BOY ERASED
Based on Garrard Conley’s account of his experiences in gay conversion therapy, this film by writer-director Joel Edgerton was one of three on this list to feature Lucas Hedges – he was also in Lady Bird and Three Billboards – whose performance astounded.
LADY BIRD
Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf went toe-to-toe in this coming-of-age film that also heralded writer-director Greta Gerwig’s arrival as a major Hollywood player.
THE SHAPE OF WATER
This year’s visually stunning winner of the Best Picture Oscar told the unlikely love story of a mute cleaner (Sally Hawkins) and the human-like amphibian (Doug Jones) brought to the government facility where she works.
BLACKKKLANSMAN
Spike Lee was in terrific form directing this funny, dramatic and bitterly ironic story about a black cop (John David Washington) infiltrating the KKK with the help of a white colleague (Adam Driver).
And for kids...
INCREDIBLES 2
Fourteen years after the original film delighted and inspired, the sequel to Pixar’s superhero family adventure proved to be well worth the wait.
SMALLFOOT
Yetis are real – at least in this fun family film about a group of the big-footed creatures who are shocked to discover the existence of humans.
TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES
This gag-filled spin-off of the TV series sees Robin (Scott Menville) try to make a Teen Titans movie happen.