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The latest news on all things 4k Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Gear.
Sofia Coppola's Priscilla Arrives on Blu-ray February 13

From director Sophia Coppola comes Priscilla (based on the book “Elvis and Me,” by Priscilla Presley) - arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack on February 13.

When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend. Through Priscilla’s eyes, Sofia Coppola tells the unseen side of a great American myth in Elvis and Priscilla’s long courtship and turbulent marriage, from a German army base to his dream-world estate at Graceland, in this deeply felt and ravishingly detailed portrait of love, fantasy, and fame.

Priscilla
Priscilla
 

The Blu-ray + DVD + Digital release will feature lossless 5.1 audio and supplements include:


Brushed with Beauty: Creating Priscilla's Story
The Making of Priscilla: A Film by Liv McNeil
Theatrical Trailer

Pre-orders for Priscilla are up and here is the full press release:


Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital Street Date: 2/13/24
Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital SRP: $39.99
 
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Based on the book “Elvis and Me,” by Priscilla Presley, Priscilla will be available on Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital on February 13 from Lionsgate. From director Sofia Coppola (Marie Antoinette, The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation), Rolling Stone describes Priscilla as “…a transportive, heartbreaking journey in the dark heart of a celebrity, and [Coppola’s finest] film since Lost in Translation.” Priscilla will be available for the suggested retail prices of $39.99 for Blu-ray + DVD + Digital.
 
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend. Through Priscilla’s eyes, Sofia Coppola tells the unseen side of a great American myth in Elvis and Priscilla’s long courtship and turbulent marriage, from a German army base to his dream-world estate at Graceland, in this deeply felt and ravishingly detailed portrait of love, fantasy, and fame.
 
CAST
Cailee Spaeny                        Bad Times at the El Royale, On the Basis of Sex, The Craft: Legacy
Jacob Elordi                            Saltburn,TV’s “Euphoria,” The Kissing BoothHe Went That Way
Dagmara Dominczyk              TV’s “Succession,” The Count of Monte Cristo, The Lost Daughter
 
BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:
Brushed with Beauty: Creating Priscilla's Story
The Making of Priscilla: A Film by Liv McNeil
Theatrical Trailer
 
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2023
Title Copyright: Priscilla © 2023 The Apartment S.r.l. All Rights Reserved
Type: New Release
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH
Run Time: 113 Minutes
Blu-ray Format: 16x9 (1.85); 1080P 23.98 High Definition
Blu-ray Audio: English 5.1 DTS HD-MA
DVD Format: 16x9 (1.85)
DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital
The Marvels Blasts to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray February 13th

Disney and Marvel's The Marvels starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Samuel L. Jackson is soaring to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, 4K SteelBook, and Blu-ray on February 13. Digital will hit January 16.

Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole, her powers are entangled with super-fan Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team up and work together to save the universe.

The Marvels - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
The Marvels - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

The Marvels - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Walmart Exclusive SteelBook
The Marvels - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Walmart Exclusive SteelBook
 

The Marvels Blu-ray
The Marvels
 

The 4K UHD Blu-ray editions feature Dolby Atmos soundtracks and bonus materials are as follows:


FEATURETTES

  • Entangled – Take a cosmic trip behind the scenes on The Marvels with the cast and crew of the film. Learn how director Nia DaCosta and the team took on such a vast production, and dive deeper with more details about Marvel’s first ever musical number.
  • The Production Diaries – Experience the lively, upbeat set of The Marvels as cast and crew recall candid and heartwarming moments, along with hilarious anecdotes.


DELETED SCENES

  • Captain-in-Residence – Kamala finds herself in Carol's ship after an unexpected switch and incredulously picks up a call from Valkyrie.
  • It's Under Control – Carol, Kamala, and Monica find themselves brainstorming for solutions on Aladna.
  • Space Yoga – Muneeba teaches yoga while an exasperated Nick Fury looks on.
  • The Chase – Chaos ensues as Ty-Rone chases Kamala in a tension-filled scene.


GAG REEL

  • Watch some hilarious outtakes on set with the cast and crew of The Marvels.


AUDIO COMMENTARY

  • Listen to co-writer/director Nia DaCosta and VFX Supervisor Tara DeMarco talk about the film.

Pre-orders for The Marvels should be available soon. Included below is the full press release:


“UPROARIOUSLY FUN AND ACTION-PACKED”
– Molly Freeman, Screen Rant



Make Your Marvel Studios Collection Fly Higher! The Marvels
is available to buy only at Digital retailers on January 16
and arrives on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 13



BURBANK, CA (January 8, 2024) – Higher. Further. Faster. Together! Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau and Ms. Marvel assemble in this epic action-packed cosmic adventure. With the help of Nick Fury (and Carol’s pet Flerken, Goose!), they must band together to take on the powerful Dar-Benn, new leader of the Kree.

The Marvels is directed by Nia DaCosta, who “delivers a film with tons of heart, and endless laughs.” (Amelia Emberwing, IGN) that is “fortified by compelling performances and thoughtful storytelling, delivering a superhero film that pulsates with life, energy, and a sense of purpose.” (Valerie Complex, Deadline).

Be the first to watch at home on Digital when Marvel Studios’ The Marvels becomes available from all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu on January 16 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on February 13. Fans can add the film to their collection and access exclusive bonus content including deleted scenes, a gag reel, behind-the-scenes featurettes and an audio commentary from co-writer/director Nia DaCosta and VFX Supervisor Tara DeMarco.


Film Synopsis
Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole, her powers are entangled with super-fan Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team up and work together to save the universe.

Bonus Features*
FEATURETTES
  • Entangled – Take a cosmic trip behind the scenes on The Marvels with the cast and crew of the film. Learn how director Nia DaCosta and the team took on such a vast production, and dive deeper with more details about Marvel’s first ever musical number.
  • The Production Diaries – Experience the lively, upbeat set of The Marvels as cast and crew recall candid and heartwarming moments, along with hilarious anecdotes.

