Want to see a movie, but not sure what's worthwhile? Don't miss this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Chicago.
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 of 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 percent and an Audience Score of 95 percent 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 screening at AMC Dine-in Block 37 (100 N. State St.) through Wednesday, July 3; Harper Theater (5238 S. Harper Ave.) through Wednesday, July 3; ArcLight Chicago (1500 N. Clybourn Ave.) through Monday, July 1; and ShowPlace ICON at Roosevelt Collection with ICON X (1011 S. Delano Court East) through Monday, July 1. 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 and an Audience Score of 95 percent 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 ArcLight Chicago (1500 N. Clybourn Ave.) and Regal City North IMAX & RPX (2600 N. Western Ave.), AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.). 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 percent and an Audience Score of 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" has garnered plenty of praise 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," and the Seattle Times's Soren Andersen noted, "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 AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.) through Monday, July 1. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Do the Right Thing
On the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone's hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence.
With a Tomatometer Score of 90 percent and an Audience Score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this '80s throwback has much to recommend it. The New York Daily News's Kathleen Carroll said, "In the final analysis, the best thing one can say for Lee is that he takes risks, like all true artists. For unlike most of today's film makers, he's not afraid to really challenge a movie audience to do some serious thinking," while Carrie Rickey of the Philadelphia Inquirer stated, "[Do the Right Thing is] an exceptional film, a movie that wisely deprives you of the cozy resolutions and epiphanies so often manufactured by Hollywood. Like the film's principals, you are left feeling that you have been torched where you live."
It's screening at Harper Theater (5238 S. Harper Ave.) through Monday, July 1; ShowPlace ICON at Roosevelt Collection with ICON X (1011 S. Delano Court East) through Tuesday, July 2; and AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.) 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.
