Top Movies

5/9/2014 to 5/15/2014

Just when the studio comedy was looking more and more like a thing of the past, Seth Rogen stepped up his game and brought us his a winner with This is the End in his directorial debut. Now, a summer later his starring vehicle, Neighbors, is the most anticipated comedy since Anchorman 2. Neighbors looks to be a solid comedy. Critics have granted their approval noting that the chemistry shared by Rogen and costar Zac Efron is greater than anyone expected it'd be. Neighbors is the top movie this week and definitely one that everyone needs to see.

Universal Pictures

The Amazing Spider-man 2 had a huge opening weekend last week but experts aren't expecting it to be nearly as large this weekend. Likely anyone who was excited about the film saw it last weekend as comic fans are rarely ones to wait long to see their heroes on the silver screen. If you have a fleeting interest in Spidey I'd recommend you skip the sequel. If you're bored and looking for something to do, have seen Neighbors already, and haven't seen Spidey 2 go see it!

Let's face it, Mom's Night Out isn't impressing anyone and it won't set the world on fire this weekend, but if you want to escape your life for an hour and half this is as good as any. Critics have been harsh on the mom-com but that doesn't mean there's no light-hearted fun to be had.

The Other Woman is coming to the end of its run in theaters but this weekend is as good a time as any to check it out. Last time I checked it still has Kate Upton in it and unlike the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit catalogs, Kate actually moves around in the film.

Finally, we have Captain America: The Winter Soldier pulling up the rear. Maybe it'll "on your left" The Other Woman next week but for now it's at five.

1. Neighbors
2. The Amazing Spider-Man 2
3. Mom's Night Out
4. The Other Woman
5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Published on 5/8/2014 9:06:33 PM

5/2/2014 to 5/8/2014

It's officially comic book season at the movie theaters. With the first weekend in May upon us we have the token super hero series of our generation The Amazing Spider-Man 2 releasing. The second film in the rebooted series lives off the idea of quantity over quality. That's not really bad thing in a genre where more is always better than less but I would have liked them to tone it down a little bit. The sequel is better than its predessor but that's not saying a whole lot. It'll be huge at the box office and will be great water cooler fodder for the next couple of weeks.

The Other Woman has proven to be a winner with viewers and critics. See it.

Brick Mansions didn't clean up at the box office last weekend and that's okay. It'll be seen by hundreds of every Saturday on FX a couple of years from now.

In fourth we have Captain America 2 which is finally slowing down. Capt had a great run at the box office and is still a better movie than the Spider-man sequel. Bears pulls up the rear. Check it out, it has bears in it.

1. The Amazing Spider-Man 2
2. The Other Woman
3. Brick Mansions
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
5. Bears

Published on 5/2/2014 4:18:46 PM

4/25/2014 to 5/1/2014

Finally, a movie has unseated Captain America 2 as the top movie! This we get Paul Walker's second to last movie, Brick Mansions right here in Central Illinois. Brick Mansions, though not critically acclaimed, is a must see for action-crime movies.

The number two movie this week is the decent The Other Woman starring Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann. It's a comedy in a similar vein to Diaz' Bad Teacher. It's not going to change the world but it is most definitely a great film to look at when you consider that Kate Upton plays a major role in it.

The number one through three movies from last week were bumped down to three through five this. There isn't much else I can say about any of them other than Captain and Bears are solid, Transcendence is not the best.

1. Brick Mansions
2. The Other Woman
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
4. Bears
5. Transcendence

Published on 4/24/2014 9:57:34 PM

4/18/2014 to 4/24/2014

Nothing coming out this week is strong enough to unseat the top movie from the past two weeks, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Captain is the first three time top movie in CentralIllinoisMovies.info's history. That's pretty special. There's nothing I can say here that hasn't been said already about this comic book sequel. It's a breath of fresh air from the Disney/Marvel Studios and if you haven't seen it yet it's high time you did.

