According to the Morgan Hill Times, Super 8 was the best alien invasion movie of 2011. 

As often happens in the summertime, there are quite a few blockbuster movies that revolve around monsters. This year, aliens were the monster of choice with "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," "Cowboys and Aliens," "Paul" and "Super 8."

The best movie to make use of aliens was "Super 8," directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg. The movie has the feel of Spielberg's older pieces such as "E.T.," but it has a lot more action. The movie works better than all the rest because it has more character to it. The alien is really a side storyline to a tale of kids growing up in 1979 and trying to find their way in the world. It centers around newcomer Joel Courtney, who plays Joe Lamb. Courtney plays the lead role as a kid who is into making monster movies with his friends and has plenty of empathy for even a creature that is destroying his town.

The News Record rates Super 8 in the Top 3 Movies of 2011: 

A charming mix between “The Goonies” and “Cloverfield,” “Super 8” is a wonderful Steven Spielberg homage written and directed by J.J. Abrams. The child performers (including Elle Fanning and newcomer Joel Courtney) have excellent chemistry and carry the movie without being too cute or cloying. The special effects are amazing (the train crash scene is one of the most technologically stunning sequences this year), but it’s the heart of the movie that makes it so special.

Redbox reviews Super 8: 

This film is not your traditional sci-fi movie. In fact, you can’t even tell it is a sci-fi film until well over halfway through it.  The special effects are gripping and will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Although teenagers, Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning’s acting makes the film worth watching alone.  The two are very talented and undoubtedly have successful careers in the film business.  The movie is full of clever jokes and plot twists.

The movie lives up to the claim of being the 2011 blockbuster of the summer.  If you are looking for an action packed film that will make you feel like a kid again, as well as scare the heck out of you, then rent “Super 8.”

The Movie Rat reports on the 2011 BAM Award Winners. Super 8 won in the following categories: 

• Best Youth Ensemble

This is the best, most talented and most naturally amicable core of young actors I’d seen since Stand by Me and each subsequent viewing of the film has not shaken that belief instead it has solidified it. For those keeping track Stand by Me and Super 8 are separated by 25 years so when a new film earns that kind of comparison it’s well on its way to becoming a classic in due course whether it is hailed with the confusing “instant classic” label or not. The brilliant and naturalistic nature of this ensemble’s work is sealed in the clandestine diner conversation wherein in several topics are discussed at once, put-downs are exchanged and conversation flows so naturally it feels almost as if it’s real life and not a film. Certainly all these actors all have big futures but what they create here together is something truly special which they are blessed to have experienced and to recreate anything like in another project would be near miraculous.

• Best Performance by a Child Actor in a Leading Role

The ensemble work in Super 8 is brilliant as stated above but they also split off and the common factor in the smaller groups is Joe Lamb plus one or a few of his friends, or his dad and Joe Lamb is Joel Courtney and vice versa. Joel not only worked with various scene partner permutations but with various notes and emotions. If you think of a kind of conversation a kid can hold in a film he likely had one and it was apt to be one of the best examples of the year: the diner speculation, the late night talk with Alice, the fight with his father, the fake movie dialogue, etc. Not only is he natural in all these situations but effective and makes the movie work.

This is a film about kids, Joe specifically, that is told through the guise of a sci-fi tale and for it to work the performance has to be strong. The performance is brilliant therefore the film achieves greatness.

• Best Performance by a Child Actress in a Leading Role

Elle Fanning’s impact in Super 8 is massive. She is the girl in the boys’ club, she is the love interest not only that she is sought after by more than one of the guys so her disappearance has less negative impact on her lead status than most. She’s wise beyond her years, jaded, she plays older, she plays a great zombie and a brilliant “unfilmed” scene wherein you see how and why the boys fall in love with her. A lot of the film hinges on her and she more than holds up her own she helps carry it.

The Daily Texan rated Super 8 in the Top 5 Movies of 2011: 

The film gets the coming-of-age story at its center so right that it’s impossible to leave off this list. Magnificent performances from Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney make for several wistful, heartwarming moments, and Abrams nails the awe-inspired Spielberg aesthetic that made many of the films he’s trying to emulate classics.

The Dare to Dream show has Joel Courtney listed as their "Breakout Movie Star" for 2011. 

A Breakout Star list of 2011 would not be complete without Joel Courtney. Joel wowed audiences this year with his relatable and real performance as Joe Lamb in the summer blockbuster Super 8.Courtey currently has 2 films in post –production that we can’t wait to see. We know we’ll be seeing more of the star in 2012!

Joel has been noniated by the BAM Awards in the category of "Best Performance by a Child Actor in a Leading Role". 

But that's not the only Super 8 award nominations.

• Best Performance by a Child Actress in a Leading Role: Elle Fanning
• Best Performance by a Child Actor in a Supporting Role: Ryan Lee
• Best Sound Editing/Mixing
• Best Visual Effects