The comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles, written and directed by John Hughes, will land on 4K Ultra HD for the first time Nov. 22 from Paramount Home Entertainment.
Originally released on Nov. 25, 1987, Planes, Trains and Automobiles celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.
Steve Martin and John Candy star in the tale of travel gone awry. In the film, Neal Page (Martin) is an uptight ad exec trying to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving with his family. When rerouted to Wichita, Neal reluctantly partners with Del Griffith (Candy), an obnoxious yet loveable salesman. Together, they embark on a cross-country adventure filled with outrageously funny situations and a generous helping of warmth.
Newly remastered on 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision and HDR-10, Planes, Trains and Automobiles includes a bonus “Lost Luggage” Blu-ray Disc containing more than an hour of never-before-seen deleted and extended scenes that were recently discovered in the archives of writer, producer and director Hughes. The newly uncovered footage offers a unique glimpse into the filmmaking and editing process and features funny moments between Martin and Candy. In addition to the newly discovered footage, the bonus Blu-ray Disc also includes Dylan Baker’s original audition for the character of Owen.
The 4K Ultra HD Disc includes the feature film and the following legacy bonus content: “Getting There Is Half the Fun: The Story of Planes, Trains and Automobiles“; the two-part documentary “John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast”; and a tribute to John Candy.
The release also includes access to a digital copy of the film.
Paramount Home Entertainment June 8 will release a special 35th anniversary Blu-ray Disc Steelbook edition of the comedy classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Also out that day from Paramount will be Blu-ray Disc Steelbooks of Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful.
Writer-director John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off debuted theatrically in June 1986. The film follows a high school student’s wild adventures in Chicago during a day off from school.
The new limited-edition Steelbook will include access to a digital copy of the film, as well as a documentary on the making of the film, a class photo album, and other legacy bonus features.
Matthew Broderick stars as charming high schooler Ferris who, with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck), ditches school to enjoy one perfect day as a kid with no responsibilities. In 2014, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, which serves as a compendium of films that have been judged to be culturally, aesthetically or historically important.
Also from John Hughes are Pretty In Pink, which also celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, and Some Kind of Wonderful. Both films were written by Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch. The Steelbooks include access to digital copies of the films, as well as previously released bonus content.
Pretty in Pink is a 1986 romantic comedy film about high school romance, and social life, that stars Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer and the late Harry Dean Stanton. It is named after a song by British new wave band the Psychedelic Furs and is considered a “Brat Pack” movie, a name given to a group of young actors who often were cast together in 1980s coming-of-age films,
Some Kind of Wonderful, released theatrically a year later, in 1987, also revolves around social life in high schools. The cast includes Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Lea Thompson.
Beyond the Door, Sixteen Candles, Why Don’t You Just Die!, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark and The Wind are coming to Blu-ray from Arrow Video and MVD Entertainment Group in April.
Due on April 7 is Beyond the Door (1974), Ovidio G. Assonitis’ play on The Exorcist. Juliet Mills stars as a young pregnant housewife from San Francisco that becomes possessed by a demonic being. Limited to just 3,000 copies, this release includes the uncut English export version, Devil Within Her, as well as Italy Possessed, a brand-new documentary on Italian exorcism films.
April 14 comes the John Hughes classic Sixteen Candles (1984), starring Molly Ringwald. Arrow presents the film with a brand-new restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative. The release will also include both the theatrical and extended versions of the film and a collection of new and archived bonus features.
On April 21, Arrow will bow Why Don’t You Just Die! (2018). The horror-comedy hybrid and feature debut from writer/director Kirill Sokolov is a tale of bloody mayhem that puts a group of terrible people in one room together and unleashes them.
Coming April 28 is Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988). The queen of horror makes her feature film debut as she travels to Massachusetts to claim an inheritance after quitting her job. The release features a brand-new 4K restoration scanned from the original film elements.
Also due April 28 is The Wind (1986), making its worldwide Blu-ray debut. Written and directed by cult icon Nico Mastorakis (Island of Death, The Zero Boys), this slasher is the story of a Los Angeles novelist that travels to remote Greek island in search of isolation to write her newest book. There she witnesses a murder and becomes the killer’s next target during a windy night. The film’s score was composed by Hans Zimmer and Stanley Myers.
The 1980s teen comedy Weird Science, Kathryn Bigelow’s debut feature The Loveless and the classic Oscar nominee Hold Back the Dawn are among the films on the July Blu-ray slate from Arrow Video and MVD Entertainment Group.
