Valentine’s Day will be upon us soon, so it’s fitting that you’ll love this batch of new DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD releases! Everything from recent theatrical releases to classics are now available, and here’s a rundown of what you’ll want to be watching next!
Encanto (2021)
Generations ago, Colombian refugee Alma Madrigal (voiced by María Cecilia Botero) established a mystical homestead that brought prosperity to her village–and bestowed incredible abilities upon her progeny. Now, both house and clan find their magic touch fading, and it falls to level-headed Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz)–the one Madrigal the blessing skipped–to find out why. Disney hit buoyed by songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda co-stars the voices of John Leguizamo, Wilmer Valderrama, Dianne Guerrero.
A Walk in the Sun (4K Definitive Restoration)(1945)
Terrific WWII drama from director Lewis Milestone follows one infantry platoon in battle from the time they land on an Italian beach to their bloody drive to destroy a bridge and claim an enemy-held farmhouse six miles inland. Dana Andrews stars as one of the outfit’s senior NCOs, who finds himself inheriting command of the dangerous mission. Top-notch cast also includes Richard Conte, John Ireland, Lloyd Bridges, Norman Lloyd, and Huntz Hall.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
It’s 1998, and the small town of Raccoon City becomes ground zero for the unscrupulous Umbrella Corporation’s zombie-creating experiments. Can estranged siblings Claire (Kaya Scodelario) and Chris Redfield (Robbie Amell), and a handful of others defeat the bloodthirsty hordes and escape the city? Based on the first two entries in the classic video game series, this thrilling reboot of the horror film franchise co-stars Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hopper, Avan Jogia.
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
For six weeks in 1969, Mount Morris Park hosted the Harlem Cultural Festival…and for nearly half a century afterward, some 40 hours of videotaped performance footage languished unseen. This striking documentary directed by Questlove considers the event’s inexplicable obscurity, as well as offering the contributions from Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, Sly and the Family Stone, The 5th Dimension, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Staple Singers, David Ruffin, Nina Simone, many more.
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
A strapped-for-cash Broadway revue gets a timely rescue from a young backer (Dick Powell) who’s awash in talent as well as funds…but the cast (Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell, Aline McMahon, and Ginger Rogers) have their questions about his motives. Busby Berkeley pulled out all the stops for classic numbers like “We’re in the Money” (dancers wearing giant coins), “Shadow Waltz” (hoop-skirted musicians with neon violins), and the racy “Pettin’ in the Park.” Ned Sparks, Warren William, Guy Kibbee co-star.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Albert Finney is Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in this classic Agatha Christie thriller. An American businessman (Richard Widmark) has been killed on board the famed transcontinental train, and it’s up to Poirot to uncover the murderer. Ingrid Bergman (who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar), Lauren Bacall, Anthony Perkins, Sean Connery, Jacqueline Bisset, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, and Vanessa Redgrave head the all-star cast; directed by Sidney Lumet.
Catwoman: Hunted (2022)
For feline felon Selina Kyle (voiced by Elizabeth Gillies), helping herself to the world’s most priceless emerald seemed like just another day at the office. Unfortunately, the criminal cabal known as Leviathan also had their designs on the gem–and now, in addition to pursuit by Batwoman (Stephanie Beatriz) and Interpol, she’s got to deal with a supervillain gauntlet including Black Mask, the Cheetah, Solomon Grundy, Cheshire, and more in this anime-style animated offering.
King Richard (2021)
By the mid-’80s, when his daughters were still of preschool age, tennis coach Richard Williams (Will Smith) had resolved that both would mature into professional stars. The determination with which he wheedled opportunities for them, and the pushback that his singular focus often engendered from the young Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton), and their mom Brandi (Aunjanue Ellis), propel this remarkable sports bio. Jon Bernthal, Tony Goldwyn, Dylan McDermott co-star.
Ghosts: Season One (2019)
When Alison Cooper (Charlotte Ritchie) inherited a decaying country manse from a distant relation, she and husband Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) took the plunge to convert it into a hotel. Two problems: First, the place is occupied by an oddball gaggle of phantoms who don’t want the intrusion. Second, thanks to a near-death experience, Alison can now see and hear them! Clever Britcom co-stars Martha Howe-Douglas, Matthew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond, Lolly Adefope, Katy Wix.
6 episodes on 1 disc.
La Dolce Vita (1960)
Wonderful Federico Fellini satire finds journalist Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni) putting his serious career aspirations aside to report on the shallow, jet-setting denizens of Rome. While writing his tabloid stories, Rubini encounters prostitutes, buxom actresses, religious fervor, and personal tragedy while trying make sense of the decadent lifestyle he has been seduced by. With Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée, Lex Barker, Yvonne Furneaux; music by Nino Rota.
