These girls are a ‘Riot,’ Will Smith explores the world, and movie awards season begins!
A group of women form a punk band in ‘Riot Girls.’
FRIDAY, Jan. 9 A Thousand Blows Season two begins in the series about a group of characters battling to survive in the brutal East End of London in the 1880s. Starring Malachi Kirby, Erin Doherty and Stephen Graham (Hulu).
People We Meet on Vacation A young pair of longtime friends begins to question if they’re a perfect romantic match. Starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth (Netflix).
SATURDAY, Jan. 10 Accused: The Karen Read Story When a Boston police officer is found dead in a snowbank, his girlfriend is charged, creating and a firestorm of national attention (8 p.m., Lifetime).
SUNDAY, Jan. 11 The Golden Globes Comedian Nikki Glaser hosts tonight’s movie awards, voted by critics around the world and kicking off the film awards season (CBS).
Bookish Six-part murder-mystery drama about an antiquarian bookshop owner (Mark Gatiss) who helps cops solve baffling crimes (10 p.m., PBS).
MONDAY, Jan. 12 American Sons Documentary follows a brotherhood of U.S. Marines a decade after their deployment to Afghanistan as they deal with the traumas of combat and the loss of their comrades (10 p.m., PBS).
TUESDAY, Jan. 13 Tell Me Lies Eight-episode third season premieres tonight, following a young couple (Grace Van Patten and Jackson White) and their college friends. And I’m telling you the truth (Hulu).
Pole to Pole with Will Smith The actor joins expeditions to the earth’s more extreme environments—like the ice fields of Antarctica, the jungles of the Amazon, and the mountains of the Himalayas—in this new docuseries (National Geographic).
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14 Riot Women Women “of a certain age” form a punk band for a talent contest, and find they have a lot more to shout about than they thought (Britbox).
Hijack A Berlin underground train and its commuters are taken hostage. And corporate business negotiator Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) is one of those passengers. What can he do? Find out in season two, beginning today (Apple TV+).
THURSDAY, Jan. 15 Star Trek: Starfeet Academy Newest chapter in the iconic space-adventure franchise centers on a group of young cadets. Starring Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti and the voice of Stephen Colbert (Paramount+).
Ponies Two “Ponies” (“persons of no interest”) working as secretaries at the American Embassy in Moscow become CIA operatives after their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances. Starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, above (Peacock).
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Since we’re all taking pictures with our phones now, it’s good to reflect on what real photographers are doing. Exposure (Thames & Hudson) showcases the eye-popping work of 40 contemporary shutterbug pros, with subjects from whimsical to wild, all capturing moments in time through a lens.
The ‘Angels’ return to TV, meet the Donkey King & movie awards season begins!
‘Charlie’s Angels’ return to TV in a salute to the work of producer Aaron Spelling.
FRIDAY, Jan. 2 MonsterQuest The hunt continues in season two, looking for more evidence of bigfoot, UFO encounters, hauntings and killer beasts on land and sea (10 p.m., History).
SATURDAY, Jan. 3 Donkey King Half-hour docuseries about a 75-acre nonprofit donkey rescue and sanctuary in California, where Ron King and dozens of volunteers have rescued and re-homed more than 400 donkeys (check listings, ABC).
Stolen Girl Kate Beckinsale and Scott Eastwood star in this tale based on real events about a mom who goes to the Middle East to track down her ex-, who has abducted their young daughter (8 p.m., Lifetime).
SUNDAY, Jan. 4 The Critics Choice Awards Chelsea Handler returns as host of this annual event, voted by movies critics and kicking off the movie awards season. Sinners (above) and One Battle After Another lead the nominations (7 p.m., E! and USA Network).
Aaron Spelling Sundays |New weekend programming block features hit-show nostalgia from the iconic TV producer/director, including Charlie’s Angels, Hart to Hart, Fantasy Island and The Love Boat (2 p.m., MeTV).
MONDAY, Jan. 5 My Life is Murder Season five begins as sharp-witted investigator Alexa Crowe tackles her most perplexing and personal case yet (Acorn TV).
Antiques Roadshow Season 30 begins with all-new searches for America’s hidden treasures (8 p.m., PBS).
TUESDAY, Jan. 6 Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. |The heralded genealogical series kicks off season 12 tonight, looking ahead to upcoming celebrity guests including Kristin Chenoweth, America Ferrera, Spike Lee, Tracy Letts, Barry Diller, Wiz Khalifa and many more (PBS).
Best Medicine New comedy series set in a Boston hospital stars Josh Charles, Abigail Spencer, Josh Segarra and Annie Potts (8 p.m., Fox).
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7 The Masked Singer The hit competition—with masked and heavily costumed celebs singing, until they’re “revealed”—returns for season 14 with more stars, more songs and new twists on pop culture. Hosted by Nick Cannon (8 p.m., Fox).
Harlan Coben’s Final Twist Author Harlan Coben—whose books include Missing You and Fool Me Once—hosts this new true-crime series (10 p.m., CBS).
THURSDAY, Jan. 8 The Hunting Party Crime procedural about a team of investigators assembled to track down a dangerous serial killer who’s escaped from prison. Starring Melissa Roxburgh, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie and Sara Garcia (NBC).
Alfie Allen in ‘Girl Taken.’
Girl Taken New series about the abduction of an English girl, her escape from captivity, and her discovery that freedom brings its own challenges. Starring Alfie Allen, Jill Halfpenny, Tallulah Evans and Delphi Evans (Paramount+).
Golden Globe Awards| Tonight’s movie awards are voted by international journalists who cover Hollywood. Helen Mirren will receive the organization’s highest honor, the Cecil B. DeMille Award (8 p.m., CBS).
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Author Carrie Gibson’s The Great Resistance (Atlantic Monthly Press) chronicles dramatic stories of slavery. It’s a powerful reminder of the horrors, and an inspiring saga about some 12 million Africans who were brought to the Western Hemisphere as slaves and the four-hundred-year fight to end the abomination of a system that treated them as subhuman.
David Gilmour: Luck and Strange Studio/Live (Thames & Hudson) is a photographic chronicle by Polly Samson of the former Pink Floyd band member’s latest solo project, “Luck and Strange,” as he makes it and then takes his new music on the road. Includes song lyrics and a Q&A interview.
What if the key to healthier living wasn’t to be found in fads or extreme diets? Find out more in Eat Your Ice Cream (W.W. Norton) by Ezekiel J. Emmanuel, a common-sense guidebook for beneficial behaviors and healthy habits…including, yes, having some ice cream now and then.
It’s beginning to look a LOT like Christmas, plus the harrowing tale of ‘HIM’ and who’s up for some pickleball?
‘A Christmas Story’ airs Friday, Dec. 19
FRIDAY, Dec. 19 A Christmas Story Ah, it’s that time of year again, when all a little boy (Peter Billingsley) wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun, and everyone tells him “You’ll shoot your eye out!” (4:45 p.m., TNT).
HIM A college football player with his eyes on the pros meets his NFL idol for training but finds out something hellishly weird is going on. Starring Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers (Peacock).
SATURDAY, Dec. 20 A Pickleball Christmas A tennis pro competes in a high-stakes Pickleball tournament (above) to save his family’s racquetball club (8 p.m., Lifetime).
Naughty or Nice Weekend Santa’s playlist includes Elf, Scrooged, The Polar Express, Four Christmases and more, from tonight through Dec. 21 (begins 9:45 a.m., AMC).
SUNDAY, Dec. 21 Hollywood Squares Two episodes of the popular celebrity game show, hosted by Nate Burleson, feature holiday-themed questions (8:30 p.m., CBS).
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “The Sound of Music” Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer star in the Oscar®-winning film, celebrating its 60th anniversary and featuring iconic songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein, including “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “The Sound of Music” (8 p.m., ABC)
MONDAY, Dec. 22 The Price is Right| It’s time for the annual tradition of Christmas-themed episodes (11 a.m., CBS).
The Madame Blanc Mysteries Two-night Christmas special in which the characters find themselves at Christmas Eve event, with a ticking time bomb hidden away inside a bejeweled museum treasure (Acorn TV).
TUESDAY, Dec. 23 Kennedy Center Honors George Strait, the rock band KISS, actor Sylvester Stallone and disco pioneer Gloria Gaynor are among the evening’s honorees (8 p.m., CBS).
Die My Love Jennifer Lawrence scorches the screen as a young wife and mother tormented by love and madness in this gripping thriller that also features Robert Pattinson, Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek and LaKeith Stanfield (Mubi).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 24 Goodbye June Actress Kate Winslet makes her directorial debut with this Christmas tale of four adult siblings experiencing a downturn in the health of their mother—who insists on orchestrating her decline on her own terms. Cast includes Toni Collette (above), Johnny Flynn, Helen Mirren and Winslet (Netflix).
It’s a Wonderful Life It wouldn’t be Christmas without this 1946 Christmas classic, in which an angel named Clarence helps a desperate banker and family man (James Stewart) see how “rich” his life really is (8 p.m., NBC).
THURSDAY, Dec. 25 Music Box: Happy and You Know It Documentary explores how “children’s music” became so wildly popular—and underestimated by grownups (9 p.m., HBO).
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade Alfonso Ribeiro and Ginnifer Goodwin host as the all-star parade winds through the Magic Kingdom (11 a.m., ABC and Disney).
The Best You Can Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon and Judd Hirsch (above) lead the cast of this heartwarming cross-generational holiday comedy (Netflix).
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The perfect Christmas gift for a fan of one of TV’s top series might just Law & Order: The Complete Series (AV Entertainment), a gollywhopper of a box set that “captures” every episode of seasons 1 through 20 of the iconic crime drama starring Sam Waterson, Chris Noth, Michael Moriaty, Richard Brooks, Jerry Orbach and Angie Harmon. (Purchase at https://www.moviezyng.com/law–order-the-complete-original-series-dvd-sam-waterston/84041833653)
Groove back to the groovin’ ’70s in Boogie Nights (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), now fully restored on 4K Ultra HD. Director Paul Thomas Anderson‘s acclaimed drama, about a wide cast of characters intersecting in L.A.’s booming porn-movie industry, stars Burt Reynolds, Mark Wahlberg, Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy and Heather Gramham.
Re-live the charm and the chuckles of Ted Lasso when the acclaimed, award-winning comedy series comes to DVD for the first time. Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way (AV Entertainment) contains all 34 episodes of the show starring Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein, coming out just ahead of its season-four return to Apple TV+ next year. (Purchase at https://zyng.us/DCACMO)
The new ‘Knives Out,’ celebrating Dick Van Dyke and Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
FRIDAY, Dec. 12 Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Adventure Det. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) “goes to church” for his most baffling case yet in the third Knives Out murder mystery, with a cast that also includes Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washinton, Cailee Spaeny and Thomas Haden Church (Netflix).
Starring Dick Van Dyke Celebrate the life and career of legendary actor—known for films like Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, TV ‘s Diagnosis Murder and his classic CBS sitcom—on his 100th birthday (9 p.m., PBS).
One More Shot A woman (Emily Browning) finds a bottle of tequila that lets her time-travel to try to win back her old flame (Sean Keenan) in this time-loop comedy (check streaming listings).
SATURDAY, Dec. 13 The Family Film and TV Awards Who says they’re nothing worthwhile about movies or TV? Tonight’s 28th annual ceremony, hosted by Julie Chen Moonves, will honor excellence in family-oriented programming. Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor, and magicians Penn & Teller will receive special honors (8 p.m., CBS and Paramount+).
A Charlie Brown Christmas Lucy recruits Charlie Brown to direct the gang’s holiday play. Can he find the perfect tree, and discover the true meaning of Christmas? (Apple TV+).
The Heisman Trophy Ceremony Who’ll be the 2025 honoree as college football’s top player? Tune in tonight to find out in the live ceremony hosted by Sunday Night Football play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler (7 p.m., ABC).
SUNDAY, Dec. 14 Best Elf Marathon Back-to-back showings of Elf, Fred Claus and The Polar Express (begins 4:30 p.m., AMC).
Avatar: The Way of Water The 2022 sci-fi action epic, about human-like creatures who are quite at home on a moon called Pandora. Until, that is, they’re threatened again by humans (7 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY, Dec. 15 Hope of the Season: Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir The world-renowned choir’s new holiday spectacular is packed with classic carols and holiday favorites for a 90-minute concert featuring songs and stories of hope for audiences of all ages (8 p.m., PBS).
The FBI As the holidays approach, the team finds three slain sex workers inside a brownstone and uncover the murderer has a larger plan in place that they must rush to stop (8 p.m., CBS).
TUESDAY, Dec. 16 Great Performances: Nutcracker from English National Ballet For many, it wouldn’t be Christmastime with this classic stage portrayal of Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday musical featuring some 100 dancers and musicians (8 p.m., PBS).
The Secrets We Bury A Long Island family unearths a decades-old mystery around their father’s disappearance (9 p.m., ID).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17 IHeart Jingle Ball 2025 The season’s iconic holiday music event features the year’s top artist performances and star-studded appearances to ring in holiday cheer (8 p.m., ABC).
THURSDAY, Dec. 18 The Wolf Wars Docuseries details Europe’s most expensive wildlife battle—the killing of wolves—and uncovers a tale of threats, harassment and secret networks where money, power and high-stake politics reign (Viaplay).
Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular The late-night host searches for the holiday spirit in New York, corralling Meghan Trainor, Cara Delevingne, Dolly Parton, the Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, The Roots, LL Cool J and “Weird Al” Yankovic into the holiday spirit (9 p.m., NBC).
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Comic books ain’t what they used to be. Case in point: Fantastic Adventures in the Comics (McFarland), in which author William Schoell looks back (fondly) at the genre from the 1940s into the ’80s, when pulpy pioneers were venturing boldly into the unknown, particularly outer space, where all sorts of strange creatures thrived, “space babes” were welcome aboard any mission, and imaginations were free to run wild.
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Laugh again to ‘toondom’s classic cat and mouse with Tom and Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958), a roundup of more than 100 theatrical shorts starring the acclaimed, Oscar-winning Hanna-Barbera duo that became global icons for gags, chases and slapstick violence. This special edition also includes a booklet and commentary.
Clooney is ‘Jay Kelly,’ Melissa McCarthy stays up late & Shaq has a dunk-athon
FRIDAY, Dec. 5 Jay Kelly George Clooney teams with Adam Sandler for this heart-tugging comedy (above) about an actor confronting his past, which also features Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Laura Dern, Isla Fisher, Greta Gerwig, Stacy Keach and Patrick Wilson among its sprawling cast (Netflix).
Spartacus: House of Ashur The gladiator drama kicks off with two back-to-back episodes about arena fighters, nobles, villains, champions and backstabbers in ancient Rome (Starz).
The Family McMullen Connie Britton, Tracee Ellis Ross and Edward Burns (who also directed) star in this followup to Burns’ acclaimed ‘90s indee The Brothers McMullen (HBO Max).
SATURDAY, Dec. 6 Reindeer in Here Based on the award-winning Christmas book, you’ll be charmed by the heartwarming story of how a young reindeer and his friends band together to save the future of Christmas (8 p.m., CBS).
Dinner & a Movie Tonight hosts Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen swoon over Reese Witherspoon’s 2002 romcom movie Sweet Home Alabama (8 p.m., PBS).
Saturday Night Live Melissa McCarthy returns tonight to host the iconic late-night show for the sixth time (11:30 p.m., NBC).
SUNDAY, Dec. 7 The Wonderful World of Disney: The Santa Claus Tim Allen takes over for Santa in this 1994 Christmas comedy featuring Judge Reinhold (9 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY, Dec. 8 Predators Dive deep into an unnerving investigation of Dateline’s to Catch a Predator, pulling back the curtain on the show’s complicated legacy (Paramount+).
Password Holiday Special Keke Palmer host a special holiday-themed episode of the classic game show, with Jimmy Fallon and Jonathan Groff as celebrity guests (8 p.m., NBC).
TUESDAY, Dec. 9 Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House Three-part series finds Chip and Joanna Gaines remodeling a 1960s mountain property into a family retreat nestled in the Rockies (9 p.m., Magnolia).
A Motown Christmas Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey host this two-hour special of music from Motown legends and today’s hottest stars celebrating iconic Hitsville USA classics and holiday favorites (9 p.m., NBC).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10 Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season two begins in the YA fantasy series (above) based on The Sea of Monsters, the second book in the best-selling series by Rick Riordan (Disney+).
Merv When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are forced into an awkward co-parenting arrangement (Amazon Prime).
THURSDAY, Dec. 11 Little Disasters Four new moms (Diane Kruger, Jo Joyner, Shelly Conn and Emily Taafe) become entangled in a web of circumstances that threatens to destroy their friendship and their families, above (Paramount+).
Dunkman Shaquille O’Neal rounds up 40 of the world’s greatest dunkers to compete for the coveted title of Dunkman (7 p.m., TNT).
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You can rock and roll all night, and long after that, with the new remastered 50th anniversary set of the landmark KISS album Alive! Released in both CD and LP formats, it’s a deluxe box set loaded with 120 tracks, 88 of them previously unreleased, and including rehearsals. Re-live the sonic boom of “Strutter,” “Deuce,” a Peter Criss drum solo…and, of course, “Rock And Roll All Night.” Plus a reprint of a 1975 press kit, pics, a T-shirt iron-on and much more!
A ‘Christmas Vacation’ marathon, Hallmark goes country & the Grinch steals Christmas…again!
Beverly D’Angelo & Chevy Chase in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.’
FRIDAY, Nov. 28 Left-Handed Girl A conservative Taiwanese grandfather forbids his young left-handed granddaughter from using her “devil hand,” unraveling generations of family secrets (Netflix).
The Baltimorons Director Jay Duplass’s tale of a couple (Michael Strassner and Liz Larson) on a wild Christmastime adventure through Baltimore (Sundance Now and AMC+)
SATURDAY, Nov. 29 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Marathon It wouldn’t be Christmas season without this 1989 Chevy Chase comedy, and you can watch a full 24 hours of it. Didya know this is the only film in the Vacation franchise to NOT feature the Lindsey Buckingham song “Holiday Road”? ( 8 p.m., TNT).
A Grand Ole Opry Christmas TV movie about a young woman confronting her past when Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry invites her to honor her late country star dad at their Christmas celebration. Watch for real-world Opry stars Pam Tillis, Bill Anderson, Riders in the Sky and Brad Paisley (Hallmark).
SUNDAY, Nov. 30 Words + Music New musical performance spotlight series (above) kicks off tonight with John Legend, with following episodes to feature fellow Grammy winners Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morissette (MGM+).
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell Glee’s Amber Riley stars in this tale (adapted from a Harlequin novel) about a woman who loves to cook…and a kitchen re-modeler who may become the missing ingredient needed to heat up her love life (8 p.m., The CW).
MONDAY, Dec. 1 Troll 2 When a dangerous new troll is awakened, unleashing devastation across Norway, adventurers Nora (Ine Marie Wilmann), Andreas (Kim Falck) and Captain Kris (Mads Sjøgård Pettersen) are thrust into their most perilous mission yet (Netflix).
The Merchants of Joy Heartwarming doc (above) about Christmas tree merchants in New York City who turn local streets into jolly holiday outposts every year (Prime).
TUESDAY, Dec. 2 CMA Country Christmas Lauren Daigle and Jordan Davis host this musical holiday spectacular, with performances by Riley Green, Lady A, Little Big Town, Parker McCollom and many others (9:01 p.m., ABC).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3 My Secret Santa A vivacious single mom (Alexandra Brekenridge) in need of a job decides to disguise herself as a man to get get a gig as the seasonal Santa at a luxury ski resort. With Ryan Eggold and Tia Mowery (Netflix).
Oh. What. Fun A star-studded cast (Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Denis Leary, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria) play members of a loving but dysfunctional family in this heartwarming comedy about the unsung heroes of any holiday season: the moms! (Prime Video).
Christmas at Rockefeller Center Reba McEntire hosts the holiday celebration from the iconic plaza in Midtown Manhattan, with performances by Halle Bailey, New Edition, Gwen Stefani and more (8 p.m., NBC and Peacock).
THURSDAY, Dec. 4 Next Level Baker Carla Hall and Candice Nelson join Gordon Ramsey as mentors in this all-new three-week event challenging top-tier bakers to create eye-popping holiday delights as the triple-decker set is transformed into a winter wonderland (9 p.m., Fox).
Do You Fear What I Fear It’s no friendly game of “Secret Santa” when a young woman discovers Christmas decorations disappearing in her home, accompanied by anonymous notes. Starring Cianna Hanna and Josh Henderson (8 p.m., LMN).
How the Grinch Stole Christmas / Frosty the Snowman Tune for these two back-to-back, half-hour animated classics, friendly TV “ghosts” of Christmas past (8 p.m., NBC).
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Saddle up for Yellowstone: The Complete Series, the new DVD set of the modern-day western that launched five TV spinoffs. All five seasons (with a sprawling cast including Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes and many others) are here, plus a wagon-load of special features and behind-the-scenes moments.
June Squibb stars in the acclaimed Eleanor The Great (AV Entertainment) as a retired woman who tells a tale that takes on a life of its own—and makes a new friend, a young college student (Erin Kellyman) working to become a journalist. It’s a cross-generational delight. (Purchase at https://www.moviezyng.com/eleanor-the-great-dvd-june-squibb/043396646841)
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The music of so many movies is so important to how we absorb what we’re seeing. Case in point: The new Jaws soundtrack (Universal), newly released with scene-setting “mood music” from Oscar-winning John Williams, all newly remastered for the movie’s recent 50th anniversary. You may not be able to hum them, but you’ll certainly recognized the movie moments that go with “Chrissie’s Death,” “The Indianapolis Story,” “Preparing the Cage” and—of course—the “Main Title/Theme.” Duh-dum, duh-dum, duh-dum, duh-dum…
A ‘Raymond’ reunion, a great escape & Chris Hemsworth’s memorable ‘Road Trip’
Former castmates remember “Everybody Loves Raymond” Monday night.
FRIDAY, Nov. 21 Train Dreams Drama about Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of surprising depth and beauty in the rapidly changing America of the early 20th century (Netflix).
Friendsgiving Marathon What are Friends fans thankful for? That today, they can watch episode after episode of their favorite ‘90s sitcom (11 a.m., TBS).
SATURDAY, Nov. 22 Toronto Airport Uncovered Documentary goes for the first time behind the scenes at Canada’s biggest and busiest airport, revealing how they keep millions of passengers and thousands of planes moving, even in record-breaking snowstorms (8 p.m., National Geographic).
SUNDAY, Nov. 23 The Great Escaper Michael Caine stars as real-life Bernard Jordan, who made global headlines in 2014 by staging a “great escape” from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy to commemorate their fallen comrades at the D-Day Landings 70th anniversary (9 p.m., PBS).
A Road Trip to Remember Actor Chris Hemsworth turns the spotlight on his father, Craig, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, as they embark on a road trip to revisit places from their past and explore the powers of social connections (8 p.m., National Geographic).
MONDAY, Nov. 24 Bel-Air Tonight begins the fourth and final season of the reimagined high-school sitcom based on Will Smith’s hit ‘90s TV series, starring Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes and Cassandra Freeman—and guest starring Tyra Banks (Peacock).
Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion Ray Romano hosts this celebration of the popular sitcom, which ran for nine seasons, with cast members including Brad Garrett, Patricia Heaton, Monica Horan and Sullivan Sweeten, with tributes to departed Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle (8 p.m., CBS)
TUESDAY, Nov. 25 The Ugly Stepsister Darker version of the Cinderella story about a young girl (Lea Myren) who battles her gorgeous stepsister, resorting to extreme measures to captivate the prince (Isac Calmoth) in a ruthless competition for physical perfection (Hulu).
Sidelined 2: Intercepted Noah Beck and Siena Agudong star in this YA drama about a freshman star QB suffering a setback and a dancer who begins to question the future she thought she wanted (Tubi).
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26 Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age The award-winning natural history series (above) turns back the cosmic clock millions of years, to the dramatic emergence of new prehistoric life after dinosaurs became extinct. Tonight it begins with the playful sloths of the Pleistocene. Actor Tom Hiddleston narrates the five-part series (Apple TV+).
Stranger Things Fifth and final season (at least that’s what they say) of the smash sci-fi series stars Millie Bobby Brown, Wynona Ryder, Maya Hawke, Finn Wolfhard and Noah Schnapp, leading to a grand finale on New Year’s Eve (Netflix).
Louvre Heist: Minute by Minute How did those thieves brazenly rob more than $100 million of the world’s greatest treasures—and get away with it, at least for a while? Find out in this hour-long special (10 p.m., Discovery).
THURSDAY, Nov. 27 The Artist An eccentric and failing tycoon (Mandy Patinkin) hosts celebrities of the Gilded Age (including Thomas Edison and Edgar Degas) in this two-part drama series…and the truth about a shocking murder comes out. With Janet McTear, Danny Houston and Hank Azara (The Network).
Classic TV Thanksgiving Settle in before getting a bellyful of turkey with T’giving-themed episodes of The Waltons and Everybody Loves Raymond, plus some classic toons (starts 7 a.m., MeTV).
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A family fights for survival in the Hollywood Hills, caught between a raging wildfire and a pack of savage coyotes. Justin Long and Kate Bosworth star in the horror flick Coyotes. As if raging California wildfires aren’t scary enough, right?
Good evening, as the legendary “Master of Suspense” would say in the intro to his groundbreaking ‘50s and ‘60s series. Now you can own all 263 episodes with Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Legacy Collection (AV Entertainment), featuring some of the most recognizable actors of the era, including Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, Walter Matthau, Peter Falk, Teresa Wright and Leslie Nielsen. (Available for purchase at https://zyng.us/UFFI4P
A beloved franchise gets a fond farewell in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment), ending 15 years of TV and big-screen drama about Britain’s Crawley family and their staffers as they enter the 1930s in financial trouble and dealing with a scandal. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Paul Giamatti.
Disney’s Freakier Friday updates the original 2003 body-swap comedy with this new romp, reuniting original stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in a new family misadventure. Bonus features reveal the fun and laughs that went on behind the camera, and the connections between the two tales.
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If you’re a Beatles fan, you’ll flip your wig over The Beatles’ AnthologyCollection, a massive 12 LP set newly restored and expanded. It includes the three groundbreaking Anthology double albums from the mid-1990s, plus a new compilation, Anthology 4. With 191 tracks (including 26 never before released on vinyl), studio outtakes, live performances, broadcasts and demos that reveal the musical development of The Beatles from 1958 to the band’s final single, “Now And Then,” released in 2023.
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Music lovers will love Land of a Thousand Sessions: The Complete Muscle Shoals Story 1951-1985, author Rob Bowman’s insightful, encyclopedic 750-page account of how a teeny Alabama hamlet became a top recording hot spot beginning in the 1950s, eventually attracting superstars like Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Leon Russell, Joe Cocker, The Osmonds, Willie Nelson and hundreds more.
A new John Lennon doc, a JoBros Christmas, Ken Burns’ Revolutionary War and Charlie Brown’s T’Giving TV tradition
FRIDAY, Nov. 14 One on One Documentary offers a rare inside at the first year of former Beatle John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono living in New York City in the early 1970s, when the city was rocked by an explosion of creativity and political activism (8 p.m., HBO).
A Very Jonas Christmas The Jonas Brothers usher in the holidays with this lively movie in which they face a series of escalating problems as they try to make it from London to New York for Christmas. Watch for guests Billie Lourd, Laverne Cox, Andrea Martin, Kenny G, Randal Park…and Jessie Tyler Ferguson as Santa! (Disney+).
SATURDAY, Nov. 15 A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving It’s over 50 years old, but this Peanuts classic never gets old as Peppermint Patty invites the gang to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving, and Snoopy decides to cook his own feast with some help from his friends (Apple TV+).
SUNDAY, Nov. 16 Landman Taylor Sheridan’s series about oilmen in the boomtowns of West Texas begins season two tonight, with Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, Andy Garcia and Ali Larter returning to their roles (Paramount+)
The American Revolution Peter Coyote narrates director Ken Burns‘ new docuseries, a sprawling, six-part, 12-hour examination of America’s war for independence. The all-star cast also features Kenneth Branagh, Josh Brolin, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and Samuel L. Jackson (PBS).
MONDAY, Nov. 17 Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition Top bakers face off in the “biggest little gingerbread competition” ever, building edible worlds from scratch. Hosted by Oliver Hudson (9 p.m., Food Network).
June Farms New original unscripted series about June Farms, in West Sand Lake, N.Y., and its staffers during the hustle-bustle wedding season (Prime).
TUESDAY, Nov. 18 Smurfs When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is taken by a pair of evil wizards, the Smurfettes lead a mission into the real world to rescue him. Other voices in the new animated adventure include Rihanna, Nick Offerman, James Corden, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham and Alex Winter (8 p.m., MGM+).
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 19 The 59th Annual CMA Awards Morgan Wallen and Laney Wilson (above, also the night’s host) lead the pack of nominees—with five nods each, including Entertainer of the Year—for the live ceremony honoring the best in country music, with performances by BigXthaPlug, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey and more (8 p.m., ABC)
Champagne Problems Minka Kelley stars as an ambitious M&A executive who travels to France to secure the acquisition of a world-renowned Champagne brand, but her plans are upended when she falls into a whirlwind romance with a charming Parisian—who turns out to be the founder’s son (Netflix).
Man on the Inside Season two finds Charles (Ted Danson, above) going undercover at a college to become a “mole” in a PI’s secret investigation. Mary Steenburgen, Max Greenfield, Stephanie Beatriz and more make guest appearances (Netflix).
THURSDAY, Nov. 20 Ghosts Sam and Pete get on each other’s nerves during a book tour road trip, when an air strike threatens their ability to get home in time for Thanksgiving (8:30 p.m., CBS).
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In Splitsville, two couples discover the farcical downside to open marriage. Starring Adrina Arjona, Kyle Marvin, Dakota Johnson and Michael Angelo Covino (who also directed).
In the bonkers true tale of Secret Mall Apartment (Music Box Films), a group of young artists build a habitable place for themselves inside, yes, a shopping mall—and live there for four years, while filming it all. But their squirreled-away apartment wasn’t a prank, they say. Instead, it was a living art project, one with a meaning and message about community.
The first two seasons of the Emmy-winning The Morning Show, about the turbulent highs and lows of a fictitious New York news network—with an ensemble cast led by Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Anison and Billy Crudup—now comes to DVD and Blu-ray. Time to catch up on all the scandal, rivalry, loyalty, power grabs and more!
A college quarterback with his eye on prize of going pro meets his NFL idol…and a hella lot of weirdness. Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers star in Him, a grueling gridiron-centric horror show. (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment).
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For young readers (and Swifties!) in your realm, consider giving them What Are Taylor Swift’s Eras (Penguin Young Readers), with all the deets about her record-setting Eras Tour, which spanned five continents and included more than 150 shows. See the outfits! Re-live the albums and the songs! All all hail, Taylor Swift!
Learn about the long history of what we surround ourselves with inside the places we live, in The Story of the Interior (Thames & Hudson), which explores the social, cultural and technological history of interior design from prehistory into the modern era. And how what we live “in” shapes how we live, work, learn and play.
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Frank Sinatra’s “melancholy masterpiece” album of lost love and heartbreak, In the Wee Small Hours (Blue Note), celebrates its 70th anniversary with a newly remastered vinyl release. Tracks include “Mood Indigo,” “Ill Wind,” “Dancing on the Ceiling” and “This Love of Mine,” with tunes from the songbooks of Cole Porter, Richard Rogers, Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael and others.
Fans of classic rock will dig Bold as Love, the newly released and freshly remixed box set commemorating the 1967 album from The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Sony). It’s four discs of guitar-god goovery, with tracks in both stereo and mono, rarities, rehearsals, live cuts and TV and radio promo appearances. Plus a 44-page book, and Hendrix’s version of another band’s hit song of the day, “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
The 25th anniversary reissue of Brian Wilson: Live at the Roxy Theatre (Oglio Records) shows the genus co-founder of The Beach Boys on stage in Hollywood performing the magic of his music. Available in a variety of formats (single CD, an expanded version, digital and LPs), it includes performances of Beach Boys classics including “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations” and more, plus other songs.
Paul McCartney’s post-Beatlesband, Wings, is the subject of the new hit-filled musical anthology available in multiple formats (LPs, CDs and Blu-ray discs). It charts the band through its course of becoming one of the biggest-selling acts of all time, and it’s packed with songs including “Band on the Run,” “Listen to What the Man Said,” “With a Little Luck,” “Junior’s Farm,” “Live and Let Die,” “Helen Wheels,” “Silly Love Songs” and much more (Umusic).
Get your ya-ya’s out with the new Super Deluxe Edition of Black and Blue (Interscope/Ume), an colossolly expanded remix collection of The Rolling Stones’ groundbreaking 1976 album. Available as 5 LPS or 4 CDs, it contains all the hits—“Hot Stuff,” “Fool to Cry,” “Hand of Fate”—plus a gollywhopping amount of extras, including a Blu-ray of a live Stones concert, a 100-page book, outtakes and jams. I know: It’s only rock ‘n’ roll. But I like it!
A ‘Halloween’ marathon, the return of Robin Hood & how Harry Chapin’s ‘Cat’s in the Cradle‘ touched just about everyone
FRIDAY, Oct. 31 Halloween on Halloween Happy Halloween! How better to celebrate than with this marathon of Halloween movies, starting with the original and continuing through its five sequels! (Begins 6:30, AMC).
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Marathon Tune in for a full day (well, 17 hours) of spook-tacular stuff in this 11th annual event featuring the characters from TV’s longest running comedy series—and a parade of alien invasions, horror film parodies and frights bigger than Homer’s donut cravings (starts 7 a.m., FXX).
SATURDAY, Nov. 1 Oktoberfest: Beer and Blood In 1900s Munich, an ambitious brewer uses brutal tactics to build a beer hall that will dominate the city’s lucrative Oktoberfest event (Netflix).
SUNDAY, Nov. 2 Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking Actors James and Oliver Phelps (who played Fred and George Weasley) return for season two of the six-episode competition built around the enduring fantasy franchise, with appearances by other cast members sharing their memories about working on the films (8p.m., Food Network).
Robin Hood Welcome to Sherwood! The new reimagined 10-episode series—based on the classic tale of the roguish outlaw hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor—stars Jack Patten, Lauren McQueen, Sean Bean and Connie Nielsen (MGM+).
MONDAY, Nov. 3 Malice Jack Whitehall and David Duchovny star in this new twisty psychological revenge thriller about an extended family vacation in Greece that takes a very wrong turn (Prime Video).
Life After Film investigates assisted dying when death seems like the only option (10 p.m., PBS)
Crutch This new comedy series set in the world of CBS’ The Neighborhood stars Tracy Morgan as a Harlem shop owner whose life gets tossed a curve ball when his son and daughter move back home (Paramount+).
TUESDAY, Nov. 4 All’s Fair Watch the first three episodes of this new series (above) about a team of female divorce attorneys who leave their male-dominated firm to open their own powerhouse practice. Starring Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Sarah Paulson and Glenn Close (Hulu).
Cat’s in the Cradle is a fine music doc about Harry Chapin’s heart-wrenching ode to parenthood and how it impacted an entire generation of music makers who heard it, including Pat Benatar, Billy Joel and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister (check streaming services).
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 5 Operation Space Station Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the continuous human presence in space with this doc all about the International Space Station—an object the size of a football field orbiting the Earth at 17,000 mpg—and the technology and people power that made it possible (9 p.m., PBS).
Finding Joy An unlucky-in-love New York fashion designer (Shannon Thornton) finds her romantic life is change with some Colorado holiday magic (Prime Video).
THURSDAY, Nov. 6 Wicked: One Wonderful Night Ahead of the much-anticipated theatrical part two of the smash film musical on Nov. 21, you can gear up with this two-hour special featuring stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, joined by their costars and other guests as they perform songs from the first movie…and throw in some bewitching surprises (8 p.m., NBC).
All Her Fault Sarah Snook stars in this new drama (above) about a mom who experiences every parent’s worst nightmare in a play-date mix-up with her son. The ensemble cast features Jake Lacy, Dakota Fanning and Michael Peña (Peacock).
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It’s beginning to look—and sound—a lot like Christmas! Especially with the Classic Holiday Singles Box Set (Universal Music), which corrals 28 holiday tunes from classic crooners (Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Brenda Lee, Elvis and The Beach Boys, to cite a handful) on 14 color vinyl 7” 45s. Settle in for some spins of this retro Yule treat!
Vroom! The Cars celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of their biggest, quadruple-platinum albums with Heartbeat City (Deluxe Edition), a 4-CD/1 LP set that contains hits like “Magic,” “Drive,” “YouMight Think” and “Hello Again,” plus rare cuts and a complete 1984 concert. As The Cars themselves once told us in song, “Let’s go!” (Rhino).
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How much do you know about the Japanese animation form known as anime? Well, you’ll know a lot more after reading Ultimate Anime: 100 Essential Films and Series (Thames & Hudson). Author Joe O’Connell breaks down the format with wide-ranging explorations on its creators, genres and cultural influence, in this visually rich spotlight.
Rock fans, you’ll dig The Royal We (Akashic Books), the memoir from Roddy Bottum—who co-founded the bands Faith No More and Imperial Teens—about his early career in the freewheeling punk scene of San Francisco to his mainstream breakthrough as an outwardly queer man in a homophobic hard rock scene. Plus, his intersections with Courtney Love and Robert Plant, and opening for Metallica.
In The Far Edges of the Known World (W.W. Norton), author Owen Rees takes us down a time tunnel, centuries ago, to when dwellers all over the ancient world thought the edges of their cultures marked the harsh boundaries between civilization and a realm of monsters, heathens and myths. It’s a fascinating journey across the globe—and a chance to get to know the people who actually called the distant hinterlands home.
You’ll be humming “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and a lot of other tunes too, when you read The Music of Baseball (McFarland), author George Boziwick’s spritely look at how the soundtrack of “America’s Pastime” has evolved throughout a century of wars, social upheaval, racial integration and a move to the west Coast.
Dig into the history behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror and sci-fi classics in Creature Feature Creators (McFarland), author Tom Weaver’s wide-ranging spotlight on filmmakers, actors, special-effects artists and other who worked on all sorts of scary movies from the 1940s through the ‘70s.
Read—or read again—the only full story of the Beatles, as told and written by the Beatles, in this splendid 25th anniversary edition of The Beatles Anthology, which traces the lives of the lads from Liverpool through childhood through their superstar career paths. And it’s loaded with rare pics, handwritten notes, set lists and more. It’s a Beatles bonanza! (Chronicle Books).
Paul McCartney himself (and a bunch of his friends!) tell how they became one of the world’s most successful bands in Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run (Liveright, W.W. Norton). It’s a first-person record of the record-setting group, their treks across America and their success across the decades, with insights from Linda McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, producer George Martin and many more—like supermodel Twiggy, actor Dustin Hoffman and Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde.
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The critically hailed East of Wall (Sony Pictures Classic) is now available on DVD. It’s about a young, rebellious horse trader (Tabitha Zimiga) in South Dakota struggling after the death of her husband with grief and financial insecurity, all while caring for a group of wayward teens on her broken-down Badlands ranch.
What to watch, and more! Week of Oct. 24 – Oct. 30
A classic reimagined, a house of dynamite & Stephen King’s ‘It’ makes a comeback
Tessa Thompson stars in a new, modern version of ‘Hedda.’
FRIDAY, Oct. 24 A House of Dynamite When a missile is fired at the United States, the gut-wrenching race begins for who to blame and how to respond. Timely drama is directed by Katheryn (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty) Bigelow, and stars Iris Elba as the U.S. President (Netflix).
Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost Documentary looks at the family of comedy icons Jerry Stiller and wife Anne Meara, whose son—actor and director Ben Stiller—also directed the doc (Apple TV+).
SATURDAY, Oct. 25 Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper! It wouldn’t be Christmas season without a(nother) Hallmark movie, and this one has Robert Buckley and Kimberley Sustand in a tale of a Yuletide reunion with an old classmate (8 p.m., Hallmark).
Mayor of Kingstown Jeremy Renner and Edie Falco return to their roles for season four’s kickoff tonight, as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake (Paramount+).
SUNDAY, Oct. 26 Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order The latest series based on a novel by the literary author-queen of the undead stars Delainey Hayles, Jennifer Ehle and Ella Ballentine in another fangs-n-all tale of a secretive society trying to contain all the witches, vampires and other creatures lurking around the world (9 p.m., AMC)
Witches: Truth Behind the Trials Learn what really happened at the infamous Salem witch trials and other incidents where people (mostly poor women, elderly, indigenous or disabled) were accused, and executed, for witchcraft (6 p.m., National Geographic).
It: Welcome to Derry Just in time for Halloween, this spinoff drama set in the world of Stephen King’s killer-clown universe expands the story set down in the two It theatrical films (9 p.m., HBO).
MONDAY, Oct. 27 Kissinger Two-part, three-hour film explores the enigmatic power broker Henry Kissenger, who served in the topmost echelons of American foreign policy under six presidents, Democrats and Republicans, with equal dedication (9 p.m., PBS).
TUESDAY, Oct. 28 Don’t Date Brandon True-crime docuseries follows a modern online romance that spirals into a dangerous game of deception, lies and secrets exposed on a podcast (Paramount+).
Hunted by My Husband: The Untold Story of the DC Sniper Aligned with Domestic Awareness Month, this drama reveals the story of the man known as the D.C. Sniper—and the horrific domestic drama that preceded his murderous rampage (9 p.m., ID).
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29 Hedda Reimagining of Henrick Ibsen’s classic play stars Tessa Thompson as a woman torn between the lingering ache of a past love and the quiet suffocation of her present life. But all that changes during one long, charged night as hidden desires erupt in spiral of manipulation, passion and betrayal (Prime Video).
Down Cemetery Road New thriller series stars Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson (above) in a tale of a conspiracy that reveals people long believed dead back among the living, and the living fast joining the dead (Apple TV+).
Ballad of a Small Player When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation (below). Starring Colin Farrell (below), Fala Chen and Tilda Swinton (Netflix).
THURSDAY, Oct. 30 Sorry, Baby Something bad happens to Agnes (Eva Victor, who also wrote and directed). But life goes on…for everyone around her, at least. How can she move forward? (8 p.m., HBO).
Jurassic World Rebirth The latest in the Jurassic movie franchise stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey in a tale of a team on a mission to extract dino DNA from a long-abandoned island research facility…now overrun with dinos! (Peacock).
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Bon Jovi gathered a bunch of friends for the band’s new Forever (Legendary Edition) album, a “reimaging” of its 2024 studio album with a big load o’ guest stars for vocal collaborations on its 14 tracks—including Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell, Lainey Wilson, Avril Lavigne and Robbie Williams. But the kickoff tune, “Red, White and Jersey,” is all Bon Jovi, appropriately enough for the band now spanning three decades, still flying its New Jersey flag high and proud.
Let’s hear it for Vince Gill, who just signed a lifetime recording contact with MCA Records, his longtime label home, and his plans to release a new EP of music every month for a year. The first, 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had, includes six all-new songs plus his classic ode to peaceful afterlife “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” recently certified double Platinum for sales of two million. Way to go, Vinny! (Digital only)
A rock ‘n’ roll classic turns the big 5-0 with the new re-release of Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Elton John‘s smash-hit breakthrough 1975 album that he wrote while taking a leisurely cruise. Newly released on CD and LP, with bonus live-performance tracks, it’s a concept album about how Elton (Captain Fantastic) and musical collaborator Bernie Taupin (the Brown Dirt Cowboy) struggled in their early years, and features the hit ballad “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.”
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Remember the ‘90s? Author Henry Carroll sure does, in The 1990s: A Visual History of the Decade (Thames & Hudson), a collection of the culture, it’s people and its impact, from reality TV to the O.J. trial, crop circles, conspiracy theories, hip-hop, the Spice Girls and supermodels, the beginning of the Internet. As they used to say back then, it’s rad, phat, dope and righteous!
How did football get to be the sports juggernaut it is today? You’ll find out in Every Day is Sunday (Grand Central Publishing) by NFL reporter Ken Gelson, about how over the past three decades, Jerry Jones, as president of the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall and Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, reshaped the game into much, much more than just a game.
If you loved his songs (and a lot of folks did), you’ll enjoy curling up with Living in the Present with John Prine (W.W. Norton), author Tom Piazza’s touching and insightful first-person account—which sprouted from an assignment Piazza was doing for Oxford American magazine and blossomed into several story-filled cross-country road trips. Enjoy this vivid snapshot of the last two years in the life of the pop-cultural icon whose musical musings gave us “Angel From Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” “Paradise” and “Hello,” among many other gems.
We may think of “criminal profiling” as something modern and new-ish, but in The Monsters We Make (W.W. Norton), author Rachel Corbett traces the practice—of studying the people behind heinous crimes and what makes them tick—back to the Victorian Period. Then she takes us on a true-crime narrative across the centuries, from Jack the Ripper to Adolph Hitler, Ted Bundy and many more case where psychologists tried to unravel crimes…from inside the minds of the perpetrators.
Laugh again—and learn things you didn’t know—with The Pink Panther: A Complete History. Author Howard Maxford puts together the story of the iconic Peter Sellers franchise, which stretched across 11 films, with interviews from director Blake Edwards, co-stars and others. And learn about the darker side of the leading man, and what led Sellers and director Edwards to agree they’d never work together again.
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Fly back to the ‘70s with Airport: The Complete 4-Film Collection (Kino Larber), with all four of the star-packed “disaster” movies of the air, starting with the 1970 original and continuing through three big-screen sequels. How popular were these flicks back in the day? Well, almost all of Hollywood wanted a seat on these imperiled flights. You’ll see Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Helen Hayes, James Stewart, Christopher Lee, George Kennedy, Susan Blakley, Eddie Albert, Charo and many, many more.
A heartwarming flick about a group of miscreant kids who turn out be perfectly in tune with the true spirit of the season, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Lionsgate) stars Judy Greer, Pete Holmes and Lauren Graham.
You’ll laugh until you turn blue with Smurfs (Alliance Home Entertainment), a family-friendly romp as Papa Smurf is taken away by a couple of evil wizards and Smurfette (voiced by pop star Rihanna) heads out to save him. Other voices by James Corden, Nick Offerman, Daniel Levy, Nick Kroll and many others.
Riz Ahmed, Sam Worthington and Lily James star in Relay (Alliance Home Entertainment), about the repercussions when a corporate whistle-blower changes her mind about exposing some big-business secrets. If you missed it last year in the theater, catch it on Blu-ray. It’s from director David McKenzie, who also gave us the excellent Hell or High Water.
Miley Cyrus, Sidney Sweeney and Paul Walter Hauser star in Americana ( Lionsgate), a modern-day Western drama about a group of characters in a small South Dakota town who clash over possession of a rare Native American artifact. And then things get really messy.
Oh, the horror! The special 3-disc collector’s edition of A24’s The X-Trilogy has all three of director Ty West‘s “tributes” to ’70s slasher films. X, Pearl and Maxxxine all starred Mia Goth as a female serial killer—who leaves the slasher life behind (or so she thinks) to become a Hollywood porn performer. The set also includes a 64-page booklet, more than 90 minutes of extras, and crew commentary on all three movies. It’s terrifyingly good.
The Media Tourist 