The 20 Best Movies of 2018 So Far
and Keith Kimbell, Metacritic Film Editor – June 30, 2018
Which films have impressed critics the most during the first half of the year? Above, we rank the best-reviewed movies released in theaters between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018 by Metascore. Films must have more than 7 reviews from professional critics to be eligible.
Chinese-American filmmaker Chloé Zhao’s follow-up to Songs My Brothers Taught Me won the top award at the 2017 Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and currently ranks as the highest-scoring film released in theaters so far in 2018. The drama follows a young cowboy (Brady Jandreau) on the Pine Ridge Reservation as he struggles to come to terms with not being able to ride after a horse crushes his skull. Based on events from Jandreau’s life and also starring his father and sister as versions of themselves, the film, like Zhao’s first feature, is an immersive look at life in this Sioux community.
“Subtle, elemental and powerfully beautiful, writer-director Chloe Zhao’s The Rider is the Western of the new century, and the most enveloping film experience I’ve had this year.” —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune