Home Entertainment Guide August 2026: “Project Hail Mary,” “The Sheep Detectives,” “Power Ballad,” More

10 NEW TO NETFLIX

“The Big Lebowski“
“The Bling Ring“
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo“
“The Green Knight“
“I Swear“
“Moneyball“
“The Outrun“
“Poor Things“
“The Shallows“
“Swiss Army Man“

15 NEW TO BLU-RAY/DVD

“American Dream” (Criterion)
“Harlan County, USA” (Criterion)

A new film by Barbara Kopple is an event for documentary lovers, and her “Union Town” premieres at TIFF next month. Kopple is quite simply one of the best non-fiction filmmakers of all time, and Criterion honored her this with month with the inclusion of two of her best films into the collection. Her masterpiece will probably always be “Harlan County, USA,” Kopple’s film about Appalachian miners fighting for their rights via the Brookside Mine strike in the ’70s. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary and really put Kopple on the map. The Criterion release includes not just a new 4K restoration but audio commentary, making-of documentary, and even an interview with John Sayles. Kopple’s follow-up, “American Dream” has also been given a Criterion 4K release with an interview and a conversation with Studs Terkel. These are great, essential releases.

Special Features:

• “American Dream”
• New 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director Barbara Kopple, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• Interview from 1992 with Kopple
• Audio conversation between Kopple and historian Studs Terkel from 1992
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• “Harlan County, USA”
• New 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director Barbara Kopple, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Audio commentary by Kopple and editor Nancy Baker
• Making-of documentary featuring interviews with Kopple, crew members, and strike participants featured in the film
• Outtakes from the film
• Interview with bluegrass singer-songwriter Hazel Dickens
• Interview with filmmaker John Sayles
• Panel discussion from the 2005 Sundance Film Festival featuring Kopple and critic Roger Ebert
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: Essays by film critic Michael Atkinson and musician and writer Jon Weisberger

“EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert“

When Baz Luhrmann was making “Elvis,” he came across hours of footage that had never been seen before, including an audio recording of Presley talking about his life and career. Much of the concert footage needed detailed audio recovery, which led the Oscar-nominated director to the production of this remarkable document, a movie that’s part bio-doc and part concert film. One of the most successful documentaries in years, this was a pretty sizable hit for Neon, who have now given it a stunning 4K home treatment. Of course, the most important thing: The audio mix here is incredible. I’m not sure why I put off seeing this for so long. I think I thought it was just another Elvis highlights reel. It’s not. There’s a passion to the assembly here by Luhrmann that illuminates his admiration and respect for the King in a manner that’s contagious. It’s fun, funny, and, of course, the music rocks.

Special Features:

• TV Spots
• Trailers

“Exit 8“

Kazunari Ninomiya stars in this adaptation of the 2023 video game of the same name, a movie that feels of a piece with the trend in horror this year of ordinary situations becoming surreal and terrifying in films like “Backrooms,” “It Ends,” and even “Obsession.” This one is the story of a man who essentially gets stuck in a neverending loop in an underground subway tunnel. As he tries to figure out how to escape, the anomalies speak to his real-world anxieties and fears. It’s a smart movie that deserves more attention on the VOD and Blu-ray market, although the Neon physical release is a little slight. (What’s up with no digital codes, Neon?)

Special Features:

• NEW! Behind the Scenes of Exit 8
• NEW! Cannes Film Festival Footage
• NEW! Busan Film Festival Footage
• Trailer

“Hokum“

The Neon party continues! This is actually one of their best films of 2026, a banger of a folk horror piece from the director of “Caveat” and “Oddity.” Adam Scott stars as an alcoholic asshole of a writer in this Stephen King-inspired piece about a man who goes to a very haunted hotel, searching for both secrets about his past and a way forward in his own existence. When a worker at the hotel goes missing, our protagonist gets sucked into the web of a witch who happens to live in the building. Director Damian McCarthy does wonders with forced POV and deep shadows. It’s a smart, riveting piece of genre filmmaking, one of the best horror films of 2026.

Special Features:

• Audio commentary with Damian McCarthy
• Behind-the-scenes making-of documentary
• Short film: Jack the Donkey, A Family Favorite
• Original teaser trailer
• Original theatrical trailer

“Identity“

Long before he was making Peak Dad Cinema like “Ford v Ferrari” and “A Complete Unknown,” James Mangold directed this mind-fuck of a horror film, a flick that rode a wave of “twist” movies in the wake of hits like “The Usual Suspects” and “The Sixth Sense,” and has earned quite a cult following over the years. The words “cult following” and “Arrow Home Video” go together like peanut butter and chocolate. So it makes sense that they would give this John Cusack flick about ten strangers stuck in an isolated motel with a serial killer the full Arrow treatment. The new release includes HDR versions of both the theatrical and extended cuts, along with new interviews with star Pruitt Taylor Vince and producter Cathy Konrad. It also includes previously available material like deleted scenes and a commentary with Mangold. For Arrow, it’s a little slight, but slight for Arrow is better-than-average for most companies.

Special Features:

• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATIONS OF THE THEATRICAL AND EXTENDED CUTS OF THE FILM
• Original lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Archival audio commentary by director James Mangold
• Archival audio commentary by screenwriter Michael Cooney
• I Met a Man That Wasn’t There, a brand new interview with actor Pruitt Taylor Vince
• Producing Identity, a brand new interview with producer Cathy Konrad
• On The Set, an archival behind the scenes featurette
• Deleted scenes
• Storyboard comparisons
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring two choices of original artwork
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Andrew Cardno and original production notes

“Ju-On: The Grudge”

The influence of J- and K-Horror from the late ’90s and early ’00s still feels a tad underrated. Movies like “Ringu” and “The Eye” have a surreal visual language that clearly influenced the 2026 kings of horror like Curry Barker and Kane Parsons, with their chilling visions of reality gone askew. One of the most important films of this era was Takashi Shimizu’s “Ju-On: The Grudge,” which was technically the third film in a franchise that continued for years beyond this release, including 2004 and 2019 American remakes. The imagery most associated with J-Horror can be traced back to “Ringu” and “The Grudge,” and Arrow has given it a fantastic physical release with tons of special features, including deleted scenes, interviews, featurettes, and even a commentary with Sam Raimi, who produced the first American remake, along with excellent new writing on the film by some horror experts.

Special Features:

• 4K RESTORATION FROM THE CAMERA NEGATIVE BY ARROW FILMS
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio plus stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Introduction by writer-director Takashi Shimizu
• Audio commentary by film historian David Kalat
• Audio commentary by Sam Raimi and Scott Spiegel
• Alternate English dub track in 5.1 surround
• Haunting in Monochrome, an interview with Takashi Shimizu on the Ju-On films
• Being Kayako, an interview with Takako Fujion her role as Kayako
• The Evolution of Ju-On, a featurette with authors and Japan specialists Tom Mes and Zack Davisson discussing the cultural forces that shaped the series
• Through a Glass Darkly, an archive interview with Takashi Shimizu
• Whispers in the Dark, an archive interview with actor Megumi Okina on her role as Rika
• Fade to Black, an archive interview with actor Kayoko Shibata, who plays Mariko
• On-set interviews with Takashi Shimizu, Megumi Okina, Misaki Ito, Misa Uehara and Yui Ichikawa
• Deleted scenes with commentary by Takashi Shimizu
• Almost an hour of behind-the-scenes footage
• Ju-On True Stories, two ghostly true-life tales that inspired the films, narrated by Hiroyoshi Kihara
• Original trailers
• Image gallery
• Collectors’ booklet featuring writing on the film by Grady Hendrix, Jason Morehead, William Carroll and Lindsay Nelson
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dare Creative

“Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair“

In late 2025, the Movie Gods finally got around to gifting us with the long-awaited single film version of Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill,” originally released in two volumes in 2003 and 2004. Conceived as one cinematic experience, Tarantino had cut the films back together into one back in 2011, but it took almost another 15 years for it to get a digital and physical media release. The changes are most notable around the connection between the two volumes (the survival of B.B. isn’t revealed at the end of the first volume anymore), along with the “House of Blue Leaves” sequence now being in color and O-Ren Ishii’s anime sequence running longer. The physical release also includes “The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge,” a Fortnite-related animated short that played with “Whole Bloody Affair” in theaters.

Special Features:

• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• The Lost Chapter
• 40-page behind-the-scenes booklet, curated by Quentin Tarantino
• 70mm film still featuring artwork from the film
• Five double-sided collectible character cards
• Two posters from the theatrical screenings of Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

“Little Odessa” (Criterion)

Let’s hope this is just the beginning of a long relationship between Criterion and one of the best American filmmakers working today, James Gray. The director of “The Immigrant,” “Ad Astra,” and the upcoming (and excellent) “Paper Tiger” made his directorial debut with this 1994 thriller starring Tim Roth, Edward Furlong, and Vanessa Redgrave. Criterion has commissioned a new 4K restoration of the film, overseen by Gray himself, along with a making-of documentary and a new conversation between the writer/director and journalist Sean Fennessey. If that’s not enough, the physical release includes an essay by our very own Glenn Kenny.

Special Features:

• New 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director James Gray, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Audio commentary from 2000 featuring Gray
• Once Upon a Time . . . “Little Odessa,” a making-of documentary by David Thompson produced for French television
• New conversation between Gray and critic and podcaster Sean Fennessey
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by film critic Glenn Kenny

“The People vs. Larry Flynt“

I always loved how much Roger loved Milos Forman’s “The People vs. Larry Flynt.” He wrote, “Milos Forman’s “The People vs. Larry Flynt” argues that the freedom of speech must apply to unpopular speech, or it is meaningless. Beginning with this belief, Forman constructs a fascinating biopic about a man who went from rags to riches by never overestimating the taste of his readers.” A story of fighting against the systems that are trying to destroy free speech in this country couldn’t be timelier in 2026, which makes the drop of this gorgeous Arrow Home Video release even more essential than Forman or Flynt could have imagined. Arrow has not only remastered the film in 4K but commissioned new interviews with the brilliant writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, star Woody Harrelson, and producer Janet Yang. They’ve also included a ton of great archival special features, including two commentaries, a 1997 interview with Forman, and a featurette about Flynt narrated by Dennis Hopper. This is one of the essential movies of the ’90s, given its best physical media treatment to date.

Special Features:

• DISC ONE – 4K BLU-RAY
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• Original lossless stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio option
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Archival audio commentary with cast members Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, and Edward Norton
• Archival audio commentary with screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski
• DISC TWO – BLU-RAY
• Hail Larry, a brand new interview with lead actor Woody Harrelson
• Satire in Satin, a brand new interview with Columbia Pictures’ ex-production president Lisa Henson and producer Janet Yang
• Only in America, a brand new interview with screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski
• À la lumière de l’évidence, an archival interview with cinematographer Philippe Rousselot
• Miloš Forman on The Charlie Rose Show, a 1997 interview with the director
• Free Speech or Porn?, an archival featurette about the making of the film
• Larry Flynt Exposed, an archival featurette narrated by Dennis Hopper
• Deleted Scenes with optional audio commentary by Woody Harrelson and Larry Karaszewski
• Theatrical trailer
• TV spots
• Image galleries, including the original script
• Reversible sleeve featuring original artwork
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Miloš Forman expert Andreas Halskov, an archival essay by screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, and an archival Forman interview conducted by director Adam Davidson

“Power Ballad“

John Carney earnestly believes in the power of music to change your life. You can see that belief in every frame of “Once,” “Sing Street,” and even “Flora and Son.” His contagious love for creative expression infuses this fun comedy with a big heart. It’s the story of a wedding singer (Paul Rudd) who spends a drunken night with a pop star (Nick Jonas), only to discover that the heartthrob has taken his tune and turned it into a hit. Who owns creativity? And what does it mean to sing a song that you don’t feel in your heart? Rudd and Jonas are great in a movie that’s consistently engaging, and lands with one of 2026’s most satisfying twists.

Special Features:

• The Making of Power Ballad
• The Music of Power Ballad
• The Power of Paul Rudd
• Theatrical Trailers

“Project Hail Mary“

The 4K release of this gigantic box office hit looks and sounds spectacular, which is the most important thing about this release, but it does feel kind of slight in the bonus material department for one of 2026’s biggest films. People may have forgotten a bit about Rocky and the story of “Project Hail Mary” in the wake of the Summer 2026 blockbusters, but I still suspect this film will have a resurgence on home video, not just for fans who want to see it again, but as it becomes an awards season major player. (It’s getting into Best Picture and Actor, almost certainly.) “PHM” was a phenomenon because it crossed so many demographics, appealing to both young and old viewers, and because it presented a relatable story of a reluctant hero, someone forced to be a savior who never thought he could become one. It’s a truly well-made piece of popcorn entertainment that plays nearly as well at home as it did in theaters. (Note: This is another release in the column without a digital code. A disconcerting trend emerging.)

