Raleigh-Durham

The very best movies screening in Raleigh this week

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Published on March 06, 2019
The very best movies screening in Raleigh this weekImage: Apollo 11/TMDb

Want to see a movie, but not sure what's worthwhile? Don't miss this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Raleigh.

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 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Apollo 11" has proven to be a critical darling since its release on March 1. 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," while Brian Lowry of CNN.com noted, "It's a wonderfully nostalgic if somewhat antiseptic reminder of what it meant to first break the bonds of Earth."

You can catch it at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh (2116 New Bern Ave., Suite D) beginning on Thursday, March 7 and through Thursday, March 14. 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 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Free Solo" has proven to be a critical darling since its release in September of 2018. "Free Solo ... is a jaw-dropper, both in what is documented and its visual impact," according to John Doyle of the Globe and Mail, while Newsday's Rafer Guzman said, "A visually dizzying but also thought-provoking film about one man's pinnacle of achievement."

Catch it on the big screen at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh (2116 New Bern Ave., Suite D) 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 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."

Get a piece of the action at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh (2116 New Bern Ave., Suite D) and Regal North Hills Stadium 14 (4150 Main at North Hills St.) through Thursday, March 7. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

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 favourite.

With a Tomatometer Score of 93 percent and an Audience Score of 66 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Favourite" has garnered plenty of praise since its release in December of 2018. The New York Times' A.O. Scott said, "[Rachel] Weisz and [Emma] Stone are both brilliantly witty and nimble, but [Olivia] Colman's performance is nothing short of sublime," while David Sims of the Atlantic noted, "Despite its period setting, The Favourite just might be [Yorgos] Lanthimos's most trenchant and relevant work yet."

Want to see for yourself? It's playing at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh (2116 New Bern Ave., Suite D) through Thursday, March 7. 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 92 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," while Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post said, "The movie could easily be called 'How To End Your Trilogy.'"

It's screening at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh (2116 New Bern Ave., Suite D) and Regal North Hills Stadium 14 (4150 Main at North Hills St.) through Thursday, March 14. 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.