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The 20 Best Comedies Of 2018
What were your favorite comedy movies and shows in 2018?
Sometimes, it feels like the world is crumbling around you. Whether it's political turmoil, the negativity in the news, or everyone screaming their loud opinions on the internet, you just need to take a break and get your mind off of the world. Luckily, there's a whole genre of movies and TV series that provide the laughs you need, and that's comedy.
2018 was a phenomenal year for the genre that tries real hard to make you laugh. From a blockbuster superhero movie starring a foul-mouthed hero to a Netflix animated series where everyone is going through puberty, there was plenty of content that surely got you to chuckle at least once or twice.
There was almost too much good comedy this past year, and sifting through it all was a challenging task for the fine staff of GameSpot. Luckily, after hours of arguments and saying things we can never take back, we've narrowed down a list of TV series and movies from 2018 that are hilarious and well worth your time.
Presented below are the 20 best comedy movies and television shows from the past year. Let us know which one of these tickled your fancy in 2018 and your favorite moments from each of them. If you're looking for more retrospectives in entertainment, check out our best of lists from 2018 below.
Other Best Of lists from 2018:
1. Paddington 2
How important is simple goodness? The world is a forest fire, both literally and figuratively. While there are plenty of major action, drama, and horror films that thrill and chill us as viewers, they don't always send you away from the theater with a smile on your face. And honestly, that's something we desperately need sometimes.
What makes Paddington 2, and Paddington himself, so engaging is that this way of life is so simple. He is good and he's doing his best to put good into the world. The universe being what it is, he doesn't always get that goodness in return immediately. But his positive spirit makes an impact on those around him, changing things for the better. Who couldn't use a little more of that in their lives? It's such an easy idea, but also one that's easy to forget. Luckily, we've got that little Peruvian bear to remind us that literally anyone can make a change for the better in some way, big or small. You just have to try. -- Chris Hayner
2. The Good Place
There's just something unequivocally lovable about The Good Place. Focusing on four people who find themselves trying to navigate the afterlife, the show keeps finding ways to reinvent itself, pushing its premise in new and unexpected directions and mining those directions for humor and heart. The writing is consistently top-notch, laden with hilarious one-liners and numerous hidden gems. Discussions of philosophy and ethics have never been this entertaining.
The best thing about The Good Place, though, is that it's a show about people who, at their core, want to be better than they already are. It carries a positivity that's infectious. It's nearly impossible not to come away from an episode of The Good Place without feeling better than you did when you started it. The Good Place is smart enough to say something about the real world, but refreshingly, it never makes its comments with cynicism--the whole point is that there's hope for all of us. Nobody's beyond changing if they want to, even Kristen Bell's oft-awful (but always hysterical) Eleanor and her Soul Squad companions. -- Phil Hornshaw
3. Game Night
Game Night, starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, is a dark comedy of errors. On a couple's game night, the host of the party is assaulted and kidnapped, and his guests mistakenly think this is part of the mystery roleplaying game they're playing. So they continue as though nothing's wrong, only to realize, too late, that the criminals and the guns are real.
The comedic standout in this film is Jesse Plemons, who gained notoriety as the murderous Todd in the final season of Breaking Bad, following that up with a role in Fargo Season 2. And in this movie, he's a creepy next door neighbor who no one wants to invite to game night.
To draw a comparison: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the co-writers behind Horrible Bosses and Horrible Bosses 2, co-directed this film. And if you liked the glossy-look-meets-offbeat-humor of those movies, you'll love Game Night. -- Kevin Wong
4. Blockers
Three parents discover that their daughters have made a pact to lose their virginities on prom night, and will do anything in their power to stop them. If you judge Blockers by its name and premise, it sounds like a forgettable straight-to-DVD affair that could have been released in 2005. But it’s 2018, and Kay Cannon’s directorial debut is a refreshing take on the teen sex comedy genre, and one that’s not only funny, but genuinely heartfelt.
It balances gross out humor, like John Cena butt chugging a beer (and trust me, you need to see John Cena butt chugging a beer), with progressive and enlightening conversations between teenage girls who are coming to terms with growing up and discovering their sexualities. It's still crass in all the right places, so if you're looking to have a laugh on a Friday night, look no further. -- Lucy James
5. Bojack Horseman Season 5
While BoJack Horseman may not be a typical animated comedy (given that its main character is a depressed, drug addicted horse, it's difficult to see how it could be), but its intelligent brand of humor and the way it delicately toes the line between crushing emotional beats and absurd comedy truly sets it apart from other shows. And it was still just as sublime in its fifth season. There’s biting commentary at Hollywood's (or should we say Hollywoo's) expense ("Are you the umlaut in Chloë Sevigny's name right now? Because I don't know why you're here, but I'm glad you are”), and absurd storylines like Princess Carolyn and Todd requiring a mediator to resolve an argument over a stolen string cheese. Not to mention that you’ll be spending half the time looking out for hidden jokes in the background of every shot (even if the show tells you not to). In fact, BoJack Horseman is so laden with jokes, you’ll need to go back and rewatch the episodes to make sure you catch every little thing. -- Lucy James
6. Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians is fashion porn and wealth porn; you find yourself gawking at the massive estates, the expensive cars, the brand designer clothes, and the decadent wedding where the center aisle floods so the bride can walk on water. But the film is edited well and moves at a brisk pace. The cumulative effect is breezy and carefree rather than gross and exploitative.
