#EDITORSNOTE: TEAM MR. WILL’S TOP TEN PICPICKS OF 2018

It’s hard to believe another year’s passed by! 2018 certainly was a stand-out year for Cinema and Team Mr. Will true to tradition, share with you their best of 2018. If you haven’t seen some of these, it’s time to start adding to your Must-See Lists this winter!

 

AMANDA GILMORE (@gilmoreamanda)
It was such a great year for Film that it’s near impossible for me to choose the Top Ten. I could have easily made a Top 30 list (if it was allowed). However, I managed to squeeze in ten films, which are in alphabetical order rather than being ranked. I’ve included films from a range of genres and narratives that I’ve thought about since my first viewing.

A Star Is Born
A Quiet Place
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Black Panther
Eighth Grade
Mission Impossible: Fallout
Roma
Shoplifters
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse
The Favourite

JONATHAN GODFREY (@Skot_Somers)

Annihilation
First Man
Ready Player One
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
A Quiet Place
Green Book
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Legend of the Demon Cat
Mary Poppins Returns

As usual, my list consists of movies I saw on the Silver Screen within the calendar year. They’re organized according to release date, and are thus relieved of any hierarchy. Annihilation is the dark Sci-Fi wizardry I live for; Ready Player One is my kind of Spielberg cinema; and A Quiet Place is my top scare of 2018. Solo gave me more Star Wars; Demon Cat made this year’s TIFF magical; and First Man is the brand of brooding Drama I adore. Fantastic Beasts 2 is dope AF; Green Book is a beautiful performance piece; and Spider-Man is the Comic Movie I’ve been waiting forever for. To wrap it all up… Mary Poppins Returns! She has, and it warms my heart.

DAVID BALDWIN (@DaveMABaldwin)
2018 was an incredible year for Cinema. Full stop. If anyone tells you otherwise, they did not see enough movies. Every genre fired on all cylinders, and the mid-budget and independent scenes were filled with positively exquisite Filmmaking that will go down as some of the best of the decade. And even better than that, 2018 proved the power and importance of diversity and gender in Cinema. The number of movies I genuinely liked and loved that missed my Top Ten can attest to how outstanding a year this was. But I can say with confidence that the list of films below shook me right through to my bones whether through fear, laughter, wonder, charm, thrills, or genuine emotion. And yes, I know I cheated with including a tie — but it would be a disservice to not include all of these titles on my list.

Hereditary
Assassination Nation
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Incredibles 2
Blindspotting
Paddington 2
Eighth Grade
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
The Hate U Give
[tie] Can You Ever Forgive Me? / Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

GEORGE KOZERA (@PartyG)
I saw 164 movies this year. It took a long time to whittle the list down to 26 movies that I considered to be the best of 2018. This was a year that brought fantastic highs that had me gasping with wonder and admiration or so bad that they had me rolling my eyes in disbelief! Whether it was one of the most original Horror movies in a long time (A Quiet Place) or a Superhero, Comic Book movie so innovative and supremely well-acted that it validated a genre many were hoping would just go away (Black Panther). It was a banner year for documentary features, musicals and an LGBTQ movie was released for the first time ever by a major Hollywood studio (Love, Simon). Dramas were rampant with stories that touched one’s soul, though there was a lack of Comedies that were consistently funny throughout (with the exception of “Game Night”). All that said, I submit my pick for the best film of the year and the next nine movies (in alphabetical order) that moved, enthralled and will stay with me for years to come.

Roma
BlacKkKlansman
Cold War
The Favourite
Green Book
If Beale Street Could Talk
Lean on Pete
Leave No Trace
Mary Poppins Returns
Three Identical Strangers

JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DubsReviews)
It is time for the annual Top Ten movies I saw that I absolutely adored and loved this year. Some are best of the year, while others are the movies I had the most fun watching this year. There have been some truly incredible movies this year, and dare I say the ‘blockbusters’ for the most part have been fine, nothing really spectacular outside of a few gems. If you haven’t seen something on this list, go out and see it. Most of these movies will appeal to the masses, enjoy yourselves. Here’s to a 2019 with some hot titles coming out over the next few weeks, Glass anyone, and next few months, US am I right? 2019 is sure to be a stellar year

Anna and the Apocalypse
A Quiet Place
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Blindspotting
Eighth Grade
Sorry to Bother You
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
The Favourite
Widows

 

Click here to read Mr. Will’s Best of 2018.

 

(Photo credit: Elevation Pictures/Warner Bros. Canada/VVS Films/Fox Searchlight)

#BOXOFFICE: “RAMPAGE” FURIOUS IN OPENING

RAMPAGE, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, debuts at number one this weekend with $35.7 million for Warner Bros. It debuts with lukewarm reviews at 50% on the Tomatometer but gets a solid A- CinemaScore which will help propel its word of mouth in coming weeks.

It’s been a quick climb to the $100-million-mark for A QUIET PLACE in second with $32.9 million. Over two weeks it has made $101.8 million domestically for Paramount Pictures over 3,589 theatres this weekend.

BLUMHOUSE’S TRUTH OR DARE debuts in third with $18.6 million for Universal Pictures from 3,029 theatres. It gets 15% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore. The Horror stars Lucy Hale and Tyler Posey.

In its third week out READY PLAYER ONE slips to fourth spot with $11 million bringing its three week total to $114 million for Warner Bros.

In fifth is BLOCKERS with $10.3 million for Universal Pictures, bringing its two week total to $36 million.

CHAPPAQUIDDICK rounds-out the Top Ten for Entertainment Studios/D Films with $2.9 million, a total $10.9 million over two weeks.

#BOXOFFICE: “A QUIET PLACE” OPENS LOUD

Never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. A QUIET PLACE, directed by and starring John Krasinski (and also partner Emily Blunt!) quietly has been building buzz and raves were loud after its SXSW Premiere recently in Austin. It debuts atop the Box Office with a smashing $50 million for Paramount Pictures from 3,508 theatres. It gets a 97% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

In second is last week’s champ READY PLAYER ONE with $24 million from 4,234 theatres, a total $94 million over two weeks for Warner Bros.

Third is new entrant BLOCKERS with $20 million from 3,379 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Comedy was made for $19 million and gets 83% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore for first-time Feature Director Kay Cannon.

BLACK PANTHER is far from done, in fourth this weekend with $8.2 million in its eighth week out for Marvel/Disney. It has made $665 million to-date in North America.

Tyler Perry’s ACRIMONY debuts in fifth with $7.3 million from 2,006 theates for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. The Director’s highest opening still goes to 2009’s Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail with $41 million.

CHAPPAQUIDDICK debuts in seventh with $5.7 million from 1,560 theatres for Entertainment Studios/D Films. The TIFF ’17 selection starring Jason Clarke gets an impressive 79% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.

THE MIRACLE SEASON rounds-out the Top Ten in its opening with $3.8 million from 1,707 theatres for LD Entertainment/Elevation Pictures. It gets 36% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore from Audiences.

 

#BOXOFFICE: “READY PLAYER ONE” AIN’T PLAYIN’ GAMES

READY PLAYER ONE isn’t playin’ at all this Easter Weekend! The latest Steven Spielberg Film debuts atop the Box Office with a strong $52 million from 4,234 theatres for Warner Bros. It gets 76% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore from Audiences.

Debuting a second this weekend is Tyler Perry‘s ACRIMONY with $16.9 million from 2,006 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. It gets 30% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore.

In third is BLACK PANTHER with $11.5 million in its seventh week out. Its gross in North America comes to $650 million.

Faith-based Drama I CAN ONLY IMAGINE is in fourth this weekend with $10.4 million for Roadside Attractions. It has made $55 million over three weeks.

PACIFIC RIM UPRISING lands in fifth spot with $9.5 million in its second week out, a two-week total of $46 million domestically.

Rounding-out the Top Ten is ISLE OF DOGS with $2.8 million, a total $5.9 million over two weeks.