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Edition · 2008
The Year in Film · 2008

Best of 2008

The films that defined 2008 — ranked by IMDb score.


These films defined 2008 — the year's highest-rated releases, ranked by IMDb score. Some are awards bait, some are popcorn fare, some quietly snuck in under the radar. All earned their place on the list.

  1. 01.
    The Dark Knight

    The Dark Knight

    2008·Dir. Christopher Nolan·152 min·9.1

    Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.

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  2. 02.
    Louis C.K.: Chewed Up

    Louis C.K.: Chewed Up

    2008·Dir. Louis C.K.·60 min·8.5

    Profane, vulgar and obscenely funny, Louis C.K. insists on telling the truth, whether you like it or not! Join the Emmy Award-winning stand-up comic and TV star (Lucky Louie) as he shares his thoughts on the stuff everyone thinks about -- male bodily fluids, the joys of being white, the difference between women and girls -- but never has the nerve to say. It's Louis C.K. at his risk-taking best: fearless, honest and totally outrageous! Nominated for the 2009 Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special

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  3. 03.
    Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

    Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

    2008·Dir. Kurt Kuenne·94 min·8.5

    In 2001, Andrew Bagby, a medical resident, is murdered not long after breaking up with his girlfriend. Soon after, when she announces she's pregnant, one of Andrew's many close friends, Kurt Kuenne, begins this film, a gift to the child.

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  4. 04.
    WALL·E

    WALL·E

    2008·Dir. Andrew Stanton·98 min·8.4

    After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E— a robot designed to clean up the earth—discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen.

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  5. 05.
    George Carlin: It's Bad for Ya!

    George Carlin: It's Bad for Ya!

    2008·Dir. Rocco Urbisci·70 min·8.4

    It's Bad For Ya, Carlin's Emmy nominated 14th and final HBO special from March of 2008 features Carlin's noted irreverent and unapologetic observations on topics ranging from death, religion, bureaucracy, patriotism, overprotected children and big business to the pungent examinations of modern language and the decrepit state of the American culture.

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  6. 06.
    Bill Burr: Why Do I Do This?

    Bill Burr: Why Do I Do This?

    2008·Dir. Shannon Hartman·55 min·8.3

    One of America's fastest-rising comedians, Bill Burr wields his razor-sharp wit with rare skill. In this brand-new stand-up performance, Bill takes aim at the stuff that drives us crazy, political correctness gone haywire, and girlfriends, or as he calls them: relentless psycho robots. A keenly observant social commentator, Bill Burr is also one of the funniest voices in comedy today.

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  7. 07.
    Presto

    Presto

    2008·Dir. Doug Sweetland·5 min·8.3

    Dignity. Poise. Mystery. We expect nothing less from the great turn-of-the-century magician, Presto. But when Presto neglects to feed his rabbit one too many times, the magician finds he isn't the only one with a few tricks up his sleeve!

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  8. 08.
    Zeitgeist: Addendum

    Zeitgeist: Addendum

    2008·Dir. Peter Joseph·123 min·8.2

    Zeitgeist: Addendum premiered at the 5th Annual Artivist Film Festival. Director Peter Joseph stated: "The failure of our world to resolve the issues of war, poverty, and corruption, rests within a gross ignorance about what guides human behavior to begin with. It address the true source of the instability in our society, while offering the only fundamental, long-term solution."

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  9. 09.
    Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest

    Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest

    2008·Dir. Dominic Polcino·48 min·8.2

    With the Griffins stuck at home during a blackout, Peter tells the story of "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope".

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  10. 10.
    Vaaranam Aayiram

    Vaaranam Aayiram

    2008·Dir. Gautham Vasudev Menon·169 min·8.2

    A son deals with the death of his father and examines how their relationship influences him through growing up, romance, tragedy and adventure.

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  11. 11.
    La Maison en Petits Cubes

    La Maison en Petits Cubes

    2008·Dir. Kunio Kato·12 min·8.2

    La Maison en Petits Cubes tells the story of a grandfather's memories as he adds more blocks to his house to stem the flooding waters.

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  12. 12.
    A Wednesday!

    A Wednesday!

    2008·Dir. Neeraj Pandey·103 min·8.1

    Prakash Rathod, a retired police commissioner recounts the most memorable case of his career wherein he was informed about a bomb scare in Mumbai by an ordinary commoner.

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  13. 13.
    Front of the Class

    Front of the Class

    2008·Dir. Peter Werner·95 min·8.1

    A boy with Tourette's syndrome overcomes criticism and discrimination to achieve his dream of becoming a teacher.

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  14. 14.
    Sorry For Disturbance

    Sorry For Disturbance

    2008·Dir. Khaled Marei·116 min·8.1

    Hassan, a brilliant aviation engineer struggles with loneliness and depression while trying to design his very exceptional project.

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  15. 15.
    Gran Torino

    Gran Torino

    2008·Dir. Clint Eastwood·116 min·8.1

    Disgruntled Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski sets out to reform his neighbor, Thao Lor, a Hmong teenager who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possession: a 1972 Gran Torino.

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  16. 16.
    Love Exposure

    Love Exposure

    2008·Dir. Sion Sono·237 min·8.0

    The story of a teenage boy called Yu, who falls for Yoko, a girl he runs into while working as an upskirt photographer in an offshoot of the porn industry. His attempts to woo her are complicated by a spot of cross-dressing – which convinces Yoko that she is lesbian – dalliances with kung-fu and crime, and a constant struggle with Catholic guilt.

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  17. 17.
    Ip Man

    Ip Man

    2008·Dir. Wilson Yip·106 min·8.0

    A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The film focuses on events surrounding Ip that took place in the city of Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the lead role, and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung.

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  18. 18.
    Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II

    Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II

    2008·Dir. Seth Green·23 min·8.0

    Seth Green and Matthew Senreich serve up more hilarious Star Wars-inspired satire in this second compilation of sketches featuring the zany stop-motion animation of Adult Swim's "Robot Chicken." Gary the stormtrooper deals with irascible boss Darth Vader on Take Your Daughter to Work Day, while Anakin babysits a certain up-and-coming Jedi.

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  19. 19.
    Departures

    Departures

    2008·Dir. Yojiro Takita·130 min·8.0

    Daigo, a cellist, is laid off from his orchestra and moves with his wife back to his small hometown where the living is cheaper. Thinking he’s applying for a job at a travel agency he finds he’s being interviewed for work with departures of a more permanent nature – as an undertaker’s assistant.

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  20. 20.
    Waltz with Bashir

    Waltz with Bashir

    2008·Dir. Ari Folman·90 min·8.0

    An Israeli film director interviews fellow veterans of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon to reconstruct his own memories of his term of service in that conflict.

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  21. 21.
    Slumdog Millionaire

    Slumdog Millionaire

    2008·Dir. Danny Boyle·121 min·8.0

    A teenager reflects on his life after being accused of cheating on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?".

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  22. 22.
    The Beaches of Agnès

    The Beaches of Agnès

    2008·Dir. Agnès Varda·110 min·8.0

    Filmmaking icon Agnès Varda, the award-winning director regarded by many as the grandmother of the French new wave, turns the camera on herself with this unique autobiographical documentary. Composed of film excerpts and elaborate dramatic re-creations, Varda's self-portrait recounts the highs and lows of her professional career, the many friendships that affected her life and her longtime marriage to cinematic giant Jacques Demy.

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  23. 23.
    Iron Man

    Iron Man

    2008·Dir. Jon Favreau·126 min·7.9

    After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.

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  24. 24.
    Still Walking

    Still Walking

    2008·Dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda·114 min·7.9

    A family gathers together for a commemorative ritual whose nature only gradually becomes clear.

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  25. 25.
    The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner

    The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner

    2008·Dir. Stephan Komandarev·105 min·7.9

    The story of Alex, who, with the help of his charismatic grandfather, embarks on a journey in search of his real self.

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  26. 26.
    Anvil! The Story of Anvil

    Anvil! The Story of Anvil

    2008·Dir. Sacha Gervasi·81 min·7.9

    At 14, best friends Robb Reiner and Lips made a pact to rock together forever. Their band, Anvil, hailed as the "demi-gods of Canadian metal" influenced a musical generation that includes Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax. Following a calamitous European tour, Lips and Robb, now in their fifties, set off to record their 13th album in one last attempt to fulfill their boyhood dreams.

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  27. 27.
    The Wrestler

    The Wrestler

    2008·Dir. Darren Aronofsky·109 min·7.9

    Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper, and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. But he can't resist the lure of the ring and readies himself for a comeback.

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  28. 28.
    Cars of the Revolution

    Cars of the Revolution

    2008·Dir. Tolga Örnek·115 min·7.9

    In the years of military coup, Turkey was unable to produce its own cars. But Pasha believed that Turkish people can produce their own cars so he ordered 2 cars. Gunduz and engineers with him must produce 2 cars in only 130 days!