DELETED SCENES
  • Captain-in-Residence – Kamala finds herself in Carol's ship after an unexpected switch and incredulously picks up a call from Valkyrie.
  • It's Under Control – Carol, Kamala, and Monica find themselves brainstorming for solutions on Aladna.
  • Space Yoga – Muneeba teaches yoga while an exasperated Nick Fury looks on.
  • The Chase – Chaos ensues as Ty-Rone chases Kamala in a tension-filled scene.

GAG REEL
  • Watch some hilarious outtakes on set with the cast and crew of The Marvels.

AUDIO COMMENTARY
  • Listen to co-writer/director Nia DaCosta and VFX Supervisor Tara DeMarco talk about the film.

*Bonus features vary by product and retailer

Cast
Brie Larson as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel
Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau
Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel
Zawe Ashton as Dar-Benn
Gary Lewis as Emperor Dro'ge
Seo-Jun Park as Prince Yan
Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan
Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan
Saagar Shaikh as Aamir Khan
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Directed by
Nia DaCosta

Produced by
Kevin Feige, p.g.a.

Executive Producers
Louis D’Esposito
Victoria Alonso
Mary Livanos
Jonathan Schwartz
Matthew Jenkins
Jamie Christropher

Written by
Nia DaCosta and Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik

Product Specifications
U.S. and Canada Street Date
Digital: January 16, 2024
Physical: February 13, 2024

Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD  
Physical: Cinematic Universe Edition (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code), Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + Digital Code) & DVD
Retail Exclusive: Walmart Steelbook® (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code + Steelbook Packaging)
Bundle: Captain Marvel / The Marvels 2-Movie Collection (Digital 4K / HD / SD)

Feature Run Time
Approx. 105 minutes

Rating
U.S.: Rated PG-13
Canada: Rated PG

Disc Size
4K UHD: 66GB
Blu-ray: 50GB
DVD: 8.5GB

Aspect Ratio
Digital: 2.35:1
Physical: 2.35:1

U.S. and Canada Audio
4K: English Dolby Atmos and 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks
Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA and 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks
DVD: English, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio Language Tracks
Digital: English Dolby Atmos (UHD only, some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital (some platforms)

U.S. and Canada Subtitles
4K: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
DVD: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Digital: English SDH, French, Spanish (some platforms)
HDD's Varsity Picks - The 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide Jan 7, 2024

We begin the new year off slowly, but as indicators are suggesting, it is going to be a big year for collectors and a deflating experience for our wallets.

Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 32 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of January 7th - January 13th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

 

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

 No teaser, let's hust get right to it.

 From Paramount, rom-com Varsity Blues. It stars Jon Voight, Paul Walker and more. Have a look-see.

 

 Next from The Criterion Collection, a crime thriller with a little bit of film-noir as well, Blood Simple.

 

 And lastly, I could be wrong about this (and the internet will no doubt submit a hundred messages stating I am), Massacre Video's first 4K release, BloodRayne. And YES, there is a video game series based on the same name/universe.

 

  Next week sees quite an uptick in titles, if you were expecting the Conan movies, those got moved back to the 30th though.

 

Blu-ray releases-

 Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases? None this week. Moving on to a tepid slate...

 TV on disc, this one goes way back to 1967, Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace comes via BBC. This one is interesting as the original video masters were lost so they decided to make an animated recreation with the original audio.

 Classic Eddie Murphy standup comes to disc from Paramount with Eddie Murphy: Raw. Having HBO growing up, this one is memorable.

 

 For anime this week, look for Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?! Season 4 Part 2One Piece: Season Thirteen - Voyage Four, 'The Tunnel To Summer, The Exit Of Goodbyes' and Tsurune The Movie: The First Shot.

 

 If you've been collecting them, it's time to get volume 16, Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XVI debuts from Kino Lorber.

 How about a pair of Charles Bronson action films from Shout Factory, St. Ives and Telefon?

 

 Next week in blu-ray, about 50% more volume!

 

Notable announcements from last week:

 A bunch of onesie twosie updates happened last week among a lot of boutique labels primarily. I think one of the big titles from Vinegar Syndrome announced during subscriber week would be Walter Hill's Southern Comfort. Their new partner label Cinématographe also revealed Little Darlings (1980). I'm anxious to see what comes next from that label. VS announced a few days into the week they were on track to have a record number of subscribers. I for one would love an "All the 4Ks" sub for Kino Lorber and Shout/Scream Factory, with options to add blu-rays at a discount price of course. That would be me signaling to them that I support their efforts and want it all.

 Amazon has leaked a 4K release of Steven Soderberg's Contagion in 4K, with a February 27 street date. The packaging suggests it is a Warner Archive release.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



Willy's Wonderland 4K Collector's Edition + 4K SteelBook Detailed and Pre-orders Live Arriving February 13th

The 2021 horror/comedy Willy's Wonderland starring Nicolas Cage is getting a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and 4K SteelBook from Scream Factory on February 13.

A quiet drifter (Nicolas Cage) finds himself stranded in a remote town when his car breaks down. Taking on a janitorial job at the now-condemned Willy's Wonderland seems like an easy way to earn some cash ... but the mundane task suddenly becomes an all-out fight for survival when he must do battle with wave after wave of demonic, murderous animatronics.

