All News

The latest news on all things 4k Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Gear.
Turbine Scares Up Renfield and Pearl 4K UHD SteelBooks for December 2023

The holiday season is about to get downright creepy!


Thanks to German label Turbine Medien, fans of the action-packed horror comedy Renfield starring Nicolas Cage as a delightfully unhinged Dracula and Pearl starring a delightfully unhinged Mia Goth will be getting the full 4K Dolby Vision / Dolby Atmos treatment this December. Firm release date hasn't been established yet, but they are for sure coming our way - and they're up for pre-order! Also fun for everyone, the artwork for both SteelBooks is fantastic - staying true to the original theatrical art and Renfield even sports a slipcover! 

Renfield - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

 

 

Expect Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos audio for this one along with the following bonus features:

  • Audio commentary with producer Samantha Nisenboim, screenwriter Ryan Ridley and other team members
  • Eight removed and extended scenes (HD, 17 min.)
  • Alternative Takes (HD, 3 min.)
  • Featurette "Dracula Uncaged" about Nicolas Cage as Dracula (HD, 5 min.)
  • Featurette "Monsters & Humans" behind the scenes of RENFIELD (HD, 12 min.)
  • Featurette "Stages of Rejuvenation" about the transformation of Dracula (HD, 6 min.)
  • Featurette "Flesh & Blood" about the splatter effects (HD, 5 min.)
  • Featurette "Dirty Fights" about the stunts (HD, 6 min.)
  • Featurette "The Making of a Distant Scene" about Renfield's dance (HD, 3 min.)
  • Trailers & Spots from Germany & USA

Pearl - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook

 

 

And like Renfield Ti West's Pearl will debut with Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos audio along with these bonus features:

  • The making of PEARL - Featurette incl. interviews with Mia Goth, Ti West, Tandi Wright and David Corenswet* (HD, 11 min.)
  • Time After Time - Featurette about the differences to X in the equipment of the film* (HD, 4 min.)
  • Teaser/trailer from USA and Germany

Now since these two are a couple months out from release, it'll be interesting to see if Turbine offers up MediaBook packaging options later down the road like they did with The Black Phone a few weeks ago. Again we don't have firm release date, but we do know they're coming in December and they are both up for pre-order! 

Happy collecting!

Say Your Prayers... The Nun II Arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray November 14

Warner Brothers' horror sequel in "The Conjuring" universe will scare the devil out of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray discs for November 14. Digital will be available on October 3.

Read our theatrical review here.

1956 – France. A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun.

The Nun II - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
The Nun II - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

The Nun II - Blu-ray
The Nun II
 

Both Blu-ray packages will include Dolby Atmos soundtracks and supplements will include: 

  • Demons in Paradise – featurette (5:35)
  • Handcrafter Nightmares – featurette (7:28)

Pre-orders for The Nun II on Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray are live and here is the full press release:


 

“A gripping and tense, unholy trinity of terror”

Forbes / Simon Thompson

 

 

The Nun II

 

Sequel to the 2018 supernatural horror film arrives for

Premium Digital Ownership on October 3

 

4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on November 14

 

 

Burbank, CA, September 28, 2023 – Prepare for the next terrifying chapter in “The Conjuring” universe, when “The Nun II” from New Line Cinema arrives for purchase Digitally at home on October 3. The film is directed by Michael Chaves (“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It”) and stars Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, and Bonnie Aarons, returning in their roles from the first film.  The film will also be available to purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on November 14.

  • On October 3, “The Nun II” will be available for early Premium Digital Ownership at home for $24.99 and for 48-hour rental via PVOD for $19.99 SRP on participating digital platforms where you purchase movies, including Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu, and more.

 

  • On November 14, The Nun II” will be available to own on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. The Nun II” will also continue to be available to own in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers.

Along with Farmiga, Bloquet and Aarons, “The Nun II” also stars Storm Reid and Anna Popplewell, surrounded by an ensemble cast of international talent.

The Nun II” is produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, with Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Gary Dauberman, Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Michael Polaire serving as executive producers.

The screenplay is by Ian Golding & Richard Naing and Akela Cooper from a story by Cooper, based on characters by James Wan & Gary Dauberman.

 

 

Synopsis:

1956 – France.  A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun.

 

DIGITAL, 4K AND BLU-RAY ELEMENTS

The Nun II” Premium Digital Ownership, 4K UHD and Blu-ray contain the following special features:  

  • Demons in Paradise – featurette (5:35)
  • Handcrafter Nightmares – featurette (7:28)

 

BASICS

 

Premium Digital Ownership: October 3, 2023

PVOD: October 3, 2023

4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: November 14, 2023

 

4K Languages: Parisian French, English, Latin Spanish

4K Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French 

BD Languages: Parisian French, English, Latin Spanish

BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

DVD Languages: Parisian French, English, Latin Spanish

DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

 

Running Time: 110 minutes

Rating: R for action/violence, some bloody images, language and brief suggestive material

 

 

DVD: DLBY/DGTL

Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD

4K UHD: ATMOS TrueHD

 

PRODUCT                                                                                        ERP

4K UHD + Digital                                                                              $29.99

Blu-ray + Digital                                                                                 $24.99

DVD                                                                                                   $19.99

 

THE CREDITS

 

New Line Cinema brings you the horror thriller “The Nun II,” the next chapter in the story of “The Nun,” the highest grossing entry in the juggernaut $2 billion “The Conjuring” Universe.

1956 – France. A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun.

Taissa Farmiga (“The Nun,” “The Gilded Age”) returns as Sister Irene, joined by Jonas Bloquet (“Tirailleurs,” “The Nun”), Storm Reid (“The Last of Us,” “The Suicide Squad”), Anna Popplewell (“Fairytale,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” trilogy) and Bonnie Aarons (reprising her role from “The Nun”), surrounded by an ensemble cast of international talent.

Michael Chaves (“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It”) directs, from a screenplay by Ian Goldberg & Richard Naing (“Eli,” “The Autopsy of Jane Doe”) and Akela Cooper (“M3GAN,” “Malignant”), with a story by Cooper, based on characters created by James Wan & Gary Dauberman.

The Safran Company’s Peter Safran and Atomic Monster’s James Wan produce, continuing their collaboration as filmmakers on all of the previous “Conjuring” films. “The Nun II” is executive produced by Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Gary Dauberman, Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Michael Polaire.

Joining Chaves behind the camera are director of photography Tristan Nyby (“The Dark and the Wicked”), production designer Stéphane Cressend (“Les Vedettes,” “The French Dispatch”), editor Gregory Plotkin (2022’s “Scream,” “Get Out”), visual effects producer Sophie A. Leclerc (“Finch,” “Lucy”) and costume designer Agnès Béziers (“Oxygen,” “The Breitner Commando”), with composer Marco Beltrami (2022’s “Scream,” ”Venom: Let There Be Carnage”) providing the score.

The Conjuring” Universe is the highest grossing horror franchise in history with $2+ billion worldwide. Globally, four of “The Conjuring” Universe titles have earned more than $300 million worldwide each (“The Nun,” $366 million; “The Conjuring 2,” $322 million; “The Conjuring,” $320 million; “Annabelle: Creation,” $307 million), and all seven have each grossed more than $200 million. “The Nun” is the top-earning film in the franchise, with more than $366 million worldwide.

New Line Cinema presents an Atomic Monster / Safran Company production, “The Nun II,” distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.ment programming.

Slight Change In Plan - Star Trek: The Picard Legacy Collection Blu-Ray Now Releasing November 7th

Now that the Paramount+ series is wrapped up and there's no chance of a new movie, Paramount's massive

Star Trek: Picard Legacy Collection gets an updated release date. 

I don't know about the rest of you, but October was already going to stretch the finances and the prospect of a huge multi-disc multi-series and multi-film collection with lots of swag was a bit daunting. No reason was given for the change in release slate, but I have to figure that Paramount saw how packed October was and decided to slide this one off closer to the holidays when gift-buying is at its highest and this sort of 54-disc set is a little more appealing. So if you already pre-ordered it, you only have to wait a month. If you haven't already ordered, well, now you've got some extra time to decide how best to finance it and where on your shelf you're going to store it. 

Star Trek: The Picard Legacy Collection

 

In this box you're getting Blu-rays of every season of The Next GenerationPicard, and all four of the Next Generation feature films. 4K's of the films would have been a nice touch, but this set also comes with some pretty slick swag items. Here's everything you can hope to find when you open the lid on that crimson box:

Star Trek: The Picard Legacy Collection
  • 35 hours of bonus features
  • Premium Packaging Containing 54 Blu-ray Discs and Exclusive Collectables 
  • All Series and Films Featuring Captain Jean-Luc Picard
    • Star Trek: The Next Generation® – Seasons 1-7
    • Star Trek: Picard – Seasons 1-3
    • Star Trek: Generations
    • Star Trek: First Contact
    • Star Trek: Nemesis
    • Star Trek: Insurrection 
  • Exclusive Collectables:
    • Magnetic Captain Picard Badges
    • 4 Custom Chateau Picard Drink Coasters 
    • Custom Deck of Playing Cards
    • Exclusive Version of The Wisdom of Picard, The Wisdom of Picard: The Legacy Collection Edition
      • Featuring New Cover Art
      • Including quotes from the latest seasons of Star Trek: Picard
Resident Evil Infects Home Video For A New 6-Film 4K UHD SteelBook Set November 21st

You can't keep a franchise in the Home Video grave for long. Resident Evil returns for a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 6-Film SteelBook!  

While fans of the franchise have been clamoring for single-title releases of the long-running Paul W.S. Anderson-helmed franchise, Sony Home Entertainment decided to go the 6-Film Collection SteelBook Dolby Vision upgrade route one last time. Since all of the films look like they're coming in packed with the same set of extras and Atmos audio tracks, the only apparent benefit would be Dolby Vision HDR over the previous HDR10 masters. Which if that's the case that's fine, but might not be enough to get folks to redip over the previous 4K Ultra HD Collection from 2020 

Resident Evil - Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook Collection 

Here's the full glory shot of the SteelBook set...

 

The set isn't up for pre-order yet, and we don't have a price point, when that info comes in we'll update our listing ASAP. 

Here's the full specs from the press release:

DISC DETAILS & BONUS MATERIALS
RESIDENT EVIL
4K ULTRA HD DISC
  • Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
  • Dolby Atmos + 5.1 audio
  • Special Feature:
    • Theatrical Trailer
BLU-RAY DISC
  • Feature presented in High Definition
  • 5.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • Cast and Filmmakers’ Commentary
    • Visual Effects Commentary
    • Alternate Ending with Director Paul W.S. Anderson’s Video Introduction
    • 12 Featurettes
    • “My Plague” Music Video by Slipknot
RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE
4K ULTRA HD DISC
  • Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
  • Dolby Atmos + 5.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • Theatrical and Extended Cuts of the Film
    • Theatrical Trailers
BLU-RAY DISC
  • Feature presented in High Definition
  • 5.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • Filmmaker Commentary
    • Cast Commentary
    • Writer / Producer Commentary
    • Deleted Scenes
    • “Game Over: Resident Evil Reanimated” Documentary
    • “Corporate Malfeasance” Featurette
    • “Game Babes” Featurette
    • “Symphony of Evil” Featurette
RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION
4K ULTRA HD DISC
  • Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
  • Dolby Atmos + 5.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • Resident Road Map: Reflections on the Future of the Series
    • Theatrical Trailers
BLU-RAY DISC
  • Feature presented in High Definition
  • 5.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • “Under the Umbrella” Picture-in-Picture
    • Filmmaker Commentary
    • Deleted Scenes
    • 4 Featurettes
RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE
4K ULTRA HD DISC
  • Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
  • Dolby Atmos + 5.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • Alice Activated
    • Theatrical Trailers
BLU-RAY DISC
  • Feature presented in High Definition
  • 5.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • “Undead Vision” Picture-in-Picture
    • Filmmaker Commentary
    • Deleted and Extended Scenes
    • Outtakes
    • 7 Featurettes
 
RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION
4K ULTRA HD DISC
  • Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
  • Dolby Atmos + 5.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • Evil Goes Global
    • Undead Retribution
    • Theatrical Trailers
BLU-RAY DISC
  • Feature presented in High Definition
  • 5.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • Director and Cast Commentary
    • Filmmaker Commentary
    • Deleted and Extended Scenes
    • Outtakes
    • Project Alice: The Interactive Database
    • 8 Featurettes
 
RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER
4K ULTRA HD DISC
  • Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
  • Dolby Atmos + 7.1 audio
  • Special Features:
    • NEWLY ADDED: Directing The Final Chapter
    • NEWLY ADDED: Rola as Cobalt
    • NEWLY ADDED: From Saints to Sinners
    • NEWLY ADDED: From Script to Screen: The Making of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
    • Maximum Carnage: Best Kills
    • Creature Chronology
    • Theatrical Trailers
BLU-RAY DISC
  • Feature presented in High Definition
  • 7.1 audio.
  • Special Features:
    • Retaliation Mode with Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich
    • 3 Featurettes

CAST AND CREW
RESIDENT EVIL
Written and Directed By: Paul W.S. Anderson
Produced by: Bernd Eichinger, Samuel Hadida, Jeremy Bolt, Paul W.S. Anderson
Based upon Capcom’s Video Game “Resident Evil”
Co-Producer: Chris Symes
Executive Producers: Robert Kulzer, Victor Hadida, Daniel Kletzky, Yoshiki Okamoto
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius, James Purefoy, Martin Crewes, Colin Salmon

RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE
Directed By: Alexander Witt
Produced by: Jeremy Bolt, Paul W.S. Anderson, Don Carmody
Written By: Paul W.S. Anderson
Based upon Capcom’s Videogame “Resident Evil”
Executive Producers: Bernd Eichinger, Samuel Hadida, Robert Kulzer, Victor Hadida
Associate Producers: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Dan Kletzky
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Oded Fehr, Thomas Kretschmann, Jared Harris, Mike Epps
 
RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION
Directed By: Russell Mulcahy
Produced by: Bernd Eichinger, Samuel Hadida, Robert Kulzer, Jeremy Bolt, Paul W.S. Anderson
Written By: Paul W.S. Anderson
Based upon Capcom’s Videogame “Resident Evil”
Executive Producers: Martin Moszkowicz, Victor Hadida, Kelly Van Horn
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Ali Larter, Iain Glen, Ashanti, Mike Epps
 
RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE
Written and Directed By: Paul W.S. Anderson
Produced by: Jeremy Bolt, Paul W.S. Anderson, Robert Kulzer, Don Carmody, Bernd Eichinger, Samuel Hadida
Based upon Capcom’s Videogame “Resident Evil”
Executive Producers: Martin Moszkowicz, Victor Hadida
Associate Producer: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Spencer Locke, Boris Kodjoe, Wentworth Miller
 
RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION
Written and Directed By: Paul W.S. Anderson
Produced by: Jeremy Bolt, Paul W.S. Anderson, Robert Kulzer, Don Carmody, Samuel Hadida
Based upon Capcom’s Videogame “Resident Evil”
Executive Producer: Martin Moszkowicz
Associate Producer: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
Co- Producer: Victor Hadida
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Kevin Durand, Sienna Guillory, Shawn Roberts, Aryana Engineer, Colin Salmon, Johann Urb, Li Bingbing
 
RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER
Written and Directed By: Paul W.S. Anderson
Produced by: Jeremy Bolt, Paul W.S. Anderson, Robert Kulzer, Samuel Hadida
Based upon Capcom’s Videogame “Resident Evil”
Executive Producers: Martin Moszkowicz, Victor Hadida
Associate Producers: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Bernhard Thür
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Shawn Roberts, Ruby Rose, Edin Macken, William Levy, Iain Glen
 
SPECS

Run Time:

  • Resident Evil: Approx. 100 minutes
  • Resident Evil: Apocalypse: Approx. 94 minutes
    •  Extended Cut: Approx. 98 minutes
  • Resident Evil: Extinction: Approx. 94 minutes
  • Resident Evil: Afterlife: Approx. 97 minutes
  • Resident Evil: Retribution: Approx. 96 minutes
  • Resident Evil: The Final Chapter: Approx. 107 minutes

Rating:

  • Resident Evil: R for strong sci-fi/horror violence, language, and brief sexuality/nudity
  • Resident Evil: Apocalypse: Theatrical Cut: R for non-stop violence, language, and some nudity
    •  Resident Evil: Apocalypse Extended Cut: Unrated
  • Resident Evil: Extinction: R for strong horror violence throughout and some nudity
  • Resident Evil: Afterlife: R for sequences of strong violence and language
  • Resident Evil: Retribution: R for sequences of strong violence throughout
  • Resident Evil: The Final Chapter: R for sequences of violence throughout


4K UHD Features Picture: All films presented at 2160p Ultra High Definition resolution with Dolby Vision; aspect ratios vary
4K UHD Features Audio: Dolby Atmos immersive audio + DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio tracks (DTS-HD MA 7.1 for RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER)
Blu-ray Discs: All films presented at 1080p High Definition resolution; aspect ratios and audio configurations vary

How Deep Is Your Wallet? 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide - September 24, 2023

 Hope you got rather deep pockets because this week is ginornmous for both 4K and blu-ray categories. It's nearly the perfect storm. All that is missing are some large box-sets.

 Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 17 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of September 24th - September 30th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

 OK, let's kick off first with Import Monday. First from Arrow Video, The Psycho Collection. Where Universal released only the original film to 4K, Arrow has the three sequels in glorious 4K as well. Note: I took one for the team and imported this, so Universal will probably announce a similar set next week! My copy arrives Monday.

 

 Next, although Kino Lorber did an excellent job with this title, we do get in import as part of Eureka's 'Masters of Cinema Series' for Touch of Evil. Right off the bat we see this edition has physical swag included, similar to an Arrow Video Fat-Pack. The on-disc features probably vary some, still worth a look.

 Closing out Import Monday, StudioCanal offers up a 5-disc edition of The Wicker Man under their 'Vintage Classics' label. I took one for the team on this one too, but thus far LionsGate is only matching it with a SteelBook 2-disc swagless release in October, so the import is probably the most comprehensive (minus the digital code).

 

 Domestic Tuesday begins with new releases, and first this week we have Disney Pixar's Elemental. And following their current unusual release pattern, the Standard 4K is currently only available via the Disney Movie Club, but there is a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Walmart Exclusive.  Again, Target seems to have lost interest in physical media, no gallery book edition, no art card edition, nada.

     

 

 Staying with Disney, their first of a recent wave of surprise Disney+ releases, Loki: The Complete First Season comes to SteelBook this week.

 

 Paramount this week is offering Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Season Three to 4K disc.

 On to catalog titles, Vinegar Syndrome's general release for A Blade in the Dark is available via Amazon (and other retailers).

 Arrow Video offers up a fat-pack release of Carlito's Way. If you want the more traditional cover art, you can get the Arrow Store Limited Edition instead.

 

 Teen horror sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is available via Sony Pictures.

 

 Paramount has broken up the Scream Factory trilogy set and brought us Halloween H20: 20 Years Later as a single film SteelBook release. What this means for the other two movies is currently unknown.

 Sony has Reprint SteelBooks in case you missed out the first go round, titles include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, plus The Equalizer, The Fifth Element and Ghostbusters & Ghostbusters II.

 Criterion Collectors can pick up Moonage Daydream starring the late David Bowie this week.

 

 A label we don't see very often, Blue Underground releases The Girl from Rio this week, and our review says it is highly recommended.

 Happy belated (or early) Valentines Day from Scream Factory with My Bloody Valentine.

 

 Under their Shout Select label, Natural Born Killers is available as a Standard Edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. This might be the first "Select" release I have seen with a slipcover.

 

 How about a pair of great films from Kino Lorber? First a WWII masterpiece starring Burt Lancaster, The Train. And second, Clint Eastwood stars in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.

 

 Next week no reprieve on your wallets,  It Came from you know where, Hulu original Prey, more monsters, more 4K upgrades and more Disney 100 SteelBooks. Oh, and an appearance from Turbine Medien on Friday.

 

Blu-ray releases-

 Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K titles include Disney Pixar's Elemental, Disney+ original Loki: The Complete First Season, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Season Three and Moonage Daydream from Criterion.

 Other TV on disc this week includes Interview with the Vampire: Season One, Mayfair Witches: Season One, Pennyworth: The Complete Third Season and Pennyworth: The Complete Series.

 

 The Warner Archive has a majority of their September titles pushed back a month, but what is available this week is Cats Don’t Dance, Saratoga (1937) and Westward the Women.

 

 Kino Lorber has Death Wish 4: The Crackdown and Death Wish V: The Face of Death. Completionists take note.

 La Bamba gets a Criterion Collection release.

 

 Let's call this one a double-tease because they're blu-ray releases and not 4K releases, and I have questions. Just a few weeks ago Sony gave us a 4K release for the original Insidious movie, this week they give us the newest movie in that series,  Insidious: The Red Door on blu-ray. This week in the 4K section above, we get the first sequel,  I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, but the next sequel, I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer is available on blu-ray only. Don't get me wrong, Sony has been a very good supporter of the 4K format, it's just cases like this that makes me scratch my head a bit.

 From Universal, 2023 crime/drama A Thousand and One. Also look for Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken, which again, 4K buyers have an insatiable appetite, and this one would probably look very good in that format.

 

 If you were waiting for the next release, wait no more, Star Trek: Prodigy: Season 1 - Episodes 11 - 20 comes this week via Paramount.

 

 LionsGate's action/thriller this week is The Engineer.

 Anime highlights this week include Gatchaman Complete Collection, Lonely Castle in the Mirror, Rent-A-Girlfriend: Season 2 and Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon - Season 2, Part 2, which is available as a Standard Edition and as a Limited Edition.

 

 

Notable announcements from last week:

 Warner Bros has announced thelatest DCU film Blue Beetle will be available October 31 in all the various formats and retailer exclusives. I dig the Walmart SteelBook and the Target Exclusives the best, but unfortunately neither of them include a 4K release.

 Criterion Collection's December slate has been announced. It doesn't have a large quantity of releases, but there might be something that interests you!

 Hey, act fast if you want an upgraded 4K SteelBook release for M3GAN. The UK has it and supplies are very limited.

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?



4K & Blu-ray Disc News Round-up: You Don't Mess with the Hat...

It's time once again to wrap up the week with another abridged version of the latest news.  As always, be sure to check out our release calendars as new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray titles are being added nearly every day and there's just too many of them to include everything here (especially if you are an anime fan).

