Now that January is out of the way, we get ready to celebrate the shortest and one of the coldest months of the year with a lot of love for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. The format continues to build a nice robust catalog of new and old favorites. While the big studios are recovering from dealing with talent strikes, it's the independent labels that are delivering the biggest and best releases of the month. We've got some great catalog favorites and even an Uwe Boll film joins the format. This is also the month where we really see Walmart step up to the retailer-exclusive plate for SteelBook releases after Best Buy ditched physical media. So let's get to it and see what's jumping on our shelves this month. 

February 2024 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Shopping Guide 

February 6th - 4K UHD Releases 

    

February 13th - 4K UHD Releases 

     

      

     

    

 

 

February 20th - 4K UHD Releases 

     

     

       

   

February 26th - 4K UHD Releases 

 

February 27th - 4K UHD Releases 

    

     

   
 

   

That's all that's confirmed for the moment. It's possible more could get added to the slate or something could get bumped into later in the year. If/When that happens, we'll update our lists ASAP. Thanks for clicking our links, your preorders go a long way towards keeping our little show going. Happy Collecting!

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The 2011 thriller Contagion from director Steven Soderbergh and featuring an all-star cast including Marion Cottilard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, and more is getting a 4K UHD Blu-ray release on February 27.

An international traveler reaches into the snack bowl at an airport bar before passing her credit card to a waiter. A business meeting begins with a round of handshakes. A man coughs on a crowded bus... One contact. One instant. And a lethal virus is transmitted.

When Beth Emhoff (Paltrow) returns to Minneapolis from business in Hong Kong, what she thought was jet lag takes a virulent turn. Two days later, she’s dead in the ER and the doctors tell her shocked and grieving husband (Damon) they have no idea why. Soon, others exhibit the same mysterious symptoms: hacking coughs and fever, followed by seizure, brain hemorrhage... and ultimately, death. The numbers quickly multiply as the contagion sweeps across all borders, fueled by the countless human interactions that make up the course of an average day. A global pandemic explodes.

As the death toll escalates and people struggle to protect themselves and their loved ones in a society breaking down, one activist blogger (Law) claims the public isn't getting the truth about what's really going on and sets off an epidemic of paranoia and fear as infectious as the virus itself.

Contagion - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

The Contagion - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray + Digital release will feature a 4K restoration in HDR and will include the following:

• The Reality of Contagion – Featurette
• The Contagion Detectives – Featurette
• Contagion – How a Virus Changes the World –Featurette

Pre-orders for Contagion - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray are up and here is the full press release:

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CONTAGION COMES TO 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAYTM AND DIGITAL   THE 2011 MEDICAL DISASTER THRILLER FILM DIRECTED BY STEVEN SODERBERGH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR)   Purchase the film on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital on February 27

Burbank, Calif., January 9, 2024 – Contagion, Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 medical thriller about a global epidemic and the people determined to keep it at bay, will be available to purchase on February 27 for the first time on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.   Directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic), Contagion features an all-star ensemble cast including Academy Award winner Marion Cottilard (La Vie en Rose), Academy Award winner Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting), Academy Award nominee Laurence Fishburne (What’s Love Got to Do with It), Academy Award nominee Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain), Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love), Academy Award winner Kate Winslet (The Reader), Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner Bryan Cranston (Trumbo, TV’s Breaking Bad), Tony Award winner Jennifer Ehle (Broadway’s “The Real Thing,” “The Coast of Utopia”), and Tony Award nominee Sanaa Lathan (“A Raisin in the Sun”).   Directed by Soderbergh, Contagion is written by Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum, The Informant!). The film is produced by Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, and Gregory Jacobs.   Contagion will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc for $33.99 ERP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the theatrical version of the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Digital download of the film. Fans can also own Contagion in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on February 27.   The 4K restoration of Contagion was completed at Warner Bros. Discovery’s Motion Picture Imaging (MPI) and was sourced from the original camera negative.  The remastering process was overseen by Steven Soderbergh. Ultra HD showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.      About the Film SYNOPSIS An international traveler reaches into the snack bowl at an airport bar before passing her credit card to a waiter. A business meeting begins with a round of handshakes. A man coughs on a crowded bus... One contact. One instant. And a lethal virus is transmitted. When Beth Emhoff (Paltrow) returns to Minneapolis from business in Hong Kong, what she thought was jet lag takes a virulent turn. Two days later, she’s dead in the ER and the doctors tell her shocked and grieving husband (Damon) they have no idea why. Soon, others exhibit the same mysterious symptoms: hacking coughs and fever, followed by seizure, brain hemorrhage... and ultimately, death. The numbers quickly multiply as the contagion sweeps across all borders, fueled by the countless human interactions that make up the course of an average day. A global pandemic explodes. As the death toll escalates and people struggle to protect themselves and their loved ones in a society breaking down, one activist blogger (Law) claims the public isn't getting the truth about what's really going on and sets off an epidemic of paranoia and fear as infectious as the virus itself.   Contagion Ultra HD Blu-ray disc and Digital contains the following previously released special features: The Reality of Contagion – Featurette The Contagion Detectives – Featurette Contagion – How a Virus Changes the World –Featurette   BASICS PRODUCT                                                                                      ERP Contagion 4K Ultra HD                                                                  $33.99              Contagion Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French Run Time: 106 minutes Rating: PG-13 for disturbing content and some language  Street Date: February 27, 2024 Digital Street Date: February 27, 2024     THE CREDITS   About Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment (WBDHE) distributes the award-winning movies, television, animation, and digital content produced by Warner Bros. Discovery to the homes and screens of millions through physical Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD retail sales and digital transactions on major streaming, video-on-demand cable, satellite, digital, and mobile channels.  WBDHE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales, one of the world’s largest distributors of entertainment programming.

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DreamWorks and Universal are bringing the animated musical comedy Trolls Band Together to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on January 16. Pre-Orders are now available.

Get ready for an all-star family reunion like no other in the latest chapter of DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster musical franchise, now with a Sing-Along edition! As Poppy (Anna Kendrick) grows closer to her now boyfriend Branch (Justin Timberlake), she discovers his secret past as a member of her favorite boyband, BroZone, with his four estranged brothers. When Branch’s bro Floyd is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious popstars, Branch and Poppy embark on an action-packed journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd. Along the way Poppy uncovers a family secret of her own, a long-lost sister named Viva (Camila Cabello). TROLLS BAND TOGETHER features the franchise’s signature psychedelic joy-bomb of new and classic pop hits that will have you singing and dancing along over and over again!

Trolls Band Together - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Trolls Band Together - Blu-ray 

 

Both Blu-ray editions feature Dolby Atmos soundtracks and bonus materials are as follows:

• SING-ALONG VERSION
• IT TAKES THREE – In this original short, Poppy, Viva, and Tiny Diamond get sucked into the Hustle-verse, only to discover that it is devoid of hustle. The trio decides to sing their way out hopefully generating enough harmony to re-ignite the Hustle-verse and escape.
• DELETED SCENES – With intro by Head of Story Colin Jack
  • WALL CLIMB - BROKEN TOOTH
  • BRIDGET GRISTLE HONEYMOON
  • CRIMP AND TINY ROMANCE
• FUN IN THE RECORDING BOOTH
• HI, HI, HI – Join *NSYNC in the studio as they reunite for the first time in 20 years to record an all-new song for TROLLS BAND TOGETHER.
• BUILDING THE BAND – The band is coming back together for another volume of Trolls based fun! Meet the new characters and the cast members behind them and catch up with your returning favorites!
  • #BROPPY
  • BROZONE
  • VIVA
  • VELVET AND VENEER
  • BRIDGET AND KING GRISTLE
  • TINY DIAMOND
• TOGETHER AGAIN – Learn the backstory behind *NSYNC's involvement in TROLLS BAND TOGETHER and how their Troll personas came to life.
• ANIMATING TROLLS – In this BTS piece, filmmakers and crew dive deep into their animation process to show how the unique locations and textures of the film were created.
• HOW TO DRAW – Step into the BroZone green room with story artist Wendy Sullivan and learn how to draw your own BroZone album cover featuring John Dory, Spruce, Clay, Floyd, and of course, Baby Branch! Plus, we’ll learn how to draw Viva!
  • BABY BRANCH
  • JOHN DORY
  • SPRUCE
  • CLAY
  • FLOYD
  • VIVA
• HOW TO: HUG TIME BRACELETS – Poppy and Viva LOVE their Hug Time Bracelets and now you can make your own! Follow the simple steps and let your artistic side shine with two different bracelet options that you can make for all your friends and family.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY – with Producer Gina Shay, Co-Director Tim Heitz, Head of Story Colin Jack, Production Designer Ruben Perez Reynoso and Visual Effects Supervisor Marc J. Scott 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K UHD:
Street Date: January 16, 2024
Selection Number: 191329256497 (US) / 191329256695 (CDN)
Layers: BD 100
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG for some mild rude and suggestive humor
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian, and Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature), French European (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 for Feature, Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content)
Run Time: 01:31:22
 
TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY^™:
Street Date: January 16, 2024
Selection Number: 191329254981 (US) / 191329256770 (CDN)
Layers: BD 50
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG for some mild rude and suggestive humor
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian, and Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature), French European (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 for Feature, Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content)
Run Time: 01:31:22

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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
Blu-ray

 

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:

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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                         Air, Fences, “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

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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. 

 

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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! 

     

 

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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.  

      

   

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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. 

       

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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! 

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James Cameron's Aliens, The Abyss, and True Lies are now streaming on 4K on Vudu, iTunes, & Prime

Well, yesterday was a pretty big day - if you’re up for purchasing your movies on 4K UHD streaming that is. James Cameron’s long-in-waiting 4K UHD releases of Aliens, The Abyss, and True Lies arrived on streaming services giving us an early look at what to expect when these films hit discs in March. How good do they look with Dolby Vision HDR? Is there film grain? What’s the Atmos like? Well, let's get into it. To be sure, we’ll be doing full film and disc reviews when they come, so these comments will serve more as initial impressions of what I saw looking at the various streaming editions.

Starting by release order:

Now - one frustration to note is that Vudu and iTunes Movies only offer the longer 1990 Special Edition of Aliens in HD with Dolby Digital 5.1 as a “bonus feature.” Right now, it’s not its own standalone and not in 4K Dolby Vision with Atmos audio. That honor rests strictly with the leaner and somewhat meaner Theatrical Cut.

First Reaction to the Aliens Streaming 4K Dolby Vision HDR Transfer:

Overall, pretty damn good, but not perfect. Apparently, Aliens, along with the other films, have undergone a similar restoration process where using the best recent transfer elements as a base, the films have also undergone some kind of algorithmic enhancement to draw out more fine details and textures while mitigating noisy film grain without completely scrubbing it away either. This isn’t like the waxy mess that we saw with the 4K UHD Blu-rays of Terminator 2: Judgement Day that wrongly used the 3D master. It’s certainly a different and new way of seeing the film, I’ll admit seeing some facial features and textures that clear was pretty jarring but it still looked pretty great. The HDR grade isn't overly aggressive but really lends itself to the dark shadowy locations while keeping skin tones healthy and human-looking.

That said, those expecting to see a more “filmic” look of something like the 70mm archival print I saw on Alien Day a few years back won’t be seeing that here. This has a more modernized sheen to it but not an altogether unappealing one. Color timing is similar to the past Blu-rays but also seems to have toned down the overly aggressive teal appearance of the Blu-ray. After a few moments, these differences started to look less jarring and more natural and in general, looked pretty damn terrific by the time we see the big bitch Queen take on Ripley in her loader. Not perfect, I don’t necessarily see the need for the “enhancement” process in general but judging it as it is, I’m giving this one a 4/5 - maybe a 4.25/5 if I’m being a little extra generous. 

Now a caveat I have is that I felt like I was getting pretty different results between Vudu and iTunes Movies in terms of stability. Vudu felt like the quality and clarity fluctuated a lot like the stream kept having to adjust between 1080p to 2160p clarity almost shot-to-shot. That was my initial viewing experience and it was damned frustrating. However, moving over to iTunes Movies (which my account was very slow to port), I didn’t have that problem there. Everything was consistent and even and looked great (this was true also for The Abyss and True Lies). 

First Reaction to Aliens Dolby Atmos Audio Mix: 

Holy hell I can’t wait to hear this without the streaming compression on disc! If it sounds this good on streaming I can only imagine we have a full-fledged demo-worthy Atmos track coming to 4K disc in March. Those low rumbly tones of James Horner’s score are great early indicators of what’s to come. From the salvage ship capturing the shuttle to the incredible sonic envelopment of the drop ship to Vasquez launching those grenades during the final assault - this track uses every channel virtually at all times. Dialog is crystal clear without issue. A great mix that I can’t wait to hear truly unleashed on disc. 4.5/5

Next up:

Another note to pass along - Vudu seems to be the only online retailer right at the moment that has the Special Edition cut of The Abyss, but like Aliens, it’s in the bonus features and only in HD with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. As of this writing, iTunes Movies doesn’t have the Special Edition in their offerings in any resolution. If/when that changes we'll try and circle back here with an update. 

First Reaction to The Abyss Streaming 4K Dolby Vision HDR Transfer:

Of the three remaining James Cameron films coming to 4K this year (that we know of), this is the one that I’m most impressed with. For those familiar with the HD Stream that circulated various services like Amazon Prime in recent years, you’ll see this Dolby Vision HDR transfer is closer to that presentation. So to put it lightly, it’s very blue. If you don’t like the color blue, you might have a tough time for some scenes. However, the blue isn’t so obnoxiously teal that it can’t function. It’s just going to look very different than what people saw on that old DVD and Laserdisc transfer. Yellows and reds maintain a natural primary appearance and skin tones are healthy and even. 