These types of movies, which give us plebes a peek at how the other half lives, are best when they have a regular, middle class protagonist who we can identify with. In The Devil Wears Prada, it was Andy, played by Anne Hathaway. In Crazy Rich Asians, it's Rachel, played by Constance Wu, who is dating the heir to a wealthy Singaporean family and is judged on her Asian-ness, her American-ness, and her lack of wealth and family pedigree.
The much-celebrated, all Asian cast -- an extreme exception for an American production -- was excellent. The two standouts were Gemma Chan, who played the role of Astrid, and action star Michelle Yeoh, who played the protective mother that Rachel must win over.
The inclusion of Asian men who are sexual, desirable, and fill a variety of narrative roles is an advancement that is both welcome and embarrassingly late. Hopefully, Crazy Rich Asians will be one of the last times that an Asian American film has to "break new ground." Let's go upwards and onwards, from here on out. -- Kevin Wong
7. Uncle Drew
Uncle Drew was funny on multiple levels. The movie about basketball players in "old people" makeup sure does have plenty of jokes in it, but what I found hilarious was how many partnerships this movie had. First, it was--in part--produced by Pepsi. Second, it had a few promotional partners like The General Insurance, Wheaties, Aleve, AARP, American Express, and more. I'm not talking about this in a mean-spirited way by any means. It feels fully fitting for a movie like Uncle Drew, which feels like every '90s sports comedy rolled up into one.
The movie follows Dax (Lil Rel Howery) as a streetball manager who has to put together a new team, which consists of retired streetball players made up of Kyrie Irving, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, Reggie Miller, and Nate Robinson in old people makeup. Dax's arch-nemesis Mookie Bass (Nick Kroll) has his own team, made up of Dax's former players. The back and forth between the two makes some of the best moments. It's a simple and fun movie that combines elements of the typical sports comedy and the classic road trip film. It's surprisingly more than a one-trick-pony with putting people in geriatric makeup, although that's still a big part of what makes it entertaining. -- Mat Elfring
8. Ant-Man and the Wasp
After seeing Infinity War, fans across the nation were bummed out, because their favorite characters were just killed off in an epic movie. Luckily, Ant-Man and the Wasp, the sequel to 2015's Ant-Man, was a delightful palate cleanser. The movie was layered with tons of jokes and the whole thing felt light-hearted and fun, something Marvel movie fans desperately needed. It took what worked in the first movie and expanded upon it, while making sure certain elements--especially the comedy aspects--didn't overstay their welcome. And much like Pixar's Incredibles 2, the Ant-Man sequel revolved heavily around family, more specifically around the dynamics between fathers and daughters. This created a brilliantly layered movie for something most people just assumed was going to be a "silly superhero movie."
Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost was also a very welcome addition to the cast, even when you consider the fact that Ghost isn't even an Ant-Man villain to begin with. On the surface of Ant-Man and the Wasp, it's a silly superhero movie about growing and shrinking, but the film ends up being a lot deeper than we thought it would be. It's a movie that proves Marvel can put out a standalone movie in the midst of something larger happening. Hopefully, they do more movies like this in the future. -- Mat Elfring
9. Sorry to Bother You
On the surface, Sorry to Bother You sounds simple. Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) gets a much needed job as a telemarketer, where he quickly learns to adopt a distinctively funny "white voice" (played by comedian David Cross) to get ahead. He wrestles with his identity as a black man in the face of this success, especially as his co-workers revolt against the company's broken systems while he rises through the ranks.
But Sorry to Bother You ultimately becomes much more than simply social or racial satire, especially when it careens into full on dystopian science fiction. And yet it somehow never loses its sense of humor, either. Sorry to Bother You raises questions about identity, personal responsibility, corporate ethics, workers' revolutions, and the nature of art, while also being a movie about--slight spoilers--people snorting magical cocaine and being very literally transformed into something both more and less than their original selves.
