Top 20 Selling Blu-ray Discs

1. The Fall Guy
2. The Boy and the Heron
3. Civil War
4. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three
5. Twister
6. The Strangers: Chapter 1
7. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
8. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
9. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
10. Dune: Part Two
11. Risky Business
12. Oppenheimer
13. Halo: Season Two
14. The Dark Knight Trilogy
15. Abigail
16. The Thing
17. Beetlejuice
18. Challengers
19. The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
20. Arcadian

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

Top 20 Selling 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs

1. The Boy and the Heron
2. The Fall Guy
3. Twister
4. Civil War
5. Oppenheimer
6. Risky Business
7. Dune: Part Two
8. The Thing
9. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three
10. The Dark Knight Trilogy
11. The Strangers: Chapter 1
12. Jaws 3
13. Halo: Season Two
14. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
15. The Shining
16. Jaws: The Revenge
17. Edge of Tomorrow
18. Beetlejuice
19. Harry Potter Complete 8-Film Collection
20. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

Top 10 Home Media Sellers (% of Blu-ray’s Market Share Noted)

1. The Fall Guy (64%)
2. The Boy and the Heron (100%)
3. Civil War (100%)
4. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three (100%)
5. Twister (65%)
6. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (56%)
7. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (43%)
8. The Strangers: Chapter 1 (70%)
9. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (67%)
10. Abigail (48%)

Further Reading:

• Top 20 Disc Sellers for Week Ended 2024-07-47
• Top 20 Selling Blu-ray and 4K Discs for Week Ended 2024-07-27

One of the greatest films of all time, Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai has influenced the work of directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg, and spawned remakes, most notably John Sturges’ acclaimed The Magnificent Seven.

When 16th-century farmers whose village is repeatedly attacked by merciless bandits ask an elderly, masterless samurai (Takashi Shimura) for help, offering nothing but food in return, he hesitantly agrees and assembles a band of warriors to defend and train the villagers. Boasting terrific performances (with Shimura and Toshiro Mifune – as a peasant masquerading as a samurai – particularly memorable), superb camerawork, and expertly mounted battle sequences, Seven Samurai is undoubtedly one of the greatest action movies ever made.

Newly restored by Toho in 4K, the BFI is delighted to release this all-time classic on UHD for the first time. Available as a limited edition 2-disc set with a book, a set of four postcards and a double-sided poster.

Extras:

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Newly recorded audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin
• Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Seven Samurai (2002, 50 mins)
• The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns discusses Kurosawa's career and influence
• Original trailer
• BFI rerelease trailer
• Double-sided poster featuring artwork by Matt Needle and the BFI’s poster designed for the film’s rerelease
• A set of four postcards featuring iconic scenes from the film
• Perfect-bound book featuring new and archival writing on the film
• Updated and improved English subtitles
• Other extras TBC

Pre-order: BFI Shop

By the power of Umbrella Entertainment! Australia’s indie distribution treasure has given us another banger of a release with 1987’s Masters of the Universe. Now we can all watch the live-action production from the defunct, yet beloved, Cannon Films pitting He-Man versus Skeletor battle for Eternia re-Mastered via a new Blu-ray!

...

In the summer of 1987, Cannon Films doubled-dipped with two superhero films, including this one and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (which also received a 4K release as a part of the franchise’s quadrilogy boxset last year). The movies were released mere weeks apart and pulled in equally meager returns at the box office at approximately $17m each; less than their production budgets. Needless to say, they were both considered flops. Most cinephiles know Cannon’s history and recognize Superman and MOTU as the notable releases that were instrumental to the production company’s demise.

Speculation to the many reasons why the film was panned upon its initial release are due to it being released on the end of Masters’ early ’80s craze, having little screen time on Eternia, lack of familiar characters from the popular cartoon and toy line, and the peculiarly shot final battle between He-Man and Skeletor because Mattel cut bait during production. And as much as Dolph Lundgren has recently found a place in the hearts of many nowadays, his casting as He-Man was not considered a good move by critics as well as Mattel back then.

...

So it appears that time has been kind to the film, for the most part. It is recognized in both the franchise’s expanded universe by fans and seems to reinvigorate nostalgia of that decade by those who continue to discover it nowadays. And here we are in 2024 with the box office failure-cum-cult classic live action MOTU film getting some new Blu-ray play from our friends Down Under!

The verdict: it’s safe to throw away your cardboard snap case DVD and any other older versions and upgrade to Umbrella’s outstanding Blu-ray transfer. The picture looks mint with the cleanest print ever made commercially available. The audio is 2.0, and while 5.0 would have been more than welcome, it is not a detractor from enjoying this release. But wow did Umbrella kill with that picture quality!

They didn’t skimp on the extras either. There is an all-new featurette on the planned sequel that never saw the light of day. We hear from some players behind that doomed project, such as the late Albert Pyun (Cyborg). Other bonus features include director commentary, extended interviews from Electric Boogaloo, archival features, a Cannon Films reel, trailers and even an Easter Egg. The almost-immediately sold-out Collector’s edition included a 48-page booklet set of lobby cards, rigid slipcase and a poster. So if that set piques your interest, unfortunately you will have to hunt for it on the secondary market since it was adios during the pre-order stage.

Good journey, everyone! If you are a fan of this film or even slightly curious about checking this one out for the first time, you will most certainly get the bang for your buck.

Now available, A24 presents a special Blu-ray edition of Jane Schoenbrun’s anthemic coming-of-age horror I Saw the TV Glow starring Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine.

Special Features include a filmmaker commentary with Jane Schoenbrun and Brigette Lundy-Paine, 12 deleted scenes, a new featurette detailing the all-star soundtrack, and six collectible postcards featuring special photography by Josiah Rundles and Spencer Pazer.

Here’s the full lineup of Special Features…

• Filmmaker commentary with Jane Schoenbrun and Brigette Lundy-Paine
• 12 Deleted Scenes
• “Ear Worms: The Anthems, Tributes, and testaments of I Saw the TV Glow” featurette (11 minutes)
• Behind the Scenes Photography by Josiah Rundles and Spencer Pazer

It's a lot, a quick selection:

We’re just warming up here… the British Film Institute (BFI) has just set a physical 4K Ultra HD release of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954) for release on 10/21 in the UK. Note that we expect the Criterion Collection to release it here in the States in November or December.

Speaking of the BFI, we’ve also learned that they’re finally releasing their once cancelled Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD editions of Martin Rosen’s animated Watership Down (1978). Look for them to street on November 11.

...

Finally today, we’ve saved some of the best news for last: The good folks at Shout! Studios have just unveiled more of their planned October Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release slate (for Shout! Factory, Scream Factory, etc)! Look for this to include John Erick Dowdle’s As Above, So Below (2014) on Blu-ray and Chuck Russell’s The Blob (1988) on 4K Steelbook on 10/1, the animated Arcane: League of Legends – Season One (2021) on Blu-ray, Blu-ray Steelbook, and 4K Ultra HD Steelbook (for GKids) and John Erick Dowdle’s Devil (2010) in 4K on 10/8, George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead (2005) on 4K Ultra HD on 10/15, Robert Zemeckis’ Death Becomes Her (1992) in 4K Ultra HD and Joe Johnston’s The Wolfman (2010) in 4K Ultra HD on 10/22, and finally Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell (2009) in 4K Ultra HD and Wes Craven’s Shocker (1989) in 4K Ultra HD on 10/29. And in November, look for the anime series Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You – Season One on Blu-ray on 11/11.

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced A Quiet Place: Day One 4K, Blu-ray, and digital release dates for its latest installment to John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place franchise. This comes after a month since the film had made its theatrical debut. During its theatrical run, the film earned a worldwide gross of over $253 million at the box office.

...

A Quiet Place: Day One will be available to rent or own on digital platforms starting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. It will then be available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and a collectible 4K Ultra HD SteelBook on Tuesday, October 8.

Both the digital and physical releases will include over 50 minutes of bonus content, which are listed below:

• Day Zero: Beginnings and Endings—Hear from John Krasinski, cast, and crew as director Michael Sarnoski takes the reins for this character-driven prequel.
• In the City: Chaos in Chinatown—See how the production crew recreated Manhattan from scratch in order to destroy it. Plus, hear from some new and familiar faces from the franchise.
• The Exodus: Against the Tide—Go behind-the-scenes of the exodus sequence that employed over a hundred extras and a clever mix of practical and visual effects.
• The Long Walk: Monsters in Midtown—Meet Frodo the cat and the animal trainers behind the fantastic feline performance. Plus, filmmakers detail Sam, Eric, and Frodo’s long walk through the city.
• Pizza at the End of the World—Hear from cast and crew about why a quest for pizza when the world is under attack poignantly speaks to our humanity.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes

...sorry, I can't do the whole table charts anymore. It's too tedious to type it all out by hand. So instead, I will go back to the lists:

Top 20 Selling Blu-ray Discs

1. Civil War
2. The Boy and the Heron
3. Dune: Part Two
4. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
5. Oppenheimer
6. The Thing
7. The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
8. Twister
9. Abigail
10. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
11. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
12. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
13. Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy
14. John Wick: Chapter 4
15. Blade Runner: The Final Cut
16. Dune: Part One
17. The Goonies
18. James Bond: The Daniel Craig 5-Film Collection
19. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One
20. Dune 2-Film Collection

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

Top 20 Selling 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs

1. The Boy and the Heron
2. Oppenheimer
3. Dune: Part Two
4. The Thing
5. Civil War
6. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
7. Twister
8. Blade Runner: The Final Cut
9. The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
10. James Bond: The Daniel Craig 5-Film Collection
11. The Goonies
12. Edge of Tomorrow
13. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
14. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
15. Dune: Part One
16. The Big Lebowski
17. Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy
18. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
19. The Wizard of Oz
20. The Fugitive

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

Top 10 Home Media Sellers (% of Blu-ray's Market Share Noted)

1. Civil War (100%)
2. The Boy and the Heron (100%)
3. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (54%)
4. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (44%)
5. Abigail (51%)
6. Dune: Part Two (84%)
7. Oppenheimer (88%)
8. Twister (64%)
9. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (65%)
10. The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (89%)

Further Reading:

• Top 20 Disc Sellers for Week Ended 2024-07-20
• Top 20 Selling Blu-ray and 4K Discs for Week Ended 2024-07-20

The list of 10 Movies That Are Surprisingly Hard to Find (So Keep Your Discs) includes Cocoon, Dawn of the Dead, and more

This article has the subheading,

A surprising amount of prominent, classic movies are unavailable on disc or streaming, including classics like Dawn of the Dead, The Beach and Strange Days.

Unfortunately, the author doesn't want to shop outside of North America (which really bugs me, especially with his comment on Dawn of the Dead). Anyway, if he did a little more research, he would have found out that:

The Beach (2000) – Available on Spanish Blu-ray (Bootleg?)

Cocoon (1985) – Originally released by 20th Century Fox on Blu-ray in 2010 for the US and Canada. Has been issued in the UK, France and most recently Germany in 2019.

Strange Days (1999) – Issued twice in Germany, the most recent being in 2015, and in the UK in 2017, but that has been censored for sexual violence.

Showtime (2002) – Website is correct, not currently available anywhere in physical HD.

Dawn of the Dead (1978) – The website correctly states that the film is available on 4K internationally on a region free disc (as 99% of 4K discs are) but has a dig that there isn’t a North American release. 🤷

Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) – Apart from the stated Laserdisc and VHS, it also got a DVD release, from what I can tell, was Australia. And, as stated, is also available on some streaming services.

Sorry for being pedantic, blame my autism! 😁

EDIT: I was tired yesterday and have realised I stopped short, so let finish it off.

Salute of The Jugger (The Blood of Heroes) (1989) — Released in Japan and Denmark on Blu-ray, but it's a bit of an oddity. It contains the US and longer European cut, which is on DVD. It's only 1080i50 and apparently a strange upscale which is also in 4:3.

John Woo’s Hong Kong Films - Best read Emperor's reply down below. :-)

The Heartbreak Kid (1972) — According to Wikipedia,

Although released on DVD in 1998 and in 2002, the film currently (as of 2022) is out of print. In 2022 it was announced the Brooklyn Academy of Music would offer a rare screening of the film.

There are a few copies on eBay, but because of the scarcity, they're quite pricey.

I've recently started digitizing my mother-in-law's collection of home movies. What I would love is some recommendations or tweaks I can do to improve the quality and remove any combing or minimize static. I am not particularly concerned with audio quality, but I'll list it below as well.

