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? Take a look at this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Kansas City.
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.)
Booksmart
Two academic teenage superstars realize, on the eve of their high school graduation, that they should have worked less and played more. Determined to never fall short of their peers, the girls set out on a mission to cram four years of fun into one night.
With a Tomatometer Score of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Booksmart" has proved to be a critical darling since its release on May 24.
"Booksmart puts a fresh spin on the coming-of-age night-of comedy because it's focused on two girls, one of whom is also queer," according to Erin Keane of Salon.com, while the Globe and Mail's Chandler Levack said, "Booksmart is a love letter for any young woman who has ever stayed home on a Friday night to watch a Ken Burns documentary."
You can catch it at AMC Ward Parkway 14 (8600 Ward Parkway) through Wednesday, June 5 and Regal Kansas City (3200 Ameristar Drive) through Wednesday, June 5. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Two drag queens and a transsexual contract to perform a drag show at a resort in Alice Springs and head west from Sydney aboard their lavender bus named "Priscilla." En route, they discover that the woman they've contracted with is the wife of one of the drag queens. Their bus breaks down and is repaired by Bob, who then travels on with them.
With a Tomatometer Score of 95 percent and an Audience Score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this '90s flick is not to be missed.
"On the whole, though, it is funny and compassionate, silly and sweet," noted Clifford Terry of the Chicago Tribune, while the Los Angeles Times's Kenneth Turan said, "To its credit, whenever things get too treacly, Priscilla knows enough to break out those frocks and get the show in gear. That is entertainment for sure."
It's playing at Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet (1400 Main St.) through Monday, June 3. 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 94 percent and an Audience Score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Avengers: Endgame" has become a favorite since its release on April 26. The Observer's Oliver Jones said, "What you will be getting when you walk into an inevitably overstuffed movie theater is something singular that reflects our age in a way that none of the MCU films that preceded it have-indeed, very few Hollywood spectacles ever have," and the San Diego Reader's Matthew Lickona noted, "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."
Get a piece of the action at B&B Theatres Northland 14 (4900 N.E. 80th St.) through Wednesday, June 5; AMC Ward Parkway 14 (8600 Ward Parkway) through Wednesday, June 5 and Regal Kansas City (3200 Ameristar Drive) through Wednesday, June 5. 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 racked up generally positive reviews 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."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing at AMC Barrywoods 24 (8101 Roanridge Road) through Wednesday, June 5. 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.
