Buzz
Join us in exploring the captivating realm of Top Movies of 2018 – The 10 Best Films of the Year.
1. Superhero Squad: Infinite Battle – Avengers: Infinity War
As the tradition goes, every year, audiences eagerly anticipate the blockbuster films from Marvel Studios. With the spectacular Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel not only met but exceeded expectations. The film achieved resounding success globally and became the fastest cinematic juggernaut to cross the $1 billion mark in just 11 days of release.
Summary of the movie: After acquiring the first infinity stone from the planet Xandar, Thanos, along with the Black Order, defeats Thor and Loki to obtain the next stone from the Tesseract. Thanos' ultimate journey leads to Earth, where the superhero team, including Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and others, unite to confront the most powerful threat in the galaxy – Thanos.
2. Mission Impossible: Fallout
Featuring spectacular scenes and a captivating storyline, Mission Impossible: Fallout has received praise as the outstanding installment of the entire franchise and one of the greatest action films of all time.
Summary of the movie: Two years after the capture of Solomon Lane, the remaining members of the Syndicate have formed a new terrorist group known as The Apostles. Ethan Hunt is assigned to retrieve three plutonium cores in Berlin before The Apostles can sell them to John Lark. Alongside Benji Dunn and Luther Stickell, Ethan embarks on the mission, facing setbacks when Luther is captured as a hostage. Ethan must make a choice to save his friend, creating an opportunity for The Apostles to seize the plutonium. In pursuit of the plutonium, Ethan embarks on another impossible mission.
3. The Ant-Man and The Wasp – Unlikely Allies
Unlike the typical hero clashes in the Marvel cinematic universe, Ant-Man and the Wasp unfolds as a heartfelt family tale. Released on June 25, 2018, the film not only achieved remarkable financial success but also secured the 7th highest box office revenue in 2018.
Summary of the movie: Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang struggles to balance family life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man. He teams up with Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym on a crucial mission: learning to fight alongside The Wasp to uncover their intertwined past.
4. The Incredibles 2 – Superhero Family Reimagined
After 14 years since its debut in 2014, The Incredibles 2 has undergone significant improvements in both content and image quality. With a more magnificent setting, enhanced equipment, and stronger adversaries, the film is hailed as an animated counterpart to the Avengers superhero series. An unmissable masterpiece suitable for family viewing.
Summary of the movie: This time, the elastic mother, Helen (Elastigirl), takes on the frontline to save the world, while the super-strong dad, Bob (Mr. Incredible), returns home to look after their mischievous superhero children: daughter Violet (possessing the abilities of invisibility and creating protective shields), son Dash (with the ability to run at the speed of light), and the youngest, Jack-Jack, with undiscovered powers. A mysterious villain emerges with a sinister plot, once again uniting the superhero family to protect their loved ones. Will the superhero family overcome this challenge?
5. Virtual Arena – Ready Player One
Adapted from the 2011 novel of the same name by Cline, Ready Player One immerses audiences in a world of stunning and captivating visual effects, resembling a real gaming experience. The film receives high praise for its pace, visuals, and is considered an upgrade from the original novel, delivering a significantly enhanced version.
Summary of the movie: Set in the year 2044, where people escape the dreariness of reality by immersing themselves in the virtual oasis known as OASIS. Within OASIS, we find Wade Watts, also known as Parzival. One day, the creator of OASIS challenges all players to find Easter Eggs - resurrection eggs with a reward of his entire fortune for the winner. Wade Watts discovers the first clues in the quest and embarks on his journey. However, he soon finds himself entangled in the mysteries and insane events orchestrated by the Innovative Online Industries organization.
6. Merc with a Mouth in Deadpool 2
With the return of the masked jester Deadpool, audiences once again burst into laughter with his humorous monologues. With no less charm than the first installment, Deadpool 2 promises to be the blockbuster of 2018.
Summary of the movie: After the death of his almost-wife Vanessa, Deadpool returns to the X-Men organization to reset his life. During a 'cleanup' mission, he accidentally kills a school protector and is imprisoned in the Ice Box with a mutant boy named Russell. Following a riot at the Ice Box, Deadpool forms the X-Force team to protect the mutant child Russell from the attacks of Cable, a half-man, half-machine from the future.
7. Love, Simon - A Heartfelt Journey
Love, Simon unfolds its touching story of Simon, a gay young man, in 110 minutes. Through authentic and meaningful scenes, the film sends a message to parents with LGBTQ+ children about embracing empathy and compassion.
Summary of the movie: The film follows Simon (played by Nick Robinson), leading a perfect life surrounded by family and friends. Everything is ideal except for Simon's deep secret - he is gay. All remains calm until one day, confessions from an anonymous character, Blue, appear on the school forum, revealing their struggles with being gay.
Witnessing a shared plight, Simon is immediately drawn in and seeks ways to communicate with Blue. In a moment of oversight, Simon accidentally exposes the email exchanges between them, leading to complications and the unraveling of his secret on the forum. Simon's once perfect world begins to crumble.
8. Good vs. Evil Showdown 2 - The Equalizer 2
Following the rather unimpressive success of the first installment in 2014, The Equalizer 2 signals optimism for the filmmakers with positive feedback from critics and audiences.
Summary of the movie: The film revolves around Robert McCall (portrayed by Denzel Washington), a former CIA operative presumed dead after a past mission. However, he is alive and living undercover as a taxi driver. In addition to his driving job, McCall always seeks justice for innocent and vulnerable people he encounters daily. However, his close friend and the only person aware of his survival, CIA operative Susan Plummer, is murdered in a robbery in Belgium. Despite the grief, he is determined to investigate the mysteries behind her death and is about to confront the villains responsible for this tragedy.
9. Solo: A Star Wars Adventure - Solo: A Star Wars Story
A Star Wars anthology, Solo: A Star Wars Story, delves into the lives of iconic heroes in the Star Wars series. Despite criticism for its pacing and lackluster storyline, the film's grandiose visuals, crafted with a whopping $250 million budget, maintain its allure within the Star Wars saga.
Summary of the movie: A prequel centered around the iconic hero Han Solo, the film begins as Han encounters his loyal friend Chewbacca and the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian. Together, they embark on an adventurous journey full of excitement.
10. Black Panther - The Warrior King
Another Marvel cinematic universe masterpiece, Black Panther, stands as the wealthiest and most powerful member of the superhero team, holding the highest position as the king of Wakanda. Beyond its narrative and visual success, the film sets a record as the highest early ticket sales for a superhero film of all time, according to the website Fandango.
Summary of the movie: Set in the secretive nation of Wakanda, the homeland of Black Panther - T'Challa, the story unfolds through the testimony of a survivor. This closed-off country possesses the world's largest amount of Vibranium. Black Panther, the ruler of Wakanda, is depicted as a 'good-hearted individual.' However, these very virtues make his succession to the throne challenging after the death of his father in the events of Captain America: Civil War. Confronted with betrayal and danger, the young king must rally allies and unleash the full power of Black Panther to defeat enemies and bring peace to his people.
Conclusion
2018 was a remarkable year for blockbuster films from the Marvel Studio's superhero universe. If superhero movies aren't your preference, options like Love, Simon, or the animated film The Incredibles are suitable choices for family movie nights. Wishing you all find a movie you enjoy for the weekend!
