On the hunt for date night ideas? Read on for this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Cincinnati.
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.)
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.
Boasting a 98 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Free Solo" has been a must-watch since its release on Sept. 28. The site's critical consensus notes that "'Free Solo' depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason - and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal."
It's playing at Esquire 6 Theatre (320 Ludlow Ave.) through Wednesday, Dec. 19. Click here for showtimes and tickets.Schindler's List
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
With a 97 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this '90s flick 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 screening at Esquire 6 Theatre (320 Ludlow Ave.) through Thursday, Dec. 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
It's a Wonderful Life
A holiday favorite for generations. George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.
With a critical approval rating of 93 percent and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1946 release has garnered plenty of praise. The site's critical consensus indicates that "The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, 'It's a Wonderful Life' is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing at Esquire 6 Theatre (320 Ludlow Ave.) through Monday, Dec. 17. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
A Private War
One of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time, Marie Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, and driven to the frontlines of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless.
With an 89 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 67 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "A Private War" has racked up generally positive reviews since its release on Nov. 16. The site's critical consensus has it that "'A Private War' honors its real-life subject with a sober appraisal of the sacrifices required of journalists on the front lines - and career-best work by Rosamund Pike."
Interested? It's playing at Esquire 6 Theatre (320 Ludlow Ave.) through Friday, Dec. 14. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Gremlins
When Billy Peltzer is given a strange but adorable pet named Gizmo for Christmas, he inadvertently breaks the three important rules of caring for a Mogwai, and unleashes a horde of mischievous gremlins on a small town.
With an 84 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1984 release is a good bet, with a consensus that "Whether you choose to see it as a statement on consumer culture or simply a special effects-heavy popcorn flick, 'Gremlins' is a minor classic."
It's screening at Esquire 6 Theatre (320 Ludlow Ave.) on Saturday, Dec. 15. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
