18. 'Super 8'

'Super 8' is one of our favorites this year, mainly because it correctly answered this question: How do you create a 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' for the iPod generation? You have J.J. Abrams direct, bring in Steven Spielberg to produce, get an incredibly talented young cast to star, and then throw in a freaky government conspiracy and an alien to tie it all together. (Also, Coach Taylor.) 'Super 8' was a sci-fi movie and a nostalgic suburban flick all wrapped into one. -- A.S.