If there's one list I love writing every year, it's this one. Forget the Oscar bait and indie critical darlings, we're here to celebrate the purest escapist entertainment of the year. That's not to say popcorn movies can't be good, even incredible (as some of the films on this list prove), but they are by and large either spectacle-driven, in it for the shits and giggles, and above all, just want to show the audience a good time. They're often held in a different regard than the "serious" movies, but they're also one of my favorite kinds of films, and I just love putting the spotlight on the big, bright movies that often miss out of year-end acclaim.

The exact definition of what makes a popcorn movie is decidedly subjective -- some people call them B-movies, some people call them junk food movies, but I'm sticking with the most common definition; a film that doesn't have too much heavy drama, intellectualism, or pointed messaging. That means you're not going to see some of the most wildly entertaining and spectacular films of the year, because they just don't fit the definition. A popcorn movie doesn't make you weep, it doesn't demand thoughtful introspection. Popcorn movies are easy, breezy and fun.

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Image via Marvel Studios

That said, before we get started, I'm going to put a spotlight on two of the fabulous and entertaining movies of 2018 you won't see on this list, even though some folks would argue they qualify: Mandy, which is far too heartbreaking and invested in grief no matter how big the chainsaws and cocaine piles are; and Black Panther, which is a very entertaining superhero movie, yes, but just as much a full-on Best Picture contender, not to mention meditation on slavery and colonialism... which are, uh, pretty heavy subjects. There will be more honorable mentions at the end, but these two deserved a special spotlight.

Even with those titles off the list, it's been one hell of a year for popcorn entertainment. We witnessed the culmination of a decade's worth of shared universe blockbusters with Avengers: Infinity War, In fact, it was the biggest year for theatrical superhero movies ever, with nine titles making their way to the box office. We got a Star Wars movie about Han Solo that everyone immediately forgot, Tom Cruise risked his life (and busted his ankle) for our entertainment in the biggest Mission: Impossible movie yet, and Aquaman finally made the transition from Entourage joke to reality. The Transformers franchise got a heartfelt makeover, Jurassic World traveled to the main land, and the R-rated comedy made a comeback in a big way. So yeah, there's  a lot to chose from.

So with that out of the way, fix up a big bowl of popcorn, slurp down your favorite soda and settle in for some explosions, F-Bombs and insanity while I run down my favorite popcorn movies of 2018.

15. The Commuter

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Image via Lionsgate

I just love watching people learn you shouldn't fuck with Liam Neeson. The actor has become the new Die Hard of easy-pitch filmmaking. "Liam Neeson, but on a plane." "Liam Neeson, but on a snow plow." (That's real by the way, coming to theaters next year.) The Commuter sees Neeson re-team with his frequent collaborator Juame Collet-Serra to bring us "Liam Neeson on a train." Collet-Serra is one of our B-movie maestros at the moment, with films like The Shallows and Non-Stop earning spots on previous installments of this list and he's right at home with Neeson, who is perfectly cast to type as an ex-cop lured into a deadly game of Simon Says with a mysterious organization on his last commute home on the train he rode for a decade. There are plenty of fun twists along the way (Collet-Serra knows modern audiences are always guessing ahead and introduces a handful of suspicious characters before the train ride even begins), and one of the best supporting casts you could dream up with Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Sam Neill, Florence Pugh and Jonathan Banks in the mix. As he has for many of his films, Collet-Serra takes a simple premise on the page and infuses it with style, clarity of geography, and a whole lot of close-ups on Neeson's "you fucked with the wrong guy" face.

14. The Spy Who Dumped Me

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Image via Lionsgate

Somehow we got an action-comedy starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon this year and everyone just wrote it off. Big mistake, because The Spy Who Dumped Me is one of the lowkey pleasures this year, with great comedic performances from the ever-reliable leads that are paired with surprisingly brutal action. If you think I'm exaggerating -- this movie recruited Bond and Bourne stunt coordinator Gary Powell, and he did not come to play, giving their ladies and their oh-so-dapper co-stars, including Justin Theroux and Sam Heughan plenty of rough-and-tumble action scenes. In fact, Heughan is pretty much doing a 007 audience, which works quite well. And look, this will either mean something to you or it won't, but McKinnon gets to do a scene with Gillian Anderson so the stars were truly aligned when The Spy Who Dumped Me was made.

13. Ocean's 8

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Image via Warner Bros.

