On the hunt for date night ideas? Check out this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Oakland.
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.)
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 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Washington Post's Ann Hornaday said, "As an ode to spunk, ingenuity, teamwork, storytelling and animation artistry, 'Toy Story 4' fires on every spirited cylinder," while Moira MacDonald of the Seattle Times noted, "Did we really need another 'Toy Story' movie? Turns out we did."
It's screening at Grand Lake Theatre (3200 Grand Ave.) through Monday, June 24 and Regal Jack London (100 Washington St.) through Wednesday, June 26. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
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 proven to be a critical darling since its release on May 24.
"It's more John Hughes than Judd Apatow, and it's a little more 'Bridesmaids' than 'Lady Bird'...a success on [its] own terms," according to Kristen Evans of The New Republic, while Salon.com's Erin Keane said, "'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 Regal Jack London (100 Washington St.) through Tuesday, June 25. 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 percent and an Audience Score of 33 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
"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," noted Peter Howell of Toronto Star, while the Globe and Mail's Barry Hertz said, "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."
You can catch it at The New Parkway (474 24th St.) through Monday, June 24. 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 89 percent and an Audience Score of 87 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Rocketman" has proven a solid option 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, 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."
It's screening at Grand Lake Theatre (3200 Grand Ave.) through Monday, June 24. 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.
