I’d like to restart the tradition of posting my opinion on the best of the movies and TV shows I watched, and books I read in the past year.
So I will! None of the items on these lists are required to have been released in 2018, but I had to have watched or read them for the first time in 2018.
Here goes!
Movies
10. The Meg (2018)
A giant shark movie starring Jason Statham. There was no way this wasn’t making the list.
9. Ocean’s 8 (2018)
A fresh take on an old concept with a stellar cast.
8. Rampage (2018)
A giant animal movie starring Dwayne Johnson. There was no way this wasn’t making the list.
7. Get Out (2018)
Smart horror that doesn’t skimp on the scares.
6. Christopher Robin (2018)
Adorable live action addition to the world of the 100 Acre Woods.
5. Mary Poppins Returns (2019)
Sweet sequel to the story of the world’s favourite nanny.
4. Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
A dark and gritty world of cultism, robbery, espionage and dreams.
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
One of the highest stakes movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but still good, action-packed fun.
2. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
A heartbreaking and inspiring look at one of the world’s biggest rock bands.
1. The Greatest Showman (2018)
One of the best musicals I have ever seen and the absolute best outside of the golden age of MGM musicals. Inspiring, visually stunning and an amazing soundtrack — just perfect.
Television
10. RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Season Two
It’s fun to see the art these queens create and even more fun to revisit them after their first taste of RPDR fame.
9. Midnight, Texas: Season One
An enjoyable urban fantasy series based on a great book series by Charlaine Harris.
8. Santa Clarita Diet: Season Two
Drew Barrymore as a zombie and Timothy Olyphant as her uptight husband? Gory comedy gold.
7. The Handmaid’s Tale: Seasons One and Two
A dark dystopian journey through the world of Gilead as told through the eyes of June and those around her.
6. American Horror Story: Seasons Five and Six
This year Hotel and Roanoke became two of my favourite seasons of American Horror Story.
5. Ozark: Season Two
A stellar cast feature in Ozark and the stakes get even higher this season. Great crime drama.
4. RuPaul’s Drag Race: Seasons Six and Seven
Two of my favourite seasons of a favourite TV show — not only because they feature so many favourite queens but the challenges are fantastic and the competition fierce.
3. The Crown: Season Two
I maintain that if Queen Elizabeth has truly dealt with even half of what is shown on this show with the same amount of grace, she is a wondrous human being.
2. Queer Eye: Seasons One and Two
A new fab five hit the road to change the lives of people through self-enhancement — and it’s fantastic.
1. The Haunting of Hill House: Season One
While only one season in, The Haunting of Hill House was the absolute stand out for me this year. Brilliant horror.
Books
10. The General Theory of Haunting by Richard Easter (2018)
A combination of science fiction and horror that brings great elements from both.
9. The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (2018)
A beautifully constructed mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.
8. Ender’s Game (1985)
A classic science fiction story about war in space and the tolls the training takes.
7. Final Girls by Riley Sager (2017)
An interesting story about the lives of three massacre survivors after the world stops looking.
6. Yes Please by Amy Poehler (2014)
Funny, heart-wrenching and inspirational at the same time. Poehler’s talents don’t seem to end.
5. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (2003)
An exciting start to a long running series about a man who sees the dead.
4. Redshirts by John Scalzi (2012)
An enjoyable satire of science fiction television shows, particularly Star Trek.
3. Strange Weather by Joe Hill (2017)
A collection of four quirky and thought-provoking stories, all tied to strange weather events.
2. Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker (2018)
The prequel to Dracula that I didn’t know I needed until I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC.
1. The Outsider by Stephen King (2018)
A murder mystery with a unique twist that could only come from the mind of Stephen King.
So those are my best of lists for 2018. What were some of your favourite movies, TV shows or books that you experienced in 2018? Let me know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter.
– CJ