Bears is coming to the area this week and it looks like it's the best new film in a theater near you. It's a true life adventure that showcases a year in the life of a family of bears. With its breathtaking cinematography and beautiful fauna, Bears is a great one to see this Easter weekend.

Flop of the week, Transcendence is out now. If you're a fan of sci-fi and/or Johnny Depp this is a good one for you. Critics have panned it as being ridiculous so it could offer more than meets the eye in the laugh department.

Rio 2, last week's number two film is entering its second week in theaters. If the kids want to see a cartoon and eat popcorn this is the picture to see. Otherwise, I'd recommend skipping it.

Horror fans have spoken and Oculus is a hit. Check it out if you're a fan of the genre. This week is fairly disappointing, as was last week, but summer blockbuster are just around the corner so there should be only a few more "dud" weekends like this until fall. Also, sorry about no images this week, I didn't feel like reusing the same ones I've been parading around here the last few weeks.

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
2. Bears
3. Transcendence
4. Rio 2
5. Oculus

Published on 4/17/2014 10:13:18 PM

4/11/2014 to 4/17/2014

There are some new movies jumping into the fray this week but none of them are quite big enough to stop the freight train that is repeat top movie, Captain America: The Winter Solder. Captain absolutely destroyed at the box office last week raking in $95 million in the states. That total was far and away the number one movie last weekend and catapulted Captain America 2 to the current highest grossing opening of 2014. Critics and public alike have raved about the quality of the film justifying it's second week in the top spot. Be sure and check out the review that was posted right here at Central Illinois Movies in case you're wondering just how good of a film it is. If you didn't see it yet, this weekend is the perfect time to do so. You can't miss out on seeing the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters and how Captain America is adjusting to life in the 2010s after his long slumber.

Walt Disney Studios

Rio 2, from the makers of Ice Age as the 500 commercials airing daily are saying, pulls in at number two this week. Rio 2 is the sequel to 2011's Rio and is coming to a theater near you in both 3D and 2D. Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway reprise their lead roles as Blu and Jewel. There is a really diverse cast here from comedians (George Lopez), to serious actors (Jamie Foxx, Andy Garcia), to musicians (Janelle Monae, Bruno Mars) it'd be hard not to find at least one talent you're a fan. Critics recommend it for the kids, but note it's exhaustive comic relief at times. So, grab the kids and go see it!

20th Century Fox

I've never been one to care too much for the horror genre in general, but Oculus is coming to the area and it supposed to be two things: 1. Scary 2. Good. So it takes the number three spot this week. Critics have noted that it has less violence and grime than the common horror-fare with some calling it "elegant." So far, it's earned a 63 aggregate score on metacritic, which is insanely high for the subject matter. So if a scare is what you're craving this week, check out Oculus, it's sure to get the job done.

What else can I say about Noah that hasn't already been said here? The movie is entering its third week in theaters and has done quite well at the box office. We posted a review of the film on our site earlier this week so be sure to check it out. The movie is good, the review is even better.

Paramount Pictures

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a delightful film that deserves to be seen by everyone. Seriously, if you haven't gotten the chance to see it yet, I highly recommend it. It surely won't be in theaters much longer. Wes Anderson's whip smart dialog and many top notch performances from the actors all combine to make a movie you won't soon forget. I feel required to mention the notable omission that was Draft Day. I don't have anything against football but the idea of a film centered around the already grating spectacle that is the National Football League's Draft Day is what's wrong with pop culture in the United States. This is truly a niche that should stick to real life, we don't need a concocted product that has no chance of being more interesting than the real draft that will get 1000s of hours of coverage over the next few weeks.

