The best movies, shows, music videos, and more of 2018 get the One Perfect Shot treatment.
Put in the simplest of terms, a Shot is a sequence of continuous footage between two cuts. They exist in movies, shows, music videos, video games, and really any video-based art. It’s simple — just whatever happens in there between two little cuts. But we both know, dear reader, that there’s so much more to them. Within any thoughtfully staged sequence, we can find beauty, hidden meaning, and even a little bit of transcendence from time-to-time. Sometimes they’re just fun.
Either way, there’s a certain amount of emotional muscle memory that accompanies any great Shot. Not only are you reminded of the thing you watched, you may also remember the way you felt when you saw it. That returning rush of emotion is part of the power of visual storytelling. We hold these great moments with us throughout our lives, revisiting them every once in a while. That’s the work we do at One Perfect Shot — we help with the reminders. And while we try not to take ourselves too seriously, we consider the curation of lists like this to be a great honor. We had a lot of fun at the movies in 2018 — and experiences so many moments that we’ll carry with us into the future.
As with all of our lists, this one is very much our own. It’s a product of how we feel and what we’ve seen as of right now. We’ll be uncovering shots we love from 2018 for a long time, but these are the 50 Best as of the end of the year.
50. Love, Simon
Cinematography by John Guleserian
Directed by Greg Berlanti
49. Isle of Dogs
Cinematography by Tristan Oliver
Directed by Wes Anderson
48. Upgrade
Cinematography by Stefan Duscio
Directed by Leigh Whannell
47. Homecoming: “Protocol”
Cinematography by Tod Campbell
Directed by Sam Esmail
46. Avengers: Infinity War
Cinematography by Trent Opaloch
Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
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