Willy's Wonderland - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Willy's Wonderland - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Willy's Wonderland - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook

Willy's Wonderland - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Walmart Exclusive SteelBook 

The 4K UHD Blu-ray + Blu-ray as well as the SteelBook edition will include the following: 

 

Disc One (4K UHD):

·     Feature Film in Dolby Vision

 

Disc Two (Blu-ray):

·     “Inside Fun” Featurette

·     Set Tour with Actor Christian Del Grosso

·     “Fresh Meat” Featurette

·     “Colorful Darkness And The Demon-Atrons” Featurette

·     Trailer

Pre-orders for Willy's Wonderland in 4K are up and included below is the full press release:


WILLY’S WONDERLAND COLLECTOR’S EDITION

4K UHD™+ BLU-RAY™ COMBO

&

WILLY’S WONDERLAND LIMITED EDITION STEELBOOK

ARRIVE FEBRUARY 13, 2024 FROM SCREAM FACTORY™

“A Violent, Glorious Riot”

Film Threat

 

On February 13, 2024, SCREAM FACTORY™ invites horror enthusiasts, movie collectors, and fans of Nicolas Cage to an unforgettable, action-packed thrill ride filled with suspense and terror when the horror thriller WILLY’S WONDERLAND, starring Nicolas Cage, unleashes on home entertainment shelves in a Collector’s Edition 4K UHD™ + Blu-ray™ combo pack and the Limited Edition SteelBook (2-Disc 4K UHD™+ Blu-ray™). Available for the first time in 4K UHD format, this highly anticipated home release boasts high-octane fun with movie presentation in Dolby Vision and insightful special bonus content on Blu-ray. 

 

When fans and collectors order from ShoutFactory.com, WILLY’S WONDERLAND Collector’s Edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray comes with an exclusive poster featuring the original theatrical artwork, available while supplies last.

 

WILLY’S WONDERLAND Collector’s Edition | Pre-order here

WILLY’S WONDERLAND SteelBook | Pre-order here

 

 

MOVIE SYNOPSIS

 

A quiet drifter (Nicolas Cage) finds himself stranded in a remote town when his car breaks down. Taking on a janitorial job at the now-condemned Willy's Wonderland seems like an easy way to earn some cash ... but the mundane task suddenly becomes an all-out fight for survival when he must do battle with wave after wave of demonic, murderous animatronics.

 

WILLY’S WONDERLAND stars Nicolas Cage with Emily Tosta, Beth Grant, Ric Reitz and Chris Warner and is directed by Kevin Lewis. WILLY’S WONDERLAND is produced by Nicolas Cage, Mike Nilon, Grant Cramer, Jeremy Daniel Davis, David Ozer and Bryan Lord. The Executive Producers are Tim Rouhana, David Nagelberg, David Fannon, Mark Damon, Seth Needle, Tamara Birkemoe, Adam Rifkin, Victor Perillo, Scott Harbert, and Jake Seal.

 

 

WILLY’S WONDERLAND Collector’s Edition

Special Features:

 

Disc One (4K UHD):

·     Feature Film in Dolby Vision

 

Disc Two (Blu-ray):

·     “Inside Fun” Featurette

·     Set Tour with Actor Christian Del Grosso

·     “Fresh Meat” Featurette

·     “Colorful Darkness And The Demon-Atrons” Featurette

·     Trailer

·     Image Galleries

High-Def Digest's Favorites and Best of 2023

2023 Was A Hell Of A Year For Disc Collectors!

We saw incredible highs of scores of new and deep catalog titles making their way to Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD. We saw major studios like Disney/20th Century and Paramount recommit to the cause not only by punching out numerous long sought-after catalog flicks but delivering them with an A/V quality that showed marked improvement (especially from Paramount). And where the majors fell short, the independent labels stepped up unleashing a tide of new releases that was often difficult and expensive to keep up with. We had readers who had abandoned physical media return to collecting their favorites on disc while others said they practically doubled or even tripled their collections within a year! While Best Buy signaling its exit from the physical media market space seemed like bad news, other retailers and online shops are already picking up the slack. With physical media collecting looking a little brighter, lets take a bit to reflect on some of our favorite releases of the year:

HDD's Favorite 4K Discs of 2023 

Since it's damn near impossible to whittle down hundreds of new releases into a tiny list of ten or twenty, let alone find a way to rank them, we're simply going to showcase the titles that made our writers' favorites lists. No particular order but all amazing releases:

     

      

     

     

      

        

      

     

     

     

     

      

     

     

     

      


HDD's Favorite Blu-ray Discs of 2023 

While this was a bumper crop year for new and catalog 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays, good 'ol 1080p had a few great tricks up its sleeve as well. From great TV season releases to true cinematic classics to some stellar 3-D Blu-rays, there are too many titles we'd love to showcase so we have to whittle it down a bit. Here are some of our favorites of 2023. 

    

     

     

     

      

      

      

     

      

     


Major Studio 2023 Report Card

Lionsgate logo - Cinema Siren  - Consistently Excellent 

Across Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Lionsgate has remained consistent and dedicated. If we're not getting every new release with a Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, they're giving their back catalog titles exciting 4K UHD releases. Not only are they catering to collector the A/V quality of their releases remains consistently excellent. The Mist, Young GunsJohn Wick 4The Wicker ManTalk to MeHouse of 1000 CorpsesThe Lord of War - all are excellent releases. 2023 Grade: A

Paramount 2011 logo sprite by theorangesunburst on DeviantArt - Most Improved 

It wasn't that long ago that the name "Paramount" could be something that caused worry among disc collectors. Some discs could be great, some were pretty rough with over-blown grain management and tanked bitrates on 4K releases that actually fared worse than their Blu-ray counterparts. Now that issue did pop up a time or two for masters that were previously streaming-only releases, but if you chart their efforts from Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection to Titanic, you'll find an impressive range of excellent titles throughout the year with near flawless A/V presentations. To top off their own efforts, if they didn't release a great back catalog title themselves, they licensed it out an independent label. 
2023 Grade: B

Universal Logo, symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand - Universally Impressive 