Starting things off is the December slate from The Criterion Collection has been revealed and it appears to be a light month. This wave includes Blast of Silence and The Red Balloon and Other Stories: Five Films by Albert Lamorisse on Blu-ray, as well as Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray.

Blast of Silence  The Red Balloon and Other Stories  Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Warner Archive has announced their October release slate. The titles include: Mad City (1997), In Love and War (1996), Rapa Nui (1994), The Devil Doll (1936), Double Trouble (1967), and Dance, Fools, Dance (1931). All of them are available on October 31. As a side note, Warner Archive is also prepping Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2 for November.

Warner's latest DC superhero flick Blue Beetle is set to release on home video on October 31. There will be a 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray, plus each will have a retailer exclusive steelbook as well. Check out those details in this post.

Severin has revealed two upcoming cult classics for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray: Zombie Holocaust (includes Doctor Butcher M.D.) and Count Dracula (1970). They've even got Cuadecuc, Vampir / Umbracle on the way as well, however only for Blu-ray. Look for these on October 24.

Zombie Holocaust 4K   Count Dracula 4k

Sony is bringing Apple TV's For All Mankind: Season One to Blu-ray on November 14. The science fiction series is created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi. The studio also just added Justified: City Primeval: Season One - which brings back Timothy Olyphant in his iconic role as Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens - to Blu-ray on the same date.

Paramount is set to beam the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on December 5. You can read all about that coverage here.

Turbine has the world Blu-ray debut of The Exorcist spoof, Repossessed, starring Leslie Nielson and Linda Blair available for purchase next Friday. Bob Logan's 1990 comedy will be available in four exclusive special edition mediabooks.

And in case you overlooked them late last week, we also covered the announcement for Shout Factory's collector's edition of Fargo on 4K UHD Blu-ray arriving November 7, as well as Studiocanal UK's 4K UHD Blu-ray of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai starring Forest Whitaker hitting stores on October 23. The latter will also have a SteelBook.

That's all we have for now, but the churning machine is always going so tune in next time when we have more things to report and have yourselves a wonderful weekend!

Blu-ray Comes to the Motor City in Justified: City Primeval Season One November 14th

You can't keep a good lawman down for long. After the thrilling and satisfying conclusion of Justified, Timothy Olyphant dusts off the white hat for one last rodeo. 

With just about every series or film getting some sort of legacy revival, Olyphant and friends returns for FX's Justified: City Primeval, based on the unrelated but excellent novel from Elmore Leonard. What's most intriguing about this announcement is that what was apparently supposed to be a limited series event may be getting another spin with this Blu-ray being dubbed "Season one." Considering the breadth of Leonard's novels and characters, Kentecky's finest Rayland Givens could pop up in any of them. If we're going to keep bringing back Michael Keaton, I say we bring back his Ray Nicolette from Jackie Brown and Out of Sight. "Givens and Nicolette - they're cops!" 

Justified: City Primeval Season One - Blu-ray

 

We don't have a list of bonus features yet, and the Amazon listing is up but not yet up for pre-order. Here's the disc specs as we know 'em from the press release:
Having left the hollers of Kentucky 15 years ago, Raylan Givens now lives in Miami, a walking anachronism balancing his life as a U.S. Marshal and part-time father of a 15-year-old girl. His hair is greyer, his hat is dirtier, and the road in front of him is suddenly a lot shorter than the road behind.
 
A chance encounter on a desolate Florida highway sends him to Detroit. There he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, aka The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent, sociopathic desperado who’s already slipped through the fingers of Detroit’s finest once and aims to do so again. Mansell’s lawyer, formidable Motor City native Carolyn Wilder, has every intention of representing her client, even as she finds herself caught in between cop and criminal, with her own game afoot as well. These three characters set out on a collision course in classic Elmore Leonard fashion, to see who makes it out of the City Primeval alive.

CAST AND CREW
Executive Producers: Dave Andron, Michael Dinner, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Graham Yost, Peter Leonard, Timothy Olyphant, Taylor Elmore, Chris Provenzano, VJ Boyd

Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis, Vondie Curtis Hall, Adelaide Clemens, Marin Ireland, Victor Williams, with Norbert Leo Butz, and Boyd Holbrook
Developed for Television by: Dave Andron & Michael Dinner
Based on: “City Primeval” and “Fire in the Hole” by Elmore Leonard

SPECS

Run Time: Approx. 372 Mins.
Rating: Not Rated

Blu-ray™: 1080p High Definition / 2.00:1 • Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Mastered in High Definition • Color
DVD: 2.00:1 Anamorphic Widescreen • Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Color

Blue Beetle Powers Up 4K UHD and Blu-ray on October 31

Warner Brothers brings the fan-favorite DC superhero Blue Beetle to home video on Halloween with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (and Best Buy exclusive 4K SteelBook) as well as a Blu-ray (with Walmart exclusive SteelBook). Even Target has a Blu-ray exclusive with art cards here. Digital arrives September 26.

Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.

Blue Beetle - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Blue Beetle - Blu-ray

Blue Beetle - Target Exclusive Blu-ray

Blue Beetle - Best Buy 4K Ultra HD SteelBook

Blue Beetle - Walmart Exclusive Blu-ray SteelBook

The 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases will have Dolby Atmos soundtracks and bonus features include: 

  • “Generations: Blue Beetle” – 4-part documentary
    • Told in distinct chapters, explore the journeys of actors and filmmakers bringing “Blue Beetle” to the big screen for the first time ever. Audiences will be immersed in the POV of filmmakers who showcase their experiences on set and in their creative studios making the story of this DC character a reality.
  • Nana Knows Best – featurette
    • Witness Nana's transformation from an adorable 'abuelita' into a machine gun-wielding revolutionary, and stop in for a few of her most fun moments on set throughout production.
  • Scarab Vision – 2-part featurette
    • Xolo Maridueña hosts this series of scene study walk throughs that showcases how the scarab works and the role it plays in some of Blue Beetle's most epic moments.

 

Pre-orders for Blue Beetle on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray are up now and here is the full press release:


Blue Beetle is highly entertaining thanks to its irresistible family at its center”

DEADLINE / Pete Hammond

 

Blue Beetle is a breath of fresh air.”

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER / David Rooney

 

“Refreshing and inspired.”

USA TODAY / Brian Truitt

 

“Thrillingly action-packed”

IGN / Alyssa Mora

 

 

Blue Beetle

The DC Super Hero’s First Feature Film

Debuts For Premium Digital Ownership on September 26

 

4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on October 31

 

Burbank, CA, September 20, 2023 – Prepare for the action-packed, modern origin story that takes a fresh, fun look at the Super Hero genre in a can’t-miss spectacle of vibrant visuals, humor and heart when “Blue Beetle” arrives for purchase Digitally at home on September 26. The film is directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (“Charm City Kings”) with Xolo Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) starring in the DC Super Hero’s first-ever standalone feature film. The film will also be available to purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on October 31.

  • On September 26, “Blue Beetle will be available for early Premium Digital Ownership at home for $24.99 and for 48-hour rental via PVOD for $19.99 SRP on participating digital platforms where you purchase movies, including Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu, and more.

 

  • On October 31, Blue Beetle will be available to own on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. Blue Beetle will also continue to be available to own in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers.

The Blue Beetle ensemble cast also includes Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”).

Blue Beetle is written Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, based on characters from DC. The film is produced by John Rickard and Zev Foreman and executive produced by Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant. 

Synopsis:

Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.

 

DIGITAL, 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS

Blue Beetle Premium Digital Ownership, 4K UHD and Blu-ray contain the following special features:  

  • “Generations: Blue Beetle” – 4-part documentary
    • Told in distinct chapters, explore the journeys of actors and filmmakers bringing Blue Beetle to the big screen for the first time ever. Audiences will be immersed in the POV of filmmakers who showcase their experiences on set and in their creative studios making the story of this DC character a reality.
  • Nana Knows Best – featurette
    • Witness Nana's transformation from an adorable 'abuelita' into a machine gun-wielding revolutionary, and stop in for a few of her most fun moments on set throughout production.
  • Scarab Vision – 2-part featurette
    • Xolo Maridueña hosts this series of scene study walk throughs that showcases how the scarab works and the role it plays in some of Blue Beetle's most epic moments.

 

Consumer Products

From toys and collectibles to apparel and home goods, WBDGCP’s Blue Beetle merchandise comes from premier licensees around the world and includes exclusives direct from Warner Bros. to fans through its DC Shop. Here are just some of the not-to miss “Blue Beetle” products for every member of la familia, designed exclusively for the official DC Shop: Blue Beetle Scarab Exclusive New Era Hat, Blue Beetle I Love Palmera City Exclusive T-shirt, “Blue Beetle Big Belly Burger Logo Exclusive T-shirt and more!

 

 

BASICS

 

Premium Digital Ownership: September 26, 2023

4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 31, 2023

 

4K Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish

4K Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French 

BD Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish

BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

DVD Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish

DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

 

Running Time: 127 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language, and some suggestive references

DVD: DLBY/DGTL

Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD

 

PRODUCT                                                                                        ERP

4K UHD + Digital                                                                              $29.99

Blu-ray + Digital                                                                                 $24.99

DVD                                                                                                   $19.99

 

THE CREDITS

 

About “Blue Beetle

From Warner Bros. Pictures come the feature film “Blue Beetle,” marking the DC Super Hero’s first time on the big screen. The film, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, stars Xolo Maridueña in the title role as well as his alter ego, Jaime Reyes.

