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 Denver.
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.)
The Big Sick
Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations and his true feelings.
Boasting a Tomatometer Score of 98 percent and an Audience Score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Big Sick" boasts plenty of accolades. ReelViews's James Berardinelli said, "It's funny, touching and perceptive," while Adam Graham of the Detroit News noted, "'The Big Sick' has a big heart and shows there are still corners left to explore in romantic comedies; it just takes someone willing to find them."
Get a piece of the action at Alamo Drafthouse Sloans Lake (4255 W. Colfax Ave.) on Monday, May 6. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
La Bamba
This is the biographical story of the rise from nowhere of singer Ritchie Valens, whose life was cut short by a plane crash.
With a Tomatometer Score of 96 percent and an Audience Score of 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1987 release has made a lasting impression.
"An enjoyable if slightly innocuous biopic based on the brief life and short-lived fame of teen rock'n'roll idol Richie Valens," according to Nigel Floyd of Time Out, while Variety's Variety Staff said, "'La Bamba' is engrossing throughout and boasts numerous fine performances."
It's screening at Harkins Northfield 18 (8300 E. Northfield Blvd.) through Sunday, May 5. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Avengers: Endgame
After the devastating events of "Avengers: Infinity War," the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
With a Tomatometer Score of 95 percent and an Audience Score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Avengers: Endgame" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on April 26.
"The MCU will go on and on, but this chapter — and the American pragmatism vs. American ideals bromance that drove it — have well and truly come to their 'Excelsior! Nuff said!' moment," noted Matthew Lickona of the San Diego Reader, while Slate's Dana Stevens said, "'Endgame' consists almost entirely of the downtime scenes that were always secretly everyone's favorite parts of these movies anyway."
Get a piece of the action at Regal UA Denver Pavilions & RPX (500 16th St.), Regal UA Colorado Center & IMAX (2000 S. Colorado Blvd.), Alamo Drafthouse Sloans Lake (4255 W. Colfax Ave.) and AMC DINE-IN Cherry Creek 8 (3000 E. First Ave.) through Wednesday, May 8. 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 65 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Us" has garnered plenty of praise 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,'" and the Chicago Reader's Ben Sachs noted, "It achieves an insidious, lingering effect that's rarer in the horror genre."
It's screening at Regal UA Denver Pavilions & RPX (500 16th St.) and Harkins Northfield 18 (8300 E. Northfield Blvd.) through Wednesday, May 8. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Penguins
This is 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 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Penguins" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on April 17. Rolling Stone's Peter Travers said, "It took 16 cinematographers three years to capture the stunning images in this doc about an Adelie penguin (anthropomorphically voiced by Ed Helms) coming of age during a freezing Antarctic spring. Go for the film's thrilling sense of wonder," while Brad Wheeler of the Globe and Mail stated, "A sweet, playful coming-of-age documentary"
It's screening at Regal UA Denver Pavilions & RPX (500 16th St.) through Wednesday, May 8. 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.
