Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment is bringing three motion picture classics to 4K Ultra HD for the very first time. Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles”, Alfred Hitchcock’s “North By Northwest”, and James Cameron’s “The Terminator” are getting their own individual releases, each celebrating big anniversaries of their original premieres. Featuring sparkling 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range, each edition is a must for fans of these three beloved classics.

The 4K Ultra HD editions of “Blazing Saddles”, “North By Northwest”, and “The Terminator” will release November 19th. See below for a full synopsis and release information.

“Blazing Saddles”:

Year: 1974

Runtime: 93 Minutes

Director: Mel Brooks

Screenwriter: Mel Brooks

Cast: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman, Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn, Burton Gilliam, Alex Karras, Liam Dunn, David Huddleston, George Furth, John Hillerman, Carol Arthur

Ribald, tasteless and hilarious … this classic spoof of the Western genre by director Mel Brooks pokes fun at everyone and everything. A corrupt governor grants a reprieve to an African American convict if the condemned man agrees to serve as sheriff of a small Western town, believing that new sheriff will only live long enough to serve the needs of the governor and his nefarious railroad-baron backer.

The film is directed by Mel Brooks. The screenplay is by Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, and Alan Uger and based on characters by Hughes.  The film is produced by Michael Hertberg.

“Blazing Saddles” received 3 Academy Award nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Madeline Kahn); Best Music, Original Song; and Best Film Editing. In 2006, “Blazing Saddles” was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

“North By Northwest”:

Year: 1959

Runtime: 136 Minutes

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Screenwriter: Ernest Lehman

Cary Grant stars as an innocent man mistaken for a spy in one of director Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest thrillers. While leaving New York’s Plaza Hotel, advertising executive Roger Thornhill (Grant) has the misfortune of raising his hand just as the name “George Kaplan” is paged–starting a lethal case of mistaken identity and a nonstop game of cat and mouse as he is pursued across North America by espionage agents trying to kill him–and by police who suspect him of murder.

The film is directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock and written by Ernest Lehman. “North by Northwest” stars Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason and Jessie Royce Landis.

“North by Northwest” was nominated for 3 Academy Awards for Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction and Best Original Screenplay. In 1995, “North by Northwest” was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

“The Terminator”:

Year: 1984

Runtime: 107 Minutes

Director: James Cameron

Screenwriters: James Cameron & Gale Anne Hurd

Disguised as a human, a cyborg assassin known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) travels from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). Sent to protect Sarah is Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), who divulges the coming of Skynet, an artificial intelligence system that will spark a nuclear holocaust. Sarah is targeted because Skynet knows that her unborn son will lead the fight against them. With the virtually unstoppable Terminator in hot pursuit, she and Kyle attempt to escape.

The film is directed by James Cameron and written by Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd. It is produced by Hurd and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton and Paul Winfield.

In 2008, “The Terminator” was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment is releasing “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” on home video in a terrific 4K Ultra HD edition complete with over two hours of special features. In 1988 director Tim Burton and star Michael Keaton came together to create the hilariously enigmatic “ghost with the most”, Beetlejuice. They reunite in the fittingly named “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, a terrific sequel that also features Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Arthur Conti. Read my full film review [HERE].

This 4K Ultra HD edition of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” includes a digital copy and will be available to purchase on November 19th. See below for a full synopsis and release info including a list of special features.

About the Film:

Year: 2024

Runtime: 104 Minutes

Directors: Tim Burton

Screenwriters: Alfred Gough & Miles Millar

Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, Burn Gorman, Santiago Cabrera.

Rating: PG-13 for violent content, macabre and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use

Beetlejuice is back!  Oscar-nominated, singular creative visionary Tim Burton and Oscar nominee and star Michael Keaton reunite for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” the long-awaited sequel to Burton’s award-winning Beetlejuice. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” debuts for purchase and rental Digitally at home on October 8.

Keaton returns to his iconic role alongside Oscar nominee Winona Ryder (Stranger Things, Little Women) as Lydia Deetz and two-time Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek, The Nightmare Before Christmas) as Delia Deetz, with new cast members Justin Theroux (Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, The Leftovers), Monica Bellucci (Spectre, The Matrix films), Arthur Conti (House of the Dragon) in his feature film debut, with Emmy nominee Jenna Ortega (Wednesday, Scream VI) as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid, and Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (Poor Things, At Eternity’s Gate).

