a career-best turn from John Cho.
8 Annihilation Released: March
A Netflix-only release that proved Ex Machina was no fluke for Alex Garland.
The Londoner’s second directorial effort was every bit as gripping, thought-provoking and intelligent as his debut.
Unforgettable imagery coincided with excellent performances from Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson and Oscar Isaac.
7 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Released: December
The finest animated flick of the year was also up there with Spider-Man’s best cinematic adventures.
Infectiously entertaining from start to finish, this breezy, funny and emotion-packed ride was a gift from the gods for fans of the web-slinger.
The Miles Morales incarnation of the character was given an ace movie bow and everything from the camera work to the soundtrack exuded coolness.
6 Mission: Impossible – Fallout Released: July
Still going strong six entries in, Mission: Impossible is one of the finest film franchises ever.
That’s thanks in no small part to leading man Tom Cruise, back once again and this time butting heads with Superman himself, Henry Cavill.
The action set a new high for the series with some incredible, death-defying stunts.
5 Three Billboards Released: January
Driving Three Billboards was a never-better Frances McDormand as an emotional mother out to solve her daughter’s murder.
There was black humour running throughout and this wasn’t one for the PC brigade; best emphasised by Sam Rockwell’s boozed-up, racist cop.
It was a very unpredictable watch too as it veered off into wild new directions.
4 Hereditary Released: June
I like to consider myself an aficionado of horror, but I have never seen a movie quite like this.
Hereditary was an attack on your nerves, emotions and senses as debut writer-director Ari Aster took audiences on a journey to hell — and back again.
This was a masterful example of the genre at its surprising, thought-provoking, petrifying best.
3 Black Panther Released: February
This infectiously entertaining first solo adventure for the King of Wakanda was another home run from Marvel.
Chadwick Boseman’s lead was the perfect blend of gravitas, charm and courage and he was given great support from Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright and Michael B Jordan’s fascinating, multi-layered antagonist.
2 A Quiet Place Released: April
Saying more with actions, atmosphere and anxiety than most films do with thousands of words, A Quiet Place was a superb, tense ride.
It was a simple premise but more than just a gimmick as real-life husband-and-wife John Krasinski and Emily Blunt shone.
Right from the brutal opening, there was barely a chance to relax.
1 Avengers: Infinity War Released: April
Comic-book fans like myself were in absolute heaven as one superhero team-up was cooler than the next in this 10-years-in-the-making epic. Surprises came thick and fast and Josh Brolin’s imposing, relentless Thanos was the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s finest villain yet.
Directors the Russo brothers did an expert job of juggling the cavalcade of characters and cinema is rarely this instantly iconic.
I’ve never heard a cinema rattle with the collective sound of hundreds of jaws dropping as the staggering climax left audiences dazed.