And so far I'm enjoying the processes. It's really fun to see old videos and to learn a bit about video formats and encoding. I'm an amateur when it comes to these kinds of things so I'm learning as I go along. Each tape I make the picture clearer and the file size smaller!

Recording

• Sony Handycam (DCR-TRV27)
• Various DV 60/90 cassette tapes
• Seemingly ran in standard recording mode (tapes are 60 minutes)

VCR

• Elgato USB Analog Video Capture Device
• Handycam's VCR mode connected via S-Video Cable and 3.5mm audio jack*

* I have ordered a A/V to RCA cable which is the manufacturer's recommended connection, but unsure about the effects on quality

Software

• OBS for recording the VCR feed
  • Downscale Filter: Bicubic (Sharpened scaling, 16 samples)
  • Deinterlace - Linear 2x
  • 720x540 @ 29.97 FPS (NTSC) (upscaled from 720x480)
  • "Indistinguishable Quality, Large File Size"
    • .mkv format with H.264 encoder
  • Audio Encoder AAC
  • Audio 48khz steroe
• Handbrake for re-encoding
  • 720x480 @ 29.97 FPS
  • H.264 (x264) MKV format
  • No additional deinterlacing
  • "Constant Quality" set to 20
  • Audio Encoder AAC

With optical media production winding down, and many people seemingly happy to get rid of their disc collections, there's never been a better time to pick up used media for your collection, but I'm still somewhat particular about used discs no matter how low their price!

They are:

• How Bad Are the Scratches?
• Cloudiness or Edge Infiltration
• Is the Disc Flat?
• Signs of a Fake!
• Can My Player Play It?

Sorry, the post was too long to replicate here.

Follow the link for details on new versions of:

• Trick 'R' Treat
• Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment
• J-Horror Rising (Shikoku, Isola: Multiple Personality Girl, Inugami, St. John’s Wort, Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman and Noroi: The Curse, and Persona)
• Exorcist II: The Heretic
• The Exorcist III

How many times has Hellraiser been released on Blu-ray now? Feels like one of those films that gets released every few years because they've found something new to stick in the extras!

Air America is coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

by Simon Brew | July 26, 2024

• 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY

1990's Air America, starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr, is coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the UK this October.

An early film from the careers of Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr, 1990's Air America was a solid hit around the time of release, even if it never really set the world on fire. Sold heavily as an action comedy, it's set in the Vietnam War, and has a bit more weight to its message than the marketing may have initially put across. Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies) directs the film.

Still, it was never particularly well received on its initial release, even though the fighting sequences were singled out for praise. Now though, you get to assess or reassess the movie, depending on whether you've seen it before, thanks to a new 4K remaster.

Air America will be making its debut on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format on 7th October in the UK. You can find more information on the release, and order yourself a copy, right here.

The disc will come with extra features, presumably courtesy of the Blu-ray that's also bundled in the box.

The extra features read as follows...

Revisiting Air America

Short Interviews with Cast and Crew

The Storyboards of Air America

Feature Clips

Flight Log

Making of Featurette

Theatrical Trailer

Trailer 2024

Commentary by screenwriter John Eskow

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray of *Air America *is available to preorder now, and we'll leave you with the synopsis for the movie...

Set in the 1960s, Billy Covington (Robert Downey Jr.) is a big-city chopper pilot who reports traffic conditions for a radio station but ends up losing his license due to a traffic incident on the freeway. Longing to do some real flying, Billy is recruited by the government for a secret and safe (he thinks) civilian airline in Laos. Knowing that by agreeing to do it he'll get his license back, he signs up. Upon arrival in Laos, he soon befriends ace pilot Gene Ryack (Mel Gibson) and realises that Air America isn't quite what it seems, instead of transporting civilians, it's food, money, ammunition and napalm that are the real cargo and the pilots are risking their lives daily.

Both 4K and blu-ray releases see quite an uptick this week. Not going to see it as a scorcher, but it's definitely a hot week.

Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 8 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of July 21st - July 27th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Black and Chrome Edition 4K Blu-ray

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release on 4K Bu-ray Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Black and Chrome Edition. The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on August 13.

