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The 5 best movies screening around Austin this week

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Published on March 22, 2019
The 5 best movies screening around Austin this weekImage: Us/TMDb

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? Take a look at this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Austin.

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.)

Gully Boy

A coming-of-age story based on the lives of street rappers in Mumbai.

Boasting a Tomatometer Score of 100 percent and an Audience Score of 87 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Gully Boy" has proven to be a critical darling since its release on Feb. 14. Variety's Jay Weissberg said, "A mainstream rap musical served up with generous helpings of deftly written hip-hop lyrics and an appealing, largely well-woven narrative starring Ranveer Singh in all his charms," while Deborah Young of the Hollywood Reporter noted, "Zoya Akhtar directs with flair and passion and, aided by explosive performances from a right-on cast, triumphs over the familiarity of the star-is-born storyline."

Interested? It's playing at Cinemark 20 and XD (15436 Fm 1825th) through Wednesday, March 27. 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 100 percent and an Audience Score of 87 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

"'Us' is a glorious symphony of fear, to be sure, but it's also an ambitious sci-fi allegory and a pitch-black comedy of the haves and have-nots," according to David Sims of the Atlantic, while USA Today's Brian Truitt said, "Peele is this generation's Hitchcock, for sure, but also a true American original with introspective themes in hand and suspense to spare."

It's playing at AMC Barton Creek Square 14 (2901 Capital Of Texas Highway), Alamo Drafthouse Village (2700 W. Anderson Lane), AMC Lakeline 9 (11200 Lakeline Mall Blvd.), and Regal Gateway Stadium 16 & IMAX (9700 Stonelake Blvd.) through Wednesday, March 27. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

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.

"The NASA mission at the heart of the must-see documentary 'Apollo 11' reminds you what it feels like to be truly awestruck," noted Chris Nashawaty of Entertainment Weekly, while the Associated Press' Jake Coyle said, "'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."

Get a piece of the action at AMC Barton Creek Square 14 (2901 Capital Of Texas Highway), Regal Arbor 8 @ Great Hills (9828 Great Hills Trail), Alamo Drafthouse Village (2700 W. Anderson Lane), and Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (1120 S. Lamar) through Wednesday, March 27. 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, this would arguably be the greatest feat in rock climbing history.

Boasting a Tomatometer Score of 99 percent and an Audience Score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Free Solo" has gotten stellar reviews since its release in September of 2018. Salon.com's Melanie McFarland said, "The visuals are stunning, offering head-spinning views with the comfort of total safety," and the Globe and Mail's John Doyle noted, "'Free Solo'...is a jaw-dropper, both in what is documented and its visual impact."

It's playing at Regal Arbor 8 @ Great Hills (9828 Great Hills Trail) through Wednesday, March 27. 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 a Spider-Man. When Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk uses a super collider, others from across the Spider-Verse are transported to this dimension.

With a Tomatometer Score of 97 percent and an Audience Score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" has gotten stellar reviews since its release in December of 2018. The New York Times' Lawrence Ware said, "This film manages the delicate feat of embracing its source material while also satirizing it," while David Sims of the Atlantic stated, "The latest entry in a fully saturated genre that somehow, through sheer creative gumption, does something new."

It's screening at Regal Gateway Stadium 16 & IMAX (9700 Stonelake Blvd.) through Wednesday, March 27. 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.