Year in review: 100 best movies of 2018

Stacker score: 54.5

IMDb rating: 5.3

Metascore: 56

Director: Rodrigo Cortés

Starting off the list is “Down a Dark Hall,” a thriller set at a boarding school for wayward girls. Four teen girls have been sent to live there, and they soon discover that they are not alone in the house. Something of paranormal proportions is lurking down the dark halls. The trailer alone is scream-inducing.

Stacker score: 55

IMDb rating: 5.9

Metascore: 51

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber

No list is complete without a movie starring The Rock. “Skyscraper” casts Dwayne Johnson as a security expert who has been framed for the arson of a tall skyscraper. On his to do list: clear his name of the crime and rescue his family trapped above the fire.

Stacker score: 55.5

IMDb rating: 5.8

Metascore: 53

Director: Stephen Susco

A 20-something named Matias finds and keeps a laptop from a lost and found. During a video chat with his friends, they witness the dark web through files on the laptop. The friends are thrust into a waking nightmare as the dark web goes to unimaginable lengths to power them all down.

Stacker Score: 56

IMDb rating: 6

Metascore: 52

Director: Susanna Fogel

“The Spy Who Dumped Me” stars the hilarious duo of Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis who play best friends stuck in a life-rut. Everything changes when Audrey's (Kunis' character) ex-boyfriend returns to their apartment with assassins on his tail. The pair gets entwined in an international spy mission and ends up becoming the badasses they knew they could be. They end up getting a free trip to Europe, saving the world, and finding their potential—rut no more.

Stacker score: 56

IMDb rating: 6.4

Metascore: 48

Director: Roar Uthaug

Though Angelina Jolie has been swapped out of this "Tomb Raider" for Alicia Vikander, this Lara Croft of 2018 finds herself aligned with a less overly sexualized idea of a powerful woman. Croft finds herself on a quest to solve her father's mysterious death. Against all odds and even her own father's wishes, she takes on this dangerous quest and finds more than answers; she finds herself a veritable tomb raider.

Stacker score: 56.5

IMDb rating: 5.5

Metascore: 58

Director: Fritz Böhm

“Wildling” centers around Anna, a girl raised in isolation in an attic who is thrust into the real world. It becomes clear quickly that she is far from normal and that the thing she has feared her whole life may be … herself. This is one of the many 2018 films with a female lead.

Stacker score: 56.5

IMDb rating: 7

Metascore: 43

Director: Donovan Marsh

A U.S. submarine is in distress, and when Capt. Joe Glass tries to track it down, he uncovers a Russian coup. Glass, played by Gerard Butler, must assemble a crack team of SEALs to rescue the Russian president, stop the coup, and save the world.

Stacker score: 56.5

IMDb rating: 6.1

Metascore: 52

Director: Lauren Miller Rogen

“Like Father” is a film that explores multiple nightmares; being left at the altar, going on your honeymoon cruise with your father, and finding out that you have turned into your father. This heartwarming comedy starring Kristen Bell and Kelsey Grammer finds its comedy legs out on the sea.

Stacker score: 56.5

IMDb rating: 6.2

Metascore: 51

Director: J.A. Bayona

Movies about volcanoes erupting are not exactly the escape from reality 2018 movie-goers might have needed, but at least this volcano was erupting on a fictional island of dinosaurs. In “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” Owen and Claire return to Isla Nublar to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from the now-defunct theme park and end up uncovering a conspiracy of historic proportions.

Stacker score: 57

IMDb rating: 5.7

Metascore: 57

Director: Charles Stone III

When in doubt, pull a "Space Jam" and make a movie with real NBA stars. "Uncle Drew" follows Dax as he scrambles to pull together a basketball team to keep the life savings he has poured into a basketball tournament. It's a road trip movie that uses real-life NBA stars, who are all playing aged veterans of Uncle Drew's former team. 

Stacker score: 57

IMDb rating: 6.1

Metascore: 53

Director: Bill Holderman

“Book Club” follows the effects that reading “50 Shades of Grey” has on four older ladies. Screen legends Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, and Diane Keaton join in this comedy as friends who finally begin to live a little in the back half of their lives.

Stacker score: 57

IMDb rating: 6.3

Metascore: 51

Director: Wes Ball

The final installment in the “Maze Runner” trilogy, “The Death Cure” presents the Gladers with their most daunting task to date; breaking into the maze of The Last City. If they can survive the maze, they will not only save their friends, they will get the answers they have all been seeking.

Stacker score: 57.5

IMDb rating: 6.4

Metascore: 51

Director: Yarrow Cheney

Based on the Dr. Seuss book “How The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” “The Grinch” takes a decidedly 2018 approach to the classic story with a large focus being on Cindy Lou Who's single, overworked mother, and the Grinch's sad past as an orphan. Holding true to the classic, Grinch cannot stop Christmas from coming, as it is a holiday of the heart.

