Weekly Entertainment Digest – November 9th

November 9, 2024

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It’s been a bit of a quieter week, but we have the holiday movies to look forward to! There aren’t as many announcements this week but there are plenty of screenings and giveaways to check out.

Be sure to stay up to date with the release schedule here, and find out when your favorite Peanuts Holiday Specials will be airing on AppleTV+ for free!

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THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER | Now Playing in Theaters

The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they steal, they bully…and now they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant. Directed by Dallas Jenkins (“The Chosen”) and based on the international bestseller by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER follows six siblings who sneak into church searching for snacks and walk away with the lead roles in the town pageant. Grace (Judy Greer) is directing the performance for the very first time, but she and her daughter Beth (Molly Belle Wright) and husband Bob (Pete Holmes) are in over their heads, especially against a town that wants them to kick the Herdmans out. But the play’s mischievous stars might unwittingly teach a community the true meaning of Christmas. Featuring Lauren Graham. Screenplay by Ryan Swanson and Platte F. Clark & Darin McDaniel.

THE DEVIL’S BATH | To Re-Release In Theaters Starting November 13th

In 1750 Austria, a deeply religious woman named Agnes has just married her beloved, but her mind and heart soon grow heavy as her life becomes a long list of chores and expectations. Day after day, she is increasingly trapped in a murky and lonely path leading to evil thoughts, until the possibility of committing a shocking act of violence seems like the only way out of her inner prison. Giving a voice to the invisible and unheard women of the rural past, THE DEVIL’S BATH is based on historical court records about a shocking, hitherto unexplored chapter of European history.

ALIEN: ROMULUS | Makes Its Streaming Debut on Hulu on November 21st

The legendary Alien franchise gives birth to an all-new terrifying sci-fi horror thriller when 20th Century Studios’ Alien: Romulus makes its streaming debut on Hulu on November 21. The film will also be available to stream via Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

Director Fede Alvarez takes the phenomenally successful Alien franchise back to its iconic roots in the next jaw-dropping installment heralded by critics as “sheer terror” (Brian Truitt, USA Today) and “utterly breathtaking” (Andrew J. Salazar, Discussing Film). Alien: Romulus is Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™ and has already thrilled audiences at the global box office, becoming the second highest grossing film in the Alien franchise.

Alien: Romulus is the start of a new chapter with a brand-new story unlike any other Alien movie that came before it, featuring all-new creatures and characters that are “tense enough to grab you by the throat” (Owen Gleiberman, Variety). And fans can dive deeper into the iconic franchise by binge watching every Alien movie now on Hulu including Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant.

Film Synopsis

This truly terrifying sci-fi horror-thriller takes the phenomenally successful Alien franchise back to its iconic roots. While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young colonizers come face-to-face with the most relentless and deadly life form in the universe. Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu, Alien: Romulus is directed by horror master Fede Alvarez from a screenplay by Alvarez and frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. Ridley Scott — who directed the original Alien and the series entries Prometheus and Alien: Covenant — produces with Michael Pruss and Walter Hill.

DEAR SANTA | New Trailer – Streaming on Paramount+ and on Digital November 25th

When a young boy mails his Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial spelling error, a devilish Jack Black arrives to wreak havoc on the holidays. From the hilarious minds behind Dumb & Dumber, Christmas is about to go up in flames.

MOANA 2 | “Beyond” From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Now Available – In Theaters November 27th

Beyond,” the end credit track from the highly anticipated Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film and Disney Music Group Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, “Moana 2,” is available today. Written by Grammy® Award-winning songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (Barlow & Bear), “Beyond” perfectly encapsulates Moana’s fearless sense of adventure and connecting her island beyond its shores. “Beyond” is now available on all streaming platforms. Listen on Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify.

The Moana 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Vinyl is available for pre-order at Amazon, Disney Music Emporium, Target and Walmart. The Moana 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD is available for pre-order at Amazon, Disney Music Emporium and Target, and will be available November 22. In addition to Barlow & Bear, Moana 2 marks the return of Billboard Music Award- and American Music Award-winning composer Opetaia Foa‘i and Grammy®-winning composer Mark Mancina who composed music for the original “Moana.” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana 2” will be in theaters November 27. Tickets are on sale now everywhere tickets are sold for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical “Moana 2.”

Barlow & Bear shared of “Beyond,” “During the process of writing this, we spoke to a lot of people who come from Oceania and the Polynesian Islands, and what rings true to all of them is their deep connection to their heritage and how they honor their ancestors. No matter how daunting this journey is to Moana, she can’t refuse it. It scares her but also exhilarates her because it’s a call from the ancestors. And the idea that the ocean connects us all is a very big part of Pacific Island culture and wayfinding culture.”

