On the hunt for date night ideas? Check out this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Costa Mesa.
Here are the highest rated films to catch, based on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer Score, which reflects the opinions of hundreds of film and television critics.
(Movie descriptions courtesy The Movie Database; showtimes via Fandango. Movie ratings and showtimes are subject to change.)
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind.
With a Tomatometer Score of 92 percent and an Audience Score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on Feb. 22.
The movie “brings the franchise to a close with an affectionate chapter that continues the adventures of the Viking boy-turned-chief Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and his faithful dragon Toothless," noted Jake Coyle of the Associated Press.
Get a piece of the action at Edwards Metro Pointe Stadium 12 (901 S. Coast Dr.) through Wednesday, March 6, and Triangle Square Cinemas (1870 Harbor Blvd.) through Thursday, March 7. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Cold Pursuit
Nels Coxman's quiet life comes crashing down when his beloved son dies under mysterious circumstances. His search for the truth soon becomes a quest for revenge as he seeks coldblooded justice against a drug lord and his inner circle.
With a Tomatometer Score of 73 percent and an Audience Score of 60 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Cold Pursuit" is well worth a watch.
The New York Post's Johnny Oleksinski called it "an excellent film," while James Berardinelli of ReelViews said, " 'Cold Pursuit' works as intended."
In the mood for popcorn? It's playing at Edwards Metro Pointe Stadium 12 (901 S. Coast Dr.) through Thursday, Feb. 28, and Triangle Square Cinemas (1870 Harbor Blvd.) through Thursday, March 7. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Isn't It Romantic
For a long time, Natalie, an Australian architect living in New York City, had always believed that what she had seen in rom-coms is all fantasy. But after thwarting a mugger at a subway station only to be knocked out while fleeing, Natalie wakes up and discovers that her life has suddenly become her worst nightmare — a romantic comedy — and she is the leading lady.
With a Tomatometer Score of 69 percent and an Audience Score of 58 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Isn't It Romantic" is well worth a watch.
"Unlike other movies where women bang their heads, this one's got a brain," noted Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post, while Vulture's Bilge Ebiri said, "It's the 'Inception' of rom-coms. Sort of."
It's playing at Edwards Metro Pointe Stadium 12 (901 S. Coast Dr.) through Wednesday, March 6, and Triangle Square Cinemas (1870 Harbor Blvd.) through Thursday, March 7. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Happy Death Day 2U
Collegian Tree Gelbman wakes up in horror to learn that she's stuck in a parallel universe. Her boyfriend Carter is now with someone else, and her friends and fellow students seem to be completely different versions of themselves. When Tree discovers that Carter's roommate has been altering time, she finds herself once again the target of a masked killer.
With a Tomatometer Score of 68 percent and an Audience Score of 68 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Happy Death Day 2U" is well worth a watch.
Salon's Matthew Rozsa called it, "a sequel that is both better than the original and manages to retroactively improve that movie," and the Chicago Reader's Ben Sachs said, "Like its predecessor, the movie has a broad sentimental streak, but the sentiment feels more thoughtful and heartfelt this time around."
You can catch it at Edwards Metro Pointe Stadium 12 (901 S. Coast Drive) through Thursday, Feb. 28, and Triangle Square Cinemas (1870 Harbor Blvd.) through Thursday, March 7. 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, Queen soon faces its greatest challenge yet — finding a way to keep the band together amid the success and excess.
With a Tomatometer Score of 61 percent and an Audience Score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is well worth a watch.
Richard Brody of the New Yorker said, "(Rami) Malek does an impressive job of re-creating Mercury's moves onstage, but the core of the performance is Malek's intensely thoughtful, insight-rich channeling of Mercury's hurt, his alienation and isolation even at the height of his fame." For his performance, Malek won the Academy Award for best actor.
Catch it on the big screen at Edwards Metro Pointe Stadium 12 (901 S. Coast Dr.) through Wednesday, March 6. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
This story was created automatically using local movie data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
