On the hunt for date night ideas? Don't miss this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Charlotte.
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.)
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.
Boasting a Tomatometer Score of 98% and an Audience Score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, "Toy Story 4" has proven to be a critical darling since its release on June 21. The New Yorker's Anthony Lane said, "Cooley's film quickens and deepens," while Matthew Rozsa of Salon noted, "The latest installment, 'Toy Story 4,' is perhaps the bleakest (and most beautiful) of them all."
It's playing at AMC Park Terrace 6 (4289 Park Road) through Monday, July 1; Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen IMAX & RPX (7824 Rea Road) through Wednesday, July 3; and Regal Cinebarre Arboretum (8008 Providence Road) through Wednesday, July 3. 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% and an Audience Score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, "Booksmart" has gotten stellar reviews 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'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."
It's playing at AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 (9541 South Blvd.) through Monday, July 1. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Iron Giant
In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a 9-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices.
With a Tomatometer Score of 96% and an Audience Score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1999 release has made a lasting impression.
"While youngsters will enjoy the film on one level, it reaches out to adults on a completely different plane. They will see an allegory about power and politics and the danger of allowing either to run roughshod over humanity," noted Jeff Strickler of Minneapolis Star Tribune, while Newsweek's David Ansen said, "This is not exactly standard children's fare, but kids (and their parents) should be smitten by its wit and wisdom."
It's playing at Studio Movie Grill EpiCentre (210 E. Trade St.) through Wednesday, July 3. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Midsommar
A young couple travels to Sweden to visit their friend’s rural hometown and attend its mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly descends into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.
Set to be released on Wednesday, July 3, "Midsommar" already has a Tomatometer Score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. The AV Club's A.A. Dowd said, "This is, in other words, a less perfectly crafted nightmare than Aster's last one. But there's a deranged integrity to its sprawl, and to the filmmaker's willingness to embrace the darkest, most unsparing aspects of human desire," and Entertainment Weekly's Leah Greenblatt noted, "The skin-pricking pleasures of 'Midsommar' aren't rational, they're instinctive: a thrilling, seasick freefall into the light."
Get a piece of the action at Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen IMAX & RPX (7824 Rea Road), Regal Cinebarre Arboretum (8008 Providence Road), AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 (9541 South Blvd.), and Ayrsley Grand Cinemas (9110 Kings Parade Blvd.) through Wednesday, July 3. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Jimmie Fails dreams of reclaiming the Victorian home his grandfather built in the heart of San Francisco. Joined on his quest by his best friend Mont, Jimmie searches for belonging in a rapidly changing city that seems to have left them behind.
With a Tomatometer Score of 93% and an Audience Score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" has become a favorite since its release on June 7. The Detroit News's Adam Graham said, "'The Last Black Man in San Francisco' is poignant filmmaking with an invigorating spirit," while Soren Andersen of the Seattle Times stated, "The acting by the two principals is impeccable, their portrait of male friendship is deeply felt."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing at Regal Manor Twin (609 Providence Road) and Regal Ballantyne Village (14815 John J Delany Drive) through Wednesday, July 3. 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.
