Mike Spring
What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – March 3, 2026
I love weeks like this. While I might not have actually loved every movie that came out, there’s such a wide spread of genres and moods that there is truly something for everyone, from Disney to Godzilla to drama to foreign films and everything in between. Check out the full slate below!
In This Week’s Column:
- Zootopia 2 (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital)
- The Running Man (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook)
- Hamnet (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
- Ella McCay (Blu-ray + Digital)
- Godzilla: Rulers of the Earth – IDW Classics Edition (Graphic Novel)
- Lookin’ Italian (Blu-ray)
- Trifole (Blu-ray)
- Cinderella: In Concert (Blu-ray)
- The Summer Book (DVD)
- Pop Manga Paint and Ink Coloring Book (Book)
Zootopia 2 (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital)
Official Synopsis:
Rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find themselves on the twisting trail of a great mystery when Gary De’Snake arrives in Zootopia and turns the animal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.
The Movie:
I remember being wholly underwhelmed by the trailer for the first Zootopia film and having very little interest in seeing it. Of course, my kids were much younger in 2016, so I had to see it. And to no one’s surprise more than me, I absolutely loved it. So this time around, I was actually looking forward to watching Zootopia 2. The question is, watching it without my kids, would I still enjoy it?
The answer is a resounding YES! Zootopia 2 is absolutely delightful. I am continually amazed at just how clever these films are. Not only do we get an all-new mystery for Hopps and Wilde, but it’s actually a compelling one. That’s not all, however; everything in the film is so well thought out that it boggles the mind. From visual gags such as the movies available on a streaming service to one-off gags that garner a laugh to character beats to just plain good writing, I’m blown away by how well the film just works on every level.
And visually, the film is spectacular. I know that’s not really a surprise for Disney in 2026, as CGI animation is obviously a technology that’s been mastered, but the film is sumptuous and visually dazzling, and there’s always something to look at, yet it never becomes overwhelming or distracting. Simply Put, Zootopia 2 is 100% worth watching, whether your kids are still young enough to be asking for it or if they’ve moved out of the house.
The Bonus Features:
- The Zookeepers: Join the directors for a behind-the-scenes tour of Disney
Animation Studios! - A City of Stars: Meet the voice actors behind the cast.
- Everybody Can Draw!: Sketch everyone’s favorite new beaver, Nibbles, with the animation supervisor.
- Zoo-prising Secrets: Uncover references and characters from some favorite Disney Animation films.
- Wilde Times in the Booth: Hop inside the recording booth as the cast brings their characters to life.
- The Treat Trolley: Bringing smiles and snacks throughout the Walt Disney Animation halls.
- “Zoo” Music Video by Shakira
- Deleted Scenes
Digital Copy Included: Yes
The Running Man (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook)
Official Synopsis:
In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
The Movie:
I always enjoyed the original Arnold Schwarzenegger version of The Running Man, based on a Stephen King novella, but there’s no denying that it’s a pretty far stretch from King’s original (and much more serious) book. That said, when I found out they were remaking it, I wasn’t upset because it felt like the kind of film that could benefit from a remake.
The new version stars the eminently likable Glen Powell, taking on a rougher-edge character this time, who is forced by the economic-political situation in the word to engage in The Running Man television show, where he has to survive for 30 days while a group of hunters – with the help of the entire country – tries to kill him.
As directed by fan favorite Edgar Wright, the film is a fast-paced, funny, and action-packed adventure. Powell is terrific in the lead role, and the movie deftly blends high-octane action with social commentary and parody. I really loved it – until the ending. There are no spoilers here, and it’s been too long since I read the book to remember how closely the film hews to it, but suffice it to say the filmmakers didn’t stick the landing. The film is leading up to a huge climax and then it seems to just… stop. There’s a coda of sorts that provides some resolution, but the ending feels very unsatisfactory. I still really enjoyed the film, but man, with a better ending, it could have been an action-thriller classic.
The 4K Video/Audio:
The Running Man comes to home video on 4K Ultra HD (as well as Blu-ray and DVD), and it is an absolutely impeccable A/V presentation in 4K. The imagery is stunning, with deep black levels, vibrantly saturated colors, and razor-sharp picture clarity. The surround soundtrack ekes every possible nuance out of the surround speakers, creating a truly dynamic atmosphere, even in scenes where not much is happening. At the very least, you always feel like you’re in the world of the film, which is a really impressive experience from the A/V perspective.
