The Best of Times

(Dir. Roger Spottiswoode, 1986)

Starring Robin Williams, Kurt Russell, Pamela Reed, M. Emmet Walsh, Margaret Whitton, Holly Palance, Donald Moffat, R.G. Armstrong, Dub Taylor, Kathleen Freeman, Tony Plana

Available on Blu-ray 10/17

Screen legends Robin Williams (Mrs. Doubtfire) and Kurt Russell (The Thing) star in this winning comedy about life, hope, and getting even. In 1972, underdog Taft High challenged their meanest rival, Bakersfield, to the annual football game. But when Jack “Butterfingers” Dundee (Williams) dropped the ball instead of making the big play, Taft was defeated and star quarterback Reno Hightower (Russell) has never let him live it down. Now, 13 years later, Dundee wants the chance to redeem himself, no matter what it takes. His only solution is to play Bakersfield again…with the same team! But for the Taft team, getting into shape couldn’t be tougher! Written by Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, Tin Cup) and directed by Roger Spottiswoode (The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper, Tomorrow Never Dies), The Best of Times is a hilarious film full of heart and charm that makes good on the American dream. Join the team that wants to win for all the right reasons! The hilarious supporting cast includes Pamela Reed, Holly Palance, Donald Moffat, Margaret Whitton, M. Emmet Walsh, R.G. Armstrong, Dub Taylor, Kathleen Freeman and Tony Plana.

Cujo

(Dir. Lewis Teague, 1983)

Starring Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Danny Pintauro, Ed Lauter, Christopher Stone, Mills Watson, Kaiulani Lee, Billy Jane, Jerry Hardin, Sandy Ward

Available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray 10/24

Evil bites when a monstrous canine terrorizes a helpless family in this legendary cult classic based on the bestseller by supreme shiver-giver Stephen King (Misery, It, Needful Things). Starring Dee Wallace (The Howling, E.T., I’m Dangerous Tonight), Daniel Hugh-Kelly (Nowhere to Hide) and Ed Lauter (The Longest Yard), Cujo unleashes the ultimate in unrelenting terror. In rural Castle Rock, Maine, Vic and Donna Trenton (Hugh-Kelly and Wallace) struggle to repair their crumbling marriage, while their young son Tad (Danny Pintauro, TV’s Who’s the Boss) befriends a hulking, lovable, 200-pound St. Bernard named Cujo. With Vic away on business, Donna and Tad take their decrepit car to be fixed at the remote farm of their mechanic (Lauter). As their aging Pinto sputters to a stop and dies, Cujo appears. But the once docile dog has undergone a hideous transformation—and becomes a slavering, demonic killer possessed by almost supernatural strength…and unholy cunning. So get ready for Cujo, an irresistible movie force from the King of Horror, directed by Lewis Teague (Alligator, Cat’s Eye) and shot by Jan de Bont (Die Hard). It will have you glued to your seat…and foaming at the mouth!

Red Dragon

(Dir. Brett Ratner, 2002)

Starring Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emily Watson, Mary-Louis Parker, Anthony Heald, Ken Leung, Frankie Faison, John Rubinstein, Brenda Strong

Available on 4K UHD 10/24

Before the Silence, there was the Dragon! Screen legend Anthony Hopkins (Nixon) reprises his iconic role as the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lecter in this thrilling prequel to The Silence of the Lambs. After capturing Dr. Lecter, FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton, The Score) retires—only to be called back to active duty to hunt down an elusive killer, “The Tooth Fairy” (Ralph Fiennes, In Bruges). To stop the brutal murders from continuing, Graham must first let Lecter inside his head. Prepare to be disturbed as Graham confronts the brilliantly sinister Lecter in Red Dragon, the electrifying, critically acclaimed movie based on the classic bestseller by Thomas Harris (Hannibal). Deliciously directed by Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) and flavored with a seasoned cast including Harvey Keitel (Bad Lieutenant), Emily Watson (Punch-Drunk Love), Mary-Louise Parker (Fried Green Tomatoes) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote).

It! The Terror from Beyond Space (Special Edition)

(Dir. Edward L. Cahn, 1958)

Starring Marshall Thompson, Shirley Patterson, Kim Spalding, Ann Doran, Dabbs Greer, Paul Langton, Richard Benedict, Ray Corrigan, Robert Bice

Available on Blu-ray 10/24

Summoned to the silver screen by sci-fi specialist Edward L. Cahn (Curse of the Faceless Man)—and too terrifying to even have a name!—“It” is a seemingly invincible monster that is hell-bent on killing everybody on a mission to Mars. This life-devouring alien brushes aside bullets and even nuclear blasts—making it one very cold-hearted Cold War-style invader. When his crew is brutally murdered on a Mars expedition, Commander Carruthers (Marshall Thompson, First Man into Space) becomes the prime suspect. Taken into custody and facing a court-martial back on Earth, he discovers that the real killer—a grotesque, slithering “It”—has stowed aboard the earthbound ship. But the indestructible creature has already begun a harrowing in-flight rampage, knocking off the members of the crew one by one. Now, as the spaceship heads home toward a panic-stricken Earth, the remaining crew must find some way to stop the unstoppable…“It.”

