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 Pasadena.
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.)
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," while John Doyle of the Globe and Mail noted, "'Free Solo'...is a jaw-dropper, both in what is documented and its visual impact."
It's playing at ArcLight Pasadena (336 E. Colorado Blvd.) through Thursday, March 14. 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 proven to be a critical darling since its release in December of 2018.
"This film manages the delicate feat of embracing its source material while also satirizing it," according to Lawrence Ware of the New York Times, while the Atlantic's David Sims said, "The latest entry in a fully saturated genre that somehow, through sheer creative gumption, does something new."
You can catch it at ArcLight Pasadena (336 E. Colorado Blvd.) through Thursday, March 14. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Bumblebee
On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie, on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary yellow VW bug.
With a Tomatometer Score of 93 percent and an Audience Score of 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Bumblebee" has become a favorite since its release in December of 2018.
"The movie works in large part because of the depth of Steinfeld's performance. We haven't seen such a well-realized character in any of the other 'Transformers' movies," noted James Berardinelli of ReelViews, while Rolling Stone's David Fear said, "Imagine if John Hughes made a 'Transformers' movie. Or: Think 'E.T.,' but with auto parts."
Get a piece of the action at Regency Academy 6 Theater (1003 E. Colorado Blvd.) through Thursday, March 14. 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 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" has become a favorite since its release on Feb. 22. The Atlantic's David Sims said, "So much of 'The Hidden World' is stuffed with filler material. But in certain wordless moments, this grand final entry really sings," and the New York Post's Johnny Oleksinski noted, "The movie could easily be called 'How To End Your Trilogy.'"
It's screening at ArcLight Pasadena (336 E. Colorado Blvd.) through Wednesday, March 20. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Kid Who Would Be King
Old-school magic meets the modern world when young Alex stumbles upon the mythical sword Excalibur. He soon unites his friends and enemies, and they become knights who join forces with the legendary wizard Merlin. Together, they must save mankind from the wicked enchantress, Morgana, and her army of supernatural warriors.
With a Tomatometer Score of 90 percent and an Audience Score of 66 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Kid Who Would Be King" has proven a solid option since its release on Jan. 25. Time Out's Philip De Semlyen said, "It falls short of enchanting but it's never less than fun and likable. Watch it through the eyes of your inner teenager and you'll have a blast," while Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal stated, "It's a charming notion, worked out zestfully by the writer-director, Joe Cornish, until the charm falls victim to familiar CGI Halloweenery."
Catch it on the big screen at Regency Academy 6 Theater (1003 E. Colorado Blvd.) through Thursday, March 21. 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.
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