What can you say about a studio that can deliver a title like Fast X and The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: Vol 3 to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the same year? Universal has always been great at giving film fans the newest releases with the best A/V out there (Oppenheimer anyone?) but they've been steadfast at updating their deep catalog titles with worthy Blu-ray and 4K offerings. And like Paramount, they've been terrific about licensing out their most exciting catalog titles to independent labels like Shout! Studios, Kino Lorber Studio Classics, or for great 4K releases the import markets like Germany's Turbine. 2023 Grade: B+ 

Disney Logo PNG Image File - PNG All | PNG All - Bumpy Start but Turned A Corner 

It's no secret that Disney and by extension 20th Century Studios has had a bumpy time with physical media releases the last couple of years. That is to say in many cases we should be lucky enough to even get a disc release of any kind at all (where is Barbarian on disc?). When discs did come, they could vary in quality because of a frustrating adherence to only using BD-66 discs and no Dolby Vision HDR support or be hit by anemic Atmos mixes. Celebrating the House of Mouse's 100th birthday was at times tough but had some moments for celebration with Cinderella and Snow White. Things improved dramatically in the last four months. Between a terrific first round of Disney+ titles coming to Blu-ray and 4K, upgrading Hulu's Prey to a beast of a 4K disc release, and James Cameron practically saving the studio with a full round of Avatar releases on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, AND 3-D Blu-ray - things got better fast. We can only hope the effort will continue into 2024 and beyond. 2023 Grade: C+

Warner Bros Pictures 1993 Corporate Logo Remake by SuperBaster2015 on ... - Great Effort but Some Worrying Trends 

As the studio also celebrated its 100th Anniversary, it made an incredible effort to dig in and release a flood of catalog titles on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray while also ensuring their sub-label Warner Archive Collection maintained a steady flow of excellent releases. Where's the problem? While A/V presentations could be terrific for a number of titles, we had four Rocky films that should have been highlights of the year that were hit by audio issues that were never rectified. Likewise, a grand set such as the Christopher Reeve Superman set had inconsistent HDR grades one to the next, with a problematic Atmos track for The Quest for Peace. But more problematic has been the desperate releases between regions. In the U.S., we would receive basic releases and few if any interesting alternate packaging options, and we also had a dramatic lack of new or archival extra features. However, across the pond, the U.K. would get expansive and exciting deluxe editions like The Exorcist or the upcoming 4K release of Se7en making costly imports almost a frustrating requirement. If it weren't for Warner Archive, the studio would be in much rougher shape. Hopefully 2024 will be better. 2023 Grade: B

Sony Pictures logo - símbolo, significado logotipo, historia, PNG - Setting A High Bar for New and Catalog Titles

Similar to Lionsgate, Sony Pictures Home Video has had a terrific 2023 for new title releases, excellent catalog releases, and a slew of impressive 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook re-releases with Dolby Vision upgrades. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse was a magnificent, demo-worthy disc, but then they go and give the same care and attention to catalog titles like The Remains of the Day, Rudy, and The Way We Were. While some of their SteelBook rereleases haven't exactly necessitated a double-dip, but for those that didn't make the previous purchase these are certainly the better options. With Columbia Pictures celebrating its own 100th Anniversary this year and another Columbia Classics 4K set coming, 2024 looks to be very exciting for catalog titles on Blu-ray and 4K disc. 2023 Grade: A 


Brightest and Best Domestic & Foreign Indy Labels of 2023

Kino Lorber Studio Classics | New York NY - Quantity with Quality 

For the last few years, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has been delivering a treasure trove of exciting catalog titles on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. That effort compounded in 2023 with a massive selection of terrific discs to make valuable shelf space for. Between 4K discs like Stalag 17 or 12 Angry Men, we also had an amazing release of Rawhead Rex! They've also committed some amazing releases dedicated to bringing fan-favorite and obscure Film Noir, Western, and Drama titles to Blu-ray and their new Kino Cult label offers some new unique genre flavor into the mix.  

 - Always Worth Importing For 

They may live in Germany, but every Turbine release is a quality one, and often the label delivers the world its first - or best - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases with unsurpassed A/V quality. Pearl always should have gotten a 4K release from the start, but Turbine delivered it. In the same breath we can't forget to highlight their efforts on titles like Repossessed and Cool as Ice - of all films. While it's cool that we get such a diverse range of titles with the best possible A/V options, they also deliver multiple attractive artwork options with a range of limited-run Mediabooks. We're been teased that some great titles are on the way in 2024 and we can't wait to see what's coming. 

criterion logo 10 free Cliparts | Download images on Clipground 2023 - Curated Collection of Classics 

The Criterion Collection has long held a status for curating a collection of releases that spans the breadth of cinema from across the globe. In a year we had titles like the amazing Ranown Westerns and a film like Mildred Pierce space alongside the likes of Malcolm X and Tod Browning's Sideshow Shockers. While each month's titles may seem a little disjointed or not as robust, exciting, or essential as some other labels out there, they are at least quality releases. And when Barnes and Noble have their biannual sales, we often have many titles worth considering to add to the shelf. Now with their Janus Contemporaries efforts, there are even more titles coming to the market that would otherwise be lost to streaming let alone get a disc release at all.

Stafford-Decal さんによるVinegar Syndrome logo - デカール|コミュニティ|グランツーリスモSPORT ...&  OCN Distribution (@ocndistro) / Twitter - Great Flicks Getting Great Discs  

One of the most committed to the cause of Physical Media, Vinegar Syndrome and their sister company OCN Distribution have had an incredible 2023, and 2024 is already gearing up to be bigger and better. Vinegar Syndrome on its own offers up a number of impressive sub-labels, but then OCN Distribution compounds the collecting excitement with its cadre of partner labels. Across the board, fans can pick through over a dozen new titles every month. Where else are you going to get The Prophecy I-II-III, Showgirls, and Sidekicks on 4K? On top of those hits, you can snag high-quality releases from obscure gems from labels like Saturn's Core, Canadian International Pictures, Dekanalog, and Deaf Crocodile among many others. Then you have the subscription service. With a subscription, you get the base release sent to your door every month with the option of picking up new sub-label titles at 50% off. Sure, that upfront for a subscription can be a bit hefty, but several writers here at HDD have given it a try and have now resubscribed. With another new sub-label on the horizon with Cinématographe, even more great movies are coming to disc with exciting attractive packaging. 

Shout! Factory - Wikipedia - Continuing 20 Years Of Great Releases 

Between their labels, Shout Studios, Shout Select, and Scream Factory, 2024 saw some genuinely great discs come to collector's shelves. You have classics like The Magnificent Seven alongside JFK with The People Under the Stairs and a bunch of Chucky fan favorites all in a single year. If you could fault the studio for anything it would be being too aggressive. Promised for 2023, The Ring Trilogy 4K set is now due to arrive in 2024. We also had a bunch of upgrades with the likes of The Dead Zone punched out alongside a ton of Jackie Chan films and and a slew of nearly-forgotten Shaw Brothers films coming to Blu-ray for the first time. You have everything from Comedy, Westerns, Horror, Drama, Martial Arts all getting amazing releases. 2023 was a year to celebrate. 

About - Via Vision Entertainment - Long Haul To Australia But Worth It

Via Vision and their sublabel Imprint Films did a masterclass job bringing film fans all over the world some remarkable releases. We saw numerous global first releases on Blu-ray with incredibly intricate packaging and some amazing box sets. Their commitment to delivering the best possible A/V releases is one thing, but to also load up their sets with a bunch of new bonus features is better than commendable it's downright admirable. Here's hoping 2024 sees plenty more great hits, we need more Rawhide seasons on Blu-ray! 

Arrow Video March Releases | OnVideo  - Proudly Serving Both Shores of the Atlantic  

Arrow may have a tough time offering some of their biggest and best titles on both sides of the big pool separating the U.S. and U.K., but if you can't get a film on both shores, you can be sure it's worth importing. We haven't had the chance to fully review the Hellraiser and Psycho collections yet, but from what we've seen they're incredible sets. Alongside efforts for Barbarella and even Tremors 2 saw a great release, Arrow hasn't lost their knack for amazing A/V quality on both formats. Now we're just salivating for Conan the Barbarian to arrive on 4K. Hopefully, 2024 is just as aggressive and impressive as 2023. 

Dailies – Severin Films - You Get Everything You Pay For  

Severin titles can sometimes be a tad pricy, more than the average, but in terms of quality A/V, packaging, and pure volume of amazing titles, you get every cent of what you pay for, and then some. Where else are you going to see something as expansive like The Sensual World of Black Emanuelle multi-film box set ride high with Pod People and Jess Franco's Count Dracula while finally giving the world a luscious release of Cemetary Man (Dellamorte Dellamore)? Toss in their monthly bundle deals and amazing swag packages, and Severin had an amazing year. Thanks to them fans have their own Trumpy and Joe Spinell stuffed buddies! 

Second Sight Films – Opening Soon - Quality First Quantity Second  

Second Sight has been around for a while now, but we felt they really burst onto the scene with their fantastic Dawn of the Dead 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. That commitment to quality releases hasn't wavered in the years since and 2024 was a terrific year. We weren't able to review all that we wanted to of their releases - still have It Follows and Crimes of the Future to dig into - but every release has been eye-catching and worth the wait. And for some, we've waited a long time. George Romero's Martin was a highlight of the year as was their Limited Edition of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. What's also more than commendable and should be the industry standard is their commitment to quality control. When a problem is spotted, they pull the product before it ships and delay the release rather than throw it out to the masses hoping no one notices or if they do, go through the expensive and arduous task of issuing disc replacements. Get it right first and fans will be happy.  

88 Films Announces 3 New Blu-rays For This February - Great Domestic and Import Product

Another label we wished we'd been able to review more from is U.K. label 88 Films. From maniacal martial arts classics to ghastly Italian horror gems, 88 Films had a great crop of releases this year on Blu-ray and 4K. They've positioned themselves in such a way that when a title gets announced domestically, one often has to pause and keep an eye on the 88 Films social accounts just to see if they won't be punching out one themselves for a possibly an even better release. In the Line of Duty I-IV, Police Story 3: Super Cop, and Hell of the Living Dead all saw terrific releases. We aim to review more of their stuff soon and do our damndest to keep up with their 2024 lineup.

Indicator / Powerhouse – Orbit DVD - Stacked Year For Amazing Content 

Powerhouse Films and their sublabel Indicator kept fans on both sides of the Atlantic busy. From amazing 4K titles like Two Orphan Vampires to amazing Blu-ray releases of The Big Gundown - it's truly a good thing to see so many amazing titles come out you can barely keep up. We had a hell of a time trying to! Each of us at HDD picked up several of their 2023 slate and were often gobsmacked by the care and attention to the releases. We can only hope to dig in deeper and give more of their work the attention they deserve in 2024. Their pre-order lineup already looks fantastic.  

Not wanting to leave anyone off this list, but there's so many amazing labels out there truly doing A+ work giving fans incredible content on physical media. We have to give honorable mention shoutouts to all of the great labels we've reviewed and hope to see more from in 2024. 

Cauldron Films  Terror Vision Records and Video  Category:BluRay - The Grindhouse Cinema Database

[Interview] LE CHAT QUI FUME : « Nous voulons présenter aux gens de ...   King Kong (1976) - Trailers From Hell   Capelight Pictures Logo PNG Vector (AI, EPS, SVG) Free Download

eureka-icon | Eureka  5 Blu-ray Labels Saving Physical Media - Bloody DisgustingRadiance Films Discussion/Release Thread | AVForums  

2023 was one of the most exciting years for physical media collectors. It may seem dire with brick-and-mortar locations like Best Buy and Target shuttering or greatly reducing their offerings, but with the major studios waking up from their expensive streaming hangover and all of the stalwart and new independent labels cropping up, collectors had a lot to celebrate. And with all of the titles already announced into 2024, we've got a hell of a year ahead of us.

