5. Love, Simon
Seventeen-year-old Simon has a great life. He is close to his family, has a sister that he actually likes and has a group of great friends. But he is hiding a secret – he is gay, and no one knows. Not only that, but Simon has been messaging a mysterious guy called Blue and he is in love with him.
Love, Simon had a big impact on audiences. Not only was it a huge crowd pleaser, but there are not many mainstream coming of age films which feature and focus on a gay protagonist. As such, Love, Simon felt progressive and inclusive. Aside from that though, Love, Simon was well written, sweet and funny.
In theatres, Love, Simon had universal appeal. Audiences ranged from teenagers to older couples and everyone was able to find something that they related to in the film. Often romantic comedies are the type of films that audiences rewatch again and again, and with Love. Simon this will undoubtedly be the case as well.
4. Game Night
Max and Annie host a weekly game night with their friends. When Max’s brother Brooks visits, he arranges for game night to be taken to another level with a murder mystery game. So, when Brooks is violently kidnapped, everyone thinks that it is all part of the game. As the gamers race to complete a set of clues, they begin to understand that the game is more real than they realised.
Game Night was a commercial and critical success and was one of the best comedies of 2018. The idea for the film started with just a title which screenwriter Mark Perez turned into a concept. Together with producer John Fox, the two pitched the idea to New Line Cinema who liked the idea. Filming took place in April 2017.
A funny, entertaining and easy watch, Game Night was a popular film with audiences. And with so many of us having our own game nights, the film felt really relatable and consequently is a film that many of us will watch again with our own fellow gamers.
3. Bohemian Rhapsody
Charting the life of Freddie Mercury and the band Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody is a celebration of one of the most successful music acts of all time. From playing small clubs to performing at Live Aid, Freddie fronts the band whilst also dealing with the devastating diagnosis of AIDS.
Critics may have given it a mixed reception, but Bohemian Rhapsody was one of the most popular films of the year with audiences who loved the take on the life of Freddie and Queen. Bohemian Rhapsody was a box office success which was a relief to all involved considering how the project had languished for several years. And even when the project did begin filming, it was not without its problems. Although Bryan Singer is credited for directing the film, he was fired midway through filming for unprofessional behaviour with Dexter Fletcher taking over to finish the film.
Regardless of its behind the scenes issues, Bohemian Rhapsody hit the spot with audiences. The soundtrack of Queen’s greatest hits saw audiences singing along and highly enjoying the film. And though Bohemian Rhapsody may seem like it is solely aimed at the band’s biggest fans, the story was engaging and interesting enough that it didn’t matter whether you were a massive Queen fan. Bohemian Rhapsody will no doubt be a film that audiences find themselves returning to time and again.
2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
When teenager Miles Morales is bitten by a radioactive spider, he finds himself developing mysterious powers similar to Spider-Man. Things get stranger still when Miles meets Peter Parker and a number of other people who also have Spider-Man’s powers. Soon they are all compelled to join forces as they confront a common enemy.
“The Spider-Man film that we didn’t know that we needed turned out to be possibly the best Spider-Man film of all time” – this was the headline of several articles which praised the animated film from directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rotham. And that was not the only praise that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse received. The film was highly commended for its unique animation, its storytelling, and its meta qualities.
Managing to appeal to superhero fans and animation fans alike, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse had mass appeal and its ease of watching and fun factor should prove to make it a film that fans watch again and again.
1. Black Panther
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa returns home to the technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as King. However, when a new rival emerges intent on overthrowing him, T’Challa must fight to keep his title as both King of Wakanda and Black Panther.
Receiving praise across the board for its acting, direction and soundtrack – to name just a few, Black Panther was a huge box office smash passing the one billion mark and becoming not only one of the biggest films of the year but one of the biggest of all time.
Part of Black Panther’s success was the fact that it had mass appeal, making its mark with several different target audiences in a way that other superhero films hadn’t. Although Black Panther was elevated by already having familiarity with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it also worked as a standalone film. This meant that new audiences felt that they could access and relate to the superhero film in a way that they hadn’t been able to with other Marvel films.
Being frequently cited as one of the best films of 2018, Black Panther’s accessibility, special effects and overall entertainment value mean that is one of the most rewatchable films of the year.