Home Market Releases for December 27th, 2016
December 26, 2016
This Tuesday is the day after Boxing Day. I don’t know if there is a worse possible day to release something on the home market. There are a few films on this week’s list you could call busted Oscar bait, but almost nothing that is a contender for Pick of the Week. Fortunately, it is almost nothing and not completely nothing. A Man Called Ove is the best release and the DVD or Blu-ray are clearly the Pick of the Week.
American Honey - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Callanetics Countdown: 30 Days to a More Beautiful Body - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The Dressmaker - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
In a Valley of Violence - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Kill Command - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A Man Called Ove - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
No Manches Frida - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Pet - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Ray Donovan: The Fourth Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Snowden - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Versailles: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
When the Bough Breaks - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
4K Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon
TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
Video on Demand
One of the best films on this week’s list. It earned reviews that were right on the edge between good and good enough for limited release. It did open well, but it fell apart as soon as it tried to expand. Weak box office numbers usually result in few extras and that is the case here, as there’s just a single interview featurette.
We only include exercise DVDs when they crack the top five, as a way of showing how slow the week is. This is the case here.
Video on Demand
Before this film came out, there was some good buzz. There was even some Awards Season buzz. However, the reviews were only mixed. It still did relatively well, for a limited release, but it never expanded wide, or even semi-wide. The only extras are a making of featurette and another featurette on the dresses. Call it a rental.
Video on Demand
This is one of the bigger and better releases of the week, which is saying a lot. The reviews are good, but not great, and it struggled in theaters. The only extra is a behind-the-scenes featurette. Call it a rental.
Video on Demand
A group of soldiers go on a training mission only to find the AI has become lethal. It didn’t do well enough in theaters or on VOD to get a Blu-ray release. That said, the reviews are good and it is at least worth a rental. If you are a fan of the genre, then it could be worth picking up.
Video on Demand
This might be the biggest release of the week. Its reviews are more than 90% positive and it earned just over $3 million in theaters, which is great for a limited release. However, most weeks, this would be relegated to the secondary Blu-ray releases. Extras include an interview, Q&A session, and a look at the makeup effects. It is the best of a very shallow group.
Video on Demand
The original is better, but it hasn’t been released in North America yet.
Video on Demand
Normally this film would be too small to mention here, but it is a really, really slow week. If you are a fan of the genre, it is worth a rental.
I reviewed the first season of this show and I didn’t like it. Frankly, I’ve grown sick and tired of this genre, “strong, male anti-hero's journey to redemption”, because most of the time I wouldn’t spend time with the lead characters if they were my relatives. Why would I spend my entertainment time with these people?
Video on Demand
This film earned good reviews, but not great reviews, while it really struggled in theaters. This explains why there are almost no extras on the DVD / Blu-ray. I would wait till you can rent it on VOD. It’s not worth $15, but $6 or $7 is fine.
I’ve never heard of this show. It is earning good reviews and it is selling well, for this time of year. That said, there’s probably a reason it is being dumped on December 27th.
Video on Demand
One of the worst wide releases of the year and absolutely avoidable.
Close to the Enemy: Season 1 - No Review - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Dog Eat Dog - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The House That Screamed - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
NATURE: The Story of Cats Blu-ray - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Sengoku Basara: End of Judgement - Complete Series - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Special Female Force - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
If I were forced to pick a secondary Blu-ray to watch, I think it would be The House That Screamed. It’s a good example of its genre, but it is a niche film, at best.
There are four 4K releases this week, but no 3D releases.
Underworld - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Underworld: Evolution - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Underworld: Awakenings - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
The first four films of the Underworld franchise are coming out on 4K just before the final film, Blood Wars, hits theaters. None of them are really good, but they have a cheesy quality that some enjoy. I don’t know that justifies 4K, on the other hand.
There are no Christmas releases this week, which should come as no surprise. There are Christmas releases next week, which is completely baffling.
It’s a slow week and there are no TV on DVD Megasets.
Denial - Reviews - Video on Demand
Denial is a great movie and it is worth checking out. However, I would wait a week and grab the Blu-ray.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Snowden, When the Bough Breaks, American Honey, Denial, The Dressmaker, In a Valley of Violence, En man som heter Ove, No Manches Frida, Dog Eat Dog, Pet, Underworld