DVD & Blu-Ray Release Report

Monday, September 13, 2021

New DVD • Blu-ray • 4K Ultra HD Activity For The Period Ending September 10, 2021

New DVD Additions

101 Films

09/07/21 — Released Unit Eleven

Abingdon Press

09/07/21 — Released Adam Hamilton: The Journey

Artiflix (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Birds of Prey, Freddie the Freeloader's Christmas Dinner, Magic Pony (aka Humpbacked Horse), Sandcastles, St. Helens, Target Earth, Third Man and Trollenberg Terror (aka Crawling Eye)

Bridgestone Multimedia (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Thy Neighbor

Burning Bulb Publishing (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Finding Faith, Godsend, Positive and Prodigal Cowboy

CBS Home Entertainment (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Bull: Season Five (4 disc set)

Championship Productions

08/31/21 — Released Speed of the Game

Cheezy Flicks

09/07/21 — Released 27th Day

Cinedigm Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released Father's Legacy

Creature Feature Videos (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Girls in Uniform (Spanish), Island of Horrors (Japanese), Ismail Yassin Meets Frankenstein (Arabic), Mysteries of Black Magic (Spanish), Mysterious Mr. X (German) and Youba (Japanese)

Dark Star Pictures

09/07/21 — Released Last Matinee (Spanish) and Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman

Decal – Bleeker Street

09/07/21 — Released Together Together (ARR of 137 days; box office: $1,436,474)

Dreamscape Media, LLC

09/07/21 — Released Hurricanes: Rise of the Superstorms, One Day University: A Grand Tour of Italy, One Day University: A Jewish Founding Father?, One Day University: Bioethics: The Dilemmas of Modern Medicine, One Day University: Ethical Dilemmas and Modern Medicine: Questions Nobody Wants to Ask, One Day University: FDR and the Evolution of an American Ideal, One Day University: FDR: The Making of the American Century, One Day University: Free Speech Revisited: Provocative Views of the First Amendment, One Day University: Free Speech: The First Amendment in Crisis, One Day University: Learning From the Roman Empire: Are We Repeating Their Rise and Decline?, One Day University: Living and Dying in America: An Indispensable Healthcare Workshop,One Day University: Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness, One Day University: The Amazing/ Terrifying Future of Medicine, One Day University: The Art of Aging: A Prescription for Mind and Body, One Day University: The Human Brain: What We Know (And What We Don't), One Day University: The Political Genius of FDR and LBJ, One Day University: The Political Genius of Franklin D. Roosevelt, One Day University: The President's Book Club: What Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and FDR Read for Guidance, One Day University: The Science of Sleep and Stress: How They Affect Creativity, Focus and Memory, One Day University: The Scientific Genius (And Rivalry) Of Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, One Day University: The Supreme Court: An Up-to-the-Minute Presentation, One Day University: The Supreme Court: How Did We Get Here, And Where Are We Headed?, One Day University: U.S. Presidential Debates: Why We Watch and Why They Matter, One Day University: What Makes a Great Jewish Leader?: From Moses to Modern Israel and One Day University: What We Know (And Don't Know) About the Universe

EWTN

09/07/21 — Released @ Home with Jim & Joy: Jim and Joy Pinto Answer Viewer Calls, Questions, And E-Mails Live From the Pinto House, Called to Communion, Sunday Best and World Over with Raymond Navarro

Epic Pictures Group, Inc.

09/07/21 — Released Benny Loves You

Filmlandia

09/07/21 — Released Schlock Lives

Freestyle Digital Media (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Cornerstore (ARR of 3,679 days; box office: $45,176) and Forever Room

Gemini Entertainment (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Life of L.L. Bean and Over Downeast Maine

Good Deed Entertainment (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released American Badger

Grapevine Video (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released False Road (silent-1920), Great Divide (silent-1915) and Marie Duro Double Feature (2 silent films: Lost and Won (1917), Castles for Two (1917))

Greenwich Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released All the Streets are Silent

