AMERICAN MURDERER. (DVD Artwork) ©Lionsgate Entertainment.

Movies

American Murderer (Crime, Drama, Thriller)

The true crime-inspired thriller “American Murderer” is now available on Digital, Blu-ray and DVD from Lionsgate.

Based on a true story, the riveting thriller follows Jason Derek Brown (Tom Pelphrey, “Guiding Light”), a charismatic con man bankrolling his extravagant lifestyle through a series of scams. On Brown’s trail: Lance Leising (Ryan Phillippe, “Crash”), a dogged FBI special agent determined to put Brown behind bars. When Brown’s funds run low and his past catches up with him, he plots his most elaborate scheme yet, pitting himself against Leising in a deadly game of cat and mouse — and becoming the most unlikely and elusive fugitive on the FBI’s most-wanted list.

Written and directed by Matthew Gentile (“Lawman,” “Heart of Sword”), “American Murderer” also stars Tony Award winner Idina Menzel (“Frozen”). Special features include an audio commentary with Gentile, “Preparing for ‘Action:’ The Visual Design of ‘American Murderer,’” Proof of Concept Short and “What’s Left Behind: Making ‘American Murderer.’”

The Banshees of Inisherin (Comedy, Drama)

The tragicomedy “The Banshees of Inisherin” debuts on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Dec. 20, from Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. The film is also now available on Digital.

From director-writer Martin McDonagh (“In Bruges”) comes a unique film starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Although Pádraic (Farrell) and Colm (Gleeson) have been lifelong friends, they find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, bringing alarming consequences for both of them.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Banshees of Inisherin” made its world premiere to critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay Award for McDonagh and the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for Farrell. Bonus features on the Blu-ray and Digital releases include five deleted scenes (“Chasing Colm,” “Colm Can’t Compose,” “Parents’ Grave and Peadar,” “Siobham Crying Too Loud” and “Stoic Equals Boring”) and the behind-the-scenes featurette “Creating ‘The Banshees of Inisherin,’” which delves in the making of the film from its story inception to searching the islands of Ireland looking for the perfect, evocative locations.

Call Jane (Drama, History)

The timely and poignant drama “Call Jane” is now available on Digital, Blu-ray, DVD and Video on Demand from Lionsgate.

Chicago, 1968. As a city and the nation are on the brink of political upheaval, suburban housewife Joy (Elizabeth Banks, “The Hunger Games” film franchise) and her husband and daughter are living the all-American dream. But Joy’s tranquil world is shattered when her life-threatening pregnancy forces her to navigate a medical establishment unwilling to help. This impossible situation leads Joy to the “Janes,” an underground network providing the only available alternative, helmed by fierce advocates Virginia (Sigourney Weaver, “Gorillas in the Mist”) and Gwen (Wunmi Mosaku, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) — not only saving Joy’s life, but changing it forever.

Inspired by true events of Chicago’s underground abortion network known as The Jane Collective, “Call Jane” has received critical praise since the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Special features include deleted scenes, an audio commentary with director Phyllis Nagy (“Mrs. Harris”) and producer Robbie Brenner (“Dallas Buyers Club”) and the featurette “You Are Not Alone: The Making of ‘Call Jane.’”

The Loneliest Boy in the World (Comedy, Horror)

When a sheltered and unsocialized young man is tasked with making new friends after the sudden and devastating death of his mother, he decides that digging a few up (literally) might be his best bet in the (soon-to-be) cult classic horror-comedy “The Loneliest Boy in the World,” debuting on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Dec. 20, from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Billed as a modern fairytale — except with zombies — “The Loneliest Boy in the World” follows Oliver (Max Harwood, “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”), who awakens the morning after his excavating escapades only to discover that his newly acquired friends have mysteriously come to life overnight. Oliver’s actions lead them all into a series of misadventures as they try to keep their secret safe from neighbors, classmates and social workers alike.

