This Sunday, “Zodiac” is playing at Flicks. The movie was so well received that it only grossed approximately $43 million worldwide, while its budget was somewhere in the neighborhood of $60 million. Ouch. That’s not quite Kevin Costner territory (really, are they still letting that Costner guy make movies?), but it’s got to hurt the movie studio nonetheless.

The sad thing is, though, is that while the flick might not have been so well received by audiences after all, reviewers actually kind of dug it. Moviefone.com’s average critic rating is 80/100, including two 100s. What gives?

We’re not sure, since, like most of the American public, we haven’t seen it either. But since you’ll have a chance to check it out for free this weekend, and given these fairly positive critical reviews, we’d like to kindly suggest that you consider giving it a shot. Obviously, we’re not in a position to give you a taste for this movie ourselves, so instead we’re going to opt for allowing others to do that for us.

Besides, remember, it’s Memorial Day this weekend. What could be more patriotic than going to a classic “killer goes psycho and kills everyone” movie? Uh, right?

“It spins your head in a new way, luring you into a vortex and then deeper still, fascinating us as much for what we don’t know as what we do.”

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

“It’s part police procedural, part monster movie, a funereal entertainment that is an unexpected repudiation of Mr. Fincher’s most famous movie, the serial-killer fiction ‘Seven,’ as well as a testament to this cinematic savant’s gifts.”

Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

“Put your whodunit expectations away when you visit Zodiac. It’s the process that pins you to your seat.”

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

“Could it be that a killer randomly picking off individuals and couples simply isn’t as scary as it used to be?”

Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

“Zodiac is long-over two and a half hours-but when it’s over, you almost wish it had gone on for another 20 minutes, just to see every end get tied up... it’s a hell of a ride.”

Dana Stevens, Slate