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.
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 91 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."
Interested? It's playing at AMC Mazza Gallerie (5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW), Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 (701 Seventh St. NW) and AMC Georgetown 14 (3111 K St. NorthW.) through Wednesday, April 10; and Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market (550 E. Penn St. NE) through Thursday, April 11. 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.
Set to be released on Friday, April 5, "Shazam!" already has a Tomatometer Score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
"[A]mid the unattributed riffing, the pinballing among YA-style quaintness, perv jokes and graphic jolts, you start to realize: 'Shazam!' is pretty entertaining," noted Tom Russo of Boston Globe, while the New York Times's Manohla Dargis said, "Once Billy says that magic word and his supersized alter ego appears, the movie goes to its happy place and comfortably embraces its own identity as a light, jocular, modest entertainment."
In the mood for popcorn? It's playing at AMC Mazza Gallerie (5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW), Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 (701 Seventh St. NW), and AMC Georgetown 14 (3111 K St. NorthW.) through Wednesday, April 10. 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 been getting attention since its release on February 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.'"
In the mood for popcorn? It's playing at Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 (701 Seventh St. NW) through Wednesday, April 10. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Pet Sematary
Louis Creed, his wife Rachel and their two children Gage and Ellie move to a rural home where they are welcomed and enlightened about the eerie 'Pet Sematary' located nearby. After the tragedy of their cat being killed by a truck, Louis resorts to burying it in the mysterious pet cemetery, which is definitely not as it seems, as it proves to the Creeds that sometimes dead is better.
Set to be released on Friday, April 5, "Pet Sematary" already has a Tomatometer Score of 84 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Rolling Stone's Peter Travers said, "Stephen King's scariest novel comes back to life in a killer-diller chiller that will make you jump out of your seat. It's the stuff of nightmares," while Britt Hayes of indieWire stated, "Succeeds in some areas where the 1989 version failed while ultimately failing to deliver an ending that resonates as deeply as its source material."
You can catch it at AMC Mazza Gallerie (5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW) and AMC Georgetown 14 (3111 K St. NorthW.) through Wednesday, April 10, and Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 (701 Seventh St. NW) and Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market (550 E. Penn St. NE) through Thursday, April 11. 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.
