4 can't-miss films worth checking out in Phoenix this week
Image: Us/TMDb
In the market for high-caliber entertainment? Check out this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Phoenix.
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.)
Us
Husband and wife Gabe and Adelaide Wilson take their kids to their beach house expecting to unplug and unwind with friends. But as night descends, their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some shocking visitors arrive uninvited.
With a Tomatometer Score of 94 percent and an Audience Score of 66 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Us" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on March 22. The Chicago Reader's Ben Sachs said, " it achieves an insidious, lingering effect that's rarer in the horror genre," while Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor noted, "Ambition in the horror genre can be a good thing, but the overreach in this movie detracts from both the horror and the ambition. Having said that, (Jordan) Peele shows a marked advance in filmmaking skills here and, in her dual role, (Lupita) Nyong'o is ferociously good."
You can catch it at AMC Arizona Center 24 (565 N. Third St.), AMC Dine-In Esplanade 14 (2515 E. Camelback Road), Harkins MetroCenter 12 (9615-A Metro Parkway West), and Harkins Christown 14 (1620 W. Montebello) through Wednesday, April 24. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Mustang
While participating in a rehabilitation program training wild mustangs, a convict at first struggles to connect with the horses and his fellow inmates, but he learns to confront his violent past as he soothes an especially feisty horse.
With a Tomatometer Score of 94 percent and an Audience Score of 74 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Mustang" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on March 15.
"There's a Disney movie in here somewhere, but Clermont-Tonnerre has no interest in it. She's too busy steering her own course, and it works," according to Adam Graham of the Detroit News, while ReelViews's James Berardinelli said, "It's worth seeking out. ... as both a portrait of a prison program few are aware of and a powerful character study."
You can catch it at AMC Arizona Center 24 (565 N. Third St.), AMC Deer Valley 30 (3033 W. Agua Fria Freeway), and AMC Ahwatukee 24 (4915 E. Ray Road) through Wednesday, April 24. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Penguins
The story of Steve, an Adélie penguin, on a quest to find a life partner and start a family. When Steve meets with Wuzzo the emperor penguin they become friends. But nothing comes easy in the icy Antarctic.
Released on Wednesday, April 17, "Penguins" already has a Tomatometer Score of 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
"Just you try to resist the impossible adorableness offered up in the latest Disneynature documentary, Penguins," noted Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com, while Arizona Republic's Melissa Yeager said, "The result is an endearing documentary, capturing both the wonder of Antarctica and the drama of the everyday life of penguins."
It's playing at AMC Arizona Center 24 (565 N. Third St.), AMC Dine-In Esplanade 14 (2515 E. Camelback Road), Harkins MetroCenter 12 (9615-A Metro Parkway West), and Harkins Christown 14 (1620 W. Montebello) through Wednesday, April 24. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind.
With a Tomatometer Score of 91 percent and an Audience Score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on Feb. 22. The Atlantic's David Sims said, "So much of The Hidden World is stuffed with filler material. But in certain wordless moments, this grand final entry really sings," while Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post stated, "The movie could easily be called 'How To End Your Trilogy.' "
It's playing at AMC Arizona Center 24 (565 N. Third St.), AMC Dine-In Esplanade 14 (2515 E. Camelback Road), Harkins Norterra 14 (2550 W. Happy Valley Road), and Harkins North Valley 16 (3420 E. Bell Road) through Wednesday, April 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.