The Bonus Features:
- Audio Commentary with writer/director Edgar Wright, actor Glen Powell, and writer Michael Bacall
- The Hunt Begins
- The Hunters And The Hunted
- Welcome To The Running Man: Designing The World
- Surviving The Game: Shooting The Running Man Stunts
- Extended and Deleted Scenes
- In-World Commercials
- The Running Man Show
- Self-Tapes
Digital Copy Included: Yes
Hamnet (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
Official Synopsis:
Based on the New York Times best-selling novel, Academy Award®-winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) directs a powerful story of love and loss. William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) falls for the free-spirited Agnes (Jessie Buckley). Their whirlwind romance leads to marriage and three children, but as Will’s theatrical ambitions draw him to London, Agnes remains behind to manage the household. When tragedy strikes, their bond is deeply tested—but through grief and resilience, their journey inspires the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet. The film also stars Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn and is produced by renowned filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes.
The Movie:
I know that Hamnet has gotten a TON of critical praise and is an awards-favorite, so let me just say that if you are the type of person who thinks that is the distinguishing mark of a good film, you will definitely like Hamnet. If, however, you actually like movies and watching them for enjoyment, then I need to warn you about Hamnet.
Let me start off with some positive things about the movie. First off Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are absolutely amazing in it. I don’t think everyone fell in love with Mescal in Gladiator II, but he is simply outstanding here, as is Buckley. Both performances are deep and soulful. And I will admit that there’s a certain beauty to the end of the film, in which the trials of the first hour and forty-five minutes of the movie pay off.
But.
Aside from those two things, I have some serious problems with this movie. First off, it’s really long, it’s really dense, it’s really boring, and it repeatedly features horrible things happening to children. And yes, I get that that is central to the plot of the film, but honestly, I never want to watch a movie where a child dies horribly. An even bigger problem is the filmmaking. Director Chloe Zhao, who apparently wants to erase all traces of having directed Marvel’s The Eternals (even though that’s a perfectly good and underrated Marvel movie), presents the film in such a minimalist way that it’s completely distracting. The principal complaint is the use of natural lighting, a current trend in Hollywood that I hate with every fiber of my being and beyond.
For a good 75% of the film, you can barely see what’s going on. Much of the film takes place at night, and the only light sources are from various fires, candles, etc. Which means that you have these amazing performances happening and you can’t actually see the actors’ faces. There are several scenes where three-fourths of the screen is sheer black, with just a little square of space where you can see what’s happening because that’s where the light falls. This may be considered dramatic or artsy, but I consider it a travesty of filmmaking, and I will be happy when this trend is dead and buried. I shouldn’t have to spend most of a movie trying to figure out what I’m looking at on screen.
Honestly, people are going to proclaim Hamnet as brilliant for years to come because they feel like they should, but as far as I’m concerned it’s an incredibly flawed production anchored by some good performances.
The 4K Video/Audio:
I already mentioned how I feel about how Hamnet looks as a film. As a result, the film looks exactly the way I think it’s supposed to look in 4K. Which means that while I actually hate the way the film looked on my TV screen, I think it’s a fault of the cinematography and not the transfer. Everything is too dark and I hate it, and it’s hard to even form an opinion of the video quality because there’s so little to see. Color saturation is solid when it’s allowed to be, and imagery is very clear, again, at least what you can see of it. The surround soundtrack does its job well, although this is a film driven almost entirely by dialogue. There are some atmospheric sounds that fill in the soundscape here and there, but there’s nothing overly aggressive here.
The Bonus Features:
- Family Is Forever
- Cultivating Creativity
- Recreating the Tudor Period
- Feature Commentary with Director Chloé Zhao
Digital Copy Included: Yes
Ella McCay (Blu-ray + Digital)
Official Synopsis:
Ella McCay follows an idealistic young woman juggling her less-than-perfect family with her passion for her work. From writer-director James L. Brooks, this fresh and heartwarming comedy is about the people you love and how to survive them.
The Movie:
James L. Brooks is one of those directors who is pretty well-respected, but his films generally never land on my “best-of” lists. With the exception of Broadcast News, I can’t say I’m a huge fan of many of his movies. And I recognize that in times like these, I should love a movie about an idealistic young woman trying to juggle her personal and professional life on the day she gets promoted to her state’s governor after her boss gets a Washington DC cabinet position.