Stacker score: 57.5

IMDb rating: 6.1

Metascore: 54

Director: Andrew Niccol

In a dystopian future, where even thoughts are no longer private, “Anon” follows Clive Owen as a detective as he tries to crack murder cases. Amanda Seyfried plays Anon, the murderer who has somehow managed to stay off the grid and evade the government. Although it made this top 100 best movies of 2018 list, some critics have noted that the presentation of women in the film is surprisingly salacious in a Times Up era.

Stacker score: 58

IMDb rating: 5.7

Metascore: 59

Director: Anthony Byrne

"In Darkness" follows blind pianist Sofia as she delves into the mysterious murder of her upstairs neighbor. Ultimately, Sofia has secrets of her own that become revealed. It is of note that Natalie Dormer, who plays Sofia, also co-wrote the script.

Stacker score: 58

IMDb rating: 6.4

Metascore: 52

Director: Michael Sucsy

Have you ever fallen in love with someone who seems like they're constantly changing? “Every Day” explores just that as 16-year-old Rhiannon falls in love with someone who appears as a different person every day. It is a movie that is ultimately about the struggles of finding a soulmate, but not being able to be with them.

Stacker score: 58.5

IMDb rating: 6.6

Metascore: 51

Director: Will Gluck

One of only a handful of children's movies on the list, “Peter Rabbit” is loosely based on the classic Beatrix Potter books. Peter is a naughty rabbit who enjoys causing chaos by stealing from McGregor's garden. His easy life of mischief gets upended when McGregor's son moves into the house and steals something from Peter; the affection of his best friend. James Corden voices Peter Rabbit.
 

Stacker score: 58.5

IMDb rating: 6.3

Metascore: 54

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky

The third film in the series “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” is another children's movie to make the top 100. Set on a cruise ship, Dracula finds himself in love for the first time in a long time, but to someone who might secretly be his enemy. Can family feuds ever be solved? Can broken families ever successfully blend and mend? “Hotel Transylvania 3” has all the answers.

Stacker score: 59

IMDb rating: 6.1

Metascore: 57

Director: Eli Roth

Based on the 1973 book with the same name, “The House with a Clock in Its Walls” is a young audience mystery starring Jack Black and Cate Blanchett. Lewis is an orphaned 10-year-old boy who is sent to live with his warlock uncle (Black's character) in a spooky old house that has a cursed clock buried in the walls. Magical adventure ensues when Lewis accidentally wakes the dead, and a countdown to destroy the clock begins.

Stacker score: 59

IMDb rating: 6.8

Metascore: 50

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Let it be known, 2018 was the year in which Denzel Washington made the first sequel of his career. "The Equalizer 2" saw Washington reprise his role as Robert McCall, a vigilante who delivers justice where it is needed. In this extension of the original story, McCall avenges the death of someone he is close to, and fighting for justice takes a personal turn.

Stacker score: 59.5

IMDb rating: 6.1

Metascore: 58

Director: Drew Pearce

One of the many nagging problems of being a criminal is that checking into a hospital for injuries sustained on the job is ultimately the same as a guilty plea: Enter “Hotel Artemis.” Jodie Foster plays a character known as the Nurse who runs a secret members-only hospital for high-paying criminals. These criminal patients defend against a siege by the police and a mob king after a bank robber accidentally leads them there.

Stacker score: 59.5

IMDb rating: 7

Metascore: 49

Director: Christian Gudegast

Leading man Gerard Butler shows up on this list again in “Den of Thieves.” A ring of outlaws attempts to pull off a near-impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank in Los Angeles, and an elite group of the L.A. Sheriff's department tries to stop them. Police and thieves have similarities beyond gun violence in this action-packed crime drama.

Stacker score: 59.5

IMDb rating: 6.3

Metascore: 56

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra

Liam Neeson has become synonymous with thriller films: “The Commuter” is not an exception. It stars Neeson as an insurance salesman who becomes embroiled in a criminal conspiracy on his daily commute home from work. He must find the identity of a passenger before the last stop or it will be the last commute of his life.

Stacker score: 59.5

IMDb rating: 6.6

Metascore: 53

Director: Francis Lawrence

Ballet dancer Dominika Egorova, played by Jennifer Lawrence, sustains a career-ending injury and is recruited into “Sparrow School,” a sect of Russian intelligence trained to use their body as their weapons. Though the training is impossibly grueling, she emerges from the program as the most capable sparrow the institution has ever seen. Her first mission involves taking down a CIA agent, which threatens the safety of both countries.

