Recent News

The latest news on all things 4k Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Gear.
Universal Monsters Getting Solo 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBooks

Who needs more SteelBooks for their 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray collection?

After last week's exciting announcement of Universal Classic Monsters Icons of Horror Collection Universal is now issuing solo 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBooks for DraculaFrankenstein, and The Wolf Man exclusively at Best Buy in the United States. "But what about The Invisible Man?" you might ask. Well so far Best Buy hasn't added that one to their pre-order slate, but it should be going up soon. Germany will be getting a solo The Invisible Man SteelBook so it's just a matter of time. All disc contents are expected to be the same, but if anything changes on that end we'll update this article and our listings

While we wait for The Invisible Man to make his appearance, here's a look at the individual SteelBooks we do know are coming and are now up for pre-order. I was going to pre-order the main set, but these SteelBooks are pretty classy looking - Which are you going for, Individual SteelBooks, the 4-Film Set, or are you sticking with the big Blu-ray Set? 

Dracula 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook
Dracula 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Frankenstein 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook
Frankenstein 1931 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

The Wolf Man 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook
The Wolf Man 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

As soon as Best Buy includes The Invisible Man in their slate we'll get that listing up and add it to this article. 

Thanks for your pre-orders! They help keep our little operation rolling.  

Paramount Officially Announces Scream 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray For October 19th

Paramount Calling Up 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Of Wes Craven's Slasher Classic Scream on October 19th

We kinda already knew this was coming, it was briefly up for pre-order on Amazon before it was taken down. Now Paramount makes it official - Scream is coming 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. The film set the bar for an entire generation of slasher films on top of three sequels and a new film coming in 2022 from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. 

Scream - 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Scream 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Now that Paramount has made things official - it's now back up for pre-order on Amazon

But that's not all - a snazzy single disc 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook release is also up for pre-order on Amazon!

Scream - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Scream SteelBook 4K UHD Blu-ray 

We're awaiting full confirmation on HDR grade and audio - but as soon as that info is available we'll update our listings and this article ASAP. 

Here's Paramount's full Press Release:


Do You Like Scary Movies?

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Iconic Thriller,
Newly Remastered on 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray

Subversive Fan-Favorite Arrives October 19, 2021
with an All-New Look at the Film’s Impact and Legacy 

 

In celebration of its 25th anniversary and just in time for Halloween, SCREAM will be released for the first time on 4K Ultra HD and in a newly remastered Blu-ray on October 19, 2021 from Paramount Home Entertainment.

 

25 years after its theatrical debut, SCREAM remains a wildly entertaining and terrifically terrifying cinematic experience.  Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, the film is a brilliant deconstruction of the horror genre that pays homage to the conventions of slasher films while upending them with clever twists and witty dialogue.

 

The new SCREAM 4K Ultra HD, Limited-Edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook, and Blu-ray include a brand-new look back at the film and director Wes Craven, featuring archival behind-the-scenes footage and new interviews with stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, as well as screenwriter Kevin Williamson and the directors and other cast members from the new installment in the franchise scheduled to premiere in theaters in 2022 from Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group.  The discs also include access to a Digital copy of the film and the legacy bonus content detailed below:

·       A Bloody Legacy: Scream 25 Years Later— NEW!

·       Audio commentary by director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson

·       Production featurette

·       Behind the Scenes

      • On the Scream Set
      • Drew Barrymore

·       Q&A with Cast and Crew

      • What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie?
      • Why are People so Fascinated by Horror Films?
QT's Inglourious Basterds Scalping 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray October 12th

The world needs more Quentin Tarantino on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

The delightfully wickedly hilarious and ultra-violent WWII revenge fantasy Inglourious Basterds is coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on October 12th from Universal Home Video 

Inglourious Basterds - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Unfortunately, not a lot of technical information was included in the press release. So we don't know if this is getting a Dolby Vision pass, or an Atmos upgrade or anything of the like. We've reached out for clarification so as soon as we know we'll pass that info along.

We do know it's coming packed with bonus features and the current planned release date of October 12th. As of now we haven't seen any hint of any retailer exclusives or SteelBook options yet, but we'll keep our eyes peeled and let you know ASAP. 

