Biggest movie moments of 2018

By Bryanne Salazar 2:10pm PST, Nov 27, 2018

So many great films have arrived in theaters in 2018, bringing with them major movie moments that took our collective breath away. Join Wonderwall.com as we relive some of the most amazing scenes of the year… starting with one of the top grossing film in U.S. history, "Black Panther." The epic Marvel action-adventure flick stars Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger and Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, his sworn enemy. While the film was overflowing with moments that made us want to jump out of our seats and cheer, one of the most powerful scenes happened when Killmonger arrived in Wakanda to challenge T'Challa for the throne. In a brutal public cliffside battle, the two men participated in a horrific death match with only one earning the title of victor. Keep reading for more top movie moments, but be warned: We're dropping some major spoilers in the process…

Another movie with more amazing moments than we have fingers to count on was the action-adventure flick "Avengers: Infinity War," which (major spoilers ahead) also left us seriously peeved after nearly all of our favorite Marvel action heroes were mysteriously killed off as they seemingly disintegrated into thin air. We're still holding out hope that there's an alternate reality that will bring the dead Avengers back to life! We also want to give props to a seriously awesome moment in the film where Thor, with his newly forged Stormbreaker ax, arrives on Earth to battle Thanos (seen here). We got major chills when Thor split open the skies and sought vengeance on the warlord who took the lives of his friends and his troublesome (but lovable) brother, Loki.

If you've already seen the comedy-musical "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," then you'll probably agree that one of the best moments of the film is when the goddess herself, Cher, burst onto the big screen singing "Fernando" (leaving us all wondering how in the world she still looks so damn good). In the movie, Cher plays Ruby Sheridan, Sophie's fabulously platinum-blonde grandmother who returns to Greece and finds her former lover, Fernando (played by Andy Garcia), working at the family inn.

While "Annihilation" might not have done so well at the box office, the film definitely had one of the best (and most terrifying) movie moments of the year and, perhaps, the decade. That's right, we're talking about the infamous screaming bear scene. (spoiler alert) In the movie, paramedic Anya Thorensen (played by Gina Rodriguez, right) becomes angrily suspicious of the story her teammates tell her about one of their members being killed by a bear. After tying up her group and demanding answers, Anya hears her supposedly dead friend screaming for help and runs to save her, only to be confronted by the bear they'd warned her about. What makes this bear utterly horrifying is that every time it opens its mouth to growl, it releases the dying screams of the woman it just mauled. Of course, then it viciously murders Anya as well.

It might seem like we've got a thing for Marvel films, but they just keep on cranking out insanely good movies with jaw-dropping moments we can't forget. Case in point: "Deadpool 2" starring Ryan Reynolds. In this hilarious action-packed sequel, (spoiler alert) our bad-boy superhero Wade Wilson suffers a major, life-changing loss that leaves him suicidal. In his typical, dramatic fashion, Wade decides to end his life by filling his apartment with explosives on which he lays before igniting them. Lucky for us, he's invincible and not even blowing himself to smithereens can dim his bright light.

While "Mission: Impossible – Fallout" had many insanely good moments, none made us catch our breath more than the now-infamous high-altitude low-opening (HALO) jump from a plane during a lightning storm. Although Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) tried to warn his mission partner, agent August Walker (played by Henry Cavill), about the storm below the jump zone, Walker didn't listen and (spoiler alert) was struck, causing him to pass out and nearly die while free-falling. Even cooler? Tom Cruise did the 25,000-foot jump from a military transport plane himself, refusing to use a stunt double.

In the romantic coming-of-age dramedy "Love, Simon" starring Nick Robinson, Talitha Bateman, Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel, audiences got a heartwarming scene that also made a social statement. In the unforgettable montage, various teens in the film "came out" to their parents as heterosexual, highlighting the absurdity of LGBTQ members having to come out of the closet to their friends and family.

In the Pixar animated adventure "The Incredibles 2," we were totally smitten with the fight scene between baby Jack Jack and a pesky raccoon. Although violence and babies usually don't mix, this fantastic moment showed how the Parr family's youngest son, who's still coming into his powers, was able to defeat a thieving raccoon while his dad slept soundly nearby.