The studio will release Mad Max 5-Film Collection 4K Collection on September 24.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Black & Chrome Edition is a version of the theatrical film which has the color removed in favor of a black a chrome aesthetic. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Black & Chrome Edition will feature an introduction by director George Miller.

The Mad Max 5-Film 4K Collector's Edition will include 1979's acclaimed post-apocalyptic action film Mad Max, 1981's Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, 1985's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road and 2024's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. In addition to the 5 films, the Collector's Edition also includes special features from the five films along with the Black & Chrome Editions of Mad Max: Fury Road and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

As the world fell, young Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth star in Academy Award-winning mastermind George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the much-anticipated return to the iconic dystopian world he created more than 40 years ago with the seminal Mad Max films. Miller now turns the page again with an all-new original, standalone action adventure that will reveal the origins of the powerhouse character from the multiple Oscar-winning global smash Mad Max: Fury Road. The new feature from Warner Bros. Pictures is produced by Miller and his longtime partner, Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell (Mad Max: Fury Road, Babe), under their Australian-based Kennedy Miller Mitchell banner.

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Taylor-Joy stars in the title role, and along with Hemsworth, the film also stars Tom Burke and Alyla Browne.

Miller penned the script with Mad Max: Fury Road co-writer Nico Lathouris. Miller's behind-the-scenes creative team includes first assistant director PJ Voeten and action designer Guy Norris, director of photography Simon Duggan (Hacksaw Ridge, The Great Gatsby), composer Tom Holkenborg, supervising sound editor Robert Mackenzie, editor Eliot Knapman, visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson and supervising colorist Eric Whipp. The team also includes other longtime collaborators: production designer Colin Gibson, editor Margaret Sixel, production sound Ben Osmo, costume designer Jenny Beavan and hair and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt, each of whom won an Oscar for their work on Mad Max: Fury Road.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents A Kennedy Miller Mitchell Production, A George Miller Film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The film is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. |

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A Quiet Place: Day one has been a big hit at the box office, and if you're looking to bring the sci-fi thriller home, preorders are now open for its upcoming Blu-ray release. Like most major releases, you'll be able to choose between A Quiet Place: Day One steelbook Blu-ray or a regular release, and for an extra-special version, Walmart is offering its own steelbook version that's slightly different from the one on Amazon. Walmart has "Stay quiet, stay alive" written on its Blu-ray steelbook cover, and who knows, that extra touch could make this extra-collectible.

The Fall Guy delivers an impressive 2160p UHD 4K image with Dolby Vision. The streaming version looks amazing, however, this physical copy allows more room to breathe with its wide gamut of colors and detail.

The colors are bold and rich from the start inside the tall building where Gosling is about to fall multiple stories for a stunt. The primary colors stand out with green plants outside the building contrast nicely with the black and gold leather suits and the amber paint in the lobby. As the film cuts into the near future, wonderful neon signs light up the night sky with red, maroon, and blue-tinted street lights. Once the action unfolds on location, the sandy dunes mix well with the bright blue skies. Inside the posh hotel, a warmer palette of orange, yellow, black, and gold lines the walls where certain characters wear bright blue clothing that looks amazing. The Dolby Vision enhances the action beats outside where the gray and darker colors of roads and vehicles leave room for the brighter wardrobe color pops. And that bright orange musical car at the beginning of the film looks pitch-perfect inside the cooler-looking parking garage. Even the nightclub scene where Gosling's bright neon yellow jacket looks amazing with the purple and blue backlighting. Black levels are very inky and rich and the skin tones are always natural.

The detail is sharp and vivid with excellent closeups that reveal the actor's individual hairs on their faces, facial pores, beads of blood and sweat, practical makeup applications, and textures in the clothing, weapons, and vehicles. Metallic and leather objects look particularly good here. When explosions are applied, the dirt, sand, and debris can be easily seen flying across the screen without pixelation. The bigger action sequences are never soft and provide a ton of depth in both the foreground and the background. There is never a dull moment in the film. There are no problems with aliasing, banding, or video noise either. This video presentation is a step above the streaming version and is the ultimate way to watch this action movie.

...

Extended Cut (UHD, 146 Mins.) - The extended cut has its own 4K Disc and is twenty minutes longer than the theatrical cut. There are more sequences with supporting characters that allow for more character development along with some different editing that makes the movie play without going back and forth in time. This extended cut is the better option.

