Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Fun & Entertainment
Published on March 22, 2019
5 top films worth checking out in Walnut Creek this weekImage: Apollo 11/TMDb

Want to see a movie, but not sure what's worth your time (and money)? Check out this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Walnut Creek.

Read on for 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.)

Apollo 11

A look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin.

Boasting a Tomatometer Score of 99 percent and an Audience Score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Apollo 11" has been a must-watch since its release on March 8.

Entertainment Weekly's Chris Nashawaty said, "The NASA mission at the heart of the must-see documentary 'Apollo 11' reminds you what it feels to be truly awestruck," while Jake Coyle of the Associated Press noted, "'Apollo 11' might not tell you anything you don't already know about the moon landing. But it will make you feel it, and see it, anew."

In the mood for popcorn? It's playing at Century 14 Downtown Walnut Creek and XD (1201 Locust St.) through Tuesday, March 26. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

Us

Husband and wife Gabe and Adelaide Wilson take their kids to their beach house expecting to unplug and unwind with friends. But as night descends, their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some shocking visitors arrive uninvited.

Set to be released on Friday, March 22, "Us" already has a Tomatometer Score of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Catch it on the big screen at Century 14 Downtown Walnut Creek and XD (1201 Locust St.) through Thursday, March 28. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

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 91 percent and an Audience Score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on Feb. 22.

"So much of 'The Hidden World' is stuffed with filler material. But in certain wordless moments, this grand final entry really sings," noted David Sims of the Atlantic, while the New York Post's Johnny Oleksinski said, "The movie could easily be called 'How To End Your Trilogy.'"

Catch it on the big screen at Century 14 Downtown Walnut Creek and XD (1201 Locust St.) through Tuesday, March 26. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

Captain Marvel

The story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

With a Tomatometer Score of 79 percent and an Audience Score of 62 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Captain Marvel" is well worth a watch.

The Toronto Sun's Mark Daniell said, "Does it work? The short answer is: yes. There's enough to keep both diehard Marvel fans and newcomers engaged," and the New Yorker's Anthony Lane noted, "Superhero cinema has lectured us, ad infinitum, on the responsibility that is conferred by extraordinary gifts. Praise be to [ Larson, for reminding us that they can be bringers of fun."

You can catch it at Century 14 Downtown Walnut Creek and XD (1201 Locust St.) through Tuesday, March 26. 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, relied on a guide called The Negro Motorist Green Book.

With a Tomatometer Score of 78 percent and an Audience Score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Green Book" is well worth a watch.

In the mood for popcorn? It's playing at Century 14 Downtown Walnut Creek and XD (1201 Locust St.) through Tuesday, March 26. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

Cozy up to movie night.

Life is hard, but planning the perfect movie night is anything but. Make the most of a fun and relaxing evening with these chill-out essentials:

  • Enjoy today’s golden age of streaming entertainment with over 500,000 movies and TV episodes available with the Amazon Fire Stick. Fire it up →
  • No movie night is complete without freshly buttered popcorn, and Cuisinart’s hot air popcorn maker is top-of-the-line. Pop and go →
  • Slip into comfort with Ugg’s best-selling indoor/outdoor moccasin, complete with sheep’s wool lining. Foot heaven →

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.