Special Features:

Digital Ownership, 4K UHD and Blu-ray contain the following special features:  

• “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Commentary by director Tim Burton
• The Juice is Loose! The Making of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”.
• The Ghost with the Most: Beetlejuice Returns
• Meet the Deetz
• Handbook for the Recently Deceased
• Shrinkers, Shrinkers Everywhere!
• An Animated Afterlife: The Stop-Motion Art of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”
• ‘Til Death Do Us Park

I can say without an ounce of hesitation that the Mission: Impossible film series has become one of best action franchise in (wait for it…..) movie history. No exageration…no hyperbole. The first film released nearly thirty years ago with a 34-year-old Tom Cruise beginning his run as spy extraordinaire Ethan Hunt. In recent years the series has only gotten better and today we received the first trailer for the eighth (and possibly final???) M:I adventure.

M:I 8 comes with the tag “The Final Reckoning” which leans into the idea that this may be the last ride. The trailer follows a long line of great Mission: Impossible trailers, teasing us with big moments and showing a collection of familiar faces that over the years we’ve grown to love. Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, and Henry Czerny are just some of the names returning in what is sure to be one of the biggest movie events of 2025.

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” opens in theaters May 23, 2025. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Focus Features has released five new character posters for their upcoming feature film “Nosferatu”. Written and directed by Robert Eggers (“The Witch”, “The Lighthouse”, “The Northman”), “Nosferatu” is a remake of F. W. Murnau’s 1922 gothic horror classic of the same name. The film is highlighted by a stellar cast that includes Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, and Emma Corrin.

“Nosferatu” releases in theaters on December 25th. Check out the new character posters below and let me know what you think.

How can I let Halloween pass without spending a little time on what I still believe to be the greatest horror film of all time, George Romero’s original “Night of the Living Dead”. For most it’s probably impossible (and admittedly a bit silly) to narrow down a vast and diverse genre to one indisputable favorite. But for me, “Night of the Living Dead” has left a mark on me since first seeing it as an early teen.

So for this Halloween I’m going to toss out five big reasons (and there are so many more) why I love “Night of the Living Dead”.

#5 – The Music and Sound

One of the key ingredients of “Night of the Living Dead” is the fantastic sound design and music. In many ways it’s critical in developing and maintaining the film’s creepy tone. Interestingly, the music was purchased after previously appearing in other productions. Subtle but effective alterations were made to numerous tracks to better connect them to the film. The live sound effects were recorded on a budget by Richard Lococo. Echos and distortions were used to make things eerier and several small sound choices add to the tense atmosphere. Take the television newscast that plays in the background for much of the film. It and all of the sound design lends much to the film’s uneasy feel.

#4 – Duane Jones

He was a relatively unknown stage actor when George Romero hired him to star in “Night of the Living Dead”. But Duane Jones was stepping into what would become an iconic role particularly in the horror genre. His performance as the composed and resourceful Ben is a real strength of the picture. We’re not told much about his character’s backstory, but we do learn a lot about him. He’s cool, calm, and collective, and without him things would have instantly fallen apart. Jones’ casting was significant because at the time African Americans weren’t often considered for leading roles especially with an otherwise all-white cast. But he fits seamlessly as Ben and the movie wouldn’t be the same without his rock-solid performance.

#3 – The Setting

The first time I watched “Night of the Living Dead” was on a rented VCR. My parents let me stay up late to watch and I’ve loved it ever since. One of the main things that has stuck with me from that very first viewing was the film’s mostly one-location setting. The idea of being cornered in an isolated farmhouse with hordes of flesh-hungry undead gathering outside terrified me as a child and is still creepy today. The survivalist elements mixed with the “nowhere to go” angle remains effective and it has influenced countless movies since. No matter how many times I watch “Night of the Living Dead”, I still find myself immersed in that remote Pennsylvania farmhouse.

#2 – George Romero

“Night of the Living Dead” is known for many firsts and for paving several new paths. Perhaps most notable is being the feature film directorial debut for George Romero. He was the mastermind behind the project and what he was able to accomplish with a miniscule $114,000 budget is astonishing. Despite the monetary limitations, Romero showed an impressive creative savvy through his intelligent uses of sound, the camera, and minimal special effects. He also chose to shoot the film in 35mm black-and-white which was initially a budget constraint. But over time it has proven to be the only way the movie should be viewed.

#1 – The Zombie Craze

Zombies have found permanent homes in media of all kinds including comics, video games, movies, and television. And to think it all started with Romero’s vision. “Night of the Living Dead” wasn’t the first film to deal with the dead coming back to life. But it was the first to truly develop zombies into what they they are known as today. It would be impossible to list everything that has drawn inspiration from Romero’s classic. It’s influence goes beyond cinema and into the culture as a whole. So the next time you see a zombie movie, rewatch an episode of “The Walking Dead”, or play “Plants verses Zombies”, just remember that it can all be traced back to 1968 and “Night of the Living Dead”.