Hallmark Channel

09/07/21 — Released 2 Movie Collection (2 film set: Just My Type, Harvest Love), As Luck Would Have It and Sweet Carolina

Harvest House

09/07/21 — Released Tony Evans: Kingdom Heroes

ITN Distribution (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Red Prophecies, Sunset Over the Killing Fields (Thai) and Village of the Vampire (Italian)

Image Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released Great White and Slaxx

John Pechulis Media (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Young Sheldon: The Complete Fourth Season (2 disc set)

Kino Lorber

09/07/21 — Released Apocalypse '45

Lightyear Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released Higher Ed and Return of Swamp Thing

Ligonier Ministries

08/17/21 — Released Alive

Lionsgate Home Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released Gateway

Momentum Pictures

09/07/21 — Released Action Packed 3-Movie Collection (3 film set: Rampage: President Down, Elimination Game, Amerigeddon) (3 disc set) and Scared to Death: 3-Movie Horror Collection (3 film set: Haunt, Bloodline, Nekrotronic) (3 disc set)

Movie Buffs Forever (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Showdown

Movie Detective (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Erasers (French), Give the Devil His Due (Czech), King of the Street Cleaners (Turkish), L'eau Vive (French), Quand Passent les Faisans (French), Trip to Tilsit (German) and Wanderer's Notebook (Japanese)

MovieTime Distributors

09/07/21 — Released Dangerous Roads 8: Crashes and Mubutu's African Movie Theater: Episode 6

NCircle Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released 44 Cats: Cats Rock!

Once Upon a Time

09/07/21 — Released Dorothy and Toto's Storytime: The Marvelous Land of Oz, Part One

PBS Direct

09/07/21 — Released Downing of a Flag, Frankie Drake Mysteries: The Complete Fourth Season (3 disc set) and PBS Kids: 15 Girl Power Adventures!

PCN Productions (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released 2021 It's History: Boalsburg Heritage Museum, 2021 PCN Profiles: Adam Rippon, 2021 PCN Profiles: Ashley Lynn Priore, 2021 PCN Profiles: Lacy J. Dalton, 2021 PCN Profiles: Laura Jill Miller, 2021 PCN Profiles: Natalie Carbone Mangini and 2021 PCN Profiles: Senator Vincent Fumo

09/07/21 — Released 2021 It's History: American Swedish History Museum, 2021 Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood: Somerset County: Flight 93, Volume 1, 2021 Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood: Somerset County: Flight 93, Volume 2, 2021 Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood: Somerset County: Flight 93, Volume 3, 2021 Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood: Somerset County: Flight 93, Volume 4, 2021 Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood: Somerset County: History & Culture, Volume 1, 2021 Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood: Somerset County: History & Culture, Volume 2 and 2021 Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood: Somerset County: History & Culture, Volume 3

Paramount Home Entertainment

10/05/21 — Sets Clarice: Season One (4 disc set)

10/12/21 — Sets Crime Story

Rainbow Media Group (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released You Look Familiar: Vernee Watson

Random Media (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Love is Not Love

Rarefilmsandmore.com (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Der Verzauberte Tag (German)

Reality Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released Alien Artifacts: Pyramids Monoliths and Marvels and Delusions End: Breaking Free of the Matrix

Retroware TV

09/07/21 — Released Video Game Years: Volume 5 (1988-1989)

SRS Cinema

09/07/21 — Released Hellbox and War of the God Monsters (aka The Flying Monster) (Korean)

The Jinx and Dela Holiday Show Film, LLC (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Jinkx and Dela Holiday Special

The Sailing Channel, LLC (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Around Santa Cruz Island, Ice Blink and Transatlantic with Street

Time-Life

09/07/21 — Released Soul of the Midnight Special (10 disc set)

Uncork’d Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released Hatched and Skinwalker

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

09/07/21 — Released Chicago P.D.: Season Eight (3 disc set)

WB Video Productions

09/07/21 — Released Classic America on Rails

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

11/16/21 — Sets Jungle Cruise (ARR of 109 days; box office: $105,704,427)

Warner Bros. Home Ent.