Here's the full Press Release from Universal:


 

 

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

BRING HOME THE STAR-STUDDED, ACTION-PACKED WAR THRILLER IN ULTRA HIGH DEFINITION QUALITY, AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE SEEN

AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 4K, BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL ON OCTOBER 12, 2021

FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

 

SYNOPSIS: Brad Pitt takes no prisoners in Quentin Tarantino's high-octane WWII revenge fantasy 

Inglourious Basterds. As war rages in Europe, a Nazi-scalping squad of American soldiers, known to their enemy as "The Basterds," is on a daring mission to take down the leaders of the Third Reich.

 

OVER TWO HOURS OF BONUS CONTENT, INCLUDING:

Extended & Alternate Scenes

Roundtable Discussion with Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt and Elvis Mitchell

The New York Times Talk

Nation’s Pride – Original Short

The Making of Nation’s Pride

The Original Inglourious Basterds 

A Conversation with Rod Taylor 

 

Inglourious Basterds will be available on 4K, Blu-ray™ and Digital.

4K Ultra HD is the ultimate movie watching experience. 4K Ultra HD features the combination of 4K resolution for four times sharper picture than HD, the color brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) with immersive audio delivering a multidimensional sound experience.

Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.

Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download. 

The Movies Anywhere Digital App simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-rayTM and DVD disc packages from participating studios and stream or download them through Movies Anywhere.  Movies Anywhere is available only in the United States. 

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS FILMMAKERS:

Actors: Brad Pitt (Lt. Aldo Raine), Melanie Laurent (Shosanna), Christoph Waltz (Col. Hans Landa), Michael Fassbender (Lt. Archie Hicox), Eli Roth (Sgt. Donny Donowitz), Diane Kruger (Bridget von Hammersmark), Daniel Bruhl (Fredrick Zoller), Til Schweiger (Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz)

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Producer: Lawrence Bender

Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino

Director of Photography: Robert Richardson

Film Editor: Sally Menke

Sound Editor: Wylie Stateman

Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Guide - August 8 - August 14, 2021

How has your Summer been so far? Seen any good movies or shows that you can't wait to own on disc?

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 12 of our weekly release guide, a look at the highlights of what's coming out this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-

There are no 4K discs slated for release this week. Don't despair, there's still plenty up and coming.

HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-

Not a very large list of 'A' titles this week, but there are a few to consider. As far as 'B' titles, there are a bunch this week, which I will not highlight. Some of them have some well known talent.

In the Criterion Collection, look for After Life this week. It's a foreign (Japan) drama film from a few decades ago.

LionsGate presents American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally, which features Meadow Williams and Al Pacino. Also, Finding You, their next entry in the drama/romance category. Just when you thought that was all, The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 comes out this week too! Oh, but there's more from them this week, Occupation: Rainfall closes out the list.

 

If you bought Part One, this week Warner Bros. releases Batman: The Long Halloween - Part Two. There's rumor out there that a 4K might be coming, but when, if and where were not exactly filled in. The Warner Archive label brings One Crazy Summer to disc this week, it's been a long while since I had seen this one. Getting ever closer to relaing My Fellow Americans, Warner, are you listening?

 

Shout Select presents Havoc, a Crime Drama featuring Anne Hathaway.

From Paramount, The Misfits (2021) gets the list started, a pair of 'Paramount Presents' releases, Nashville and A Place in the Sun.

CBS MOD is releasing the last two seasons of Charmed this week. Their business model has had me scratching my head in that order links have been pretty much nonexistent or delivery times questionable. Where's MacGyver?

 

Anime highlights of the week, InuYasha: Set 6, Lapis Re:LiGHTS - The Complete Season and One Piece - Collection 27.

 

Notable announcements from last week:

Vinegar Syndrome's next batch of titles has been revealed. They have a street date of August 31 on their store site, and general release usually follows later. Titles include Auntie Lee's Meat Pies, Fantasm / Fantasm Comes Again (Peekarama), Girls School Screamers, Terminal Island - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Tough Guys Don't Dance and Whatever It Takes.

Universal Studios will be releasing Carlito's Way on 4K disc later this year, with a familiar theme, a standard release and a SteelBook release. But that's not all, coming October 5th to 4K disc, Universal Classic Horror Monsters. The set features Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, and The Invisible Man. Check out the news story here.

The first Miramax 4K release, Scream appears to be on track for an October release. The current (valid) link is broken, but keep trying, it will go live soon enough.

The next Vestron Collector's Series release will be Dementia 13, which will feature the director's cut. Never heard of this movie or see what the big deal is about the director's cut? The director is none other than Francis Ford Coppola, pretty sure you've heard of him. Street date is September 21st.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

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



The Guns of Navarone Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary On 4K UHD Blu-ray October 12th

The classic action, adventure, war film celebrates its 60th Anniversary on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from Sony on October 12th, 2021. Arriving in a 2-disc + Digital set will include the film in native 4K Ultra HD with HDR10, a new Dolby Atmos mix, a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, as well as the film's original 4-Channel Stereo track topped off with a host of bonus features. The included Blu-ray will also be sourced from the new 4K master!

The Guns of Navarone - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

 

Check out the full press release from Sony


AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME
ON 4K ULTRA HD™ 
OCTOBER 12TH
CELEBRATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ACCLAIMED CLASSIC

STARRING GREGORY PECK, DAVID NIVEN,
AND ANTHONY QUINN


SYNOPSIS
Academy Award®-winners Gregory Peck (1962, Best Actor, To Kill A Mockingbird), David Niven (1958, Best Actor, Separate Tables), and Anthony Quinn (1952, Best Supporting Actor, Viva Zapata!; 1956, Lust For Life) star as a team of Allied military specialists recruited for a dangerous but imperative mission: to infiltrate a Nazi-occupied fortress and disable two long-range field guns so that 2,000 trapped British soldiers may be rescued. Faced with an unforgiving sea voyage, hazardous terrain, and the possibility of a traitor among them, the team must overcome the impossible without losing their own lives. Adapted by screenwriter Carl Foreman from Alistair MacLean’s best-selling novel, THE GUNS OF NAVARONE was nominated for seven Oscars®, including Best Picture, and won for Best Special Effects (1961).
 
DISC DETAILS AND BONUS MATERIALS
4K ULTRA HD DISC
  • Presented in 4K resolution from the original camera negative, with HDR10
    • Playback available with and without Original Roadshow Intermission Card
  • All-new Dolby Atmos audio + 5.1 audio + original theatrical 4-track stereo
  • Special Features:
    • NEW: Main Title Progression Reel
    • Theatrical Trailer
BLU-RAY DISC™
  • Feature presented in HD, sourced from the 4K master
  • Special Features:
    • Audio Commentary by Director J. Lee Thompson
    • Audio Commentary by Film Historian Stephen J. Rubin
    • The Resistance Dossier of Navarone: Interactive Feature
    • Forging The Guns of Navarone: Notes from the Set
    • An Ironic Epic of Heroism
    • Memories of Navarone
    • Epic Restoration
    • A Heroic Score
    • Great Guns
    • No Visitors
    • Honeymoon on Rhodes
    • Two Girls on the Town
    • Narration-Free Prologue
    • Message from Carl Foreman
This release will initially include a limited edition o-ring, featuring the film’s original poster art.
 
CAST AND CREW
Directed By: J. Lee Thompson
Written and Produced by: Carl Foreman
Based on a Novel by: Alistair MacLean
Cast: Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn

SPECS
Run Time: Approx. 156 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
4K UHD Feature Picture: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 2.35:1
4K UHD Feature Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible) | English 5.1 DTS-HD MA | English 4.0 DTS-HD MA
Universal Classic Horror Monsters Scaring 4K UHD Blu-ray October 5th

Well, this is a pleasant surprise! Ever since Apple updated their digital offering of Tod Browning's classic Dracula starring Bela Lugosi, we knew something was coming from Universal - but we didn't expect this! In time to celebrate the 90th Anniversaries of Dracula and Frankenstein and the 80th Anniversary of The Wolfman - Universal is bowing an 8-Disc 4K UHD Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital set featuring DraculaFrankensteinThe Wolfman, and The Invisible Man 

Universal Classic Monsters Icons of Horror Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

 


This is very similar to their previous Universal Monsters Blu-ray collection from several years back. We get the classic films in Digibook packaging with the legacy extra features on top of each film in 4K and 1080p. The press release didn't stipulate HDR grade but we're suspecting only HDR10. We've reached out for confirmation on that score. As of this writing, this set isn't up for pre-order yet but as soon as it is - or if there's any kind of retailer exclusive - we'll update this article and our listings ASAP!

