I think it’s also safe to say that this deal makes it more likely that additional Netflix Original films could come to Criterion (and thus physical media) going forward, which would be a great thing indeed.
Speaking of Criterion, a few films recently licensed to the boutique have begun to appear in 4K Digital from all the usual services, including the Three Colors Trilogy, Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket, The Wiz, and Branded to Kill. It seems reasonable to assume that more such titles will follow, and we would particularly like to see the rest of the Anderson films in 4K Digital as well.
Also today, Warner Bros. and HBO have just officially set A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Complete First Season for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release on 6/16! All six episodes will be included, along with additional special features.
Meanwhile, GKids has just revealed that Hayao Miyazaki’s animated Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) is returning to theaters on 3/13 in IMAX format after having received “a stunning new 4K remaster.” Which almost certainly means that the film will be coming to 4K Ultra HD later this year from Studio Ghibli and GKids via Shout! Studios. Watch for more information in the coming weeks.
Kino Lorber Studio Classics has just revealed that Mario Caiano’s Weapons of Death (1977) and Alberto De Martino’s Counselor at Crime (1973) are “coming soon” to Blu-ray and possibly 4K Ultra HD.
The BBC has set Doctor Who: Season Two (2025) for Blu-ray and DVD release on 6/2.
Speaking of which, the BBC has also just remastered Geoffrey Sax’s Doctor Who: The Movie (1996) in 4K and will be releasing it on physical 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray in the coming months (the street date is TBA). Each SKU will include both the uncensored UK version and US broadcast version, a new Dolby Atmos mix, a pair of audio commentaries, an isolated music score, In Conversation with director Geoffrey Sax, Sylvester McCoy and Janet Fielding, The Seven Year Hitch, a trio of new featurettes (with Daphne Ashbrook, Eric Roberts, and Yee Jee Tso), Paul McGann’s audition tape, alternate takes, a TARDIS tour, and more.
Also today, Paramount and Alliance Entertainment are releasing a Top Gun: 40th Anniversary Edition 4K + Blu-ray Steelbook on 5/5. This is essentially just a repackage of the previous 4K disc.
Hammer Films has set Terence Fisher’s Mantrap (1953) (aka Man in Hiding) for Blu-ray release on 4/24.
Cartoon Network has set Patrick McHale and Katie Krentz’s animated Over the Garden Wall (2014) for Blu-ray release on 4/7.
And Scream Factory is releasing John C. Broderick’s The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984) on Blu-ray on 5/5.
Back soon with more. Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt
(You can follow Bill on social media on Twitter/X, BlueSky, and Facebook, and also here on Patreon)