On Demand/DVD New Releases March 18-24

After a couple of quiet weeks, some big titles make their debuts this week. Oscar-winning films Les Misérables and Zero Dark Thirty join the much-anticipated The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (3-D) and a sequel of sorts to Knocked Up, Judd Apatow’s This Is 40.  Check out the following On Demand/DVD New Releases March 18-24

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Collection This sequel to the horror shocker The Collector follows a man who escaped the mad killer’s grasp being blackmailed into rescuing a young girl from the killer’s booby-trapped lair. Josh Stewart, Emma Fitzpatrick, Lee Tergesen (R, 1:22), 3/22

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (3-D) Director Peter Jackson journeys back to Middle Earth for this Lord of the Rings prequel — the first of a projected three films — that tells the story of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and his quest to reclaim a kingdom from the clutches of a dragon named Smaug. Also stars Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage (PG-13, 2:49), 3/19

Les Misérables The Broadway musical comes to the big screen in this epic adaptation about the life of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), who attempts to start a new life for himself after prison, only to be relentlessly pursued by a vengeful policeman, Javert (Russell Crowe). Also stars Anne Hathaway (PG-13, 2:38) 3/22

Rust and Bone This complicated love story follows a single father who is suddenly put in charge of his young son. He eventually meets a woman who trains killer whales, and their bond grows deeper as he helps her recover from a horrible accident. Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Armand Verdure (R, 2:00), 3/19

This Is 40 Writer/director Judd Apatow catches up with Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann), characters first seen in Knocked Up, as they navigate growing older and trying to maintain the spark in their marriage. Also stars Albert Brooks (R, 2:14 or TV-MA, 2:17), 3/22

Zero Dark Thirty Director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal, the duo behind the award-winning The Hurt Locker, join forces again to tell the controversial story of the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden. Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt (R, 2:37), 3/19

Other titles debuting this week (all on 3/19) incude: Angus Buchan’s Ordinary PeopleDark FeedDeep Dark Canyon, and 24-Hour Love

Availability dates subject to change. Check your cable provider for ordering information. 3-D movies require a 3-D TV.

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© 2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayers Pictures, Inc. Credit: James Fisher