In just a few short days, 2018 will be in the books. The world of entertainment delivered brand-new hits, sequels years in the making, and a finale to a fantastic series, and our end-of-year entertainment awards go over the best of the best from television and movies in the past year. Here are the top ten shows and movies of 2018:

 

Best TV Shows of 2018

Yearly powerhouse Game of Thrones wasn’t on the air for the first time since before the show’s 2011 debut, but there were a bunch of exceptional series throughout the year. The Deuce, Succession, Jack Ryan, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale, The Romanoffs, and This Is Us (no shows from the four major networks made it) were among those that also could have been listed. [NOTE: Some trailers may be NSFW.]

 

10. GLOW (Netflix)

 

 

Praised by both critics and fans, Netflix’s original series GLOW has taken a step forward in its second season. The cast led by Alison Brie is funny, and it’s a different type of show than most series out there—it being on Netflix makes that work, and there’ll be a Season 3 because of the show’s success.

 

9. American Crime Story (FX)

 

 

Season 1 of American Crime Story featuring the O.J. Simpson murder trial was far more interesting than The Assassination of Gianni Versace, but Season 2 was headlined by transformational acting from Darren Criss (Andrew Cunanan), Penelope Cruz (Donatella Versace), and Edgar Ramirez (Gianni Versace). Right now, American Crime Story is clearly the better of FX’s “American Story” anthology series, topping American Horror Story’s recent seasons.

 

8. Sharp Objects (HBO)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgljcMqPG98

 

Based on Gillian Flynn’s (author of Gone Girl) novel, from director of Big Little Lies (Jean-Marc Vallée), and starring Academy Award nominee Amy Adams, Sharp Objects has a lot to like about it before getting into it—and the show lives up to the hype. Adams, Patricia Clarkson, and breakout star Eliza Scanlen are among a great cast, and the vibe and setting are similar to Season 1 of HBO’s True Detective.

 

7. Barry (HBO)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b09aJdWqVp4

 

There was no Fargo (FX) this year, but HBO’s Barry helped fill the void with a new original dark comedy. Starring Bill Hader in the lead role, Barry was one of the top new shows of the year with its eight-episode first season. The trailer basically explains the crux of the show, as a hitman (Barry) comically decides he wants to try his hand at acting.

 

6. The Terror (AMC)

 

 

Not for the faint of heart, The Terror is based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Dan Simmons, focusing on a fictional expedition to the Northwest Passage led by British Royal Navy captain Sir John Franklin. The Terror is a chilling horror-drama, and it’s more disturbing because it’s based on a true story (with obvious dramatization) and things that actually happened in the Arctic terrain.

 

5. Westworld (HBO)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2eqZacJpO4

 

Westworld Season 2 again delivered excellent acting from as loaded of a cast you’ll find on television, but the story is where things lacked for most people. HBO’s hit sci-fi western was still one of the better shows on television in 2018, but the second season didn’t match the epic first go-around—at least for the majority of fans and critics.

 

4. The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9OzG53VwIk

 

During October and Halloween season, there probably wasn’t anything better to watch than Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House. It’s so scary and unsettling that some people have claimed to have vomited or passed out while watching it—that may be a little extreme and not something you should have to worry about, but the show is scary. The cast led by Carla Gugino and Michiel Huisman is phenomenal, and a cool part about the show is the “hidden ghosts” throughout the episodes.

 

3. Bodyguard (Netflix/BBC)

 

 

Starring Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes, Bodyguard is the must-watch new show of 2018. Originally a BBC hit, Bodyguard was the BBC’s most-watched drama show in a decade, which tells you how great its six episodes were. Now on Netflix, the political drama is available for those in the United States to watch.

 

2. Better Call Saul (AMC)

 

 

Better Call Saul is still in middle of its run, but it has a case for a top-five-to-ten show of all-time. Like its predecessor Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul arguably gets better by the season, and Season 4 did not fail to keep that going in 2018.

 

1. The Americans (FX)

 

 

It can be tricky to get television shows to end on the right note—especially all-timers—but the final season of The Americans delivered an unforgettable conclusion with its sixth and final season. The last two episodes in particular powerfully capped one of the most underrated television shows of all-time. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better acting than in the FX Cold War drama starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys.

 

 

Best Movies of 2018

The 2018 movie lineup wasn’t quite as stacked as television, which is a sign of the times. Most of the top movies this year were sequels or remakes, but there were some strong box-office showings that didn’t make the list, like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Black Panther, Vice, and Deadpool 2.

 

10. Green Book

 

 

Green Book is based on the true friendship between jazz pianist Don Shirley and Tony Vallelonga, who went on to become an actor and played Carmine Lupertazzi in HBO’s The Sopranos. Featuring an Academy Award winner (Mahershala Ali) and an Academy Award nominee (Viggo Mortensen) and a touching story with some laughs, Green Book is one of the better films of the year.

 

9. Bohemian Rhapsody

 

 

Critics weren’t big on Bohemian Rhapsody, but most fans liked it (the film currently has an 8.3 on IMDb), and typically the fans are right. Directed by Bryan Singer with a strong cast led by Rami Malek (Freddie Mercury), Bohemian Rhapsody at least does a good job of showcasing some of the epic performances put on by Queen.

 

8. Avengers: Infinity War

 

 

The highest grossing film of the year, Avengers: Infinity War had overwhelming hype as one of the most hyped releases of any Marvel movie. The trailer alone has over 200 million views on YouTube. And no other movie delivered one of the year’s top memes like Infinity War did.

 

7. Mary Poppins Returns

 

 

Wherever you stand on the movie, it’s remarkable that a sequel was able to successful release 54 years later. Mary Poppins Returns had a near-impossible task living up to the original, but most people are happy with the Emily Blunt-starred follow-up.

 

6. Incredibles 2

 

 

The wait for the second installment of the Incredibles franchise wasn’t quite as long as Mary Poppins, but well over a decade between movies is also pretty remarkable. Disney gets a few movies right in a row among 2018’s top films.

 

5. Creed II

 

 

The death of Apollo Creed at the hands of Ivan Drago was a big part of the original Rocky series, and it was a good idea for Creed II to go in the direction of Adonis (Apollo’s son) facing Viktor Drago (Ivan’s son). It’s an against-the-odds theme that fits perfectly in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa universe.

 

4. A Star Is Born

 

 

Years in the making, A Star Is Born is the fourth remake of the original 1937 film, and by most accounts it’s one of the best movies of 2018. Led by Bradley Cooper (who directed and starred) and Lady Gaga, emotionally, it’s probably the best this year; but A Star Is Born isn’t something everyone will be interested in.

 

3. Aquaman

 

 

The DC movie universe is in flux, but Aquaman looks like a film that allowed director James Wan the freedom to mold things the way he wanted without much interference from executives. An Aquaman movie was way overdue considering he’s a founding member of the Justice League, and Jason Mamoa is great as the character.

 

2. Mission: Impossible – Fallout

 

 

Tom Cruise just keeps delivering the hits, and his Mission: Impossible series doesn’t seem like it’ll ever get old. It’s amazing that the sixth entry of the franchise is able to keep things fresh, but Mission: Impossible – Fallout does just that. If you’re looking for action, look no further than Ethan Hunt and his team.

 

 1. The Mule

 

 

Some critics are panning The Mule, but it might be political more than anything. Clint Eastwood hasn’t been director-star in a movie since 2008’s Gran Torino, and he still does it as well as anyone at 88 years old. Inspired by the true story of Earl Stone, Eastwood’s film should get strong Best Picture consideration.