The days are getting shorter and chillier, which makes curling up on the couch to watch a movie all the more appealing. This month sees a selection of thrillers, comedies, dramas, and more arriving at the library to keep you entertained, and we’ve got your guide to the latest titles coming to home video below!
FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW
Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), a loyal agent of America’s Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Jason Statham), a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015’s Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they’ve tried to take each other down. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever – and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw’s sister – these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Hobbs & Shaw is witty and mischievous, full of surprise and invention, and a total blast.” – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
“Hobbs & Shaw is an action film in every sense of the word. You’re meant to check your brain at the door, shove your face with popcorn, and have a good time. Why would you expect more? This isn’t Shakespeare!” – Alan Ng, Film Threat
“All of this silliness is actually great fun, particularly the bantering chemistry between Johnson and Statham, who spend much of the movie squabbling and calling each other names.” – Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times
Available Formats (11/5):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK
It’s 1968 in America. Change is blowing in the wind… but seemingly far removed from the unrest in the cities is the small town of Mill Valley where for generations, the shadow of the Bellows family has loomed large. It is in their mansion on the edge of town that Sarah, a young girl with horrible secrets, turned her tortured life into a series of scary stories, written in a book that has transcended time—stories that have a way of becoming all too real for a group of teenagers who discover Sarah’s terrifying tome.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Blessed with some firm hands on the terror tiller and a winning cast, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a handsome, and deliciously horrible, horror movie.” – Clark Collis, Entertainment Weekly
“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is drenched with symbolism and layered with ideas about lost innocence and the power of stories — and the power of creating something that resonates with an audience for years and years. I suspect this movie will do exactly that.” – Matt Singer, Screen Crush
“As gross and spooky and, yes, occasionally frightening as these terror tactics get, they never quite cross over into the deep end of truly grownup horror. That’s intentional, and a key to the film’s fun: It gets away with everything it can on a PG-13 leash, smuggling some real scares to the under-18 crowd.” – A.A. Down, The A.V. Club
Available Formats (11/5):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN
Based on the best-selling novel by Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a heartfelt tale narrated by a witty and philosophical dog named Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner). Through his bond with his owner, Denny Swift (Milo Ventimiglia), an aspiring Formula One race car driver, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition and understands that the techniques needed on the racetrack can also be used to successfully navigate the journey of life. The film follows Denny and the loves of his life – his wife, Eve (Amanda Seyfried), their young daughter Zoe (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), and ultimately, his true best friend, Enzo.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“With layered direction that emphasizes quiet moments over outward emotion during scenes of tragedy, and soulful performances all around, The Art of Racing in the Rain is just the right kind of tearjerker with an injection of positivity that our understandably pessimistic society needs.” – Oktay Ege Kozak, Paste
“Although predictable, the story still manages to pack an emotional punch and depending on your level of relatability to Swift’s hardships – cancer treatment, custody battles, a stagnant career – it might hit harder than you expect.” – Katelyn Landry, Austin Chronicle
“The X-factor is Costner. A household name for over thirty years, his vocal presence alone does wonders.” – Dan Mecca, The Film Stage
Available Formats (11/5):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
THE KITCHEN
Three 1978 Hell’s Kitchen housewives’ mobster husbands are sent to prison by the FBI. Left with little but a sharp ax to grind, the ladies take the Irish mafia’s matters into their own hands—proving unexpectedly adept at everything from running the rackets to taking out the competition.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Speaking of female gangsters, no review of The Kitchen should overlook Margo Martindale, who steals every scene she’s in as a mob matriarch — a gravelly voiced monster with a gutter mouth and a big photo of John F. Kennedy on her wall. Martindale gets to be evil and has as much fun onscreen as she can without smiling.” – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
“At its most basic, this is a conventional talkie, rooted in Warner Bros crime history, happy to play with cliché. At its most audacious, The Kitchen is a welcome flip on the generally male-dominated script. And at its most pleasing, this is a popcorn flick, with big moments, great pops, and three stars giving it their all, having one out in the street, making big moves for the people.” – Blake Goble, Consequence of Sound
Available Formats (11/5):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
GOOD BOYS
After being invited to his first kissing party, 12-year-old Max (Jacob Tremblay) is panicking because he doesn’t know how to kiss. Eager for some pointers, Max and his best friends Thor (Brady Noon) and Lucas (Keith L. Williams) decide to use Max’s dad’s drone – which Max is forbidden to touch – to spy (they think) on a teenage couple making out next door. But when things go ridiculously wrong, the drone is destroyed. Desperate to replace it before Max’s dad (Will Forte) gets home, the boys skip school and set off on an odyssey of epically bad decisions involving some accidentally stolen drugs, frat-house paintball, and running from both the cops and terrifying teenage girls (Molly Gordon and Midori Francis).
