On the hunt for date night ideas? Don't miss this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Irvine.
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.)
Shoplifters
After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making enough money to survive through petty crime, they seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets, testing the bonds that unite them.
Boasting a critical approval rating of 99 percent and an audience score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Shoplifters" has gotten stellar reviews since its release on Nov. 23, with a consensus that "Understated yet ultimately deeply affecting, 'Shoplifters' adds another powerful chapter to director Hirokazu Koreeda's richly humanistic filmography."
In the mood for popcorn? It's playing at Edwards Westpark 8 (3735 Alton Parkway) through Wednesday, Dec. 26. Click here for showtimes and tickets.Free Solo
Follow Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free-solo climb Yosemite's 3, 000-foot-high El Capitan wall. With no ropes or safety gear, this could arguably be the greatest feat in rock-climbing history.
Boasting a critical approval rating of 98 percent and an audience score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Free Solo" has been a must-watch since its release on Sept. 28. The site's critical consensus indicates that "'Free Solo' depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason - and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal."
Catch it on the big screen at Edwards Westpark 8 (3735 Alton Parkway) through Wednesday, Dec. 26. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Favourite
In 18th-century England, the close relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill is threatened by the arrival of Sarah's cousin, Abigail Hill, resulting in a bitter rivalry between the two cousins to be the Queen's favorite.
With a critical approval rating of 94 percent and an audience score of 60 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Favourite" has become a favorite since its release on Dec. 14. Per the site's overview of critic reviews, "'The Favourite' sees Yorgos Lanthimos balancing a period setting against rich, timely subtext - and getting roundly stellar performances from his well-chosen stars."
It's screening at Edwards University Town Center 6 (4245 Campus Drive) through Wednesday, Dec. 26. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
