Want to see a movie, but not sure what's worthwhile? Don't miss this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Houston.
Read on for 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.
With a 97 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, with a consensus that "'Free Solo' depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason - and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal."
Interested? It's playing at Edwards Greenway Grand Palace Stadium 24 & RPX ( 3839 Weslayan St.) through Thursday, Dec. 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.The Hate U Give
Raised in a poverty-stricken slum, a 16-year-old girl named Starr now attends a suburban prep school. After she witnesses a police officer shoot her unarmed best friend, she's torn between her two very different worlds as she tries to speak her truth.
With a critical approval rating of 96 percent and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Hate U Give" has gotten stellar reviews since its release Oct. 19. The site's critical consensus notes that "Led by a breakout turn from Amandla Stenberg, the hard-hitting 'The Hate U Give' emphatically proves the YA genre has room for much more than magic and romance."
It's screening at AMC Studio 30 (2949 Dunvale Road) and AMC Gulf Pointe 30 (11801 S. Sam Houston Parkway East) through through Wednesday, Dec. 12. 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, a workaholic publisher.
With a critical approval rating of 83 percent and an audience score of 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Elf" has much to recommend it. The site's critical consensus indicates that "A movie full of Yuletide cheer, 'Elf' is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell's funny and charming performance as one of Santa's biggest helpers."
In the mood for popcorn? It's playing at AMC Willowbrook 24 (17145 Tomball Parkway) through Tuesday, Dec. 11; AMC Studio 30 (2949 Dunvale Road) through Thursday, Dec. 13; and AMC Gulf Pointe 30 (11801 S. Sam Houston Parkway East) through Saturday, Dec. 8. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Creed II
Follows Adonis Creed's life inside and outside of the ring as he deals with new found fame, issues with his family and and his continuing quest to become a champion.
With a critical approval rating of 83 percent and an audience score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Creed II" has racked up generally positive reviews since its release on Nov. 21. The site's critical consensus has it that "'Creed II's' adherence to franchise formula adds up to a sequel with few true surprises, but its time-tested generational themes still pack a solid punch."
You can catch it at Cinemark Tinseltown USA (11450 East Freeway) through Tuesday, Dec. 11; Edwards Greenway Grand Palace Stadium 24 & RPX (3839 Weslayan St.) through Thursday, Dec. 13; AMC Willowbrook 24 (17145 Tomball Parkway) through Wednesday, Dec. 12; and Cinemark Tinseltown 290 and XD (12920 Northwest Freeway) through Tuesday, Dec. 11. 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 in the days when African Americans, forced to find alternate accommodations and services due to segregation laws below the Mason-Dixon Line, relied on a guide called "The Negro Motorist Green Book."
With an 82 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Green Book" has been getting attention since its release on Nov. 16. The site's critical consensus has it 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 Greenway Grand Palace Stadium 24 & RPX (3839 Weslayan St.) through Thursday, Dec. 13; AMC Willowbrook 24 (17145 Tomball Parkway) through Tuesday, Dec. 11; and Studio Movie Grill Pearland (8440 S. Sam Houston Parkway East) through Wednesday, Dec. 12 Click here for showtimes and tickets.