All-female remakes are an interesting thing -- they piss a lot of people off and as an imitation of an existing male-driven story, they often don't quite hit the mark of inclusivity folks are looking for anyway. That said, Ocean's 8 is a breezy, beautiful caper that, like its Steven Soderbergh-directed predecessors, unites a blunt-force ensemble of charm and star-power, led by Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, 2018 breakout Awkwafina, and Rihanna, because why the hell not? Gary Ross's direction can't quite match the thrills of Soderbergh's trilogy, but there's still plenty of delights to be found in the sister film, which finds costume designer Sarah Edwards doing the lords work (Blanchett is dressed to perfection in every single frame of the film and Rihanna's Met Gala gown got a literal gasp from the audience both times I saw this in theaters.) Jazzy and crowd-pleasing, Ocean's 8 assembles one of the best ensembles of the year and delivers a laid back easy-watch with style to spare.

12. Deadpool 2

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Image via 20th Century Fox

What if Deadpool, but more? Deadpool 2 delivers on that question in every way with snappier snark, bigger set-pieces, and an influx of fan-favorite comic book characters. The thing about Deadpool is that it's inherently one of the most juvenile superhero franchises on the market, I mean, that's the bit, but fortunately, there's a lot of wit and well-shot action behind the sex jokes and plushies. As the sequel to the R-rated superhero movie that changed the game, Deadpool is also refreshing for its casual representation, another facet in the middle finger to establishment the foul-mouthed, murderous anti-hero has come to represent. Deadpool 2 isn't quite as ground-breaking or concise as its predecessor, but it's still all maximum effort and Ryan Reynolds charm, which means its still one of the best times you could have at the movies this year.

11. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

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Image via Universal Pictures

OK, here's where we start verging into controversial territory, but I maintain that Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is Good Actually and all the haters are missing out at one seriously good time at the movies. The thing about Fallen Kingdom is you have to open yourself up to its silliness; this is not a self-serious sequel to Steven Spielberg's beloved original film, this is a rollicking, globe-trotting B-movie adventure about genetic experiments and Chris Pratt's machismo, with big ass dinosaurs. Get. On. Board. Because it's fun over here. If you're the type of person who thinks raptors shouldn't get "Cool Guys Don't Look at Explosions" moments, then hey, this probably isn't for you. But it's certainly for me, and J.A. Bayona makes gorgeous work of the set-pieces, serving everything from slapstick to gothic mansion horror (and I don't hate the fact that it does a lot of work to fix the Claire problems from Jurassic World.) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is such a scattershot love-letter to genre filmmaking, adventure, and dinosaurs, I never thought we'd see this kind of movie made on this scale. It might not be for everyone, but I love it and I'm sure glad it exists.

10. Aquaman

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Image via Warner Bros.

Aquaman isn't the best superhero movie of the year, but it is the most shamelessly indulgent, silly, and theatrical; a deep sea treasure chest of high camp and fantasy adventure that never stops never stopping. I kind of adore this movie, one of the many B-movie gems on this list that somehow got studio funding, but without a doubt the shiniest of all. James Wan directs this movie like a champion, turning a so-so script into a neon-lit wonderland with so much style and energy you can hardly be mad at its remedial narrative sense of who, what, where, when and why. It doesn't matter why or when (though the where is consistently gorgeous), because Aquaman is such a pleasure to watch and behold, free of ironic or gritty genre subversion, invested instead in grinning confidence that being ridiculous can be just as cool. Jason Momoa and Amber Heard are often one-note, but Wan knows how to orchestrate those notes in harmony and, even better, knows just how to keep the rhythm, blasting the hell out of Mera and Arthur like invulnerable doe-eyed rag dolls every time they start to have a moment -- a gag that made me laugh harder every time he pulled it. Aquaman is a movie that takes the incredible capacity of modern technology and builds worlds out of it, throw in some signature James Wan set-pieces and this candy-colored fantasy is a pure delight.

9. A Simple Favor

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Image via Lionsgate

A frontrunner for most WTF movie of 2018, A Simple Favor is a perfect storm of murder-mystery, female-driven comedy, sartorial decadence, and a very distinct je ne sais quoi that makes it sing in a key all its own. This is a weird movie, top to tail, profoundly twisted and full of genuine melodramatic surprises, but it's also so chic and entertaining thanks to leading ladies Anna Kendrick, who displays some wonderful against-type deviousness, and Blake Lively, who transcends type entirely into the performance of her career. Bridesmaids and Spy helmer Paul Feige directs the hell out of Jessica Sharzer's razor-sharp script, with his long-running affection for subversive female-driven stories on proud display, and I just can't emphasize enough how deliciously twisted and twisty this thriller is. A Simple Favor is a suburban camp gasp-fest and it's one of the most slept on treasures of the year.

8. Blockers

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Image via Universal Pictures

No movie this year made me laugh harder or louder than Blockers, a film that takes a premise that sounds regressive on paper and turns it into an honest, thoughtful (and hilarious) investigation of parenting and teenage sexuality instead. Blockers stars Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, and the effervescent John Cena as a trio of parents who set out to "save" their daughters when they learn the teenage best friends made a de-virginizing pact on prom night. But what stars with the cringe-worthy potential of an 80s rom-com transforms into a really lovely coming-of-age story and touching family comedy about three young women and a crossroads in their life, and three parents who realize they're taking their own issues out on their kids. But most importantly in the context of this article, Blockers is funny as hell and a joy to watch, carried by a fantastic ensemble across the board and a pitch perfect directorial debut for Kay Cannon.

7. A Quiet Place

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Image via Paramount Pictures

In a year where Spielberg's return to blockbusters faltered at the finish line, John Krasinski delivered a film that plays so reverently by the iconic filmmaker's playbook, it could be mistaken for the real thing. Equal parts Twilight Zone-inspired monster movie and uplifting family drama, A Quiet Place hits all the right Amblin-adjacent notes, taking an audience on a journey that intertwines heart-warming emotional beats with thrilling monster action. Krasinski employs himself perfectly as the everyman father desperate to protect his family, but it's Emily Blunt who carries the film's biggest and best moments, using her star power and top-notch acting chops to make A Quiet Place a must watch story of survival. Overall, the key element that makes this film work is a big dose of old-fashioned love. Krasinski dove into this project while contemplating the birth of his own kid and he shot it with Blunt, his real-life wife -- it's a personal project and it reads that way, a love letter to a monster cinema, but to the highs and lows of family above all.

6. Game Night

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Image via Warner Bros.

Game Night is a sneaky little trickster, so elegantly constructed to slip between the boundaries of comedy and action that you honest-to-god have no idea what's going to happen at any given moment. Game Night works from the core, with a hilarious script from Mark Perez (who also penned the too-forgotten gem Accepted) and super smart direction from John Francis Daily  and Jonathan Goldstein, but the casting is a real work of genius that makes this genre-hybrid soar. Rachel McAdams once again proves that she's one of the most versatile, consistent actresses working today (I hope her and Rose Byrne have lunches over rosé and commiserate over how under-appreciated they are) and she's well-matched by Jason Bateman's unshakeable deadpan. In the supporting realm New Girl standout Lamorne Morris shines, Kyle Chandler is expertly employed against type, and Jesse Plemmons threatens to steal the whole thing as the lapdog-doting chaotic neutral who runs through the film like a livewire. This was a great year for high-concept R-rated comedy and Game Night was the best of the bunch.

5. Overlord

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Image via Paramount

The most entertaining movie of the year that you probably missed in theaters, Overlord shoots, stabs, and blasts its way through a World War II battleground where a troupe of American soldiers discover a lab full of monstrous Nazi mutants. It's a delicious, decadent B-movie that was given an impressive budget, the backing of J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot, and director Julius Avery, who brings a confident grasp on action and keen eye for bananas imagery to it all -- most notably in the opening aerial war scene, which is one of the best action scenes you'll see this year. As the war-hardened commanding officer, Wyatt Russell is truly his father's son, not in a way that feels like imitation, but because of their shared grounded quality and watchability. And he's surrounded by a great cast of players, including a preposterous and unhinged performance from Game of Thrones favorite Pilou Asnæk. Unapologetically Grindhouse in subject matter with a damn good looking studio budget polish, Overlord is just the Nazi-punching thrill ride that 2018 needed.

4. Bad Times at the El Royale

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Image via 20th Century Fox

Nearly ten years after shooting his directorial debut Cabin in the Woods, Drew Goddard makes his return behind the camera with another high-concept genre smorgasbord that unpacks the action-mystery genre with an eye toward character drama and a location you never want to leave. Set at a hotel that straddles the line between Nevada and California, Bad Times at the El Royale follows seven strangers with secrets who come crashing together at the titular El Royale hotel. The ensemble is a dream: Jeff Bridges, John Hamm, Dakota Johnson, and Chris Hemsworth are all perfectly employed, but it's the newcomers -- Lewis Pullman and Cynthia Erivo who steal the show and will have you cheering and/or shedding a tear in your seat. Goddard hands his ensemble a script that gives them plenty to do and then he gets to work shooting the hell out of his striking location with the help of DP Seamus McGarvey's stunning eye for rich color and vivid detail.  Bad Times is a bit overlong and definitely indulgent, but in all the best ways. As a wise man once said, "Shit happens, get the whiskey," so settle in for a long drink of colorful, poppy aesthetic, snappy dialogue, Erivo's Tony-Award winning voice of an angel, and a mega-watt charming cast that doesn't quit.

3. Avengers: Infinity War

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Image via Marvel Studios

Avengers: Infinity War might just be the most re-watchable movie of the year. I'll admit, I wasn't crazy about cinema's biggest superhero epic when it hit theaters -- it felt like half a movie to me with an ending that obviously doesn't count. But even then I knew it was one hell of a cinematic experience, and one that's unlikely to be matched anytime soon. Since then, I've watched the movie four more times, so I think it's safe to say I've grown rather fond of it.

Infinity War, by necessity, defies traditional narrative structure -- it just has way too much to do, but the way directors Joe and Anthony Russo and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely carve through the chaos is masterful. And boy, you sure can't fault them on their character pairings. Thor and the Guardians are a match made in heaven, Tony Stark and Doctor Strange snark in harmony, and Cap's Civil War squad roll as hard as ever. The demands of Infinity War and its onslaught of characters are so great that the film shouldn't even have been possible, but Marvel Studios redefined studio filmmaking with their and they've done it again with their big culmination; an impossibly massive and endlessly entertaining piece of sprawling filmmaking that doesn't end with a bang, but an even more powerful snap.

2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

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Image via Sony Pictures

Holy shit, how did we get so lucky? In an age where meta-humor and self-awareness has grown tiresome and sometimes downright off-putting, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse manages to poke fun at the many cinematic Spider-Men who came before, while still honoring them and somehow introducing a whole new legion of spider-heroes for fans to love at the same time. The film itself operates like its namesake creature, spinning so many webs with such a deft hand that you don't know what you're looking at until a full-blown masterpiece is sitting right in front of you. Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman's impossibly ambitious script is like a big, warm hug to the Spider-Man cannon and comic books in general, matched by a singular animation style that genuinely feels like watching the essence of a comic book spring to life on screen.

And then there are the characters: Don't worry, you'll get your Peter Parker fill, but the big hype is that Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen finally hit the big screen, and my in what style, while lesser-known folks like Spider-Man Noir, Penni Parker, and mother-effing Spider-Ham act as the best comedic backup you could ever ask for. Lest we forget Mammi Doc Ock (a true 2018 mood), Aunt May, and a Wilson Fisk that's somehow even more imposing than Vincent D'Onofrio. Spider-Verse spins its magical web of heroism with a powerful eye towards inclusivity, and therein lies the heart that makes this one so very special, even more so than the vibrant visuals and clever quips -- this is a movie that reminds us that we're all heroes, if we chose to be, all we gotta do is take that leap of faith and never stay down when the hits keep coming.

1. Mission: Impossible -- Fallout

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Image via Paramount Pictures

Mission: Impossible - Fallout is one of the best blockbuster action movies ever made and highlight film in what is easily Hollywood's most consistent and spectacular franchise. Tom Cruise and writer/director Christopher McQuarrie are like two mad scientists giddily bouncing off of each other in a high-budget laboratory of special effects wonders, constantly pushing the boundaries of what we think is possible to shoot in-camera (and almost certainly the boundaries of Cruise's insurance). There's no doubt the best action scene of the year comes from this film -- but which one?! The instantly iconic bathroom fight, which introduced the world to Henry Cavill's shotgun arms? The awe-inspiring HALO jump? Or perhaps when Cruise himself pilots of helicopter in the breathless aerial climax? Impossible to chose.

But what makes Fallout such a special Mission: Impossible film is that it's not just about the effects, after all, we've seen a lot of impossible missions accomplished at this point. McQuarrie and Cruise have started to figure out who Ethan Hunt really is. A superspy, sure. The living manifestation of destiny, you bet. But there's also a man under all that, and for the first time in the 20+ year franchise, Cruise and McQuarrie make a real effort to scratch at the veneer of Ethan Hunt and find out what makes him tick, painting a clear moral code for him that cements the character as the action hero of a generation. Factor in the Rob Hardy's immersive, gorgeous cinematography, Lorne Balfe's blood-pumping score, and you've got the perfect popcorn movie. This baby fires on all cylinders, a technical wonder with story to match and the kind of charisma-meeets-insanity that only Cruise can bring.

Honorable Mentions: Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Incredibles 2, Rampage, Ready Player One, Bumblebee, Venom, The Meg