For detail and clarity, my understanding is The Abyss went through the same sort of algorithmic processing to heighten details while mitigating noisy film grain without completely scrubbing it away. To that effect, the "enhanced" appearance, to me, looked less obvious than it was in Aliens and looked more natural here. With Dolby Vision, black levels with all of the underwater photography actually held up pretty well. There were still some struggles with shadows, but at this point, I kind of expect that with streaming. I’d anticipate that to look much better once it hits disc. As of right now, I’m comfortable getting closer to giving this one a 4.25/5 to 4.5/5

Dropping by the HD version of the Special Edition on Vudu (again that isn’t on iTunes Movies at least yet) I was pleased to see the same sort of care and attention carried over there as well, albeit only in HD. That said, it is a pretty obvious step down in clarity to the point I thought the whole HD stream looked rather waxy and unappealing compared to the 4K one, but then Vudu has been pretty damn spotty for me lately so it could be the service rather than transfer itself.

First Reaction to The Abyss Dolby Atmos Audio Mix: 

Like Aliens, I can’t wait to hear this Atmos mix fully unleashed on disc. (That’s going to be a running theme if you haven’t guessed already). Between my old DVD and two Laserdisc copies, The Abyss has been a rather sonically restrained audio experience compared to newer formats - until now. It’s a weird highlight to note but it’s also a sign of how careful they were with the mix, but listen for the bubbles from the divers' regulators. It’s a subtle effect but it slips from the center channels into the heights. Likewise, that big hurricane is a wall-to-wall, channel-to-channel immersive moment. The submarine crash, the submersible dog fight are terrific moments and that excellent score by Alan Silvestri fills the soundscape nicely. 4.5/5

Last for our quick looks:

First Reaction to the True Lies Streaming 4K Dolby Vision HDR Transfer:

Now for a nice change of pace, there isn’t any alternate Special Edition to worry about between services, so what you get on Vudu and iTunes Movies is the same Theatrical Cut we’ve all loved and enjoyed for 30 years. However, of the three Cameron films coming to 4K in March, this one had the most over-processed appearance to me. Don’t get me wrong, there are moments where this film looks jaw-droppingly excellent, but because the film is so bright and colorful when something looks kinda “off” it’s more obvious than it was for Aliens or The Abyss. However, clarity for some scenes is better than I’ve ever experienced letting fine lines, facial, features, and clothing textures come through nicely. I never really noticed the scarring makeup around Charlton Heston’s eyepatch before, but now we see a little more of the damage to his face.

With HDR, colors look pretty great and normal with the only real “James Cameron Blue” coming in during the big chase scene when Schwarzenegger is on horseback. Speaking of that scene, it is now all the more obvious when Schwarzenegger’s stunt double was employed! But going back to that enhanced appearance a bit, this started to feel normal and less obvious or distracting as the film went on. By the time Harry Tasker hops in that jet and flies off to rescue his daughter, I was less nitpicky. Not the greatest of the three, but not a T2 scenario by far. My hope is the disc evens out a lot of the bitrate issues we see with streaming services. But right now this registers with me as something like a 3.5/5 to 3.75/5

Speaking to the streaming services, Vudu again had the toughest time with this one. The image quality shift felt near-constant to me so it initially made focusing on that enhanced appearance much easier and distracting. Again, flipping over to iTunes Movies, that didn’t feel like as harsh an issue and actually let me enjoy the damn film. 

First Reaction to the True Lies Dolby Atmos Audio Mix: 

With all of the gunfire, explosions, jet engines, missiles, horse gallops, and Brad Fidel’s excellent exciting score, True Lies scores the best Atmos track, I feel, of the whole pack. You get the opening party sequence followed by the first chase scene then you get the Horse vs Motor Cycle chase, capped off with the big firefight and jet rescue sequences. The whole film is wall-to-wall sonic immersion and even distilled for streaming services sounded excellent. This is definitely one I can’t wait for the full disc experience so I can crank my volume and really let the subs rattle my walls. Dialog is clean throughout without issue. 5/5

We knew going in that James Cameron's Aliens, The Abyss, and True Lies were going to illicit some passionate responses within the collector community. Understandably, everyone has an ideal viewing experience for these films. Whether or not that ideal squares with how Cameron thinks these flicks should look on home video is going to be a bit of a controversy. Already there have been some passionate responses on both sides of the coin floating around the interwebs. Depending on your setup calibration or even how and with what service you’re streaming the films, experiences are going to vary. For myself, I’m pleased, not blown away, but left hopeful the extra bitrate room of a 100 gig disc will help even out the overall visual experience. Without a doubt though, those Atmos tracks are dynamite! Even if True Lies ends up not looking any better, I’ll be happy just to have that uncompressed Atmos blasting the walls of my house.

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Now that the glut of holiday titles has subsided in the wake of Thanksgiving, collectors have to strap themselves in for another feast of 4K titles. December is a bit tricky because it's usually when studios try to calm things down a little bit but also wallop collectors with a bunch of new exciting titles that would sell great for the Holidays. The fun of this frame is just how diverse the range of titles is. We get everything from classic comedies to recent October horror flicks to the latest big-budget box-office adventure film. Or even the case of one particularly aqua-obsessed filmmaker, two more releases of Avatar! So lets get into it shall we?

December 2023 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Shopping Guide

December 5th - 4K UHD Blu-ray Releases 

Speaking of a diverse range of titles, the December 5th frame is no exception. We see one of Spielberg's first true dramatic undertakings as a filmmaker come out alongside a fifth entry to his most famous franchise (albeit one he didn't direct). Throw in some Criterion heavy hitters, new sci-fi television, and one of the biggest box office successes of all time, and you've got a packed, expensive series of flicks to consume.

      

      

      

     

     

 

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December 12th - 4K UHD Blu-ray Releases

Again, for a great example of a diverse range of titles, you have a recent horror hit coming to disc after a day-and-date theatrical/streaming release. One of the funniest movies ever based on a board game. Multiple pieces of terrific thought-provoking and pulse-poinding sci-fi. A zany high-concept action film. The newest iteration of a now classic comic/cartoon franchise. Plenty of action-packed thrillers - it's a lot! To say the least, it's a lot of great stuff coming down the release chimney. 

     

     

     

     

     

    

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December 19th - 4K UHD Blu-ray Releases 

Not sure if there's a better week than right before Christmas to drop a new 4K franchise release about demonic possession, but here we are! On top of ironically-timed horror releases, this final frame right before the big holiday sales push sees more of James Cameron's jungle cat people mixed in with Olver Stone's conspiracy theory classic mixed with some new Kino Cult mixed with a pair of Stephen King titles. It's an odd frame to say the least but there are some gems in there. 

     

     

 

     

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December 26th - 4K UHD Blu-ray Releases  

For the final week of 2024, things quiet way down. A lot. On the 4K side, there's literally only one domestic release - but at least it's a good one! The holidays are over, shopping is done, and studios take a break before they dig in for the next year. 2024 is going to be a weird one with Best Buy exiting the physical media space, but we're expecting some good stuff to come our way. 

  

And that's everything due for arrival this month. If there are any last-minute additions or sudden release date shifts, we'll update this article ASAP. 

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Best Picture Oscar-winner The Last Emperor picks up three new Mediabooks on 4K UHD

On December 14th, German label Turbine Medien delivers three exciting new 4K UHD Mediabook releases of Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor. Limited to 600, 500, and 400 units respectively, fans who are tired of waiting to see a 4K release of this beautiful film in the U.S. have another import option. Turbine brings both cuts of the film with Dolby Vision HDR (and HDR10) with English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio options (in addition to their default German tracks). In addition to a nice swath of extra features (listed below), the Mediabook will feature a 40-page booklet with a history of the film by Tobias Hohmann. 

The Last Emperor - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Mediabook A

The Last Emperor - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Mediabook B 

The Last Emperor - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Mediabook C 

The Last Emperor - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
All Mediabooks Bundle 

Bonus material:

• Documentary about the shooting (approx. 65 min.)
• Bernardo Bertolucci: The Italian Traveller (approx. 50 min.)
• Interview with producer Jeremy Thomas (approx. 19 min.)
• Postcards from China (approx. 8 min.)
• Trailer D/UK/INT
• 40-page book section by Tobias Hohmann about the history of the film

Technical specifications:

• Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (2160p24 4K Ultra HD) with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, 2.39:1 (1080p24 Full HD)
• Language / Sound: German DTS-HD MA 5.1, English DTS-HD MA 5.1, German DTS-HD MA 2.0, English DTS-HD MA 2.0
• Subtitles: German, English, German for the hearing impaired, English for the hearing impaired
• Runtime: 163 (theatrical version), 219 (long version) minutes

Pre-orders are now live - these Mediabooks should start shipping on the 14th - Happy collecting!

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The Exorcist: Believer from Universal, Blumhouse, and Morgan Creek is a direct distant sequel to the original horror classic from William Friedkin and will be available on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray with two retailer SteelBook editions on December 19.

Digital arrives December 1.

Read our theatrical review here.

Since his wife’s death, Victor (Leslie Odom Jr.) has raised his daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) alone. After Angela and her friend (Olivia O’Neill) return from a three-day disappearance with missing memories, they begin displaying frightening behavior. Victor’s best hope is to find the only person who has seen anything like this before: Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), whose haunting experience with her daughter Regan may be the key to combating ultimate evil.

The Exorcist: Believer - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

The Exorcist: Believer - Blu-ray

 

The Exorcist: Believer - Best Buy Exclusive 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

 

The Exorcist: Believer - Walmart Exclusive 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

 

The 4K UHD Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital combo pack and the Blu-ray + DVD + Digital combo pack will include a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements for include: 

• MAKING A BELIEVER ­­– Filmmakers and cast reveal their collective approach to bringing differing perspectives into this drama about synchronized possessions.      
• ELLEN AND LINDA: REUNITED – THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER expertly weaves the fates of Chris and Regan MacNeil into its story. Witness a moment of cinema history as these two Hollywood icons meet on-set for the first time in years.
• STAGES OF POSESSION – Hear from Lidya Jewett, Olivia O'Neill, and special makeup FX designer Christopher Nelson as they discuss the physical and mental changes the girls go through as they advance through the possession.
• THE OPENING – The first scene of the film takes place in Haiti, a location far from the rest of the story. Filmmakers and star Leslie Odom, Jr. discuss how this scene sets up the rest of the film.
• EDITING AN EXORCISM – THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER culminates with a riveting exorcism scene featuring all the main characters. Director David Gordon Green and editor Tim Alverson explore the challenges of editing such a big scene.
• MATTERS OF FAITH – Experts in theology weigh in on how they consulted filmmakers to ensure depictions of the religious ceremonies in the film were as accurate as possible.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY – with co-writer/director David Gordon Green, executive producer Ryan Turek, co-writer Peter Sattler, and special makeup FX designer Christopher Nelson.            

Pre-orders for The Exorcist: Believer are up and included below is the full press release:

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ADD THE NEWEST CHAPTER IN THE CLASSIC HORROR SAGA TO YOUR COLLECTION WITH EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT

YOURS TO OWN ON DIGITAL DECEMBER 1, 2023, 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY™ AND DVD DECEMBER 19, 2023 FROM BLUMHOUSE, MORGAN CREEK AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Universal City, California, November 27, 2023 – Discover what makes Blumhouse’s THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER horrifying with never-before-seen bonus content available on Digital December 1, 2023, and 4K UHD, Blu-rayTM and DVD on December 19, 2023, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The all-new bonus content with cast and filmmaker interviews gives a behind-the-scenes look at making the film, including editing an exorcism, the stages of possession, and featured commentary. 50 years after the most terrifying horror film shocked the world, THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER, from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek, directly follows the groundbreaking original 1973 film.   Since his wife’s death, Victor (Leslie Odom Jr.) has raised his daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) alone. After Angela and her friend (Olivia O’Neill) return from a three-day disappearance with missing memories, they begin displaying frightening behavior. Victor’s best hope is to find the only person who has seen anything like this before: Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), whose haunting experience with her daughter Regan may be the key to combating ultimate evil.   Directed by David Gordon Green (Halloween, Prince Avalanche), THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER stars Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton, One Night in Miami), Ann Dowd (Hereditary, Compliance), Jennifer Nettles (Harriet), Norbert Leo Butz (Dan in Real Life, Give or Take), Lidya Jewett (Hidden Figures, Good Girls), Olivia O’Neill and reprising her iconic role as Chris MacNeil, Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist, Requiem for a Dream). BONUS FEATURES on 4K UHD, BLU-RAYTM, DVD AND DIGITAL: MAKING A BELIEVER ­­– Filmmakers and cast reveal their collective approach to bringing differing perspectives into this drama about synchronized possessions.       ELLEN AND LINDA: REUNITED – THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER expertly weaves the fates of Chris and Regan MacNeil into its story. Witness a moment of cinema history as these two Hollywood icons meet on-set for the first time in years. STAGES OF POSESSION – Hear from Lidya Jewett, Olivia O'Neill, and special makeup FX designer Christopher Nelson as they discuss the physical and mental changes the girls go through as they advance through the possession. THE OPENING – The first scene of the film takes place in Haiti, a location far from the rest of the story. Filmmakers and star Leslie Odom, Jr. discuss how this scene sets up the rest of the film. EDITING AN EXORCISM – THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER culminates with a riveting exorcism scene featuring all the main characters. Director David Gordon Green and editor Tim Alverson explore the challenges of editing such a big scene. MATTERS OF FAITH – Experts in theology weigh in on how they consulted filmmakers to ensure depictions of the religious ceremonies in the film were as accurate as possible. FEATURE COMMENTARY – with co-writer/director David Gordon Green, executive producer Ryan Turek, co-writer Peter Sattler, and special makeup FX designer Christopher Nelson.             For more information on THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER, please visit: UPHE Website: https://www.uphe.com/movies/the-exorcist-believer UPHE Trailer: https://uni.pictures/TheExorcistBeliever_HomeEntTrailer Facebook: @TheExorcistBeliever X: @TheExorcistBlvr Instagram: @theexorcistbeliever #TheExorcistBeliever   FILMMAKERS: Cast: Leslie Odom, Jr., Lidya Jewett, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, with Ann Dowd and Ellen Burstyn Casting By: Terri Taylor CSA, Sarah Domeier Lindo CSA, Ally Conover CSA Music By: David Wingo, Amman Abbasi Costume Designer: Lizz Wolf Editor: Tim Alverson ACE Production Designer: Brandon Tonner-Connolly Director Of Photography: Michael Simmonds Executive Producers: Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, Stephanie Allain, Ryan Turek, Brian Robinson, Christopher Merrill Produced By: David Robinson p.g.a. James G. Robinson, Jason Blum p.g.a. Screen Story By: Scott Teems & Danny McBride & David Gordon Green Screenplay By: Peter Sattler & David Gordon Green Directed By: David Gordon Green   TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD: Street Date: December 19, 2023 UPC Number: 191329242988 Layers: DVD 9 Aspect Ratio: 16:9 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Rating: R for some violent content, disturbing images, language and sexual references Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Complex Mandarin, French Canadian, Korean, and Latin American Spanish Sound: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature), and Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature) Run Time: 01:51:07   TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™: Street Date: December 19, 2023 UPC Number: 191329242971 Layers: BD 50 Aspect Ratio: 16:9 1.85:1 Widescreen Rating: R for some violent content, disturbing images, language and sexual references Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian, and Latin American Spanish Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 for Feature), and Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 for Feature) Run Time: 01:50:59   TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K UHD: Street Date: December 19, 2023 sUPC Number: 191329242995 Layers: BD 100 Aspect Ratio: 16:9 1.85:1 Widescreen Rating: R for some violent content, disturbing images, language and sexual references Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian, and Latin American Spanish Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 for Feature), and Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital 7.1 for Feature) Run Time: 01:50:59

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Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray...
In the U.K. from Arrow and Germany from Turbine 

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray has been a boon for physical media collectors. Beyond the razor-sharp picture and excellent audio the discs are Region Free (well 99.98% of the time anyway. That means when the U.S. gets a disc the rest of the world wants - it's importable and will play on virtually every home theater setup. Likewise, when Japan or Europe gets a slick disc release we don't have, we don't have to worry about needing a Region-Free player (even though you should probably have one just in case). A great example of how cool it is to be able to import movies on 4K with ease are the U.K. and German releases of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas from Arrow Video and Turbine Medien respectively. 