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  29. 29.
    Sparrow

    Sparrow

    2008·Dir. Majid Majidi·96 min·7.9

    When an ostrich-rancher focuses on replacing his daughter's hearing aid, which breaks right before crucial exams, everything changes for a struggling rural family in Iran. Karim motorbikes into a world alien to him - incredibly hectic Tehran, where sudden opportunities for independence, thrill and challenge him. But his honor and honesty, plus traditional authority over his inventive clan, are tested, as he stumbles among vast cultural and economic gaps between his village nestled in the desert, and a throbbing international metropolis.

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  30. 30.
    In Bruges

    In Bruges

    2008·Dir. Martin McDonagh·108 min·7.9

    Ray and Ken, two hit men, are in Bruges, Belgium, waiting for their next mission. While they are there they have time to think and discuss their previous assignment. When the mission is revealed to Ken, it is not what he expected.

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  31. 31.
    Silent Wedding

    Silent Wedding

    2008·Dir. Horațiu Mălăele·87 min·7.8

    In a small village of Communist-era Romania a young couple wish to marry, but Joseph Stalin dies the night prior to their wedding ceremony forcing the bride and groom to marry in silence.

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  32. 32.
    Ghost in the Shell 2.0

    Ghost in the Shell 2.0

    2008·Dir. Mamoru Oshii·85 min·7.8

    In the year 2029, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop a highly-wanted hacker known as 'The Puppetmaster'.

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  33. 33.
    Dasvidaniya

    Dasvidaniya

    2008·Dir. Shashant Shah·117 min·7.8

    A man who loves to make "to-do lists" makes one last bucket list when he realizes he is about to die.

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  34. 34.
    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

    2008·Dir. David Fincher·166 min·7.8

    Born under unusual circumstances, Benjamin Button springs into being as an elderly man in a New Orleans nursing home and ages in reverse. Twelve years after his birth, he meets Daisy, a child who flits in and out of his life as she grows up to be a dancer. Though he has all sorts of unusual adventures over the course of his life, it is his relationship with Daisy, and the hope that they will come together at the right time, that drives Benjamin forward.

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  35. 35.
    Food, Inc.

    Food, Inc.

    2008·Dir. Robert Kenner·94 min·7.8

    Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner examines how mammoth corporations have taken over all aspects of the food chain in the United States, from the farms where our food is grown to the chain restaurants and supermarkets where it's sold. Narrated by author and activist Eric Schlosser, the film features interviews with average Americans about their dietary habits, commentary from food experts like Michael Pollan and unsettling footage shot inside large-scale animal processing plants.

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  36. 36.
    Let the Right One In

    Let the Right One In

    2008·Dir. Tomas Alfredson·115 min·7.8

    When Oskar, a sensitive, bullied 12-year-old boy, meets his new neighbor, the mysterious and moody Eli, they strike up a friendship. Initially reserved with each other, Oskar and Eli slowly form a close bond, but it soon becomes apparent that she is no ordinary young girl.

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  37. 37.
    The Chaser

    The Chaser

    2008·Dir. Na Hong-jin·125 min·7.8

    Joong-ho is a dirty detective turned pimp, who's in financial trouble as several of his girls have recently disappeared without clearing their debts. While trying to track them down, he finds a clue that the vanished girls were all called up by the same client, whom one of his girls is meeting with right now.

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  38. 38.
    Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

    Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

    2008·Dir. Dibakar Banerjee·126 min·7.7

    Lovinder Singh, a thief now in custody and facing trial, reflects on his life of crime while the press reflect on how he managed to get away with so much before being arrested.

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  39. 39.
    Rock On!!

    Rock On!!

    2008·Dir. Abhishek Kapoor·144 min·7.7

    Aditya, Joe, Kedar and Rob form a rock band, but break up after they fail to make a success of it. They establish regular lives until they decide to reunite and take another shot at fulfilling their dreams.

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  40. 40.
    Mumbai Meri Jaan

    Mumbai Meri Jaan

    2008·Dir. Nishikant Kamat·119 min·7.7

    Shortly after 1800 hours, 11 July 2006, Mumbai was shattered by seven bomb blasts on Western Railway stations: Matunga, Mahim, Khar, Bandra, Jogeshwari, Borivali, and Bhayandar. It took the Police and ambulance over an hour to attend at various sites. This incident changes lives of Thomas, originally from Chennai, who sells tea from his bike; Rupali Joshi, a TV News reporter, who has to deal with the death of her to-be spouse, Ajay Kumar Pradhan; Suresh, in debt, starts to suspect all Muslims, especially Yusuf; Inspector Tukaram Patil, about to retire, goes about collecting bribes as usual, much to the chagrin of his embittered, honest and soon to-be suspended subordinate, Sunil Kadam; while Nikhil Agarwal, a Nationalist and environmentalist, debates whether he should re-locate to the United States, along with his pregnant wife, Sejal.

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— End of Chapter —