Movies

Beast (Adventure, Drama, Horror)

Idris Elba (“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”) stars in the pulse-pounding action-thriller “Beast,” now available to own on Digital, Blu-ray and DVD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The film is also currently streaming on Peacock.

From the director of “Everest” (Baltasar Kormáku), “Beast” follows recently widowed father Dr. Nate Samuels (Elba), who returns to South Africa with his two daughters Meredith (Iyana Halley, “This Is Us”) and Norah (Leah Jeffries, “Rel”) to visit an old friend, Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley, “District 9”), on a game reserve. What begins as a journey of healing turns into a fearsome fight for survival as his family finds themselves hunted by a massive, rogue lion intent on proving that the savannah has but one apex predator.

The “Beast” Blu-ray, DVD and Digital releases feature several behind-the-scenes featurettes that take viewers into the world of the film as well as a deleted scene. Viewers can go inside the final battle between Nate and the beast himself with “Man vs. Lion: The Final Battle;” hear what Kormáku envisioned for the beast in “Creating the Beast;” get a closer look at the film’s South African filming locations in “Filming in the Beast’s Territory;” learn more about the family at the center of the story with “Family Bond: The Cast of ‘Beast;’” hear all the gory details about creating realistic-looking wounds in “Making It Real: The Wounds;” and even learn the tragic truth about lion poaching in “A Lion’s Pride.”

Bullet Train (Action, Comedy, Thriller)

“Bullet Train” speeds onto 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, October 18, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

In “Bullet Train,” Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe — all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives — on the world’s fastest train. The end of the line is just the beginning in this non-stop thrill-ride through modern-day Japan from David Leitch, the director of “Deadpool 2.”

The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital releases of “Bullet Train” feature more than an hour of extras, including outtakes and bloopers; an audio commentary with Leitch, producer Kelly McCormick and writer Zak Olkewicz; and five featurettes: “Catch What You Missed: Easter Eggs,” “All Aboard the Pain Train: Stunts,” “Select Scene Stunt Previs,” “Trained Professionals: The Cast” and “Mission Accomplished: Making of ‘Bullet Train.’” The DVD release contains just the “Trained Professionals: The Cast” and “Mission Accomplished: Making of ‘Bullet Train’” extras.

Going Places (Action, Comedy, Crime)

The controversial and notorious buddy film “Going Places” is now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Cohen Film Collection.

Gerard Depardieu (in the role that would make him an international star) and Patrick Dewaere portray Jean-Claude and Pierrot, two amoral drifters who travel the French countryside committing petty crimes and harassing the women they encounter, including Miou-Miou, Jeanne Moreau and, in an early role, Isabelle Huppert. Perpetually on the run from the police and the women they encounter, the two are always just one step ahead of death or imprisonment as a result of their crime spree, but, as Kevin Thomas in the LA Times observes, director Bertrand Blier (“Get Out Your Handkerchiefs”) is “interested more in Jean-Claude and Pierrot as sexual chauvinists than as petty criminals, and as they learn to become more considerate lovers, they become more likable. Above all, they embody the sure-fire appeal of all movie anti-heroes: free-spirits who live entirely for the moment and at all times follow their impulses.” Graced with a justly famous score by Stéphane Grappelli, “Going Places” remains as shocking and outrageous today as it did upon its initial release in 1974.

Bonus features include an audio commentary track by Professor of Film Studies at Columbia University, Richard Peña, and the film’s trailer. The movie is presented in French with English subtitles.

Orphan: First Kill (Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller)

Esther’s terrifying saga continues in “Orphan: First Kill,” debuting on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, October 18, from Paramount Home Entertainment. The thrilling prequel to the original and shocking horror hit, “Orphan,” is also now available on Digital and streaming on Paramount+.

After orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. Yet, an unexpected twist arises that pits her against a mother who will protect her family from the murderous “child” at any cost.

The Blu-ray release includes a digital copy of the film.

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (Animation, Action, Comedy, Family)

The hilarious, family-friendly adventure “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank” comes home on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, October 18, from Paramount Home Entertainment. The film is also now available on Digital and streaming on Paramount+.

A hard-on-his-luck hound named Hank (voiced by Michael Cera) finds himself in a town full of cats who need a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain’s (voiced by Ricky Gervais) evil plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant teacher (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) to train him, the underdog must assume the role of town samurai and team up with the villagers to save the day. The only problem: cats hate dogs!

“Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank” features a sensational, all-star cast of voice talent, including Mel Brooks, George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou and Michelle Yeoh. Its Digital and Blu-ray releases come with several fun-filled extras, including an introduction to the uproarious cast of characters (“Cool Cats and One Hot Dog!”), a character drawing tutorial with director Rob Minkoff (“In the Drawing Room with Director Rob Minkoff”) and a peek behind the scenes with voice cast members Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais, Mel Brooks and more (“Giving Voice to ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’”). The DVD includes only the “In the Drawing Room with Director Rob Minkoff” featurette.

Rumble (Animation, Action, Comedy, Family)

Prepare for monster-sized fun when the action-packed, must-see family comedy “Rumble” comes home on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, October 18, from Paramount Home Entertainment. The film is also now available on Digital and streaming on Paramount+.

Based on the popular graphic novel “Monster on the Hill” by Rob Harrell, “Rumble” is a unique, massively entertaining movie set in a world where monster wrestling is a global sport and superstar athletes are larger than life.  The hilarious animated comedy features the voice talents of Will Arnett, Geraldine Viswanathan and Terry Crews, as well as real-life NBA All-Star Charles Barkley and WWE professional wrestlers Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoai and Becky Lynch.

When teenage Winnie (voiced by Viswanathan) teams up with a loveable underdog monster (voiced by Arnett) in hopes of training him to become a champion, the duo learns the value of moving to your own groove and paving your own unique path to success.

The Digital and Blu-ray releases of “Rumble” come loaded with special features, including deleted scenes, a salsa dance tutorial and the featurettes “The Super-Secret Playbook,” “The Mon-Stars of Wrestling,” “Four Rounds in the Animation Ring” and “Massive Monsters, Wrestling Moves and Dazzling Dances.”