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? Check out this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Albuquerque.
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 99 percent and an Audience Score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Apollo 11" has proven to be a critical darling 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."
Catch it on the big screen at UA High Ridge 8 (12921 Indian School NE) through Wednesday, April 17. 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 90 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," according to 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, Peele shows a marked advance in filmmaking skills here and, in her dual role, Nyong'o is ferociously good."
Catch it on the big screen at Century Rio 24 and XD (4901 Pan American Freeway NE) through Tuesday, April 16; Icon Cinema Albuquerque (13120-A Central Ave.) through Wednesday, April 17; and Flix Brewhouse Albuquerque (3200 La Orilla Road NW) through Thursday, April 18. 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 70 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Mustang" has become a favorite since its release on March 15.
"There's a Disney movie in here somewhere, but Clermont-Tonnerre has no interest in it. She's too busy steering her own course, and it works," noted Adam Graham of the Detroit News, while ReelViews' James Berardinelli said, "It's worth seeking out ... as both a portrait of a prison program few are aware of and a powerful character study."
Catch it on the big screen at Century 14 Downtown Albuquerque (100 Central Ave.) through Tuesday, April 16 and UA High Ridge 8 (12921 Indian School NE) through Wednesday, April 17. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Eccentric candy man Willy Wonka prompts a worldwide frenzy when he announces that golden tickets hidden inside five of his delicious candy bars will admit their lucky holders into his top-secret confectionary. But does Wonka have an agenda hidden amid a world of Oompa Loompas and chocolate rivers?
With a Tomatometer Score of 91 percent and an Audience Score of 86 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1971 release is not to be missed. The Chicago Sun-Times's Roger Ebert said, "Probably the best film of its sort since 'The Wizard of Oz.' It is everything that family movies usually claim to be, but aren't: Delightful, funny, scary, exciting, and, most of all, a genuine work of imagination," and Variety's Variety Staff noted, "An OK family musical fantasy."
Get a piece of the action at Icon Cinema Albuquerque (13120-A Central 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 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Shazam!" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on April 5.
Time Out's Joshua Rothkopf said, "For a long, glorious stretch, 'Shazam!' plays like the anti-Nolan antidote it is," while Matthew Rozsa of Salon.com stated, "'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 Century Rio 24 and XD (4901 Pan American Freeway NE) through Tuesday, April 16 and Flix Brewhouse Albuquerque (3200 La Orilla Road NW); Regal Winrock Stadium 16 IMAX and RPX (2100 Louisiana Blvd. NE); and Icon Cinema Albuquerque (13120-A Central Ave.) through Wednesday, April 17. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Movie (and TV) magic.
It’s the golden age of entertainment, and there are more options than ever, whether you’re into prestige dramas, British cooking shows or Marvel blockbusters. Get the best of all worlds with over 500,000 movies and TV episodes available with the Amazon Fire Stick, which allows you to stream your favorite from Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, and more.
Fire it up →
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.