Stacker score: 60

IMDb rating: 5.7

Metascore: 63

Director: Jeremy Saulnier

The first Netflix original to appear is "Hold the Dark" starring Jeffrey Wright. He plays a wolf expert who is hired to track down a wolf pack that has been killing children. The situation intensifies when one of the missing children's father returns from Iraq and turns violent upon learning of his son's death.

Stacker score: 60

IMDb rating: 6

Metascore: 60

Director: Ian Samuels

“Sierra Burgess Is a Loser” is Netflix's take on the story of Cyrano de Bergerac set in a high school. Sierra Burgess is indeed a loser, but after a case of mistaken identity thanks to cell phones, she must team up with the most popular girl in school to win over their crushes.

Stacker score: 60

IMDb rating: 6.6

Metascore: 54

Director: Nicolai Fuglsig

Another true story to appear on this list (and one of three films starring Chris Hemsworth to appear), “12 Strong” takes place in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11. A group of 12 soldiers is dispatched to Afghanistan where they must make allies with the Afghans and work together to attack their common enemy. The mission gets even more treacherous when they learn that they will have to go into battle the Afghani way—on horses.

Stacker score: 61

IMDb rating: 6.1

Metascore: 61

Director: Lin Oeding

In a story about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, “Braven” is about a father and son who rent a remote cabin for a quiet weekend. Unfortunately, the cabin is full of heroin, and the drug traffickers who stashed the drugs there soon descend upon the cabin to retrieve it. The father and son team must rally and make a stand for their survival.

Stacker score: 61

IMDb rating: 6.6

Metascore: 56

Director: Baltasar Kormákur

“Adrift” is based on the incredible true story of Tami Oldham and her fiancé Richard Sharp who set sail from Tahiti for San Diego. With no warning, they sail directly into category 4 Hurricane Raymond. Richard is badly injured, and the boat is destroyed. Tami must dig deep to survive and navigate herself to safety. Tami Oldham, played by Shailene Woodley, takes the power of a woman and the power of love to a whole new level.  

Stacker score: 61

IMDb rating: 6.6

Metascore: 56

Director: Jeff Tomsic

Based on a 2013 Wall Street Journal article about a group of friends who have been playing the same game of tag for 23 years, "Tag" similarly revolves around a group of five best friends who have been playing the same game for 30 years. When one of them gets married, he attempts to retire from the game without ever having been "it." The other four friends band together and go to extreme measures to finally tag him. It has a star-studded comedic cast and is one of three movies on this list that Jon Hamm appears in.
 

Stacker score: 61

IMDb rating: 6.9

Metascore: 53

Director: David Yates

The second installment in the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, which serves as the prequel to the "Harry Potter" franchise, “The Crimes of Grindelwald” finds Albus Dumbledore enlisting his former student Newt Scamander in a dangerous mission. Grindelwald is gaining power and followers on his quest to raise only pure-blood wizards to rule the world, and Scamander is tasked with stopping it.

Stacker score: 61.5

IMDb rating: 6.8

Metascore: 55

Director: David Wain

“A Futile and Stupid Gesture” is another Netflix original to make this list. Based on the life Douglas Kenney, the creator of the National Lampoon magazine, the audience is taken on the journey of the comedy revolution of the 1970s that Kenney helped to create. The film follows him from the creation of the Lampoon to making “Animal House” and “Caddyshack.” Kenney, a man who brought so much comedy to the world, comes to a tragic end. The film holds many implications for today's world, both in how today's comedy came to be and how fragile an artist's mental stability can be.

Stacker score: 61.5

IMDb rating: 6.5

Metascore: 58

Director: Chris Weitz

A gripping true story, “Operation Finale” follows real-life Mossad agent Peter Malkin in 1960 on his covert mission to track down and capture Adolf Eichmann. Eichmann is the Nazi who masterminded transporting the 6 million Jews to their deaths in concentration camps.

Stacker score: 61.5

IMDb rating: 6.2

Metascore: 61

Director: Gary Ross

Danny Ocean's sister is released from jail and immediately goes back to a life of high-end crime. She hatches a plan to pull off the ultimate jewel heist at the Met Ball, enlists the help of other power-house women, and vows to never let a man get in her way again. The film has the star power of Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, and Rihanna.

Stacker score: 62

IMDb rating: 6.7

Metascore: 57

Director: François Simard

An official selection at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, "Summer of 84" centers on a group of friends who are living their best lives in the summer of 1984. One friend suspects that his police officer neighbor is a serial killer, and the friends investigate him themselves, bringing many dangers their way.

Stacker score: 62.5

IMDb rating: 6.3

Metascore: 62

Director: Craig Johnson

A Netflix original film that went straight-to-streaming, “Alex Strangelove” centers on a high school senior Alex who has a seemingly perfect life and only one goal left to achieve—losing his virginity to his girlfriend Claire. However, life gets confusing when Alex meets Elliot, who is a charismatic gay boy from across town. Alex later begins an adventure of sexual exploration and self-discovery.

