Want to see a movie, but not sure what's worthwhile? Check out this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around San Francisco.
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.)
Say Anything...
A budding romance between noble underachiever Lloyd Dobler and high school valedictorian Diane Court is threatened when Diane's overly possessive, disapproving father interferes with their relationship. With a prized scholarship to study abroad hanging in the balance, Diane must find a way to make both men happy.
Boasting a Tomatometer Score of 98 percent and an Audience Score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this '80s throwback boasts plenty of accolades.
"'Say Anything; is an easy film to like," according to Kirk Honeycutt of the Hollywood Reporter, while Variety's Variety Staff said, "(John) Cusack and (Ione) Skye's relationship develops nicely and believably, but (Cameron) Crowe has not written an entirely convincing character for the latter to play."
Get a piece of the action at Alamo Drafthouse New Mission (2550 Mission) on Wednesday, April 24. 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.
With a Tomatometer Score of 94 percent and an Audience Score of 67 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Us" has become a favorite since its release on March 22.
"It achieves an insidious, lingering effect that's rarer in the horror genre," noted Ben Sachs of the Chicago Reader, while the Christian Science Monitor's Peter Rainer said, "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, (Jordan) Peele shows a marked advance in filmmaking skills here and, in her dual role, (Lupita) Nyong'o is ferociously good."
It's screening at Century San Francisco Centre 9 and XD (845 Market St.) and Presidio Theatre (2340 Chestnut St.) through Wednesday, April 24. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Mustang
While participating in a rehabilitation program training wild mustangs, a convict at first struggles to connect with the horses and his fellow inmates, but he learns to confront his violent past as he soothes an especially feisty horse.
With a Tomatometer Score of 94 percent and an Audience Score of 73 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Mustang" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on March 15. The Detroit News' Adam Graham said, "There's a Disney movie in here somewhere, but (Laure de) Clermont-Tonnerre has no interest in it. She's too busy steering her own course, and it works," and ReelViews' James Berardinelli noted, "It's worth seeking out... as both a portrait of a prison program few are aware of and a powerful character study."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing at UA Stonestown Twin (501 Buckingham Way) through Wednesday, April 24. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Penguins
The story of Steve, an Adélie penguin, on a quest to find a life partner and start a family. When Steve meets with Wuzzo the emperor penguin, they become friends. But nothing comes easy in the icy Antarctic.
Set to be released on Wednesday, April 17, "Penguins" already has a Tomatometer Score of 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. RogerEbert.com's Christy Lemire said, "Just you try to resist the impossible adorableness offered up in the latest Disneynature documentary, 'Penguins,' " while Melissa Yeager of Arizona Republic stated, "The result is an endearing documentary, capturing both the wonder of Antarctica and the drama of the everyday life of penguins."
You can catch it at AMC Metreon 16 (135 Fourth St., Suite 3000) and Presidio Theatre (2340 Chestnut St.) through Wednesday, April 24. 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.
