This week’s Digital Wire Blu-ray Releases has news on several impending video releases, including one of the most popular and controversial films of last year, two sequels in a classic 1980’s slasher franchise, and a pair of forgettable genre efforts from early this year.

Below you’ll find info on several future home video releases complete with technical specs, release dates, and links to pre-order at Amazon, as well as a list of titles coming out this week.

After spending the last two weeks watching all 8 Best Picture nominees for The 87th Annual Academy Awards, I am now fully qualified to give you the lowdown, determine which ones are the best, and more importantly which one will win the big prize.

The crop this year includes the usual Oscars suspects: we have some historical/war films and biopics (Selma, Imitation Game, American Sniper); the movie about the person overcoming adversity (Theory of Everything); the quirky comedy (Grand Budapest Hotel); an original film by an international director (Birdman); a film by a long-admired Hollywood director (Boyhood), and the little indie that could (Whiplash).

There’s a secret to picking these things. You see historically, Best Picture films don’t win without their directors nominated for Best Director. Simple math dictates that that leaves only 4 movies that can win Best Picture. But before I tell you who will win, let’s focus on the much more important question: Which movie should win? Let’s count them down from 8 – 1.

American Sniper
Director: Clint Eastwood
Screenwriter: Jason Dean Hall
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Kyle Gallner
Warner Bros. Pictures
Rated R | 134 Minutes
Release Date: January 16, 2015

Directed by Clint Eastwood (J. Edgar, Jersey Boys), American Sniper stars Bradley Cooper as U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history with 160 confirmed kills. Written by Jason Dean Hall, the film is based upon Kyle’s bestselling 2009 autobiography of the same name.

After 9/11, Kyle is deployed to Iraq with one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His deadly accuracy saves countless American lives and – as stories of his exploits spread through the ranks – he earns the nickname, “Legend.” His reputation grows behind enemy lines, too. A bounty is put on his head, making him a prime target of insurgents.

Despite the danger, Kyle serves four tours of duty in Iraq, becoming emblematic of the SEAL creed to “leave no man behind.” Upon returning home, however, the Navy SEAL discovers that he can’t escape the war that’s still raging inside his head.

The first trailer for the next film from director Clint Eastwood, titled American Sniper, has been released online by Warner Brothers. The movie was fist set to be directed by Steven Spielberg before he had to drop out and Eastwood stepped in.

The movie stars Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL and the deadliest sniper in United States history. In the brief first trailer, he faces an impossibly difficult decision while keeping watch over a convoy.

You can watch the trailer below and read a synopsis.

Legendary director Steven Spielberg has his next movie lined up, American Sniper. The movie will be based on the autobiography of the the deadliest sniper the U.S. military has ever had, Chris Kyle, which is titled American Sniper: The Autobiography Of The Most Lethal Sniper In U.S. Military History.

Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper was the one who optioned the book, and is also set to star. Cooper set the project up with Warner Brothers, who will team with DreamWorks to make the movie. Jason Hall (Paranoia) penned the script.