Stanfield is exceptional in the lead role, and his success is bolstered by a supporting cast that includes Tessa Thompson (in yet another fantastic performance this year), Steven Yeun, Danny Glover, and more. Whether you're in it for the comedy, the science fiction, or the biting social commentary, director Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You was one of the best movies of 2018. -- Mike Rougeau
10. Blindspotting
Coming off of the wildly popular Broadway musical Hamilton, triple-threat performer Daveed Diggs set his sights on telling a more personal story set in a heavily gentrified Oakland, California. With his co-star and co-writer Rafael Casal, Blindspotting is a showcase of the constant hustle of Bay Area living. Interestingly enough, both Diggs and Casal went to the same high school in the Bay Area, and that connection between them makes the film and their dynamic performances all the better. When the lead characters Colin and Miles aren't dealing with the encroaching influence of gentrification--with new residents pricing out the old and along with corner stores hawking expensive green health drinks--they bond over the better days of Oakland while dropping some smooth freestyle flows that focus on the good they still have in their lives.
Featuring an already solid script that manages to balance the high-highs and low-lows of life in modern Oakland, what really propels the movie to amazing heights are the fantastic performances given by Diggs and Casal. With an undeniable chemistry between them, both stars riff off one another with ease--even when they're at odds. There's a surprisingly Shakespearean-like cadence to the dialog and set-up of scenes, which is exemplified when Rafael Casal's character proudly states, "Everybody listen more when you make it sound pretty." In one of the movie's most profound moments, this line of thinking is taken seriously when Diggs' character Colin breaks off into a freestyle that's raw and poignant--showing frustration at being treated as an outsider in his own home, along with his struggles to figure out his place in "the new Oakland".
This very pivotal scene sums up what Blindspotting is all about, and it's given even more gravitas thanks to the stellar performances given by Diggs and Casal. -- Alessandro Fillari
11. Anna and the Apocalypse
Snow is falling, Christmas carols are being sung everywhere, and the living undead are tearing apart your small Scottish town. What is a girl to do but kick butts, bash heads, and sing her way through the apocalypse? Story wise, Anna and the Apocalypse isn’t much different from your run-of-the-mill teenage musical. The titular Anna (Ella Hunt, a Buffy for a new generation) is tired of her small town life and wants to see the world before heading to university. Her best friend John (Malcolm Cumming) wishes he was more than that to her. Their film nerd friend Chris (Christopher Leveaux) and his musical theater girlfriend Lisa (Marli Siu) can’t keep their hands off each other, and the socially conscious Steph (Sarah Swire) wants to change the world.
Anna and the Apocalypse doesn’t invent a new wheel, but it succeeds at everything it seeks out to do while also becoming a new Christmas classic. As a comedy it is hilarious, as a horror film it makes you afraid for the characters’ gruesome deaths, as a teenage film it is earnest and relatable, and as a musical it will have you singing along to the soundtrack for days. -- Rafael Motamayor
12. Deadpool 2
The first Deadpool film captured the essence of the Merc with a Mouth, and it was clear that Ryan Reynolds was born to play the starring role. Deadpool 2 is just as fun and gives Deadpool fans exactly what they want--meta jokes, stylistic action, and R-rated violence. While the first film was definitely more grounded with a tighter script, this sequel is all over the place. But it’s a fun ride.
The action in Deadpool 2 is great--it definitely earns its R-rating and is hyper violent. New additions to the cast, particularly Josh Brolin as Cable and Zazie Beetz as Domino, reinvigorate the series with solid performances. The way that X-Force is included and handled in the film is quite funny, and Deadpool’s interactions with the X-Men are just as amusing as they were before. Credit is also due to the movie’s hilarious mid-credits scene, which took Deadpool’s meta humor to another level. Yes, Deadpool 2 is more of the same, but for Deadpool fans, that’s not a bad thing. -- Chastity Vicencio
13. Big Mouth Season 2
Big Mouth Season 2 was the perfect follow-up to Season 1. It's still a disgusting, puerile, way too honest examination of puberty in all its terrible forms. But also like Season 1, the new episodes pack in an incredible amount of heart and character development for a show that stars a boy who f***s his pillow, personified incarnations of the protagonist's pubes, and an invisible monster who constantly urges teenagers to masturbate. Big Mouth has proved to be the perfect playground for today's top comedians, from Nick Kroll and John Mulaney to Jenny Slate, Jordan Peele, Jason Mantzoukas, Fred Armisen, and countless more who provide their voices and talents. And best of all, when you're done watching it, you'll have dozens of disgusting new euphemisms for sex, chief among them "making thick in the warm." Ew, but also, fantastic. -- Mike Rougeau
14. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Season 13
The 13th season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia aired on FXX this year, and who would have thought that not only would it still be going strong but the show would keep getting better and better? The show had two of the strongest episodes in the series this season: "Mac Finds His Pride," which we'll be discussing in detail in another feature, and "Time's Up For The Gang," which is a look at the Time's Up movement through the eyes of five, despicable people, with an ending you can see coming from a mile away, but still works oh so well.
