What's New on TV, Netflix, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: September 11-17
At a loss for what to watch this week? From new TV, we've got you covered.
New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital
"Transformers: The Last Knight"
The fifth movie in the "Transformers" franchise is ready to come home with you this Tuesday, Sept. 12 on Digital HD. Michael Bay's action film -- starring Mark Wahlberg, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Laura Haddock, Josh Duhamel, Isabela Moner, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, and Jerrod Carmichael will arrive on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 26. The 4K and Blu-ray include a bonus disc with more than 80 minutes of behind-the-scenes content and interviews.
"The Wilde Wedding"
This romantic comedy starring the dream cast of Glenn Close, John Malkovich, and Patrick Stewart will be out in select theaters and available via VOD (video-on-demand) this Friday, Sept. 15. Close plays retired film star Eve Wilde, who is preparing to marry Husband No. 4, acclaimed writer Harold (Stewart), after a whirlwind courtship. But on the long weekend before the wedding, the couple is confronted with their romantic pasts -- including her first husband (Malkovich) and their collective families. Minnie Driver, Jack Davenport, Yael Stone, Peter Facinelli, Noah Emmerich, and Grace Van Patten co-star. Check out the trailer:"The Show"
Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad") directed and co-stars in this thriller, in theaters and On Demand this Friday, Sept. 15. After a dating show ends in violence, its host Adam Rogers (Josh Duhamel) and a ratings-hungry network exec (Famke Janssen) launch a new program that promises fresh kills every week. The tension mounts as a kindhearted janitor (Esposito) joins the deadly program, hoping to help his struggling family survive, at any cost. Watch the trailer over here.
TV Worth Watching
"The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards" (Sunday on CBS at 8 p.m.)
It's red carpet season! Prepare to smize along from home as TV's best and brightest (or at least nominated) show up to collect their trophies. "Game of Thrones" is not eligible this year, so the drama field is wide open. GoT's fellow HBO drama "Westworld" tied for the top nominations, along with "SNL," so expect them to clean up. Who will take home the most wins? We'll see, and also see how Stephen Colbert does as host, on September 17. Here's the full list of Emmy nominations.
"The Vietnam War" (Sunday on PBS at 8 p.m.)
If you're not into the Emmys, there's certainly plenty of counter-programming available, including the premiere of Ken Burns' highly anticipated Vietnam documentary series. This hugely ambitious 10-part, 18-hour production, from Burns and Lynn Novick, was 10 years in the making. It features more than 100 iconic musical recordings from greatest artists of the era and haunting original music from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as well as the Silk Road Ensemble featuring Yo-Yo Ma. It all starts with "Deja Vu" on September 17: "After nearly a century of French colonial rule, Vietnam emerges independent, but divided." Here's a look at what's ahead:"Vice Principals" Season 2 (Sunday on HBO at 10:30 p.m.)
If you're looking for more amusing Emmys counter-programming, why not check out the start of the final season of Danny McBride and Walton Goggins' dark high school comedy. The whole series got an 18-episode pickup from HBO, split into two seasons of nine episodes. The nine episodes ahead start with "Tiger Town" on September 17. "Recovering from his wounds, Gamby (McBride) returns to a dramatically changed North Jackson High."
"South Park" & "Broad City" (Wednesday on Comedy Central at 10 p.m.)
Comedy Central has back-to-back can't-miss premieres on Wednesday, starting with "South Park" opening its 21st season. They're reportedly skipping the political angles this season, but probably staying as topical as relevant as ever. After that half-hour premiere is the start of "Broad City" Season 4. The premiere, "Sliding Doors," shows how "On a spring day in 2011, Abbi and Ilana meet for the first time. It's their origin story!
"Frontline: 'Abacus: Small Enough to Jail'" (Tuesday on PBS at 10 p.m.)
"Frontline" will air the broadcast TV premiere of this lauded 90-minute documentary on September 12. The story focuses on the Chinese-American Sung family, who own and operate Abacus Federal Savings in New York's Chinatown. Watch their fight to clear their names after becoming the only U.S. bank prosecuted after the 2008 financial crash, and the first bank indicted in New York since 1991.
"First They Killed My Father" (Netflix Original Film)
Director Angelina Jolie's powerful new film premieres on Netflix this Friday, Sept. 15. "First They Killed My Father" is based on the memoir by Loung Ung, telling the true story of Ung's escape from the Khmer Rouge genocide in 1970s Cambodia. Both of her parents, two sisters, and 20 other relatives were killed. Ung managed to survive until 1980, when she and her older brother Meng and his wife escaped by boat to Thailand; they spent five months in a refugee camp before being able to relocate to Vermont. Here's the chilling trailer:"Strong Island" (Netflix Original)
In this unflinching documentary, available September 15, filmmaker Yance Ford investigates the 1992 murder of a young black man -- with the victim, 24-year-old William Ford Jr., being the filmmaker's own brother. "The police had turned my brother into the prime suspect in his own murder." Watch the trailer, and the full doc on Friday:"American Vandal" Season 1 (Netflix Original)
It was only a matter of time before someone created a true-crime satire. It's ironic that Netflix picked it up. Anyway this spoof, with half-hour episodes, explores the aftermath of a costly high school prank that left 27 faculty cars vandalized with phallic images. "Over the course of the eight-episode season, an aspiring sophomore documentarian investigates the controversial and potentially unjust expulsion of troubled senior (and known dick-drawer) Dylan Maxwell. Not unlike its now iconic true-crime predecessors, the addictive American Vandal will leave one question on everyone's minds until the very end: Who drew the dicks?" Netflix is billing this as Season 1, so there could be more, heaven save us."Disney's Pocahontas"
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon? Now's your chance. Disney's 1995 romance arrives on Netflix September 14. Disney is starting its own streaming service in late 2019, and it's planning to take titles away from Netflix at that point, so stream all the Disney/Marvel/Lucasfilm titles now, while you can.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
"Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie"
Your favorite under-dressed superhero is ready to save you at home. "Captain Underpants" arrives on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on Tuesday, Sept. 12. For a limited time, you can even get a wearable cape when you buy the Hero Edition Blu-ray or 4K. The release comes with tons of bonus features, including lyric videos, deleted scenes, "The Really Awesome Adventures of Captain Underpants" Motion Comic, "The Professor Poopypants (Totally Original and Supercool) Guide to Being a Villain," and more featurettes.
"The Mummy"
Tom Cruise battles an ancient unleashed evil in this new take on the classic mummy horror story. The action film arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand September 12. Bonus features include deleted and extended scenes, and several behind-the-scenes featurettes on the making of the movie.
"Buena Vista Social Club: Adios"
"Adios" revisits five of the original band members 16 years after the documentary "Buena Vista Social Club" became a global sensation. Against the backdrop of Cuba's musical history, hear the band's story as they reflect on their remarkable careers and the extraordinary circumstances that brought them together. The film arrives on DVD, Digital HD, and VOD September 12, with all formats except VOD including the featurette "On the Record with the Band."
"This Is Us: The Complete First Season"
Watch all 18 episodes of TV's most popular freshman drama when "This Is Us" Season 1 arrives on DVD on September 12. That gives you almost a week to catch up before watching the show maybe/maybe not pick up a few Emmy Awards. Season 1 will be available for digital download next week, from Sept. 19-26, before Season 2 premieres on September 26. The DVD includes the special feature "The Aftershow."
Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.