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 Durham.
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.)
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, which results in a bitter rivalry between the two cousins to be the Queen's favourite.
Set to be released on Friday, December 14, The Favourite already has a critical approval rating of 94 percent and an audience score of 70 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. According to the site's summary 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."
Interested? It's playing at AMC Southpoint 17 (8030 Renaissance Parkway, #975) through Friday, December 14. 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 is a workaholic publisher.
With an 83 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 70 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, Elf has proven a solid viewing choice. Per the site's critical consensus, "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."
It's playing at AMC Southpoint 17 (8030 Renaissance Parkway, #975) through Thursday, December 13 and AMC Classic Durham 15 (1807 Martin Luther King Parkway) through Wednesday, December 12. 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. They relied on a guide called The Negro Motorist Green Book.
With a critical approval rating of 83 percent and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, Green Book has proven a solid option since its release on November 16. Per the site's summary of critic reviews, "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 AMC Southpoint 17 (8030 Renaissance Parkway, #975) through Thursday, December 13. 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 a critical approval rating of 80 percent and an audience score of 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, Boy Erased is well worth a watch. Per the site's critical consensus, "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."
It's screening at AMC Classic Durham 15 (1807 Martin Luther King Parkway) through Wednesday, December 12. 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, the band finds a way to keep the band together amid the success and excess.
With a 62 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, Bohemian Rhapsody is well worth a watch. The site's critical consensus notes 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."
You can catch it at AMC Southpoint 17 (8030 Renaissance Parkway, #975) through Thursday, December 13; AMC Classic Durham 15 (1807 Martin Luther King Parkway) through Wednesday, December 12; and Stadium 10 at Northgate Mall (1058 W. Club Blvd.) through Friday, December 14. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
