Eager to catch that hot new release, but don't want to battle your fellow moviegoers for seats?
It's not always easy to determine when the movie you hoped to see on the big screen will leave your local theater. Factors like ticket sales and distribution contracts figure into the equation, but in general, movies can stay in theaters anywhere from a mere two weeks to many months.
Read on for the highest-rated "old" new releases still screening in San Diego theaters, 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.)
The Favourite
England, early 18th century. The close relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill is threatened by the arrival of Sarah's cousin, Abigail Hill, resulting in a bitter rivalry between the two cousins to be the Queen's favorite.
With a Tomatometer Score of 93 percent and an Audience Score of 67 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Favourite" has garnered plenty of praise since its release in December of 2018. IndieWire's Cate Young said, "Yorgos Lanthimos' dryly funny historical feature is all about power, and that means literally wearing the pants in a strange time," while A.O. Scott of the New York Times noted, "Weisz and Stone are both brilliantly witty and nimble, but Colman's performance is nothing short of sublime."
"The Favourite" is now only playing at one theater in San Diego — a big hint that it could be leaving local theaters soon. In the mood for popcorn? It's playing at ArcLight La Jolla (4425 La Jolla Village Drive) through Thursday, March 21. 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 70 percent and an Audience Score of 67 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," according to Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post, while New York Magazine/Vulture's Bilge Ebiri said, "It's the 'Inception' of rom-coms. Sort of."
"Isn't It Romantic" is now only playing at five theaters in San Diego — which may signal that it's on its way out. You can catch it at AMC Fashion Valley 18 (7037 Friars Road) through Wednesday, March 20; Angelika Film Center & Cafe Carmel Mountain (11620 Carmel Mt. Road) through Thursday, March 21; UltraStar Mission Valley (7510 Hazard Center Drive) through Wednesday, March 20; and Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 IMAX & RPX (10733 Westview Parkway) through Wednesday, March 20. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Vice
George W. Bush picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to politics, Cheney's impressive resume includes stints as White House chief of staff, House Minority Whip and defense secretary. When Bush wins by a narrow margin, Cheney begins to use his newfound power to help reshape the country and the world.
With a Tomatometer Score of 66 percent and an Audience Score of 57 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Vice" is well worth a watch. "What is perhaps most remarkable about Bale's and Adams' performances is that they supply depth and nuance to a film whose director appears to have had no appetite for either quality," noted Christopher Orr of the Atlantic, while the Chicago Reader's Leah Pickett said, "You cannot simply sit and absorb this movie. Love it or hate it, you are one of its characters."
"Vice" is now only playing at one theater in San Diego — a big hint that it could be leaving local theaters soon. Interested? It's playing at ArcLight La Jolla (4425 La Jolla Village Drive) through Thursday, March 21. 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 87 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is well worth a watch. NPR's Bob Mondello said, "As for Freddie Mercury, is this his real life? Is this just fantasy — not sure that really matters either. When Malek's strutting like a peacock, this movie is a decently amusing escape from reality," and the New Yorker's Richard Brody said, "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 channelling of Mercury's hurt, his alienation and isolation even at the height of his fame."
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is now only playing at one theater in San Diego — which may signal that it's on its way out. It's screening at ArcLight La Jolla (4425 La Jolla Village Drive) through Thursday, March 21. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Alita: Battle Angel
When Alita awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido, a compassionate doctor who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg shell is the heart and soul of a young woman with an extraordinary past.
With a Tomatometer Score of 60 percent and an Audience Score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Alita: Battle Angel" is well worth a watch. Slate's Sam Adams said, "It's goofy as hell and borderline inexcusable at times, but it's also kind of glorious", while Tony Baker of Tony Baker Comedy said, "When the action would kick off you could really see the choreography. You could see the movements being executed, you could see what's being done ... Alita could really fight."
"Alita: Battle Angel" is down to just a few showtimes left in San Diego theaters, which could mean it'll be leaving local theaters soon. You can catch it at Reading Cinemas Town Square (4665 Clairemont Drive) through Thursday, March 21; Angelika Film Center & Cafe Carmel Mountain (11620 Carmel Mt. Road) through Thursday, March 21; Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 IMAX & RPX (10733 Westview Parkway) through Thursday, March 21; and AMC La Jolla 12 (8657 Villa La Jolla Drive) through Wednesday, March 20. 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.