Added director Jason Hand, “It’s incredibly emotional. When Auli‘i sang it, it really blew us away. We were all in tears listening to her.”

Added Auli‘i Cravalho, “’Beyond’ really impacted me as someone who feels deeply connected to my culture. It’s about going beyond what you’re capable of, beyond your comfort zone, and not doing it just for yourself, doing it for your people.”

The Moana 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack track list follows:

“Tulou Tagaloa (Sei e Va’ai Mai)” Performed by Olivia Foa‘i, Te Vaka
“We’re Back” Performed by Auli‘i Cravalho, Cast
“Tuputupu (The Feast)” Performed by Te Vaka
“Beyond” Performed by Auli‘i Cravalho
“My Wish For You (Innocent Warrior)” Performed by Olivia Foa‘i, Sulata Foa‘i -Amiatu, Matatia Foa‘i, Matthew Ineleo, Opetaia Foa‘i
“Finding the Way” Performed by Olivia Foa‘i, Te Vaka
“What Could Be Better Than This?” Performed by Auli‘i Cravalho, Hualālai Chung, Rose Matafeo, David Fane
“Get Lost” Performed by Awhimai Fraser
“Can I Get A Chee Hoo?” Performed by Dwayne Johnson
“Mana Vavau” Performed by Dwayne Johnson, Opetaia Foa‘i, Rachel House
“Beyond (Reprise)” Performed by Auli‘i Cravalho
“Nuku O Kaiga” Performed by Te Vaka
“Finding The Way (Reprise)” Performed by Te Vaka
“We Know The Way (Te Fenua te Malie)” Performed by Auli‘i Cravalho, Olivia Foa‘i, Opetaia Foa‘i, Te Vaka
“Beyond (End Credit Version)” Performed by Auli‘i Cravalho
“We’re Back (Te Vaka Version)” Performed by Olivia Foa‘i, Te Vaka

The Moana Original Soundtrack has garnered over 20 Billion worldwide streams since its release in 2016 and featured the catchy earworm “You’re Welcome” and the power anthem “How Far I’ll Go.” “You’re Welcome” is performed by Dwayne Johnson, who voices “Maui” in the films, has been RIAA® certified 6 times platinum and is the most watched video on DisneyMusic VEVO with over 1.6 Billion views to date. “How Far I’ll Go” is performed by Auli‘i Cravalho, who voices Moana, has been RIAA® certified 7 times platinum and was nominated for an Oscar® Award and Golden Globe® Award for Best Original Song.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical “Moana 2” reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

The voice cast also includes Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Hualālai Chung, David Fane, Rose Matafeo, Awhimai Fraser, Gerald Ramsey, and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, who lends her voice to Moana’s adoring and adorable little sister, Simea. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy ®nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy® winner Mark Mancina. Jared Bush and Miller are writing the film, which is executive produced by Jennifer Lee, Bush and Johnson. “Moana 2” opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024.

CASH CALLS HELL | Premiering via VOD & Digital Platforms on November 29th

Facing the final days of his prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter, Oida (Tatsuya Nakadai) dreads reentering society as a ruined man with no future prospects. Sensing his street smarts, Oida’s cellmate promises him a pile of loot if he tracks down and kills three men whose names are on a list. Reluctantly accepting the task, he finds himself embroiled in a web of stolen money, betrayal and other sordid vices. Torn between compassion and desperation, Oida discovers danger lurking around every corner as he navigates a treacherous path of cold-blooded fate. Legendary director Hideo Gosha (Samurai Wolf, Violent Streets, Onimasa) blends classic, gritty film noir tropes into a New Wave inflected cinematic fever dream of intrigue and paranoia in this “absolutely gripping and suspenseful movie, a masterpiece of genre filmmaking” (Japan on Film), now digitally restored in 2K from original broadcast elements.

THE SWAN PRINCESS: 12 MOVIE COLLECTION DVD GIFT SET | Available December 3rd

Celebrate 30 enchanting years of the magical, musical world of The Swan Princess! Enjoy all 12 amazing animated features, each filled with timeless songs and captivating adventures in one must-own complete DVD collection! This once-in-a-lifetime limited-edition set includes a gorgeous Swan Princess music box— a keepsake for every collector who is eternally young at heart. Includes THE SWAN PRINCESS, THE SWAN PRINCESS AND THE SECRET OF THE CASTLE, THE SWAN PRINCESS: THE MYSTERY OF THE ENCHANTED TREASURE, THE SWAN PRINCESS CHRISTMAS, THE SWAN PRINCESS: A ROYAL FAMILY TALE, THE SWAN PRINCESS: PRINCESS TOMORROW, PIRATE TODAY!, THE SWAN PRINCESS ROYALLY UNDERCOVER, THE SWAN PRINCESS: A ROYAL MYZTERY, THE SWAN PRINCESS: KINGDOM OF MUSIC, THE SWAN PRINCESS: A ROYAL WEDDING, THE SWAN PRINCESS: A FAIRY TALE IS BORN and THE SWAN PRINCESS: FAR LONGER THAN FOREVER.