 

Starring alongside Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) are Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”).

Soto (“Charm City Kings,” “The Farm”) directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (“Miss Bala”), based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.

The director’s creative team behind the scenes includes director of photography Pawel Pogorzelski (“Midsommar,” “Hereditary”), production designer John Billington (“Bad Boys for Life”), editor Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2,” “The Lost City”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo (“Jojo Rabbit,” the “Thor” films), visual effects supervisor Kelvin McIlwain (“The Suicide Squad,” “Aquaman”) and composer Bobby Krlic (“Midsommar,” the “Snowpiercer” series).

 

A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, a Safran Company Production, “Blue Beetle” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Apple TV's For All Mankind: Season One Enters Blu-ray's Orbit on November 14

The first season of the Apple TV original science fiction series created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi comes to Blu-ray via Sony in a 4-Disc set on November 14.

Imagine a world where the global space race never ended. This thrilling “what if” take on history spotlights the high-stakes lives of NASA astronauts and their families.

For All Mankind: Season One 

For All Mankind: Season One 

For All Mankind: Season One Blu-ray includes 10 episodes on four discs and has a English 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack.  No supplements have been revealed at this time.  

Pre-orders for For All Mankind: Season One should be available in the coming days and here is the full press release:


THE FIRST SEASON OF THE ACCLAIMED SERIES
DEBUTS ON BLU-RAY DISC™
SEASON ONE
4-DISC SET AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 14TH 
SYNOPSIS
Imagine a world where the global space race never ended. This thrilling “what if” take on history spotlights the high-stakes lives of NASA astronauts and their families.

DISC DETAILS
BLU-RAY DISCS
  • 10 episodes presented in High Definition, split across 4 discs
  • 5.1 English audio on each episode
CAST AND CREW
Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Sarah Jones, Shantel VanSanten, Jodi Balfour, Wrenn Schmidt
Executive Producers: Ronald D. Moore, Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert, Maril Davis, Naren Shankar, Seth Gordon
Created by: Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, Ben Nedivi
 
SPECS
Run Time: Approx. 612 minutes 
Rating: Not Rated
Blu-ray Picture: 1080p Ultra High Definition, 2.00:1
Blu-ray Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA
 FOR MORE INFORMATION
Twitter: @SonyPicsHomeEnt
Instagram: @SonyPicturesHomeEntertainment 
Facebook: 
facebook.com/SonyPicturesHomeEntertainment 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sonypictures 
Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season Two Boldly Beaming to 4K UHD & Blu-Ray Dec. 5th

Boldly Beaming To Blu-ray and 4K, Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season Two Arrives In Time For The Holidays! 

Between Star Trek: Picard Season Three and these last two seasons of Strange New Worlds, the galaxy of Trek finally feels like it's in good hands, staying true to what made the various films and series great, but also boldly going in new directions. Including a damned entertaining song-and-dance episode! Now you can plan on adding this latest season to your 4K or Blu-ray shelf ahead of the holidays. Arriving on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with standard edition releases as well as nifty SteelBooks:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two
Blu-ray 

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two
Blu-ray SteelBook 

 

I know SteelBooks aren't everyone's bag, but I dig the alternate magnetic character cover cards so if you don't like Captain Pike's square-jawed mug you can swap him out for the more attractive Rebecca Romijn. But then the extra cool feature for both SteelBook sets is the "Subspace Rhapsody" poster! I'm genuinely over the moon they've really leaned into how fun that episode was. Sure it was a bit of high-camp for the series, but after so many years of Trek being taken so deathly seriously with massive convoluted conspiracy theory poppycock plots, I'll take that episode over Discovery any day. 

Here's what's coming in the set:

Prepare to explore Strange New Worlds with more than 2 hours of special features, including featurettes that take you behind the scenes of this remarkable series. Plus, get even more Strange New Worlds with deleted, extended, and alternate scenes, including an alternate take of the Klingon song from “Subspace Rhapsody.”

  • Producing Props
  • The Costumes Closet
  • The Gorn
  • Singing in Space
  • Exploring New Worlds
  • Deleted, Extended, and Alternate Scenes (Exclusive)

U.S. Rating:                   NR
Canada Rating:             PG
4K UHD Format:          4K Ultra HD in Dolby Vision with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French 5.1 Dolby Digital. Includes English SDH and French Subtitles
Blu-ray™ Format:        1080p HD with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French 5.1 Dolby Digital. Includes English SDH and French Subtitles

Reviews

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