Now we've already gone and done the hard part of reviewing both releases which you can read right now - 

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Arrow Limited Edition 4K UHD 

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Turbine Exclusive Mediabook 

Now, the Arrow disc has been on the market for some time with Turnine's Mediabooks coming out only in the last couple of weeks. Now the good news is, between the two releases, there's very little difference. Since it was a mutual effort between the two companies, the Dolby Vision 2160p transfers are essentially identical. Little minute differences in bitrate due to disc encoding is the only thing that separates the two. Both have what sounds to be the same exact DTS-HD MA 5.1 and DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio tracks to complete the A/V experience. 

But when we get into the bonus features we start to see the key differences between the two.

• Audio Commentary featuring Terry Gilliam moderated by Phil Stubbs
• Savage: Finding the American Nightmare with Ian Christie (HD 11:47)
• The Gonzo Papers with Laila Nabulsi (HD 19:50)
• Grim Memories and Bad Flashbacks with Benicio del Toro (HD 12:10)
• Ignore This Terrible Drug: Art and Style (HD 30:28) 
• Deleted Scenes w/ Optional Commentary (4 Scenes SD 11:48 total)
• Electronic Press Kit:
• Spotlight on Location (SD 10:35)
• Behind the Scenes (SD 4:26)
• Interview with Terry Gilliam (SD 2:42)
• Interview with Johnny Depp (SD 4:58)
• Interview with Benicio del Toro (SD 00:33)
• Theatrical Trailers
• TV Spots
• Image Galleries 

Lots of great stuff to dig into there. Arrow's set is a single-disc release so all of the extras are right there on the 4K disc. Arrow's is a three-disc Mediabook, so the 4K only has the audio commentary as an extra leaving the 1080p version of the film to hold all the rest. Which is pretty damn cool that there's no real difference there. However, Turbine's set also has a third disc featuring the two-hour documentary Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. So that is a huge plus in Turbine's favor. 

Both sets have individual booklets - Arrow has a 44-page booklet with Turbine offering up a 55-page book. Now Turbine's book is in German so if you're an English-dominate individual, you will have to use Google Translate or some other app like it to read the book. It's a slightly cumbersome process but you get used to it. Both are great reads with your morning cup of coffee.

A lot of the important stuff is essentially all the same. Price + shipping (if you don't order from a domestic retailer like DiabolikDVD) is almost the same so there's not really a difference maker there. 

Where I would personally give Turbine the edge over Arrow is the four different Mediabook cover options: 

    

     

Each of those would make amazing posters. Whereas Arrow only has the one slipcover option, albeit with reversible insert art, that replicates the classic Ralph Steadman art. With that, I know not everyone likes Mediabooks. I happen to enjoy them a lot and think they make fun accent pieces on the shelf. About the size of an average DVD case, they're not so massive to take up too much room like the A24 Mediabooks, but depending on your shelves they do eat a bit of extra height space. 

So which version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray do you choose?

Short answer - either one works! Since this is currently an import-only 4K release (watch Criterion announces theirs next month) all you have to decide is which one is more attractive, fits your shelf, and then works with your finances. Arrow and Turbine both did excellent work with their discs so buy with confidence whichever version you order! 

Hope this helped - Happy Collecting!

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Brian Robbins' 1999 coming-of-age football film starring James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, Amy Smart and Scott Caan will debut on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for its 25th anniversary on January 9th.

At first, backup quarterback Jonathan "Mox" Moxom (James Van Der Beek) is nowhere close to being a star athlete. Perfectly content to stay on the bench, he has no time for coach Kilmer’s (Jon Voight) win-at-all-cost strategies. But when the starting quarterback (Paul Walker) is injured, Mox is in the game and confronting the pressures and temptations of gridiron glory. Soon everyone will realize there's not just a new star quarterback in town, there's a new kind of hero.

Varsity Blues - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

The 4K UHD Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital combo pack will include a newly remastered transfer from the original camera negative, a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements (all legacy) include: 

• Commentary with director Brian Robbins and producers Tova Laiter and Mike Tollin                             
• Football is a Way of Life: The Making of Varsity Blues
• Two-A-Days: The Ellis Way
• QB Game Analysis
• Billy Bob with No Bacon
• Theatrical Trailer

Pre-orders for Varsity Blues - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray are up - happy collecting!

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We knew this day was coming. We've been teased and promised for so long we can't remember when the rumors started. 
The day is finally here.
James Cameron's Aliens, The Abyss, True Lies, Titanic, Avatar, and Avatar: The Way of Water getting new 4Ks!

Avatar is also picking up a new Blu-ray 3D as well -

 

Normally at this point we'd be going into some silly little comment about how long it's taken certain films of James Cameron's back catalog to come to Blu-ray and 4K - but there's a TON to get through here. Not only are we finally getting the old favorites but we're getting new collectors editions of both Avatar films. Rather than blither on further - lets get to it! 

Sadly all of these aren't coming out at the same clip, so while our wallets get a breather, we do have to wait for three of them into 2024

December 5th:

• Titanic: 25th Collector's Edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

December 12th - Digital Streaming

• Aliens Collector’s Edition
• The Abyss Collector’s Edition
• True Lies Collector’s Edition
• Avatar Collector’s Edition
• Avatar: The Way of Water Collector’s Edition 

December 19th:

• Avatar 4K Collector’s Edition
• Avatar 3D Blu-ray
• Avatar 4K Limited Edition Steelbook (available only at Best Buy)
• Avatar: The Way of Water 4K Collector’s Edition

March 12th:

• Aliens 4K Collector’s Edition
• The Abyss 4K Collector’s Edition
• True Lies 4K Collector’s Edition 

So those are the release dates - now it's time for all of the gory details: 

Aliens - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

THEATRICAL VERSION AND SPECIAL EDITION VERSION

Product Specifications:

Street Date
Digital: December 12, 2023
Physical: March 12, 2024

Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
hysical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code)

Theatrical Version Run Time
Approx. 137 minutes

Special Edition Run Time
Approx. 154 minutes

Rating
U.S. Rated R

Aspect Ratio
Digital: 1.85:1
Physical: 1.85:1

Disc Size
4K UHD: 100GB
Blu-ray: 50GB

U.S. Audio:

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 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio (some platforms)

4K UHD Theatrical Version and Special Edition: English Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Blu-ray Theatrical Version and Special Edition: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

U.S. Subtitles
Digital: English SDH, Spanish
Physical: English SDH, Spanish, French

Bonus Features:

• James Cameron Introduction – A message from writer/director James Cameron introducing the Special Edition version of the film.
• 2003 Audio Commentary by James Cameron and the Cast and Crew-Special Edition – 1990 Special Edition Commentary by James Cameron and the cast and crew.
• The Inspiration and Design of ALIENS – For the 30th anniversary, writer/director James Cameron reveals new insight into his own inspiration and the design elements for Aliens.
• 2003 Audio Commentary by James Cameron and the Cast and Crew – 1986 Theatrical Version Commentary by James Cameron and the cast and crew.
• Isolated Scores
• Final Theatrical Isolated Score – This isolated track presents, as accurately as possible, James Horner's music score in its final form following extensive reworking during the post-production process.
• Composer's Original Isolated Score – Although there are a few instances where the length of individual sequences was changed slightly after the music was recorded, this isolated score track presents, as accurately as possible, James Horner's original intentions.

 

The Abyss - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

THEATRICAL VERSION AND SPECIAL EDITION VERSION

Product Specifications:

Street Date
Digital: December 12, 2023
Physical: March 12, 2024

Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code)

Theatrical Version Run Time
Approx. 145 Minutes

Special Edition Run Time
Approx. 171 minutes

Rating
U.S. Rated PG-13

Aspect Ratio
Digital: 2:39:1
Physical: 2.39:1

Disc Size
4K UHD: 100GB
Blu-ray: 50GB

U.S. Audio
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 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio (some platforms)

4K UHD Theatrical Version & Special Edition: English Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Blu-ray Theatrical Version & Special Edition: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

U.S. Subtitles
Digital: English SDH, Spanish, French (some platforms)
Physical: English SDH, Spanish, French

Bonus Features:

NEW: Documentaries

• Deep Dive: A Conversation with James Cameron – An exclusive new sit-down with James Cameron as he revisits the origin of the project and addresses some of the myths behind the production.
• The Legacy of THE ABYSS – Discover the lasting legacy of THE ABYSS with stories from James Cameron and the crew about how and why the film continues to have an impact on filmmaking today.

ADDITIONAL BONUS:

Documentary

• Under Pressure: Making THE ABYSS – The original documentary about the infamous production of THE ABYSS, with candid commentary by the actors and crew.

Archives

• Deepcore Timelapse – Watch this production timelapse of the Deepcore set being created.
• Videomatics Montage – Watch a montage of behind-the-scenes production videomatics.
• Montana Bridge Flooding – See behind-the-scenes footage of the Montana bridge flooding.
• Engine Room Flooding – See behind-the-scenes footage of the engine room flooding.
• Surface Shoot Montage – Watch a behind-the-scenes montage of the surface shoot.
• Crane Crash Shoot – Check out behind-the-scenes footage of the crane crashing sequence.
• Visual Effects Reel – Watch a reel of visual effects progressions to see how they were developed for the film.
• Miniature Rear-Projection – Watch behind-the-scenes footage of how production used rear-projection techniques on miniatures.
• Motion Control Timelapse – Watch this production timelapse of the motion control technology being used.
• Teaser Trailer
• Main Trailer
• Reviews Trailer

Still Gallery

• Presented here are extras as they appeared in the “Imaging Station" on the Special Edition DVD release of THE ABYSS, along with the trailers. Since their original presentation has been preserved, resolution and clarity will vary from element to element.

 

True Lies - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Product Specifications

Street Date
Digital: December 12, 2023
Physical: March 12, 2024

Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code)

Feature Run Time
Approx. 141 minutes

Rating
U.S. Rated R

Aspect Ratio
Digital: 2.39:1
Physical: 2.39:1

Disc Size
4K UHD: 100GB
Blu-ray: 50GB

U.S. Audio
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 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio (some platforms)

4K UHD: English Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital AD, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Blu-ray: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital AD, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

U.S. Subtitles
Digital: English SDH, Spanish
Physical: English SDH, Spanish, French

Bonus Features:

NEW Documentary

• Fear Is Not an Option: A Look Back at TRUE LIES – Unveil the explosive behind-the-scenes secrets of TRUE LIES with the cast and crew as they share untold tales of daring stunts, cutting-edge technology, and the comedic genius that brought this spy-thriller to life.

Archives:

• Script, Artwork, Marketing – Dive into the production secrets of True Lies with these exclusive behind-the-scenes documents and more.

ADDITIONAL BONUS:

• Theatrical Trailer

 

Titanic - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Titanic - 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition Collector's Box Set

 

Product Specifications

Street Date
Digital: December 5, 2023
Physical: December 5, 2023

Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray™ + Digital Code) and 4K Ultra HD Limited-Edition Collector’s Boxed Set 

Feature Run Time
Approx. 194 minutes

Rating:
US: PG-13

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

Disc Size
4K UHD: 100GB

U.S. Audio

Digital: English Dolby Atmos (UHD only, some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, LAS Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital - 

4K UHD: English Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 5.1 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital 

U.S. Subtitles
Digital: English SDH, French, Spanish,
Physical: English SDH, French, Spanish 

Bonus Features:

NEW:

• Titanic: Stories From The Heart – Director James Cameron, producer Jon Landau and star Kate Winslet share memories and favorite moments, and recount the challenges of making the greatest love story in cinema history. Go back in time with film clips, photos and behind-the-scenes moments.
• Behind-the-Scenes Presentation Hosted by Jon Landau – Jon Landau introduces a series of behind-the-scenes segments showcasing the making of TITANIC.
• Trailer Presentation Hosted by Jon Landau – Jon Landau shares an inside glimpse into the marketing of TITANIC with a story of how a 4-minute trailer overseen by the filmmakers was delivered to theaters, instead of the original "action" trailer.
• Fan Poster Art Gallery

ADDITIONAL BONUS:

• Titanic: 25 Years Later with James Cameron – James Cameron explores the enduring myths and mysteries of the shipwreck, and mounts tests to see whether Jack could have fit on that raft and survived.
• Commentaries
• Director Commentary by James Cameron (2005) – Watch the film with audio commentary by director James Cameron.
• Cast And Crew Commentary (2005) – Watch the film with audio commentary by cast and crew.
• Historical Commentary by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall (2005) – Watch the film with historical audio commentary by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall.

