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 Fresno.
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 gotten stellar reviews since its release on September 28. Per the site's critical consensus, "'Free Solo' depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason — and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing at Maya Fresno 16 & MPX (3090 E. Campus Pointe Drive) through Friday, Dec. 14. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Green Book
Tony Lip, a bouncer in 1962, is hired to drive pianist Don Shirley on a tour through the Deep South. The film is set in the days when African-Americans were forced to find alternate accommodations and services due to segregation laws below the Mason-Dixon Line and relied on a guide called The Negro Motorist Green Book.
With an 83 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Green Book" has been getting attention since its release on November 16. The site's critical consensus indicates that "'Green Book' 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."
Get a piece of the action at Edwards Fresno Stadium 22 & IMAX (250 Paseo del Centro) and Maya Fresno 16 & MPX (3090 E. Campus Pointe Drive) through Friday, Dec. 14. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Boy Erased
Jared, the son of a Baptist pastor in a small American town, is outed to his parents at age 19. Jared is faced with an ultimatum: attend a gay conversion therapy program — or be permanently exiled and shunned by his family, friends and faith.
With an 80 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 76 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Boy Erased" is well worth a watch. The site's critical consensus notes that "Anchored in empathy by writer-director-star Joel Edgerton, 'Boy Erased' proves the road to complex, powerfully performed drama can also be paved with good intentions." Star Lucas Hedges' performance has earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
Get a piece of the action at Edwards Fresno Stadium 22 & IMAX (250 Paseo del Centro) through Friday, Dec. 14. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
It's Christmas time and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife, Ellen, and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.
With a 64 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 86 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this '80s throwback deserves a viewing. According to the site's summary of critic reviews, "While 'Christmas Vacation' may not be the most disciplined comedy, it's got enough laughs and good cheer to make for a solid seasonal treat."
Catch it on the big screen at Regal Manchester Stadium 16 (2055 E. Shields Ave.) and Edwards Fresno Stadium 22 & IMAX (250 Paseo del Centro) on Saturday, Dec. 15. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Bohemian Rhapsody
Singer Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and bass guitarist John Deacon take the music world by storm when they form the rock 'n' roll band Queen in 1970. Hit songs become instant classics. When Mercury's increasingly wild lifestyle starts to spiral out of control, Queen soon faces its greatest challenge yet – finding a way to keep the band together amid the success and excess.
With a critical approval rating of 62 percent and an audience score of 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is well worth a watch. The site's critical consensus indicates that "'Bohemian Rhapsody' hits a handful of high notes, but as an in-depth look at a beloved band, it offers more of a medley than a true greatest hits collection." Both the film and star Rami Malek are Golden Globe nominees.
Catch it on the big screen at Regal Manchester Stadium 16 (2055 E. Shields Ave.) through Friday, Dec. 14; Edwards Fresno Stadium 22 & IMAX (250 Paseo del Centro) through Friday, Dec. 14; and Maya Fresno 16 & MPX (3090 E. Campus Pointe Drive) through Friday, Dec. 14. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
