Source: Janus Films, Film Forum Special Thanks to Courtney Ott Photo courtesy of Janus Films. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. Starting July 19th, Janus Films and the Film Forum in New York present KUROSAWA IN 4K, a  nine-film festival featuring some of the most influential titles by the legendary director, spanning genres from samurai epic to gritty Noir. All spectacular 4K restorations were undertaken by Toho Co., Ltd. in Japan, with many being shown in the U.S. for the first time, including THRONE OF BLOOD, STRAY DOG, HIGH AND LOW, THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, IKIRU, YOJIMBO, and SANJURO and RASHOMON*. Watch the Trailer HERE Full Screening Schedule HERE   KUROSAWA IN 4K Friday, July 18 – Thursday, July 31 Film Forum 209 West Houston St. west of 6th Ave. Map and Directions Box Office: 212-727-8110   FILMS

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Shout! Studios. Source: Shout! Studios Special Thanks to Tom Chen Photo courtesy of Shout! Studios. Shout Studios' Hong Kong Cinema Classics continues to offer movie enthusiasts a treasure trove of must-see film classics from a remarkable era in cinematic history. The goal is to preserve and present these iconic movies in their finest form for fans, both old and new, at home. On September 23, 2025, HONG KONG CINEMA CLASSICS presents PEKING OPERA BLUES 4K UHD+ Blu-ray.  Official selection of Berlin International Film Festival 1987 and International Film Festival Rotterdam 1998, Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia (CHUNGKING EXPRESS, POLICE STORY), Sally Yeh Chian-Wen (THE KILLER, THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS), and Cherie Chung (ONCE A THIEF, ZODIAC KILLERS) star in the delightful action comedy from renowned filmmaker Tsui Hark (THE LOVERS, A BETTER TOMORROW). Featuring a new 4K scan and a wealth of

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. Source: Well Go USA, LBHpr  Special Thanks to Leif Helland Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. Acclaimed stunt coordinator (BABY ASSASSINS franchise, RESIDENT EVIL franchise) Kensuke Sonomura drops his third film as a director (BAD CITY, HYDRA) – the fun, action-packed, crowd-pleasing and genre-bending GHOST KILLER (ゴーストキラー,  Gōsuto Kirā, 2024), exclusively debuting on Digital July 22, before hitting 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD September 23 from Well Go USA Entertainment. After being possessed by the ghost of vengeful hit man, a female college student agrees to help him finish his quest for vengeance from beyond the grave. Winner of  the Best Feature Film Bronze Award at the 2024 Saskatoon Fantastic Film Festival, GHOST KILLER stars Akari Takaishi (BABY ASSASSINS franchise), Mario Kuroba (Hard Days), and Masanori Mimoto (BABY ASSASSINS, HYDRA, ENTER THE FAT DRAGON).  

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Toei. ©2007 Masumi Fukuda/Shinchosha ©2025 DETCHIAGE Film Partners Source: Toei Co., Ltd.Official Site: https://www.detchiagemovie.jp/ (Japan)   Theatrical poster. Photo courtesy of Toei. ©2007 Masumi Fukuda/Shinchosha ©2025 DETCHIAGE Film Partners Toei has provided information and pics for their new courtroom thriller, SHAM  (でっちあげ～殺人教師と呼ばれた男, Detchiage ~ Satsujin Kyōshi to Yoba Reta Otoko), which opened today in Japanese cinemas. Based on the 2007 novel Fabrication: The Truth Behind the Fukuoka 'Murderous Teacher' Incident by reporter Masumi Fukuda, SHAM is directed by the legendary Takashi Miike (ICHI THE KILLER, AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS), and features a star-studded cast including Go Ayano (CROWS ZERO II, DOCTOR-X THE MOVIE), Kou Shibasaki (BATTLE ROYALE), Kazuya Kamenashi (LUMBERJACK THE MONSTER, JOKER GAME), Fumino Kimura (THE FABLE), Ken Mitsuishi (AUDITION, 20TH CENTURY BOYS, SHIN GODZILLA), Kazuki Kitamura (GODZILLA FINAL WARS), and Kaoru Kobayashi (ONMYOJI ZERO).   STORY The

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Utopia and Justin Cook PR. ©PLAN A Source: UtopiaOfficial Site: https://hotspringsharkattackfilm.com/Special Thanks to Justin Cook Photo courtesy of Utopia and Justin Cook PR. ©PLAN A  Utopia Distribution has announced the official release of the acclaimed shark film Hot Spring Shark Attack. Utopia will bring HOT SPRING SHARK ATTACK (温泉シャーク, Onsen Shāku, 2024) to select theaters and major streaming and cable platforms on July 11. The film premiered at the 2024 Tokyo International Shark Film Festival, where it took home the Audience Award, and was released in Japan and other international territories last year. HOT SPRING SHARK ATTACK will debut for special previews at various Alamo Drafthouse locations on Wednesday, July 9. The film will officially open theatrically for extended runs and special engagements Friday, July 11, including Los Angeles and New York City. The same day, audiences across North America will be

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of the Criterion Collection. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. Source: The Criterion Collection press release Special Thanks to Courtney Ott Photo courtesy of the Criterion Collection. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. The Criterion Collection has announced that Akira Kurosawa's HIGH AND LOW will be released September 9, 2025 in a 4K UHD + Blu-ray set. A Blu-ray edition is also available for purchase. Toshiro Mifune is unforgettable as Kingo Gondo, a wealthy industrialist whose family becomes the target of a cold-blooded kidnapper in HIGH AND LOW, the highly influential domestic drama and police procedural from director Akira Kurosawa. Adapting Ed McBain’s detective novel King’s Ransom, Kurosawa moves effortlessly from compelling race-against-time thriller to exacting social commentary, creating a diabolical treatise on class and contemporary Japanese society.   HIGH AND LOW 1963 • 143 minutes • Black & White/Color • 4.0

Read more ...

Source: MVD Entertainment, 88 Films Special Thanks to Derek Stubinski Photo courtesy of 88 Films and MVD Entertainment. ©Toei 88 Films and MVD Enertainment have posted an English subtitled, R-rated trailer for the 1975 Toei film DETONATION! VIOLENT RIDERS (爆発! 暴走族, Bakuhatsu! Bōzōzoku, 1975) which will be released in the US and UK on a limited edition Blu-ray in July. Leather up and get ready for the ride of your lives, in this high-octane biker movie by cult director Teruo Ishii (HORRORS OF MALFORMED MEN) with a cast headed by Sonny Chiba (STREET FIGHTER, KILL BILL VOL.1)! Iwaki (Koichi Iwaki, THE MOLE SONG) is a motorbike mechanic with big dreams of racing professionally. Then temptation arrives in the shapely form of Mayumi (Junko Matsudaira, THE BULLET TRAIN), the wild and free lover of Mitsuda (Yusuke Natsu, SPACE IRONMEN KYODYNE), the leader of the

Read more ...

©KADOKAWA 1966 Source: Radiance Films, MVD Entertainment Special Thanks to Derek Stubinski Photo courtesy of Radiance Films and MVD Entertainment. ©KADOKAWA 1966 Daiei's THE BETRAYAL (大殺陣 雄呂血, Ōtate Orochi, 1966) will be released for the first time on Blu-ray in a special edition from Radiance Films, 4K restored and loaded with extras.  To protect his clan, an honorable samurai (Raizo Ichikawa, SHINOBI) takes the blame for a murder committed by one of his fellows. He is promised a safe return after one year in exile, but this vow is broken and he becomes a fugitive chased by his own clansmen. Disillusioned by the bushido code of honor, he realises there are only two ways out: vengeance or death. From director Tokuzo Tanaka (THE SNOW WOMAN), a former assistant to Akira Kurosawa, this cruel jidaigeki stands alongside such notable works of the genre as HARAKIRI

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. Source: Well Go USA, LBHpr  Special Thanks to Leif Helland Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. DARK NUNS (검은 수녀들, Geomeun Soonyeodeul, 2025), the terrifying sequel to the exorcism thriller THE PRIESTS (검은 사제들, Geomeun Sajedeul, 2015), debuts on Digital July 15 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Director by Hyeok-jae Kwon (COUNT) and starring SONG Hye-kyo (THE GRANDMASTER), JEON Yeo-been (Harbin, Alienoid), and LEE Jin-wook (SQUID GAME), the film follows two nuns who take on the dangerous, forbidden exorcism ritual to save a young boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit, in direct violation of the Church’s sacred order—putting both their lives and their immortal souls in grave danger. DARK NUNS also hits Blu-ray and DVD exclusively through Amazon on July 15.  In addition, DARK NUNS' origin film -- THE PRIESTS -- will also debut for the first

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. ©2025 TOHO.CO., LTD. Source: Toho Co., Ltd Official Site: https://dollhouse-movie.toho.co.jp/ (Japan) Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. ©2025 TOHO.CO., LTD. Toho Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and images from DOLLHOUSE (ドールハウス, Dōruhausu), opening in Japanese cinemas on June 13th.  DOLLHOUSE recently won the grand prize at the Fantasporto International Film Festival in Porto, Portugal.   INTRODUCTION The movie DOLLHOUSE is a 110-minute nonstop mystery  thriller that top Japanese actor Masami Nagasawa  (KINGDOM Series, SHIN ULTRAMAN) was eager to star in because of the interesting script. The original story, script, and direction are by Shinobu Yaguchi, who has produced hit entertainment works such as WATERBOYS (ウォーターボーイズ,  Uōtābōizu, 2001) and SWING GIRLS (スウィングガールズ , Suwingu Garuzu, 2004). With his decades of directing experience, Yaguchi has created a thrilling story about a family being manipulated by

Read more ...