Reflections on Titanic

• Part 1 – With TITANIC, James Cameron envisioned making a movie on a scale Hollywood had never seen before — from creating the set to casting the leads to ensuring there was a heartfelt story at the center. Many on the outside thought that TITANIC would fail.
• Part 2 – Like the captain of a ship, James Cameron planned to go down with TITANIC whether it succeeded or not. After pushing back the release date to December, test screenings around the globe proved to the team that this film was something special.
• Part 3 – Around the world, moviegoers were singing TITANIC's praises. The emotional connection audiences made with the film launched TITANIC into the pop culture stratosphere. Decades later, TITANIC is still referenced, parodied and beloved by fans everywhere.
• Part 4 – Remastered in 3D for a 2012 re-release — coinciding with the centennial anniversary of the Titanic's tragic voyage — the film's timeless story of romance, drama and action still resonates with audiences everywhere.

Deleted Scenes – Check out scenes that didn't make the final cut.

• James Cameron Introduction (2005)
• “I’ll Be The First”
• Rose Feels Trapped
• Brock’s Dilemma / Rose Visits Third Class
• Rose’s Dreams
• Come Josephine…
• Sneaking to First Class (extended)
• Escape from Lovejoy (extended)
• A Kiss in the Boiler Room
• Wireless Room / The Californian
• “How ‘Bout a Little Ice?”
• Flirting with Ice
• The First “S.O.S.”
• Ismay Panics
• Molly Brown’s Rowing School
• Irish Hospitality
• Ida Straus Won’t Leave
• Farewell to Helga
• Boat Six Won’t Return
• Release the Hounds
• A Husband’s Letter
• Jack and Lovejoy Fight
• Guggenheim and Astor
• “I’m Not Going”
• Cora’s Fate
• Jack and Rose in the Water (extended)
• “Out of the Question”
• “How Dare You!”
• Chinese Man Rescue
• Carpathia Sequence (extended)
• Alternate Ending

Deleted Scenes with James Cameron Commentary – All deleted scenes also available with commentary.

Additional Behind the Scenes

• Deep Dive – James Cameron discusses the preparation that went into filming the underwater scenes of the Titanic wreck.
• Upside-Down Wreck Miniature – Motion control operator Jim Rider and model crew chief Gene Rizzardi detail how they flipped the model of the Titanic wreck upside down to get the perfect shot.
• Escondido Underwater Set – The crew builds the Titanic wreck in an underwater tank in Escondido, duplicating the effects of the ship being underwater for decades.
• Two Roses – Gloria Stuart (Old Rose) and Kate Winslet (Rose Dewitt Bukater) meet to work on perfecting their character's mannerisms and continuity throughout the film.
• Sinking Simulation – Lewis Abernathy (Lewis Bodine) and James Cameron explain how the Titanic sank, and why the simulation of the ship sinking is shown in the film.
• 1912 Morph Transition VFX – Visual effects supervisor Rob Legato explains why models of both the Titanic wreck and the ship in its prime were built. He also talks about new technology that was created to convey James Cameron's vision.
• Melting Pot – The crew discusses how the extras on the set came from different backgrounds and bonded during their time working on the film.
• The Millionaire’s Suite – To emphasize the differences between the classes on the Titanic, executive producer Rae Sanchini and producer Jon Landau ensured that the fictional aspects of the story didn't interfere with the historically accurate parts.
• Titanic at Sea – Visual effects supervisor Rob Legato details how the shots of the Titanic in the water were achieved without rebuilding the ship in its entirety.
• Digital People – Visual effects supervisor Rob Legato discusses how motion capture was used to populate the ship and make the scenes more realistic.
• The Big Exterior Ship Set – The crew describes the ship they built, including the parts they chose not to build.
• Rose Suicide – Director of photography Russell Carpenter reveals the intricacies of blocking and shooting the scene where Rose contemplates suicide.
• Tux Story – How Jack got a tuxedo for his first-class dinner with Rose.
• The Grand Staircase – Art director Martin Laing and production designer Peter Lamont explain how they recreated the grand staircase from the Titanic.
• First-Class Dining Shoot – How the crew recreated the dining saloon, down to the last detail, and how they prepared to drop it into a tank of water for the Titanic's sinking scenes.
• The Dinner Shoot – The cast reveals how they made the long shoots in the dining saloon more entertaining.
• Third-Class Party – Kate Winslet recounts the joy of shooting the dancing scene in the film.
• A Woman’s Place – The cast and crew discuss Rose's place as a woman in the 20th century, and how she broke free of the mold created for women like her.
• The Etiquette Kid – Etiquette coach Lynne Hockney gives James Cameron some suggestions for how to direct the mothers and children in the dining room.
• The Boiler Room – Art director Martin Laing and production designer Peter Lamont describe how they built the boiler room and made the environment look realistic.
• Flooding Hold Miniature – Model crew chief Gene Rizzardi explains how they built a rig connected to a fire hose to mimic the hold flooding.
• Boiler Room Flooding – The crew discuss the difficult, yet fun, shooting of the boiler room flooding scene.
• Shooting In Steerage – The cast and crew recount the difficulties of navigating the hallway sets during filming.
• Kate's Action Costume – Costume designer Deborah Scott describes the dress Kate Winslet wore in the latter half of the film.
• Lifeboats 13 and 15 – See how this gripping scene — the descent of two lifeboats full of panicking people escaping the sinking ship — was coordinated.
• Stage Two Sinking Set – Go behind the scenes of Jack and Rose's escape through the flooding hallways of the ship's underbelly.
• Faking A Tilt – Jon Landau reveals some of the visual tricks the filmmakers employed to make the sinking of the ship more realistic and terrifying.
• Falling Funnel – The Skotak brothers explain how they helped create the stunning moment when a smokestack falls, crushing passengers and creating a wave that disrupts the flow of lifeboats.
• Sinking Videomatic – Explore the filming methods used to achieve James Cameron's exact vision of the sinking sequence.
• Vertical Poop Deck Stunts – Catch the amazing stunts performed on the vertical poop deck where actors had to safely fall down the "sinking ship.
• Exterior Tank Shoot – See the testing of the cold, open-air tank that was used to film dozens of extras portraying floating, frozen corpses.
• Ice Makeup – Get a behind-the-scenes look into how the makeup team captured the harrowing aftermath of those in the water on the night that the Titanic sank.
• Open Lifeboats And The Carpathia – Ken Marschall's emotional painting — of Titanic's survivors reaching the Carpathia — is brought to life on screen.
• Carpathia Medal – See the medals gifted to the crew of the Carpathia — upon the ship's return to New York — from the eternally grateful survivors of the Titanic
• Making The Music Video – Celine Dion speaks about the honor of singing TITANIC's beautiful theme song and filming the music video.
• Deep-Dive Presentation Narrated by James Cameron – Narrated by James Cameron, this video features footage from the actual Titanic wreck. Hear how the wreck inspired his vision for the film and learn about some of the obstacles getting footage from the actual wreck to use in the film.
• $200,000,001: A Ship's Odyssey (The TITANIC Crew Video) – See funny moments on set with some of the cast and crew.

Videomatics

• Videomatics Introduction – Join James Cameron and the rest of the crew to see how they used previsualization and videomatics to prepare for shooting.
• Sinking Sequence – See how James Cameron brought his vision of the sinking Titanic to life before it was shot.
• Deep Dive – Learn how James Cameron prepared, before the crew entered the water, for their deep dive and shooting of the Titanic wreck.

Visual Effects

• VFX Shot Breakdown: "Engine Room" – Discover how the engine room was made to look realistic.
• VFX How-To For "I'm Flying" – Learn how the crew placed Jack and Rose at the bow of the ship for the "flying" scene.
• VFX How-To For "First-Class Lounge" – Discover how Rose and others were placed using the miniature model of the first-class lounge.
• Titanic Sinking Simulation – Take a look at a reference simulation created to see how the ship sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Music Video “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion – Watch and listen to Celine Dion perform the award-winning song “My Heart Will Go On,” written for the movie by Will Jennings and James Horner.

Still Galleries

TITANIC will also debut in a Limited-Edition Collector’s Boxed Set that’s a must-have for fans and perfect for gift giving.  This spectacular set includes all of the above along with the following exclusive collectibles in an elegant slipcase:

• A hardcover coffee table book detailing the making of the film’s most iconic scenes
• A detailed schematic inspired by the actual ship blueprint, highlighting locations of key scenes  
• Movie prop reproductions of a boarding pass, launch viewing ticket, ship menus, and notes from Jack to Rose and Rose to Cal
• Sheet music for the multi-award-winning hit “My Heart Will Go On”

Avatar: Collector's Edition - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

 

Avatar - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook

 

Avatar - Blu-ray 3D 

THREE VERSIONS OF THE FILM INCLUDING THEATRICAL VERSION, SPECIAL EDITION AND COLLECTOR’S EXTENDED CUT

Product Specifications

Street Date
Digital: December 12, 2023
Physical: December 19, 2023

Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code),
Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + Digital Code)

Theatrical Version Run Time
Approx. 162 Minutes

Special Edition Run Time
Approx. 170 Minutes

Collector’s Extended Cut Run Time
Approx. 178 Minutes

Rating
U.S. Rated PG-13

Aspect Ratio
Digital: 1.78:1
Physical: 1.78:1

Disc Size
4K UHD: 100GB
Blu-ray 3D: 50GB
Blu-ray: 50GB

U.S. Audio
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)

4K UHD Extended Edition: 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

4K UHD Special Edition: 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English Family Friendly 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

4K UHD Theatrical Edition: English Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital AD, English Family Friendly 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Blu-ray 3D Theatrical Edition: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital AD, English Family Friendly 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Blu-ray Extended Edition: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Blu-ray Special Edition: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Family Friendly 2.0 Dolby Digital

Blu-ray Theatrical Edition: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Dolby Digital AD, English Family Friendly 2.0 Dolby Digital

U.S. Subtitles
Digital: English SDH, Spanish
4K UHD: English SDH, Spanish, French
Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray 3D: English SDH, Spanish, French

Bonus Features

NEW:

• Behind-The-Scenes Presentation Hosted by Jon Landau – Join Jon Landau as he unlocks the cinematic secrets behind the making of AVATAR.
• Colonel Miles Quaritch RDA Promos – Get an inside look into the RDA with these in-universe promos hosted by Colonel Miles Quaritch.
• New Still Gallery – Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña Special Shoot

ADDITIONAL BONUS:

• English Family Audio Track Theatrical and Special Edition Release – 5.1 Dolby Digital

Direct Access to New/Additional Scenes – Special Edition

• Herd – As they fly over Pandora in Trudy’s gunship, Jake, Grace and Norm get a closer look at some of Pandora’s creatures 
• The Schoolhouse – Entering an abandoned schoolhouse in the jungle with Grace and Norm to retrieve supplies, Jake makes a grim discovery.
• Purple Moss – Jake follows Neytiri after his rescue, and delights in the bioluminescent moss that glows beneath his feet with every step.
• I Don’t Even Know Your Name – Newly tasked with teaching Jake the Na'vi ways, Neytiri brings him to dinner with the entire clan.
• What Does Hold Them Up? – The avatar team lands at their new base camp in the Hallelujah Mountains, and Jake and Norm marvel at the floating mountains.
• Extended Montage – Jake learns the ways of the Pandoran forest under Neytiri’s tutelage, and the gulf between his two worlds grows ever wider.
• Neytiri’s Flyby – As Tsu'tey, Jake and two other young hunters travel across suspended vines to dizzying heights, Neytiri sails past on her banshee.
• Sturmbeest Hunt – Omaticayan hunters on direhorses attack a massive herd of sturmbeests, while Jake takes aim from atop his banshee.
• Extended Love Scene – Jake and Neytiri confess their feelings for one another and bond together for life under the Tree of Voices in this extended scene.
• Drums of War – The morning after the military’s attack on the Tree of Voices, Parker and Quaritch get some bad news from the reconnaissance team.
• Tsu’tey’s Fall – In the RDA assault, Tsu'tey fights fiercely after boarding the Valkyrie shuttle. But the soldiers counter with a hail of bullets.
• Sturmbeest Attack – Sturmbeests charge to the rescue when Neytiri is cornered by RDA soldiers in AMP suits.
• Extended Thanator Fight – Neytiri and her fearsome thanator battle Colonel Quaritch in his AMP suit in this extended sequence.
• The Last Shadow – When Neytiri and Jake find Tsu'tey mortally wounded, he passes leadership of the Omaticaya to Jake, with one last request of him.