The team here at High-Def Digest want to thank all of you readers out there who click in to check out our personal mumblings about movies on disc. We also want to thank all of the incredible independent labels out there. You've made this hobby a passionate and exciting one delivering one exciting slate of releases after another. You're the folks that make this hobby grand and worth the effort. 

Happy Collecting Everyone - see you all throughout 2024!

Alexandre O. Philippe’s Lynch/Oz Headed for a Janus Contemporaries Blu-ray March 19

The 2022 documentary focused on David Lynch's cinematic inspiration from The Wizard of Oz will be getting a Janus Contemporaries Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection on March 19.

The themes, images, and cultural vernacular of Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz continue to haunt David Lynch’s filmography—from his early short The Alphabet to his recent television series Twin Peaks: The Return. Arguably, no filmmaker has so consistently drawn inspiration—consciously or unconsciously—from a single work. Is Lynch trapped in the Land of Oz? If so, what can we learn about his body of work by taking a closer look at how it intersects and communicates with that legendary fantasy? In turn, what do Lynch’s films have to say about the enduring resonance of one of America’s most beloved classics? Through six distinct perspectives, Alexandre O. Philippe’s Lynch/Oz helps us reexperience and reinterpret The Wizard of Oz by way of David Lynch, delivering new appreciations of both.

Lynch/Oz - Blu-ray 

Lynch/Oz 

The Blu-ray release will include Meet the Filmmakers, a new interview with director Alexandre O. Philippe and a trailer.

Pre-orders for Lynch/Oz are up - Happy Collecting!

GOOOAAALLL!!! Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins Scores a Blu-ray Release on February 27

The soccer sports comedy based on a true story and starring Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightly, Will Arnett, and Elisabeth Moss will arrive on Blu-ray on February 27. Digital will be available on January 16th.

Based on a true story, this heartfelt underdog comedy follows the American Samoa soccer team, infamous for their brutal 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. With the World Cup qualifiers fast approaching, the team hires down-on-his-luck, maverick coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), hoping he will turn the world’s worst soccer team into winners.

Next Goal Wins - Blu-ray 

Next Goal Wins 

The Blu-ray + Digital release will feature lossless 5.1 audio and supplements include:

Featurette

  • Creating The Pitch of Life – Explore filmmaker Taika Waititi’s loving homage to American Samoa, Polynesian culture, and the sports movie in this delightfully entertaining short-form documentary. See what it took to make a winning movie about the losingest soccer team in the world.

Deleted Scene

  • Priest Blessing the Team

Pre-orders for Next Goal Wins are up and here is the full press release:


HEARTFELT AND HILARIOUS”
– Pete Hammond, Deadline




Searchlight Pictures’ Delightful Feelgood Comedy Next Goal Wins
Arrives on Digital January 16 and Blu-ray™ and DVD February 27


 
BURBANK, CA (January 4, 2024) – From Academy Award® winner Taika Waititi* (Thor: RagnarokJojo RabbitWhat We Do In The Shadows) comes Next Goal Wins, a heartwarming and hilarious tale inspired by the true-life story of soccer underdogs American Samoa and their stumbling attempts to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Described as “big-hearted and feel-good” (Wendy Ide, Screen Daily), “a perfect underdog movie” (Martin Tsai, The Wrap), and “one of the best comedies of the year” (Dayna Eileen, CGM Backlot), the film stars acclaimed actor Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First ClassThe Killer) as Thomas Rongen, the maverick coach with the near-impossible task of trying to turn one of the world’s worst soccer team into winners. The international ensemble cast also includes Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane, Rachel House, Beulah Koale, Uli Latukefu, Semu Filipo, Lehi Falepapalangi, with Will Arnett and Elisabeth Moss.

Be the first to watch at home when Next Goal Wins becomes available from all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu on January 16, and arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on February 27, with never-before-seen bonus content including Taika Waititi’s homage to American Samoa, Polynesian culture, and sports movies.

*Best Adapted Screenplay 2020, Jojo Rabbit

Film Synopsis
Based on a true story, this heartfelt underdog comedy follows the American Samoa soccer team, infamous for their brutal 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. With the World Cup qualifiers fast approaching, the team hires down-on-his- luck, maverick coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), hoping he will turn the world’s worst soccer team into winners.

Bonus Features**
Featurette
  • Creating The Pitch of Life – Explore filmmaker Taika Waititi’s loving homage to American Samoa, Polynesian culture, and the sports movie in this delightfully entertaining short-form documentary. See what it took to make a winning movie about the losingest soccer team in the world.
Deleted Scene
  • Priest Blessing the Team
**Bonus features vary by product and retailer

Cast
Michael Fassbender as Thomas Rongen
Oscar Kightley as Tavita
Kaimana as Jaiyah Saelua
David Fane as Ace
Rachel House as Ruth
Beulah Koale as Daru Taumua
Uli Latukefu as Nicky Salapu
Chris Alosio as Jonah Semu
Filipo as Rambo
Ioane Goodhue as Smiley
Lehi Falepapalangi as Pisa
Hio Pelesasa as Samson
With Will Arnett as Alex Magnussen
And Elisabeth Moss as Gail

Directed by
Taika Waititi

Written by
Taika Waititi, Iain Morris

Produced by
Jonathan Cavendish p.g.a.
Garrett Basch p.g.a.
Taika Waititi p.g.a.
Mike Brett
Steve Jamison

Music by
Michael Giacchino

Product Specifications
Street Date
Digital: January 16, 2024
Physical: February 27, 2024
 
Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
Physical: Blu-ray (Blu-ray + Digital Code) & DVD
 