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Good Boys somehow manages to balance its risqué, scatological impulses with a surprisingly sweet, resonant coming-of-age tale.” – Laura Prudom, IGN
“Stupnitsky and Eisenberg have deftly mined this space for laughs, and the seasoned comedy vets (The Office, Year One, Bad Teacher) deliver a joke-dense and highly original coming-of-age tale that’s sweet and sour in all the best ways.” – Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times
“Some massive laughs, a huge Stephen Merchant cameo and the most impressive school play on film since Wes Anderson’s Rushmore are all on offer in this very funny teen – or rather tween – comedy.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Available Formats (11/12):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON
Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome, runs away from a residential nursing home to follow his dream of attending the professional wrestling school of his idol, The Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). A strange turn of events pairs him on the road with Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a small time outlaw on the run, who becomes Zak’s unlikely coach and ally. Together they wind through deltas, elude capture, drink whisky, find God, catch fish, and convince Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), a kind nursing home employee charged with Zak’s return, to join them on their journey.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“The film is a sweet, funny and heartfelt look at friendship and strength.” – Samantha Incorvaia, Arizona Republic
“The Peanut Butter Falcon is charming, enveloping, and an absolute joy.” – Yolanda Machado, The Wrap
“In the end, whether the performances are driven by real-life trauma or by acting doesn’t matter. Life might be imitating art or vice versa, who knows? One thing is certain: The Peanut Butter Falcon is a wonderful piece of art.” – Stephen Rodrick, The Globe and Mail
Available Formats (11/12):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
THE FAREWELL
Chinese-born, U.S.-raised Billi (Awkwafina) reluctantly returns to Changchun to find that, although the whole family knows their beloved matriarch, Nai-Nai, has been given mere weeks to live, everyone has decided not to tell Nai Nai herself. To assure her happiness, they gather under the joyful guise of an expedited wedding, uniting family members scattered among new homes abroad. As Billi navigates a minefield of family expectations and proprieties, she finds there’s a lot to celebrate: a chance to rediscover the country she left as a child, her grandmother’s wondrous spirit, and the ties that keep on binding even when so much goes unspoken.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Sometimes, the movie argues, it’s the things we don’t say that prove how much we care. Billi’s path to acceptance of this makes The Farewell one of the most heartfelt homecoming films in years.” – Matthew Monagle, Austin Chronicle
“The Farewell has a special feeling about it. It’s full of truth and emotion, and lacking in sentimentality. It has an eye for absurdity and for the telling detail, and it marks Lulu Wang as a director with the rare but essential ability to make you care about what she cares about. It will go down as one of the standout movies of 2019.” – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
“This is a viewing experience to be treasured. It is one of the very best films of 2019.” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
Available Formats (11/12):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE 2
The flightless angry birds and the scheming green piggies take their beef to the next level in The Angry Birds Movie 2! When a new threat emerges that puts both Bird and Pig Island in danger, Red (Jason Sudeikis), Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride), and Mighty Eagle (Peter Dinklage) recruit Chuck’s sister Silver (Rachel Bloom) and team up with pigs Leonard (Bill Hader), his assistant Courtney (Awkwafina), and techpig Garry (Sterling K. Brown) to forge an unsteady truce and form an unlikely superteam to save their homes.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Let’s offer up some praise for this sequel-to-a-movie-based-on-a-smartphone-game, for finding a way to actually improve on the 2016 original in a way that’s clever but not snarky, sweet but not syrupy.” – Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press
“The goofier and more random the movie is, the better it is, and it certainly gets goofier and more random as it goes.” – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
“The hoops our heroes jump through become increasingly surreal and hilarious.” – Bilge Ebiri, New York Times
Available Formats (11/12):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
47 METERS DOWN: UNCAGED
Four teenage girls (Corinne Foxx, Sistine Stallone, Sophie Nélisse, and Brianne Tju) explore a submerged Mayan City. Once inside, their rush of excitement turns into a jolt of terror as they discover the sunken ruins are a hunting ground for deadly Great White Sharks. With their air supply steadily dwindling, the friends must navigate the underwater labyrinth of claustrophobic caves and eerie tunnels in search of a way out of their watery hell.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Roberts has clearly been given a bigger budget and it shows in the nicely realized submerged city the poor young women must navigate. He’s saddled with a terrible film title — 47 meters was the depth of the ocean floor in the first film — but none of that matters once the air tanks and masks go on.” – Mark Kennedy, Associated Press
“The film more or less keeps things efficiently moving, wringing white-knuckle tension less through jump scares than from the darkness of a seemingly infinite void.” – Derek Smith, Slant
“47 Meters Down is still the alpha of this franchise pack, but Uncaged‘s stealth ‘slasher but with sharks’ structure is an approved and entertaining surprise.” – Matt Donato, We Got This Covered
