NEWS: LEGEND Unveils a Blockbuster Line-up for February 2026

Images: Legend TV Press

By Jon Donnis

LEGEND is going big in February 2026, rolling out a packed month of Channel premieres that celebrate iconic directors, unforgettable performances and cult favourites. From crime epics and political thrillers to dystopian sci-fi and high-octane action, the schedule is a confident showcase of films that have left a lasting mark.

The month is led by heavyweight names both behind and in front of the camera. Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Clint Eastwood take centre stage across a selection of films from directors whose work continues to define modern cinema. Brian De Palma’s SCARFACE, Martin Scorsese’s CAPE FEAR, Donald Siegel’s THE BEGUILED and John Frankenheimer’s BLACK SUNDAY form the backbone of a season rooted in bold storytelling and intense character work.

SCARFACE

February opens on Sunday 1 February at 21:00 with the Channel premiere of SCARFACE from 1983. Al Pacino stars as Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who rises to the top of Miami’s drug trade through ruthless violence. His empire grows quickly, but pressure from law enforcement, rival cartels and his own paranoia drive him towards an inevitable collapse.

Friday 6 February at 22:55 brings THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD from 1995. Andy Garcia plays Jimmy the Saint, an ex-gangster pulled back into the criminal world for one final job. When the plan goes wrong, Jimmy has just 48 hours to survive as the city turns against him. The film also stars Christopher Walken and Steve Buscemi.

On Saturday 7 February at 21:00, EQUILIBRIUM arrives. Set in a future where emotions are outlawed to prevent war, Christian Bale stars as an elite enforcer who begins to feel again and realises he may be the key to dismantling the system he once served.

Sunday 8 February at 21:00 sees the Channel premiere of STATE OF PLAY from 2009. When a rising US politician’s assistant is murdered, journalist Cal McAffrey, played by Russell Crowe, uncovers a web of secrets and corruption. Ben Affleck and Helen Mirren also star in this tense political thriller.

BLACK SUNDAY follows on Thursday 12 February at 21:00. The 1977 film tells the story of a Black September terrorist plot to attack the Super Bowl using a Goodyear blimp, with tens of thousands of lives at risk. Robert Shaw and Bruce Dern lead the cast.

MAN OF TAI CHI

Saturday 14 February at 21:00 introduces MAN OF TAI CHI from 2013, directed by Keanu Reeves. Tiger Hu Chen stars as a devoted martial artist drawn into underground fighting to protect his master’s temple, forced to confront the clash between his pacifist beliefs and brutal reality.

On Sunday 15 February at 21:00, Martin Scorsese’s CAPE FEAR arrives. Nick Nolte plays a lawyer whose past actions come back to haunt him when violent ex-con Max Cady, portrayed by Robert De Niro, is released from prison and begins a relentless campaign of revenge against his family.

Thursday 19 February at 21:00 brings THE BEGUILED from 1971. During the American Civil War, a wounded Union soldier played by Clint Eastwood is taken in by women at a secluded Southern boarding school. Desire, jealousy and manipulation spiral into a dark and violent reckoning.

NO ESCAPE

Saturday 21 February at 21:00, NO ESCAPE premieres. Owen Wilson stars as an American businessman whose family becomes trapped during a violent uprising in Southeast Asia. Pierce Brosnan also features in this tense survival thriller.

Sunday 22 February at 21:00 sees AMERICAN MADE from 2017. Tom Cruise plays Barry Seal, a pilot recruited by the CIA who becomes entangled in drug smuggling for the Medellín Cartel during the 1980s, with events linked to the Iran Contra Affair.

UPGRADE follows on Thursday 26 February at 21:00. Directed by Leigh Whannell, the 2018 sci-fi thriller centres on a paralysed man given a computer implant that restores his mobility and grants extraordinary abilities, which he uses in a quest for revenge.

DEATH RACE

The month closes on Saturday 28 February at 21:00 with DEATH RACE from 2008. Jason Statham stars as a wrongfully imprisoned driver forced to compete in a deadly televised race for a chance at freedom, or face life behind bars.

With its February 2026 schedule, LEGEND delivers a confident mix of iconic cinema and modern cult hits, offering viewers a full month of intense stories, standout performances and unforgettable film-making.

TV: Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137

REVIEW: The Running Man (2025 Film) Starring Glen Powell

Review by Jon Donnis

Edgar Wright's 2025 adaptation of The Running Man brings Stephen King's dystopian vision into a sleek, modern action thriller, but it is a strange mix of spectacle and missed opportunity. Set in a near-future United States ruled by a media network that pacifies the poor with violent game shows, the film follows Ben Richards, played with solid charm by Glen Powell, as he is coerced into the titular competition to save his sick daughter. Powell brings grit and determination to the role, making Ben both sympathetic and compelling as he navigates a deadly landscape populated by professional hunters and a bloodthirsty public. Josh Brolin is suitably menacing as Dan Killian, the charismatic producer who manipulates the game for maximum ratings, while Lee Pace's masked Hunter, Evan McCone, adds a cold, methodical threat that keeps the tension high. Supporting turns from Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, and William H. Macy provide light relief and a touch of humanity amidst the carnage.

The film is undeniably entertaining. Wright delivers some spectacular set pieces, from explosive firefights in Boston to high-speed chases through New York and tense sequences in isolated bunkers. Cinematography and visual effects are impressive, giving the world of The Running Man a polished, futuristic sheen, while the pacing rarely lets up. The narrative manages to balance personal stakes with wider social commentary, highlighting economic disparity and the dangers of media manipulation without feeling too heavy-handed. There is a satisfying arc in Ben's journey, culminating in a final confrontation that provides a clear sense of justice and catharsis.