DISC DETAILS & BONUS MATERIALS
LIMITED EDITION DVD COLLECTION

All 12 features presented in standard definition
Anamorphic widescreen and English 5.1 Dolby Digital audio for all features
Includes fun sing-along special features!
Plus limited edition musical jewelry box for ages 7+!

GHOST OF RED RIDGE | Debuts on Digital December 3rd

After foiling a good ol’ fashioned stickup in the gold bust town of Red Ridge, Texas, the town sheriff jails a mysterious stranger suspected of ties to the gang of outlaws terrorizing residents. But as the sheriff draws closer to unraveling the bandits’ identities, ghosts of murdered townspeople begin appearing at his door, leaving him to question whether the spirits are warning him…or seeking vengeance for his own failure to protect them.

INTERSTELLAR | For One Week Only – Tickets For 70mm Film Locations On Sale Now – Experience it only in IMAXDecember 6th

Academy Award®-winning director Christopher Nolan’s landmark epic INTERSTELLAR celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. To celebrate, INTERSTELLAR will return to theatres with a 10th Anniversary IMAX Exclusive Limited Engagement on December 6, 2024 presented in select 15/70mm film and digital locations for one week only.

Shot with IMAX Film Cameras, INTERSTELLAR features 64-minutes of IMAX exclusive aspect ratio (EAR). A transcendent science fiction drama, INTERSTELLAR became a cultural phenomenon, thrilling audiences and critics with its “enthralling” (Rolling Stone) exploration of humanity’s future through a story that is “intelligent as well as epic” (Los Angeles Times). Acclaimed for its scientific accuracy, INTERSTELLAR captured viewers’ imaginations, earning over $730 million worldwide and five Oscar® nominations, with a win for Best Visual Effects. The film features an extraordinary cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, Timothée Chalamet, Ellen Burstyn, Bill Irwin, Wes Bentley, David Oyelowo, Casey Affleck, and more.

Tickets are on sale now for select 70mm IMAX film locations with additional tickets to IMAX digital locations on sale later in November.

INVITATION TO A SUICIDE | Celebrating its 20th Anniversary with an NA Digital Premiere on December 13th

Kaz (Pablo Schreiber, Halo, American Gods, Defending Jacob, Orange is the New Black) dreams of leaving his insular Polish immigrant community in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to pursue a brighter future in California with the love of his life, Eva (Kate Moennig, The L Word, Ray Donovan, The Lincoln Lawyer). But his scheme to score some fast cash gets him in trouble with the local Russian mob boss, who threatens to kill his father (David Margulies, The Sopranos, Law & Order, Madoff) if he can’t come up with the money to pay him back. With no other alternatives, Kaz hatches a novel plan to sell tickets to his own suicide in an attempt to save his father’s life; he’s surprised to find both the mobster and the neighborhood extremely supportive of the plan, not to mention his father. But even if he can sell the tickets, will he really go through with it? By the time this dark comedy reaches its surprising conclusion, Kaz learns that sometimes embracing death is the only way to a better life.

Writer/director Loren David Marsh helms this biting black comedy featuring Schreiber in his first lead role. The film, which also features an original soundtrack by acclaimed composer John Zorn, has been digitally restored in time for its 20th Anniversary North American digital debut.

MUFASA: THE LION KING | New Trailer – In Theaters December 20th

Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” director Barry Jenkins shared an exciting new trailer with fans attending the studio showcase tonight at D23 Brazil—a Disney Experience. The trailer takes viewers back in time with a host of fan-favorite characters like Mufasa, Scar, Sarabi, Rafiki and Zazu before they called Pride Rock home. “Mufasa: The Lion King” releases only in theaters Dec. 20, 2024. The trailer and film stills are available to download and share.

Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, “Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

The film stars Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Taka/Scar), Tiffany Boone (Sarabi), Kagiso Lediga (Young Rafiki), Preston Nyman (Zazu), Mads Mikkelsen (Kiros), Thandiwe Newton (Eshe), Lennie James (Obasi), Anika Noni Rose (Afia), Keith David (Masego), John Kani (Rafiki), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), Billy Eichner (Timon), Donald Glover (Simba), Blue Ivy Carter (Kiara), Braelyn Rankins (Young Mufasa), Theo Somolu (Young Taka), Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (Nala). Blending live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery, the all-new feature film is produced by Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen.