On the hunt for date night ideas? Check out this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Kansas City.
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.
Set to be released on Friday, June 21, "Toy Story 4" already has a Tomatometer Score of 98 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."
Interested? It's playing at B&B Theatres Northland 14 (4900 N.E. 80th St.), AMC Ward Parkway 14 (8600 Ward Parkway), Regal Kansas City (3200 Ameristar Drive), and Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet (1400 Main 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 been a must-watch 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."
Catch it on the big screen at Regal Kansas City (3200 Ameristar Drive) through Tuesday, June 25. 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 91 percent 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," noted 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."
Catch it on the big screen at B&B Theatres Northland 14 (4900 N.E. 80th St.) through Monday, June 24; Regal Kansas City (3200 Ameristar Drive) through Tuesday, June 25. 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, (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."
It's playing at B&B Theatres Northland 14 (4900 N.E. 80th St.) through Monday, June 24; Regal Kansas City (3200 Ameristar Drive) through Tuesday, June 25; and AMC Ward Parkway 14 (8600 Ward Parkway) and Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet (1400 Main St.) through Wednesday, June 26. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Late Night
Legendary late-night talk show host's world is turned upside down when she hires her only female staff writer. Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, her decision has unexpectedly hilarious consequences as the two women separated by culture and generation are united by their love of a biting punchline.
With a Tomatometer Score of 79 percent and an Audience Score of 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Late Night" is well worth a watch. The Chicago Reader's Kathleen Sachs said, "Heightened by an impressive performance from Thompson, it's a fun movie that tackles a variety of issues, including sexism in the workplace, with panache," while Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times stated, "Humor can be a great equalizer, and (Emma) Thompson and (Mindy) Kaling are terrific as two women who are funny as hell and should never be underestimated."
It's screening at B&B Theatres Northland 14 (4900 N.E. 80th St.) through Monday, June 24; AMC Ward Parkway 14 (8600 Ward Parkway) and Regal Kansas City (3200 Ameristar Drive) 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.