Special Features:

• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• DOLBY ATMOS /AUDIO TRACK
• Audio Commentary by Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
• “Earth’s Favorite Eridian” featurette
• Five Deleted Scenes

“The Sheep Detectives“

The best family film of the year has been given a lackluster physical media release, one with no special features at all, and not even a digital copy. Maybe Criterion or Arrow could one day save this one, but until then just enjoy the story of a group of mystery-loving sheep who get wrapped up in solving the murder of their shepherd. A sort of hybrid of Agatha Christie and “Babe,” this is a movie that works for all ages.

“Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu“

Audiences couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being asked to pay theatrical prices for a mini-season of a Disney+ show, which led to Jon Favreau’s blockbuster becoming one of the few true bombs in the “Star Wars” universe. While $345 million worldwide sounds like a lot, it’s actually the lowest gross for a live-action “SW” film. The relatively awful previews that made Favreau’s flick look duller than it actually is didn’t help. I’ll admit to kind of dreading it, but actually found it goes down relatively smoothly at home, where the sense that you’re watching extended TV doesn’t hurt as much. It’s still a misfire (the Ratta CGI is criminal), but not the disaster you may have heard. And the physical release is pretty strong, including featurettes and a Favreau commentary.

Special Features:

• Audio commentary by Jon Favreau: Watch the film with audio commentary by director Jon Favreau.
• Featurettes:
• Crafting “The Mandalorian and Grogu”: Discover the craft behind an epic Star Wars adventure! Go behind the scenes with artists creating the stunning puppetry, miniatures, sound design, and visual effects that bring the worlds, characters, and creatures of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” to life.
• Biomes—From Snow to Swamp: Voyage with director Jon Favreau and his crew to a pair of brand-new worlds that may seem a touch familiar to fans of the original Star Wars trilogy. Discover how the ingenious filmmakers constructed snowy landscapes and a living swamp from the ground up!
• Welcome to Shakari: A bustling metropolis like Shakari cannot simply be found—it must be made. Join the film’s fabrication as they build an entire Star Wars city with a downtown warehouse, conjuring an epic playground for Mando and his young apprentice.
• Dejarik for Real: Sometimes it’s the little things! Who can forget the Millennium Falcon’s charming holochess game introduced in 1977? Witness how the tiny creatures featured in the game were lovingly brought to giant-sized life for the Mandalorian’s big-screen debut!

“Troy”

The folks over at Arrow Home Video are smart enough to time their 4K restoration of Wolfgang Petersen’s underrated “Troy” to ride the wave of the pop culture domination of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” Petersen’s film was dinged at the time for its lack of historical realism, but it would be absolutely destroyed in today’s social media outrage cycle. Yes, some of “Troy” is clunky, but it works as the old-fashioned swords-and-sandals that Petersen set out to make largely due to its strong technical elements and a truly great performance from Eric Bana. It has never looked or sounded this good, restored from an original camera negative in 4K for the first time. Bonus material is largely archival, but the release does include new writing on the film by the brilliant Priscilla Page.

Special Features:

• DISC ONE – 4K BLU RAY: THEATRICAL CUT
• NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE CAMERA NEGATIVE
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• Original lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio plus stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• DISC TWO – 4K BLU-RAY: DIRECTOR’S CUT
• NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE CAMERA NEGATIVE
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• Original lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio plus stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Troy Revisited, an archival introduction by director Wolfgang Petersen
• DISC THREE – BLU-RAY: EXTRAS
• In Movie Experience, an archive picture-in-picture commentary of the film
• Troy in Focus, a series of archival behind-the scenes featurettes
• In the Thick of Battle, an archival behind-the-scenes featurette
• From Ruins to Reality, an archival behind-the-scenes featurette
• Troy: An Effects Odyssey, an archival behind-the-scenes featurette
• Attacking Troy, an archival behind-the-scenes featurette
• Gallery of the Gods, an archival introduction to the Greek Gods
• Easter egg
• Trailer
• Image galleries
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Priscilla Page and Laurie Maguire and an excerpt from the original production notes
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain