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? Don't miss this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Plano.
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.)
Sweet Smell of Success
New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.
Boasting a critical approval rating of 98 percent and an audience score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1957 classic boasts plenty of accolades, with a consensus that "Sweet Smell of Success boasts a top-notch cast, sharp direction, atmospheric cinematography and an appropriately jazzy score, making it one of the best noir crime thrillers ever made."
It's screening at Angelika Film Center & Cafe (7205 Bishop Road) at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21. Click here for showtimes and tickets.They Shall Not Grow Old
A documentary about World War I with never-before-seen footage to commemorate the centennial of Armistice Day, and the end of the war.
With a 97 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "They Shall Not Grow Old" has gotten stellar reviews since its release on Dec. 17. Per the site's summary of critic reviews, "An impressive technical achievement with a walloping emotional impact, 'They Shall Not Grow Old' pays brilliant cinematic tribute to the sacrifice of a generation."
It's playing at Studio Movie Grill Plano (4721 W. Park Blvd.) through Monday, Jan. 21. 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 97 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Hate U Give" has been a must-watch since its release on Oct. 19. The site's critical consensus has it 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 Cinemark Movies 10 (1818 Coit Road) through Thursday, Jan. 17. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Miles Morales is juggling his life between being a high school student and being Spider-Man. However, when Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk uses a super collider, another Spider-Man from another dimension, Peter Parker, accidentally winds up in Miles' dimension, joining others from across the "Spider-Verse."
With a 97 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" has been a must-watch since its release on Dec. 14, with a consensus that "'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' matches bold storytelling with striking animation for a purely enjoyable adventure with heart, humor and plenty of superhero action."
It's screening at Cinemark West Plano and XD (3800 Dallas Parkway) through Wednesday, Jan. 23; Studio Movie Grill Plano (4721 W. Park Blvd.) through Wednesday, Jan. 23; and Cinemark Legacy and XD (7201 N. Central Expressway) through Wednesday, Jan. 23. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
If Beale Street Could Talk
After her fiancé is falsely imprisoned, a pregnant African-American woman sets out to clear his name and prove his innocence.
With a critical approval rating of 95 percent and an audience score of 71 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "If Beale Street Could Talk" has garnered plenty of praise since its release. The site's critical consensus notes that "'If Beale Street Could Talk' honors its source material with a beautifully filmed adaptation that finds director Barry Jenkins further strengthening his visual and narrative craft."
Catch it on the big screen at Angelika Film Center & Cafe (7205 Bishop Road) and Cinemark Legacy and XD (7201 N. Central Expressway) through Thursday, Jan. 24. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
