2018 was a landmark year for The Film Magazine. Behind the scenes we formed new collaborations and launched initiatives that promise more to come, while on the site we reached record audiences and published some of our strongest work to date. This roundup, selected by our editorial team and informed by reader recommendations, highlights twenty standout pieces from the year—deep dives, sharp criticism, and engaging features that best represent our coverage across cinema, culture, and criticism.
We were also fortunate to welcome several talented writers to the team in 2018: Jacob Davis, Elizabeth Howlett, Kieran Judge, Darcy Rae, Beth Sawdon and Annice White. Guest columns from Rhian Gillah, Craig Sheldon, Vicky Wheeler and Luke Whitticase further broadened our perspectives. Each contributor brought a distinct voice and fresh insight, making 2018 one of our most rewarding editorial years.
Below are the 20 essential Film Magazine pieces from 2018, listed in publication order and chosen for their depth, originality and relevance to contemporary film culture.
20. A Retrospective Look at The Passion of the Christ and Its Artistic/Cultural Merits
Author: Katie Doyle
Date Published: 29th March
Excerpt: Katie Doyle examines Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ as both a work of art and a cultural phenomenon, interrogating its politics, representation and reception in the post-9/11 era.
This reflective analysis revisits a controversial film through an ethical and aesthetic lens, balancing close reading with historical context and questioning how faith, art and politics intersect on screen.
19. Netflix versus Cannes – All You Need To Know
Author: Joseph Wade
Date Published: 22nd April
Excerpt: Joseph Wade maps the dispute between Netflix and the Cannes Film Festival, offering the cultural and industrial background to an important debate about how films are defined and distributed.
Wade breaks down the debate into clear, accessible sections, explaining the stakes for filmmakers, festivals and streaming platforms while exploring what counts as cinema today.
18. The “An Artist’s Contributions” Series
Author: Francesca Militello
Date/s Published: 1st Feb – 3rd May
Excerpt: Francesca Militello continued her thoughtful series on key filmmakers, with 2018 essays spotlighting D.W. Griffith and Sergei Eisenstein and a companion piece on Abel Gance’s cinematography in Napoleon (1927).
These essays combine historical research and filmic analysis to trace influences across cinema history, clarifying how early innovations still shape modern filmmaking.
17. The Exceptionals: The Philosophies of The Incredibles
Author: Luke Whitticase
Date Published: 11th June
Excerpt: Luke Whitticase unpacks the political and philosophical subtext of Brad Bird’s The Incredibles, including resonances with themes of exceptionalism.
Shrewd and engaging, this piece looks beyond animation’s surface to locate ideological currents in mainstream family cinema.
16. Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies Ranked
Author: Joseph Wade
Date Published: 28th August
Excerpt: A full ranking of every MCU movie from the first decade (2008–2018), assessing successes and missteps across twenty films, including Infinity War.
This long-form ranking doubles as a mini-history of the MCU, identifying patterns in storytelling, character development, and franchise strategy.
15. Why Are We Still Scared of Horror Movies?
Author: Beth Sawdon
Date Published: 18th Aug
Excerpt: Beth Sawdon explores how horror adapts to cultural change and why the genre remains an effective mirror for contemporary anxieties.
This feature considers how politics, social shifts and evolving fears keep horror relevant and terrifying to modern audiences.
14. Holy Water and Unholy Ghosts – The Resurrection of Hammer
Author: Kieran Judge
Date Published: 5th Sept
Excerpt: Kieran Judge charts Hammer Films’ revival, examining how the studio has revisited its legacy while responding to contemporary horror tastes.
Blending history with coverage of recent releases, this article reflects on nostalgia, reinvention and the challenges of reviving an iconic brand.
13. The 8 Most 80s Movies of the 1980s
Author: Elizabeth Howlett
Date Published: 6th Sept
Excerpt: A playful, affectionate list of films that best capture the aesthetic, tone and spirit of 1980s cinema.
Howlett’s selections celebrate the era’s boldness and cultural distinctiveness, offering viewers a curated guide to quintessential 80s movies.
12. Who Is Jareth in Labyrinth (1986) and Why Has He Got A Bulging Penis?
Author: Elizabeth Howlett
Date Published: 25th Sept
Excerpt: An unexpectedly serious reading of David Bowie’s charged performance in Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, blending humor and film analysis to probe adult themes within a children’s fantasy.
11. Why You Should Reconsider Adam Sandler
Author: Joseph Wade
Date Published: 2nd Oct
Excerpt: A reassessment of Adam Sandler’s career that separates box-office reputation from craft and highlights underrated performances.
10. More Human Than Human: An Introduction to Cyberpunk
Author: Kieran Judge
Date Published: 8th Oct
Excerpt: A concise primer on cyberpunk cinema, tracing influences from Metropolis to Blade Runner and beyond.
9. Fabric Love: Costume In Gay Cinema
Author: Annice White
Date Published: 10th Oct
Excerpt: Annice White analyses how costume shapes identity and desire in male-male romances, drawing on Call Me By Your Name, God’s Own Country and Brokeback Mountain.
8. A Look Inward: Introspection in A Star Is Born
Author: Jacob Davis
Date Published: 11th Oct
Excerpt: Jacob Davis explores self-reflection and character psychology in A Star Is Born, offering a thoughtful companion to viewers’ interpretations.
7. The History of Zombies In Cinema
Author: Rhian Gillah
Date Published: 27th Oct
Excerpt: A historical overview of zombie cinema that synthesizes academic sources and popular culture to trace the undead’s evolution on screen.
6. 10 Scariest Harry Potter Movie Moments
Author: Sophie Grant
Date Published: 30th Oct
Excerpt: Sophie Grant counts the franchise’s most chilling sequences, proving that the Harry Potter films often cross into genuinely frightening territory.
5. The Best Films of the New French Extreme
Author: Jason Lithgo
Date Published: 30th Oct
Excerpt: A hard-hitting guide to the New French Extreme movement—explicit, challenging and essential for serious horror fans. Content warning: strong violence and disturbing imagery.
4. The Man of Rearden Steel: Objectivism in Contemporary Cinema
Author: Jacob Davis
Date Published: 26th Nov
Excerpt: Jacob Davis situates Ayn Rand’s Objectivist ideas within contemporary superhero filmmaking, using Batman v Superman as a case study to discuss ideology in blockbuster cinema.
3. What Happens When You Spend A Week Watching Christmas 24/7?
Author: Elizabeth Howlett
Date Published: 30th Nov – 7th Dec
Excerpt: A seven-part experiment in binge-watching made-for-TV Christmas movies on Christmas 24, blending humor and cultural commentary on seasonal entertainment.
2. I’m a 90s Kid and I Watched Home Alone for the First Time This Year
Author: Annice White
Date Published: 8th Dec
Excerpt: A candid, funny first-time viewing of Home Alone from a writer who grew up in the 90s but somehow missed the cultural staple—an entertaining personal essay.
1. The Worst Show – A Historian’s Account of The Greatest Showman’s Problematic Retelling of History
Author: Darcy Rae
Date Published: 12th Dec
Excerpt: A historian’s critique of The Greatest Showman, questioning the film’s historical choices and the ethics of reshaping real events for mass entertainment.
Darcy Rae’s piece challenges readers to consider how popular films handle historical material, arguing that accuracy and research remain important even in musicals and crowd-pleasers.
2018 was a phenomenal year for our writers and editorial team. I’d like to thank every contributor for delivering consistently high-quality content across the year. If you’re a reader interested in contributing, please see our Vacancies page for opportunities to join the team.