Want to know what’s coming soon to digital and what to watch right now on FandangoNOW and Vudu? Here is your weekly guide to the latest releases:
What are the latest new releases to watch right now?
Fans of adult animation have a couple of new movies to check out this week. First, for the anime crowd, the English-dubbed release of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train is now available for digital purchase on both FandangoNOW and Vudu. The acclaimed new feature continues directly from the first season of the manga-based Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba animated series (also available in full for purchase on FandangoNOW and Vudu) about a teen-aged slayer of demons.
And then for fans of non-kid-friendly superhero fare, the latest animated feature adapted from a DC Comics graphic novel, Batman: The Long Halloween Part 1, is new to purchase digitally on FandangoNOW and Vudu, with Part 2 arriving this Sunday, July 27 (pre-order here or here). Based on the 1990s comic book storyline of the same name, the movie follows the Caped Crusader (voiced by Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles) in his months-long effort to stop a mysterious villain who murders people on holidays.
Are there any other big movies coming out this week?
Cruella, the latest feature inspired by one of Disney’s animated classics, is coming to digital this Friday, June 25. The live-action movie, which will be available as a premium rental simultaneous with its continued theatrical release, depicts the origin story Cruella de Vil, the iconic Disney Villain from One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone stars as a younger incarnation of the titular character in a fantastic rivalry and revenge tale pitting her against fellow Oscar-winner Emma Thompson. And their pairing is almost as brilliant as the costumes on display in this fashion-focused fairytale set in 1970s London.
Arriving on digital one day earlier, on Thursday, June 24, is another family film currently in theaters: Spirit Untamed: The Movie. The DreamWorks computer-animated feature, which will be available as a premium rental on both FandangoNOW and Vudu, continues the popular franchise that began with the 2002 traditionally animated movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. The new installment follows a young girl (voiced by Dora and the Lost City of Gold star Isabela Merced) as she forms a bond with the titular wild mustang, which she then must save from an evil horse wrangler (voiced by Walton Goggins). The voice cast also includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Julianne Moore and Eiza González.
Finally, for just the grown-ups again, Jaco Bouwer’s Gaia, which received rave reviews at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival, will be available on digital this Friday. Hailing from South Africa, the eco-horror movie involves an injured forest ranger (Monique Rockman), the survivalist father and son duo who rescue her (Carel Nel and Alex van Dyk) and some strange creatures lurking in the woods. It’s worth seeing for the award-winning cinematography as well as the visual effects, especially if you’re a fan of Mother Nature gruesomely having her revenge on humans.
What are some great ensemble action movies to buy this week?
With the latest Fast & Furious movie, F9: The Fast Saga, in theaters this Friday and the first movie, The Fast and the Furious, turning 20 this week, now is a good time to pick up FandangoNOW’s Ultimate Ride Collection, consisting of the previous eight installments of the Fast Saga (also available with extended editions of parts five through eight). You’ll want to grab the spin-off Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, as well. Meanwhile, Vudu has a sale this week on action ensemble movies. The must-haves include both versions of The Italian Job, which can be purchased together in a bundle pack, and the Lethal Weapon four-movie collection.
I also recommend some double-feature pairings from the action ensemble offerings: the original Predator with Overlord; Terrence Malick’s World War II movie The Thin Red Line with Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk; the original X-Men with the superhero comedy Mystery Men; Widows with The Kitchen; and Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction with his underrated follow-up, Jackie Brown. I also suggest picking up the Western duo of The Magnificent Seven and Unforgiven, the two star-studded ‘70s disaster movie staples The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno, and new cult favorites Free Fire and Bad Times at the El Royale.
Are we celebrating any big movie anniversaries this week?
This week marks the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release of Disney’s animated adaptation The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie Eraser and John Sayles’ neo-Western indie Lone Star, featuring Matthew McConaughey. Meanwhile, Disney’s live-action adventure movie The Rocketeer and the Hulk Hogan sci-fi comedy Suburban Commando both turn 30. Plus, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, Disney’s animated The Great Mouse Detective, the crime comedy Ruthless People and the buddy cop movie Running Scared all turn 35.
Going back further, the Roger Moore-era James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only, the effects-heavy fantasy film Dragonslayer, the classic Bill Murray comedy Stripes (also available in an extended cut) and Jim Henson’s The Great Muppet Caper, featuring a scene-stealing villainous turn from the late great Charles Grodin, all turn 40 years old this week. Also, the horror movie The Omen, the sci-fi cult classic Logan’s Run, the mystery spoof Murder by Death, Clint Eastwood’s Western drama The Outlaw Josey Wales and Robert Altman’s Paul Newman-led Western comedy Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson all turn 45.
Celebrating the big 50 this week are the iconic detective film Shaft, Robert Altman’s Western masterpiece McCabe & Mrs. Miller, the Steve McQueen-led racing movie Le Mans, Ingmar Bergman’s The Touch and Alan J. Pakula’s Klute, starring Jane Fonda in an Oscar-winning role. Also, Mike Nichols’ brilliantly performed drama Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, for which both Elizabeth Taylor and Sandy Dennis won acting Oscars, turns 55 — as does the soapy horror TV series Dark Shadows.
Luchino Visconti’s crime drama Rocco and His Brothers, the World War II adventure movie The Guns of Navarone and Disney’s original twin-swap comedy The Parent Trap starring Hayley Mills (and Hayley Mills) were all released in the U.S. 60 years ago this week. Plus, John Huston’s adaptation Moby Dick and the Western classic The Fastest Gun Alive both turn 65, Alfred Hitchcock’s criss-cross-murder thriller Strangers on a Train turns 70 and both the Shirley Temple comedy Poor Little Rich Girl and the earthquake disaster movie San Francisco turn 85.
More recent movies with noteworthy anniversaries include the franchise-starting action movie The Fast and the Furious and John Singleton’s Baby Boy, both of which turn 20 years old. Also, the Adam Sandler fantasy comedy Click and the Oscar-nominated documentary Deliver Us from Evil both turn 15, while the Pixar sequel Cars 2, the Cameron Diaz comedy Bad Teacher (also available in an unrated version) and Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop were all released 10 years ago this week. And it’s already been five years since the releases of the sequel Independence Day: Resurgence and Nicolas Winding Refn’s Neon Demon!
Can you recommend some more great movie deals on Vudu?
Vudu’s Summer of Savings sale is currently spotlighting the Western genre with deals on almost a century’s worth of classic examples. Here are the definite oldies you mustn’t overlook: High Noon, The Searchers, Shane, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and the Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western Dollars Trilogy installments A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
And here are some modern Western essentials to pick up: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Brokeback Mountain, Tombstone and Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight. There are also some bundles included, such as the pairing of the original True Grit and the Coen brothers’ remake and a five-film John Wayne collection.
Vudu also has a mix-and-match deal this week focused on true crime movies of various kinds. Buy any two for just $11.99 for the pair — I recommend these double-features as your best bets: Inside Job with The Big Short, for some financial misdeeds; Bronson with Legend, for Tom Hardy as real-life thugs; Spike Lee’s Summer of Sam with David Fincher’s Zodiac (also available in a Director’s Cut version), for ‘70s serial killer stories; and Catch Me if You Can with I Love You Phillip Morris, for lovable con men.
Which must-see movies are coming soon to FandangoNOW and Vudu?
Demonic, the next feature from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Neil Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium), is set to release on digital in a couple of months — on August 20, 2021. The horror movie is about a young woman (Carly Pope) who unintentionally unleashes demons into the world, and it looks both visually stunning and terrifying. Check out the exclusive new trailer below.
What are the 10 most popular new movies on FandangoNOW?
1. Wrath of Man
2. Godzilla vs. Kong
3. Spiral: From the Book of Saw
4. Nobody
5. The Misfits
6. Mortal Kombat
7. Queen Bees
8. Dream Horse
9. Raya and the Last Dragon
10. Rogue Hostage
What are the 10 most popular movies on Vudu?
1. Godzilla vs. Kong
2. Nobody
3. Wrath of Man
4. Mortal Kombat
5. Spiral: From the Book of Saw
6. The Misfits
7. Raya and the Last Dragon
8. The Hitman’s Bodyguard
9. Rogue Hostage
10. Voyagers
