Sony Movie Channel Adds A New Weekly Suspense Night To Its Schedule On Thursdays And Offers Up Some Of The Best Westerns As It Starts Off 2014 With A Bang

CULVER CITY, Calif., Dec. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Year is bringing a few new changes to Sony Movie Channel's programming as the network unveils a change to its weekly Thursday night programming block. Starting January 2, SMC will be airing suspense, thriller and horror films every Thursday in prime time due to the growth in popularity of genre entertainment. Films like THE NET with Sandra Bullock (1/2); WOLF (1/9); Dean Koontz's INTENSITY (1/16); and SINGLE WHITE FEMALE (1/30) now have a permanent home on the Channel every week.

In addition to the new block on Thursday dubbed "KILLER THURSDAYS," the network is theming a majority of its Jan. schedule to showcase Westerns. SMC is presenting some of the best Western films ever produced like THE SHADOW RIDERS with Tom Selleck (1/1); THE MASK OF ZORRO with Antonio Banderas (1/3) and THE PROFESSIONALS with Burt Lancaster (1/8). True fans of the Wild West can also enjoy over three full days of binge viewing when SMC presents Western-themed marathons on Wed., Jan. 1, Sat., Jan. 25 and Sun., Jan. 26. On the 1^st, over 23 hours of blockbuster Westerns will air starting at 7:30 a.m. ET and on the weekend of 25^th, the Channel is broadcasting over 40 hours in its cowboy roundup beginning at 5:10 a.m.

Other prominent films appearing this month include the network premieres of FUNNY GIRL with Barbra Streisand (1/14) and AS GOOD AS IT GETS with Jack Nicholson (1/24).  On Jan. 12, it's Guy-Cry Night, as the Channel features tearjerkers aimed at men, including the 1971 classic football telefilm BRIAN'S SONG at 8:40 p.m. ET (5:40 p.m. PT) and 2010's acclaimed man's best friend drama HACHI: A DOG'S TALE with Richard Gere at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT).  

Clever movie combinations also grace the schedule as exemplified by the coupling of the original THE BLOB film from 1958 with its 1988 remake on Jan. 23 starting at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m.). Other creative pairings include WOLF with Jack Nicholson and THE WEREWOLF, the 1950 classic produced by Sam Katzman, on Jan. 9; and FUNNY LADY follows FUNNY GIRL on Jan. 14. 

Highlights include (All Times Eastern Below):

WESTERN ROUND-UP MARATHON – Wed., Jan. 1 (7:30 a.m. – 4:20 a.m. ET)

THE LONGEST DRIVE (7:30 a.m.); THE NEVADAN (9:10 a.m.); THE TALL T (10:40 a.m.); COMANCHE STATION (12 p.m.); FRONTIER HELLCAT (1:20 p.m.); RAMPAGE AT APACHE WELLS (2:50 p.m.); MASSACRE CANYON (4:25 p.m.); WYOMING RENEGADES (5:40 p.m.); THE NEBRASKAN (7 p.m.); THE SHADOW RIDERS (8:15 p.m. & 12:20 a.m.); BITE THE BULLET (10 p.m. & 2 a.m.); and MACKENNA'S GOLD  (4:20 a.m.)

WESTERN ROUND-UP MARATHON – Sat., Jan. 25 – Sun., Jan. 26

Sat., Jan. 25 - BITE THE BULLET (5:10 a.m.); FRONTIER HELLCAT (7:25 a.m.); RAMPAGE AT APACHE WELLS (8:55 a.m.); THE TEXICAN (10:30 a.m.); LAND RAIDERS (12 p.m.); THE LONGEST DRIVE (1:45 p.m.); THE SHADOW RIDERS (3:25 p.m.); SILVERADO (5:10 p.m. & 10 p.m.); and THE MASK OF ZORRO (7:30 p.m. & 12:20 a.m.)

Sun., Jan. 26 - THE SHADOW RIDERS (2:50 a.m. & 8:15 a.m.); CONSPIRACY (4:40 a.m.); THE LONGEST DRIVE (6:35 a.m.); THE NEVADAN (10 a.m.); THE TALL T (11:30 a.m.); COMANCHE STATION (1 p.m.); THE PROFESSIONALS (2:20 p.m.); MURPHY'S ROMANCE (4:25 p.m.); A MAN CALLED SLEDGE (6:20 p.m.); and MACKENNA'S GOLD (8 p.m.)

For a complete schedule of films and times, visit www.Sonymoviechannel.com/schedule.
In addition to airing these films on the dates noted above, some of the movies mentioned are scheduled for further broadcasts throughout the month. (See listings for further details.)

About Sony Movie Channel
Sony Movie Channel is the first U.S. multi-platform television network from Sony Pictures Television created specifically for the Hollywood movie fan. Offering uncut, uncensored theatrical releases in stunning high definition, Sony Movie Channel showcases titles from Sony Pictures' vast library including award-winning features, cult favorites, family comedies and gripping dramas. Programming is selected from more than 3,500 Sony Pictures films, which collectively have received 184 Academy Awards® including 12 for Best Picture. Sony Movie Channel is available on DISH Network, DIRECTV and AT&T U-Verse TV on linear as well as on authenticated VOD and online platforms. For more information, visit SonyMovieChannel.com, Facebook and/or Twitter @SonyMovieCh.

SOURCE Sony Movie Channel