While on its surface, Always Sunny may seem like your typical dirtbag comedy, the writing has slowly evolved these characters, which are unrecognizable from the first season until now. Even when faced with remembering their own past, like in "The Gang Does A Clip Show," their own narcissism changes the vision of the past, which makes for excellent comedy. It's just amazing to me that a show has been on the air for 13 years and it not only remains relevant and funny, but it keeps getting funnier. -- Mat Elfring
15. BlacKkKlansman
Spike Lee came back in a big way in 2018 with the unbelievable story of BlacKkKlansman. John David Washington stars as Colorado Springs' first black police officer who, with the help of his partner, played by Adam Driver, goes undercover to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. Director Spike Lee takes a very serious and unfunny time during America's history--the civil rights movement--and spins a tale that is ultimately comedic.
There are moments of gold within the entire film. Take for instance when Washington's character Ron Stallworth is having a conversation with KKK grand wizard David Duke (Topher Grace). On the phone, Duke tells Stallworth he knows when a black man is doing a "white voice," to which Stallworth and other officers start to crack up. There are plenty of moments in this film where Stallworth gets one over on Duke, including once in person, which makes Grace's portrayal of Duke the ultimate comedic foil throughout the film. Aside from that aspect, this is just a fantastic movie, and one of the best of the year. It's surprising it's gone under-the-radar for some people. -- Mat Elfring
16. Super Troopers 2
The definition of a cult hit, Super Troopers always seemed destined to be a one-off, not least due to the mixed success of subsequent Broken Lizard movies like Club Dread and Beerfest. But over a long decade and a half that included multiple false starts--at one point, they said it was going to be a prequel set in the 1970s in which they'd all play their own dads--and a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign, Super Troopers 2 was sloppily birthed into the world.
And, almost unbelievably, it turned out pretty good. Super Troopers 2 somehow manages to feel even more meandering, flighty, and lackadaisical than the original, but its laughs arrive at a breakneck speed that would have these troopers spitting out their liters of cola if the movie sped by them on the highway. If you've spent the last 17 years sneaking the word "meow" into everyday speech and wondering how quickly you could chug every bottle of syrup that you see, Super Troopers 2 was not a disappointment. -- Mike Rougeau
17. Love, Simon
Love, Simon doesn't do anything really new or exceptional in the genre of teenage romantic comedies, save one thing: Love, Simon is the story of the titular Simon (Nick Robinson) coming out. Along the way, it relies on plenty of tropes, but still manages to feel fresh because it's a version of this story we've rarely seen. The characters draw you into their world, and you wind up rooting for everyone to be happy in the end (except Martin, screw that guy). Sure, the movie plays it pretty safe overall, but there's something even more endearing about treating the subject matter like any other high school rom-com. Ultimately, Love, Simon is so sincere that it will win you over in the end. -- Mike Rougeau
18. Isle of Dogs
Wes Anderson's talent for creating whimsical film worlds is unique--no one is better than him at building intricate, candy-coated dioramas masquerading as movie sets and plots. Where many directors strive to make movies that seem as realistic as possible, Anderson bends reality until it drips in slow motion with deep cut '70s alt rock b-sides and non-sequitur one-liners that get right to the heart. Isle of Dogs is one of his most Anderson-y films yet, but somehow, it's also more focused, driven, and pared down than anything the director has done before. At just over 100 minutes, Isle of Dogs could have used a little more time spent on some of its side characters and subplots, and a little more at the end. But there's a silver lining there: Isle of Dogs is Wes Anderson's most focused film ever, and you'll want to go through it again. -- Mike Rougeau
19. To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Netflix has plenty of misses to go along with the hits when it comes to its originals, but To All the Boys I've Loved Before is one of the latter. Nestled snugly in the teen romantic comedy genre, To All The Boys tells the story of Lara Jean (Lana Condor), an Asian-American high school girl who's mortified when the private love letters she keeps in a box somehow make their way to their unintended recipients. Naturally, that sends Lara Jean on a romantic spiral, as she begins fake dating a jock in a convoluted scheme to win over her neighbor, who's also her sister's boyfriend.
Look, it's a lot. And yes, it's full of cliches. But To All The Boys I've Loved Before is so heartfelt and charming, and its characters are so likeable, that you won't really mind. Thankfully, there's already a sequel in the works. -- Mike Rougeau
20. Teen Titans GO! To the Movies
In the age of superhero movies, comic books adaptations veering into the comedy genre was going to happen eventually. When it did, with Deadpool and Deadpool 2, the laughs were definitely aimed at adults. Thankfully, Teen Titans GO! To the Movies is here to deliver the jokes for audiences of all ages. In GameSpot's review of the film, we dubbed it "Deadpool for kids," and that's what it is.
Teen Titans GO! Has no problem poking fun at everything superhero relation, including its own universe of films. And while these jokes are told in a way that makes them easily digestible for younger audiences, they still work on adults. There's just no cursing or blood being splattered around. -- Chris E. Hayner
More...