In the sci-fi adventure "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," there was no shortage of suspenseful scenes. One of our favorite (and most terrifying) movie moments in the film involved an unlucky helicopter mission over a lagoon to retrieve a bone from the Indominous Rex. Things were already going wrong with the mission when a very hungry and extremely gigantic Mosasaurus (with jaws as big as a hangar) shot out of the murky water to snack on an unlucky man who was dangling from the chopper.

If you haven't seen Marvel's "Ant-Man and the Wasp" starring Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, you're missing out on some of the coolest micro-action on the planet. With the super-ability to reduce or enlarge her size, the Wasp takes on armed assassins in a hotel restaurant and averts danger by running her microscopic body across the blades of knives thrown her way. In the same scene, she also expertly throws a salt shaker at a bad guy while simultaneously enlarging it, knocking out one of the villains with comedic style.

What could be worse than having to live in complete silence for fear of being attacked by evil aliens? The sci-fi thriller "A Quiet Place" starring Emily Blunt found the answer: It's having to give birth, on your own, without any medication, after stepping on a nail with your bare foot, all while not making a sound.

The juicy movie moments were plenty in the crime-comedy "Ocean's 8." One of our favorites, however, is when Anne Hathaway's character, Daphne Kluger, is interviewed by detectives following the theft of her expensive diamond necklace from the Met Gala. In the scene (spoiler alert) Daphne goes from victim to conspirator as she decides not to reveal what really happened before the necklace was stolen. While we weren't exactly sure why Daphne was dishonest, we later learn she'd discovered the plot and decided to join forces with the women who robbed her.

It's notoriously difficult for films to do justice to the books they're recreating, but one moment in the Disney fantasy-adventure "A Wrinkle in Time" did just that. We're talking about the scene when Meg (played by Storm Reid), brother Charles Wallace and pal Calvin arrive on Mrs. Whatsit's (played by Reese Witherspoon) favorite planet in the galaxy, the magical land of Uriel. One of the most beautiful places imaginable, Uriel is filled with sloping, grassy hills and brightly colored flora that seem to come to life. Even Mrs. Whatsit transforms in this magical land, turning into a mesmerizing floral giantess who takes the children on an exhilarating ride through the skies.

In the high-octane sci-fi adventure "Ready Player One," Tye Sheridan stars as gamer Wade aka "Parsival" in the virtual reality game OASIS. One of the best moments of the film comes at the end when (spoiler alert) player Daito transforms himself into a giant robot known as Gundam. Geared up for battle, Gundam takes on alien villain MechaGodzilla who is being controlled by the evil Nolan Sorrento, whose only goal is to defeat the game and take over OASIS.

Neve Campbell and Dwayne Johnson's 2018 action thriller "Skyscraper" might have tanked at the domestic box office, but that doesn't mean the movie isn't without some seriously great moments. Proving he is a man who can't be stopped, Dwayne's character, former FBI agent Will Sawyer, is determined to rescue his family from the world's tallest skyscraper that just happens to be on fire. The only way to get there? Will has to climb up a 1,400-foot ladder while being chased by authorities convinced he's the one behind the attack. Once he reaches the top, Will has no choice but to run across the arm of a super-crane and jump through the air toward the burning building, hoping to make contact. Oh yeah, did we mention Will is also missing a leg and wearing a prosthetic? That scene, friends, was movie magic.

In the Amy Schumer rom-com "I Feel Pretty," her character, Renee Bennet, suffers a traumatic head injury that leaves her seeing herself in a new, sexy light. Typically shy and self-conscious, Renee becomes emboldened by her newfound belief that she's one of the hottest women in the world. She's so convinced of her beauty, she decides to join a wet T-shirt contest where she gives the most passionate, belly-jiggling performance of her life, effectively winning over a heckling crowd. It was our favorite moment in the film and, perhaps, of all time.

The spy thriller "Red Sparrow" might have been too slow-paced for audiences, but it had its fair share of moments that will remain forever seared in our brains. One of the most shocking was when (spoiler and gore alert) Russian spy Dominika Egorova (played by Jennifer Lawrence) takes part in the vicious torture of her mark, CIA agent Nate Nash. Watching as Nate is slowly and painfully skinned alive by her associate, Dominika offers to do it herself. She takes the cattle slicer to his inner thighs and shears off long rectangular slabs of human flesh, permanently scarring our psyches in the process.

