Movies

 

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Drama)

Everything has led to this moment. A farewell fit for high society and just scandalous enough for drawing room gossip, Focus Features’ “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is now available to own on Digital from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The film comes home on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Based on Carnival Films’ Emmy Award-winning television series “Downton Abbey,” the cinematic return of the global phenomenon follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. When Mary (Michelle Dockery, “The Gentlemen”) finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.

“Downton Abbey” fans can relive moments of refined humor, luxury fashion and heartfelt conversation with plenty of exclusive content on “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” including a feature commentary with director Simon Curtis (“My Week with Marilyn”) and actress Elizabeth McGovern (“Once Upon a Time in America”) and four featurettes that explore everything from the grandeur of high society settings and the details that went into bringing historical authenticity to the film to heartfelt messages from the cast and filmmakers as they express their immense gratitude for the fans’ unwavering support and love for the franchise. Featurettes include “Changing Times,” “Society Season,” “Authentic to the Core” and “A Farewell to Fans.” The Digital, 4K UHD and Blu-ray releases also include the exclusive extra “‘Downton Abbey’ Celebrates ‘The Grand Finale,’” where the cast shares stories, confessions and music as they bring their “Downton” journey to a close with a toast to the third and final film.

For the ultimate “Downton Abbey” fan, “Downton Abbey: The Ultimate Legacy Collection” will also be available to own on Blu-ray Nov. 11 featuring all three “Downton Abbey” films, six TV seasons and more than 13 hours of bonus content. The exclusive 24-disc set comes within an elegant 52-page book featuring a special foreword by “Downton Abbey” creator, writer and producer Julian Fellowes (“The Gilded Age”) that includes behind-the-scenes photos, costume and set design sketches and more.

 

F1 The Movie (Action, Drama, Sport)

Apple Original Films’ high-octane summer blockbuster ““F1 The Movie” is now available to own on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt, “Fight Club”) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris, “Snowfall”), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition — and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.

The 4K UHD and Blu-ray releases of “F1 The Movie” include nine featurettes that detail everything from how Brad Pitt and Damson Idris became racing drivers (“Getting Up to Speed”) to 7-time World Drivers’ Champion Lewis Hamilton’s value on the film as a producer (“Lewis Hamilton: Producer”). Viewers can see how the cast and crew filmed the movie’s exciting Red Flag sequence in just an hour (“APXGP and F1: How it was Filmed”); join Hans Zimmer (“The Lion King”) at AIR Studios for the first recording sessions of “F1’s” epic score (“Sound of Speed”); get an in-depth look at how one of the most intense scenes in the film was loosely inspired by FORMULA 1 driver Romain Grosjean’s Bahrain crash in 2020 (“The Anatomy of a Crash”); and even hear the cast do a table read (“Inside ‘F1 The Movie’ Table Read”). Other featurettes include “APXGP Innovations,” “Making it to Silverstone” and “APXGP Sets and Locations Around the World.”

 

Freakier Friday (Comedy, Family, Fantasy)

Roles are swapped once more in Disney’s “Freakier Friday,” now available to own on Digital. The family comedy arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Nov. 11.

“Freakier Friday” picks up years after Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis, “True Lies”) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan, “Mean Girls”) endured an identity crisis. Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the myriad of challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might indeed strike twice.

Bonus features on the Digital and Blu-ray releases of “Freakier Friday” include 10 deleted scenes (“Trevor’s New Song,” “Extended Dance Lesson,” “Anna Cancels Wedding,” “Pickleball Team Announcements,” “Beta Girl Backs Up Lily,” “Intensity of The V’s,” “Blake Doesn’t Like What She Hears,” “Malibu Shark,” “Eric Reads Tess’s Books” and “School Pickup”), the “Baby” lyric video featuring clips from the movie and behind-the-scenes production footage, and three featurettes. Viewers can go behind the scenes as the returning cast members talk about reprising their roles, taking on each other’s mannerisms and how the film is a love letter to Los Angeles in “Making Things Freakier;” join the original cast as they reflect on the fun and magic of the 2003 production and learn where new cast members were in 2003 in “Where Were You When…;” and discover some hidden nods to 2003’s “Freaky Friday” — along with some freakier fun facts about the sequel — in “Flashback Friday.”