Source: Shout! Studios Special Thanks to Tom Chen Photo courtesy of Shout! Studios. Offering a treasure trove of essential films from the explosive creative epicenter of Hong Kong, Shout Studios’ Hong Kong Cinema Classics aims to preserve these iconic films in their best possible presentation for fans new and old alike. On August 26, 2025, Hong Kong Cinema Classics presents CITY ON FIRE 4K UHD + BLU-RAY. Chow Yun-Fat (HARD BOILED, A BETTER TOMORROW), Sun Yueh (PAPA, CAN YOU HEAR ME SING?), and Danny Lee (THE KILLER) star in this sizzling, highly influential crime drama from director Ringo Lam (FULL CONTACT, PRISON ON FIRE, MAXIMUM RISK).  Featuring a new 4K scan and a wealth of bonus features, CITY ON FIRE is a must-have for collectors, cinephiles, and action enthusiasts. Pre-order is now available at ShoutFactory.com and select participating online stores.   Synopsis  Ko Chow is an undercover cop torn between his duty as

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of GKIDS. TM & © LINDA LINDA LINDA partners New 20th Anniversary 4K Remaster of The Cult Classic Japanese Comedy Drama to World Premiere at Tribeca Festival Source: GKIDSOfficial Site: https://gkids.com/films/linda-linda-linda/ Special Thanks to Nicholas Kouvaris   Academy Award-winning producer and distributor GKIDS has announced today it has acquired all North American rights to LINDA LINDA LINDA (リンダ リンダ リンダ, Rinda Rinda Rinda), the 2005 Japanese comedy-drama film directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita. The cult classic title, starring Bae Doona (THE HOST, BROKER), Aki Maeda (BATTLE ROYALE, GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS), Yu Kashii (DEATH NOTE, LORELEI: THE WITCH OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN), and Shiori Sekine (of the hit band Base Ball Bear), celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with an all new 4K Restoration set to debut at the upcoming Tribeca Festival on June 8th. The film will be re-released in Japanese

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Well Go USA.  Source: Well Go USA, LBHpr  Special Thanks to Leif Helland Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. During the Song Dynasty, after a man passes, his daughters embark on a perilous quest to reclaim his lost sword in the wuxia-infused historical drama NINE-RING GOLDEN DAGGER, debuting on Digital July 1 from Well Go USA Entertainment . Facing relentless enemies, they ally with a former soldier, bravely overcoming three deadly ambushes to return the treasured weapon to their homeland.  Directed by first-time filmmaker Xiaojun Feng, NINE-RING GOLDEN DAGGER stars Song Tian Shuo (CLIFF WALKERS), Zhang Xin Tong (A MAN CALLED HERO), and Zhang Kai (THE TAI CHI MASTER). NINE-RING GOLDEN DAGGER also hits Blu-ray and DVD exclusively through Amazon on July 1.   Synopsis:       During the Northern Expedition of Yongxi in the early Song Dynasty, General

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Radiance Films. ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION Source: Radiance Films, MVD Entertainment Special Thanks to Derek Stubinski SHINOBI Vol 2 presents three more spectacular tales of ninja action in this continuation of the hugely influential series, for the first time on Blu-ray in a limited edition set from Radiance Films. Photo courtesy of Radiance Films. ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION This time, Raizo Ichikawa (SHINOBI 1-3) stars as Mist Saizo, a ninja with a grudge who won't rest until he has assassinated the supreme leader, the Tokugawa shogun. directed by three of the Daiei Studio's top period action specialists, these films feature epic battles, ingenious spycraft and thrilling ninja fights. In SIEGE (忍びの者 霧隠才蔵, Shinobi no Mono Kirigaku Saizō, 1964), Raizo Ichikawa is Mist Saizo, the legendary folk hero and Iga ninja. Working in the service of warlord Yukimura Sanada (Tomisaburo Wakayama), he plots to assassinate

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. ©2005 Hanging Garden Film Partners Source: Third Window Films press release Special Thanks to Adam Torel Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. ©2005 Hanging Garden Film Partners Third Window Films is pleased to announce the Blu-ray release of Toshiaki Toyoda’s HANGING GARDEN (空中庭園, Kūchū Teien, 2005) on May 26, 2025.   Before Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s TOKYO SONATA, Kore’eda’s STILL WALKING and Sion Sono’s NORIKO’S DINNER TABLE, there was Toshiaki Toyoda’s HANGING GARDEN, the film that started it all. Family as a nightmare and a fount of terror, discord and disquiet: that was his idea.    A visually stunning and surreal tale of desperate times, in which we feel the pressure of things unspoken rippling through an unusual 20th-century Japanese family, HANGING GARDEN features an unforgettable gallery of neurotic portraits presided over by a camera that travels with

Read more ...

©Toei Source: MVD Entertainment, 88 Films Special Thanks to Derek Stubinski 88 Films will release DETONATION! VIOLENT RIDERS (爆発! 暴走族, Bakuhatsu! Bōzōzoku, 1975) on Blu-ray in July. Leather up and get ready for the ride of your lives, in this high-octane biker movie from Toei by cult director Teruo Ishii (HORRORS OF MALFORMED MEN) with a cast headed by Sonny Chiba (STREET FIGHTER, KILL BILL VOL.1)! Photo courtesy of 88 Films and MVD Entertainment. ©Toei Iwaki (Koichi Iwaki, THE MOLE SONG) is a motorbike mechanic with big dreams of racing professionally. Then temptation arrives in the shapely form of Mayumi (Junko Matsudaira, THE BULLET TRAIN), the wild and free lover of Mitsuda (Yusuke Natsu, SPACE IRONMEN KYODYNE), the leader of the Red Rose Gang, a pack of speed freaks tearing up the town. Iwaki meanwhile has his sights set on the sweet and innocent Michiko

Read more ...

Source: MVD EntertainmentSpecial Thanks to Derek Stubinski Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. MVD Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new DVD of  the Chinese action fantasy film DRAGON LEAGUE (2024). A WowNow release, DRAGON LEAGUE delivers an exhilarating blend of action, fantasy, and drama, where every spell cast and every strike landed is a step closer to saving their world. Dive into a breathtaking adventure where valor, magic, and destiny collide in an epic struggle for the fate of the realm. In a realm where ancient magic and martial prowess intertwine, DRAGON LEAGUE unleashes an epic saga of fantasy, conflict, and camaraderie. When a once-peaceful kingdom is threatened by dark forces, a legendary league of warriors must rise to protect their world from impending doom. The story centers on a diverse group of fighters, each skilled in their own

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. 2025 Frontline Production Committee Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, Pony Canyon Official Site: https://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/frontline/ (Japan)   Theatrical poster. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. 2025 Frontline Production Committee In February 2020, a luxury cruise ship carrying the new strain of the coronavirus arrives in Yokohama. What should be protected on the front line, this country or the lives in front of us? Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has provided information and photos for the upcoming film, FRONTLINE (フロントライン, Furontorain), based on the true story of a cruise ship that was quarantined for two weeks in February, 2020. The movie will open in Japanese cinemas nationwide on June 13th.   Intro Shun Oguri x Tori Matsuzaka x Sosuke Ikematsu x Yosuke KubozukaA film adaptation of a true story about a frontline battle against an

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of the Criterion Collection. © KADOKAWA Source: The Criterion Collection Special Thanks to Courtney Ott The Criterion Collection has announced that FIRES ON THE PLAIN and THE BURMESE HARP, two powerful works from Kon Ichikawa, one of Japanese cinema’s most versatile filmmakers, will both be released this August in a 2-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray sets, as well as Blu-ray editions.   FIRES ON THE PLAIN (野火, Nobi) Photo courtesy of the Criterion Collection. © KADOKAWA An agonizing portrait of desperate Japanese soldiers stranded in a strange land during World War II, Kon Ichikawa’s FIRES ON THE PLAIN is a compelling descent into psychological and physical oblivion. Denied hospital treatment for tuberculosis and cast off into the unknown, Private Tamura treks across an unfamiliar Philippine landscape, encountering an increasingly debased cross section of Imperial Army soldiers, who eventually give in to the

Read more ...

Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. ©Shuichi Yoshida/Asahi Shimbun Publications ©2025 KOKUHO Film Production Committee Source: Toho Co., Ltd Official Site: kokuhou-movie.com (Japan) Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. ©Shuichi Yoshida/Asahi Shimbun Publications ©2025 KOKUHO Film Production Committee Toho Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and images from KOKUHO (国宝), opening in Japanese cinemas on June 6th. Based on the novel of the same name, the title translates to "National Treasure."   INTRODUCTION "A magnificent art film that appears once in a century" - author Shuichi Yoshida A beautiful, passionate, overwhelming masterpiece that will be engraved in the history of Japanese cinema is born. Shuichi Yoshida himself wore the black robes of a kabuki actor for three years, and he wrote Kokuho based on his experiences. The novel is a magnificent biography depicting the 50 years of the

Read more ...