...

The Fall Guy has risen to be one of the biggest and best action flicks in years. The amount of fun, heart, soul, and the ability to finally pay homage to the impressive stunt people throughout the years is fantastic. This 4K image with Dolby Vision looks excellent and is a definitive upgrade from the 1080p version and even the 4K streaming option. The Dolby Atmos track is demo-worthy. The bonus features are a ton of fun to watch as well. MUST-OWN.

Many people were first made aware of the value of some Blu-ray and 4K UHD discs last year when they heard about the price people were paying for Best Buy exclusive steelbook versions of Oppenheimer. Or maybe they saw the Lawrence of Arabia 4K steelbook selling for 5x retail

If you happen to have one of those, you probably already know that it's valuable, but here are some lesser known rare Blu-rays and 4K releases:

DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray sales appear to be on the up at HMV, after a positive first half of the year.

Some very welcome good news for fans of physical media, with the HMV chain reporting that sales of DVDs, Blu-rays and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are on the rise. Given the hammering that physical media had been taking over the last few years, this is the signs of a turnaround that had been hoped for and spectulated.

According to HMV’s managing director, Phil Halliday, “when streaming first came out I think a lot of people saw it as cheap and with huge breadth of choice, but I’m not sure people see it like that now … People are willing to pay for a physical copy of shows or films they know they will rewatch.”

Sales of what HMV describes as its ‘visual category’ are up by 5% in the first half of 2024 already. The driver for that growth is high definition disc formats, presumably 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.

HMV’s story isn’t reflective elsewhere, on the flipside of that. Overall, the numbers suggest that physical media sales continue to decline, and that’s been the case year on year for well over a decade now. HMV, as physical media fans very well know, is about the only chain – along with its sister chain, Fopp – to stock a good range of catalogue DVDs, Blu-rays and 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays, with many stores backing away from even selling the biggest titles too.

Still, there’s an element of if you build it, they will come to all of this. What HMV has discovered is if you offer people a selection of physical media to choose from, they tend to be interested in it. And if the sales numbers being reported are anything to go, they’re willing to put their hands in their pockets too.

Here’s to more nice physical media sales numbers over the next year or two. We’ll keep you posted…

The boss of HMV has said more shoppers are buying physical movies and TV shows again despite the recent streaming boom.

Blu-ray and DVD sales are back in growth after significant decline in recent years, sparked by the rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+.

Phil Halliday, managing director of HMV, said the retailer is “good health”, with all its core product areas back in growth despite a challenging consumer backdrop.

He said the recovery of its “physical visual” business has been a particular highlight, with collectors helping to support increased sales.

Mr Halliday added that the category has grown as households have witnessed an increase in the number of streaming services, uncertainty over which shows or films are on certain platforms, and rises in the price of many subscriptions.

Top 20 Disc Sellers

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

*Units Sold Compared to No. 1 Title

**Re-entered the Top 200

† Percentage of Overall Disc Sales in a 3D format; 3D is considered a Blu-ray version and is also part of the BD Share for each title.

†† Percentage of Overall Disc Sales in a UHD BD format; UHD is considered a Blu-ray version and is also part of the BD Share for each title.

Top 20 Selling Blu-ray Discs

1. Civil War
2. The Boy and the Heron
3. Abigail
4. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
5. Twister
6. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
7. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
8. Boy Kills World
9. Unsung Hero
10. Dune: Part Two
11. Challengers
12. Doctor Who: Tom Baker - Complete Season Four
13. Ghostbusters 2-Movie Collection: Afterlife/Frozen Empire
14. Taxi Driver
15. Starship Troopers
16. The Beekeeper
17. Monkey Man
18. Oppenheimer
19. Coraline
20. Mars Attacks!