Direct Access to New/Additional Scenes – Collector’s Extended Cut

• Earth – Jake navigates a bleak, dystopian Earth before tragic news offers an escape.
• Herd – As they fly over Pandora in Trudy’s gunship, Jake, Grace and Norm get a closer look at some of Pandora’s creatures 
• The Schoolhouse – Entering an abandoned schoolhouse in the jungle with Grace and Norm to retrieve supplies, Jake makes a grim discovery.
• Purple Moss – Jake follows Neytiri after his rescue, and delights in the bioluminescent moss that glows beneath his feet with every step.
• I Don’t Even Know Your Name – Newly tasked with teaching Jake the Na'vi ways, Neytiri brings him to dinner with the entire clan.
• Sylwanin – Norm spars with Jake, who proceeds to one-up him. But Jake’s mention of Neytiri dredges up painful memories for Grace.
• What Does Hold Them Up? – The avatar team lands at their new base camp in the Hallelujah Mountains, and Jake and Norm marvel at the floating mountains.
• Alternate Montage with Grace’s Story – As Jake learns the Na'vi ways, the gulf between his two worlds grows wider, and Grace shares the tragic tale of Neytiri’s sister.
• Neytiri’s Flyby – As Tsu'tey, Jake and two other young hunters travel across suspended vines to dizzying heights, Neytiri sails past on her banshee.
• Sturmbeest Hunt – Omaticayan hunters on direhorses attack a massive herd of sturmbeests, while Jake takes aim from atop his banshee.
• Extended Love Scene – Jake and Neytiri confess their feelings for one another and bond together for life under the Tree of Voices in this extended scene.
• Drums of War – The morning after the military’s attack on the Tree of Voices, Parker and Quaritch get some bad news from the reconnaissance team.
• They Bulldozed a Sacred Site – Grace and Jake suspect that the RDA forces are plotting to provoke a Na'vi attack, as Trudy brings alarming news.
• Tsu’tey’s Fall – In the RDA assault, Tsu'tey fights fiercely after boarding the Valkyrie shuttle. But the soldiers counter with a hail of bullets.
• Strumbeest Attack – Sturmbeests charge to the rescue when Neytiri is cornered by RDA soldiers in AMP suits.
• Extended Thanator Fight – Neytiri and her fearsome thanator battle Colonel Quaritch in his AMP suit in this extended sequence.
• The Last Shadow – When Neytiri and Jake find Tsu'tey mortally wounded, he passes leadership of the Omaticaya to Jake, with one last request of him.

Memories from Avatar – Producer Jon Landau leads a spirited conversation with cast members, Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang, recalling warm memories from production and reflecting on the extraordinary success of Avatar.

Avatar: A Look Back – In this retrospective, cast and filmmakers reflect on their extraordinary journey making Avatar, the groundbreaking technologies they used to create an unparalleled cinematic experience, and the profound effect the film had on audiences worldwide.

Capturing Avatar – Journey with James Cameron and crew in this feature-length documentary, as they embark on a film the likes of which the world had never seen.

• Part One – After years of testing, research and design, James Cameron’s tackled Avatar, "the most complex film" in his storied career.
• Part Two – Actors and technology are pushed to the limit as James Cameron pushes the boundaries of a groundbreaking, new filmmaking paradigm.
• Part Three – James Cameron used ground-breaking technology to merge the virtual and live-action elements of his film.
• Part Four – The edit room became ground zero as music, sound and visual effects were finalized in order to make the film’s release date.

Featurettes – Take a closer look at the creation of Pandora and the making of Avatar with featurettes on key aspects of production design, performance capture, and the post-production process.

• Sculpting Avatar – Explore how clay maquettes were sculpted to help bring Avatar’s characters and creatures to life.
• Creating the Banshee – Discover all that went into designing the Banshees, high-flying predators of the Pandoran sky.
• Creating the Thanator – James Cameron and team reveal how the most terrifying beast in the Pandoran rain forest was brought to the screen.
• The AMP Suit – Explore the design of the AMP (Amplified Mobility Platform) and discover why it was the perfect weapon for Colonel Quaritch.
• Flying Vehicles – Explore the design of the RDA’s gunships and how they helped ground the story in a realistic world audiences could connect to.
• Na’vi Costumes – Discover the costumes of Avatar and why it was essential to create real-world costumes for characters that were seen only in a virtual world.
• Speaking Na’vi – Delve into the complex Na'vi language created for Avatar, and the challenging task for the cast who had to speak it.
• Pandora Flora – Explore the science behind the Pandoran rainforest, including the exotic plants and bioluminescence.
• Stunts – James Cameron and Avatar’s stunt coordinators discuss how they learned to move like a Na’vi, ride a Leonopteryx, and more.
• Performance Capture – Discover how the actors' actions, emotions and spirit were captured in performance and transferred to a virtual character.
• Virtual Camera – Discover the virtual camera system that allowed James Cameron to apply camera angles, lighting and movement to his scenes long after the performance capture phase was completed.
• The 3D Fusion Camera – Explore the newly designed 3D Fusion camera system which enabled the filmmakers to create an immersive stereographic experience.
• The Simul-Cam – See how the newly created Simul-Cam seamlessly integrated the virtual world with the live action camera, allowing Jake’s avatar to appear in a scene with real-world actors.
• Editing Avatar – James Cameron and the film’s editors reveal the unique challenges they faced editing Avatar, and the benefits of "learning as you go”.
• Scoring Avatar – Composer James Horner and James Cameron discuss how Avatar’s score was grounded in the familiar while evoking a breathtaking new world.
• Sound Design – Explore the sounds of Pandora, including the Banshee, Direhorse and Thanator, as well as the near-future engineering sounds of the Dragon, Scorpion and more.
• The Haka: The Spirit of New Zealand – On the final day of production, the New Zealand stuntmen honored James Cameron with a traditional Haka dance.

Production Materials

• The 2006 Art Reel – Explore a video montage of striking artwork that inspired the movie’s look and feel, accompanied by temp dialogue and score.
• Brother Termite Test – Watch footage created by James Cameron’s production company for a science-fiction movie that was ultimately never produced.
• THE ILM Prototype with Motion Capture Reference – View a VFX test of the scene in which Jake and Neytiri meet, with performance capture reference.
• The ILM Prototype without Motion Capture Reference – View a VFX test of the scene in which Jake and Neytiri meet, without performance capture reference.
• Screen Test - Sam Worthington (Raw Footage) – This raw screen-test footage shows Sam Worthington nailing the part of Jake Sully in AVATAR.
• Screen Test - Zoe Saldaña (Raw Footage) – Zoe Saldaña tackles three scenes: Neytiri meeting Jake, their first visit to the Tree of Voices, and her learning of his deceit.
• Zoe's Life Cast (Raw Footage) – Zoe Saldaña undergoes the all-encompassing process of creating the life cast that will transform her into Neytiri.
• James Cameron Speech: Beginning of Live Action Filming (Raw Footage) – Director James Cameron inspires and gives thanks to the crew on the first day of live-action filming in New Zealand.
• ILM VFX Progression – Break down the layers of effects in a series of shots that showcase AVATAR’s battles, vehicles and explosions.
• Framestore VFX Progression – This reel opens a window into the art of worldbuilding through visual effects, highlighting Jake’s arrival on Pandora and more.
• [HY·DRAU"LX] VFX Progression – Examine the layers of effects in shots such as the interior of Trudy’s gunner, the shuttle bringing Jake to Pandora, and more.
• Hybride VFX Progression – Experience how the layering of effects in various shots from AVATAR helps bring these scenes to life on screen.
• Prime Focus VFX Progression – See the effects layered into the base’s control room where Jake tells the Colonel and Selfridge about Hometree, and more.
• Look Effects, Inc. VFX Progression – Unpeel the effects in various shots from the base and mountain camps.
• Crew Film: The Volume – AVATAR cast and crew members appear in a spoof about a mo- cap actor.

A Message from Pandora – See how James Cameron’s lifelong quest to protect the environment led him to fight for the Amazon and its indigenous peoples

Deleted Scenes – Check out scenes that didn't make the final cut.

• User's Guide for Viewing AVATAR Scenes with Unfinished Shots – A tutorial on the different types of unfinished shots seen throughout the deleted material.
• Stingbat Attack 
• Pandora Rules
• Jake Meets Norm (First Cut)
• Jake Sees Decanted Avatars
• Norm Is a Living God
• Breakfast with the Scientists 
• You're in My World Now 
• Grandma's Teylu
• Pied Piper
• Going to the Mountains
• Interspecies Booty Call
• Norm's Attitude Improves 
• Learning Montage Section Early Cut
• We're Buying Time 
• Hunt Festival 
• Driving Range 
• The Dreamhunt 
• The Challenge
• The Drums of War (Full Version)
• Escape
• The Eye of Eywa
• You're a Long Way from Earth
• Battle Camp 
• Kick Some Blue Ass
• Wainfleet Kills Norm 
• Neytiri Kills Wainfleet (Alt Wainfleet Death)
• The Avatars Attack
• New Life

Scene Deconstruction – View these scenes in various production stages: final with picture-in- picture reference, template and performance capture.

• Welcome to Your New Body
• First Run
• First Sortie
• Night on Pandora
• Shahaylu
• Seyzey
• You're Mine
• First Flight 
• Toruk Macto 
• You Are Omaticaya Now
• I Am One of You
• I Trusted You
• The Aftermath 
• I See You 
• Fly with Me
• You Chose Me for Something
• Eywa Has Heard You

Archives: Script, Artwork, Marketing

• Theatrical Trailer 
• Teaser Trailer 
• AVATAR: The Original Scriptment 
• AVATAR: Screenplay Written by James Cameron 
• The Art of AVATAR
• The World of Pandora 
• The Creatures 
• Pandora Flora 
• Pandora Bioluminescence 
• The Na'vi 
• The Avatars 
• Maquettes 
• Na'vi Weapons 
• Na'vi Props 
• Na'vi Musical Instruments 
• RDA Designs 
• Flying Vehicles 
• AMP Suit 
• Human Weapons 
• Land Vehicles 
• AVATAR: The Songs 
• Pandorapedia

Still Galleries

• Pandora - The World of AVATAR – Go behind the scenes with James Cameron and Disney's Imagineers to discover what it took to bring the breathtaking world of AVATAR to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Raw Footage Production Elements

• Screen Test - Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña/Raw Footage – In their dual test, the chemistry between Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña lights up the screen.
• Screen Test - Stephen Lang/Raw Footage – Stephen Lang fully inhabits the role of Colonel Miles Quaritch in this series of scenes.
• Screen Test - Giovanni Ribisi/Raw Footage – Watch Parker Selfridge, Administrator of the RDA, come to life in Giovanni Ribisi’s performance.
• Screen Test - Joel David Moore/Raw Footage – Joel David Moore pivots from one scene to another, fully invested in the character of Norm Spellman.
• Screen Test - CCH Pounder/Raw Footage – CCH Pounder controls the room with her regal, imposing presence as Mo'at.
• Screen Test - Laz Alonso/Raw Footage – As the fierce warrior Tsu'tey, Laz Alonso commands attention in this riveting performance.
• Speaking Na'vi (Rehearsal/Raw Footage) – The AVATAR actors make the Na'vi language their own in a series of clips that shows them learning how to speak it
• Wētā Workshop: Walk & Talk Presentation/Raw Footage – Go behind the scenes on a guided tour with Richard Taylor, who breaks down the workings of a series of props.
• Crew Short: The Night Before AVATAR – In this animated short, producer Jon Landau has an unexpected adventure in the lead-up to AVATAR’s opening.

Pandora Discovered – Sigourney Weaver narrates this first look at the world of Pandora.

Avatar: The Way of Water Collector's Edition - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

 

Product Specifications

Street Date
Digital: December 12, 2023
Physical: December 19, 2023

Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code)

Feature Run Time
Approx. 183 minutes

Rating
U.S. Rated PG-13

Aspect Ratio
Digital: 1.85:1
Physical: 1.85:1

Disc Size
4K UHD: 100GB
Blu-ray: 50GB

U.S. Audio
Digital: English Dolby Atmos (UHD only, some platforms), English 7.1, 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 7.1, 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 7.1, 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital (some platforms)

U.S. Audio

Digital: English Dolby Atmos (UHD only, some platforms), English 7.1, 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 7.1, 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 7.1, 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio (some platforms)

4K UHD: English Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, English Family Friendly 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus

Blu-ray: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, English Family Friendly 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

U.S. Subtitles
Digital: English SDH, Spanish
4K UHD: English SDH, Spanish, French
Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish

Bonus Features

NEW:

• Behind-the-Scenes Presentation Hosted by Jon Landau – Join Jon Landau as he takes you behind the scenes of the making of AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER and discover the groundbreaking techniques used to bring audiences back to Pandora.
• Memories from AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER – Producer Jon Landau joins Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang in a conversation about their experiences and insights coming back to Pandora 13 years later in AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER.
• Production Design Panel Hosted by Jon Landau – Uncover the inspiration behind the new designs of AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER with the award-winning Production Design team in this conversation hosted by Jon Landau.
• Deleted/Extended Scenes – Check out these scenes that didn't make the final cut.
• User's Guide for Viewing AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER Deleted Scenes and Extended Cuts with Unfinished Shots
• Date Night (Extended Cut)
• Crashed Samson Tiltrotor (Extended Cut)
• Goodbye Mo’at
• Neytiri Rides an Ilu
• Spider Mocks the Recoms
• Neytiri Spearfishes
• Learning Montage
• Ardmore and Quaritch Discuss Jake (Extended Cut)
• Ta’unui Village (Extended Cut)
• The Tulkun Hunt (Extended Cut)
• Scoresby and Garvin Rescued
• Parents from Hell and Standoff (Extended Cut)

Scene Deconstruction – View these scenes in various production stages: final with picture-in-picture reference, template and performance capture.

• Quaritch Wakes Up in His New Body
• The Return to High Camp
• High Camp Biolab
• Quaritch and Ardmore Discuss Their Mission
• Jake and Neytiri Argue
• First Swim
• Lo’ak Meets Payakan
• Jake and Kiri Dock Talk
• Death Rock
• Spider Finds Quaritch Underwater and Saves Him
• Spider Drags Quaritch to Land but Leaves Him

Production Materials

• “One Meal a Day” – James Cameron discusses the on-set initiative to eat one vegan meal a day.
• Editing – Learn, step by step, how the editing team transformed reference camera footage into the compelling narrative of AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER.
• 3D Technology – Learn how the production team pushed 3D technology to new depths in this behind-the-scenes featurette.
• Virtual Camera – Join Richard Baneham, Oscar®-winning visual effects supervisor, and the visual effects team as they discuss the virtual camera's role in the production process.
• Bringing the RDA to Life – Join James Cameron, Jon Landau, David Vickery and the ILM team for a look at the visual effects created for the opening sequences of the film.
• Tank Timelapse – Watch the building of the underwater performance capture tank in this timelapse video.
• Wētā Reel – VFX breakdown of shots by Wētā Effects.
• ILM Reel – VFX breakdown of shots by ILM.
• CJ Jones Sign Language Guide – Learn the basics of the Metkayina sign language from creator CJ Jones.
• JackCam – Join Jack Champion ("Spider") as he interviews cast and crew on the set of AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER.
• Shaman Blessing – A Brazilian shaman blesses the production of AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER.
• Cliff Curtis Blessings – Actor Cliff Curtis gives Maori blessings for the cast and crew of AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER.

