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 Santa Ana.
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.)
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 76 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Booksmart" has been a must-watch since its release on May 24. 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," while Chandler Levack of the Globe and Mail noted, "'Booksmart' is a love letter for any young woman who has ever stayed home on a Friday night to watch a Ken Burns documentary."
Get a piece of the action at Regency South Coast Village (1561 W. Sunflower Ave.) through Thursday, June 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Big
When a young boy makes a wish at a carnival machine to be big — he wakes up the following morning to find that it has been granted and his body has grown older overnight. But he is still the same 13-year-old boy inside. Now, he must learn how to cope with the unfamiliar world of grown-ups including getting a job and having his first romantic encounter with a woman.
With a Tomatometer Score of 97 percent and an Audience Score of 76 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this '80s throwback has made a lasting impression.
"Director Penny Marshall doesn't hammer any themes or satire into the film; she, quite shrewdly, keeps 'Big' likeably small. The comedy is natural and unforced, in no small part because of (Tom) Hanks' wonderfully slapstick performance," according to Duane Byrge of the Hollywood Reporter.
You can catch it at Regency South Coast Village (1561 W. Sunflower Ave.) on Wednesday, June 12. 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 91 percent and an Audience Score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Rocketman" has become a favorite since its release on May 31.
"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," according to Anthony Lane of the New Yorker, while the Chicago Reader's Leah Pickett said, "The story reshuffles reality, especially time and facts, and the film is more enjoyable for it."
You can catch it at Regency South Coast Village (1561 W. Sunflower Ave.) through Thursday, June 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent monster who seeks to be a detective.
With a Tomatometer Score of 66 percent and an Audience Score of 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Pokémon Detective Pikachu" is well worth a watch. The Globe and Mail's Daniel Kaszor said, "Detective Pikachu is unrelentingly weird," while Vincent Acovino of NPR stated, "There's something admirable about a film that isn't afraid to have some fun with a property so established — and beloved — by its core audience."
Catch it on the big screen at Picture Show at Main Place Mall (2800 N. Main St.) through today, June 6. 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.
