Why critics are in love with 'Arrival,' the most acclaimed sci-fi movie of the year

"Arrival" is an emotionally charged sci-fi drama that critics instantly fell for when it began playing the award-bait film festivals - Venice, Telluride, and Toronto - in September. And that critic love has only continued.

With a current 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, things are looking good for "Arrival," which opens on Friday. If general audiences react to it as strongly as the critics have, this could be a strong last few months of the year for its studio, Paramount.

Amy Adams stars in the film as a linguist who is chosen by the military to assist in communicating with aliens who have just landed on earth. Based on the short story by Ted Chiang, the screenplay Eric Heisserer adapted and then shopped for a decade until it got into the capable hands of director Denis Villeneuve ("Prisoners," "Sicario") is not just a thrilling aliens-come-to-earth story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but also a devastatingly touching exploration of love and family that will have you tearing up by the end.

But don't take our word for it. Here are what the top critics are saying: