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 El Paso.
Here are 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.)
How to Train Your Dragon
As the son of a Viking leader on the cusp of manhood, shy Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III faces a rite of passage: he must kill a dragon to prove his warrior mettle. But after downing a feared dragon, he realizes that he no longer wants to destroy it, and instead befriends the beast – which he names Toothless – much to the chagrin of his warrior father.
Boasting a Tomatometer Score of 99 percent and an Audience Score of 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 2010 release is a must-see. Time magazine's Richard Corliss said, "It's a foolproof scheme for picture making: take the plot elements of favorite movies, paint the concoction with bright colors so it looks like the zazziest customized car, set it running at NASCAR speed, and you have 'How to Train Your Dragon,'" while Tom Horgen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune noted, "What we have here is an exhilarating epic that mixes comedic and touching moments with some of the best action sequences ever created with CGI animation."
Interested? It's playing at Cinemark Cielo Vista Mall 14 and XD (8401 Gateway West Blvd.) through Wednesday, June 26; Cinemark 20 and XD (11855 Gateway West) through Thursday, June 27; and Cinemark West and XD (7440 Remcon Circle) through Thursday, June 27. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
A Hard Day's Night
Capturing John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in their electrifying element, "A Hard Day's Night" is a wildly irreverent journey through this pastiche of a day in the life of The Beatles during 1964. The band has to use all its guile and wit to avoid the pursuing fans and press to reach a scheduled television performance, in spite of Paul's troublemaking grandfather and Ringo's arrest.
Boasting a Tomatometer Score of 98 percent and an Audience Score of 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1964 release boasts plenty of accolades.
"['A Hard Day's Night'] adds up to a breathless, sometimes funny film maybe even worth a squeal or two," according to Mike McGrady of Newsday, while Newsday's Rafer Guzman said, "The movie never feels like a nostalgia trip. It moves, breathes and sings with life."
Catch it on the big screen at Alamo Drafthouse Montecillo (250 E. Montecillo Blvd.) through Tuesday, June 25. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Toy Story 4
Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that's Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called "Forky" to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy.
Set to be released on Friday, June 21, "Toy Story 4" already has a Tomatometer Score of 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
"For millennial audiences who've grown up with Woody and the gang over years of toy stories, the movie may even seem a minor miracle and proof that faith can be kept in a faithless world," noted Ty Burr of the Boston Globe, while NPR's Justin Chang said, "Long after the contrived and misfired bits have faded, the brilliantly visualized action sequences and the pinpricks of emotion stay with you."
It's playing at The Grand 10 - Ft. Bliss (1619 Pleasonton Road) through Thursday, June 27; Bassett Place Premiere Cinema 17 + IMAX (6101 Gateway West, Suite 15) through Thursday, June 27; AMC El Paso 16 (9840 Gateway Blvd. North) through Wednesday, June 26; and Cinemark 20 and XD (11855 Gateway West) through Wednesday, June 26. 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 garnered plenty of praise since its release on April 26. Matthew Lickona of the San Diego Reader stated, "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."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing AMC El Paso 16 (9840 Gateway Blvd. North) through Wednesday, June 26; and Cinemark East Montana and XD (12704 E. Montana) through Tuesday, June 25. 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.
