What's New on TV, Netflix, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: Dec. 12-18
At a loss for what to watch this week? From new TV, we've got you covered.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
"Suicide Squad"
The "Worst Heroes Ever" are ready to come home with you on Blu-ray, DVD, and Movies On Demand December 13. The "Suicide Squad: Extended Cut" Blu-ray includes 13 minutes of new footage. Other bonus features include "Task Force X: One Team, One Mission," "Chasing The Real," "Joker & Harley: 'It' Couple of The Underworld," "Squad Strength and Speed," "Armed to The Teeth," "This is Gonna Get Loud: The Epic Battles of Suicide Squad," "The Squad Declassified," and a gag reel.
"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children"
Tim Burton's fantastical adaptation of Ransom Riggs's best-selling novel arrives on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and DVD December 13. The home release includes two hours of immersive content, including "The Peculiar Story," with the author, cast, and crew discussing bringing the story to life; "The Peculiars"; "Hollows And Ex-Hollows"; "Map Of Days"; the "Wish That You Were Here" Florence + The Machine music video; and never-before-seen sketches by Tim Burton and a gallery of photographs.
"Equity"
"Breaking Bad" Emmy winner Anna Gunn stars as an investment banker fighting to get a promotion at her competitive Wall Street firm in this drama/thriller written, directed, funded by, and starring women. Bonus materials for the December 13 DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital release include three featurettes: "Girl Gang: The Equity of Empowerment," "Grey Lines: The Making of Equity," and "Los Angeles Film Festival Q&A." Check out this exclusive panel clip with Sarah Megan Thomas, who co-produced and co-stars in the film:"Bridget Jones's Baby"
Renée Zellweger returns as Bridget Jones in this comedy out on Blu-ray and DVD December 13. This time, the perpetual singleton finds herself pregnant with two potential fathers -- her ex Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) and new American beau Jack (Patrick Dempsey). The home release has nearly 40 minutes of extras, including an alternate ending, a gag reel, deleted and alternate scenes, a multi-part making-of documentary featuring interviews with the cast and crew, and more.
New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital
"Snowden"Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Edward Snowden in Oliver Stone's drama delving into the mind of the titular hero/traitor who exposed illegal surveillance activities by the NSA. "Snowden" is out on Digital HD December 13, before the Blu-ray and DVD release December 27. The rest of the all-star cast includes Shailene Woodley, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Melissa Leo, and Scott Eastwood. The DVD and Blu-ray will include deleted scenes; "Finding the Truth," with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, and Oliver Stone discussing what attracted them to the project and how they worked together to tell Edward Snowden's story; and "Snowden: Q&A," a panel discussion about the film featuring Snowden, Stone, Gordon-Levitt, and Woodley.
"The Man in the High Castle" Season 2 (Amazon)
What if we had lost World War II? This Amazon series, based on the novel Philip K. Dick, continues its fascinating (and terrifying) alternate version of history in the 10 episodes of Season 2. They will be available for streaming with Prime December 16 on Amazon Video.
"The Disappointments Room"
Kate Beckinsale stars in this horror film based on true events, following a couple who move to a rural Southern mansion with their 5-year-old son, only for their dream home to turn into a nightmare. Hate when that happens! The movie is available for Digital HD download December 13, then DVD on December 20.
"Barry" (Netflix Original)Devon Terrell plays young Barack Obama, aka "Barry," in this drama about the future POTUS's life at Columbia University in 1981. "In a crime-ridden and racially charged environment, Barry finds himself pulled between various social spheres and struggles to maintain a series of increasingly strained relationships with his Kansas-born mother, his estranged Kenyan father, and his classmates.Barry is the story of a young man grappling with those same issues that his country, and arguably the world, are still coming to terms with 35 years later." The film -- co-starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Mitchell, Ashley Judd, Jenna Elfman, Ellar Coltrane, Avi Nash, and Linus Roache -- is available on Netflix December 16.
"Call Me Francis" (Netflix Original)
This four-part biographical miniseries chronicles Pope Francis's life from his early years as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in the 1960s, through the height of Argentina's "Dirty Wars" during the 1970s and 80s, culminating in his appointment as Pope Francis, the first Latin American Pope in history, in 2013.
"Crazyhead" (Netflix Original)
In this British comedy/horror series, "Bowling alley worker Amy and nonconformist Raquel kick some serious demon butt while also facing their inner demons as they navigate their early 20s." The six-part series streams on Netflix December 16.
"No Second Chance" Season 1 (Netflix Original)
The French TV series "No Second Chance," based on the bestselling novel by Harlan Coben, is coming to Netflix with English subtitles starting December 16. Read more about it over here.
"The Adventures of Puss in Boots" Season 4 (Netflix Original)
Alert the "Shrek" fans in your life: "The world's greatest feline fighter, lover, and milk connoisseur takes on daring adventures in exotic locations in this family-friendly comedy series." Season 4 arrives December 16.
TV Worth Watching
"The Exorcist" Season 1 (Friday on Fox at 9 p.m.)Fox's vastly underrated series -- a sequel to the 1973 movie -- ends its first season on Friday, December 16. The fate of the Rance family hangs in the balance in the Season 1 finale, "Chapter Ten: Three Rooms." Here's Fox's synopsis: "Everything has led to this moment. Forty years ago, the demon was denied its prize. Now it will stop at nothing to destroy Angela Rance (Geena Davis) and her family. Their only hope lies in two men: Marcus (Ben Daniels) and Tomas (Alfonso Herrera). But with the enemies of the church mobilizing against Pope Sebastian, time is running out for everyone." Binge the first nine episodes to date and pray to God and Fox that there will be a Season 2.
"Star" Season 1 (Wednesday at 9 p.m. on Fox)
In this new musical drama, three talented young singers (played by Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny and Brittany O'Grady) navigate the music business on their road to success. Queen Latifah and Benjamin Bratt co-star.
"The Voice" Season 11 (Monday and Tuesday on NBC at 8 p.m.)
The eleventh season of "The Voice" wants all of your attention this week -- starting with Live Finale, Part 1 on Monday night, with the final four artists competing in front of the judges; then a recap of those performances Tuesday night, including fresh updates with host Carson Daly and special guests; then the live finale starting at 9 p.m. on Tuesday as Part 2 reveals the Season 11 winner.
"America's Next Top Model" Cycle 23 (Monday at 10 p.m. on VH1)You wanna be on top? Again? Tyra Banks is gone as ANTM host, and the show has moved to VH1, but they are still calling seasons "cycles," so how different can it really be? In the December 12 premiere, "Business, Brand, Boss," VH1 teases, "America's Next Top Model returns to New York City, where 28 aspiring models will be winnowed down to 14. New host Rita Ora, along with her team of fashion tastemakers, welcomes the girls and sends them to their first challenge." The judging panel now includes head judge Ora, model Ashley Graham, Paper magazine chief creative officer Drew Elliott, and celebrity stylist Law Roach. Tyra is still an executive producer, though, and the supertrailer shows that she is still at least partially involved.
"Survivor" Season 33 (Wednesday on CBS at 8 p.m.)
Reality TV may not be your thing, but it's having a big week, with several seasons coming and going. You should make time for the three-hour finale of one of the best seasons of "Survivor" in years. Jeff Probst promises the "Millennials vs. Gen X" finale is one of the best they've ever had ... which means Bret definitely won't win. Sorry, man.
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