But man, was this movie just on HUGE misfire for me. Honestly, the list of things I disliked about it is so long I don’t even know where to start. But let’s start with the characters: none of them are likable. Even Ella herself — who is supposed to be our hero – is so lacking self-awareness and clueless to the signs of everyone around her and so overbearing that it’s hard to empathize with her. And I don’t know if it’s the character or Brooks’ direction or what, but I really didn’t like Emma Mackey’s performance. This should have been a character I loved, and I didn’t. I found her mostly annoying. But, hey, everyone else around her – from her shifty husband to her agoraphobic brother to her ne’er-do-well dad to her pious Aunt Helen to her former boss – well, they’re all annoying or unlikable too. And in fact, I don’t think any of the other performances are all that great, either.
And frankly, when you don’t like the characters or the acting, it’s hard to recover from that, especially in a movie that’s supposed to be a feel-good film. Ella McCay didn’t make me feel good. It made me feel annoyed. And that’s not a great place to be.
The Bonus Features:
- A James L. Brooks Film – Go behind the scenes as the film’s cast and crew talk about the joy of working with James L. Brooks.
- In Good Company: The Cast of Ella McCay – Sit down with James L. Brooks and the cast as they share their mutual appreciation for each other.
- Bloopers
- Deleted Scenes
Digital Copy Included: Yes
Godzilla: Rulers of the Earth – IDW Classics Edition (Graphic Novel)
Official Synopsis:
For the first time ever, read all 25 issues of the fan-favorite series in one volume, presented in a convenient pocket sized (6 x 9) edition! Giant monsters are appearing across the globe and leaving complete devastation in their wake. But a mysterious Russian industrialist offers to rid the world of them with his new Mechagodzilla units. Will the new fleet of weaponized robots be enough to stop Godzilla when he returns? Will Godzilla be able to battle the newly created Mecha-King Ghidorah? It’s a war of the machines with Godzilla caught in the middle.
Bursting with almost 600 pages of kaiju action, this edition is a great way to read the entire epic series!
The Book:
IDW continues to dominate the publishing of comics featuring the original big green monster with the Godzilla: Rulers of the Earth – IDW Classics Edition. Now, I love me some Godzilla, but I didn’t read most of the individual comics as they came out, so anytime IDW offers up a trade paperback, I use it as great way to get caught up. Rulers of the Earth – IDW Classics Edition sees the company following suit in the latest trend in trade paperbacks in the industry, which is digest sized TPBs at a bargain price – and I’m here for it.
So you get a book that’s slightly smaller than regular comic book size but weighs in at just shy of 600 pages… all for only 14 bucks!! This is such a great trend! I often will buy some of these books of stories I already have collected elsewhere, just so I can use them as travel editions. Do I want to lug my expensive and heavy hardcover on a plane when I’m on vacation? No. But a 14 dollar book that will take me a long time to read because it’s so dense, but I don’t have to worry if it gets bent corners? Yeah, I’m all over that.
The behemoth 25-issue Rulers of the Earth story arc brings Mecha-Godzilla into the fray, and I’m a big fan of MG, so I was pretty excited to see that. Even better, there’s another Godzilla luminary who shows up, and I won’t spoil who I mean here, but you’ll know it when you see it! I really love the Rulers of the Earth series; the artwork borders on the cartoony side a little bit, but it stops just shy of being too cartoony, so it still works for me.
With almost 600 pages of Godzilla action and a slew of kaiju popping in to the proceedings, Godzilla Library Collection – IDW Classics Edition is highly recommended for any fans of the G-Man!
The Specs:
- Publisher: IDW Publishing
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 592 pages
- Cover Price: $13.99
Lookin’ Italian (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
Seven years after unleashing his horror classic RETRIBUTION, filmmaker Guy Magar rolled the dice to write, produce and direct the low-budget mob drama he described as “a tribute to Martin Scorsese” and which introduced an unknown Matt LeBlanc only months before landing his breakout role in Friends. Having survived a New York City shootout gone horrifically wrong, a former mafioso (Jay Acovone of Beauty and the Beast and Stargate SG-1) is now living a quiet life working in a Los Angeles used bookstore. But when his reckless nephew (LeBlanc) gets involved with local gang culture, they’re both dragged into an unforgiving urban jungle where fear is weakness, vengeance is destiny and family bonds can never be broken. Three-time Grammy-winning soul legend Lou Rawls co-stars – with Denise Richards in one of her earliest film roles – in “Matt LeBlanc’s lost movie, featuring the young actor like you’ve never seen him before” (Inside Edition), now scanned in 4K from the original camera negative with 2 hours of Special Features that include a long-unseen 1993 on-set interview with LeBlanc.