Beyond the Big Screen

• Pandora – The World of AVATAR – Discover the story behind the artistry and imagination of Pandora – the World of AVATAR at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
• Crew Movie – AVATAR – The Way of the Jimverse – Join producer Jon Landau on an animated adventure across the Jimverse to restore order and save the world of Pandora.
• James Cameron and Jon Landau Hand and Footprint Ceremony – See James Cameron and Jon Landau honored with a hand and footprint ceremony in front of the world-famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA.
• “Scene at the Academy” – Check out this Academy featurette for AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, diving into a key moment from the film.

Archives: Script, Artwork, Marketing

• Monday Night Football TV Spot – Watch the TV spot broadcast exclusively during ESPN's "Monday Night Football."

Archives: Script, Artwork, Marketing – Dive into the AVATAR Archives with these exclusive behind-the- scenes production assets.

ADDITIONAL BONUS:

Inside Pandora's Box – A series of featurettes on the challenges facing cast and crew as filmmakers devise new technologies to push the limits of cinema.

• Building the World of Pandora – James Cameron and a team of talented artists combine years of research with their design skills to build the world of Pandora with new characters, creatures, indigenous clans, underwater environments and the take-no-prisoners hard-tech world of the RDA.
• Capturing Pandora – James Cameron’s approach to performance capture has the cast performing in a volume rigged with infrared cameras to capture their movement, and head rig cameras to capture emotion on their faces with only the boundaries of imagination to limit them.
• The Undersea World of Pandora – Co-production designer Dylan Cole and his team conceive of the marine creatures required for Avatar: The Way of Water while James Cameron and his stunt team devise extraordinary means to bring those creatures to life in a performance capture tank.
• The Challenges of Pandora's Waters – James Cameron tackles the “non-trivial challenge” of performance capture above and below the water’s surface, utilizing a wave machine and current generator to reproduce ocean conditions, and underwater vehicles to replicate creature movement.
• Pandora’s Returning Characters – James Cameron reunites with his returning cast – Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang. Together they discuss the amazing evolution of their characters in Avatar: The Way of Water.
• Pandora’s Next Generation – Meet the talented young newcomers who have been cast as the next generation of Na’vi and follow them through the adventure of making Avatar: The Way of Water.
• Spider's Web – James Cameron introduced the human character of Spider into the fabric of Pandora – thus creating a host of technological challenges on set…and an incredible journey for the young actor, Jack Champion.
• Becoming Na’vi – The Avatar cast is immersed in the culture of the indigenous Na’vi, living off the land in the Hawaiian rainforest and training in a multitude of disciplines in preparation for their roles.
• The Reef People of Pandora – In true James Cameron-style, the Metkayina reef clan has been developed with great attention to detail, bearing unique evolutionary traits and a culture – with new dwellings, new clothes and different way of life – all a result of living off the ocean.
• Bringing Pandora to Life – Once James Cameron completes his virtual production process, every sequence is turned over to Wētā FX to bring Pandora to life – with unprecedented advancements in facial performance, environments and making CG water look real.
• The RDA Returns to Pandora – Co-production designer Ben Procter and his team present an armada of new vehicles and human technologies that the RDA brings to Pandora – in concept design and with practical builds.
• The New Characters of Pandora – Meet the important new characters of the Avatar saga played by Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell and Jemaine Clement.
• The Sounds of Pandora – Hear how James Cameron worked with composer Simon Franglen to create the distinctive music of The Way of Water while building on James Horner’s brilliant score for Avatar, and learn how Chris Boyes created the immersive sounds of Pandora.
• New Zealand – Pandora’s Home – The production of the Avatar sequels is so thoroughly ensconced in New Zealand that James Cameron considers The Way of Water a “New Zealand film.” Hear reflections from the cast and crew, including the remarkable New Zealand crew, on making the film.

More from Pandora's Box – Additional featurettes that highlight special teams within the production

• Casting – Discover the screen tests that won the talented young cast their roles in Avatar: The Way of Water.
• Stunts – The Avatar stunt team isn’t just creating breathtaking action, they’re driving the story. From racing underwater on ilus, flying the skies on ikrans, to maneuvering RDA speed boats, the stunt team leaves you breathless and wanting more.
• The Lab – Explore the Lightstorm Lab, the backbone of virtual production for the Avatar films. Comprised of specialized teams, the Lab builds & supports every aspect of the production – environments, motion edit, Kabuki, sequence, post-viz and software development.
• The Troupe – Avatar’s Troupe is the Swiss Army Knife of acting, while playing dozens of roles on set, in the performance capture volume and on live-action sets, they bring life to Na’vi clans and RDA Recoms. They also play Na’vi-scale puppets on the live-action sets.

Marketing Materials & Music Video – Marketing materials used to build audience awareness of the film

• Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength) Music Video – Multi Grammy-winning, music superstar, The Weeknd, performs his emotionally packed end title song in the official music video for the smash hit “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength).”
• Theatrical Trailers 1 & 2 – Avatar: The Way of Water used two theatrical trailers to engage the audience. The first was a teaser trailer released 7 months before the film. The second was a standard trailer that premiered 5 weeks before the film’s release.

Okay - so that was A LOT to dig into! Remember pre-orders start officially November 20th, but don't be surprised if a few crop up before then! 

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Denzel Washington reprises his role as former government assassin Robert McCall in Antoine Fuqua and Sony's The Equalizer 3 targeting 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBbook and Blu-ray with 3-film sets all arriving on November 14th.

Digital will be available on November 7.

Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.

The Equalizer 3 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

The Equalizer 3 - Blu-ray 

 

The Equalizer 3 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

 

The 4K UHD Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital combo pack will include a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements for include:

• Special Features
• Over 15 Minutes of Deleted Scenes (exclusively on 4K & Blu-Ray™)
• Blood Brothers: The Collaboration of Denzel Washington & Antoine Fuqua
• Call To Action
• Robert McCall: A Man of The People
• Denzel and Dakota: A Reunion
• Postcards from the Amalfi Coast
• Jacob Banks “Monster” Lyric Video

There will also be 3-film Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray collections and the latter exclusively includes IMAX-Enhanced disc-based presentations of the films, with immersive DTS-X audio for THE EQUALIZER 2 and THE EQUALIZER 3.

Denzel Washington is Robert McCall, an ex-assassin with a mysterious past, who returns to action to serve vengeance for the exploited and oppressed. Witness his transformation from a solitary avenger to an unstoppable force, fighting ruthless adversaries from Russian gangsters to the Italian mafia in this heart-pounding 3-movie collection of action, justice, and redemption.

Pre-orders for The Equalizer 3 are up and here is the full press release:

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DENZEL WASHINGTON RETURNS WITH A VENGEANCE IN ‘THE EQUALIZER 3’

“DENZEL DOES IT AGAIN.” - SIMON THOMPSON, FORBES

AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL NOVEMBER 7 AND ON 4K, BLU-RAY™, AND DVD NOVEMBER 14 A MULTI-FEATURE INCLUDING ALL FILMS WITHIN THE FRANCHISE WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE

The 3-film 4K Ultra HD multi-feature exclusively includes IMAX-Enhanced disc-based presentations of the films, with immersive DTS-X audio for THE EQUALIZER 2 and THE EQUALIZER 3. SYNOPSIS Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.  Multi-feature: Denzel Washington is Robert McCall, an ex-assassin with a mysterious past, who returns to action to serve vengeance for the exploited and oppressed. Witness his transformation from a solitary avenger to an unstoppable force, fighting ruthless adversaries from Russian gangsters to the Italian mafia in this heart-pounding 3-movie collection of action, justice, and redemption.   SPECIAL FEATURES THE EQUALIZER 3 4K & BLU-RAY™ Special Features Over 15 Minutes of Deleted Scenes (exclusively on 4K & Blu-Ray™) Blood Brothers: The Collaboration of Denzel Washington & Antoine Fuqua Call To Action Robert McCall: A Man of The People Denzel and Dakota: A Reunion Postcards from the Amalfi Coast Jacob Banks “Monster” Lyric Video DVD AND DIGITAL Special Features Blood Brothers: The Collaboration of Denzel Washington & Antoine Fuqua Call To Action Robert McCall: A Man of The People Denzel and Dakota: A Reunion Postcards from the Amalfi Coast Jacob Banks “Monster” Lyric Video 4K, Blu-ray™ and DVD include a digital code for movie and bonus materials as listed above, redeemable via Movies Anywhere for a limited time. Movies Anywhere is open to U.S. residents age 13+. Visit MoviesAnywhere.com for terms and conditions.   CAST AND CREW Directed by: Antoine Fuqua Written by: Richard Wenk Produced by: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Denzel Washington, Antoine Fuqua, Steve Tisch, Clayton Townsend, Alex Siskin, Tony Eldrige, Michael Sloan Executive Producers: David Bloomfield, Tarak Ben Ammar, Andy Mitchell Cast: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Gaia Scodellaro, Remo Girone, Andrea Sarduzio  SPECS Run Time: Approx. 109 Mins. Rating: R. Strong Bloody Violence and Some Language. Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian.   4K UHD™: 2160p Ultra High Definition / 2.39:1 • Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible), French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English & French (Doublé au Québec) - Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Color Blu-ray™: 1080p High Definition / 2.39:1 • Audio: English & French (Doublé au Québec) 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English & French (Doublé au Québec) - Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Mastered in High Definition • Color DVD: 2.39:1 Anamorphic Widescreen • Audio: English, French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital,  English & French (Doublé au Québec)- Audio Description Tracks Stereo • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Color

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Now that the scary rush of horror and genre films is over, we can brace ourselves for the impact of a mass holiday-timed releases. We're getting classics we've always wanted on disc, we're getting old favorites seeing their first 4K releases, and we're also getting a whole swath of new releases. The holidays are always a crazy time of year for big exciting releases and November 2023 is no different. Hope you've got some spare change in those couch cushions because this one is going to get pricy. 

November 2023 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Shopping Guide

November 7th - 4K UHD Blu-ray Releases

Starting out the month, we're getting everything from one of the best 80s thrillers starring Harrison Ford to a couple of the funniest Christmas comedies ever made. On top of that there are plenty of retail exclusives to get excited for. 

        

        

      

          

 

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November 14th - 4K UHD Blu-ray Releases

From demonic nuns to classic 70s cinema getting a criterion release to Spielberg's first film (made for television that is) and one of the greatest sports movies ever all are coming to 4K. From true drama classics to big action to one of the silliest YA franchises, there's a lot to get for yourself, or keep in mind when shopping for gifts. 

        

        

    

       

 

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November 21st - 4K UHD Releases 

Things don't slow down much in the third week of the month. We see the return of everyone's favorite killer Jigsaw just in time for your Thanksgiving feast on top of one of Harrison Ford's best films, another Scorsese great, and one of the best WWII prison films along with the second half of the infamous Barbenheimer! 

      

       

       

        

       

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November 28th - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases 

As the final week before the big December holiday shopping push, this frame tends to be the busiest filled with major new releases and tantalizing catalog upgrades. While we're getting some great stuff here, this final weekend of the month is actually a little quiet. But the reason is probably because that first weekend of December is going to be a real wallet-buster. Until then some great horror, science fiction, drama, and thrillers will have to keep you busy.

         

       

        

         

   

That is it for this month's 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray shopping guide. Keep in mind all release dates are tentative and sometimes titles get bumped back, but then we can see some last-minute additions like last month with Barbie. Until next time, thank you for all of your pre-orders, they go a long way towards keeping our little show up and running. 

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Neill Blomkamp's Gran Turismo based on a true story and starring David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner and Djimon Hounsou will part itself on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on November 7. The film is on digital/on demand now.

SteelBook fans will need to put the pedal to the metal and head on over to Best Buy (4K) and Walmart.

Gran Turismo is based on the unbelievable true story of a team of unlikely underdogs – a struggling working-class gamer (Archie Madekwe), a failed former racecar driver (David Harbour), and an idealistic motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom). Together, they risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world. Gran Turismo is an inspiring, thrilling, and action-packed story that proves that nothing is impossible when you’re fueled from within.

Gran Turismo - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Gran Turismo - Blu-ray 

 

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

4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL EXTRAS

• Special Features:
  • Deleted & Extended Scenes
  • The Engine: Driving the Visuals
  • The Pit Crew: Action and Stunts
  • The Garage: The Amazing Automobiles
  • The Plan: The True Story of Jann Mardenborough
  • The Wheels: The Fast-Acting Cast 

Here are some of the retailer exclusives coming our way:

Gran Turismo - Best Buy 4K Ultra HD SteelBook 

  

Gran Turismo - Walmart Exclusive Blu-ray SteelBook

 

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

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EXPERIENCE THE TRIUMPH OF AN UNDERDOG:  "GRAN TURISMO: BASED ON A TRUE STORY"  SPEEDS INTO YOUR LIVING ROOM

“THE FEEL-GOOD MOVIE OF THE YEAR!” - Shawn Edwards / FOX TV KANSAS CITY

AVAILABLE ON 4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ & DVD NOVEMBER 7 ON DIGITAL NOW SYNOPSIS Gran Turismo is based on the unbelievable true story of a team of unlikely underdogs – a struggling working-class gamer (Archie Madekwe), a failed former racecar driver (David Harbour), and an idealistic motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom). Together, they risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world. Gran Turismo is an inspiring, thrilling, and action-packed story that proves that nothing is impossible when you’re fueled from within.   SPECIAL FEATURES 4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL EXTRAS Special Features: Deleted & Extended Scenes The Engine: Driving the Visuals The Pit Crew: Action and Stunts The Garage: The Amazing Automobiles The Plan: The True Story of Jann Mardenborough The Wheels: The Fast-Acting Cast  Blu-ray™, 4K UHD and DVD include a digital code for movie and bonus materials as listed above, redeemable via Movies Anywhere for a limited time. Movies Anywhere is open to U.S. residents age 13+. Visit MoviesAnywhere.com for terms and conditions.   CAST AND CREW Directed by: Neill Blomkamp Produced by: Doug Belgrad, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Dana Brunetti Screenplay by: Jason Hall and Zach Baylin Story by: Jason Hall and Alex Tse Based on: The Play Station Studios Video Game Executive Producers: Matthew Hirsch, Jason Hall, Kazunori Yamauchi, Hermen Hulst Cast: David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner and Djimon Hounsou SPECS Run Time: Approx. 134 Mins. Rating: PG-13. Intense Action and Some Strong Language   4K UHD: 2160p Ultra High Definition / 1,90:1 • Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible), French (Doublé au Québec) 5.1 DTS-HD MA, Spanish, English & French (Doublé au Québec)  – Audio Description Tracks 5/1 Dolby Digital • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Color Blu-ray™: 1080p High Definition / 1.90:1 • Audio: English & French (Doublé au Québec) 5.1 DTS-HD MA, Spanish, English & French (Doublé au Québec) - Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Mastered in High Definition • Color DVD: 1.90:1 Anamorphic Widescreen • Audio: English & French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish, English - Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital, French (Doublé au Québec) - Audio Description Track Dolby Surround • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Mastered in High Definition • Color

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We were somewhere around Barstow, near the desert, when the 4K UHD Dolby Vision took hold... 

