Want to dive into something new? Check out this week's lineup of documentaries showing on the big screen in and around Boston.
Read on for the best documentary films to catch in theaters, based on critical scores sourced from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. (Movie descriptions courtesy The Movie Database; showtimes via Fandango.)
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Fred Rogers used puppets and play to explore complex social issues: race, disability, equality and tragedy, helping form the American concept of childhood. He spoke directly to children, and they responded enthusiastically. Yet today, his impact is unclear. Have we lived up to Fred's ideal of good neighbors?
Boasting a 98 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" has been a must-watch since its release on June 29. The site's critical consensus declares, "'Won't You Be My Neighbor?' takes a fittingly patient and honest look at the life and legacy of a television pioneer whose work has enriched generations."
It's screening at AMC Boston Common 19 (175 Tremont St.) through Thursday, Jan. 10. 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, it would arguably be the greatest feat in rock climbing history.
Boasting a critical approval rating of 98 percent and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Free Solo" has been a must-watch since its release on Sep. 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."
It's playing at AMC Boston Common 19 (175 Tremont St.) through Tuesday, Jan. 8. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Three Identical Strangers
New York, 1980: three complete strangers accidentally discover that they're identical triplets, separated at birth. The 19-year-olds' joyous reunion catapults them to international fame, but also unlocks an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes beyond their own lives — and could transform our understanding of human nature forever.
With a critical approval rating of 96 percent and an audience score of 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Three Identical Strangers" has been a must-watch since its release on June 29. The site's critical consensus notes that "Surreal and surprising, 'Three Identical Strangers' effectively questions the nature of reality and identity."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing at AMC Boston Common 19 (175 Tremont St.) through Thursday, Jan. 10. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Crime + Punishment
Over four years of unprecedented access, the story of a brave group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and one unrelenting private investigator who, amidst a landmark lawsuit, risk everything to expose illegal quota practices and their impact on young minorities.
With a critical approval rating of 95 percent and an audience score of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Crime + Punishment" has become a favorite since its release on Aug. 24.
The site's critical consensus states, "'Crime + Punishment' shines a brilliant light on systemic corruption, building a case for change that's as upsetting as it is ultimately inspiring."
Get into the fight at AMC Boston Common 19 (175 Tremont St.) through Thursday, Jan. 10. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
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