What movie should you go see today?
Image: Monty Python and the Holy Grail/TMDb
In the age of streaming entertainment, it can be hard to leave the couch. But movie theaters still offer a special experience for those willing to get out of the house. Want to see what's out there? Take a look at this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Phoenix.
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 The Movie Database; showtimes via Fandango. Movie ratings and showtimes are subject to change.)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
King Arthur, accompanied by his squire, recruits his Knights of the Round Table, including Sir Bedevere the Wise, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot and Sir Galahad the Pure. On the way, Arthur battles the Black Knight who, despite having had all his limbs chopped off, insists he can still fight. They reach Camelot, but Arthur decides not to enter, as "it is a silly place".
With a Tomatometer Score of 97% and an Audience Score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, this '70s throwback is a critical darling. Time Out's Tom Huddleston said, "So unnecessarily gorgeous, there are moments where it feels like Tarkovsky with drag and farting," while Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic noted, "Here is 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' which is neither as sparkling as it is said to be nor as bad as it seems to be at the start. But it's pretty good."
Catch it on the big screen at Harkins Christown 14 (1620 W. Montebello) on Tuesday, May 21. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Hail Satan?
A look at the intersection of religion and activism, tracing the rise of The Satanic Temple — only six years old and already one of the most controversial religious movements in American history. The Temple is calling for a Satanic revolution to save the nation's soul. But are they for real?
With a Tomatometer Score of 96% and an Audience Score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, "Hail Satan?" has proven to be a critical darling since its release on April 17.
"Director Penny Lane frames her smart, level-headed documentary as a discussion about the Satanic Temple and its fight for religious equality," according to Adam Graham of the Detroit News, while the San Diego Reader's Matthew Lickona said, "The question mark in the title of Penny Lane's documentary on The Satanic Temple is integral to the story she's telling...a fine, thought-provoking effort."
Get a piece of the action at FilmBar (815 N. Second St.) through Thursday, May 23. 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 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Avengers: Endgame" has garnered plenty of praise 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."
You can catch it at 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, May 22. 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.
With a Tomatometer Score of 91% and an Audience Score of 76 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Penguins" has become a favorite since its release on April 17. Rolling Stone's Peter Travers said, "It took 16 cinematographers three years to capture the stunning images in this doc about an Adelie penguin (anthropomorphically voiced by Ed Helms) coming of age during a freezing Antarctic spring. Go for the film's thrilling sense of wonder," while Brad Wheeler of the Globe and Mail stated, "A sweet, playful coming-of-age documentary."
Get a piece of the action at AMC Ahwatukee 24 (4915 E. Ray Road) through Wednesday, May 22. 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.