Stacker score: 62.5

IMDb rating: 7.3

Metascore: 52

Director: Clay Kaytis

Bringing in over 20 million streams in one week on Netflix, “The Christmas Chronicles” slid into November with a bang. It is the story of two siblings who attempt to catch Santa and in doing so crash his sleigh. It is up to them to help save Christmas and take a journey with a different kind of Santa. Kurt Russell has been getting rave reviews for his svelte Kris Kringle.

Stacker score: 62.5

IMDb rating: 6.3

Metascore: 62

Director: Gareth Evans

“Apostle” is another film that went straight to streaming on Netflix. It is a thriller that follows Thomas Richardson, played by “Downton Abbey's” Dan Stevens, as he travels to a small island where a cult has control of his sister. Cults are disturbing, but what Richardson discovers at work is far more sinister than he imagined. 

Stacker score: 63.5

IMDb rating: 6.7

Metascore: 60

Director: Karey Kirkpatrick

Another children's movie on the list featuring James Corden's voice, “Smallfoot” is a film that on its deepest level explores the fear of others. Migo is a Yeti who finds a smallfoot (a human) and sets off with his friends to pursue an unknown world. Both the humans and the yetis misunderstand each other, and in the end, it's the power of love that unites them all.  

Stacker score: 63.5

IMDb rating: 6.4

Metascore: 63

Director: Steven Soderbergh

A woman is tricked into committing herself to a mental institution after believing her stalker is still after her. While committed, her worst fears are realized… or perhaps it really is all in her head. Claire Foy, who stars, also shows up in the #9 best film this year.

Stacker score: 63.5

IMDb rating: 6.5

Metascore: 62

Director: Claire Scanlon

A recurrent theme throughout this list is the success of a Netflix streaming movie. “Set It Up” is one such Netflix film, and it is in good company for it. Two New York assistants attempt to set their bosses up in an effort to make their lives easier. However, they end up discovering that they may be the match that's meant to be.

Stacker score: 64.5

IMDb rating: 6.1

Metascore: 68

Director: Nick Park

From the stop-motion team that created “Wallace and Gromit,” “Early Man” is set in the days of the cavemen. It follows one such caveman, Dug, as he unites his tribe against Lord Nooth who has displaced them from their homes using his empire's bronze-making abilities. It's not the only stop-motion film on this list. 

Stacker score: 64.5

IMDb rating: 6.9

Metascore: 60

Director: Ol Parker

A highly anticipated sequel to the beloved “Mamma Mia!” this film takes place five years after the original as Sophie is both pregnant and taking over her mother's villa. Stories from her mother's past begin to unravel, and Sophie finds history repeating itself in her. Cher's performance as Sophie's grandmother is not to be missed.

Stacker score: 65

IMDb rating: 7

Metascore: 60

Director: David Mackenzie

Based on the true story of Robert the Bruce of Scotland, “Outlaw King” follows Chris Pine as the title character as he tries to take back Scotland from Edward I of England. Gathering together a group of fierce and loyal men, they take back the Scottish crown, but at a grave cost.

Stacker score: 65.5

IMDb rating: 6

Metascore: 71

Director: Daniel Goldhaber

One of various Netflix streaming-only film releases to appear on this list, "Cam" is a story about stolen identity in the era of the internet. A camgirl finds herself locked out of her own website, and an exact replica has replaced her on her show. The film has an impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, which speaks to Netflix's growing power in the film industry. 

Stacker score: 65.5

IMDb rating: 7.1

Metascore: 60

Director: Julius Avery

Just when you think you've seen every film version of a Nazi, the movie “Overlord” comes along with zombie Nazis. The day before D-Day, a group of American soldiers land behind enemy lines to carry out a mission to ensure D-Day's success. What they find is a huge challenge in a supernatural experiment that the Nazis have been secretly carrying out.

Stacker score: 65.5

IMDb rating: 6.8

Metascore: 63

Director: Albert Hughes

“Alpha” is an epic tale at the end of the last ice age. A boy who becomes separated from his family finds a wolf who is lost from his pack. The two forge an unlikely and deep bond as they find their way through many perilous adventures together. The film's trailer quirkily describes it as “mankind finding man's best friend.”

Stacker score: 65.5

IMDb rating: 6.2

Metascore: 69

Director: Kay Cannon

“Blockers,” whose logo very auspiciously has a silhouetted rooster placed before the title, is the story of two quests on a prom night. The first is that of a trio of girls who vow to lose their virginity. The second quest is of their three parents who discover the pact and vow to stop it coming to fruition. This screwball comedy has some heavy hitters like Leslie Mann, John Cena, and Ike Barinholtz.

