Best-Reviewed Movies 2018: Wide Release
Six hundred theaters. That’s all it takes to make it onto our list of wide releases. That, and the undying, near-unanimous adulation of critics. They gave top marks to three superhero movies this year, as burnout and fatigue of this subgenre remains an invisible specter. Meanwhile, the cinema of empathy (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Paddington 2) connected in a big way.
The order of the rank below reflects the Adjusted Score as of December 31, 2018. Scores might change over time.
#1
Adjusted Score: 124632%
Critics Consensus: Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of the MCU's most absorbing stories -- and introducing some of its most fully realized characters.
Synopsis: Black Panther's mettle as king gets tested when an old enemy draws him into a conflict that puts his nation...
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#2
Adjusted Score: 120665%
Critics Consensus: Fast, sleek, and fun, Mission: Impossible - Fallout lives up to the "impossible" part of its name by setting yet another high mark for insane set pieces in a franchise full of them.
Synopsis: An arms dealer and a group of terrorists plan to use three plutonium cores for a simultaneous nuclear attack. When...
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#3
Adjusted Score: 119231%
Critics Consensus: BlacKkKlansman uses history to offer bitingly trenchant commentary on current events -- and brings out some of Spike Lee's hardest-hitting work in decades along the way.
Synopsis: Ron Stallworth, the first African-American police officer in Colorado Springs, Colo., works under cover to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan...
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#4
Adjusted Score: 118126%
Critics Consensus: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse matches bold storytelling with striking animation for a purely enjoyable adventure with heart, humor, and plenty of superhero action.
Synopsis: Bitten by a radioactive spider, teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into Spider-Man. He must now...
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#5
Adjusted Score: 117745%
Critics Consensus: With appealing leads, deft direction, and an affecting love story, A Star Is Born is a remake done right -- and a reminder that some stories can be just as effective in the retelling.
Synopsis: Hard-drinking country music star Jackson Maine discovers -- and falls in love with -- a struggling but talented singer named...
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#6
Adjusted Score: 115843%
Critics Consensus: A Quiet Place artfully plays on elemental fears with a ruthlessly intelligent creature feature that's as original as it is scary -- and establishes director John Krasinski as a rising talent.
Synopsis: A family must live in silence to avoid mysterious creatures that hunt by sound. Knowing that even the slightest whisper...
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#7
Adjusted Score: 111885%
Critics Consensus: Paddington 2 honors its star's rich legacy with a sweet-natured sequel whose adorable visuals are matched by a story perfectly balanced between heartwarming family fare and purely enjoyable all-ages adventure.
Synopsis: One fine day, Paddington spots a pop-up book in an antique shop -- the perfect present for his beloved aunt's...
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#8
Adjusted Score: 113843%
Critics Consensus: Incredibles 2 reunites Pixar's family crimefighting team for a long-awaited follow-up that may not quite live up to the original, but comes close enough to earn its name.
Synopsis: Elastigirl springs into action to battle a cybercriminal who plans to hypnotize the world through computer screens. That leaves Mr....
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#9
Adjusted Score: 115949%
Critics Consensus: Eighth Grade takes a look at its titular time period that offers a rare and resounding ring of truth while heralding breakthroughs for writer-director Bo Burnham and captivating star Elsie Fisher.
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Kayla endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of...
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#10
Adjusted Score: 110393%
Critics Consensus: Won't You Be My Neighbor? takes a fittingly patient and honest look at the life and legacy of a television pioneer whose work has enriched generations.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Morgan Neville examines the life and legacy of Fred Rogers, the beloved host of the popular children's TV show...
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