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

Top 20 Selling 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs

1. Civil War
2. Twister
3. The Boy and the Heron
4. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
5. Boy Kills World
6. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
7. Taxi Driver
8. Starship Troopers
9. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
10. Dune: Part Two
11. The Fifth Element
12. Coraline
13. Point Break
14. Oppenheimer
15. Purple Rain
16. Le Samourai
17. The Guyver
18. Heavy Metal/Heavy Metal 2000
19. Star Wars: Andor - The Complete First Season
20. Monkey Man

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

Further reading:

• Top 20 Disc Sellers for Week Ended 2024-07-13
• Top 20 Selling Blu-ray and 4K Discs for Week Ended 2024-07-13
• Top HD Formats Disc Share Per Title for Week Ended 2024-07-13
• Blu-ray Sales: July 7-13: Civil War Battles to the Top of the Charts

NOTE I'm guessing Tank Girl is a UK only release as Shout Factory have already released it in the US.

Eureka Entertainment Announces October Releases

Posted July 18, 2024 05:52 PM by

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PRE-ORDER NOW

](https://www.blu-ray.com/link/click.php?id=366300&c=7)

Eureka Entertainment has announced its October batch of Blu-ray releases. They are: Tank Girl (1995) and Broken Oath (1977).

Broken Oath

A Hong Kong take on Japan's Lady Snowblood, Broken Oath is an action-packed tale of righteous vengeance directed by Jeong Chang-hwa (King Boxer) and starring the first lady of kung fu cinema: the inimitable Angela Mao!

Orphaned and angry, Lotus (Mao) is raised by Buddhist nuns before she is exiled for her violent ways -- and skipping classes to improve her martial arts skills. Finding herself alone in the world, she quickly comes to discover the truth of her past: that her father was once a respected member of the Imperial Court who was murdered in cold blood, and that her mother gave birth to her in a jail cell after being unjustly imprisoned for killing one of the culprits. With revenge on her mind and a newfound accomplice in tow (Bruce Leung, Magnificent Bodyguards), she sets out to track down the men responsible for tearing her family apart -- armed with both her considerable martial arts prowess and a nest of scorpions with which to poison her enemies.

Made at the height of her fame following roles in Hapkido, Lady Whirlwind, Enter the Dragon and When Taekwondo Strikes, Broken Oath is one of Angela Mao's very best films -- and boasts action choreography orchestrated by Hsia Hsu (Drunken Master) and Yuen Woo-ping, one of the most respected stunt coordinators in both Hong Kong (The Magnificent Butcher) and Hollywood (The Matrix). Eureka Classics is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world from a brand new 2K restoration.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• NEW 2K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
• Original Mandarin audio and optional English dub tracks (original mono presentations)
• Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
• Brand new audio commentary by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
• Brand new audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
• Brand new interview with actor Bruce Leung (The Dragon Lives Again)
• Patrick Macias on Lady Snowblood -- new appreciation by film writer Patrick Macias
• Trailer
• A collector's booklet featuring new writing on Broken Oath by East Asian cinema expert Gina Marchetti and Kung Fu Cult Masters author Leon Hunt [2000 copies]
• Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju) [2000 copies]

U.S. AND CANADA STREET DATE: OCTOBER 22.
UK STREET DATE: OCTOBER 21.

Tank Girl

Brought to the screen by director Rachel Talalay (Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare) and starring Lori Petty (Point Break) in its title role, Tank Girl is a slice of post-apocalyptic science fiction -- and a bonafide cult classic -- adapted from the hit comic strip created by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett.

The year is 2033, and the people of Earth have been suffering through a drought for over a decade. The planet's water supply is now controlled by megalomaniac businessman Kesslee (Malcolm McDowell), the owner of the Water & Power corporation. But in Australia, at least, there is resistance. If Kesslee wants to take control of the last water well in the Outback, he'll need to contend with the Rippers -- mutant hybrids of human and kangaroo -- and Rebecca Buck, alias Tank Girl (Petty): a woman with a tank, a bad attitude, and a determination to rescue the world from the brink of oblivion.