Directed by Martin Owen (“The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud”), “The Loneliest Boy in the World” also stars Hero Fiennes Tiffin (“After” franchise, “The Woman King”), Susan Wokoma (“Enola Holmes”), Evan Ross (“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2”), Tallulah Haddon (“The Last Duel”), Hammed Animashaun (“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”), social media phenom and musician Jacob Sartorius, newcomer Zenobia Williams, Sam Coleman (“Leatherface”), Ashley Benson (“Spring Breakers,” “Pretty Little Liars”) and Ben Miller (”Bridgerton”).

Paradise City (Action, Thriller)

Movie icons Bruce Willis and John Travolta face off in the action-packed thriller “Paradise City,” arriving on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Dec. 20, from Lionsgate.

When bounty hunter Ian Swan (Willis) is shot and presumed dead after disappearing in Maui waters, Swan’s son, Ryan (Blake Jenner, “Glee”), his ex-partner (Stephen Dorff, “True Detective”) and a local detective (Praya Lundberg, “Strange Girl in a Strange Land”) set out to find his killers. After being threatened by a ruthless power broker (Travolta), it appears Ryan and his team are out of options — until an excursion to the closely guarded island community of Paradise City unites them with an unforeseen ally.

Directed by Chuck Russell (“The Scorpion King,” “The Mask”), “Paradise City” is John Travolta and Bruce Willis’s first on-screen reunion since “Pulp Fiction.” Special features include an audio commentary with director-cowriter Russell and actor Blake Jenner, “The Road to ‘Paradise City:’ A Conversation with Praya Lundberg and Chuck Russell” and “My Time in Paradise: Chuck Russell’s Adventures in Hollywood.”

Secret Headquarters (Action, Adventure, Comedy)

The family-friendly adventure “Secret Headquarters” comes to Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Dec. 20, from Paramount Home Entertainment. The film is also now available on Digital and streaming on Paramount+.

Friendship and courage take center stage when Charlie (Walker Scobell, “The Adam Project”) and his friends stumble upon the headquarters of the Guard (Owen Wilson, “Loki”) and realize the world’s most powerful superhero is Charlie’s dad. When an evil businessman (Michael Peña, “Ant-Man”) sends in a team to infiltrate the lair and retrieve the Guard’s energy source, the youngsters spring into action and turn the tables on the intruders.

The Digital and Blu-ray releases of “Secret Headquarters” include more than 30 minutes of fun-filled bonus content featuring Wilson and Peña. Viewers can not only meet the cast and crew as they reflect on their time on set, but also enjoy deleted and extended scenes, learn how the Secret Headquarters was built, explore the film’s stunt choreography, find out how special effects brought the movie together and laugh out loud watching a gag reel.

Smile (Horror, Mystery, Thriller)

The terrifying and mind-bending box office smash “Smile” is now available on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment. The film is also streaming on Paramount+ and available on Digital in a two-movie collection with the terrifying thriller “Spell” starring Omari Hardwick.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, “Smile” stars Sosie Bacon as Dr. Rose Cotter who, after witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

The Digital, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray releases of “Smile” come packed with over an hour of heart-pounding bonus content, including the award-winning, chilling short film by writer/director Parker Finn — “Laura Hasn’t Slept” — that inspired the movie. Viewers can also watch deleted scares not seen in theaters, go behind the scenes with the cast and crew with “Something’s Wrong with Rose: Making ‘Smile’” and “Flies on the Wall: Inside the Score,” and listen to the director’s commentary track.

Front Row Features is still in the giving spirit this holiday season. That’s why we’re not only giving away a copy of “The Loneliest Boy in the World” on Blu-ray to three lucky readers, but we’re also giving readers another chance to win a copy of Universal Pictures’ “Halloween Ends” — this time on 4K UHD. To enter the contests, simply email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Dec. 27 with the title of which movie you want to win in the subject line. Good luck!