In the age of streaming entertainment, it can be hard to leave the couch. But movie theaters still offer a special experience for those willing to get out of the house. Want to see what's out there? Read on for this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Miami.
Here are the highest rated films to catch, based on critical scores sourced from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. (Movie descriptions courtesy The Movie Database; showtimes via Fandango.)
Schindler's List
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from Nazi death camps while they worked in his factory during World War II.
With a critical approval rating of 97 percent and an audience score of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1993 Best Picture winner has been a favorite of critics, with a consensus that "'Schindler's List' blends the abject horror of the Holocaust with Steven Spielberg's signature tender humanism to create the director's dramatic masterpiece."
It's back in theaters for a limited time for its 25th anniversary, and you can catch it at CMX Brickell City Centre (701 S. Miami Ave.) through Wednesday, Dec. 12. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Free Solo
Follow Alex Honnold as he becomes the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000 foot high El Capitan wall. With no ropes or safety gear, he completed arguably the greatest feat in rock climbing history.
With a critical approval rating of 97 percent and an audience score of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Free Solo" has gotten stellar reviews since its release on September 28. The site's critical consensus indicates that it "depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason -- and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal."
You can catch it at Cinépolis Coconut Grove (3015 Grand Ave.) through Thursday, Dec. 6. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Elf
When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging feeling that he doesn't belong. Buddy vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, who turns out to be a workaholic publisher.
With an 83 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Elf" (2003) has proven a solid holiday choice. Per the site's overview of critic reviews, "A movie full of Yuletide cheer, 'Elf' is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell's funny, charming performance as one of Santa's biggest helpers."
It's playing at Silverspot Cinema Metsquare (300 S.E. Third Ave.) on Sunday, Dec. 9. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Creed II
Follows Adonis Creed's life inside and outside of the ring as he deals with newfound fame, issues with his family, and his continuing quest to become a champion.
With an 83 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Creed II" has been getting attention since its release on November 21, with a consensus that its "adherence to franchise formula adds up to a sequel with few true surprises, but its time-tested generational themes still pack a solid punch."
It's screening at CMX Brickell City Centre (701 S. Miami Ave.) through Thursday, Dec. 6. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Green Book
Tony Lip, a bouncer in 1962, is hired to drive Don Shirley, an African-American classical pianist, on a tour through the Deep South. Because of segregation laws below the Mason-Dixon Line, they must rely on a guide called "The Green Book" to find the few establishments considered safe for African Americans.
With a critical approval rating of 82 percent and an audience score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, plus five Golden Globe nominations, "Green Book" has been getting attention since its release on November 16, with a consensus that it "takes audiences on a surprisingly smooth ride through potentially bumpy subject matter, fueled by Peter Farrelly's deft touch and a pair of well-matched leads."
It's screening at CMX Brickell City Centre (701 S. Miami Ave.) and Cinépolis Coconut Grove (3015 Grand Ave.) through Thursday, Dec. 6. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
