The American Film Institute has released its list of the Top 10 Movies of 2018 and the Top 10 TV Programs of 2018. Starting with the films, it’s a pretty stellar lineup—although you may be wondering whyAlfonso Cuarón’s critical darlingROMAis left off. As it turns out, the Mexican film was not eligible for the list of American films, and so AFI deemed fit to recognize the Netflix-released masterwork with a special award for excellence outside the Institute’s criteria.
As for whatdidmake the cut, it’s a pretty strong lineup.Oscar favoritesA Star Is BornandGreen Booknabbed spots on the list, as did strong Best Picture contendersBlack Panther,BlacKkKlansman,The Favourite, andIf Beale Street Could Talk. It’s nice to seeFirst ReformedandEighth Gradegetting some love as well, andMary Poppins Returns’ inclusion could be a sign of awards things to come.
Notably absent here is Oscar-winnerDamien Chazelle’sFirst Man, which is literally about an American hero. The picture stumbled at the box office in October despite positive reviews and has somewhat faded from the Oscar race, but even so, leaving it off the list of the best American films of the year is pretty striking. Ditto toAdam McKay’s scathing indictment ofDick Cheney,Vice, which may prove to be one of the more divisive films of this awards season.
On the television side of things, the list is packed with critical favorites—includingThe Americans, one of the best TV shows ever made, as well as the wildly entertaining HBO seriesSuccession. Somewhat more surprising is the inclusion of Netflix’sThe Kominski Method, a single-camera comedy fromBig Bang TheorycreatorChuck LorrestarringMichael DouglasandAlan Arkin.
Check out the lists in full below.
AFI’s Top 10 Films of 2018
BlacKkKlansman
Black Panther
Eighth Grade
If Beale Street Could Talk
The Favourite
First Reformed
Mary Poppins Returns
A Quiet Place
A Star Is Born
AFI’s Top 10 TV Programs of 2018
The Americans
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Better Call Saul
The Kominsky Method
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Succession
This Is Us
