Blu-ray, DVD Release: The Descendants

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: March 13, 2012
Price: DVD $29.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $39.99
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment


The DescendantsLoved by critics and audience members, The Descendants scored a worthy Academy Award and two Golden Globes, including Best Picture.

From writer/director Alexander Payne (Sideways), the movie stars George Clooney (The Ides of March) as businessman Matt King, who has a lot on his plate: he’s on deadline to bring his extended family (including Beau Bridges, Columbus Circle) together to sell their land in Hawaii, his wife (Patricia Hastie, Princess Kaiulani) is in a coma after a boating accident and his daughter’s (Shailene Woodley, TV’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager) angry because she knows her mom was cheating on her dad.

The cast also includes Judy Greer (Barry Munday), Matthew Lillard (Spooner), Nick Krause (How to Eat Fried Worms) and newcomer Amara Miller.

The Descendants Blu-ray boxRated R, The Descendants is based on the best-selling novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film won its Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, which was co-written by Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who both also wrote TV movie Adopted. As well as Best Picture, The Descendants won a Golden Globe statue was Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for Clooney.

The comedy/drama movie grossed a tidy $76 million when it was in theaters.

The DVD contains three featurettes:

  • “Everybody Loves George”
  • “Working With Alexander”
  • and “Hawaiian Style.”

The Blu-ray/DVD Combo pack includes those as well as these special features:

  • deleted scenes with introductions by the director
  • featurette “The Real Descendants”
  • “Casting”
  • “Working With Water”
  • “Waiting for the Light”
  • silent film The World Parade — Hawaii
  • “A Conversation With George Clooney and Alexander Payne”
  • three music videos: “Will I Ever See You Again,” “Postcards From Paradise” and “Honolulu’s Whisper”
  • and a downloadable digital copy of the film.
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About S. Clark

Sam Clark is the former Managing Editor/Online Editor of Video Business magazine. With 19 years experience in journalism, 12 in the home entertainment industry, Sam has been hooked on movies on since she saw E.T. then stared into the sky waiting to meet her own friendly alien. Thanks to her husband’s shared love of movies, Sam reviews Blu-ray discs in a true home theater, with a 118-inch screen, projector and cushy recliners with cup holders.