Here's the full press release from Universal:


Logo

Description automatically generated

 

UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS 

ICONS OF HORROR COLLECTION 

 

CELEBRATE NINE DECADES OF YOUR FAVORITE MONSTERS ON 4K FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN COLLECTIBLE PACKAGING

 

AVAILABLE ON 4K, BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL ON OCTOBER 5, 2021

FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT


SYNOPSIS: From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Universal Classic Monsters Icons of Horror Collection showcases four of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man and The Wolf Man. Starring Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and Claude Rains in the roles that they made famous, these original films set the standard for a new horror genre with revolutionary makeup, mood-altering cinematography and groundbreaking special effects.

 

CLASSIC MONSTER FILMS INCLUDED:

  1. Dracula (90th Anniversary)

  2. Frankenstein (90th Anniversary)

  3. The Invisible Man

  4. The Wolf Man (80th Anniversary)

 

HOURS OF BONUS CONTENT, INCLUDING:

  1. The Road to Dracula

  2. The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster

  3. Karloff: The Gentle Monster

  4. Monster by Moonlight

  5. The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth

  6. Now Your See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed

 

Universal Classic Monsters Icons of Horror Collection will be available on 4K, Blu-ray™ and Digital.

  • 4K Ultra HD is the ultimate movie watching experience. 4K Ultra HD features the combination of 4K resolution for four times sharper picture than HD, the color brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) with immersive audio delivering a multidimensional sound experience.

  • Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.

  • Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download. 

  • The Movies Anywhere Digital App simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-rayTM and DVD disc packages from participating studios and stream or download them through Movies Anywhere.  Movies Anywhere is available only in the United States. 



Instagram: @uniallaccess

Twitter: @UniAllAccess

Tiktok: @universalallaccess

  

DRACULA FILMMAKERS:

Actors: Bela Lugosi (Count Dracula), David Manners (John Harker), Edward an Sloan (Prof. Abraham Van Helsing), Helen Chandler (Mina Harker), Dwight Frye (Renfield), Frances Dade (Lucy Weston)

Director: Tod Browning

Producer: Carl Laemmle, Jr., Tod Browning

Screenplay: Garrett Fort

Based on the Work(s) of: Bram Stoker, Hamilton Deane, John L. Balderston

FRANKENSTEIN FILMMAKERS:

Actors:  Boris Karloff (The Monster), Colin Clive (Dr. Henry Frankenstein), John Boles (Victor Moritz), Mae Clarke (Elizabeth), Edward Van Sloan (Dr. Waldman), Dwight Frye (Fritz), Frederic Kerr (Baron Frankenstein)

Director: James Whale

Producer: Carl Laemmle, Jr.

Screenplay: Garrett Fort, Francis Edwards Faragoh

Based on the Work(s) of: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Peggy Webling, John L. Balderston

THE INVISIBLE MAN FILMMAKERS:

Actors: Claude Rains (Jack Griffin / The Invisible Man), Gloria Stuart (Flora Cranley), William Harrigan (Dr. Arthur Kemp), Dudley Digges (Chief Detective), Una O’Connor (Jenny Hall), Henry Travers (Dr. Cranley), Forrester Harvey (Herbert Hall)

Director: James Whale

Producer: Carl Laemmle, Jr.

Screenplay: R.C. Sherriff

Based on the Work(s) of: H.G. Wells

THE WOLF MAN FILMMAKERS:

Actors: Lon Chaney, Jr. (The Wolf Man / Larry Talbot), Bela Lugosi (Bela), Claude Rains (Sir John Talbot), Warren William (Dr. Lloyd), Ralph Bellamy (Col. Montford), Patric Knowles (Frank Andrews), Maria Ouspenskaya (Maleva), Evelyn Ankers (Gwen Conliffe)

Director: George Waggner

Producer: George Waggner

Screenplay: Curt Siodma

Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Guide - August 1 - August 7, 2021

First week of August upon us, I don't enjoy the thought that Autumn will be here before we know it and then that means Winter will sneak itself in at warp speed or something.

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 11 of our weekly release guide. Our weekly look at the highlights of this week's blu-ray and 4K disc releases, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

 

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-

For 4K disc releases, we have a few to pick from.

First from Disney/Pixar, Luca, which I keep confusing with Loki on Disney Plus. This one reviewed quite well theatrically, read Bryan's thoughts. In general for me, if it's Disney/Pixar, I find it hard NOT to like it. Luca comes as a standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and as a Target Exclusive edition.