Stacker score: 66

IMDb rating: 7.1

Metascore: 61

Director: Stefano Sollima

In this sequel to 2015's “Sicario,” Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin have teamed back up as Alejandro and FBI agent Matt Graver, respectively, to stop the latest trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border; the smuggling in of terrorists. 

Stacker score: 66

IMDb rating: 7

Metascore: 62

Director: Ron Howard

As the title suggests, "Solo: A Star Wars Story" does not fall neatly into the Star Wars prequel/sequel model, but rather the movie tells the backstory of Han Solo. The film follows him on adventures in the criminal underbelly of the Millenium Falcon where he meets Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian, both whom feature in the oldest films of the franchise.  

Stacker score: 66.5

IMDb rating: 8.4

Metascore: 49

Director: Bryan Singer

Rami Malek has been nominated for a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The film follows the band Queen through their peaks and valleys of stardom and through Mercury's personal life spiraling out of control. The culmination of the film is the band's historic reunion performance at Live Aid.

Stacker score: 67

IMDb rating: 6.7

Metascore: 67

Director: Jesse Peretz

Based on the Nick Hornby book by the same name, “Juliet, Naked” is a comedy about life's surprising second chances. Annie, played by Rose Byrne, is suffering in a long-term relationship with Duncan when a piece she wrote on the internet puts her in touch with musician Tucker Crowe. Crowe, played by Ethan Hawke, happens to be Duncan's musical idol and the internet review thrusts the three into a strange and funny love triangle.

Stacker score: 67

IMDb rating: 6.5

Metascore: 69

Director: Brad Anderson

With a title like “Beirut,” it was a safe bet that this film would not be a comedy. In this thriller, Jon Hamm plays a U.S. Diplomat who flees Lebanon in 1972 after his wife is murdered. He is called back into Beirut by the C.I.A. in 1982 to help negotiate the release of his friend Cal whom he had left behind.

Stacker score: 67

IMDb rating: 7.4

Metascore: 60

Director: Drew Goddard

It is 1969 and seven strangers end up by chance at the rundown El Royale hotel in Lake Tahoe. All the strangers carry secrets with them, but each get one last shot at redemption before hell releases upon them. “Bad Times at the El Royale” has a star-studded cast, of which Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, and Chris Hemsworth appear in films on this top 100 list more than once.  

Stacker score: 67.5

IMDb rating: 7.5

Metascore: 60

Director: Marc Forster

Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) has grown up and has not only lost sight of his old pal Pooh Bear, but he has also forgotten to make time for his own family and enjoy life. Winnie the Pooh takes it upon himself to help troubled Christopher Robin, and a magical journey of finding one's inner child ensues.

Stacker score: 68

IMDb rating: 6.7

Metascore: 69

Director: Desiree Akhavan

Winner of the 2018 U.S. Grand Jury Prize a the Sundance Film Festival, “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a teen sent away to a conversion therapy program after she is caught in a car with another girl. The goal of the program is to help teens “struggling with same-sex attraction.” The unexpected benefit of the program is that it gives Cameron a community of gay peers whom help her find her place in the world.

Stacker score: 68

IMDb rating: 6.9

Metascore: 67

Director: Gus Van Sant

Adapted from John Callahan's autobiography by the same name, “Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot” is the true story of Callahan's alcoholism and resulting life-changing car accident. As Callahan enters rehab for his disease, he uncovers his hidden gift for art and begins drawing edgy newspaper cartoons. It is ultimately a story about the healing power of art. The cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, and Jack Black, whom also appears in one other film on this list.

Stacker score: 68

IMDb rating: 7

Metascore: 66

Director: John Francis Daley

A weekly game night takes a surprising turn as the host's brother is kidnapped during a murder mystery event, appearing to be part of the game. As the group of friends unfold the mystery, it becomes clear that real life is taking place, not a game. The friends have to up their play; this time they are playing for their lives. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star in “Game Night,” a film which has been certified fresh.

Stacker score: 68.5

IMDb rating: 6.8

Metascore: 69

Director: Aaron Horvath

When a group of teens head to Hollywood to find fame, they come up against a super-villain trying to take over the world in “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.” Their friendship and abilities are tested as they have to sidetrack their big-screen dreams to stop a super-villain. It certainly wouldn't be the first time evil tries to win in Hollywood.

Stacker score: 68.5

IMDb rating: 7.3

Metascore: 64

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Though "Suspiria" cracked the top 50 films of 2018, not all remakes are as popularly received as the original. The story takes place in a prestigious Berlin ballet company where sinister dark forces are at work. The artistic director, a star student, and a psychotherapist all become embroiled in the darkness, but not all will fall prey to the terror. Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton lead this cast of nearly all women.