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
2. Rio 2
3. Oculus
4. Noah
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel

Published on 4/10/2014 8:54:21 PM

4/4/2014 to 4/10/2014

With only one new movie releasing this week, you’d think it was a quiet week for films here in Central Illinois. This week is anything but quiet! The biggest film of the spring, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, is hitting theaters everywhere. The sequel to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger has Chris Evans reprising the titular character and introduces directors Anthony and Joe Russo to series. Critics have been very positive on the film thus far, earning The Winter Soldier an 88% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Word has it that this is a comic book sequel with more originality than the average follow-up comic book film.

Coming in at second this week is last week’s number one movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Wes Anderson’s comedy caper has been a hit with critics and fans alike. See it as soon as possible as it likely won’t be in Central Illinois theaters much longer.

Turning in its second week at number three is Noah. Noah had a big week at the box office last weekend and should bring in a decent second place haul again this weekend. The film is a solid action flick to check out if Captain America is sold out at your local cinema-plex.

Divergent, now in its third week in theaters, comes in at fourth place again this week. Divergent has been turning in great yield at the box office and will continue its run of success this week. This film series has performed strong enough to deserve a second movie.

Jason Bateman’s Bad Words drops to number five this week. Bad Words didn’t quite have the wide success I thought it would as it expanded to the area last week but is still a good film that deserves to be seen.

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Noah
4. Divergent
5. Bad Words

Published on 4/3/2014 10:29:34 PM

3/28/2014 to 4/3/2014

Now this is a good week to see a movie in Central Illinois! There are arguably three movies worthy of taking the crown this week, that's how good it is. Originally opening in limited release on March 7, The Grand Budapest Hotel finnally makes its way to the area. Wes Anderson's latest opus has received some great reviews from both critics and moviegoers alike. The cast pulls from Anderson's deep roster of regulars and adds newcomers to the mix coming together to form an ascetically pleasing comedy unlike any you'll see this year. GBH is the movie of the week.

Bad Words takes the number two spot. Bad Words is another film that has been in limited release for a good amount of time that eventually worked its way to Central Illinois. Jason Bateman stars and makes his directorial debut in this R-rated black comedy. Bateman plays a 40-something who participates in a grade school spelling bee. Critics have thrown mixed reviews at the comedy but it's the funniest adult comedy since Anchorman 2. Any fan of Bateman should go out and enjoy Bad Words this weekend, they won't be disappointed.

The third movie I considered making number this week is Darren Aronofsky's Noah. The biblical epic will be huge at the box office this weekend and critics have been giving it very solid reviews. The cast is top notch with Russell Crowe, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson, and Jennifer Connelly all starring. Crowe plays the titular Noah and turns in a performance worthy of the classic bible story. Aronofsky doesn't stay directly to story from Genesis, few thought he would, adding an element of surprise to the your viewing.

Taking the last two slots are last week's number one and number two movies, Divergent and Muppets Most Wanted. Divergent had a huge weekend at the box office last week and it should be strong again this week. If you haven't seen it yet and are a fan of dystopian young adult novels go out and see it. It's a good watch. On the other hand, Mupputs Most Wanted was a bit of a disappointment at the box office last weekend. Muppets 2 is an enjoyable children's comedy with a little something added for mom and dad too.

1. The Grand Budapest Hotel
2. Bad Words
3. Noah
4. Divergent
5. Muppets Most Wanted

Published on 3/27/2014 10:22:14 PM

3/21/2014 to 3/27/2014

We've got two huge movies being released this week: Divergent and Muppets Most Wanted. It was hard to pick the top movie for the first time in many weeks. With a book series that already has a rabid fan base and staring the next big thing, Shailene Woodley, Divergent takes number one this week. Even though the reviews aren't living up to the hype (only 31% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), Divergent will be a huge hit at the box office this weekend making it Central Illinois' number one movie this week. Critics feel that the movie is a bit on the boring side but assure fans of the book series that they will be pleased with the final results.