The Movie:
The best part of Lookin’ Italian is the fact that it’s a “lost” Matt LeBlanc performance. Friends fans will find it interesting to see the young actor in his first big role that was filmed not long before he became a worldwide superstar as Joey Tribbiani.
That said, the film is pretty okay. It’s a mafia-tinged drama with some action elements that’s fairly low budget and does its best with what it has to work with, but it’s not like this movie is a masterpiece. I like Jay Acovone, the lead actor, and it’s fun to see a young Matt LeBlanc (and a young Denise Richards in a supporting role), but this is not the high point of his career. He’s not terrible in the role, but he is raw and clearly inexperienced as an actor. He works best in the scenes where he’s playing young and charismatic rather than the ore heavy dramatic scenes.
Still, I love seeing archival films getting great home video releases, and the extra features here are way more copious than I would have expected for a film that no one’s ever heard of. Check it out if you’re a die-hard Joey Tribbiani fan!
The Bonus Features:
- Directin’ Italian – Interview with Writer/Producer/Director Guy Magar
- Archival Interview with Writer/Producer/Director Guy Magar, actor Jay Acovone, actor Matt LeBlanc, actress Stephanie Richards, actor Lou Rawls, and actor John LaMotta.
- Q&A With Writer/Producer/Director Guy Magar and Actors Jay Acovone, Matt LeBlanc, Stephanie Richards and Ralph Manza from the 1994 Palm Springs International Film Festival
- Inside Edition Exclusive Look
- Behind The Scenes
- Gag Reel
- Trailer
Digital Copy Included: No
Trifole (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
In Italy’s Piedmont region, aging truffle hunter Igor (Umberto Orsini, The Damned) faces failing health and the loss of his family home. When his aimless granddaughter Dalia (Ydalie Turk) arrives from London to care for him, their strained reunion transforms as she embarks on a quest for a legendary truffle that could change both their lives. Trifole is a warm, whimsical tale of family, tradition, and belonging.
The Movie:
This new Italian film is a warm drama about family, aging, and… well, truffles. (I would imagine that Trifole translates into truffle, but I didn’t take the time to fact check that.)
The film includes a lot of the hallmarks of a family drama, with an aging patriarch, a younger family member who needs to find their way, and a passion that brings them together. This isn’t exactly groundbreaking story, but the film isn’t really concerned with that. What it’s trying to do is create an atmosphere and a vibe, and in that it succeeds. I can’t say that the film truly captured my imagination, but it’s not a bad movie, either. I suspect if you’re in the mood for this kind of international fare, you’ll find it more exciting than I did.
The Bonus Features:
- Behind the Scenes
- Interview with star Umberto Orsini
- Interview with director Gabriele Fabbro
- Interview with star Ydalie Turk
- Recording the Score
- Theatrical Trailer
Digital Copy Included: No
Cinderella: In Concert (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
Cinderella rocks the hits “Night Songs”, “Nobody’s Fool”, “Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till It’s Gone” & more in this digitally remastered concert film!
Filmed during Cinderella’s legendary Heartbreak Station Tour of 1991, when the boys were at the very height of their powers, the show includes their hits ‘Night Songs’, ‘Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till Its Gone’, ‘Nobody’s Fool’, ‘Shelter Me’ and many more! This digitally remastered audio has been formatted in both 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Stereo and there’s an exclusive photo slide show as a bonus!
The Movie:
I’ve gotten dozens of concert DVDs to review over the years, and almost without fail I will get a DVD or Blu-ray with a full concert that is shot well and sounds great, and it will be a band I care absolutely nothing about. I just always seem to get concert DVDs of musicians that I don’t dislike per se, I just have no interest in.
But, I do love me some hair metal, and one of my favorite bands when I was a kid was Cinderella. While they never hit the heights of their compatriots such as Motley Crue, Poison, and Guns N Roses, their hits such as Nobody’s Fool, Shelter Me, and You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Until It’s Gone made them one of the cooler bands of the time in my book.
