Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One” and More DVD/Blu-ray New Releases

Are you ready to play? Well, press play, actually, because you’re going to want to watch this week’s DVD and Blu-ray releases ASAP! This week’s offerings include Steven Spielberg’s latest blockbuster, a John Carpenter cult classic, an assortment of 1990s comedies, and much more. Which of these will you want to watch? Here’s your turn to find out!

Ready Player One

In the mid-21st century, teenager Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) was just another denizen of a blighted Earth who sought escape from the world via the immersive virtual reality realm called OASIS. Upon the death of OASIS’ developer (Mark Rylance), it’s revealed that he bequeathed the program–and his fortune–to whoever could find the Easter Egg hidden within…and Wade jumps into the frenzied scramble of gamers for the prize. Steven Spielberg’s colorful, reference-packed fantasy based on Ernest Cline’s best-seller co-stars Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Simon Pegg.

In the Mouth of Madness

Insurance investigator John Trent (Sam Neill) was tasked to look into a Manhattan publishing house’s claim that its star author–cult horror scribe Sutter Cane (Jurgen Prochnow)–had gone missing. Following his slim leads to New England, he winds up in an isolated town that’s supposed to be solely exist in Cane’s prose…and the inexplicable terrors only mount from there. John Carpenter’s eerie excursion co-stars Charlton Heston, Julie Carmen, David Warner.

Dagon

“Re-Animator” auteurs Stuart Gordon and Dennis Paoli dip once more into the oeuvre of horror master H.P. Lovecraft, in this terrifying tale. When their yacht crashes on a reef, a young couple (Ezra Godden, Raquel Meroño) becomes trapped in a strange fishing village on the Spanish coast where the bizarre locals seem to have an inhuman link to a long dormant sea god. Francisco Rabal, Macarena Gómez, Brendan Price also star.

Tiger by the Tail

Returning home from the Vietnam War, Steve Michaelis (Christopher George) not only finds his brother has been robbed and killed, but he’s been falsely accused of the crimes. He turns to socialite and ex-girlfriend Rita Armstrong (Tippi Hedren) for help, and together they must put their own lives at risk as they attempt to catch the real murderer and clear Steve’s name. Dean Jagger, Glenda Farrell, and Charo also star in this fast-moving thriller.

Mr. Destiny

Larry Burrows (James Belushi) believes that if he hadn’t struck out during a high school championship baseball game, his entire life would have been better. An encounter with an angelic stranger (Michael Caine) gives him the chance to see what things would have been like had he won the big game. But Larry soon discovers that his new life may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Delightful fantasy/comedy in the manner of “It’s a Wonderful Life” also stars Linda Hamilton, Jon Lovitz, Rene Russo.

Taking Care of Business

Funny fable starring Jim Belushi as Jimmy Dworski, a Chicago con–and devoted Cubs fan–who busts out of jail in order to see his beloved team play in the World Series. Along the way, he swipes the personal planner of ad exec Spencer Barnes (Charles Grodin) and assumes his identity, living the Malibu life and romancing the boss’s daughter. But what happens when Jimmy and Spencer come face to face? With Anne De Salvo, Loryn Locklin, and Hector Elizondo; co-written by J.J. Abrams.

The Con Is On

Beating it out of London after blowing the proceeds of their last score, grifter couple Harriet and Peter Fox (Uma Thurman, Tim Roth) head to Los Angeles, looking for a make-good by stealing valuable jewelry from Peter’s film star ex Jackie (Alice Eve). Can they pull it off before the lethal lady gang boss (Maggie Q) they stiffed catches up with them? Throwback, three-years-shelved caper farce also stars Sofia Vergara, Stephen Fry, Crispin Glover, Parker Posey. AKA: “The Brits Are Coming.”