Superheroes dominated the box office in 2018, making up six of the top ten highest grossing films of the year. But did Marvel’s creations give cinema-goers the action and excitement that they were hoping for?

Verdict has researched every film released in 2018, using audience and critic scores from film review website Rotten Tomatoes to pick out the best.

Only films that grossed more than $3m internationally have been included in this list, so indie film fans may be disappointed. However, this list provides a decent blend of genres and budgets, so there is surely something for everyone.

Box office results and scores were correct in mid-December, but are subject to change.

The 51 best films of 2018 according to audiences and critics

1. Won’t You be My Neighbor?

Genre: Documentary

Box office: ($m): 22.6

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData

Tick here to opt out of curated industry news, reports, and event updates from Verdict.

Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
98/100	95/100	97/100

2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Genre: Superhero

Box office ($m): N/A

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
98/100	94/100	96/100

3. Shoplifters

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 55.2

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
99/100	91/100	95/100

4. Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Genre: Action

Box office ($m): 791

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
97/100	89/100	93/100

5. Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero

Genre: Adventure

Box office ($m): 3.8

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
86/100	97/100	91.5/100

6. Eighth Grade

Genre: Comedy

Box office ($m): 13.5

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
99/100	84/100	91.5/100

7. Leave No Trace

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 7.4

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
100/100	82/100	91/100

8. Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 7.2

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
98/100	84/100	91/100

9. Love, Simon

Genre: Romance

Box office ($m): 66.3

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
92/100	89/100	90.5/100

10. Incredibles 2

Genre: Superhero

Box office ($m): 1,241

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
94/100	87/100	90.5/100

11. Searching

Genre: Thriller

Box office ($m): 71

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
92/100	88/100	90/100

12. The Rider

Genre: Western

Box office ($m): 3.4

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
97/100	82/100	89.5/100

13. A Quiet Place

Genre: Horror

Box office ($m): 340.7

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
95/100	83/100	89/100

14. Blindspotting

Genre: Comedy

Box office ($m): 4.8

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
93/100	85/100	89/100

15. Isle of Dogs

Genre: Adventure

Box office ($m): 64.2

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
89/100	88/100	88.5/100

16. BlacKkKlansman

Genre: Comedy-drama

Box office ($m): 88.6

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
95/100	82/100	88.5/100

17. Green Book

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 21.6

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
82/100	95/100	88.5/100

18. Black Panther

Genre: Superhero

Box office ($m): 1,347

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
97/100	79/100	88/100

19. Loveless

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 4.8

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
94/100	82/100	88/100

20. Avengers: Infinity War

Genre: Superhero

Box office ($m): 2,048

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
84/100	91/100	87.5/100

21. The Hate U Give

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 32

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
97/100	78/100	87.5/100

22. The Death of Stalin

Genre: Comedy

Box office ($m): 24.6

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
96/100	77/100	86.5/100

23. Ben is Back

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): N/A

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
83/100	90/100	86.5/100

24. Upgrade

Genre: Thriller

Box office ($m): 16.4

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
86/100	86/100	86/100

25. A Fantastic Woman

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 3

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
94/100	77/100	85.5/100

26. A Star is Born

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 371.4

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
90/100	81/100	85.5/100

27. American Animals

Genre: Crime

Box office ($m): 3.9

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
88/100	82/100	85/100

28. Crazy Rich Asians

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Box office ($m): 238

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
92/100	78/100	85/100

29. Deadpool 2

Genre: Superhero

Box office ($m): 735.2

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
83/100	85/100	84/100

30. Creed II

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 122

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
83/100	84/100	83.5/100

31. Ant-Man and the Wasp

Genre: Superhero

Box office ($m): 622.7

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
88/100	78/100	83/100

32. Instant Family

Genre: Comedy

Box office ($m): 62.9

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
81/100	85/100	83/100

33. Indivisible

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 3.5

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
72/100	93/100	83/100

34. The Mule

Genre: Crime

Box office ($m): N/A

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
64/100	100/100	82/100

35. Sorry to Bother You

Genre: Comedy

Box office ($m): 17.9

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
92/100	71/100	81.5/100

36. Teen Titans Go! To The Movies

Genre: Suprehero

Box office ($m): 51.9

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
91/100	72/100	81.5/100

37. A Simple Favor

Genre: Mystery

Box office ($m): 93.1

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
85/100	78/100	81.5/100

38. Game Night

Genre: Comedy

Box office ($m): 117.5

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
84/100	78/100	81/100

39. The Wife

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 15.7

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
84/100	78/100	81/100

40. First Reformed

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 3.8

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
93/100	68/100	80.5/100

41. Pope Francis: A Man of His Word

Genre: Documentary

Box office ($m): 8.5

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
84/100	77/100	80.5/100

42. Juliet, Naked

Genre: Comedy

Box office ($m): 4

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
82/100	79/100	80.5/100

43. Disobedience

Genre: Romance

Box office ($m): 7.4

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
83/100	77/100	80/100

44. Tully

Genre: Comedy

Box office ($m): 15.6

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
85/100	75/100	80/100

45. Whitney

Genre: Documentary

Box office ($m): 4.7

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
88/100	72/100	80/100

46. Bleach

Genre: Action

Box office ($m): 4

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
80/100	80/100	80/100

47. The Favourite

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 4

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
94/100	66/100	80/100

48. Colette

Genre: Drama

Box office ($m): 6.2

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
87/100	72/100	79.5/100

49. Mid90s

Genre: Comedy-drama

Box office ($m): 7.3

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
76/100	83/100	79.5/100

50. Christopher Robin

Genre: Adventure

Box office ($m): 197.4

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
72/100	85/100	78.5/100

51. Ralph Breaks the Internet

Genre: Adventure

Box office ($m): 262

Critic score:	Audience score:	Average score:
88/100	69/100	78.5/100

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The 51 best films of 2018 according to audiences and critics

1. Won’t You be My Neighbor?

How well do you really know your competitors?

Thank you!

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Genre: Superhero

3. Shoplifters

4. Mission: Impossible – Fallout

5. Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero

6. Eighth Grade

7. Leave No Trace

8. Can You Ever Forgive Me?

9. Love, Simon

10. Incredibles 2

11. Searching

12. The Rider

13. A Quiet Place

14. Blindspotting

15. Isle of Dogs

16. BlacKkKlansman

17. Green Book

18. Black Panther

19. Loveless

20. Avengers: Infinity War

21. The Hate U Give

22. The Death of Stalin

23. Ben is Back

24. Upgrade

25. A Fantastic Woman

26. A Star is Born

27. American Animals

28. Crazy Rich Asians

29. Deadpool 2

30. Creed II

31. Ant-Man and the Wasp

32. Instant Family

33. Indivisible

34. The Mule

35. Sorry to Bother You

36. Teen Titans Go! To The Movies

37. A Simple Favor

38. Game Night

39. The Wife

40. First Reformed

41. Pope Francis: A Man of His Word

42. Juliet, Naked

43. Disobedience

44. Tully

45. Whitney

46. Bleach

47. The Favourite

48. Colette

49. Mid90s

50. Christopher Robin

51. Ralph Breaks the Internet

Sign up for our daily news round-up!

Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

Sign up for our daily news round-up!

Sign up to the newsletter: In Brief

I would also like to subscribe to:

Thank you for subscribing