Weekly Entertainment Digest – August 17th

August 17, 2024

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It looks like we have a little bit for everyone heading to theaters in the next few months. We have new trailers and announcements this week plus some great giveaways as well!

Check out the major annoucements from D23 last week and be sure to stay up to date with the release schedule here, or check out the new movies coming to theaters and streaming with PrimeVideo and Amazon MGM, original content coming to Hulu or the Family Friendly content on Netflix this Month!

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Movie and Entertainment Updates

“Alien” Invasion Coming to Hulu!

Get ready for one of the summer’s most anticipated films “Alien: Romulus” with a binge-worthy marathon of the iconic “Alien” sci-fi horror franchise.

“Alien,” “Aliens,” “Alien 3,” “Alien Resurrection,” “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant” are streaming now on Hulu.

Prepare for “Alien: Romulus,” Coming to Theaters August 16

Twisters BUY OR RENT ON DIGITAL Now

Chase. Ride. Survive. Brace yourself for a wild ride into the eye of the storm, this time from the comfort of your home. As the chase of the summer continues to unfold in theaters, TWISTERS will be available exclusively on digital platforms to own or rent tomorrow, August 13, 2024, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

The “hard-hitting disaster spectacle” (Impulse Gamer) has earned a Certified Fresh designation on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore, becoming the best opening ever for a disaster film. TWISTERS is an adrenaline-pumping, thrilling experience that puts you in direct contact with one of nature’s most wondrous and destructive forces. Own the all-American action-packed adventure with a never-before-seen gag reel and deleted scenes, only when you purchase from participating retailers nationwide including Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox and Microsoft Movies & TV.

TWISTERS brings back the blockbuster disaster epic with a whirlwind of heart-stopping action and exhilarating thrills. Ever since a devastating tornado encounter, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) gave up chasing storms across the Oklahoma prairie to safely study them on screens in New York City. Lured back to the field by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) and a once-in-a-lifetime scientific opportunity, Kate crosses paths with Tyler (Glen Powell), a charming daredevil and self-proclaimed tornado wrangler whose thirst for tornado-tracking adventures made him a social media sensation. As storm season intensifies with terrifying phenomena unlike anything seen before, Kate and Tyler realize they may need to work together if they are to have any chance of taming, and surviving, an unprecedented outbreak of destructive tornados.

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung (Minari), TWISTERS stars Glen Powell (Anyone But You, Top Gun: Maverick) alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones (Where The Crawdads Sing, Fresh). The breathtaking thriller also features David Corenswet (Pearl, “The Politician”), Anthony Ramos (In The Heights, Hamilton), and Brandon Perea (Nope).

EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES WHEN YOU BUY AT PARTICIPATING RETAILERS:

Gag Reel
Deleted Scenes

FLY ME TO THE MOON NOW AVAILABLE TO BUY AND RENT ON DIGITAL NOW

Starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, FLY ME TO THE MOON is a sharp, stylish comedy-drama set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Brought in to fix NASA’s public image, sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as back-up and the countdown truly begins…

JACKPOT! Streaming Globally on Prime Video Now

In the near future, a ‘Grand Lottery’ has been newly established in California – the catch: kill the winner before sundown to legally claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot. When Katie Kim (Awkwafina) moves to Los Angeles, she mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket. Desperate to survive the hordes of jackpot hunters, she reluctantly joins forces with amateur lottery protection agent Noel Cassidy (John Cena) who will do everything in his power to get her to sundown in exchange for a piece of her prize. However, Noel must face off with his slick rival Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), who also seeks to collect Katie’s commission at all costs. JACKPOT! is directed by Paul Feig and written by Rob Yescombe.

MY PENGUIN FRIEND – In Theaters Now

A sweeping family adventure, My Penguin Friend is a triumphant tale of friendship between a lonely father and a little lost penguin who recharges his spirit and heals his family with an unshakable, ocean-crossing loyalty. Humble fisherman João (International star Jean Reno) has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help. To his wife’s (Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza) dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing. For the first time in years João starts to feel joy, even if he cannot fathom just how unbreakable a bond is being formed. When the penguin suddenly disappears back into the immense wilds of the ocean, João believes it is impossible that he will ever see his friend again. But thousands of miles away, the penguin is caught in misadventures of his own, determined to use his unique GPS-like powers to find his way back to the place he now considers home. Based on an emotional true story that riveted the world and filmed on the spectacular coasts of Brazil and Argentina, My Penguin Friend is a tale that traverses the magic of the ocean, the beauty of nature, and the transformative power of love.