Stacker score: 68.5

IMDb rating: 6.8

Metascore: 69

Director: Paul Greengrass

Paul Greengrass is known for telling stories about real-life events such as “Bloody Sunday,” “United 93,” and “Captain Phillips.” “22 July” follows in that vein, telling a three-part story of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Norway's history which unfolded on July 22, 2011.

Stacker score: 68.5

IMDb rating: 7.3

Metascore: 64

Director: Susan Johnson

“To All the Boys I've Loved Before” is a Netflix movie that went straight to streaming without a theatrical release and still managed to crack the top 50 films on this list. The story revolves around a teen whose private love life goes public as her secret love letters to five boys are mailed out to them. The film stars Lana Condor.

Stacker score: 68.5

IMDb rating: 7

Metascore: 67

Director: David Gordon Green

It has been four decades since Laurie Strode barely escaped being murdered by Michael Myers on Halloween night. In this 2018 version of “Halloween,” Laurie must confront the masked murderer one final time.

Stacker score: 69

IMDb rating: 7

Metascore: 68

Director: Bart Layton

“American Animals” is about a group of friends who are looking for something extraordinary out of life. They attempt to pull off one of the largest art heists in U.S. history, but things spiral wildly out of control. The film is based on a true story.

Stacker score: 69

IMDb rating: 7.1

Metascore: 67

Director: Paul Feig

Though they only have motherhood in common, Emily and Stephanie become fast friends. When Emily suddenly disappears, Stephanie takes it upon herself to investigate what happened to Emily, and secrets and lies emerge. The film stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.

Stacker score: 69.5

IMDb rating: 7.4

Metascore: 65

Director: Mike Newell

It is a movie told in letters and flashbacks as writer Elizabeth McKenna befriends a book club of war survivors on the island of Guernsey. A struggling writer for years, she discovers that the most important story she has to tell is theirs.

Stacker score: 70

IMDb rating: 7.6

Metascore: 64

Director: Steven Spielberg

The OASIS is a virtual reality game that people in 2045 spend most of their time playing. When the creator of the world dies, a three-part challenge determines who will become the heir to his fortune. It is a “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” story for the digital age.

Stacker score: 71

IMDb rating: 7.2

Metascore: 70

Director: Peyton Reed

Scott Lang, the superhero with the super ability to shrink, is back again in this Marvel sequel that follows both “Ant-Man” and “Captain America: Civil War.” Ant-Man teams up with Wasp for a new challenge, but his biggest obstacle may be finding balance between his home life and his superhero life.

Stacker score: 71.5

IMDb rating: 6.7

Metascore: 76

Director: Matt Palmer

Two friends head out on a weekend hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands. A freak accident and their decision to cover it up change their lives forever. This is another film delivered by Netflix.

Stacker score: 71.5

IMDb rating: 7.6

Metascore: 67

Director: Leigh Whannell

Grey Trace is paralyzed after a mugging that left his wife dead. An inventor offers him an artificial implant called STEM that gives him powerful physical abilities. With his new upgrade, he can now seek revenge on his wife's murderers.  

Stacker score: 72

IMDb rating: 7.8

Metascore: 66

Director: David Leitch

The most NSFW superhero is back in this sequel, and he's as filthy as ever. Wade, the superhero Deadpool, must protect a mutant kid from the evil villain, Cable. The biggest challenge he will face is letting people get close to him again.

Stacker score: 72.5

IMDb rating: 7

Metascore: 75

Director: Jason Reitman

Marlo is a sleep-deprived mother of three who is struggling to function when her brother sends her the gift of a night nanny. Marlo forms a special bond with Tully, the nanny, and learns how to let people in, appreciate herself, and ask for help. Moms everywhere found this film “relatable.”

Stacker score: 73

IMDb rating: 7.9

Metascore: 67

Director: Steven Caple Jr.

Another sequel to make the top 100, “Creed II” follows Adonis Creed and his continued mentorship under Rocky Balboa as he fights a fight that is perhaps too personal. After losing his fighting spirit, the real fight is fought by Creed's family and Rocky as they try to get Adonis back into being the champion they know him to be.

Stacker score: 73

IMDb rating: 7.5

Metascore: 71

Director: Phil Johnston

In this sequel to “Wreck it Ralph,” Ralph and Vanellope leave their arcade and venture into the internet in search for a replacement part for Vanellope's game. They embark on an adventure and have a lot to learn from the netizens.

Stacker score: 73

IMDb rating: 7.2

Metascore: 74

Director: Jon M. Chu

Making history as the sixth highest-grossing romantic comedy ever, "Crazy Rich Asians" follows Rachel (played by Constance Wu) to Singapore where she meets her boyfriend's uber-rich family. Rachel had no idea that her boyfriend was from such an elite society, nor that the jealous women in Singapore would try to take her down.

