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Best Movie of 2018
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Votes: 31.8%Studio: Sony
There’s no replacing a comic book legend like Peter Parker, but Sony Animation’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse proves that more “Spider-People” is a very, very good thing. So good, in fact, that it’s IGN’s Best Movie of 2018. Miles Morales’ journey from zero to hero is brought to life with jaw-dropping animation, whimsical callbacks to previous Spider-Man media, and memorable side characters from the multiverse that range from fan-favorite Spider-Gwen to the outright bizarre Spider-Ham. But at the center of the film is the dual stories of the brand new Spider-Man Miles and his washed-up mentor from an alternate dimension. Both discover the best parts of themselves in their journey together, and we fall in love with both as a result. Taking a bold departure from the Pixar animation style we’ve come to expect from mainstream animated films, Into the Spider-Verse delivers a dynamic visual experience unlike any other. But perhaps most importantly, Spider-Verse feels fresh, different and new in a landscape full of superhero movies.
Runner-up: Avengers: Infinity War
Votes: 18.2%Studio: Marvel
Avengers: Infinity War
Scroll down for our nominees or head to our Best of 2018 Awards hub to see more of IGN's top picks of the year.
Click through the gallery for all our nominees or scroll through them below.
Avengers: Infinity War
Studio: Marvel
From IGN's Review: "Using the strength of its powerful and interesting villain to set the stakes higher than ever, Avengers: Infinity War successfully brings together the past 10 years of Marvel movies into a largely effective cocktail of super-heroic dramatics. The fact that it manages to give nearly every member of its admittedly overstuffed cast at least a moment to shine is its greatest feat. Sure, it ends on a cliffhanger, but those final moments elevate the entire series in a poetic, if horrific, coup de grace."
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Studio: Netflix
From IGN's Review: "Few filmmakers are as playfully cynical as the Coens, and in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs they haven’t just made a funny, sentimental, exciting and blistering western, they’ve also unlocked their entire filmography for anyone who may have missed the connections before. And there’s no going back now. It’s the Coen Bros.’ world, and good luck to anyone who lives there."
BlacKkKlansman
Studio: Focus
From IGN's Review: "BlacKkKlansman is one of Spike Lee’s best movies. With a dynamite cast, sharp script and pointed humor that underscores real-life, disturbing horrors, it’s an entertaining crime drama that amuses and shocks and invites the audience into a complex and impassioned conversation about the power of racism - and the moving image - to influence our lives."
Black Panther
Studio: Marvel
From IGN's Review: "Black Panther delivers the goods as an adventure film, a political statement, and a cultural celebration. It shakes off a sluggish start thanks to a memorable cast of characters going up against Marvel’s best-realized villain in almost a decade. Some of the vibrance is drained by cartoonish visual effects that endanger the very human feel of the story, but the emotional weight of its themes and the cast’s compelling performances ultimately keep the film on track. Overall Black Panther is an exciting step forward for the MCU. Long live the king!"
First Man
Studio: Universal
From IGN's Review: "First Man is a stunning cinematic achievement that celebrates one of humanity’s biggest triumphs (and mourns the tragedies that happened leading up to it), yet it never loses sight of its personal and small-scale story about a man going to work."
Game Night
Studio: Warner Bros.
From IGN's Review: "It takes real intelligence to make the best dumb jokes. Game Night has plenty of both, combining skilled filmmaking and ridiculous gags in equal measure, and letting the seriousness and silliness play off of each other for maximum effect."
Hereditary
Studio: A24
From IGN's Review: "Hereditary is one of the scariest movies around, and a spectacular showcase for actors Toni Collette and Alex Wolff. The film’s subtle shocks and realistic drama combine to create a dreamlike atmosphere, drenched in psychological horror, which builds and builds to a climax that you won’t forget anytime soon… although you may end up wishing the film had let you decipher more of its mysteries for yourself."
A Quiet Place
Studio: Paramount
From IGN's Review: "Part B-movie creature feature, part familial chamber piece, A Quiet Place is a gleeful combo platter of horror tropes that manages to coalesce into something that's both derivative and yet undeniably unique."
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Studio: Sony
From IGN's Review: "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse hits all the marks to be an all-around moviegoing blast. Miles Morales has a memorable big-screen debut thanks to a compelling story and strong performances from its heroes and villain. Alongside Peter Parker, Miles’ journey from everyday teenager to a genuine city-saving superhero is one of the best Spider-Man movie stories ever. The addition of other multiverse characters doesn’t overshadow Miles’ story, though Kingpin does get a bit shortchanged. Taking a bold departure from the Pixar animation style we’ve come to expect from mainstream animated films, Into the Spider-Verse delivers a dynamic visual experience unlike any other."
A Star Is Born
Studio: Warner Bros.
From IGN's Review: "A Star Is Born is a refreshing take on this classic showbiz rise and fall tale, with updated character work, fantastic performances by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, and a soundtrack that will be stuck in your head for days."