Ghostriders (1987)
In the 1880s, Texas outlaw Frank Clements (Mike Ammons) and his gang are hanged for their crimes, the execution spearheaded by Rev. Thadeous Sutton (Bill Shaw). But a little thing like death won’t keep the evil Clements and his friends down, as they return a century later in order to exact ghostly vengeance on Sutton’s grandson (Shaw, again) and great-grandson (Jim Peters). Ricky Long, Cari Powell co-star in this spooky horror/western.
The Hating Game (2022)
For upbeat Lucy Hutton (Lucy Hale) and buttoned-down Joshua Templeman (Austin Stowell)–executive assistants to the big enchiladas at a Manhattan publisher–it seemed inevitable that their stylistic differences would morph into profound mutual loathing. Once they’re both up for the same promotion, the gloves come off…but will the competition yield feelings neither had expected? Romantic farce from the Sally Thorne novel co-stars Corbin Bernsen, Sakina Jaffrey.
Liar’s Moon (1981)
Set in a small Texas town in the 1940s, this powerful drama follows the unlikely romance of working class teen Jack Duncan (Matt Dillon) and banker’s daughter Ginny Peterson (Cindy Fisher). When they head off to Louisiana to get married, Jack and Ginny find their problems are just beginning, especially as dark secrets involving both of their families come back to haunt the young couple. With Hoyt Axton, Margaret Blye, and Broderick Crawford.
The Legend of the Stardust Brothers (1985)
The rivalrous frontmen for two scuffling bands–punk Shingo (Shingo Kubota) and new-waver Kan (Kanzuhiro Takagi)–get plucked from obscurity by record company mogul Atomic Minami (Kiyohiko Ozaki) to be packaged as a pretty-boy pop duo. With passed-over singer Marimo (Kyoko Togawa) recruited as their first rabid fan, their meteoric rise and fall is chronicled in this glitzy and infectious cult item; Issay also stars.
Miller’s Crossing (Criterion Collection)(1990)
A compelling, modern twist on the gangster genre, courtesy of Joel and Ethan Coen. Albert Finney is an Irish-American mob boss ready to go to war with a rival gangster, and Gabriel Byrne is a loyal lieutenant who tries to prevent the conflict, until a woman comes between them. Double- and triple-crosses abound in this violent tale of honor among thieves. With John Turturro, Marcia Gay Harden.
After We Fell (2021)
While the events of “After We Collided” found Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) winning back the affections of Tessa Young (Josephine Langford), all it took was her being offered a dream job–in Seattle–to roil the prospects of their future. Add the entreaties of her troubled father (Atanas Srebrev) wanting to reenter her life, and the heartbreaking drama continues in this third entry in the “Hessa” saga; Louise Lombard, Stephen Moyer, Mira Sorvino, Rob Estes, Chance Perdomo co-star.
School of Death (1975)
In late-19th-century London, a boarding school for orphaned teen girls was noted for its skill in turning its charges into reliable domestics. However, the true secret of the institution’s success lay with a horribly disfigured scientist who covertly lobotomized the young women into compliance. Creepy Spanish horror tale stars Dean Selmier, Sandra Mozarowsky, Norma Kastel, Victoria Vera.
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop (2021)
Charming mix of mystery and adventure for the whole family focuses on Elizabeth Willoughby (Nathalie Cox), an ancient civilization professor by trade, who is called upon to investigate an apparently ghostly presence in an old friend’s bookstore. Also a highly proficient martial artist and a capable strategist, Miss Willoughby’s penchant for perplexing puzzles will help her determine if her culprit is indeed a supernatural one. With Kelsey Grammer, Caroline Quentin, Bhavna Limbachia.
Apex (2021)
In a not very distant future, Jim Malone (Bruce Willis) will receive an island getaway–but he won’t be enjoying it, since Samuel Rainsford (Neal McDonough) is leading a pack of depraved sportsmen who’ve paid to hunt him like an animal. Armed with only his cunning against their tech, that might just be enough to turn the tables on his pursuers, in this sci-fi-tinged take on an oft-filmed scenario; Alexia Fast, Lochlyn Munro, Megan Peta Hill, Trevor Gretzky also star.
Stargirl: The Complete Second Season (2021)
A decade after an ambush destroyed the venerable superteam known as the Justice Society of America, L.A. teen Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger) happened upon the powerful Cosmic Staff formerly wielded by the hero called Starman (Joel McHale). With the reluctant mentoring of her stepfather Pat Dugan (Luke Wilson)–Starman’s sidekick, in the day–Stargirl would recruit a new JSA from her high school peers. Fun DC Universe offering co-stars Yvette Monreal, Anjelika Washington, Cameron Gellman. 13 episodes on 2 discs.
Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)
Roger Corman’s sci-fi favorite tells of a group of scientists studying the effects of atomic radiation on a Pacific island. They’re soon faced with a pair of deadly dilemmas: The first is the realization that the island is shrinking, and the second is the appearance of monstrous crustaceans with the ability to communicate using the voices of their human victims. Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan, Mel Welles, Russell Johnson, and Ed Nelson star.
Click here for a complete overview of all of this week’s new releases.