It’s that time of year again when critics release their top ten movies of the year. No list is really the same, but each is a glimpse of a critic’s tastes in movies. Some have a mix of blockbusters and indie films, others lean heavily towards the former or the latter. Whatever the case may be, we can all come to the conclusion that films are a means of an escape or to be entertained by. They help us grieve or express joy and love. Each year gives us such a variety of films that allows us to express those emotions.

But what makes this year extraordinary special is that it took a giant step forward for representation. Some of the best films showed us that anyone can wear the mask. Another celebrates a culture that has gone under-represented for far too long by using a familiar yet effective rom-com formula. Other films spoke out to send a clear message about injustice. Then there are the sequels that thoroughly entertained us after 10 years of franchise storytelling.

So while the best films of the year are a matter of opinion, below are my top ten favorite films of the year. Some of these films won’t appear on anybody’s list. Some won’t even be ranked the same. But these are the films that meant the most to me, and if you haven’t seen them, I hope my choices encourage you to do so. See below for my top 10 movies of 2018.

As we get closer to the end of the year, more and more critic groups and guilds are releasing the nominees for the best of the year. Not all winners will be the same and that is what makes all of these guilds so special. As a member of the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society, I took part in voting for the very best in film and filmmaking. This year, top honors went to A Star Is Born, with the Best Male Director going to Spike Lee for his work on BlackKklansman, and Lynne Ramsey winning Best Female Director for her work on You Were Never Really Here.

Additionally, Alfonso Cuaron won awards for Best Foreign Film and Best Cinematography and Fox Searchlight’s The Favourite Best Comedy and Best Cast. Mission: Impossible – Fallout also took home two awards for Best Action Film and Best Stunts. While Disney and Marvel’s Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War won awards for Best Blockbuster, and Best Visual Effects and Best Visual Effects or Animated Performance. Check out the full list of winners here below.