Want to see a movie, but not sure what's worthwhile? Take a look at this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Charlotte.
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 66 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Us" has become a favorite since its release on March 22. BuzzFeed News's Alison Willmore said, "'Us' revolves around an allegory that's more elastic and resistant to parsing than megahit 'Get Out,'" while Ben Sachs of the Chicago Reader noted, "It achieves an insidious, lingering effect that's rarer in the horror genre."
Get a piece of the action at Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen IMAX & RPX (7824 Rea Road) and AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 (9541 South Blvd.) through Wednesday, May 1. 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 75 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," according to 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."
It's screening at Regal Ballantyne Village (14815 John J Delany Drive) through Wednesday, May 1. 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.
With a Tomatometer Score of 91 percent and an Audience Score of 75 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Penguins" has been getting attention since its release on April 17.
"It took 16 cinematographers three years to capture the stunning images in this doc about an Adelie penguin coming of age during a freezing Antarctic spring. Go for the film's thrilling sense of wonder," noted Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, while the Globe and Mail's Brad Wheeler said, "A sweet, playful coming-of-age documentary."
Get a piece of the action at Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen IMAX & RPX (7824 Rea Road) through Wednesday, May 1; AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 (9541 South Blvd.) through Wednesday, May 1; and AMC Northlake 14 (7325 Northlake Mall Drive) through Wednesday, April 24. 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 90 percent and an Audience Score of 87 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Shazam!" has proven a solid option 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," and Salon.com's Matthew Rozsa noted, "'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."
It's playing at Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen IMAX & RPX (7824 Rea Road) through Wednesday, May 1; Regal Cinebarre Arboretum (8008 Providence Road) through Wednesday, May 1; and AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 (9541 South Blvd.) through Wednesday, May 1. 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.
With a Tomatometer Score of 89 percent and an Audience Score of 70 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Missing Link" has been getting attention since its release on April 12. The Boston Globe's Tom Russo said, "Stick around for the end credits to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the heroes' elephant ride across India. The animators particularly strive to offer a fresh take on their final destination," while David Sims of the Atlantic stated, "Amid the noisy, epic action of most kid-oriented features, this film's story is clear and effective: a sweet-hearted narrative of how friendship can broaden one's horizons."
You can catch it at Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen IMAX & RPX (7824 Rea Road) through Wednesday, May 1; Regal Cinebarre Arboretum (8008 Providence Road) through Wednesday, May 1; and AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 (9541 South Blvd.) through Wednesday, May 1. 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.
