2018's 10 Biggest Box Office Hits (So far)
2018 proved to be another record-breaking year at the box office, one driven by scads of superhero movies, plenty of family-friendly animated movies, and a surprise hit or two. While there are still a few blockbusters yet to drop before the year ends, here are the top ten money-makers so far in terms of domestic gross (based on figures from Box Office Mojo).
10. 'Venom'
Total Gross (Domestic): $212,746,681 (as of 12/12) While not exactly a critical darling, "Venom" showed just how much pent-up demand there is for this Marvel anti-hero among moviegoers. It's safe to say the Sony Universe of Marvel Characters has a long future ahead of it.
9. 'Solo: A Star Wars Story'
Total Gross: $213,767,512 It's not at all surprising to see a "Star Wars" movie crack the top ten. Even so, "Solo" significantly under-performed this year, forcing Lucasfilm to alter its plans for the franchise moving forward. Pray they don't alter it further. (Reference!)
15. 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' (2018)
"Ant-Man and the Wasp" doesn't radically reinvent the shrinking superhero wheel, but it does improve upon the foundation built by its predecessor. It helps that this sequel puts Evangeline Lilly's Hope Van Dyne squarely in the spotlight, creating a fun Dynamic Duo where previously there was only a solo hero. The movie also makes the most of Ant-Man's powers for its action scenes.
1. 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout'
If "Black Panther" owned pop culture in the first half 2018, "Fallout" laid claim to the rest of it. Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie achieves Nolan-levels of visual flare while finding an envious balance between practical action set pieces (that bathroom fight and third-act helicopter chase are all-timers) and character-driven stakes. The end result is one of the franchise's best films -- and for star Tom Cruise. This is a movie whose legacy will last long after 2018 ends.
6. 'Dr. Seuss' The Grinch'
Total Gross: $224,217,865 (as of 12/12) "The Grinch" had plenty of elements working in its favor this year, from the beloved source material to the fact that it arrived early enough to take full advantage of the holiday movie season.
5. 'Deadpool 2'
Total Gross: $318,491,426 While "Deadpool 2" didn't quite exceed the massive box office haul of the original, it still easily became one of the top-grossing movies of 2018. And hitting just a few weeks after "Infinity War," no less.
4. 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom'
Total Gross: $416,769,345 Clearly, moviegoers still love the "Jurassic Park" franchise. This sequel is behind only the first "Jurassic World" as the top earner in the series.
5. 'The Incredibles 2'
The long gap between movies did nothing to diminish the appeal of "The Incredibles 2." This sequel more than doubled the gross of the original and became both the highest-grossing Pixar movie and animated film ever.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown into one of the biggest and most beloved franchises in Hollywood. And with multiple new sequels hitting theaters every year for the foreseeable future, it's not slowing down anytime soon. As we gear up for the releases of new superhero epics like "Captain Marvel" and "Avengers: Endgame," here's how each of these movies measures up.
1. 'Black Panther'
Total Gross: $700,059,566 "Black Panther" is one of those cinematic cultural events that only comes along once or twice a decade. This movie became king of the MCU hill specifically because it appealed to a wide audience who don't usually turn out for superhero movies.