First published by the British comics magazine Deadline in 1988, Tank Girl began life as a comic strip before becoming a cult phenomenon in the 1990s. In 1995, the central character starred in a new run of stories under DC Comics' Vertigo imprint and this big-screen adaptation, which formed one part of a boom in comic book movies that also included The Shadow, Judge Dredd and The Phantom. Eureka Classics is proud to present this limited edition of the film on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• 1080p HD presentation
• 5.1 DTS-HD MA and LPCM 2.0 audio options
• Optional English SDH
• Not a Bedtime Story -- A new interview with artist Greg Staples on Tank Girl from page to screen
• Audio commentary with director Rachel Talalay and actress Lori Petty
• Girl U Want -- A new appreciation of Tank Girl with film scholar and fan Lindsay Hallam
• A plethora of archival interviews with cast and crew, including Rachel Talalay, Lori Petty, Catherine Hardwicke, and more
• Making Tank Girl -- 1995 featurette
• Theatrical Trailer
• Limited Collector's Edition Box Set
• Limited Edition Hardbound Slipcase featuring new artwork by Tank Girl cover artist Greg Staples
• A limited edition 60-page collector's booklet featuring new writing on Tank Girl by genre film experts Stacey Abbott and Kieran Foster

UK STREET DATE: OCTOBER 28.

Collector's Edition - $150.00

The 4K UHD Collector’s Set of Arcane: League of Legends Season One serves as the definitive showcase for the award-winning series, presenting all nine episodes in glorious 4K resolution and mastered in Dolby Vision HDR. In addition to the 4K UHD version, the Collector's Edition includes standard Blu-ray discs. This limited-run set comes packed with extras inspired by the world of Arcane that you won’t find anywhere else, fit for the ultimate fanatic.

Includes:

• Episodes 1 – 9 in 4K UHD and Blu-ray Formats
• 3+ Hours of Bonus Features
• Original Artwork
• Exclusive “Hexcore” Oversized Metal d20
• 7 “Hex Crystal” Liquid Core Resin Dice
• Velvet Dice Pouch
• Double Sided Progress Day Poster with Original Jinx Graffiti
• 6 Art Cards Featuring Powder's Drawings
• Caitlyn's Piltover Map (Fabric)

SteelBook - 4K UHD Edition - $44.96

This exclusive 4K UHD Steelbook edition of Arcane: League of Legends features a stunning Jinx-themed outer design. Get episodes 1 – 9 in the highest possible quality while repping Zaun’s own demolition diva.

Includes:

• Limited Edition Jinx-Themed Steelbook Casing
• Episodes 1 – 9 on Three (3) 4K UHD Discs
• 3+ Hours of Bonus Features on Blu-ray Disc

SteelBook - Blu-ray Edition - $42.96

The Vi-themed Steelbook edition of Arcane: League of Legends contains all nine episodes of Season One across three Blu-ray discs. Featuring exclusive outer design and casing based on Zaun’s lost daughter, this edition can face off against the Jinx 4K UHD version or stand alone in a collection.

Featuring:

• Limited Edition Vi-Themed Steelbook Casing
• Episodes 1 – 9 on Three (3) Blu-ray Discs
• 3+ Hours of Bonus Features

Standard Blu-ray - $34.96

If you’re just looking for the essentials, there’s plenty to love in the Arcane: League of Legends Season One standard edition. You’ll get all nine episodes on Blu-ray for the first time ever, all-new Bonus Features, and original cover art featuring Piltover and Zaun’s iconic cast of characters.

Featuring:

• Original Artwork
• Episodes 1 – 9 on Three (3) Blu-ray Discs
• 3+ Hours of Bonus Features

Pre-order: GKIDS

Jaws 3 might be the worst 4K ever released as of this very moment. It's that bad and that horribly butchered with AI and awful DNR/Color Timing. The 2D version always looked a bit off due to the way that the film was shot specifically for 3D but with this abysmal 4K transfer it's limitations and issues are blown up and become glaringly obvious. Then on top of that you have AI interperetation the likes not even god has seen.

The film legitimately looks like it was created with Midjourney on more than one occasion. Or entire frames look like the washed out color tone SNL bumpers. Remember those from the 70's and 80's that used to show the host for the night? Entire sequences of the film look like that. No film should look like that in 4K. People look like paper cut outs in more than one frame. This is abhorrent.

– Vindicator89 on Blu-ray.com

I said this in another comment thread but will post here too:

The bigger question is why is the upscale suddenly so much worse than it was before?

Plenty of films finished at 2K had 4K UHD discs put out that were nothing more than upscales with HDR grades applied, but they were never this bad. It's like AI upscales became a thing and the studios tossed out whatever previous methods they used, that seemingly worked JUST FINE, in favour of new technology that has GLARING flaws such as this.

– /u/adamschoales on Reddit