But there are drawbacks. The film lacks memorable dialogue or quotable lines, and the villains, while competent, feel flat compared to the over-the-top antagonists of the 1987 version. Much of the humour and camp that made the original film so endearing has been removed, leaving a more serious, but also more forgettable, tone. The insertion of modern political commentary sometimes feels forced, undermining the otherwise thrilling spectacle. For fans of the original, these changes make the remake feel unnecessarily safe and polished, stripping away much of the charm that gave the 1987 Running Man its cult status.

The Running Man is a slick, fun film with solid performances and plenty of action, but it suffers from being a remake that removes the soul of its predecessor. It works as a popcorn movie and is enjoyable in its own right, yet it begs the question of why a modern update was necessary when a wholly original dystopian action story could have delivered the same excitement. Despite its flaws, it is still an entertaining watch, earning a fair 7 out of 10.

Out Now on Digital

https://apple.co/4q4pprK

PREVIEW: The Vindicator (2026 Film) - Starring Anna Greene

Preview by Jon Donnis

A notorious serial killer turns the tables on a true crime podcast in The Vindicator, a dark new horror that twists obsession with justice into something far more dangerous. Recently released in the US, the film arrives on UK digital platforms on 19 January through Miracle Media.

Directed by Luca Patruno and Brandon Sherrill in their feature debut, The Vindicator follows podcasters Ava, Tommy and Bradley as they chase their biggest story yet. Ava is played by Anna Greene from Down Below, with David W. Rice from Lady Scorpions as Tommy and MacCallister Byrd from Running Point as Bradley. Together they host the popular podcast Serial Chat, built on digging into unsolved cases and notorious killers.

Hoping to unmask one of the most prolific murderers of the 21st century, known as The Vindicator, the trio travel to Arizona to stage a special livestream. Armed with what they believe could be crucial evidence, they prepare for an episode that promises answers and acclaim.

Everything changes when the livestream abruptly cuts out. Instead of silence, the hosts receive a call from the killer himself. What follows is a chilling proposition. If they want the truth, they must play his game. Ava agrees, and the group are set seven questions, each one dragging them closer to the killer's identity while forcing them to confront secrets they would rather keep buried.

As the challenges grow more sinister, the hunt for justice begins to fracture their sanity. The line between investigator and victim blurs, and the cost of curiosity becomes terrifyingly clear.

The Vindicator promises a grisly, unsettling ride where the search for truth is as deadly as the crimes themselves.

The Vindicator is on UK digital 19 January from Miracle Media

PREVIEW: Tabula Rasa (2026 Film) - Starring Macarena Gómez & Carlos Bardem

Preview by Jon Donnis

From Black Mandala comes Tabula Rasa, a psychological thriller directed by Juanfer Andrés and Esteban Roel that leans into sustained tension and carefully placed twists. The film sets out to explore the darker corners of the human psyche, where memory becomes unreliable and the line between reality and madness begins to blur.

The story centres on Leo and her husband Julio, who host a small family gathering at their home. Joining them are Leo's sister Claudia, Claudia's partner Héctor, and their newborn son Izan. What begins as a quiet, intimate celebration takes a disturbing turn when Claudia realises that Izan has vanished. His nanny, Luciana, is also gone, with no explanation and no trace.

The disappearance triggers something buried deep within Leo. Long suppressed psychiatric trauma resurfaces, pulling her into a psychological spiral where her grip on reality starts to weaken. As events unfold, her perception fractures, leaving both Leo and the audience questioning what can truly be trusted.

At the same time, unresolved family tensions begin to surface. Old conflicts and unspoken resentments rise to the surface, forcing Leo to confront uncomfortable truths about her relationships and her past. The film gradually reframes its central mystery into a more unsettling examination of identity, guilt and the consequences of a mind pushed beyond its limits.

Tabula Rasa is directed by Juanfer Andrés and Esteban Roel, from a script by Sofía Cuenca and Juanfer Andrés. The cast includes Macarena Gómez, Carlos Bardem, Amaia Salamanca, Ramón Emilio Candelario, Stephany Liriano, Luis del Valle, Nicolás Mercedes Peña and Pedro Casablanc.

Coming Soon

PREVIEW: The Huntsman (2026 Film) - Starring Shawn Ashmore, Elizabeth Mitchell, Jessy Schram and Garret Dillahunt

By Jon Donnis

Epic Pictures Group has set a North American release for the mystery thriller The Huntsman, with a limited theatrical run beginning on 6 February 2026. The film will then arrive on video-on-demand for rental and purchase on 10 February 2026.

Based on the award-winning novel by Judith Sanders, The Huntsman is directed by Kyle Kauwika Harris from a screenplay he co-wrote with Steven Jon Whritner. The film is executive produced by Frank J. Malinoski and features a cast led by Shawn Ashmore, Elizabeth Mitchell, Jessy Schram and Garret Dillahunt.

The story centres on an ICU nurse whose act of kindness pulls him into a dangerous and unsettling situation. According to the official synopsis, when he volunteers to help a coma patient accused of murdering six women, he becomes trapped in a web of lies, obsession and lethal secrets, while a detective races to uncover the truth before it is too late.

Director Kyle Kauwika Harris says the film explores moral uncertainty, the limits of justice and the fragile nature of truth, creating psychological tension without relying on gratuitous violence. He adds that the real horror lies in what remains unseen, with the story designed to keep audiences questioning every character and moment as themes of grief, guilt and paranoia come to the surface.

Epic Pictures Group CEO Patrick Ewald - "This is the kind of elevated thriller we love backing. Dark, atmospheric, and driven by strong performances, THE HUNTSMAN delivers a smart, twist-forward mystery that keeps the pressure on and audiences guessing until the very end."