In the hilarious coming-of-(late)-age comedy "Life of the Party," Melissa McCarthy shines as Deanna, a frumpy middle-aged housewife who enrolls in the same college as her daughter when her husband of 23 years leaves her for another woman. In one of the best moments in the film, Deanna, her daughter and school friends head to an '80s party decked out in costumes, ready to have the best night of their lives. Proving moms are cool, Deanna gets in a dance-off that has her doing crazy moves like "driving the car" and our personal favorite, "the worm."

In Liam Neeson's action-packed crime-drama "The Commuter," one scene was so vivid, it practically leaped off the screen. (Spoiler alert) In attempt to save the lives of his fellow train passengers who were headed for certain, fiery death, Liam's character, Michael, devises a plot to derail the train, hoping it will slow down enough to prevent a fatal collision. Working with the conductor, Michael manages to separate the train cars, sending them (including the one he and the other passengers are in) careening off the tracks in a screeching, terrifying display that had us holding our breath the entire time.

In the sci-fi action-adventure flick "Rampage," Dwayne Johnson stars as Davis Okoye, a hunky primatologist who tries to rescue his rare albino gorilla friend George after he's been genetically modified by evil scientists. Our favorite scene happens to be the final fight (spoiler alert) between giant George and an even bigger genetically modified crocodile that seriously just won't die. George and the croc go on an epic fighting spree through the city streets but nothing (not even Davis firing explosive missiles at it) seems to be able to stop the menacing reptile. When all hope seems lost and Davis is mere inches from the crocodile's mouth, a severely injured George flies through the air and manages to kill his foe before falling to his own death.

Say what you will about this steamy movie franchise, but we were positively melting during one moment of "Fifty Shades Freed" starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson. That's right, friends, we're talking about the now-infamous ice-cream sex scene in which Christian finds new bride Anastasia eating ice cream in the kitchen in the middle of the night. After some coy spoon action between the two, they get into some seriously kinky frozen dairy play. Eating ice cream off each other's nether regions is probably the most memorable moment of this film and now we'll never look at a pint of Ben & Jerry's the same.

In "Solo: A Star Wars Story," there were many moments that had us gripping our seats, but none caught us more than when (spoiler alert) Han (played by Alden Ehrenreich) shot his mentor, Tobias Beckett (played by Woody Harrelson), in the chest. What made the scene so arresting was that it was almost unexpected. Although Beckett had double-crossed Han, it was chilling to see our beloved "Star Wars" hero aim and fire his weapon at his old friend while Beckett was in the middle of speaking.

Can we talk about that insane, heart-pounding escape scene in "Tomb Raider"? When the film's main character, Lara Croft (played by Alicia Vikander), manages to evade her captors on the mythical island of Yamatai, she is forced into dangerous territory with her hands bound in front of her with rope. While running across a decaying log over a ravine more than 100 feet below, Lara (who, by the way, is also being shot at by the bad guys) stumbles and falls down into the rushing water which pummels her into sharp rocks before bringing her to the edge of a massive and deadly waterfall. As Lara is thrust off the edge of the falls, she finds salvation dangling from the side of a very wobbly, rusted-out fighter jet. Managing to maneuver inside the dangerously swaying plane, Lara, in the nick of time, is able to grab an antique parachute and pull the ripcord, saving her life as she falls thousands of feet in the air to what would have been her death.

It's all fun and games until a very expensive Fabergé egg is at stake. In the action-comedy "Game Night," a group of friends get sucked into a dangerous plot that involves stealing the jeweled egg from a very rich and powerful man who happens to have some vicious security guards at his disposal. What ensues is a hilarious game of Fabergé hot potato as the friends toss the egg to one another in order to evade capture.

There is no action hero more bad a– than Denzel Washington and in his action-crime thriller "The Equalizer 2," he gets to remind us why he's reigning champ of taking down bad guys. One of the best moments of the film happens when Denzel's character, Robert McCall, goes in search of his friend Miles, who, after losing his brother to gang violence, ends up associating with criminals who are encouraging him to retaliate. Robert finds Miles hiding in a drug house with his new, violent friends and manages to take three of them down single handedly before entering the main room and drawing not one but two guns on them all as he says, "Let's go, Miles." When the gang members ask who he is, Robert says, "I'm your father, your mother didn't tell you," which has officially become our favorite new line of the year.

