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 San Diego.
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.)
Wings of Desire
Two angels, Damiel and Cassiel, glide through the streets of Berlin, observing the bustling population, providing invisible rays of hope to the distressed but never interacting with them. When Damiel falls in love with lonely trapeze artist Marion, the angel longs to experience life in the physical world, and finds — with some words of wisdom from actor Peter Falk — that it might be possible for him to take human form.
Boasting a Tomatometer Score of 98 percent and an Audience Score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this '80s throwback has been a favorite of critics. The Wall Street Journal's Joe Morgenstern said, "A fantasy that... goes right in spite of its solemn style," while David Stratton of Variety noted, "A sublimely beautiful, deeply romantic film for our times."
Catch it on the big screen at Digital Gym Cinema (2921 El Cajon Blvd.) through Wednesday, May 1. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Gun Crazy
Bart Tare, an ex-Army man who has a lifelong fixation with guns, meets a kindred spirit in sharpshooter Annie Starr and goes to work at a carnival. After upsetting the carnival owner who lusts after Starr, they both get fired. Soon, on Starr's behest, they embark on a crime spree for cash. Subjects of a manhunt, they are tracked by police in the hills Tare enjoyed as a boy.
With a Tomatometer Score of 97 percent and an Audience Score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this old-school film is a critical darling.
"The already-classic trope of lovers on the run, a la 'Bonnie and Clyde,' gets a stylish workout from the director Joseph H. Lewis," according to Richard Brody of the New Yorker, while the Chicago Reader's Dave Kehr said, "One of the most distinguished works of art to emerge from the B movie swamp."
Catch it on the big screen at Angelika Film Center & Cafe Carmel Mountain (11620 Carmel Mt. Road) on Wednesday, May 1. 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 66 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Us" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on March 22. BuzzFeed News' Alison Willmore said, " 'Us' revolves around an allegory that's more elastic and resistant to parsing than megahit 'Get Out,' " and the Chicago Reader's Ben Sachs noted, "... it achieves an insidious, lingering effect that's rarer in the horror genre."
It's playing at Angelika Film Center & Cafe Carmel Mountain (11620 Carmel Mt. Road) and ArcLight La Jolla (4425 La Jolla Village Drive) 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. 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," while James Berardinelli of ReelViews stated, "It's worth seeking out... as both a portrait of a prison program few are aware of and a powerful character study."
It's playing at ArcLight La Jolla (4425 La Jolla Village Drive) 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.
