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 Irvine.
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.)
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% and an Audience Score of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, "Booksmart" has been a must-watch since its release on May 24. The New Republic's Kristen Evans said, "It's more John Hughes than Judd Apatow, and it's a little more 'Bridesmaids' than 'Lady Bird'...a success on [its] own terms," while Erin Keane of Salon.com noted, "'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."
Get a piece of the action at AMC Classic Woodbridge 5 (4626 Barranca Parkway) through Wednesday, June 19. 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% and an Audience Score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, "Avengers: Endgame" has become a favorite since its release on April 26.
"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," according to Oliver Jones of the Observer, while the San Diego Reader's Matthew Lickona said, "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 Regal Edwards Market Place (13782 Jamboree Road) through Wednesday, June 19 and Regal Irvine Spectrum ScreenX, IMAX, RPX & VIP (500 Spectrum Center Drive) through Thursday, June 20. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil
In Cheonan, a serial murder case takes place, but the case becomes more and more of a mystery. Only Tae-suk, a cop, immediately senses that all the cases are by the same killer and starts an investigation. One day, Dong-soo, a gang boss, gets attacked by a suspicious man, and Tae-suk realizes that this man is the serial killer named K. Now, Dong-soo becomes the only witness and a survived victim of K.
With a Tomatometer Score of 92% and an Audience Score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil" has become a favorite since its release on June 7.
"Director/writer Lee Won-tae, for whom this is only his second feature, keeps the pace moving swiftly, showing off an energetic sensibility that heralds a new voice on the South Korean film scene," noted Cary Darling of Houston Chronicle, while Variety's Jessica Kiang said, "As much fun as it is to watch Lee beat people up and strut around in shiny pinstripe suits, it's just as much of a pleasure to watch him think it all through."
It's screening at Regal Edwards University Town Center (4245 Campus Drive) through Thursday, June 20. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Rocketman
The story of Elton John's life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin.
With a Tomatometer Score of 90% and an Audience Score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, "Rocketman" has become a favorite since its release on May 31. The New Yorker's Anthony Lane said, "If you need somebody to recount the rise of a British rock god from pallid suburbia to the baroque extremes of fame, and to create a stir without causing too much of a fuss, [director Dexter] Fletcher is your man," and the Chicago Reader's Leah Pickett noted, "The story reshuffles reality, especially time and facts, and the film is more enjoyable for it."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing at Regal Edwards Market Place (13782 Jamboree Road) through Wednesday, June 19 and Regal Edwards University Town Center (4245 Campus Drive) through Thursday, June 20. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Souvenir
A shy but ambitious film student falls into an intense, emotionally fraught relationship with a charismatic but untrustworthy older man.
Set to be released on Friday, Aug. 30, "The Souvenir" already has a Tomatometer Score of 90% and an Audience Score of 33% on Rotten Tomatoes. Toronto Star's Peter Howell said, "[Honor] Swinton Byrne and [Tom] Burke make for one of the year's most intriguing screen couples, although this is a romance based on anxiety, narcissism and opportunism rather than anything resembling genuine affection," while Barry Hertz of the Globe and Mail stated, "This is not a movie that lets life simply play out as it is or was — it is instead a collection of memories, some sharp as shards but others smoothed down."
Catch it early on the big screen at Regal Edwards Westpark (3735 Alton Parkway) through Thursday, June 20. 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.
