Coming off of a weak theatrical run, Bryan Singer's big-budget action flick "Jack the Giant Slayer" is easily the biggest new release to hit DVD and Blu-ray this week, with "The Last Exorcism Part II" also getting launched after seeing some moderate success back in March. Comedy "Quartet" is another title that should be able to find a niche crowd starting this week, while thriller "Stoker" looks to finally find an audience after not getting much of a theatrical release. Fans of the TV series "Workaholics" can also check out the third season of the popular Comedy Central show, and film buffs can pick up the new Criterion Collection of "Safety Last!" the iconic silent film starring Harold Lloyd.
When "Jack the Giant Slayer" hit theaters at the beginning of March, there were enormous expectations thanks to a reported production budget of $195 million. But even with a budget close to the size of March rival "Oz The Great and Powerful," "Jack" mainly whiffed with its target demographic, leading to a very disappointing $65 million domestic intake and less than $200 million around the globe. Along with "After Earth," "Jack the Giant Slayer" is the only other 2013 release to cost at least $100 million to produce and finish below $100 million in U.S. revenue, making it one of the biggest domestic duds of the year.
In a reimagining of a classic fairytale, "Jack the Giant Slayer" stars Nicholas Hoult as a boy on a mission to save his nation's princess, requiring him to climb through the clouds on a magical beanstalk that connects the human world with that of man-eating giants. Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor and Bill Nighy also co-star in the PG-13 action-adventure that received mixed critical reviews when it opened this spring.
Aiming at a mostly different audience this week is "The Last Exorcism Part II." Following the enormous success of "The Last Exorcism," which grossed $67 million around the globe on a minuscule production budget of $1.8 million, "Part II" failed to find the same thrill-seeking audiences back in March. Not helped by scathing critical reviews, "Part II" ended up with just $15 million in the U.S. and wasn't able to secure an international release, likely leading to a poor run in the home market despite limited genre competition.
Also hitting stores this week will be "Quartet," a hardly seen drama directed by Dustin Hoffman and starring Maggie Smith and Billy Connolly. "Quartet" gathered mostly positive critical buzz prior to hitting theaters, though it struggled to find a theatrical audience and managed just $18 million before bowing out at the box office. Though "Quartet" struggled in theaters, it should be a better fit in the home market as the only new release aimed at older adult audiences.
Those looking for a more intense movie experience this week could turn to "Stoker," an R-rated thriller starring Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode. The story of "Stoker" revolves around a young girl (Wasikowska) who has to deal with her mysterious uncle following the death of her father, leading to a dark tale of obsession that was compared by some critics to Alfred Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt." Audiences not swayed by "The Last Exorcism Part II" might end up giving "Stoker" a chance following mostly positive reviews, though a lack of a substantial theatrical release could limit its overall potential.
Another title that struggled mightily to secure much of a theatrical release was "Movie 43," which limps onto DVD and Blu-ray following a disastrous run at the box office. Amid some of the worst reviews of the year and a very rare 4% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Movie 43" made just $8.8 million in the U.S. despite a release of more than 2,000 theaters and stars like Emma Stone, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet and Gerard Butler headlining the cast. Expect "Movie 43" to post some more weak numbers as it transitions to the home market.
While the new release schedule is fairly limited, film buffs can get their hands on the Criterion Collection of silent classic "Safety Last!" Comedian Harold Lloyd got his claim to fame in the 1923 release that delivered one of the most recognizable images from the silent era - Lloyd himself dangling off of a clock high above the city streets. Not only was it an image borrowed by plenty of other movies, including popular 80s flick "Back to the Future," "Safety Last!" would help to solidify Lloyd as one of the most famous actors of his time.
TV fans also have a couple of choices this week, including the third season of Comedy Central series "Workaholics." "Workaholics" follows the antics of three post-college guys who are still having trouble with making the transition from the university to real life. Following the successful airing of season three this winter, "Workaholics" will be back for both seasons four and five over the next couple of years.
Next week, Halle Berry's thriller "The Call" and comedy "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" lead the way in a very slow week for new titles, though there are also some older options getting new launches on Blu-ray. Though not for everyone, 1985 documentary "Shoah" will make its way onto Criterion Blu-ray with its devastating look at the Holocaust, bringing audiences more than nine hours of footage that delves into the true nature of the 20th century's most horrific moment.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.