The greatest drug-fueled road trip that goes nowhere comedy, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas scores four new 3-Disc Mediabooks from Germany's Turbine Medien. Complete with Dolby Vision HDR (and HDR10), Turbine offers up four unique and damned cool-looking Mediabook cover options as well as hours of new and archival bonus features to dig through. 

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover A
Limited to 666 Units 

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover B
Limited to 666 Units

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover C
Limited to 444 Units

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover D
Limited to 555 Units 

Bonus material:

• Director's Cut with full dubbing for the first time
• German premiere of the documentary GONZO - THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON on a bonus Blu- ray
• Audio commentary by director Terry Gilliam
• Interviews with actor Benicio Del Toro, producer Laila Nabulsi, cinematographer Nicola Pecorini and others
• Deleted scenes with optional audio commentary by Terry Gilliam
• Featurette Spotlight on Location
• Behind the Scenes
• EPK interviews with Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro and Terry Gilliam
• Trailers and TV spots
• Extensive storyboard and production design galleries
• 56-page book section on the background and history of the film by Christoph N. Kellerbach

Technical Specifications:

• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (2160p24 4K Ultra HD) with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, 2.35:1 (1080p24 Full HD),
• GONZO: 1.78:1 (1080p24 Full HD)
• Language/Sound: German DTS-HD MA 5.1, English DTS-HD MA 5.1, English DTS-HD MA 2.0
• Subtitles: German, English, German for the Hearing Impaired, English for the Hearing Impaired
• Runtime: 118 minutes

All four of these Mediabooks drop on October 26th and are up for pre-order! 

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Ahead of the upcoming musical remake, Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated classic comes to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to help celebrate Warner Bros. 100th. 

Warner Bros. certainly is keeping the 100th Anniversary celebration rolling giving collectors a 4K upgrade of Spielberg's classic drama. With an all-star cast including Danny Glover as well as Woopie Golberg's breakout role and the first acting turn from Oprah Winfrey. We don't have full specs, and we don't know the final audio format or HDR grade, but given it's Spielberg, it's sure to look and sound incredible. Here's the show as we know it:

The Color Purple - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

The Color Purple Ultra HD Blu-ray disc contains the following previously released special features:

• Conversations with the Ancestors: The Color Purple from Book to Screen
• A Collaboration of Spirits: Casting and Acting The Color Purple
• Cultivating a Classic: The Making of The Color Purple
• The Color Purple: The Musical
• Teaser #1
• Teaser #2
• Trailer

Now up for pre-order, we don't see any U.S. retailer exclusives yet, but this being a Warner Bros. title, I imagine a more interesting release will be seen in the U.K.

Here's the full pre-order:

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THE COLOR PURPLE COMES TO 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAYTM AND DIGITAL   THE ACCLAIMED FILM WHICH WAS NOMINATED FOR 11 ACADEMY AWARDS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR)   Purchase the film on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital on December 5th

Burbank, Calif., October 17, 2023 – As part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, the epic coming-of-age period drama The Color Purple from Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan) will be available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital for the first time this December.   On December 5th The Color Purple will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.   The film was directed by Spielberg from a screenplay by Menno Meyjes and is based on Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name.   The Color Purple stars Danny Glover, Adolph Caesar, Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong, Whoopi Goldberg in her breakthrough role, and Oprah Winfrey in her film debut.   The film was produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Spielberg, and Quincy Jones.   The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Best Actress (Whoopi Goldberg), Best Supporting Actress (Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey), Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song.     The Color Purple will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc for $33.99 SRP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the theatrical version of the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Digital download of the film. Fans can also own The Color Purple in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on December 5.     About the Film Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey star in director Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple. From 1909 to 1949, Celie, a Southern Black woman, gradually gains self-respect as she strives to educate herself and to find love--despite an abusive spouse and a society biased against her race and her sex.   The Color Purple Ultra HD Blu-ray disc contains the following previously released special features: Conversations with the Ancestors: The Color Purple from Book to Screen A Collaboration of Spirits: Casting and Acting The Color Purple Cultivating a Classic: The Making of The Color Purple The Color Purple: The Musical Teaser #1 Teaser #2 Trailer   The Color Purple Digital release following previously released and new special features: Conversations with the Ancestors: The Color Purple from Book to Screen A Collaboration of Spirits: Casting and Acting The Color Purple Cultivating a Classic: The Making of The Color Purple The Color Purple: The Musical Teaser #1 Teaser #2 Trailer The Color Purple: A Bold New Take – featurette on the 2023 The Color Purple film   BASICS PRODUCT                                                                                  ERP The Color Purple Ultra HD                                                          $33.99              The Color Purple Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish – Latin, Spanish - Castilian, Parisian French Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish – Latin, Spanish – Castilian, Parisian French Run Time: 153 minutes Rating: PG-13 Physical Street Date: December 5 Digital Street Date: December 5

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Tobin Bell returns as the notorious and iconic Jigsaw Killer in Lionsgate's Saw X skewering 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on November 21. Digital arrives just in time for Halloween on October 20.

John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is back. The most chilling installment of the SAW franchise yet explores the untold chapter of Jigsaw’s most personal game. Set between the events of SAW I and II, this story finds a sick and desperate John traveling to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of obtaining a miracle cure for his cancer – only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, John returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through a series of ingenious and terrifying traps.

Saw X - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Saw X - Blu-ray
 

Saw X on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray will include a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, Dolby Vision/HDR10 (4K release) and the following supplements:

• :              :            :             Audio Commentary with Director-Editor Kevin Greutert, Cinematographer Nick Matthews, and Production Designer Anthony Stabley
•                                        Reawakening Multipart Making-of Documentary:
•                                         - I Want to Play a Game: Bleeding New Life into the Saga
•                                         - This Time It’s Personal: Characters and Casting
•                                         - Another Time, Another Place: Locations and Cinematography
•                                         - There Will Be Blood: Production Design and Make-up
•                                         - Leave Nothing to Chance: Post-Production
•                                         - Live or Die: Release and Legacy
•                                        Drawing Inspiration: Illustrated Scene Breakdowns with Director-Editor Kevin Greutert
•                                        Make-Up Department Trap Tests
•                                        Deleted Scenes
•                                        Theatrical Trailer

Pre-orders for Saw X on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray are already here and here is press release:

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Now In Theaters   On Premium Video on Demand and Premium Electronic Sell-Through  October 20 from Lionsgate®   Available to Own on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD, and Digital November 21 From Lionsgate®   4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ + Digital SRP: $42.99 Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital SRP: $39.99 DVD SRP: $29.96

If you were too scared to see SAW X in theaters, you can now watch it at home! The best reviewed SAW film in franchise history (“Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes) is coming to Premium Video on Demand and Premium Electronic Sell-Through on October 20 from Lionsgate, just in time for Halloween. Critics called SAW X “one of the best films of the franchise” (Fangoria) and said it “gives the fans what they want” (The New York Times) with the “best traps of any of the films” (Indiewire), and on November 21, it’s available to own on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital, Blu-ray + DVD + Digital, and DVD. SAW X is now in theaters nationwide.   The 4K transfer for SAW X features Jigsaw’s highly anticipated return in eye-exploding HDR10, along with a terror-inducing Dolby Atmos audio mix. Special features include a multipart “making of” documentary called Reawakening, over a dozen deleted scenes, and more, totaling over three hours of bonus material.     John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is back. The most chilling installment of the SAW franchise yet explores the untold chapter of Jigsaw’s most personal game. Set between the events of SAW I and II, this story finds a sick and desperate John traveling to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of obtaining a miracle cure for his cancer – only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, John returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through a series of ingenious and terrifying traps.

4K ULTRA HD SPECIFICATIONS & SPECIAL FEATURES Aspect Ratio:                16x9 (1.85:1) Presentation Resolution:                   2160p Ultra High Definition, HDR10 Audio:                           English Dolby Atmos                                      English Descriptive Audio                                      Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio                                      French 5.1 Dolby Audio Subtitles:                      Spanish                                      French                                      English SDH:                            English Captions:                      None Disc Format:                 1BD100 Region:                         N/A Special Features:           Audio Commentary with Director-Editor Kevin Greutert, Cinematographer Nick                                        Matthews, and Production Designer Anthony Stabley                                        Reawakening Multipart Making-of Documentary:                                         - I Want to Play a Game: Bleeding New Life into the Saga                                         - This Time It’s Personal: Characters and Casting                                         - Another Time, Another Place: Locations and Cinematography                                         - There Will Be Blood: Production Design and Make-up                                         - Leave Nothing to Chance: Post-Production                                         - Live or Die: Release and Legacy                                        Drawing Inspiration: Illustrated Scene Breakdowns with Director-Editor Kevin Greutert                                        Make-Up Department Trap Tests                                        Deleted Scenes                                        Theatrical Trailer BLU-RAY SPECIFICATIONS & SPECIAL FEATURES Aspect Ratio:                16x9 (1.85:1) Presentation Resolution:                   1080p 23.98 High Definition Audio:                           English Dolby Atmos                                      English Descriptive Audio                                      Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio                                      French 5.1 Dolby Audio Subtitles:                      Spanish                                      French                                      English SDH:                            English Captions:                      None Disc Format:                 1BD50 Region:                         A Special Features:           Audio Commentary with Director-Editor Kevin Greutert, Cinematographer Nick                                        Matthews, and Production Designer Anthony Stabley                                        Reawakening Multipart Making-of Documentary:                                         - I Want to Play a Game: Bleeding New Life into the Saga                                         - This Time It’s Personal: Characters and Casting                                         - Another Time, Another Place: Locations and Cinematography                                         - There Will Be Blood: Production Design and Make-up                                         - Leave Nothing to Chance: Post-Production                                         - Live or Die: Release and Legacy                                        Drawing Inspiration: Illustrated Scene Breakdowns with Director-Editor Kevin Greutert                                        Make-Up Department Trap Tests                                        Deleted Scenes                                        Theatrical Trailer

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The other half of the iconic Barbenheimer summer theater phenomena finally comes home to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray November 21st. 

We're building listings right now but here's the full press release for all the details - frustratingly it looks like Nolan is keeping to DTS-HD MA 5.1 instead of opting for a bigger more explosive audio format like Atmos or DTS:X 

So far we haven't seen any retailer exclusives pop up yet, that traditional Best Buy SteelBook now is a big question mark given the limited sell through timeframe with their exit from disc movies. Oppen Heimer isn't up for pre-order yet but we imagine it will be soon. We also don't have Blu-ray cover art yet so for now we've only built out our 4K listing but rest assured for the 1080p people out there, a standard Blu-ray is coming too. 

Oppenheimer - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

OVER THREE HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES ON 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY^TM AND DVD

• THE STORY OF OUR TIME: THE MAKING OF OPPENHEIMER*
  • NOW I AM BECOME DEATH - The cast, crew and producers join Christopher Nolan in sharing the personal stories that made them passionate about the project's ambitious design for bridging multiple genres.
  • THE LUMINARIES - OPPENHEIMER's all-star cast discusses how they synthesize the script's dramatic narrative with the real lives of historical figures to embody their complex characters.
  • THE MANHATTAN PROJECT - To visualize Oppenheimer's ability to see different dimensions and to recreate the historic Trinity test, filmmakers developed unique techniques to craft stunning effects without using CGI.
  • THE DEVIL OF DETAILS - A look at how production designer Ruth De Jong and team recreated the entire town of Los Alamos with period-accurate props, spectacular sets and painstaking attention to authenticity.
  • WALKING A MILE - Costume and makeup craftspeople populate OPPENHEIMER's immersive environments with iconic figures by utilizing thousands of pieces of clothing and cutting-edge prosthetic applications.
  • CAN YOU HEAR MUSIC? - Working closely with Christopher Nolan, Ludwig Göransson composes a deeply personal, historically expansive score ranging from the organic to the alien to accompany the visual landscape.
  • WE CAN PERFORM THIS MIRACLE - Christopher Nolan's closest collaborators demonstrate how his artistic vision creates camaraderie that drives his talented crew to continue breaking new ground in filmmaking.
• TRAILERS
• INNOVATIONS IN FILM: 65MM BLACK-AND-WHITE FILM IN OPPENHEIMER - FotoKem opens the door to its film labs, where new technologies are invented for using color and black & white 65mm film to visualize OPPENHEIMER's dual timelines while pushing the format further forward.
• MEET THE PRESS Q&A PANEL: OPPENHEIMER - Chuck Todd moderates a conversation where Christopher Nolan, author Kai Bird, and physicists Dr. Kip Thorne, Dr. Thom Mason and Dr. Carlo Rovelli reflect on the fascinating science and doomsday concerns OPPENHEIMER illustrates onscreen.
• TO END ALL WAR: OPPENHEIMER & THE ATOMIC BOMB - Explore how one man's relentless drive and invention of the atomic bomb changed the nature of war forever, led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and unleashed mass hysteria.

