With the end of 2018, it is time to welcome 2019 and many highly awaited upcoming films. However, for those that missed out on the movies that premiered last year, here is a rundown of the best films of 2018:
Starting off the list is John Krasinski’s thriller “A Quiet Place.” This film scared audiences, showing that Krasinski is not only an amazing actor, but also a talented director. Alongside his real-life wife, Krasinski and Emily Blunt showed audiences a world where anyone that makes noise dies at the hands of awful monsters, demonstrating the power of family and unity.
As a love letter to his two daughters, Krasinski considers “A Quiet Place” a movie of sacrifice and love — themes that audiences worldwide related to and welcomed.
2018 also saw an influx in indie films, some earning major box office earnings. The best indie film has to be Spike Lee’s powerful “BlacKkKlansman.”
Set in the 1970s, the film tells the story of how a young African-American man infiltrates a local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. Hilariously dark in tone, the film closes with a powerful message: intolerance persists in today’s society, so individuals must work together toward equality.
This film provides a sobering portrayal of American history and how there is still much-needed progress in tolerance and acceptance of other races, especially in today’s political climate.
In the action category, no other movie was as widely-loved as “Black Panther.” Not only was this movie highly acclaimed, it was also a major step toward increased representation in Hollywood.
With its box office success, “Black Panther” showed how inclusion does not have to come at a cost for film studios. Diversity can be extremely profitable. The superhero flick proved to be a monumental milestone, as audiences cannot wait to see more movie characters to whom they can relate on the big screen.
For the best foreign film, none stand a chance against Alfonso Cuaron’s hit, “Roma.” After winning the Golden Globe for Best Director and Best Foreign Film, there is no doubt “Roma” is a crowd favorite for the upcoming Oscars.
The film’s success comes as no surprise for audiences that have seen the Netflix film, as its profound message, painstaking cinematography and major attention to detail have captivated viewers.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” was the best comedy of 2018. While the Greek director earned major recognition with “The Lobster,” Lanthimos’ prior success proved incomparable to the fame he earned with his latest film.
The film’s talented cast, paired with a witty screenplay, has earned “The Favourite” several nominations and wide acclaim.
The best drama film — perhaps the most important award at the Oscars — was the space semi-biopic “First Man.” While it is unlikely the film will win Best Film, “First Man” showed audiences a glance into the complicated life of Neil Armstrong.
Featuring Armstrong’s backlash against NASA to his many experiences with loss, this film shines a light on the inner demons the famed astronaut carried with him. If you watch this film, you will experience an eye-opening view of the personal life of an American figure we all know of, but never truly knew, making you somehow appreciate the moon landing even more.
Evidently, 2018 was a major year for films with many focusing on the power of storytelling and inclusion. While many movies chose to show audiences a glimpse of history, others decided to pave the way for future films overall.
Hopefully, directors will learn from the popular and intelligent movie-making in 2018 and continue to include more diversity to portray valuable and compelling stories in years to come.
My name is Victoria Lara and I am a sophomore Biomedical Engineering student on the Pre-Medical track. I love watching films and I am passionate about social change. Follow me on Twitter @victoriaa_lara.