Feature Run Time

Approx. 104 minutes
 
Rating
U.S. Rated PG-13
**For some strong language and crude material

Aspect Ratio
Digital: 2.00:1
Physical: 2.00:1
 
Disc Size
Blu-ray: 50GB
DVD: 8.5GB

U.S. Audio
Blu-ray: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA and 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital
DVD: English, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio
Digital: English Dolby (UHD only, some platforms), English 5.1 (Dolby Digital) & 2.0, Spanish 5.1 (Dolby Digital) & 2.0, French 5.1 (Dolby Digital) & 2.0, English Descriptive Audio 2.0

U.S. Subtitles
Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish, French
DVD: English SDH, Spanish, French
Digital: English SDH, French, Spanish (some platforms)
Let It Snow - The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Coming to Disc Feb 13th

The Hunger Games prequel starring Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage and Viola Davis is headed for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (with a Walmart exclusive SteelBook) and Blu-ray on February 13. Digital will hit on January 30.

64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes follows a young Coriolanus as he unites with Lucy Gray Baird in the 10th Hunger Games, and battles his instincts for both good and evil.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Blu-ray

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Walmart Exclusive SteelBook
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Walmart Exclusive SteelBook
 

The 4K UHD Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital combo pack and the Blu-ray + Digital combo pack will include the following supplements:

4K UHD / BLU-RAY™ SPECIAL FEATURES 

  • Audio Commentary with Producer-Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson (Not Included on Digital)
  • “Predator or Prey: Making The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” 8-Part Documentary (Not Included on Digital)
    • Songbirds & Snakes (The Acting Ensemble)
    • Pure as the Driven Snow (The Music of Lucy Gray Baird)
    • A Palette of Tactics (On Location in Poland and Berlin)
    • Humanity Undressed (Costume, Makeup & Hair)
    • To the Victor Go the Spoils (Stunts & Weapons)
    • Inner Sanctum (The Post-Production Process)
    • Snow Lands on Top (Reflections)
  • “The Hanging Tree” Song by Rachel Zegler
  • A Letter to the Fans
  • Theatrical Trailers (4K Only)

AMAZON BLU-RAY™ EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Imagining a Retro Future: The Look of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • The Arc of a Tyrant: Creating Coriolanus Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Pre-orders for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes are now live! 

Here's the full press release for all of the details:


On Electronic Sell-Through January 30
and 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray™ + Digital, 
Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital, and DVD February 13 from Lionsgate® 

Featuring over 2 ½ Hours of Special Features
on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray™
Including Behind the Scenes of the Creation of Panem

SANTA MONICA, CA (January 2, 2024) – The Capitol invites you to the 10th Annual Hunger Games when The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes arrives on Electronic Sell-Through January 30 and 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray™ + Digital, Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital, and DVD February 13 from Lionsgate®. Based on the Suzanne Collins best-selling novel of the same name, with a screenplay by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt, and directed by Francis Lawrence, the star-studded cast features Tom Blyth (Benediction), Golden Globe® winner Rachel Zegler (Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, West Side Story, 2022), Emmy® Award winner Peter Dinklage (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, “Game of Thrones,” 2019), Hunter Schafer (“Euphoria”), Josh Andrés Rivera (West Side Story), Jason Schwartzman (Asteroid City), and EGOT winner Viola Davis (Emmy® for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, “How to Get Away with Murder,” 2015; GRAMMY® for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording, Finding Me, 2023; Oscar® for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Fences, 2017; Tony® for Best Actress (Leading Role - Play), Fences, 2010). The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is currently still in theaters, where it has earned over $325 million worldwide.
 
In The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, three-time GRAMMY Award® winner and six-time nominee singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo joins the prestigious franchise, co-writing and performing the preeminent original song “Can’t Catch Me Now.”
 
64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes follows a young Coriolanus as he unites with Lucy Gray Baird in the 10th Hunger Games, and battles his instincts for both good and evil.
 
On January 30, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes will be available to buy on Electronic Sell-Through for $19.99. On February 13, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD will be available for the suggested retail prices of $42.99, $39.99, and $29.96, respectively. 
 
Also releasing on the same day, Walmart will have an exclusive 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray™ + Digital SteelBook®, debuting with brand-new art prominently featuring the star-studded cast. The stand-alone SteelBook will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.96.
 
Fans of the franchise can collect the previously released The Hunger Games films in the 4K Ultra HD SteelBook 4-Film Collection which includes the original four films, featuring art of Katniss Everdeen and Coriolanus Snow, also available at Walmart.
 
4K UHD / BLU-RAY™ SPECIAL FEATURES 
  • Audio Commentary with Producer-Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson (Not Included on Digital)
  • “Predator or Prey: Making The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” 8-Part Documentary (Not Included on Digital)
    • Songbirds & Snakes (The Acting Ensemble)
    • Pure as the Driven Snow (The Music of Lucy Gray Baird)
    • A Palette of Tactics (On Location in Poland and Berlin)
    • Humanity Undressed (Costume, Makeup & Hair)
    • To the Victor Go the Spoils (Stunts & Weapons)
    • Inner Sanctum (The Post-Production Process)
    • Snow Lands on Top (Reflections)
  • “The Hanging Tree” Song by Rachel Zegler
  • A Letter to the Fans
  • Theatrical Trailers (4K Only)
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES 
  • Audio Commentary with Producer-Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson
  • Welcome Back to Panem
  • The Music of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • The Costumes of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • The Casting of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • “The Hanging Tree” Song by Rachel Zegler
  • A Letter to the Fans 
APPLE TV SPECIAL FEATURES
  • Finding a Different Sound: The Music of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • Welcome Back to Panem
  • The Music of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • The Costumes of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • The Casting of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • “The Hanging Tree” Song by Rachel Zegler
  • A Letter to the Fans 
AMAZON BLU-RAY™ EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL FEATURES
  • Imagining a Retro Future: The Look of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • The Arc of a Tyrant: Creating Coriolanus Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
CAST:
Tom Blyth                            Benediction, “Billy the Kid”
Golden Globe® winner
Rachel Zegler                     West Side Story, upcoming Snow White
Emmy® Award winner
Peter Dinklage                    “Game of Thrones,” Avengers: Infinity War
Hunter Schafer                    “Euphoria”
Josh Andrés Rivera             West Side Story
Jason Schwartzman           Asteroid City, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
and EGOT winner
Viola Davis                         AirFences, “How to Get Away with Murder”
 
ROGRAM INFORMATION 
Year of Production: 
2023
Title Copyright: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes © 2023, Artwork & Supplementary Materials ®, ™ & © 2024 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: New Release
Rating: PG-13 for strong violent content and disturbing material
Genre: Action/Adventure
Feature Run Time: 2 hours, 37 minutes
Subtitles: Spanish, French, English SDH
Closed-Captioned: N/A
4K Ultra HD™ Format: 2160p Ultra High Definition 16x9 (2.39:1) Presentation
Blu-ray™ Format: 1080p High Definition 16x9 (2.39:1) Presentation 
DVD Format: 16x9 (2.39:1) Presentation 
4K Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio
Blu-ray Audio:  English Dolby Atmos, English Descriptive Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio
DVD Audio:  English 5.1 Dolby Audio, English Descriptive Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio
Slow and Steady Wins the 4K Race - January 2024 4K UHD Blu-ray Shopping Guide

After an exciting (and expensive) holiday frame of terrific new and back catalog 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases, January gives us something of a breather. Typically January isn't a very busy month for new releases as studios and labels reset after a slew of big title drops and sales. 2024 starts out slow, but then gradually picks up steam - and if what we're hearing about '24 bares out, it's going to be a wild year! So let's get started

January 2024 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray Shopping Guide 

January 2nd - 4K UHD Releases 

In typical fashion, the first week of the year is pretty slow. In fact, we only have one new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release pegged for this week, but it's a heck of an upgrade at that. 

 


January 9th - 4K UHD Releases

And true to form, momentum picks up with a modern sports drama classic, two of the best thrillers ever made... and an Uwe Boll movie? What a weird world of collecting we live in! 

     

 


January 16th - 4K UHD Releases 

Here's where the release train starts picking up more steam. Studios are getting out bigger, more interesting titles, and the independent labels are starting to slip in some new exciting releases.  

      

   


January 23rd - 4K UHD Releases 

While this frame isn't jam-packed, full of new titles, it has an interestingly eclectic offering. KLSC really digs for a couple interesting upgrades for the format, especially a kid-friendly Schwarzenegger flick. 

       


January 30th - 4K UHD Releases 

After a few weeks of building, the final week of January is where the rubber really meets the road. We see big releases from Arrow. Big releases from Kino Lorber Studio Classics among others that will surely require a little financial finagling to acquire everything right out of the gate. 

     

     

   

And that's the news that's fit to print for this month. We expect some last-minute releases to get announced - there are a few big ones coming out in the UK that haven't been announced stateside. When/If there are any more new news drops we'll update our listings ASAP! 

New Year, New Discs - HDD's Final 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide (of 2023) - Week of Dec. 31

 Happy 2024 everyone, or rather it will be 2024 come Monday.  Extra Dry. Frigid. Antarctica type conditions describe the release calendar this week. And a fun fact, the largest desert on the planet is actually Antarctica with only 2 inches of precipitation a year.

 Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 31 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of December 31st - January 6th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

 There is just one title in this category this week, The Apu Trilogy from The Criterion Collection. I cannot fluff this one up, I know nothing about it except that if it fits your interest, it's a Criterion release, go for it!

 

 Next week, we beging to ramp up, if ever so slowly, with Blood Simple, Bloodrayne and Varsity Blues.

 

Blu-ray releases-

 Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases? NOTHING, but that's OK, Apu Trilogy came out from Criterion in 2015.

 LionsGate has a 2023 crime/mystery film titled The Marsh King's Daughter.

 

 Universal has new comedy this week, The Holdovers. Bryan rates this one pretty high, check it out.

 

 If you were a boutique label, this week would be the time to pounce with a title release.

 Shout Factory brings us Chuck Norris action with Forced Vengeance.

 

 The lone anime title this week is The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie.

 

 MGM has two catalog releases for us, Popi and Romantic Comedy.

 Fret not at this pithy of titles, Imprint Films' December batch of titles is available at Amazon US this week, they include:

 Things to do to pass the time when you are not watching a movie on your big screen or perusing High-Def Digest's Site? Glad you asked. You can visit us on FaceBook or on our YouTube Channel. The latter has some interesting videos that you may have seen when reading our reviews or news stories.

 I have a few music video suggestions while I am at it. Some days I want pop music, other days dance, or even metal.  Did you know Michael Jackson's Thriller and Beat It Videos got official 4K remasters? When you watch Beat It, take a close look at the pool tables in the pool hall. With the Thriller video there is minimal banding, 100% most likely due to the compression requirements of YouTube. If you have the ability to play videos in the AV1 codec the quality is a little bit better.

 

 

 

And then if ya want to listen to some loud and heavy stuff, check the group State of Mine. This video (Careless Whisper), Devil Went Down To Georgia, Thunder Rolls (Third Verse Edition), In The Air Tonight and more:

 

 

 And remember the Cranberries? Here's is a loud and heavy cover album from another metal group!

 

 Let's also remember THIS happens this week!! Looks like I will be re-upping based on what I have seen thus far.

 

Notable announcements from last week:

 Kino has updated a bunch of upcoming 4K titles with street dates and details, as well as a handful of other surprises. I know, the suspense is killing you right? Try Rampage (1987), Leviathan, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Fear and Desire and The Last Castle.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



Reviews

The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.