Here's the full press release for all the gory technical details:

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ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S $942 MILLION GLOBAL BLOCKBUSTER EVENT PREMIERES AT HOME​

GET EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE CAST AND FILMMAKERS WITH MORE THAN THREE HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES THAT TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE MAKING OF THIS EPIC FILM   “ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF THE CENTURY” – CHICAGO SUN-TIMES   YOURS TO OWN ON 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY™ & DIGITAL NOVEMBER 21, 2023  Universal City, California, October 17, 2023 – From celebrated writer and director Christopher Nolan comes the must-see cinematic masterpiece about the man and the moment that changed the world forever. As it continues its dominant global box-office run, OPPENHEIMER will be available to own just in time for the holidays on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-rayTM, & Digital on November 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.   Delve deeper into the unparalleled filmmaking behind OPPENHEIMER with an extensive collection of special features, including the global debut of “The Story of Our Time: The Making of Oppenheimer.” This 70+ minute immersive piece showcases exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and extensive interviews with Nolan and his creative collaborators, offering unrestricted access inside the process, performances, effects, music and artistry responsible for this extraordinary film. Additional features include the NBC News companion documentary, “To End All War: Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb,” as well as a “Trinity Anniversary Panel Discussion” featuring a panel moderated by Emmy® -winning journalist Chuck Todd, with Christopher Nolan, Nobel® Prize winner Dr. Kip Throne; world-renowned physicist Dr. Carlo Rovelli; Dr. Thom Mason, director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory; and Kai Bird, the Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, on which the film is based.   Watch Nolan’s cinematic vision come alive on 4K Ultra HD with vibrant visuals, four-times-sharper picture than HD, the color brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) and multi-channel audio that delivers an enveloping sound. Plus, the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs are uniquely designed to include mixed 2.20 and 1.78 aspect ratios that enables viewers to experience the shift in aspect ratio as viewed in select theatrical locations, for the ultimate in-home viewing.   Written for the screen and directed by Christopher Nolan, OPPENHEIMER, thrusts audiences into the mind of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), whose landmark work as the director of the Manhattan Project’s Los Alamos Laboratory created the first atomic bomb. An unprecedented cinematic event, OPPENHEIMER features an all-star cast that includes Emily Blunt, Oscar® winner1 Matt Damon, Oscar® nominee2 Robert Downey Jr., Oscar® nominee3 Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, and Oscar® winners Casey Affleck4, Rami Malek5 and Kenneth Branagh6.   The film was produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan. Nolan’s films, including Oppenheimer, Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar, Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy, have earned more than $6 billion at the global box office and have been awarded 11 Oscars® and 36 nominations, including two Best Picture nominations.    Nolan’s creative production team includes Director of Photography Hoyte van Hoytema, Production Designer Ruth De Jong, Editor Jennifer Lame, Costume Designer Ellen Mirojnick, Visual Effects Supervisor Andrew Jackson and Special Effects Supervisor Scott Fisher. The score is composed by Oscar® winner7 Ludwig Göransson. OVER THREE HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES ON 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAYTM AND DVD THE STORY OF OUR TIME: THE MAKING OF OPPENHEIMER* NOW I AM BECOME DEATH - The cast, crew and producers join Christopher Nolan in sharing the personal stories that made them passionate about the project's ambitious design for bridging multiple genres. THE LUMINARIES - OPPENHEIMER's all-star cast discusses how they synthesize the script's dramatic narrative with the real lives of historical figures to embody their complex characters. THE MANHATTAN PROJECT - To visualize Oppenheimer's ability to see different dimensions and to recreate the historic Trinity test, filmmakers developed unique techniques to craft stunning effects without using CGI. THE DEVIL OF DETAILS - A look at how production designer Ruth De Jong and team recreated the entire town of Los Alamos with period-accurate props, spectacular sets and painstaking attention to authenticity. WALKING A MILE - Costume and makeup craftspeople populate OPPENHEIMER's immersive environments with iconic figures by utilizing thousands of pieces of clothing and cutting-edge prosthetic applications. CAN YOU HEAR MUSIC? - Working closely with Christopher Nolan, Ludwig Göransson composes a deeply personal, historically expansive score ranging from the organic to the alien to accompany the visual landscape. WE CAN PERFORM THIS MIRACLE - Christopher Nolan's closest collaborators demonstrate how his artistic vision creates camaraderie that drives his talented crew to continue breaking new ground in filmmaking. TRAILERS INNOVATIONS IN FILM: 65MM BLACK-AND-WHITE FILM IN OPPENHEIMER - FotoKem opens the door to its film labs, where new technologies are invented for using color and black & white 65mm film to visualize OPPENHEIMER's dual timelines while pushing the format further forward. MEET THE PRESS Q&A PANEL: OPPENHEIMER - Chuck Todd moderates a conversation where Christopher Nolan, author Kai Bird, and physicists Dr. Kip Thorne, Dr. Thom Mason and Dr. Carlo Rovelli reflect on the fascinating science and doomsday concerns OPPENHEIMER illustrates onscreen. TO END ALL WAR: OPPENHEIMER & THE ATOMIC BOMB - Explore how one man's relentless drive and invention of the atomic bomb changed the nature of war forever, led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and unleashed mass hysteria. *Also available on participating Digital platforms For more information on OPPENHEIMER, please visit: FILMMAKERS Written for the Screen and Directed By: Christopher Nolan Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck with Rami Malek and Kenneth Branagh Music By: Ludwig Göransson Costume Designer: Ellen Mirojnick Editor: Jennifer Lame ACE Production Designer: Ruth De Jong Director of Photography: Hoyte Van Hoytema  ASC, FSF, NSC Executive Producers: J. David Wargo, James Woods, Thomas Hayslip Produced By: Emma Thomas p.g.a, Charles Roven p.g.a, Christopher Nolan p.g.a Based on the Book: “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin   TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K UHD: Street Date: November 21, 2023  UPC Number: 191329253120 (US) / 191329253144 (CDN) Layers: BD 100 Aspect Ratio: Mixed 2.20 and 1.78 Rating: R for some sexuality, nudity and language Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian and Latin American Spanish Sound: English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), French Canadian (DTS Digital Surround 5.1), Latin American Spanish (DTS Digital Surround 5.1) Film Run Time: 3 hours   TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAYTM: Street Date: November 21, 2023 UPC Number: 191329253045 (US) / 191329253052 (CDN) Layers: BD 50 Aspect Ratio: Mixed 2.20 and 1.78 Rating: R for some sexuality, nudity and language Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian and Latin American Spanish Sound: English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), French Canadian (DTS Digital Surround 5.1), Latin American Spanish (DTS Digital Surround 5.1) Film Run Time: 3 hours

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Criterion's January titles include Chantal Akerman Masterpieces, 1968–1978 and Dee Rees' Mudbound on Blu-ray, Danny Boyle's Trainspotting, and John Sayles's Lone Star on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, and 4K upgrades of Satyajit Ray's The Apu Trilogy and Joel and Ethan Coen's Blood Simple.

Up first on January 2 comes Satyajit Ray's The Apu Trilogy making its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray debut.

The Apu Trilogy - The Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

 

A breathtaking milestone that brought India into the golden age of international art-house film, Satyajit Ray’s The Apu Trilogy follows one indelible character, a free-spirited child in rural Bengal who matures into an adolescent urban student and, finally, a sensitive man of the world. Ray’s delicate masterworks—Pather Panchali (Song of the Little Road), Aparajito (The Unvanquished), and Apur Sansar (The World of Apu)—based on two books by Bibhutibhusan Banerjee, were shot over the course of five years, and each stands on its own as a tender, visually radiant journey. These films—which have risen from the ashes in meticulously reconstructed restorations, after the original negatives were burned in a fire—are among the most achingly beautiful, richly humane movies ever made.

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• 4K digital restorations of all three films, undertaken in collaboration with the Academy Film Archive at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and L’Immagine Ritrovata, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks

• Three 4K UHD discs of the films and three Blu-rays with the films and special features

• Audio recordings from 1958 of director Satyajit Ray reading his essay “A Long Time on the Little Road” and in conversation with film historian Gideon Bachmann

• Interviews with actors Soumitra Chatterjee, Shampa Srivastava, and Sharmila Tagore; camera assistant Soumendu Roy; and film writer Ujjal Chakraborty

• Making “The Apu Trilogy”: Satyajit Ray’s Epic Debut, a video essay by Ray biographer Andrew Robinson

• “The Apu Trilogy”: A Closer Look, a program featuring filmmaker, producer, and teacher Mamoun Hassan

• Excerpts from the 2003 documentary The Song of the Little Road, featuring composer Ravi Shankar

• The Creative Person: “Satyajit Ray,” a 1967 documentary short by James Beveridge, featuring interviews with Ray, several of his actors, members of his creative team, and film critic Chidananda Das Gupta

• Footage of Ray receiving an honorary Oscar in 1992

• Programs on the restorations by filmmaker Kogonada

• PLUS: Essays by critics Terrence Rafferty and Girish Shambu, as well as a selection of Ray’s storyboards for Pather Panchali

Joel and Ethan Coen's Blood Simple will also lend on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on January 9.

Blood Simple - The Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

 

Joel and Ethan Coen’s career-long darkly comic road trip through misfit America began with this razor-sharp, hard-boiled neonoir set somewhere in Texas, where a sleazy bar owner releases a torrent of violence with one murderous thought. Actor M. Emmet Walsh looms over the proceedings as a slippery private eye with a yellow suit, a cowboy hat, and no moral compass, and Frances McDormand’s cunning debut performance set her on the road to stardom. The tight scripting and inventive style that have marked the Coens’ work for decades are all here in their first film, in which cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld abandons black-and-white chiaroscuro for neon signs and jukebox colors that combine with Carter Burwell’s haunting score to lurid and thrilling effect. Blending elements from pulp fiction and low-budget horror flicks, Blood Simple reinvented the film noir for a new generation, marking the arrival of a filmmaking ensemble that would transform the American independent cinema scene.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

John Sayles's Lone Star will arrive on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on January 16.

Lone Star - The Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

 

A keen observer of America’s social fabric, writer-director John Sayles uncovers the haunted past buried beneath a small Texas border town in this sprawling neowestern mystery. When a skeleton is discovered in the desert, lawman Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper), son of a legendary local sheriff, begins an investigation that will have profound implications both for him personally and for all of Rio County, a place still reckoning with its history of racial violence. Sayles’s masterful film—novelistic in its intricacy and featuring a brilliant ensemble cast, including Joe Morton, Elizabeth Peña, and Kris Kristofferson—quietly subverts national mythmaking and lays bare the fault lines of life at the border.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

The boxed set - Chantal Akerman Masterpieces, 1968–1978 - on Blu-ray on January 23.

Chantal Akerman Masterpieces, 1968–1978 - The Criterion Collection 

 

In the revolutionary first decade of her filmmaking career, Chantal Akerman devoted herself to nothing less than the total resculpting of cinematic time and space. Journeying between Europe and New York City, Akerman forged a highly personal style that fuses avant-garde influences with deeply human expressions of alienation, desire, and displacement—themes that she would explore in a series of increasingly ambitious shorts, documentaries, and features, including the towering Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles. With immersive rhythms that render the most minute details momentous, these landmarks of twentieth-century art continue to reveal new ways of experiencing cinema and framing reality.

THREE-BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration of Les rendez-vous d’Anna and 2K digital restorations of Saute ma ville; L’enfant aimé, ou Je joue à être une femme mariée; La chambre; Hotel Monterey; Le 15/8; Je tu il elle; Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles; and News from Home, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks
• Hanging Out Yonkers, an unfinished film from 1973 by Chantal Akerman
• Film-school tests
• New program on Akerman featuring critic B. Ruby Rich
• New visual essay on Akerman featuring archival interviews with the director
• Autour de “Jeanne Dielman,” a documentary made during the filming of Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, shot by actor Sami Frey and edited by Agnès Ravez and Akerman
• Interviews with Akerman, cinematographer Babette Mangolte, actors Aurore Clément and Delphine Seyrig, and Akerman’s mother, Natalia
• Appreciation by filmmaker Ira Sachs
• PLUS: An essay and notes on the films by critic Beatrice Loayza

On January 30, Dee Rees' Mudbound will be available on Blu-ray.

Mudbound - The Criterion Collection
 

In the Mississippi Delta of the 1940s, two farming families—one of white landholders, one of Black tenant farmers—are bound by the unforgiving soil they share as they struggle to survive amid the upheavals of World War II and the poisonous hatred of the Jim Crow South. Each family sends a young man off to battle; when they return home, scarred, and find a common bond, the community is ripped apart. Writer-director Dee Rees, with cowriter Virgil Williams, crafts a uniquely American tragedy, imbuing bitter historical realities with a timeless weight. Featuring bone-deep performances from her ensemble cast—including Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blige, Jason Mitchell, Rob Morgan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, and Jonathan Banks—and backed by Rachel Morrison’s darkly burnished cinematography, Mudbound is a searing humanist study of inheritance based upon Hillary Jordan’s novel.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

And last but certainly not least, Danny Boyle's Trainspotting will hit Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on the same date.

Trainspotting - The Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

A jolt of adrenaline shot straight to the heart of 1990s British cinema, this darkly funny adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel was a major breakthrough for director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald, and screenwriter John Hodge. With live-wire energy and stylistic verve, Trainspotting bounces across the life and times of Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor), a Scottish heroin addict who, along with his misfit mates, gets high, gets in trouble, gets clean, and gets high again, all in a bid to outrun the banality of modern existence. Kinetically cut to an iconic soundtrack of techno, rock, and Britpop, this indie phenomenon chooses life in all its ugly, beautiful, terrifying exhilaration.

FILMMAKER-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

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