 

Arrow Video releases a less extravagant version of Django. What's different? This one does not include the bonus blu-ray disc for Texas, Adios and lacks the swag,  but still appears to have the same bonus features.

Last but not least, The Transformers: The Movie 35th Anniversary, as a SteelBook release. If you opt for a standard release, that one is due September 28th, along with a 35th Anniversary blu-ray.

 

 

HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-

This week is one of the slowest weeks in a long time for Blu-ray. Maybe that's good with all the releases we've had to consider the past few weeks.

Luca also gets a blu-ray/dvd combo pack as well.

Clint Eastwood movie buffs, look for Kino Lorber's release of Coogan's Bluff. Probably not his top ten of movies, but come on, it's Clint Eastwood! Kino Lorber has a few noteables this week as well, Claudette Colbert/Ray Milland's Arise, My Love, Cecil B. DeMille's Four Frightened People, Claudette Colbert/Fred MacMurray's No Time for Love, Cecil B. DeMille's Union Pacific starring Barbara Stanwyck and The Valdez Horses starring Charles Bronson.

Arrow video also graces us this week with a standard edition blu-ray for Django, in case you are not doing 4K. That's not all from Arrow this week, also look for The Daimajin Trilogy as a Limited Edition and for The Sergio Martino Collection. These are both foreign horror collections with English dubs and lots of bonus features.

 

If you're wondering what Billy Crystal is up to these days, Sony Pictures shows you with Here Today, a comedy directed by and starring himself.

Angelina Jolie's latest, Those Who Wish Me Dead comes to Blu-ray this week.

 

The anime category is also proportionately slow, highlights this week are just El-Hazard: The Magnificent World and Fire Force: Season 2 Part 1.

Mill Creek brings us I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Series after a delay or two. Streaming is convenient for watching TV in bed, but if it was up to me, I would have a video wall of just TV shows on Blu-ray to truly enjoy these shows. Also from Mill Creek, The Randolph Scott Western Collection. [EDIT: I Dream of Jeannie has been delated until September 21]

 

Honorable mention of the week goes to ClassicFlix's The Little Rascals: Volume Two. It is good to see these releases under way to preserve this show for a new generation.

Notable announcements from last week:

Paramount has announced the release of the Audrey Hepburn: 7-Movie Collection on October 5th. As far as releases go, it only adds Paris When It Sizzles to the blu-ray format but it is a single SKU package for 7 of her movies.

Sony has announced Underworld Limited Edition 5-Movie Collection coming to 4K disc October 5th. Thank you Sony for not releasing just the first movie in the franchise.

Kino Lorber will be doing To Live and Die in L.A. on 4K disc. They've also indicated Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and For a Few Dollars More (1965) will be getting 4K discs sometime next year.

Marvel's Black Widow will be released on 4K disc and blu-ray on September 14th.

Arrow Video would like you to open up your wallets. For October releases, expect to see Deep Red - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Deep Red (Arte Original Version) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Giallo Essentials, He Came from the Swamp: The William Grefé Collection (Standard Edition) and Yokai Monsters Collection. If you would like to import, they also have Dementer / Jug Face (Double Feature) from the UK. October will be more expensive for me!

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

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



The End Of Summer Is Nigh! - August 2021 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Guide

Summer is usually a fun mixture of soaking in new films at the theater while eagerly anticipating a stacked home video release slate for the fall. The ongoing Covid pandemic has kinda upended that tradition. Theaters are back open, but the release window for films is even shorter so when we used to get a little time to catch our breath in August, the studios and boutique labels are throwing some heavy hitters at us. From your favorite shape-shifting vehicles to an inept bodyguard to an epic science fiction box office bomb - there's some great stuff out there to gather up for your ever-growing collection. 

August 2021 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Guide


August 3rd 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases 

The classic animated 80s Transformers movie and Pixar's lasted effort Luca are the main draws this week. If you missed out on the deluxe edition of Arrow Video's Django disc a standard release is on the way. 