We didn't realize how much we missed rom-coms until we saw "Crazy Rich Asians" this year, and there was one scene in particular that left us with happy tears. Nick and Rachel's relationship appears to be over as Rachel sits in her economy seat on a flight back to the States. All of a sudden, Nick (played by breakout star Henry Golding) appears on the plane, pouring his heart out and proposing to Rachel (Constance Wu) for the second time — as he helps people with their suitcases. The proposal is charming and comedic — but also super-romantic. We loved every second!

In Ewan McGregor's heartfelt "Christopher Robin," there is one scene that left us yearning for the simplicity of childhood. Christopher Robin is now a grown man, stressed and dejected by the day-to-day adulting that has consumed his life and family. He reunites with Winnie the Pooh and they travel to the Hundred Acre Wood where Christopher gets upset and angrily tells Pooh he is no longer a child. After reuniting with Eeyore and Piglet and pretending to defeat a Heffalump, Christopher apologizes to Pooh and reveals how lost he feels. Never one to hold a grudge, Pooh comforts him and reminds him that everything will be OK now that they've found each other again. Awww!

We all know that Neil Armstrong landed safely on the moon in 1969, but watching the moment in "First Man" still left us on the edge of our seats. Neil, played by super-talented Ryan Gosling, successfully lands the Apollo 11 spacecraft on the moon after nearly being killed ejecting from the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle during training. The space shuttle is tiny and, to our modern eyes, the technology and equipment look dated and very high-risk. Neil leaves the shuttle and steps foot onto the moon, where he performs one small action that left us in tears. He drops a bracelet that belonged to his young daughter, Karen — who died in the beginning of the film — into Little West crater.

Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman" had a ton of action-packed, hard-hitting moments but it was the powerful finale that truly stood out. Black police officer Ron Stallworth and girlfriend Patrice are at his apartment unwinding after Ron helps bring down a local chapter of the Klu Klux Klan. Suddenly, there's a knock at the door — the pair look through their window and see a large burning cross in the distance, surrounded by Klan members. The movie then cuts to footage of the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacist rally including clips of the attendees, David Duke giving a speech, the counter-protesters, the car attack that left one dead and President Trump's statements after the deadly event. The film ends with a memorial to Heather Heyer, the woman who was killed during the rally, and an upside-down American flag.

"Halloween" gave us the satisfying ending we've been waiting decades for! The horror flick is a direct sequel to the 1978 original movie of the same name. Laurie Strode is now a grandmother who suffers from PTSD after being attacked by Michael Meyers 40 years before. Michael has escaped custody and returned to Haddonfield to finish what he started. This time, Laurie is prepared and traps Michael in a safe room in her home. She flips a switch, barricading the exit and filling the room with gas. She then lights a flare and tosses it into the room, burning Michael alive. However, the movie's very last shot includes the sound of Michael's breathing, so maybe he's not gone for good…

We've all seen previous incarnations of "A Star Is Born," and we knew what was coming, but nevertheless, the emotional final performance left us crying rivers. In the final scene of the 2018 movie, Ally Campana (played by Lady Gaga) walks on stage and tells the audience she'll only be able to get through the next song "with your help, maybe." She then begins to sing "I'll Never Love Again," a song her late husband, Jackson Maine (played by Bradley Cooper), wrote for her. The scene is stunningly heartbreaking and Gaga's beautiful voice made this the must-watch moment of the movie.

Matthew McConaughey's "White Boy Rick" had thought-provoking, thrilling moments throughout the film, but it was the completely devastating ending that made the most impact. Rick Wershe Jr., a 17-year-old boy facing drug charges, has been promised leniency in his sentencing after becoming an FBI informant and helping bring down corrupt cops and fellow drug dealers. After a short trial, he stands for sentencing in the courtroom and is sentenced to life in prison. His promised deal never came to be and Rick is later shown sharing an emotional moment with his father in prison, where he will spend the next 30 years. The saddest thing of all? The entire movie is based on a true story.

We couldn't help but smile while watching one particular super-cute moment in "Smallfoot." Percy Patterson, a wildlife documentary filmmaker, stands up for Migo, a young male Yeti, and his Yeti family and friends after the group leave their village and encounter the police. Percy's selfless act and strong friendship with Migo leads to humans slowly accepting the Yetis and welcoming them into their lives. It turns out that love does conquer all!