 

A Nightmare on Elm Street 7-Film Collection (Horror)

Just in time for the Halloween season, Freddy Krueger, the vengeful child killer burned alive by angry parents, returns in 4K UHD to haunt the dreams of their children in the “A Nightmare on Elm Street 7-Film Collection.” Available for the first time from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the “A Nightmare on Elm Street 7-Film Collection” can be purchased as a standard 4K collection or in limited-edition collectible SteelBook packaging.

Showcasing 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range and a wider color spectrum — offering viewers brighter, deeper and more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before — the “A Nightmare on Elm Street 7-Film Collection” includes all original seven Freddy Krueger films featuring Robert Englund (“V”). Viewers can watch 1984’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” 1985’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge,” 1987’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors,” 1988’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master,” 1989’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child,” 1991’s “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare” and 1994’s “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare,” along with the uncut versions of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child.” The collection also includes an alternate ending of “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare” presented in anaglyph 3D, with 3D glasses in the physical collection.

Each film includes numerous bloodcurdling special features, including three alternate endings for “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (Scary Ending, Happy Ending, Freddy Ending); Dokken’s “Dream Warriors” music video on “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors;” and new “Boiler Room Confessional” and “Freddy’s Footnotes” featurettes on “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare.” Other special feature highlights include “The House that Freddy Built: The Legacy of New Line Horror,” “Never Sleep Again: The Making of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’” “Night Terrors: The Origins of Wes Craven’s Nightmares,” and 2001 and 2006 commentary tracks on the theatrical version of “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”

 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Comedy, Horror, Musical)

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with a newly restored and remastered 4K release of the movie, now available to own on Digital and as a collectible SteelBook from 20th Century Studios.

The hilarious, campy romp follows a newly engaged young couple, Brad (Barry Bostwick, “Spin City”) and Janet (Susan Sarandon, “Thelma & Louise”), through the most unforgettable night of their lives. After their car gets a flat tire during a torrential rainstorm, Brad and Janet walk to a creepy castle, hoping to phone for help. But things take a turn for the outrageous when they meet the master of the castle — transvestite inventor Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”). Not only is the “doctor” hosting an entourage of aliens, he brought a spectacularly muscular man (Peter Hinwood, “Tam Lin”) to life. As Brad and Janet engage in some unexpected debauchery of their own in Frank’s castle, they also witness shocking crimes!

Based on the stage musical by Richard O’Brien (“Ever After: A Cinderella Story”), “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” shattered conventions with its bold characters, flamboyant style and infectious rock ’n’ roll soundtrack. Its legendary midnight screenings — featuring shadow casts, fan costumes and audience call-backs — redefined moviegoing and created a cultural phenomenon. Today, it remains the longest-running theatrical release in film history, with weekly screenings still held around the world.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” 4K Digital and physical releases come loaded with extras, including a sing-along version of the movie, the 15^th anniversary VHS release music video for “The Time Warp,” the misprint ending, the alternate credit ending, outtakes, the deleted song “Once in a While” and an alternate version of the film with a black-and-white opening. There is also a commentary by Richard O’Brien and actress Patricia Quinn (“Monty Python’s the Meaning of Life”) viewers can enjoy, a “50 Years and Still Kicking!” trivia track that can play along with the movie, a vintage callback track that can play along with the movie, trailers and more.

 

Calling all “Downton Abbey” fans! Front Row Features is giving away a Digital copy of “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” to two lucky readers. For your chance to win a copy of the movie, simply email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Oct. 20 with your favorite “Downton Abbey” character. Good luc