Black Sabbath (AIP Edition)

(Dir. Mario Bava, 1964)

Starring Boris Karloff, Michele Mercier, Mark Damon, Lidia Alfonsi, Susy Anderson, Massimo Righi, Harriet Medin

Available on Blu-ray 10/24

One of the great horror anthology films of all time, and Mario Bava’s personal favorite of his works, Black Sabbath solidified the director’s reputation as Europe’s maestro of the macabre. In The Telephone…a woman is haunted by menacing phone calls from a former lover. The Wurdalak stars Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Crimson Cult) as a vampire hunter whose family is stalked by the wandering spirit of an undead ghoul. The Drop of Water involves a nurse who steals a ring from a corpse—not realizing the curse that is carried with it. This is the AIP English-language version of the Mario Bava (Black Sunday) horror classic, featuring an international cast that includes Lidia Alfonsi (Life Is Beautiful), Michèle Mercier (Angélique) and Mark Damon (Anzio).

Enter the Ninja (Special Edition)

(Dir. Menahem Golan, 1985)

Starring Franco Nero, Sho Kosugi, Susan George, Christopher George, Will Hare, Alex Courtney, Zachi Noy

Available on Blu-ray 10/31

The Ninja is the highest honor given to the dedicated followers of Ninjutsu, the deadliest of all martial arts Enter the Ninja explores the absorbing detail the Ninja’s lethal, little-known the Art of Invisibility which includes the use of hypnotism, explosives, and super-human acrobatic fighting skills. Set in Japan and the Philippines, the film tells the story of Cole (Franco Nero, The Mercenary) a westerner who’s been inducted into the secret fighting rituals of the Ninja. Coming to the aid of his friends against some land grabbing oil barons, he easily takes on all opponents until a Ninja assassin; Hasegawa (Sho Kosugi, Revenge of the Ninja) is brought into the fray. The two masters make use of all the exotic weaponry at their disposle, making this one of the most sensational battle-to-the-death sequences ever filmed! Hollywood legend Menahem Golan (The Delta Force) directed this fast-paced, high quality, tough-as-nails martial arts film with style and poise. Co-starring Susan George (Sudden Terror) and Christopher George (Day of the Animals).

The Challenge (Special Edition)

(Dir. John Frankenheimer, 1982)

Starring Scott Glenn, Toshiro Mifune, Atsuo Nakamura, Clyde Kusatsu, Donna Kei Benz, Sab Shimono, Miiko Taka

Available on Blu-ray 10/31

He has trained every thought, every muscle,every nerve, for this moment of truth! The Challenge was co-written by John Sayles (Lone Star) and stars Scott Glenn (Man on Fire) as an American boxer thrust into a Japanese family feud involving the ownership of an ancient sword. Screen legend Toshiro Mifune (Yojimbo), plays a master samurai who trains the American in the ways of Japanese martial arts and culture so that he can assist him in foiling his rich industrialist brother (Atsuo Nakamura). Boasting a muscular Jerry Goldsmith (The Satan Bug) action score and handsome visuals, The Challenge entertains and should please fans of pictures like The Yakuza, Big Trouble in Little China and Remo Williams as well as The Seven Samurai, a fairly obvious cinematic forebear. Directed by the great John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate) and beautifully shot by veteran Japanese cinematographer Kozo Okazaki (Goyokin, The Yakuza).

American Ninja (Special Edition)

(Dir. Sam Firstenberg, 1985)

Starring Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Judie Aronson, John Fujioka, Guich Koock, Don Stewart, Tadashi Yamashita

Available on Blu-ray 10/31

Prepare for electrifying martial arts magic and breathtaking action galore as a young American becomes one of the greatest masters of Ninjitsu in American Ninja. Stationed in the Philippines, 18-year-old U.S. Army private Joe Armstrong (Michael Dudikoff, Avenging Force) is escorting a supply convoy when it is ambushed by rebels—one of whom he recognizes as a Black Ninja warrior. Instinctively, Joe defends himself using the esoteric martial art of Ninjitsu—an ability that puts him under suspicion by his commander and fellow soldiers (including Steve James, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka). Alone in his fight against corruption, the boy finally discovers the secret of his mysterious past—a secret that pits him against the evil Black Star Ninja (Tadashi Yamashita, The Octagon) in the ultimate martial arts battle. Directed by Sam Firstenberg (Revenge of the Ninja) for legendary producers Golan and Globus (Enter the Ninja), American Ninja is entertainment as swift and sure as the flashing blade of a samurai’s sword!

American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (Special Edition)

(Dir. Sam Firstenberg, 1987)

Starring Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Gary Conway, Larry Poindexter, Michelle Botes, Jeff Celentano, Mike Stone, Dennis Folbigge

Available on Blu-ray 10/31

Michael Dudikoff (Platoon Leader) and Steve James (Hero and the Terror) are back in action and up against an awesome, genetically re-engineered army of Ninja clones in this blazing combat-and-espionage thriller! When U.S. Army Rangers Joe Armstrong (Dudikoff) and Curtis Jackson (James) go on a Caribbean mission for missing Marines, they find themselves matching their deadly Ninjitsu skills against the elite Ninja forces of The Lion (Gary Conway, The Farmer)—a psychotic drug lord who genetically alters his fighters into superhuman martial arts killers! Learning that four kidnapped Marines are about to undergo The Lion’s inhuman transformation, the Rangers infiltrate his island fortress—and launch into an explosive battle against a horde of mutant Ninja warrior-clones! Directed by Sam Firstenberg (Avenging Force) from a screenplay by Conway and James Booth (Programmed to Kill) for legendary producers Golan and Globus (Enter the Ninja), American Ninja 2: The Confrontation is non-stop, knock-out action!