Hollywood has impressed us a lot in 2018, both in its mainstream big-screen ventures as well as the more intimate efforts. Thanks to movies like Avengers Infinity War, Black Panther, Venom, Aquaman, Mission Impossible Fallout, Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom etc, the industry has made a killing at the international box office this year, with Infinity War also being one of the rare movies to enter the two billion dollar club. Black Panther, Avengers Infinity War or Aquaman - Ranking All Superhero Movies of 2018 From WORST to BEST.

That said, not all good movies have to be big screen popcorn ventures and be blockbusters at the box office (a concept that our trade analysts fail to understand at times). Some of Hollywood's better movies have never worked at the box office, but have gained appreciation over the time. In this special year-ender feature, we look at 15 movies from different genres that came out from the West and managed to impress us with their storytelling and film-making techniques, even if not every one of them earned big bucks at the box office. And if you have a craving for the big guns that made the biggest blast in 2018, do read this - Avengers Infinity War, Black Panther, Mission: Impossible Fallout - 10 Most Enjoyable Hollywood Films of 2018 That Released in India.

Game Night

What was expected to be another by-the-numbers comedy, turned out to be an unforgettable comic gem with enough emotional resonance. With some very unpredicted surprises, really novel gags ("Not Denzel Washington") and excellent performances from everyone in the cast, especially Rachel McAdams and a creepy Jesse Plemons, Game Night will give you the night to remember!

Annihilation

Alex Garland has a very deft hand with it comes to sci-fi genre (Ex Machina, anyone?). With this Netflix film, he keeps jumping genres from an emotional drama to sci-fi to a creature thriller to finally being a mind-bending noir that will leave you thinking about what the eff you saw. The movie hugely benefits from the star presence of Natalie Portman, with some very effective scares (that monster bear will give you nightmares) and twists that make this one, an unforgettable experience.

Love, Simon

When it comes gay romances, Hollywood either makes it too dark or too grim. Love, Simon defies expectations by giving the genre a Breakfast Club twist that makes it one of the most enjoyable romcoms of the year. With a delightful cast and a bright tone, this one will keep you rooting for its protagonist to get the love of his life, no matter which orientation you belong to!

You Were Never Really Here

Joaquin Phoenix is excellent in this mystery thriller that never lets you guess its intentions till the very end. Dealing with issues like PTSD and human trafficking, You Were Never Really Here is beautifully shot, with haunting visuals and scenes that play with both the protagonist's and your own minds.

Upgrade

If Venom was made on a low budget, is bereft of its superhero roots and is well-made, then you have Upgrade. Led by a terrific Logan Marshall-Green, this sci-fi action thriller has enough moments of visceral violence, some gritty action scenes and plenty of moments of dark humour.

Hereditary

Many critics call this one the best horror movie of the year, and some even the best movie of 2018. While the latter part is still up for argument, there is no doubt that Hereditary is a movie that is a very shocking entry to the horror genre. It frightens you not with some cheap scares, but with the impending sense of horror looming over every scene and subverts expectations at every turn. Don't miss this!

Sorry to Bother You

2018 has given us some very unexpected gems in the genre of science fiction. Like this overlooked flick. But it is hard to define Sorry to Bother You as a sci-fi film - it also takes on the garb of a black comedy, a satire and a neo-noir. Set in a futuristic world that is too bizarre to comprehend (centaurs!), this one will play with your imagination in the most freakish ways and yet you will love the experience.

BlacKkKlansman

Based on real-life events that happened in the '70s, this Spike Lee film stars Denzel Washington's supremely talented son John David Washington and Adam Driver in the lead and is a darkly humorous take about exposing Klu Klux Klan's reach in America. While the main narrative is filled with enough black humour and nerve-racking thrills, it is the final scene that will get to you. That's when Lee uses real footage from 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia which shows how racism is still burning among us.

Searching

The whole 'telling the story through a computer screen' idea may sound like a gimmick. But Searching manages to make the idea feel so innovative in this mystery thriller about a father's desperate search for his missing daughter. The suspense is really good, but what makes Searching so great is the moments of the father-daughter relationship so smoothly embedded in the narrative. John Cho, of American Pie fame, also delivers his career-best performance in the film.

First Man

The failure of First Man at the box office is one of the biggest upsets of 2018. Sure, the film, directed by the talented Oscar-winning Damien Chazelle, has a slow burn screenplay, and it is not a chest-thumping exercise as many normal viewers expected it to be. However, if you view the film as one man's persistent determination to conquer all odds, then there is no fine cinematic experience than First Man. The sequence where Ryan Gosling's Neil Armstrong lands on the moon is one of the finest sequences ever shot.

Bad Times at the El Royale

Screenwriter Drew Goddard has only directed two movies, The Cabin the Woods and this one, and both are underrated gems. Bad Times at the El Royale's one big drawback is the length. If you overlook that, though, then this is a thrilling experience with enough dark twists and masterful shots. Every actor in this movie, especially Jeff Bridges and Cynthia Erivo, are excellent. However, it is Chris Hemsworth who stuns you with a terrifying performance as a cult leader with a God complex.

Widows

One of the best edge-of-the-seats experiences of the year, Widows, directed by Steve McQueen, shuffles between being a heist thriller and a political drama to create some highly effective drama. Lead by an always dependable Viola Davis, this one is gritty, grim, enthralling and above all, unpredictable.

Creed II

It may not be as good as the first Creed film in comparison and you can blame the absence of director Ryan Coogler (who was busy making a little hit called Black Panther). However, the sequel is not a letdown at all, with the dramatic sequences still managing to resonate with you and also giving the antagonists unexpected humane touches. Also, it gives a very fitting farewell to Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa from the franchise (we think).

Green Book

[caption id="attachment_565705" align="alignnone" width="1000"]While it may not be hailed as a masterpiece, Green Book is a pleasant road trip dramedy. The movie is based on the real-life friendship between a black pianist Don Shirley and a white bouncer Tony Vallelonga, who is hired as the former's chauffeur, as 'they drive through racism-reigning Deep South of the USA in the '60s. Green Book features excellent performances from both Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali, and is filled with some heartwarming moments of friendship and bonding.

Roma

Roma is not, technically, a Hollywood film because it is made in Mexican, but we can't help it. There is no doubt that this Netflix film is the most beautiful film of the year, despite being shot in black and white. What's amazing about the film is the director Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity) has himself cranked the camera for the first time and what an amazing job he has done! However, it is not just the lovely frames, the drama, perhaps Cuarón's most intimate work, is equally immersive and deeply moving with amazing performances from the cast, who are relative newcomers. If you haven't seen this, make sure that that mistake is rectified as soon as possible.

So how many of these films have you seen in the past year? Share your thoughts, as well as any other good piece of cinema that you think we should have included above, in the comments section below.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 31, 2018 02:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).