The Transformers: The Movie 4K UHD SteelBook 

 

Pixar's Luca 4K UHD Blu-ray 

 

Pixar's Luca 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook 

 

Pixar's Luca 4K UHD Blu-ray (Target Exclusive) 

 

Django Special Edition 4K UHD Blu-ray 

 


August 17th 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases 

We skip a week without any new 4K releases (at least domestically) before we get a Labyrinth reissue from Sony now with Dolby Vision HDR and a Magical Movie Mode edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (or Philosopher's) Stone along with The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard 

Labyrinth 35th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-ray 

 

Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

 

The Hitman's Bodyguard 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

 

Happy Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Magical Movie Mode 4K Ultra HD SteelBook 

 


August 24th 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases 

Things really start to pick up this week heading into an extremely packed September slate. We're getting standard studio material like Peter Rabbit 2 but also some classic genre material like Cat O' Nine Tales and Two Evil Eyes - also The Conjuring 3.

The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

The Cat O' Nine Tails 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Two Evil Eyes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 


August 31st 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases 

August closes out with another busy week of 4K releases including a new hit musical, multiple releases of a film that is perhaps David Lynch's most divisive and controversial film, and Mortal Kombat gets animated. 

In The Heights 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

 

Dune Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Dune Limited Edition SteelBook 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 

Dune Limited Deluxe Edition SteelBook 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

 


Notable Imports We Hope To Review

Imports are a tad tricky. Subject to shipping limitations, we don't often get to jump on these when they come out. While the U.K. and France aren't getting anything particularly unique or special in the 4K department, Germany is getting a trio of great titles from Capelight Pictures. 

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Mediabook 

 

Lady Vengeance 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Mediabook 

 

Lord of War 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

 


That's about it for August. Now more could be announced in the coming days and one or a few of these could be delayed, that sadly does happen. If anything changes with these titles we'll update their respective listings and amend this guide. While this is a busy month - September is going to be grueling. 

Hope this is helpful! Thanks again for all of your pre-orders, it really helps make a difference ensuring we can keep this goofy website going for as long as possible. 

Smallville: The Complete Series Flying onto Blu-ray October 19th

Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the 42-Disc Complete Series of Smallville! 

After the final five seasons languished as solo releases for years, Smallville is finally getting a complete series release on October 19th, 2021. This massive 10-season 42-disc set with Digital copy brings Tom Welling's entire journey as Clark Kent to Blu-ray. SRP for this sucker will be priced at $179.99 - but once this goes up for pre-order I'd expect those Amazon and online retailer sale prices to drop significantly. For this price though you're getting over 9,000 minutes of content with an additional 28 Hours of archival bonus materials that were originally part of the DVD sets. 

Smallville The Complete Series: 20th Anniversary

As of right now, single-season releases of Seasons One through Five haven't been announced. I know quite a few folks who bought the Seasons Six through Eight on Blu-ray expecting the first few to follow but it's been ten years since the final season hit Blu-ray and that didn't happen. We've even had pre-built listings in our archive for the day those would be announced but that never happened. Understandably, buying a complete series package instead of just the seasons you need may be a bit of a sting. If this is going to be the only way to get the entire series in 1080p on disc, it's nice to get everything in a tight convenient package. Hopefully, the packaging is decent and not like the flimsy Mission: Impossible set. 

As of this writing, this isn't up for pre-order yet, but as soon as it is we'll update the listing and let everyone know. 

Check out the full press release


OR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON BLU-RAYTM
 
SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE SERIES
20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
 
 Featuring All 218 Episodes from the Iconic Series
 
Flying into Homes on Blu-ray October 19, 2021
BURBANK, CA (July 27, 2021) – It’s been 20 years since Clark Kent first arrived in Kansas, and in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the remarkable series, Smallville: The Complete Series 20th Anniversary Edition will soar onto Blu-ray for the first time ever from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on October 19, 2021. This set for the ultimate fan features all 218 episodes along with over 28 hours of bonus features from all 10 incredible seasons, plus Digital Copy (US Only). Smallville: The Complete Series 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray is priced to own at $179.99 SRP ($209.99 in Canada) and will also be available on DVD for $154.99 SRP ($184.99 in Canada).
 