The second huge movie coming to Central Illinois, and everywhere else in the country, is Muppets Most Wanted. This is Disney's second huge live action Muppets movie in the last few years and the sequel has been getting mixed reviews from critics. Even though Jason Segal and Amy Adams aren't back this time around, Kermit is joined by the bitingly funny Ricky Gervais and the always solid Tina Fey. Muppets Most Wanted is sure to bring a few laughs out of everyone in the family.

Pulling up in number three this week is last week's number two movie, Need for Speed. The movie did very well at the box office overseas and performed adequately stateside taking in $21.6 million. Need for Speed will make about half that this weekend.

In fourth we have recent top five mainstay 300: Rise of an Empire. Be sure and check our review if you're curious about the what the sequel to 300 has to offer. The Single Moms Club comes in at number five. The Single Moms Club hasn't been received well from critics and audience haven't been too fond of it either, but Tyler Perry's latest could be entertaining if you go into it with the right mindset. Moms earns its spot in the top five largely because I'm impressed with the machine that is Tyler Perry. The guy can't be stopped.

1. Divergent
2. Muppets Most Wanted
3. Need for Speed
4. 300: Rise of an Empire
5. The Single Moms Club

Published on 3/20/2014 11:01:37 PM

3/14/2014 to 3/20/2014

Another week, another set of top movies here at CentralIllinoisMovies! This week there are a couple of movies releasing in the area but we still don't have Grand Budapest Hotel. Oh well, we can get by on what we've got. The number one movie this week is Veronica Mars which was a TV show in the 2000s on the now defunct UPN network. Fans of the TV series are elated for the return of Kristin Bell as the titular character as they fought for years to get this movie made. The film was even partially funded by the fans via a successful Kickstarter campaign. Critics have also been quite impressed Mars' debut on the silver screen, earning the film a 72% fresh rating on Rotton Tomatoes.

Coming in at number 2 is Aaron Paul's first major project after Breaking Bad, Need for Speed. Need for Speed(NFS) is another in a long line of video games turned into movies and continues the trend of subpar films. Luckily, what NFS lacks in quality, it makes up for in pure adrenaline. The young male demographic will really enjoy seeing this movie so if you have a son or younger brother, be sure and take him to see it this weekend.

Holding down the fort in positions 3 through 5 are last week's top three: Mr. Peabody & Sherman, 300: Rise of an Empire, and Non-Stop. If you haven't seen any of these three, now is a great time to see them and they each hit different demographics. Also, be sure to check out our review of 300: Rise of an Empire.

1. Veronica Mars
2. Need for Speed
3. Mr. Peabody & Sherman
4. 300: Rise of an Empire
5. Non-Stop

Published on 3/13/2014 11:06:37 PM

3/7/2014 to 3/13/2014

I'm a little disappointed that I can't make Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel the top movie this weekend. GBH is in limited release this weekend and didn't make its way to Central Illinois. Hopefully it will be the top movie in coming weeks. With that out of the way, Mr. Peabody & Sherman is the top movie! Pairing amazing animation and a frantic pace, Mr. Peabody & Sherman makes for another great film for the whole family to enjoy (a la top movie mainstay The LEGO Movie. Critics have given Mr. Peabody & Sherman a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and it is likely to be certified fresh soon.

For fans of 2007's 300 and action lovers everywhere 300: Rise of an Empire is finally in theaters. It was originally supposed to come out in summer 2013 but was delayed for quality control. 300: Rise of an Empire has received mostly poor reviews leading to its 44% fresh rating.

The third, fourth, and fifth place films are all films that have been out for at least a week. Non-Stop, last week's top film takes third. Pompeii, largely panned by critics and bombing at the box office takes fourth. Son of God, another film garnering much criticism, pulls up the rear in fifth. Honestly, I wouldn't pay to see any of these movies but they're out now there should be plenty of seats available at all screenings.

1. Mr. Peabody & Sherman
2. 300: Rise of an Empire
3. Non-Stop
4. Pompeii
5. Son of God

Published on 3/6/2014 11:28:59 PM