Stacker score: 74

IMDb rating: 6.7

Metascore: 81

Director: Panos Cosmatos

Though cults and people living in secluded forests are plot elements that show up in other films on this top 100 list, there is no further plot overlap with “Mandy.” Red (Nicolas Cage) and his girlfriend Mandy live in a secluded cabin when a cult moves into the area and the cult leader sends demon motorcyclists to capture Mandy. Red will go to any extreme to get her back.

Stacker score: 74

IMDb rating: 6.9

Metascore: 79

Director: Alex Garland

Natalie Portman plays Lena, a biologist who is looking for answers to what happened to her husband inside a restricted zone known as Area-X. Lena joins a team on an expedition inside Area-X where they find more danger than answers.

Stacker score: 74.5

IMDb rating: 7.8

Metascore: 71

Director: Aneesh Chaganty

David Kim's 16-year-old daughter goes missing and the police cannot find any leads. He must take matters into his own hands and follow his daughter's digital footprints. “Searching” is a thriller about piecing together information in the information age.

Stacker Score: 74.5

IMDb rating: 7.7

Metascore: 72

Director: Greg Berlanti

Simon is a 17 year old who has begun an online relationship with a classmate known only as “Blue.” As Simon tries to decode who he has fallen for, he also must come to terms with his own secret: that he is gay. “Love, Simon” is a coming of age story with an overdue side of inclusion.

Stacker score: 75

IMDb rating: 7.4

Metascore: 76

Director: Carlos López Estrada

Collin has three days left on probation, but he is spending them working with his loose-cannon, best friend Miles. Complicating things, Collin witnesses a shooting that changes his friendship with Miles forever. "Blindspotting" is a commentary on the gentrification of Oakland and how race plays deeply into how a person is perceived.

Stacker score: 75

IMDb rating: 7

Metascore: 80

Director: Boots Riley

Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) rises in the ranks quickly at his telemarketing job when he uses his “white voice” to persuade his customers. As he is promoted, things really spin out of control.

Stacker score: 75.5

IMDb rating: 6.9

Metascore: 82

Director: George Tillman Jr.

Starr is caught between two worlds when she witnesses the death of her childhood best friend at the hand of a police officer. Her life is split: She lives in an African-American community, but attends a mostly white prep school. In the end, Starr looks inward to help her decide what to do next.

Stacker score: 76

IMDb rating: 7.4

Metascore: 78

Directors: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

It is an achievement to make the top 20 movies of any given year, but to do so with a limited theatrical release is truly impressive. “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” was released in limited theatres on Nov. 9, 2016 and then, shortly thereafter, released on Netflix. Streaming services truly have made their mark on the film industry in 2018, as this Netflix original of six Old West stories pulled in an impressive 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Stacker score: 76.5

IMDb rating: 8.3

Metascore: 70

Director: Peter Farrelly

Inspired by a true friendship, a white night club bouncer becomes the driver of Don Shirley, an African-American classical pianist, as he tours the segregated South in 1962. The unexpected result of the trip is a camaraderie that grows out of the travel hardships they face together in such a violent time.

Stacker score: 76.5

IMDb rating: 8.5

Metascore: 68

Director: Anthony Russo

In a record-setting opening weekend, "Avengers: Infinity War" brings the Avengers together again to stop Thanos from ending the world. The movie had huge significance in 2018, as it was the second most discussed and shared movie of the year.

Stacker score: 77.5

IMDb rating: 7.2

Metascore: 83

Director: Tamara Jenkins

“Private Life” explores the lengths a couple will go to to start a family. As Rachel and Richard look into everything from in vitro fertilization to adoption, it is the arrival of their recent college dropout niece into their home that brings things into focus for them. It is the highest ranked Netflix straight-to-streaming title on this list.

Stacker score: 79

IMDb rating: 7.4

Metascore: 84

Director: Steve McQueen

“Widows” tells the story of four women who are united in the crime-induced debt that their deceased husbands have left them. They band together to pull off a bank heist to secure futures for themselves. This is the highest ranking movie on the list with a predominantly female lead cast.  

Stacker score: 79

IMDb rating: 7.6

Metascore: 82

Director: John Krasinski

Cracking the top 15, “A Quiet Place” is undoubtedly the highest-ranked film with the least amount of dialogue. The film takes place in a world of monsters who cannot see, but have a heightened sense of hearing. The survival of the Abbott family depends on their ability to be silent. It is the deaf daughter who ultimately finds the secret weapon to fight the monsters as she fights her own guilt over her little brother's death. 