The groundbreaking, Emmy®-winning 10-season hit that redefined the origins of the world’s greatest super hero is all here – from Krypton refugee Kal-El’s arrival on Earth through his tumultuous teen years to Clark Kent’s final steps toward embracing his destiny as the Man of Steel. Relive a decade’s worth of thrills in fantastic adventures full of action, heart and humor in abundance, all anchored by the marvelous performance of Tom Welling at its center. Savor again the series’ thoughtful and imaginative integration and reinvention of the iconic characters of DC lore. And let your spirits be lifted up, up and away.
Starring Tom Welling as “Clark Kent,” Allison Mack as “Chloe Sullivan,” Kristin Kreuk as “Lana Lang,” Michael Rosenbaum as “Lex Luthor,” John Glover as “Lionel Luthor,” Erica Durance as “Lois Lane,” Annette O’Toole as “Martha Kent,” John Schneider as “Jonathan Kent,” Justin Hartley as “Oliver Queen,” Sam Jones III as “Pete Ross,” Cassidy Freeman as “Tess Mercer,” Aaron Ashmore as “Jimmy Olsen,” Eric Johnson as “Whitney Fordman,” Laura Vandervoort as “Kara,” Callum Blue as “Zod,” Jensen Ackles as “Jason Teague” and Sam Witwer as “Davis Bloome,” Smallville has also featured many notable guest stars including Terence Stamp, James Marsters, Michael McKean, Ian Somerhalder, Jane Seymour, Brian Austin Green, Pam Grier, Helen Slater, Michael Ironside, Julian Sands, Tori Spelling, Rutger Hauer and Christopher Reeve. 
 
Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Based on DC Comics characters, Smallville was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar. Its executive producers have included Michael Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, James Marshall, Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders, Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, Greg Beeman, Ken Horton and Tom Welling. The series is from Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television.
 
Smallville: The Complete Series 20th Anniversary Edition includes 2 DVD discs with over 28 hours of bonus features originally released on the Smallville Seasons 1-10 DVD sets. 
 
MORE THAN 28 HOURS OF BONUS FEATURES
  • The Adventures of Superboy – The original 1961 pilot starring John Rockwell.
  • A Retrospective Look at the Series’ 10-Year Journey – An in-depth, season-by-season look at the creation of this landmark television series. Highlights include interviews with Tom Welling, Eric Durance, Michael Rosenbaum, Phil Morris, John Schneider and many more, as well as rare behind-the-scenes footage.
  • A Decade of Comic-Con Featurette
  • Paley Festival Featurette
  • Smallville’s 100th Episode: Making of a Milestone – An extended version of the original featurette included in the Season 5 set.
  • Secret Origin: The American Story of DC Comics – A feature length documentary chronicling DC’s 75 years of challenges, creativity, and triumph.
  • Audio CommentariesDeleted and Extended Scenes, Gag Reels, Behind-the-scenes featurettes and much more from all 10 seasons! 
 
DIGITAL
Smallville: The Complete Series is currently available to own on Digital. Digital purchase allows consumers to instantly stream and download to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and others.
 
 
SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE SERIES 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Street Date: October 19, 2021
Order Due Date: September 07, 2021
Blu-ray Presented in 16x9 widescreen format
Running time: Approx. 154 Hours
Blu-ray Price: $179.99 SRP ($209.99 in Canada)
42-Discs (40 BD-50s + 2 DVD-9s for the Bonus Features)

Marvel's Black Widow coming to Blu-ray & 4K UHD Blu-ray

Scarlett Johansson's Final Tour as Black Widow Arrives on Disc September 14th

Marvel's big return to theaters after a prolonged delay due to the ongoing global pandemic Black Widow hits 1080p Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on September 14th with an early Digital streaming release on August 10th. Ever since her first appearance in Iron Man 2, Johansson has embodied Natashia Romanoff as a supporting character or part of a team ensemble. Now in her own solo adventure, she must face the secrets of her dark past alongside the family she left behind long ago. 

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray gets a full Dolby Atmos track with the standard Blu-ray arriving with a DTS-HD MA 7.1 mix. The press release didn't mention anything about which HDR grade the 4K disc will receive but if past is prologue then it'll probably be HDR10 with the Dolby Vision HDR saved for the streaming presentation. Bonus features will include bloopers, deleted scenes, and a smattering of making-of featurettes. 

As of this writing, neither the Blu-ray or the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray are up for pre-order but we expect online retailers to handle that shortly. So far no retailer exclusives have been formally announced, but we expect Zavvi and Best Buy to have something on deck. No word if Target will do one of their Book-style sets or not. As we get those details we'll update this post with listings and pricing info. 