First up July 2 is the late 1970s rock-n-roll comedy FM. Oscar-nominated John A. Alonzo directs this story of radio station mutiny. After being forced to play more commercials, including military recruitment ads, DJs and other employees take control and fight their corporate bosses by playing as much music as possible. The new HD release, transferred from the original camera negatives, features extras including a new interview with the film’s star Michael Brandon; a new interview with writer Ezra Sacks; “The Spirit of Radio,” a newly filmed video appreciation of the era of FM radio and the FM soundtrack by film and music critic Glenn Kenny; a gallery of original stills, promotional images and soundtrack sleeves; original trailers; a reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options; and for the first pressing only, an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by writer and critic Paul Corupe.
Due July 9 is Oscar-winner Bigelow’s debut feature (co-directed by Monty Montgomery) The Loveless. Set in the 1950s, The Loveless is the story of a motorcycle gang heading to the races in Daytona. Along the way they stop in a small southern town, leaving the locals less they pleased. Willem Dafoe, also making his debut, stars. The Loveless is presented restored and in HD for the first time, with a new transfer approved by Montgomery and director of photography Doyle Smith. Extras include a new audio commentary with Montgomery, moderated by Elijah Drenner; making-of featurettes; a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx; and for the first pressing only, an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Peter Stanfield.
On July 16 come two releases, 1941’s Hold Back the Dawn and 1990s horror flick The Chill Factor.
Nominated for six Oscars, Hold Back the Dawnstars Charles Boyer and Olivia de Havilland in the story of one man’s hope of making it to the United States by marrying a citizen. The plan is to leave his would-be bride upon making his way into the country, but the plan has a few hiccups thanks to a determined immigration officer and a true love that begins to blossom. Presented in HD for the first time, the release includes extras such as new audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin; “Love Knows No Borders,” a newly filmed video appreciation by film critic Geoff Andrew; a career-spanning onstage audio interview with de Havilland recorded at the National Film Theatre in 1971; an hour-long radio adaptation of Hold Back the Dawn from 1941 starring Boyer, Paulette Goddard and Susan Haywood; a gallery of original stills and promotional images; the original trailer; a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jennifer Dionisio; and for the first pressing only, an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by writer and critic Farran Smith Nehme.
The Chill Factor, also known as Demon Possessed, is the only film directed by producer Christopher Webster. In the film, a group of friends out on a snowmobile trip seek refuge when one of them gets knocked unconscious following an accident. They locate an abandoned cabin to take cover. The cabin happens to hold a number of bizarre religious artifacts, and they mistakenly awaken a terrible evil. Extras include a new audio commentary with special effects artist Hank Carlson and horror writer Josh Hadley; a new on-camera interview with makeup artist Jeffery Lyle Segal; a new on-camera interview with production manager Alexandra Reed; a new on-camera interview with stunt coordinator Gary Paul; a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Schoenbach; and for the first pressing, only a collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Mike White.
Steelbook packaging
Due July 23 is the 1980s John Hughes classic Weird Science available in regular and steelbook packaging. Starring Anthony Michael Hall, the comedy follows a pair of nerds that attempt to create the perfect woman via their computer. The release features a new 4K restoration from the original negatives and includes the original theatrical version as well as the extended version. As an added bonus, a standard definition transfer of the edited-for-TV release is included. Additional special features include an archive making-of documentary; new interviews with special makeup creator Craig Reardon, composer Ira Newborn, supporting actor John Kapelos and casting director Jackie Burch; a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tracie Ching; and for the first pressing only, an illustrated collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Amanda Reyes.
Steve Martin and John Candy star in the tale of travel gone awry. In the film, Neal Page (Martin) is an uptight ad exec trying to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving with his family. When rerouted to Wichita, Neal reluctantly partners with Del Griffith (Candy), an obnoxious yet loveable salesman. Together, they embark on a cross-country adventure filled with outrageously funny situations and a generous helping of warmth.
The new limited-edition Steelbook will include access to a digital copy of the film, as well as a documentary on the making of the film, a class photo album, and other legacy bonus features.
First up July 2 is the late 1970s rock-n-roll comedy 
Due July 9 is Oscar-winner Bigelow’s debut feature (co-directed by Monty Montgomery) 
Nominated for six Oscars, 
The Chill Factor