The 2018 Golden Globes were full of surprises, with ‘A Star Is Born’ and ‘Deadpool 2′ taking the top two spots at the box office and a record number of original cast members accepting their awards.
One of the most exciting moments of the night was when director J.J. Abrams introduced and presented the award for best director to Guillermo Del Toro for his incredible work on the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ series.
The 81st Golden Globes were also a celebration of women in Hollywood, with Emma Stone taking home the award for best actress in a comedy series for her role in ‘Battlefront’, and Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston being honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for their unparalleled contributions to film through the years.
It has been a historic year for women in Hollywood, with a record-breaking 16 nominees taking home the golden egg trophies, and the first major American awards ceremony paying homage to women’s achievements in the film industry. So, as the women of Hollywood continue to shine, let’s take a look back at the most iconic images from the biggest movies of the year in sports and entertainment.
Hockey Is Back
One of the biggest movies of the year was Adam McKay’s ‘Vice’, which follows the ups and downs of former Vice President Dick Cheney over the course of one tumultuous decade in the White House. One of the film’s most stunning scenes is a grandiose tribute to the office of the Vice President: the ceremonial ice-hockey game between the U.S. and Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
The match, which took place on February 25th, was a moment of triumph for the Americans, who claimed the gold in a 5-2 victory. Four days later, in keeping with the dramatic nature of the film, Cheney lost his bet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and was forced to hand over the Vice Presidency to Joe Biden.
The scene was undoubtedly one of the most iconic images from the 2018 movies, and it was no surprise to see it ranked number two on Twitter’s list of the most iconic sporting moments of 2018.
The Fastest Off-Peak Season Ever!
Fans of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ have been eagerly awaiting the release of ‘A Quiet Place’, which is set to revolutionize and de-mystify the way we look at horror movies. It tells the story of four siblings caught in the middle of a bloody struggle for survival when they discover a secret society of creatures called ‘The Others’ living among them in the shadow of the rising sun.
The story centers on eldest daughter Ruth (Emily Blunt) and her quest to protect her siblings, who are younger than she is by two years, and ward off vicious attacks by the Others. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that this is no ordinary family vacation, and ‘A Quiet Place’ will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The movie kicked off a craze for off-peak season holiday travel, with people desperate to get away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season choosing to vacation during the offseason to save money and ensure they can travel cheaply. This trend was evident in the United Kingdom, where package holiday resorts were sold out for Christmas and New Year, and hotels were desperately seeking guests for the rest of the year.
The Most Iconic Look Of 2018
One of the biggest movies of the year was Disney’s ‘Black Panther’, which became the first film in history to top $700 million at the box office in its wake. The movie also boasted the most iconic look of the year, with star Brie Larson walking the red carpet in a see-through dress that showed off her incredible athletic figure before performing in the movie that evening.
The outfit quickly proved to be one of the most iconic dresses of all time. It was named one of the “10 best dresses of the decade” by Vogue and inspired copycats across the world. The dress also made its way to the big screen, with Larson starring in a Netflix commercial for the streaming service in which she re-enacts the famous scene from the movie using only the dress and accessories.
Richest Man In The World
Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson is the greatest wrestler of all time, so it was only natural that his character, Dwayne Johnson, would dominate all headlines in 2018. The movie ‘Rumble in the Bronx’, in which the retired boxer tries to get his life back on track after a near-death experience, became the highest-grossing R-rated film in history and also one of the most popular movies of all time. It is not unusual for The Rock to commandeer all available ad space in a national newspaper, as he did in October 2018 when he appeared on the cover of The New York Times Magazine.
Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson is one of the most iconic and well-known figures in the world of sports and entertainment, and there is no question that his phenomenal success in Hollywood has been fueled by his incredible charisma and work ethic.
Top Gun Comes to Live Stream
The biggest movie of the year was also one of the earliest Netflix original movies, and it became the first in a string of live-streaming sensations that included ‘Roma’, ‘The Ballad of Buster Scrooge’, and ‘Death in Paradise’.
“It’s all about choice,” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said at the time of the movie’s premiere. “You could watch this movie and not have a Netflix account. You could also have a Netflix account and not have watched this movie. It’s up to you.
The Reemergence Of Horror
Horror has become an integral part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with many of the movies in the franchise leaning heavily into the macabre. ‘A Quiet Place’ and ‘Black Panther’ are perfect examples of this trend, but it was 2018’s ‘Venom’ that truly kicked off a new era of horror in Hollywood.
“Venom” follows the tale of a journalist (Tom Hardy) who stumbles upon a mysterious brief case which houses a creature that falls under the classification of “alien” and decides to keep it to himself. The creature, which is indescribably terrifying, eventually makes its way into Hardy’s heart and the audience is left wondering if he is truly a monster or actually a symbiotic relationship between the two. Either way, the results are shocking and unforgettable.
The movie’s director, Ramaiyer Desai, referred to “Venom” as a “science fiction love letter to horror” and if that isn’t a compliment, I don’t know what is.
The King Makes A Comeback
There were also a number of comeback stories in 2018, with many formerly famous people returning to the spotlight after years in the wilderness. One of the most incredible came from none other than Michael Jordan, who returned to the NBA to play for the Chicago Bulls in October.
For years, the basketball world has been deprived of Jordan’s legendary presence on the court as he spent more time off-screen dealing with his myriad business and personal problems. It was an era when his personal life was more tabloid fodder than sports superstar and he kept a very low profile. So to see Jordan back in the fold as a basketball player was a truly special moment for fans of the game and a huge boost for the Bulls, who have been looking for a win since day one of the season.
The Rise Of Stand-Alone Experiences
Another significant development in 2018 was the rise of stand-alone experiences. As tablet and mobile phone usage increased, so did the demand for movies to be played solely on these devices. This trend was evident in the biggest movies of the year, with the likes of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Spiderman: Homecoming’ opting to go down that route instead of being tied to a specific platform. It is likely that this will slowly evolve into a “Netflix and chill” type of scenario, where you would not necessarily need to own a television set to enjoy the content.