The Disney Pixar movie, Onward, Jane Austen period-piece Emma, and Ben Affleck's The Way Back are now available for rental on streaming services at regular prices instead of their "early access" debuts a few months ago for premium prices. They join newcomers, like the horror movie Brahms: The Boy II, action movie Sonic the Hedgehog, and comedy Downhill on home video this week. Additional catalog titles are available in new editions on disc, including some very nice 4K transfers of Top Gun, War of the Worlds, and others.

Check out the details for each movie and follow the links to see more information, watch trailers, view photos, and find links where you can rent or purchase the movie!

Movies

The Blues Brothers

Forty years ago, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd embarked on a mission from God and turned into cultural icons in the process. The movie is now available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for the first time, with an HDR-10+ transfer and a DTS:X soundtrack, along with some extras for the fun of it.

Brahms: The Boy II

If you're looking for a little horror to spice things up, there's a creepy doll that would like to get to know you better. The movie opened in late February and landed in the middle of the Weekly Box Office Report its first weekend, so its release on home video gives it a second chance for the second movie in the series to make a second impression.

Days of Thunder

This ode to NASCAR starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and Robert Duvall gets a new release on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray that is gaining a lot of praise. If this movie checks the right boxes for you, it sounds like it's worth buying for its Ultra HD transfer and new Dolby Atmos sound mix.

Downhill

I saw the original Swedish movie, Force Majeure, that this movie is loosely based on, and I enjoyed it. When I heard it was being remade as a comedy with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell, it caused one of those head-shaking wonderment moments that Hollywood likes to inflict on the public once in a while. With a 37% Tomatometer and 49 Metacritic score, it would seem as though you're better off with the dramatic version instead, but maybe as a rental, it would be worth checking out.

Emma

This Jane Austen story has been done before, but Hollywood never minds a remake. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy as the "handsome, clever, and rich" Emma Woodhouse, this movie had its theatrical release cut short by the country-wide movie theater shutdown in March. It was released on streaming service as a high-priced rental, but this is a chance to see the movie with regular rental pricing as well as picking it up on disc.

Flashdance

Part of the studio's "Paramount Presents" series, this 1983 had a great soundtrack and inspired many women to wear leg warmers, even if they weren't cold. Fans will enjoy the new 4K transfer (but only HD Blu-ray is on this release) and the fold-out poster.

Onward

With rental pricing on streaming services now available (it was released in March for a $19.99 purchase), this was one of the first of the "early access" releases of movies whose theatrical runs were cut short by the shutdown caused by coronavirus pandemic concerns. It's been on Disney+ since April, so many ardent Disney Pixar fans have probably already seen it, but this is a chance to own it on disc or two rent it for regular price.

Promare

This anime adventure debuted in theaters in September 2019 and is the first feature release for director Hiroyuki Imaishi. You can find both the English and Japanese versions to rent and on the Blu-ray edition in retail stores.

Sonic the Hedgehog

If escapism is what you're looking for, watching a blue videogame hedgehog interact with Jim Carrey should be about as far from reality as you can, if you've already seen Trolls World Tour, that is. Its run in theaters was going pretty good, until mid-March hit, so who am I to judge? You should definitely rent this, buy this, and spend a lot of time search the Internet for blue hedgehogs to adopt.

Top Gun

If you feel the need, the need for speed, it sounds like this is a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc that you need to pick up. Like Days of Thunder disc, this is getting a lot of great comments about its picture quality and top-notch Dolby Atmos soundtrack. This classic Tom Cruise actioner was responsible for many Navy recruitments in the 80's, and it's hard to argue with the action and a killer soundtrack that I might or might not have worn out on cassette back in the day.

While you're waiting for its sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, this is a great way to revisit the fun! We've got it coming, so we'll be requesting a flyby from the tower any day now.

War of the Worlds

Tom Cruise has a triple release this week, and the reviews are just as good as the other two. While it received plenty of disdain at the time, this is one of those "don't knock it until you've watched it" movies. Steven Spielberg did a fine job with this update of the classic alien invasion story, and his movies tend to have several layers that aren't always fully appreciated upon first viewing. That ending will surely take on a new meaning in this day and age...

The Way Back

With rental pricing on streaming services out of the $20 range, this will likely get more attention from movie fans looking for something new to watch. Ben Affleck stars as a high school basketball star who walked away from the sport for reasons unknown. Years later, his life is in shambles and he's given the chance to coach the basketball team at his alma mater, which could be exactly what he needs to redeem himself.