10/05/21 — Sets Nevers: Season 1, Part 1 (2 disc set)

10/26/21 — Sets Suicide Squad (ARR of 81 days; box office: $54.413,632)

Warner Bros. Home Ent. (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Young Sheldon: The Complete Fourth Season (2 disc set)

WOWnow Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released Ashley 4: Friend or Foe, Boonie Bears Forest Frenzy 9 Iron Pan Man, Frankenstein Ruins Halloween, Haunted Transylvania: Party Like Frankenstein, Monster Horror Documentary Series: Season One, Ram Mantras and Shiva Mantras

Zeus DVD (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released 5 Card Stud, Excuse My Dust, Flight Angels, Frenchman's Creek, Garrison's Gorillas (2 disc set), Going My Way (3 disc set), Grand Duel, Harold Teen, Hell on Frisco Bay, Hong Kong, I'll See You in My Dreams, Idiot's Delight, Interrupted Melody, Irene, It's Always Fair Weather, Jamboree!, Johnny Guitar, Jonathan Livingston Seagul, Just a Gigolo, Kiss Me Kate, Les Girls, Little Eyolf, Living in a Big Way, Lone Star, Look for the Silver Lining, Looking for Love, Lord Byron on Broadway, Love in the Rough, Lucky Me, Madame Satan, Man on a Swing, Man with Wings, Merry Andrew, MGM Jubilee Overture , Mississippi Gambler, Mothra vs. Godzilla , Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, My Dream is Yours, Navy Blues, Nick Carter, Master Detective, Night Song, No Way to Treat a Lady, Odd Couple, Oh, Sailor Behave!, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, On Moonlight Bay, Out of the Fog, Save the Tiger, Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror , Shipmates Forever, Sky Giant, Snows of Kilimanjaro , Son of Ali Baba

Space Amoeba (aka: Yog: Monster from Space), Starlit Days at the Lido, Step Lively and Tarzan and the Jungle Boy

New Blu-ray Additions

Arrow Video

11/23/21 — Sets Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge (2 disc set)

Burning Bulb Publishing (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Finding Faith, Godsend, Positive and Prodigal Cowboy

Code Red

09/07/21 — Released Death Ring

Creature Features (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Amazons vs Supermen (English dubbed) (aka: Super Stooges vs the Wonder Women) and X from Outer Space (Japanese)

FUNimation

09/07/21 — Released Garei Zero: The Complete Series (2 disc set) and One Piece: Season Eleven Voyage Four (2 Blu-ray/2 DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Gemini Entertainment (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Over Downeast Maine

Good Deed Entertainment (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released American Badger

Grapevine Video (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released False Road (silent-1920), Great Divide (silent-1915) and Marie Duro Double Feature (2 silent films: Lost and Won (1917), Castles for Two (1917))

Image Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released Great White

Kino Lorber

09/07/21 — Released Apocalypse '45, Theater of Blood and Tomb of Ligeia

Lionsgate Home Entertainment

09/07/21 — Released Gateway

Movies R USA (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released 42nd Street, A.C.O.D., Ace Ventura Pet Detective, Afterlife of the Party, Big Ass Spider, Blood Conscious, Bore 2 Race, Burying the Ex, Creepozoids, Curse of the Undead, Escape from Area 51, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, Hell Night, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Kate, Lady Driver, Librarians: The Complete Series (3 disc set), Malignant, Old Yeller, One Crazy Summer, Pursuaders: The Complete Series (2 disc set), Remote, Secrets of Christ's Tomb, Slums of Beverly Hills, Spare Parts, Spoken, Terrorvision, Three Caballeros, Unbelievable!!!, Whatever it Takes and Woman in Red

09/14/21 — Sets Walt Disney Classic Animation Collection (24 film set: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Alice In Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Robin Hood, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Fox and the Hound, The Lion King, Song of the South, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dumbo, Bambi, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan) (8 disc set)

PCN Productions (MOD)

Paramount Home Ent.

11/16/21 — Sets Ragtime: 40th Anniversary Edition (2 disc set) (with digital copy)

Ronin Flix

11/23/21 — Sets Dogs of War

Sentai FIlmworks

09/07/21 — Released Heaven's Memo Pad (2 disc set)

Shoreline Entertainment (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Dark Nemesis, Elijah and the Rock Creature, Finding Joy, Grand Promise (Spanish), Growing Op and Impossible Crimes

The Jinx and Dela Holiday Show Film, LLC (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Jinkx and Dela Holiday Special

Universal Pictures Home Ent. (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules, Because of Him, Can't Help Singing, For the Love of Mary, Something in the Wind, State of the Union, Woody Woodpecker Screwball Collection (25 cartoon collection) and You Should Have Left

VIZ Media

09/07/21 — Released Bleach Set 12 (4 disc set) and In/Spectre: The Complete First Season (2 disc set)

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

11/16/21 — Sets Jungle Cruise (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Warner Bros. Home Ent.

10/26/21 — Sets Suicide Squad (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Warner Bros. Home Ent. (MOD)

09/07/21 — Released Young Sheldon: The Complete Fourth Season (2 disc set)

New 4K Ultra HD Additions

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

09/07/21 — Released Rear Window (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy), Thing (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy) and Vertigo (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

11/16/21 — Sets Jungle Cruise (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Warner Bros. Home Ent.

10/26/21 — Released Suicide Squad (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Mill Creek Entertainment Has Selected Nov. 16 For The Blu-ray Debut Of Josie And The Pussycats

It’s a party and you are all invited!!

Mill Creek Entertainment announced this past week that the writing and directing team of Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan’s 2001 upbeat musical comedy and over-the-top satire, Josie and the Pussycats, will be celebrating its 20^th Anniversary on Nov. 16.

Josie and the Pussycats: 20^th Anniversary Edition is the long-await Blu-ray debut of the film … and it comes packed with extras.

Critics at the time thought it was a comedy, with music, loosely based on the Hanna-Barbera animated television series, and so the presumed target audience would be kids and tag-along moms. When it wasn’t exactly what they thought it was, they didn’t know what to make of it.

Imagine walking into a movie titled Bambi with a group of five-year-olds and find that it is actually a tell-all about hunting game animals; the ins-the-outs of it, the tricks to lure prey, etc. … and top it off with skinning, preparing the meat and more.

Josie and the Pussycats is actually a satire on pop culture, the commercial exploitation by major corporations and famous for just being famous. It is not, as it turns out, a live-action theatrical version of the animated children’s show.

Over the years it has developed a following, not only for the story, but for the cast members and what they’ve done since. The band is comprised of Rachael Leigh Cook as Josie and her bandmates Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson, who beat out no less than Beyoncé, and TLC’s Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes for the role.

Bonus features include commentary from filmmakers Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, who are joined by producer Marc Platt, deleted scenes, the featurette titled “Backstage Pass” and three music videos from the film.

Arrow Video Restores Director Richard Friedman's Phantom Of The Mall: Eric's Revenge For A Double-Disc Blu-ray Launch On Nov. 23

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has a new 2K film restoration of director Richard Friedman’s 1989 horror tale, Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge, lined up for a double-disc Blu-ray rollout on Nov. 23.

Eric Matthews (Derek Rydall — Popcorn, Night Visitor), a high school senior, is in love. Her name is Melody, played by Kari Whitman (Forced to Kill, Chained Heat 2, etc.) in her film debut. Prior to this she did have a couple of walk-ons in other films, including as a Playboy Bunny in Beverly Hills Cop II, which was typecasting since she was actually a “Playboy Playmate of the Month.”

In any case, their love is doomed when Eric cavalierly ignores a warning letter from a local developer who want his parent’s home and property as part of a mall development. Eric is murdered, burned to death when they torch the place … Eric saves Melody and before she too can be murdered police arrive … Melody goes on with her life, but she might be marked for death!

It’s now one year later and the new mall is having its gala opening, a swank private party for the investors, which is hosted by the developer, Harv Posner (Jonathan Goldsmith, aka: Jonathan Lippe — Hang ‘Em High, Go Tell the Spartans) and the town’s mayor, Karen Wilton (Morgan Fairchild). Attending the party is none other than Melody, who now works at the mall with her buddies, Buzz (Pauly Shore) and Suzie (Kimber Sissons) … and there is someone else in the new mall that night, Eric. He was badly burned, but survived.

In a riff on The Phantom of the Opera, the masked Eric sets about to get his revenge on those responsible and has been hiding out in the mall during its construction. What makes it doubly-sad is that Melody has moved on, she has a new love, Peter Baldwin (Rob Estes — he would go on to star in both Silk Stockings and Melrose Place)!

Will Eric have his revenge? Will Melody and Peter become victims? Will the mall even survive Eric’s wrath? Nov. 23 to find out,

As to bonus features, there are three viewing options. The original theatrical cut, a scaled-down television version and the “Integral Fan Cut” of the film.

The theatrical cut of the film (on one of the two Blu-ray discs) includes commentary from director Richard Friedman, the new documentary titled Shop Til’ You Drop!: The Making of Phantom of the Mall and there is a second commentary option featuring disc producer Ewan Cant and film historian/author Amanda Reyes.

Other bonus goodies include alternate and deleted scenes and the featurette titled “The Vandals Go to the Mall.”

Ronin Flix Restores The Digs Of War For Blu-ray Release On Nov. 23 • International And Domestic Cuts Of The Film Included

Ronin Flix, with sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has its sights on Nov. 23 as the street date for a new 2K film restoration of producer Norman Jewison’s 1980 film adaptation of the Frederick Forsyth novel, The Dogs of War.

Jewison, who had twice been nominated for Best Director (In the Heat of the Night and Fiddler on the Roof) and the same for Best Picture (as a producer for The Russians are Coming the Russians are Coming and Fiddler on the Roof) elected to produce, but not direct Forsyth’s novel, instead turning to British documentary filmmaker John Irvin to handle the task — he had just wrapped the mini-series adaptation of the John le Carré novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. This would be Irvin’s first theatrical directing assignment (later such films as Raw Deal, Hamburger Hill, Robin Hood, etc.).

With Norman Jewison producing it seemed certain that Steve McQueen would get the coveted lead role of Jamie Shannon. The pair had collaborated on The Cincinnati Kid and The Thomas Crown Affair, but by 1979 McQueen’s health had become an issue and he was no longer an option.

Both Eastwood and Nolte’s names appeared in the trades as possible leads, but the role ultimately went to Christopher Walken, who had just won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in The Deer Hunter.

Set in Africa, both Jewison and Irvin felt that it was simply too dangerous to shoot the film on location there. They found the perfect substitute in Belize, which had a large English-speaking Creole population and the jungle and beaches necessary to double for West Africa (story is drawn from Forsyth’s experiences with the Nigerian and Biafra conflict of the late ‘60s).

At the heart of the story are the mercenaries, specifically Jamie Shannon and his “associates,” who are used by Western corporate powers to gain access to raw materials by “installing” friendly governments. No longer is there the need for armies and nation-building … just send in the mercs and kill anyone that stands in the way.

As to bonus features, both the domestic theatrical cut of the film, as well as the international presentation are included here. There are extensive video sessions with actors Paul Freeman (as Derek) and Maggie Scott (as Gabrielle), writer George Malko, first assistant director Anthony Waye, production designer Peter Mullins (Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, The Return of the Pink Panther) and costume designer Emma Porteous (Clash of the Titans, Aliens, Judge Dredd).

Paramount Home Entertainment Prepares "Paramount Presents" Blu-ray Edition Of Milos Forman's Ragtime: 40th Anniversary Edition For Release On Nov. 16

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey

Paramount Home Entertainment has set the street date for its next “Paramount Presents” Blu-ray release … and it is a stunner.

Arriving on Nov. 16 is director Milos Forman’s 1981 film adaptation of the E.L. Doctorow novel, Ragtime: 40^th Anniversary Edition.

This is a new 4K film restoration of, not only the theatrical cut, but of the newly discovered “Director’s Cut” (from an unearthed workprint), which features approximately 20 additional minutes (ordered cut by producer Dino De Laurentiis). This meant the complete deletion of the Emma Goldman character played by Mariclare Costello (Let's Scare Jessica to Death, Ordinary People) from the film.

Forman, speaking about the film, actually opined that the shorter version seemed longer because of the continuity issues.

Ragtime: 40^th Anniversary Edition will be a two-disc set, with one disc showcasing the original theatrical cut (which includes Digital Copy), while the second disc features the “Director’s Cut.”

Bonus features include deleted and extended scenes, the newly-prepared featurette titled “Ragtime Revisited” and vintage commentary with director Milos Forman and executive producer Michael Hausman.

The Suicide Squad Heads Home From Warner Bros. Home Entertainment On Oct. 26

The many adventures of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and company continue on Oct. 26 with the three-SKU launch from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment of writer/director James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.

The ARR shakes out to 81 days and the current box office tally is $54.7 million.

Planned for release are Combo Pack editions for the 4K Ultra HD (with Blu-ray) and Blu-ray (with DVD) formats, plus a stand-alone DVD edition.

Bonus features, which are exclusive to the Combo Pack SKUs, include commentary from filmmaker James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy), a gag reel, deleted and extended scenes, four “scene breakdown” examples and four featurettes — “Gotta Love the Squad,” “The Way of the Gunn,” “Starro: It’s a Freakin Kaiju!” and “Bringing King Shark to Life.”

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Tabs Nov. 16 As The Street Date For Jungle Cruise • Gives Up Destructive Day/Date Disney+ Strategy

Up until Friday, Sept. 10, it was all in for Disney+ and it didn’t matter if exhibitors suffered or the home entertainment package media marketplace was just an afterthought.

Piracy was the result with the day/date release pattern that the studio had locked into … a Disney+ debut and hours later a pristine master had been delivered and online “retailers” were busy taking orders.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment did little, if anything to stomp it down. Sigh.

Sanity, however, was restored on Friday with the studio’s announcement that future theatrical releases would have a 45-day window before Disney+ would kick into action. That’s a start. Perhaps someone at the studio took note that the so-called “Hollywood” studios — Paramount, Warner Bros., MGM, etc. — had spent the past 100 years building a theatrical distribution model that gave them dominance over domestic distribution. Throwing that away was foolish.

Perhaps, it was China’s awakening to “we don’t need you any longer, we’ve stolen the tricks of the trade from you.” Stream-away and soon there will be no need for a “Hollywood” studio system. Nothing like being both woke and stupid at the same time … eventually reality sinks in.

For director Jaume Collet-Serra’s Jungle Cruise that ship had sailed, metaphorically speaking. Day/date on Disney+ and the result was piracy galore.

With that said, word also arrived from Disney this past week that Nov. 16 will be the street date for a three-SKU product offering of Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. It has been pirated on both DVD and Blu-ray since it opened at the end of July, but, hey, it’s like a pesky mosquito … not worth the effort of taking it down.

For the record, the ARR comes in at 109 days and domestic box office receipts currently stand at $105.7 million. With Disney+ viewers and this level of pandemic box office, it is hard to argue that any time or effort should be wasted on the little bites that the pirates take these days. A cost of doing business, right? Well, maybe, just maybe, the Friday announcement of date-shifting for Disney+ rollouts signaled that the little bites were beginning to have an impact ... you loved to be a fly on wall.

As to SKU configuration, there will be Combo Pack editions available for the 4K Ultra HD (with Blu-ray) and Blu-ray (with DVD) formats, plus a stand-alone DVD edition.

Bonus features include outtakes, deleted scenes and five featurettes.