So color me excited when Cinderella: In Concert crossed my desk for review. And color me even more excited when I realized that this was a concert from the band’s heyday, the early 1990s, and not a recent concert. (Don’t get me wrong, a current concert would be cool, too, but seeing the band in their prime is the best!) This 17-song concert sees Tom Keifer and the boys dial up all of their biggest hits plus some of their best deep cuts, and because we get them at their height, it’s a full stage production with pyrotechnics, a huge crowd, and all the energy of four young rockers giving it their all. I loved this Blu-ray and if you’re a Cinderella fan, you definitely will too.
The Bonus Features:
- Photo Slide Show
Digital Copy Included: No
The Summer Book (DVD)
Official Synopsis:
Nine-year-old Sophia (Emily Matthews) spends the summers at her family’s seasonal home on a tranquil isle in the Gulf of Finland, but this will be the first summer without her mother. Her father (Anders Danielsen Lie) remains numbed by grief, while her grandmother (Glenn Close) guides her on a giddy, winding path towards young adulthood. With a sense of infinite possibility and a tender regard for the wonders of the natural world, Sophia and her grandmother explore the terrain, celebrate midsommar, and test the limits of faith in the face of life’s many storms. Adapted from Tove Jansson’s beloved novel, The Summer Book is a delicate account of growing up and growing old, beautifully filmed on 16mm in majestic natural light.
The Movie:
I spoke at length on my opinion of filming in natural light in my review of Hamnet above, so I’m not going to belabor that here, but I will say that The Summer Book looks very different than Hamnet, so I’m not as incensed about it.
The Summer Book is a pleasant enough movie based on a novel by acclaimed Finnish author Tove Jansson, who’s best known for her popular Moomins series of children’s books. The film is a coming-of-age light drama, and it’s almost an afterthought that the movie also stars Glenn Close. It’s not that she’s not a major part of the film, but this isn’t a star-driven vehicle. Instead, it’s an endearing little movie about a young girl and her grandmother coping with grief by reconnecting with the natural world around them.
The performances are very good, and young Emily Matthews holds her own well opposite Close, so if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path, The Summer Book will fit the bill.
The Bonus Features:
- Behind the Scenes of The Summer Book
- Glenn Close Make-Up Presentation and Timelapse
- A Conversation with Director Charlie McDowell at the Brooklyn Public Library
- Tove Jansson’s Super 8 Home Movies
- Image Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer
Digital Copy Included: No
Pop Manga Paint and Ink Coloring Book (Book)
Official Synopsis:
Color wonderfully whimsical pieces from acclaimed artist Camilla d’Errico in this adorable collection of twenty-four fan-favorite and brand-new illustrations. In Pop Manga Paint and Ink Coloring Book, you’ll find magical creatures, cute animals, and charming manga-inspired characters all drawn in Camilla’s signature pop surrealistic style. Use paint, markers, colored pencils, or crayons to add your own artistic flair to eleven brand-new drawings and some of Camilla’s favorite pieces from her previous coloring books.
Printed in black and white on thick, watercolor-friendly paper, this 48-page perforated coloring book contains twenty-four colorable images. Patterned backgrounds add even more coloring fun, giving you the perfect playground for your creativity to run wild.
The Book:
Camille d’Errico has made a name for herself in the comic book and pop culture worlds by developing a style called “pop manga,” which is sort of a mash-up of the Japanese manga style (obviously) and the “big eyes” paintings by Margaret Keane. They’re colorful, flowery, soft images, and they’ve really developed a fan following. A couple of months ago I reviewed a sticker book and postcard set based on her art and now there’s a new product that takes things in a different direction.
Pop Manga Paint and Ink Coloring Book is an adult or grown-up coloring book that can be colored in any way you want, but in this case, it’s also designed to allow for watercolors or other paints. Instead of the traditional 48-80 page coloring book, this one is just 24 images (on 48 pages), but each page is perforated and printed on a heavier paper stock, allowing for watercolor work without ruining the paper or the book. Each page is also single sided instead of double-sided, giving you paintable black and white drawings that range from super detailed to slightly more open. This gives you a different coloring experience depending on what you’re in the mood for. The pictures are fun and playful – there’s a wizard cat that I’m OBSESSED with! — and the paper quality is smooth and easy to color on. Fans of d’Errico, manga, magic, cats or just coloring books in general will enjoy working in this book.
The Specs:
- Publisher: Watson-Guptill
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 48 pages
- Cover Price: $18.99