Sometimes, it feels like the world is crumbling around you. Whether it's political turmoil, the negativity in the news, or everyone screaming their loud opinions on the internet, you just need to take a break and get your mind off of the world. Luckily, there's a whole genre of movies and TV series that provide the laughs you need, and that's comedy.
2018 was a phenomenal year for the genre that tries real hard to make you laugh. From a blockbuster superhero movie starring a foul-mouthed hero to a Netflix animated series where everyone is going through puberty, there was plenty of content that surely got you to chuckle at least once or twice.
There was almost too much good comedy this past year, and sifting through it all was a challenging task for the fine staff of GameSpot. Luckily, after hours of arguments and saying things we can never take back, we've narrowed down a list of TV series and movies from 2018 that are hilarious and well worth your time.
Presented below are the 20 best comedy movies and television shows from the past year. Let us know which one of these tickled your fancy in 2018 and your favorite moments from each of them. If you're looking for more retrospectives in entertainment, check out our best of lists from 2018 below.
Other Best Of lists from 2018:
- The 10 Best TV Shows Of 2018
- The 10 Best Movies Of 2018
- The 7 Best Entertainment Streaming Services In 2018
- The Best Superhero Comics of 2018
- The 28 Best Performances Of 2018
- WWE's Best Wrestlers Of 2018
- WWE's Best PPVs Of 2018
1. Paddington 2
How important is simple goodness? The world is a forest fire, both literally and figuratively. While there are plenty of major action, drama, and horror films that thrill and chill us as viewers, they don't always send you away from the theater with a smile on your face. And honestly, that's something we desperately need sometimes.
What makes Paddington 2, and Paddington himself, so engaging is that this way of life is so simple. He is good and he's doing his best to put good into the world. The universe being what it is, he doesn't always get that goodness in return immediately. But his positive spirit makes an impact on those around him, changing things for the better. Who couldn't use a little more of that in their lives? It's such an easy idea, but also one that's easy to forget. Luckily, we've got that little Peruvian bear to remind us that literally anyone can make a change for the better in some way, big or small. You just have to try. -- Chris Hayner
2. The Good Place
There's just something unequivocally lovable about The Good Place. Focusing on four people who find themselves trying to navigate the afterlife, the show keeps finding ways to reinvent itself, pushing its premise in new and unexpected directions and mining those directions for humor and heart. The writing is consistently top-notch, laden with hilarious one-liners and numerous hidden gems. Discussions of philosophy and ethics have never been this entertaining.
The best thing about The Good Place, though, is that it's a show about people who, at their core, want to be better than they already are. It carries a positivity that's infectious. It's nearly impossible not to come away from an episode of The Good Place without feeling better than you did when you started it. The Good Place is smart enough to say something about the real world, but refreshingly, it never makes its comments with cynicism--the whole point is that there's hope for all of us. Nobody's beyond changing if they want to, even Kristen Bell's oft-awful (but always hysterical) Eleanor and her Soul Squad companions. -- Phil Hornshaw
3. Game Night
Game Night, starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, is a dark comedy of errors. On a couple's game night, the host of the party is assaulted and kidnapped, and his guests mistakenly think this is part of the mystery roleplaying game they're playing. So they continue as though nothing's wrong, only to realize, too late, that the criminals and the guns are real.
The comedic standout in this film is Jesse Plemons, who gained notoriety as the murderous Todd in the final season of Breaking Bad, following that up with a role in Fargo Season 2. And in this movie, he's a creepy next door neighbor who no one wants to invite to game night.
To draw a comparison: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the co-writers behind Horrible Bosses and Horrible Bosses 2, co-directed this film. And if you liked the glossy-look-meets-offbeat-humor of those movies, you'll love Game Night. -- Kevin Wong
4. Blockers
Three parents discover that their daughters have made a pact to lose their virginities on prom night, and will do anything in their power to stop them. If you judge Blockers by its name and premise, it sounds like a forgettable straight-to-DVD affair that could have been released in 2005. But it’s 2018, and Kay Cannon’s directorial debut is a refreshing take on the teen sex comedy genre, and one that’s not only funny, but genuinely heartfelt.
It balances gross out humor, like John Cena butt chugging a beer (and trust me, you need to see John Cena butt chugging a beer), with progressive and enlightening conversations between teenage girls who are coming to terms with growing up and discovering their sexualities. It's still crass in all the right places, so if you're looking to have a laugh on a Friday night, look no further. -- Lucy James
5. Bojack Horseman Season 5
While BoJack Horseman may not be a typical animated comedy (given that its main character is a depressed, drug addicted horse, it's difficult to see how it could be), but its intelligent brand of humor and the way it delicately toes the line between crushing emotional beats and absurd comedy truly sets it apart from other shows. And it was still just as sublime in its fifth season. There’s biting commentary at Hollywood's (or should we say Hollywoo's) expense ("Are you the umlaut in Chloë Sevigny's name right now? Because I don't know why you're here, but I'm glad you are”), and absurd storylines like Princess Carolyn and Todd requiring a mediator to resolve an argument over a stolen string cheese. Not to mention that you’ll be spending half the time looking out for hidden jokes in the background of every shot (even if the show tells you not to). In fact, BoJack Horseman is so laden with jokes, you’ll need to go back and rewatch the episodes to make sure you catch every little thing. -- Lucy James
6. Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians is fashion porn and wealth porn; you find yourself gawking at the massive estates, the expensive cars, the brand designer clothes, and the decadent wedding where the center aisle floods so the bride can walk on water. But the film is edited well and moves at a brisk pace. The cumulative effect is breezy and carefree rather than gross and exploitative.
These types of movies, which give us plebes a peek at how the other half lives, are best when they have a regular, middle class protagonist who we can identify with. In The Devil Wears Prada, it was Andy, played by Anne Hathaway. In Crazy Rich Asians, it's Rachel, played by Constance Wu, who is dating the heir to a wealthy Singaporean family and is judged on her Asian-ness, her American-ness, and her lack of wealth and family pedigree.
The much-celebrated, all Asian cast -- an extreme exception for an American production -- was excellent. The two standouts were Gemma Chan, who played the role of Astrid, and action star Michelle Yeoh, who played the protective mother that Rachel must win over.
The inclusion of Asian men who are sexual, desirable, and fill a variety of narrative roles is an advancement that is both welcome and embarrassingly late. Hopefully, Crazy Rich Asians will be one of the last times that an Asian American film has to "break new ground." Let's go upwards and onwards, from here on out. -- Kevin Wong
7. Uncle Drew
Uncle Drew was funny on multiple levels. The movie about basketball players in "old people" makeup sure does have plenty of jokes in it, but what I found hilarious was how many partnerships this movie had. First, it was--in part--produced by Pepsi. Second, it had a few promotional partners like The General Insurance, Wheaties, Aleve, AARP, American Express, and more. I'm not talking about this in a mean-spirited way by any means. It feels fully fitting for a movie like Uncle Drew, which feels like every '90s sports comedy rolled up into one.
The movie follows Dax (Lil Rel Howery) as a streetball manager who has to put together a new team, which consists of retired streetball players made up of Kyrie Irving, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, Reggie Miller, and Nate Robinson in old people makeup. Dax's arch-nemesis Mookie Bass (Nick Kroll) has his own team, made up of Dax's former players. The back and forth between the two makes some of the best moments. It's a simple and fun movie that combines elements of the typical sports comedy and the classic road trip film. It's surprisingly more than a one-trick-pony with putting people in geriatric makeup, although that's still a big part of what makes it entertaining. -- Mat Elfring
8. Ant-Man and the Wasp
After seeing Infinity War, fans across the nation were bummed out, because their favorite characters were just killed off in an epic movie. Luckily, Ant-Man and the Wasp, the sequel to 2015's Ant-Man, was a delightful palate cleanser. The movie was layered with tons of jokes and the whole thing felt light-hearted and fun, something Marvel movie fans desperately needed. It took what worked in the first movie and expanded upon it, while making sure certain elements--especially the comedy aspects--didn't overstay their welcome. And much like Pixar's Incredibles 2, the Ant-Man sequel revolved heavily around family, more specifically around the dynamics between fathers and daughters. This created a brilliantly layered movie for something most people just assumed was going to be a "silly superhero movie."
Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost was also a very welcome addition to the cast, even when you consider the fact that Ghost isn't even an Ant-Man villain to begin with. On the surface of Ant-Man and the Wasp, it's a silly superhero movie about growing and shrinking, but the film ends up being a lot deeper than we thought it would be. It's a movie that proves Marvel can put out a standalone movie in the midst of something larger happening. Hopefully, they do more movies like this in the future. -- Mat Elfring
9. Sorry to Bother You
On the surface, Sorry to Bother You sounds simple. Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) gets a much needed job as a telemarketer, where he quickly learns to adopt a distinctively funny "white voice" (played by comedian David Cross) to get ahead. He wrestles with his identity as a black man in the face of this success, especially as his co-workers revolt against the company's broken systems while he rises through the ranks.
But Sorry to Bother You ultimately becomes much more than simply social or racial satire, especially when it careens into full on dystopian science fiction. And yet it somehow never loses its sense of humor, either. Sorry to Bother You raises questions about identity, personal responsibility, corporate ethics, workers' revolutions, and the nature of art, while also being a movie about--slight spoilers--people snorting magical cocaine and being very literally transformed into something both more and less than their original selves.
Stanfield is exceptional in the lead role, and his success is bolstered by a supporting cast that includes Tessa Thompson (in yet another fantastic performance this year), Steven Yeun, Danny Glover, and more. Whether you're in it for the comedy, the science fiction, or the biting social commentary, director Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You was one of the best movies of 2018. -- Mike Rougeau
10. Blindspotting
Coming off of the wildly popular Broadway musical Hamilton, triple-threat performer Daveed Diggs set his sights on telling a more personal story set in a heavily gentrified Oakland, California. With his co-star and co-writer Rafael Casal, Blindspotting is a showcase of the constant hustle of Bay Area living. Interestingly enough, both Diggs and Casal went to the same high school in the Bay Area, and that connection between them makes the film and their dynamic performances all the better. When the lead characters Colin and Miles aren't dealing with the encroaching influence of gentrification--with new residents pricing out the old and along with corner stores hawking expensive green health drinks--they bond over the better days of Oakland while dropping some smooth freestyle flows that focus on the good they still have in their lives.
Featuring an already solid script that manages to balance the high-highs and low-lows of life in modern Oakland, what really propels the movie to amazing heights are the fantastic performances given by Diggs and Casal. With an undeniable chemistry between them, both stars riff off one another with ease--even when they're at odds. There's a surprisingly Shakespearean-like cadence to the dialog and set-up of scenes, which is exemplified when Rafael Casal's character proudly states, "Everybody listen more when you make it sound pretty." In one of the movie's most profound moments, this line of thinking is taken seriously when Diggs' character Colin breaks off into a freestyle that's raw and poignant--showing frustration at being treated as an outsider in his own home, along with his struggles to figure out his place in "the new Oakland".
This very pivotal scene sums up what Blindspotting is all about, and it's given even more gravitas thanks to the stellar performances given by Diggs and Casal. -- Alessandro Fillari
11. Anna and the Apocalypse
Snow is falling, Christmas carols are being sung everywhere, and the living undead are tearing apart your small Scottish town. What is a girl to do but kick butts, bash heads, and sing her way through the apocalypse? Story wise, Anna and the Apocalypse isn’t much different from your run-of-the-mill teenage musical. The titular Anna (Ella Hunt, a Buffy for a new generation) is tired of her small town life and wants to see the world before heading to university. Her best friend John (Malcolm Cumming) wishes he was more than that to her. Their film nerd friend Chris (Christopher Leveaux) and his musical theater girlfriend Lisa (Marli Siu) can’t keep their hands off each other, and the socially conscious Steph (Sarah Swire) wants to change the world.
Anna and the Apocalypse doesn’t invent a new wheel, but it succeeds at everything it seeks out to do while also becoming a new Christmas classic. As a comedy it is hilarious, as a horror film it makes you afraid for the characters’ gruesome deaths, as a teenage film it is earnest and relatable, and as a musical it will have you singing along to the soundtrack for days. -- Rafael Motamayor
12. Deadpool 2
The first Deadpool film captured the essence of the Merc with a Mouth, and it was clear that Ryan Reynolds was born to play the starring role. Deadpool 2 is just as fun and gives Deadpool fans exactly what they want--meta jokes, stylistic action, and R-rated violence. While the first film was definitely more grounded with a tighter script, this sequel is all over the place. But it’s a fun ride.
The action in Deadpool 2 is great--it definitely earns its R-rating and is hyper violent. New additions to the cast, particularly Josh Brolin as Cable and Zazie Beetz as Domino, reinvigorate the series with solid performances. The way that X-Force is included and handled in the film is quite funny, and Deadpool’s interactions with the X-Men are just as amusing as they were before. Credit is also due to the movie’s hilarious mid-credits scene, which took Deadpool’s meta humor to another level. Yes, Deadpool 2 is more of the same, but for Deadpool fans, that’s not a bad thing. -- Chastity Vicencio
13. Big Mouth Season 2
Big Mouth Season 2 was the perfect follow-up to Season 1. It's still a disgusting, puerile, way too honest examination of puberty in all its terrible forms. But also like Season 1, the new episodes pack in an incredible amount of heart and character development for a show that stars a boy who f***s his pillow, personified incarnations of the protagonist's pubes, and an invisible monster who constantly urges teenagers to masturbate. Big Mouth has proved to be the perfect playground for today's top comedians, from Nick Kroll and John Mulaney to Jenny Slate, Jordan Peele, Jason Mantzoukas, Fred Armisen, and countless more who provide their voices and talents. And best of all, when you're done watching it, you'll have dozens of disgusting new euphemisms for sex, chief among them "making thick in the warm." Ew, but also, fantastic. -- Mike Rougeau
14. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Season 13
The 13th season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia aired on FXX this year, and who would have thought that not only would it still be going strong but the show would keep getting better and better? The show had two of the strongest episodes in the series this season: "Mac Finds His Pride," which we'll be discussing in detail in another feature, and "Time's Up For The Gang," which is a look at the Time's Up movement through the eyes of five, despicable people, with an ending you can see coming from a mile away, but still works oh so well.
While on its surface, Always Sunny may seem like your typical dirtbag comedy, the writing has slowly evolved these characters, which are unrecognizable from the first season until now. Even when faced with remembering their own past, like in "The Gang Does A Clip Show," their own narcissism changes the vision of the past, which makes for excellent comedy. It's just amazing to me that a show has been on the air for 13 years and it not only remains relevant and funny, but it keeps getting funnier. -- Mat Elfring
15. BlacKkKlansman
Spike Lee came back in a big way in 2018 with the unbelievable story of BlacKkKlansman. John David Washington stars as Colorado Springs' first black police officer who, with the help of his partner, played by Adam Driver, goes undercover to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. Director Spike Lee takes a very serious and unfunny time during America's history--the civil rights movement--and spins a tale that is ultimately comedic.
There are moments of gold within the entire film. Take for instance when Washington's character Ron Stallworth is having a conversation with KKK grand wizard David Duke (Topher Grace). On the phone, Duke tells Stallworth he knows when a black man is doing a "white voice," to which Stallworth and other officers start to crack up. There are plenty of moments in this film where Stallworth gets one over on Duke, including once in person, which makes Grace's portrayal of Duke the ultimate comedic foil throughout the film. Aside from that aspect, this is just a fantastic movie, and one of the best of the year. It's surprising it's gone under-the-radar for some people. -- Mat Elfring
16. Super Troopers 2
The definition of a cult hit, Super Troopers always seemed destined to be a one-off, not least due to the mixed success of subsequent Broken Lizard movies like Club Dread and Beerfest. But over a long decade and a half that included multiple false starts--at one point, they said it was going to be a prequel set in the 1970s in which they'd all play their own dads--and a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign, Super Troopers 2 was sloppily birthed into the world.
And, almost unbelievably, it turned out pretty good. Super Troopers 2 somehow manages to feel even more meandering, flighty, and lackadaisical than the original, but its laughs arrive at a breakneck speed that would have these troopers spitting out their liters of cola if the movie sped by them on the highway. If you've spent the last 17 years sneaking the word "meow" into everyday speech and wondering how quickly you could chug every bottle of syrup that you see, Super Troopers 2 was not a disappointment. -- Mike Rougeau
17. Love, Simon
Love, Simon doesn't do anything really new or exceptional in the genre of teenage romantic comedies, save one thing: Love, Simon is the story of the titular Simon (Nick Robinson) coming out. Along the way, it relies on plenty of tropes, but still manages to feel fresh because it's a version of this story we've rarely seen. The characters draw you into their world, and you wind up rooting for everyone to be happy in the end (except Martin, screw that guy). Sure, the movie plays it pretty safe overall, but there's something even more endearing about treating the subject matter like any other high school rom-com. Ultimately, Love, Simon is so sincere that it will win you over in the end. -- Mike Rougeau
18. Isle of Dogs
Wes Anderson's talent for creating whimsical film worlds is unique--no one is better than him at building intricate, candy-coated dioramas masquerading as movie sets and plots. Where many directors strive to make movies that seem as realistic as possible, Anderson bends reality until it drips in slow motion with deep cut '70s alt rock b-sides and non-sequitur one-liners that get right to the heart. Isle of Dogs is one of his most Anderson-y films yet, but somehow, it's also more focused, driven, and pared down than anything the director has done before. At just over 100 minutes, Isle of Dogs could have used a little more time spent on some of its side characters and subplots, and a little more at the end. But there's a silver lining there: Isle of Dogs is Wes Anderson's most focused film ever, and you'll want to go through it again. -- Mike Rougeau
19. To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Netflix has plenty of misses to go along with the hits when it comes to its originals, but To All the Boys I've Loved Before is one of the latter. Nestled snugly in the teen romantic comedy genre, To All The Boys tells the story of Lara Jean (Lana Condor), an Asian-American high school girl who's mortified when the private love letters she keeps in a box somehow make their way to their unintended recipients. Naturally, that sends Lara Jean on a romantic spiral, as she begins fake dating a jock in a convoluted scheme to win over her neighbor, who's also her sister's boyfriend.
Look, it's a lot. And yes, it's full of cliches. But To All The Boys I've Loved Before is so heartfelt and charming, and its characters are so likeable, that you won't really mind. Thankfully, there's already a sequel in the works. -- Mike Rougeau
20. Teen Titans GO! To the Movies
In the age of superhero movies, comic books adaptations veering into the comedy genre was going to happen eventually. When it did, with Deadpool and Deadpool 2, the laughs were definitely aimed at adults. Thankfully, Teen Titans GO! To the Movies is here to deliver the jokes for audiences of all ages. In GameSpot's review of the film, we dubbed it "Deadpool for kids," and that's what it is.
Teen Titans GO! Has no problem poking fun at everything superhero relation, including its own universe of films. And while these jokes are told in a way that makes them easily digestible for younger audiences, they still work on adults. There's just no cursing or blood being splattered around. -- Chris E. Hayner
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