Stacker score: 79.5

IMDb rating: 7.6

Metascore: 83

Director: Spike Lee

A Spike Lee Joint, “BlacKkKlansman” is the highest ranked 2018 film that is based on a true story. Ron Stallworth becomes the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department and makes his mark by using just his phone and a fellow white detective to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. Considering that the prevalence of hate groups and hate crimes is on the rise, this 2018 movie becomes especially prescient.

Stacker score: 79.5

IMDb rating: 7.9

Metascore: 80

Director: Brad Bird

It took 14 years, but the Parr superhero family finally returned in this sequel. In "Incredibles 2," Mrs. Incredible is thrust into being the family breadwinner while Mr. Incredible takes on the family's domestic duties. Ultimately, the family must work together to defeat the villainous Screenslaver, and it is baby Jack Jack who has the most impressive range of powers.

Stacker score: 80

IMDb rating: 7.7

Metascore: 83

Director: Gaspar Noé

“Climax” happens to be one of the two movies on the list that is not rated, as in PG or PG-13. It is the story of a troupe of dancers who end up at an all-night dance party that goes awry when they discover they've been drinking Sangria laced with LSD. 

Stacker score: 80

IMDb rating: 7.2

Metascore: 88

Director: Debra Granik

A father and daughter have been living alone off the grid in Portland's forests for years. After being forced into social services, they must better define their idea of “home.” 

Stacker score: 80

IMDb rating: 7.6

Metascore: 84

Director: Damien Chazelle

In this Neil Armstrong biopic based on the eponymous book, the audience is taken on a tumultuous journey leading to Armstrong's moon walk. The film delves into the impact that the death of Armstrong's toddler daughter had on him, even though the bracelet scene has sparked controversy. Directed by Damien Chazelle of “La La Land” and “Whiplash” acclaim, the claustrophobic cockpit of a space shuttle feels very real in “First Man.”

Stacker score: 80

IMDb rating: 7.3

Metascore: 87

Director: Ari Aster

One of the top 10 movies of 2018 also happens to be one of the creepiest. “Hereditary” follows a family after the matriarch passes away. Strange and supernatural occurrences begin to take place and the family unravels dark secrets about their past and their lineage.

Stacker score: 80.5

IMDb rating: 7.9

Metascore: 82

Director: Wes Anderson

When an outbreak of dog flu condemns all dogs in Megasaki, Japan, to Trash Island, a little boy named Atari sets out on a quest to find his dog Spots. "Isle of Dogs" is the highest ranked non-live-action movie of 2018. Then again, it is a Wes Anderson film, so its high ranking is not surprising in the least.

Stacker score: 81

IMDb rating: 7.4

Metascore: 88

Director: Ryan Coogler

“Black Panther” spent 2018 breaking record after record. It was the biggest solo superhero launch of all time, the highest-grossing movie from an African-American director, and the highest-grossing movie featuring a predominantly African-American cast. T'Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, must balance his new role as king with his destiny as superhero Black Panther. The film is up for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture—Drama, so 2019 may be off to an exciting start for “Black Panther.”

Stacker score: 81.5

IMDb rating: 7.3

Metascore: 90

Director: Jennifer Fox

This HBO film stars Laura Dern, who has earned a Golden Globe nomination for her work in this role. Dern's character, Jennifer, is in the process of making a documentary about childhood rape when her mother discovers essays she had written as a child. The content of the essays forces Jennifer to go on a journey to uncover the truth about her own childhood and the adults that were part of it.

Stacker score: 82.5

IMDb rating: 7.6

Metascore: 89

Director: Bo Burnham

This directorial and screenwriting debut of comedian Bo Burnham has already raked in multiple awards and nominations for both the film and Burnham. This cringe-inducing film follows Kayla Day (Elsie Fisher) in her last week of her painful eighth grade year. It is never a good time to be in eighth grade, but the film shows that the age of social media adds an extra layer of excruciation.

Stacker score: 82.5

IMDb rating: 7.9

Metascore: 86

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

This sixth movie of the popular Tom Cruise franchise has the honor of being the highest rated of all the films on Rotten Tomatoes. Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF team race against time to find plutonium cores after an earlier mission goes wrong. Ranked as the third best movie of 2018, it is no wonder the movie has grossed $791 million worldwide to date.

Stacker score: 85

IMDb rating: 8.2

Metascore: 88

Director: Bradley Cooper

In the #1 slot is a movie so nice, they already made it thrice. In this fourth remake of the 1937 classic by the same name, Lady Gaga makes her big screen debut as a singer discovered and shepherded into stardom by a veteran musician (Bradley Cooper) whose own career is fading to his alcoholism. Gaga is nominated for Best Actress, and Cooper is nominated for both Best Actor and Best Director.