As only about a single day is left for this calendar year to end, it’s time to recall the best flicks which were among the most popular ones along with some ‘Award’ contenders too. Saying in other words, some of the popular films of 2018 are so-so good that they are almost toe-to-toe with the serious dramas – made for the highly prestigious awards – when it comes to content, performances, and impact of the movie as a whole on the audiences.

So, let’s rewind a bit and have a look at the top 10 most popular movies of 2018 that also deserve ultra-serious recognition too in their own manner.

#1 Avengers: Infinity War

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZfuNTqbHE8]
Undoubtedly the most popular one when it comes to fan following and great anticipations. This superhero extravaganza is not only the highest grossing film of 2018 but also the highest grossing superhero film of all-time, period. Directed by the duo of Joe and Anthony Russo the film is an action-adventure that is about the ultimate confrontation of the Avengers with their greatest villain to date, the Mad Titan, Thanos, who has the most powerful weapon in the entire universe, the Infinity Gauntlet, consisting of the six Infinity Stones (making him an unmatchable force to reckon with).

The movie is also the penultimate part in Phase 3 of the MCU which was started way back in 2008 by Kevin Feige. The last part of this phase will be Avengers: Endgame which will also be a finale to the storyline of the Infinity Stones.

Avengers: Infinity War will be the memorable crown sitting on top of the MCU line-up of the 20 movies released so far in ten years.

#2 Black Panther

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxWvtMOGAhw]
The movie has turned into a cultural phenomenon and even after 10 months of its release, it seems like it’s still running into the theaters. Director Ryan Coogler made something like a jewel for the Marvel Studios when he cast a stellar group of actors like Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, among other notable names too.

The story is about the throne of the King of Wakanda and who takes over it at the end of the film. But apart from it the movie also teaches some notable life lessons which are integral to us as humans, and that is to keep harmony and living with love among each other.

#3 Mission: Impossible – Fallout

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Tom Cruise proved with this one that he’s not done yet and when it comes to giving absolutely remarkable performances, he’s always the best. But it wasn’t just him but the entire team and especially the director Christopher McQuarrie who just pulled off ‘a perfect film’ to date, as far as the Mission: Impossible franchise is concerned.

Whether it be the action, fantastically shot sequences or the entire cinematography, this film has set the benchmark for every technical, genius feat that a movie can achieve. And on top of it, the acting prowess of all the actors involved just makes it highly compelling to watch, and that too on loop!

Mission: Impossible – Fallout is a perfect action movie of all-time when it comes to intelligent, great and authentic filmmaking.

#4 A Quiet Place

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR7cc5t7tv8]
Actor and director John Krasinski brought something which was unexpected for everyone, at the beginning of 2018. A Quiet Place is so impactful in its complete silence that you crave for the characters’ lives inside the film’s story! And yes, that’s true.

Made almost with no dialogues (there are only a few), the expressions of each character is so deep and genuine that you are left feeling helpless for them. The movie is about an apocalyptic future of Earth where the entire human race has almost become endangered due to an alien monster invasion. And these monsters have an incredibly high ability to catch even a tiny impact of sound produced. So they hunt down those who make a sound; and yes they kill them too, brutally.

#5 Hereditary

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6wWKNij_1M]
The most talked-about horror movie since The Exorcist (1973), Hereditary is just so complex in its nature that you become trapped in its plot, which is brilliant to watch in its entirety. But the actual horror is in the performances of the cast itself! Truly outstanding and breathtaking roles portrayed by each and everyone, especially actress Tony Collete, child actor Milly Shapiro, and young actor Alex Wolf.

Debutant director Ari Aster never lets you feel a sigh of relief because the very next scene is unpredictably so horrific that it leaves you in utmost shock, while also raising your goosebumps too!

It’s a highly recommended horror flick for you if you want to be truly horrified.

#6 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg52up16eq0]
Marvel’s best-animated superhero flick of all-time, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a story of multiple ‘Spider-People’ who get converged into one dimension thanks to an opening of a portal by the villain, Kingpin. The main story revolves around Miles Morales who realizes that he’s not the only Spider-Man alive and that there are others too, just like him.

The movie since its release has become a fan-favorite and critics’ favorite too, because of its great storytelling and fantabulous visuals (which feel like a comic book indeed).

The movie is already being touted as a winner of the ‘Best Animated Feature’ in the next year’s Oscars.

Read our review of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse here.

#7 Aquaman

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDkg3h8PCVU]
DC also made its impact across the globe when its Aquaman released towards the end of 2018. And there’s no doubt that it’s the best looking movie of DC after 2017’s Wonder Woman. Aquaman is a visual treat for anyone who’s a true DC or Aquaman die-hard fan. But also for a general moviegoer, this movie is a total entertainer.

James Wan’s great direction and Jason Momoa’s charismatic performance as Arthur Curry, along with Amber Heard as Mera, will make you watch it in a highly enjoyable manner.

Read our review of Aquaman here.

#8 Ralph Breaks the Internet

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T73h5bmD8Dc]
The greatly anticipated sequel to 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph, this movie goes on to a new level of madness while also giving you key life lessons related to the modern day ‘social media changes’. All the characters are so greatly compelling to watch that you don’t feel bored at all, but instead, you want the movie to just go on, without an ending.

The movie’s popularity can be imagined from the fact that it’s been a huge box-office success too.

#9 Halloween

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek1ePFp-nBI]
Another highly awaited and perhaps the most deserving sequel to a horror masterpiece, Halloween (1977), the new and direct sequel to the original, makes itself worthy of being called a true successor to its predecessor.

Halloween 2018 takes place from where the last Halloween film (directed by John Carpenter) ended. And the return of Nick Castle as Michael Myers is so-so impactful again that he will make you wish for your life!

This film’s director David Gordon Green really, and successfully managed to pull off a great psycho-horror flick. Not to mention that it’s also the highest grossing Halloween film in the series.

Read our review of Halloween here.

#10 Incredibles 2

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5qOzqD9Rms]
The last one on this list is also a long-awaited ‘superhero’ animated sequel to its first part, which was released way back in 2004! But even after 14 years, the second installment feels just so fresh that you are left speechless in your mind. Because this time too, you feel the same way for the beloved characters.

Director Brad Bird created the same magic with this one too which never makes you feel like you are watching a sequel to a 14-year-old movie, because Incredibles 2 feels so new and exciting, in its way of carrying the story forward from the exact same point where its first part ended.

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Daniel Jack

For Daniel, journalism is a way of life. He lives and breathes art and anything even remotely related to it. Politics, Cinema, books, music, fashion are a part of his lifestyle.