BLINK TWICE – In Theaters August 23rd

When tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraising gala, sparks fly. He invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. It’s paradise. Wild nights blend into sun soaked days and everyone’s having a great time. No one wants this trip to end, but as strange things start to happen, Frida begins to question her reality. There is something wrong with this place. She’ll have to uncover the truth if she wants to make it out of this party alive.

THE CROW | NEWLY RELEASED SCENE + BRAND-NEW POSTER – In Theaters August 23rd

Bill Skarsgård takes on the iconic role of THE CROW in this modern reimagining of the original graphic novel by James O’Barr.

Soulmates Eric (Skarsgård) and Shelly (FKA twigs) are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right.

GREEDY PEOPLE is Coming to Theaters August 23rd

In this darkly comedic crime thriller, rookie cop Will (Himesh Patel) and his rogue partner Terry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) upend their small island town when they accidentally discover one million dollars at a crime scene (of their own making). After the duo unwisely decides to steal the money, the community’s quirky residents are lured into the mad dash for cash — ranging from an expectant mom (Lily James) to a masseur (Simon Rex) to a shrimp company owner (Tim Blake Nelson) — and everyone learns just how far they are willing to go for the almighty dollar.

The Secret Art of Human Flight available ON DEMAND August 23rd

After the death of his wife, Ben Grady (Grant Rosenmeyer) stumbles upon a self-help book by an enigmatic guru named “Mealworm” (Paul Raci), who claims to have harnessed the power to fly. The book arrives…and so does Mealworm, forcing Ben to navigate his family life, accusations of foul play, and the bizarre rituals laid before him in the hopes of healing and, just maybe, achieving flight.

Hulu Original Series “Only Murders in the Building” Season Four Trailer – Streaming August 27th

In season four of “Only Murders in the Building,” Charles, Oliver & Mabel wrestle with the shocking events at the end of season three surrounding Charles’ stunt double & friend Sazz Pataki. Questioning whether Sazz or Charles was the intended victim, our trio’s investigation leads them all the way to Los Angeles where a Hollywood studio is readying a film about the Only Murders podcast. As our amateur sleuths race back to New York, they embark on an even more epic journey — traversing their building’s courtyard to delve into the twisted lives of the Arconia’s West Tower residents.

Dragonkeeper Debuts on DVD August 27th

A spellbinding, edge-of-your-seat family adventure based on the acclaimed fantasy novel by Carole Wilkinson, the animated film Dragonkeeper comes to home entertainment formats this summer from Shout! Studios under license from VIVA PICTURES. Fresh off its US theatrical run, this Chinese-Spanish film features the voice talents of Bill Nighy (Love, Actually) and newcomer Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping, the film will be available for digital purchase on all major platforms on July 9, 2024 and on DVD August 27, 2024.

Dragonkeeper is the tale of Ping, a young, orphaned girl with a fiery spirit who frees the last living dragon from captivity. Together they embark on a dangerous journey to recover the last dragon egg, evade the Emperor’s capture and unlock centuries-old secrets that just might save the world.

Slow Horses premieres globally on AppleTV+ September 4th

Apple TV+ today unveiled the trailer for season four of its globally celebrated, Emmy Award-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning series, “Slow Horses,” starring Academy Award winner Gary Oldman. Adapted from “Spook Street,” the fourth novel in the CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning Mick Herron spy series “Slough House,” the six-episode fourth season of “Slow Horses” will premiere globally on Wednesday, September 4 with the first episode, followed by one new episode weekly, every Wednesday through October 9, on Apple TV+.

“Slow Horses” is a darkly humorous espionage drama that follows a dysfunctional team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 known un-affectionately as Slough House. Season four opens with a bombing that detonates personal secrets, rocking the already unstable foundations of Slough House.

The espionage drama continues to receive praise and accolades heading into its fourth season. “Slow Horses” season three recently scored nine Emmy Award nominations for its widely acclaimed third season, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations for Gary Oldman (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series), Jack Lowden (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series) and Jonathan Pryce (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series). The series also earned nominations in the following categories: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Saul Metzstein, Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score).

Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but misanthropic leader of the spies, who end up in Slough House due to their career-ending mistakes as they frequently find themselves blundering around the smoke and mirrors of the espionage world. The returning ensemble cast also includes Academy Award-nominee Kristin Scott Thomas, BAFTA Scotland Award-winner Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Kadiff Kirwan and Academy Award-nominee Jonathan Pryce. SAG Winner Hugo Weaving, BAFTA winner Joanna Scanlan, IFTA winner Ruth Bradley, Tom Brooke and James Callis join “Slow Horses” in season four.

“Slow Horses” is produced for Apple TV+ by See-Saw Films and adapted for television by Will Smith (“Veep”). Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Jane Robertson, Julian Stevens, Douglas Urbanski, Gail Mutrux, Graham Yost and Will Smith serve as executive producers on the series. Season four is directed by Adam Randall.

Since its premiere in 2022, “Slow Horses” has won two BAFTA Television Awards while earning nine additional nominations. The 2024 wins were for Best Editing: Fiction (Sam Williams) and Best Sound: Fiction (Sound Team), and the nominations across 2023 and 2024 included Best Drama Series, Oldman’s first for Best Lead Actor; Lowden’s for Best Supporting Actor; Best Editing: Fiction (Zsófia Tálas); Best Editing: Fiction (Katie Weiland); Best Original Music: Fiction (Daniel Pemberton and Mick Jagger); Best Sound: Fiction (Martin Jensen, Joe Beal, Duncan Price, Craig Butters, Sarah Elias and Andrew Sissons); and, Best Hair and Makeup Design (Lucy Sibbick). The series also landed the award for Best English-Language Drama Series at the 2022 C21 International Drama Awards.

Fans can catch up on the first three seasons of “Slow Horses,” which all hold a Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, now streaming globally on Apple TV+. Additionally, Apple TV+ previously announced a fifth season set to be adapted from the fifth novel, “London Rules.”

BETRAYAL – Available on VOD September 6th

Three desperate brothers return to the remote Scottish woodland where they killed their abusive father only to discover his shallow grave is now empty, forcing them to question each another’s loyalty as fear and paranoia set in.

SPEAK NO EVIL – In Theaters September 13th

When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.

From Blumhouse, the producer of The Black Phone, Get Out and The Invisible Man, comes an intense suspense thriller for our modern age, starring BAFTA award-winner James McAvoy (Split, Glass) in a riveting performance as the charismatic, alpha-male estate owner whose untrammeled hospitality masks an unspeakable darkness.

Speak No Evil stars Mackenzie Davis (Terminator: Dark Fate, Halt and Catch Fire) and SAG award-winner Scoot McNairy (Argo, A Quiet Place Part II) as American couple Louise and Ben Dalton, who, along with their 11-year-old daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler; The Good Nurse, Riverdale), accept the weekend-holiday invitation of Paddy (McAvoy), his wife Ciara (Aisling Franciosi; Game of Thrones, The Fall) and their furtive, mute son Ant (newcomer Dan Hough).

Written for the screen and directed by James Watkins, the writer-director of Eden Lake and the award-winning gothic ghost story The Woman in Black, Speak No Evil is based on the screenplay of the 2022 Danish horror sensation Gæsterne, written by Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup. That film earned 11 Danish Film Awards nominations, the Danish equivalent of the Oscars.

Speak No Evil is produced by Jason Blum (Five Nights at Freddy’s, M3GAN) for Blumhouse and by Paul Ritchie (McMafia, The Ipcress File) and is executive produced by Beatriz Sequeira for Blumhouse, Jacob Jarek and Christian Tafdrup.

LAST SHADOW AT FIRST LIGHT Premiering on IndiePix Unlimited on September 13th

Haunted by recurring apparitions, sixteen-year-old Ami (Mihaya Shirata) embarks on a supernatural journey from Singapore to Japan in search of her mother who went missing during a cataclysmic tsunami. Upon her arrival in Tokyo, she meets Isamu (Masatoshi Nagase), her cynical taxi-driving uncle, who becomes her custodian and reluctant guide through the ravaged landscape and her family’s dark past.

Set against the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku tsunami and shot mostly in Rikuzentakata, a city almost wiped out during the tsunami, LAST SHADOW AT FIRST LIGHT is a “post-apocalyptic story of survivors’ trauma” (The Film Verdict) that reckons with lingering family trauma. The feature film debut from writer/director Nicole Midori Woodford had its world premiere in the New Directors section of the San Sebastian Film Festival, where it was nominated for the New Director’s Award.

TRANSFORMERS ONE | New Cast Featurette – In Theaters September 20th

TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. In the first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie, TRANSFORMERS ONE features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, with Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm.

LAST STRAW – Opens in Detroit and Select US Theaters, Digital + VOD September 20th

Get the thrill of your life as the small-town siege horror, LAST STRAW, hits select theaters, including the Riviera 12 Powered by Emagine in Farmington Hills, and digital on September 20, 2024 from Shout! Studios. Bringing the night shift to a tension-filled breaking point, this sleepy diner-set horror marks the directorial debut from Alan Scott Neal stars Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story: Hotel), Taylor Kowalski (Snowfall) and Jeremy Sisto (Thirteen, Clueless), with a script by Taylor Sardoni and original score provided by Alan Palomo (Neon Indian).

A young waitress working the overnight shift alone at a rural, roadside diner finds herself in a fight for her life when she’s terrorized by a group of masked assailants. With no one to turn to, she will do everything she can to survive the night, even if it means striking back.

WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW – In Theaters September 23rd

The critically acclaimed documentary WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW? Is set to open in theaters beginning September 20 in New York at DCTV Firehouse and Los Angeles at the Laemmle Monica Film Center. The film’s director Joe Piscatella and the main participant Nathan Law will be in person at select Q/A screenings on opening weekend in both cities.

WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW follows the shy college freshman, Nathan Law, as he discovers an identity in activism. As one of the organizers of a student strike demanding that Hong Kong be allowed to elect their own leader (something promised to them back in 1998), he leads five days of student boycotts with a message of peaceful civil disobedience. When the strike suddenly becomes The Umbrella Revolution, he is unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role that shuts down Hong Kong for 79 days and captures the attention of the world.

When the movement falters, Nathan is arrested and charged for his role in the Revolution, but his entire generation in Hong Kong has been now awoken. Riding the enthusiasm of the student movement he helped spark, he makes the impossible transition from protest leader to elected official, becoming the youngest lawmaker in Hong Kong’s history where he continues his fight for democracy from inside the government.

Fearful of Nathan’s message gaining traction beyond students, the government disqualifies Nathan on a technicality and sends him to jail. As Hong Kong continues to see the erosion of its freedom, a new movement is launched. Whereas the Umbrella Revolution was driven by hope, this new movement is driven by desperation.

Nathan’s message of civil disobedience is overshadowed by a new generation of protestors who no longer feel that peaceful demonstrations can save Hong Kong. As Hong Kong descends into the biggest political crisis in modern Chinese history, Nathan must decide his role and his future.

“I was blown away by this incredible movement revolving around these extraordinary young people who had transformed from average teenagers to political leaders fighting for democracy,” said director Piscatella. “We knew we had to amplify this story to the rest of the world so that everyone would know what is going on, and hopefully inspire others to stand up for democracy. It has been an honor to have Nathan on the project so we can learn from his bravery and determination.”

“I am grateful for Joe and the team to have captured this story in such a stunning and intellectual way,” added Nathan Law. “As a political refugee living in the UK, I want people everywhere to understand that democracy is fragile and needs to be protected at all costs. With the world quickly changing at the moment, I also want people to be inspired to take action to make the world a better place than how we left it and give voice to democracy.”

WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW? Is directed/written/produced by Joe Piscatella. The film was produced by Matthew Torne, p.g.a, Mark Rinehart, p.g.a, and Andrew Duncan. Executive Produced by Elizabeth H. Weatherman.The film is edited by Matthew Sultan with original music by Christopher H. Knight.

The Hong Kong crew that was used throughout all filming in Hong Kong had to remain “anonymous” in order to protect their safety and the safety of their families. This crew included the DPs, gaffers, PAs and sound team. Some crew members gave only their first names and insisted on being paid in cash so there was no record of their involvement.

LEE – New Trailer – In Theaters September 27th

Lee, the directorial feature from award-winning Cinematographer Ellen Kuras, portrays a pivotal decade in the life of American war correspondent and photographer, Lee Miller (Kate Winslet). Miller’s singular talent and unbridled tenacity resulted in some of the 20th century’s most indelible images of war, including an iconic photo of Miller herself, posing defiantly in Hitler’s private bathtub.

Miller had a profound understanding and empathy for women and the voiceless victims of war. Her images display both the fragility and ferocity of the human experience. Above all, the film shows how Miller lived her life at full-throttle in pursuit of truth, for which she paid a huge personal price, forcing her to confront a traumatic and deeply buried secret from her childhood.

AMBER ALERT – In Theaters September 27th

An ordinary rideshare becomes a high-stakes game of cat and mouse when Jaq (Hayden Panettiere) and Shane (Tyler James Williams) receive an alert of a child abduction on their phones. Quickly realizing they are behind a car that matches the description of the kidnapper’s, Jaq and Shane desperately race against time to save the child’s life.

HOUSE OF SPOILS – Premiering globally on Prime Video on October 3rd

From Blumhouse, House of Spoils follows an ambitious chef (Ariana DeBose) as she opens a restaurant on a remote estate where she battles kitchen chaos, crushing self-doubts… and a haunting presence who threatens to sabotage her at every turn.

Hulu’s “La Máquina” Premieres October 9th

After a devastating loss, Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna (Gael García Bernal) is at a low point in his boxing career. Lucky for him, his manager and best friend Andy Lujan (Diego Luna) is determined to get him back on top. But when a nefarious organization rears its head, the stakes of this rematch become life or death. While struggling to mount a comeback, Esteban must also juggle his own personal demons and protect his family, including his ex-wife Irasema (Eiza González), a journalist who finds herself on a collision course with the dark side of the boxing world.