Moving on from our Top Ten films of the year and our Best Performances, we now reach our Most Surprising Films of 2018. These are movies that we expected to be bad, or maybe didn’t expect much of at all, but exceeded above and beyond our imaginations. These may or may not have been the absolute best films of the year, but they are noteworthy nonetheless.
A SIMPLE FAVOR
Seeing the previews for this film, I didn’t expect much especially with the weird tonal change that the trailer had. Paul Fieg’s earlier filmography never impressed me but I became hooked due to both Bridesmaids and Spy, leading me to see this movie. Boasting a story from a clever novel, and boasting solid performances from both Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, A Simple Favor makes you think that you’re two steps ahead when you’re actually one step behind.
Robert Thornson
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
Read our review.
The movie had a much stronger villain than the first film which is why I personally had dismissed the movie as flat. The new villain (Ghost) is vulnerable but also uniquely equipped with powers that stem from a place that the entire MCU is fixated on at the moment, the quantum realm, which is thought to be heavily involved in the upcoming film Endgame.
Haley Newlin
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
All reports indicated Bohemian Rhapsody was a giant mess. Especially considering Bryan Singer’s removal from the project, throngs decried the movie for numerous reasons. All-in-all it’s pretty good though. Not genius for sure, but a reasonable attempt to tell the story of a complicated life.
Raymond Flotat
DUMPLIN’
At first it looked like “just another Netflix movie,” but this one really shocked me. The plot is fairly simple the pudgy daughter of a former beauty queen enters a pageant to show how stupid it is, but then she discovers that the contest proves to be a lot harder than she expected. Not only are all the performances amazing, but the movie is really sincere. The movie got a lot of laughs out of me, and I was genuinely interested in the characters.
Arden Terry
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
After the critical flop that was A Wrinkle in Time earlier this year, the hype for Mary Poppins Returns worried me. The film, if audiences can set aside any die-hard feelings they have for the Julie Andrews original, is simply magical. Emily Blunt takes the character and makes it her own while she, and the film as a whole, pay homage to a fantastically built world. The music is lively and thoughtful and the story presents another fantastic entry into this year’s cult of kindness, started by Paddington 2.
Rachel Lutack
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT
Read our review.
A franchise two decades deep just doesn’t have any business being this good. Tom Cruise is pushing 60 and still at the top of his game. Every time I think this franchise is about to fizzle out, it goes to another level.
John Wedemeyer
THE PREDATOR
Read our review.
A much needed improvement to this failing franchise, The Predator was a breath of fresh air and gleefully entertaining. Funny, non-stop action and ridiculous fun, writer-director Shane Black brings some interesting characters, bloody violence and the best sequel since the original film that was released 31 years ago. We waited all this time and it was worth the wait!
Rick Rice
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
Read our review.
With a stylish trailer and fun cast, the film seemed to be a colorful, quirky social commentary on worker’s rights, but then gives you much more than you bargained for. Some were impressed and others put off with the plot twist, but it is definitely something no one could see coming. The surreal, off-kilter version of reality in which the film is set also comes as a surprise, making it wholly unexpected and a must-see.
Leilani Reyes
SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
Read our review.
As a non-MCU Spider-Man film with a December release date, one could be forgiven for thinking that someone wanted to keep Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse out of the public eye. However, not only did ‘Spider-Verse’ tell a worthy rendition of the Miles Morales origin, but it also seamlessly incorporated various incarnations of the character- both new and old- without having to know their comic backstories. Add on a visually striking art style unlike anything else in theaters, and you might have one of the best Spider-Man films since Spider-Man 2. The final tribute to Stan Lee and Steve Ditko at the end were also incredibly touching.
Ben Wasserman
TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES
This had the potential to suck big time. Based on a show that is hit or miss at best and over exposed, this movie seem to encompass the worst the show had to offer. Surprisingly with some legitimately funny moments and a good sense of tone throughout the whole thing, Teen Titans GO the Movies was fairly enjoyable. Also has the best mid-credits scene of the year by far.
Ryan Pineda
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