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The 5 best movies screening around Washington this week

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Published on March 13, 2019
The 5 best movies screening around Washington this weekImage: Apollo 11/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? Don't miss this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Washington.

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.)

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 100 percent and an Audience Score of 91 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."

You can catch it at AMC Mazza Gallerie (5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW) through Wednesday, March 20 and AMC Georgetown 14 (3111 K St. NW) through Sunday, March 17. 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 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Free Solo" has proven to be a critical darling since its release in September of 2018.

"The visuals are stunning, offering head-spinning views with the comfort of total safety," according to Melanie McFarland of Salon.com, while the Globe and Mail's John Doyle said, "Free Solo...is a jaw-dropper, both in what is documented and its visual impact."

Get a piece of the action at AMC Georgetown 14 (3111 K St. NW) through Thursday, March 14 and Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market (550 E. Penn St. NE) through Wednesday, March 20. 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.

"This film manages the delicate feat of embracing its source material while also satirizing it," noted 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."

It's playing at Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 (701 Seventh St. NW) through Wednesday, March 20; The Miracle Theatre (535 Eighth St. SE) through Sunday, March 17; and AMC Georgetown 14 (3111 K St. NW) 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 playing at AMC Mazza Gallerie (5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW) through Wednesday, March 20; Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 (701 Seventh St. NW) through Wednesday, Mar. 20; and AMC Georgetown 14 (3111 K St. NW) through Sunday, March 17. 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 79 percent and an Audience Score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Green Book" is well worth a watch. The San Diego Reader's Scott Marks said, "Is it a feel-good charmer poised to rake in greenbacks and Oscar gold? You bet! But don't let that keep you away from this overall well balanced (and timed) look forward from the safe distance of America's motley past," while Christopher Orr of the Atlantic stated, "First-rate execution can't solve all of a film's problems, but Mortensen and Ali offer a reminder that it can solve an awful lot of them."

It's screening at AMC Mazza Gallerie (5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW) through Thursday, March 14; Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 (701 Seventh St. NW) through Thursday, March 14; and AMC Georgetown 14 (3111 K St. NW) through Sunday, March 17. 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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