Take a look at the full press release:


LOS ANGELES, CA (July 26, 2021) – Marvel Studios’ Black Widow arrives early on all major digital platforms on August 10 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on September 14. Black Widow fans can enjoy the film in stunning Ultra HD quality and immersive Dolby Atmos audio along with never-before-seen bonus footage, including nine deleted scenes, bloopers and featurettes.

Film Synopsis
In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff — aka Black Widow — confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, David Harbour portrays Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz is Melina. Black Widow — the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — is directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige.

Marvel Studios’ Black Widow Bonus Features*

  • Bloopers – Take a look at some of the fun mishaps on set with the cast and crew of Black Widow.
  • Deleted Scenes
    • Grocery Shopping – Natasha heads into a grocery store to prepare for her journey through Norway. After a long drive, she arrives at her destination: a mysterious trailer in the middle of nowhere.
    • Bike Chase – Tailed by assailants, Natasha and Yelena speed through the city in order to escape their nemeses.
    • Gulag Fight – Alexei squares up against several enemies and is quickly overpowered. When all hope seems lost, Natasha leaps in to lend a hand in the fight.
    • Smile – The Taskmaster protocol is activated in a tense moment, and an iconic helmet is unveiled.
    • Come After Me – Secretary Ross and Mason discover an important message Natasha left behind.
    • Walk and Talk – Alexei and Melina have a playful exchange. The Taskmaster arrives and faces off with Alexei.
    • Widows in Training – Yelena and Alexei awaken in captivity. Melina hands the Taskmaster vials while the Widows train.
    • Kiss – Alexei and Melina reunite after the action. Natasha grieves over an untimely demise in the brutal aftermath.
    • Ohio – Natasha witnesses the carefree nature of the Ohio suburbs through the neighborhood children.
  • Filmmaker Introduction Featurette – Director Cate Shortland introduces the film and her vision for it.
  • Sisters Gonna Work It Out Featurette – Watch Scarlett and Florence as they train, fight, and bond to become the sister duo in Black Widow. Listen as the cast and crew discuss the characters, rigorous training, and building the dynamic between the two fearsome siblings.
  • Go Big If You’re Going Home Featurette – Step back to appreciate the size and scale of Black Widow’s solo film. Shot around the world, the film balances family and drama with mind-blowing action. The cast and crew reveal the intricacies of stunts that made the film so action-packed.

 *bonus features vary by product and retailer
 
Cast:                                       Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black
                                                Widow
                                                Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
                                                Rachel Weisz as Melina
                                                David Harbour as Alexei/Red Guardian
                                                Ray Winstone as Dreykov
                                                O-T Fagbenle as Mason
                                                William Hurt as Secretary Ross
 
Directed by:                           Cate Shortland

Produced by:                         Kevin Feige, p.g.a.
 
Executive Producers:           Louis D’Esposito
                                                Victoria Alonso
                                                Brad Winderbaum
                                                Nigel Gostelow
                                                Scarlett Johansson
 
Co-Producer:                        Mitch Bell
 
Screenplay by:                      Eric Pearson
 
Story by:                                Jac Schaeffer
                                                Ned Benson
                       
Music by:                               Lorne Balfe
 
Marvel Studios’ Black Widow Product Specifications
Street Date:                           Digital: August 10
                                               Physical: September 14
Product SKUs:                      Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
                                               Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD +
                                               Blu-ray + Digital Code), Blu-ray Combo Pack
                                               (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Code) & DVD

Feature Run Time:               Approx. 133 minutes
Rating:                                  U.S. Rated PG-13
                                               Bonus material not rated       
Aspect Ratio:                        Digital: 1.85:1
                                               Physical: 1.85:1
U.S. Audio:                            4K Ultra HD:  English Dolby Atmos, English DVS
                                               2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus,                                                 French 5.1 Dolby Digital
                                               Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, English DVS 2.0
                                               Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital,
                                               French 5.1Dolby Digital
                                               DVD: English 5.1 Dolby, English DVS 2.0 Dolby,
                                               Spanish 5.1 Dolby, French 5.1 Dolby
                                               Digital: English Dolby Atmos (UHD only, some
                                               platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital,                                                           Spanish. 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 &                                                     2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0                                                    Dolby Digital (some platforms)
U.S. Subtitles:                       4K Ultra HD:  English SDH, Spanish, French,
                                               Japanese
                                               Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish, French
                                               DVD: English SDH, Spanish, French
                                               Digital: English SDH, Spanish, French (some
                                               platforms)

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