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 Tampa.
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.)
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.
With a Tomatometer Score of 94 percent and an Audience Score of 68 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Us" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on March 22.
The Chicago Reader's Ben Sachs said, "It achieves an insidious, lingering effect that's rarer in the horror genre," while Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor noted, "Ambition in the horror genre can be a good thing, but the overreach in this movie detracts from both the horror and the ambition. Having said that, Peele shows a marked advance in film-making skills here and, in her dual role, Nyong'o is ferociously good."
Get a piece of the action at AMC Highwoods 20 (18002 Highwood Preserve Parkway) through Tuesday, April 16; CinéBistro @ Hyde Park (1609 W. Swann Ave.) through Wednesday, April 17; AMC West Shore 14 (210 Westshore Plaza) through Wednesday, April 17; and AMC Classic Centro Ybor 10 (1600 E. Eighth Ave.) through Wednesday, April 17. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Shazam!
A boy is given the ability to become an adult superhero in times of need with a single magic word.
With a Tomatometer Score of 91 percent and an Audience Score of 68 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Shazam!" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on April 5.
"For a long, glorious stretch, 'Shazam!' plays like the anti-Nolan antidote it is," according to Joshua Rothkopf of Time Out, while Salon.com's Matthew Rozsa said, "'Shazam!' is the funniest, sweetest and most innocent movie in the DC Extended Universe, a sign that it is at last ready to compete with Marvel."
You can catch it at AMC Highwoods 20 (18002 Highwood Preserve Parkway) through Tuesday, April 16; CinéBistro @ Hyde Park (1609 W. Swann Ave.) through Wednesday, April 17; AMC West Shore 14 (210 Westshore Plaza) through Wednesday, April 17; and AMC Classic Centro Ybor 10 (1600 E. Eighth Ave.) through Wednesday, April 17. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Missing Link
The charismatic Sir Lionel Frost considers himself to be the world's foremost investigator of myths and monsters. Trouble is, none of his small-minded, high-society peers seems to recognize this. Hoping to finally gain acceptance from these fellow adventurers, Sir Lionel travels to the Pacific Northwest to prove the existence of a legendary creature known as the missing link.
Set to be released on Friday, April 12, "Missing Link" already has a Tomatometer Score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
"A narratively relaxed yet intensely tactile experience," noted Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com, while the Seattle Times' Soren Andersen said, "'Link' is fun as far as it goes, but from Laika we expect something with a little more depth."
It's screening at AMC Highwoods 20 (18002 Highwood Preserve Parkway) through Tuesday, April 16; AMC West Shore 14 (210 Westshore Plaza) through Wednesday, April 17; and AMC Classic Centro Ybor 10 (1600 E. Eighth Ave.) through Wednesday, April 17. 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 90 percent and an Audience Score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" has racked up generally positive reviews 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.'"
You can catch it at AMC Highwoods 20 (18002 Highwood Preserve Parkway) through Tuesday, April 16. 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.