Available Formats (11/12):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
AFTER THE WEDDING
Isabel (Michelle Williams) has dedicated her life to working with the children in an orphanage in Calcutta. Theresa (Julianne Moore) is the multimillionaire head of a media company who lives with her handsome artist husband (Billy Crudup) and their two adorable twin boys in New York. When word comes to Isabel of a mysterious and generous grant for the financially struggling orphanage, she must travel to New York to meet the benefactor—Theresa—in person. And when Isabel is spontaneously invited to Theresa’s daughter’s wedding, Isabel discovers a connection to Theresa that takes her on an unexpected journey into her own past.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“On the whole After the Wedding is a touching journey through a world where even those with the best intentions leave some wreckage behind, and where forward motion only comes with hard looks into the past.” – Steve Pond, The Wrap
“Somewhere in the middle of After The Wedding it becomes clear as day: Michelle Williams is one of a kind. Not that we didn’t know this already. Still, it’s nice to be reminded.” – Dan Mecca, The Film Stage
“…Freundlich has the benefit of Bier’s screenplay contributions to guide him, but in his particular execution, the story feels grounded for a very different strategy from Bier’s: Rather than going out of his way to include recognizable human moments, he strips away anything excessive, allowing subtext to surface in the quiet spaces between dialogue.” – Peter Debruge, Variety
Available Formats (11/12):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
POLDARK: SEASON 5
First adapted for the BBC/Masterpiece Theatre in 1975-77, the new adaptation of the novels by Winston Graham sees Captain Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) returning to Cornwall in 1783 after spending three years in the army fighting in the American War for Independence, only to find his father dead, the woman (Heida Reed) he loved engaged to another, and his estate in dire straits. He rescues a young woman (Eleanor Tomlinson) from a beating and hires her as his maid as he seeks to turn his fortunes around.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“This season gives fans exactly what they want from Poldark: love and drama.” – Keri Lumm, Paste
“Beneath the ruffles and wigs (Turner’s glue-stained curls in this season have been abominable) are stories with real heart, and characters we can fall in love with again and again.” – Roisin O’Connor, The Independent
“The plot goes its own way, and it’s perfect.” – Benji Wilson, Daily Telegraph
Available Formats (11/12):
Blu-ray | DVD
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
Inspired by a true story, based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll, Blinded by the Light tells the story of Javed (Viveik Kalra), a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in the town of Luton, England, in 1987. Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father. But when a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in the powerful lyrics. As Javed discovers a cathartic outlet for his own pent-up dreams, he also begins to find the courage to express himself in his own unique voice.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“This is one of the most joyous and exhilarating movies you will see this year…” – Jordan Ruimy, The Playlist
“Blinded by the Light features scenes of the most pure, unadulterated joy I’ve seen on screen in quite a while.” – Mike Ryan, Uproxx
“Warm, funny, humane and deeply sincere, this ode to Bruce Springsteen, breaking free and belonging isn’t content merely to revel in Springsteen’s greatest hits — although it does, with vibrant, vicarious exhilaration. It delves into the singular power of music, and by extension art itself, to make its audience feel comprehended.” – Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Available Formats (11/19):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD
Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, nothing could prepare Dora (Isabela Moner) for her most dangerous adventure ever – High School. Always the explorer, Dora quickly finds herself leading Boots (her best friend, a monkey), Diego (Jeffrey Wahlberg), a mysterious jungle inhabitant (Eugenio Derbez), and a rag tag group of teens on a live-action adventure to save her parents (Eva Longoria, Michael Peña) and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost city of gold.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Moner’s charisma keeps things pushing forward, and so does the film’s appealing spirit. If only every big screen adaptation of a beloved existing property could feel this funny and fresh, there’d be less to fear about an industry besieged by recycled material that never takes a risk.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire
“Dora and the Lost City of Gold has contraptions to spare – falling platforms, lava pits, a water slide that pays homage to The Goonies – but its storytelling is commendably lean and faff-free. In the depths of summer break boredom, it’s a treasure horde of fun.” – Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
“Like a child unwittingly navigating a jungle full of booby traps and deadly creatures, the film walks a treacherously fine line without ever seeming to break a sweat.” – Bilge Ebiri, New York Times
Available Formats (11/19):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
CATCH-22
Set during World War II, Air Force bombardier Yossarian (Christopher Abbott) and his fellow soldiers are faced with absurd bureaucratic rules and decisions by Colonel Cathcart (Kyle Chandler), Scheisskopf (George Clooney) and Major de Coverley (Hugh Laurie) in this miniseries based on Joseph Heller’s novel of the same name.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Bringing this work to TV was a risky move, but the finished product is exceedingly well done and, at a time when government gobbledygook has trumped all previous notions of unbelievability, perhaps more urgent than anyone could have predicted.” – Malcolm Venable, TV Guide
“Hulu’s version — written and created by Luke Davies and David Michôd and shepherded by executive producer George Clooney and others — strips Catch-22 down to its essential brilliance and then builds it back up into a sweeping, beautifully filmed, humorous yet tragic tale of a young man forever changed by war.” – Hank Stuever, Washington Post
“Hulu’s Catch-22 is considerably more linear than Heller’s original novel, but not in a way that sacrifices the anti-bureaucracy-and antistupidity-message. As panic stricken bombardier John Yossarian, Christopher Abbott successfully takes on a role that was thoroughly owned by Alan Arkin. He’s convincing, equally so in dramatic and comedic moments (and there are plenty of both)… At risk of overusing the word ‘Zeitgeist,’ Catch-22 is a meaningful, enduring example of it.” – Amy Glynn, Paste
Available Formats (11/19):
Blu-ray
THE HANDMAID’S TALE: SEASON 3
The beginning of the rebellion will include betrayals, reunions and a journey where they must take a stand against Gilead in the third season of the drama series based on Margaret Atwood’s best-selling novel.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“If not much sunnier, not as relentlessly grim as the second, while June is slowly, methodically, morphing into the Robo-June we know she must become. So far, so good.” – Verne Gay, Newsday
“The new season is more propulsive and watchable, although it doesn’t quite reach the heights of that first moving season. But Handmaid’s regains its footing by setting off on a new path.” – Kelly Lawler, USA Today
“Moss’ stalwart turn is more than enough to keep viewers’ rooted in June’s struggle. The set design, costumes, lighting, and more formal elements also burst with life, guiding the eye wherever it needs to be and providing a more active experience than the scripts would by themselves.” – Ben Travers, IndieWire
Available Formats (11/19):
DVD
WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE?
Based on the runaway bestseller, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? is an inspiring comedy about Bernadette Fox (Cate Blanchett), a loving mom who becomes compelled to reconnect with her creative passions after years of sacrificing herself for her family. Bernadette’s leap of faith takes her on an epic adventure that jump-starts her life and leads to her triumphant rediscovery.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Overall the movie is a delightful escape with several laugh-out-loud moments.” – Melissa Yeager, Arizona Republic
“One of Linklater’s greatest filmmaking instincts involves his casting decisions. Newcomer Emma Nelson is a real find as Bernadette’s daughter. Although Blanchett’s performance seems a bit mannered and slightly reminiscent of her Oscar-winning performance in Blue Jasmine, these are hardly flaws when the outcome is so riveting. Wiig beautifully toes a difficult line between drama and comedy. It’s a line similar to the one etched by this film: an emotional crisis mixed with laughs.” – Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
“Where’d You Go, Bernadette? has to be seen, and demands to be believed, because of Cate Blanchett. Like Blue Jasmine (2013), which earned her a second Oscar, this new film lies at her command.” – Anthony Lane, The New Yorker
Available Formats (11/26):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
ANGEL HAS FALLEN
When there is an assassination attempt on U.S. President Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman), his trusted confidant, Secret Service Agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), is wrongfully accused and taken into custody. After escaping from capture, he becomes a man on the run and must evade his own agency and outsmart the FBI in order to find the real threat to the President. Desperate to uncover the truth, Banning turns to unlikely allies to help clear his name, keep his family from harm and save the country from imminent danger.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Gerard Butler boasts an engaging screen presence that can make even junky movies fun. Maybe it’s the blustery swagger or his jokey attitude that essentially screams, ‘I’m not taking any of this too seriously.’ Either way, it works, especially in Angel Has Fallen.” – Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic
“In fact, none of the performances here are phoned in. Freeman shows great aptitude for the presidency and should consider running — then he could play the president onscreen and off. And as the vice president, Tim Blake Nelson finally gets a role worthy of his depth.” – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
“Yes, it’s all uber-violent, in-your-face, completely lacking sophistication – but I’ll be damned if it’s not entertaining.” – Alex Saveliev, Film Threat
Available Formats (11/26):
Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
DON’T LET GO
After a man’s family dies in what appears to be a murder, he gets a phone call from one of the dead, his niece. He’s not sure if she’s a ghost or if he’s going mad, but as it turns out, he’s not.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“It’s a fascinating ticking clock, and it works because Oyelowo leads the way as the brokenhearted survivor.” – Richard Whittaker, Austin Chronicle
“It’s a good sign for the intelligence of your science fiction movie, when it’s easy to imagine the story working as a stage play with just two actors.” – Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
“Estes finds a way to twist things up, organically adding a Groundhog Day element. Time’s still moving forward toward Ashley’s death, but the detective work gets more interesting.” – John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter