What to watch in ultra HD this month

Ready for a month of great telly like you’ve never seen before? Then read on to discover some of the ultra HD highlights coming up on the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel (CH 175/999) throughout May. Get ready for a series of shocking, action-packed thrillers with The Purge, plus two sequels and a prequel, as a near-future US society descends into annual anarchy. All four of these movies are showing across consecutive weekends starting on Saturday 9 May.

Also new to Virgin TV Ultra HD are the psychological thriller Ma, comedy dramas Irresistible and Best Sellers, and the off-the-wall Christmas horror movie Krampus. There’s lots more besides, including superb documentaries and great dramas, all available in stunning, crystal-clear ultra-high definition.

Your eyes are in for a real treat this month on our dedicated ultra HD channel.

Thursday 7 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

In the mood for a Christmas film this, er, May? Fortunately Krampus is a Yuletide movie that can be enjoyed at any time of year. When a young boy at a disappointing family gathering loses his holiday spirit, his negative feelings summon (gulp!) the horned being known as Krampus – the evil shadow of jolly Saint Nick. Can the family survive the seasonal horrors that are hiding in the dark? This inventive, tongue-in-cheek horror movie will entertain you with both shocks and laughs, and its impressive cast is led by Toni Collette (Hereditary) and Adam Scott (The Monkey).

Friday 8 May, 10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

When a group of bored teenagers are befriended by a woman named Sue Ann (Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures), who offers them alcohol and a place to party, they decide to just go with it and not question her motives. Wrong move. She may want them to call her “Ma”, but her attitude towards them is not what you’d call traditionally maternal… Spencer gives a truly monstrous performance in this outrageous psychological thriller, aided by a script that keeps piling on the weirdness. With ultra HD making all Ma’s nefarious acts extra sharp and clear on screen, a warning – you might need to look away during the climactic scenes.

Wednesdays from 6 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

When successful but lonely Debra Newell (Connie Britton, Nashville) meets handsome doctor John Meehan (Eric Bana, The Dry), she’s quickly swept into a whirlwind romance. But when her daughters investigate John’s background, they come to realise she’s been manipulated by a serial abuser. As Debra gets drawn deeper into John’s lies, with devastating consequences, we see how her fraught family history made her vulnerable. This gripping fact-based drama, based on the investigative podcast of the same name, also stars Julia Garner (Weapons), Juno Temple (Fargo) and Hacks’ Jean Smart.

Saturday 9 May, 9.30pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

The low-budget, suspenseful chiller that kicked off a hit franchise is set in a near-future USA where crime is legal for one night a year – the Purge. As security expert James Sandin (Ethan Hawke, The Black Phone) tells his kids as they shelter inside their fortress-like house, “tonight allows people a release from all the hatred and violence that they keep up inside them”. And the government insists it’s vital for the country to thrive. But soon that violence finds its way to the Sandins’ home and they find themselves in a fight for their lives. The Purge is a real nail-biter, with visually impressive action sequences and a vicious satirical undercurrent.

Sunday 10 May, 9.30pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

While the first film in the series focuses on the events in one home, the sequel goes into the Los Angeles streets. A disparate group of people – a police sergeant bent on revenge, a terminally ill man who’s agreed to be killed for money, a couple whose car has broken down – get caught up in the brutality. Can the innocent few help each other out? Can anyone be trusted? And what depraved machinations will the bloodthirsty elites come up with next? Writer/director James DeMonaco ups the ante to bring more crackling action to the screen, with twists and turns you won’t see coming, and it’s all in glorious 4K UHD.

Tuesday 12 May, 8.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Oceanic whitetip sounds like it might be a luxury cruise liner or, even better, a delicious seafood starter. In fact, while great whites and orcas get all the headlines, the oceanic whitetip is statistically the most dangerous shark in the world, and reputed to be a particular threat to shipwreck survivors – yet we know very little about it. In this documentary Professor Yannis Papastamatiou sets out on a quest to uncover the secrets of this rarely seen shark, revealing unique hunting behaviour never before captured on camera.

From Wednesday 13 May, 8.05pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Fans of nature documentaries are well acquainted with Africa’s deserts and savannah. But this four-part series reveals another side to the continent, showcasing the verdant forests and staggering biodiversity of its most majestic mountains. With stunning photography and jaw-dropping aerial footage, Africa’s Greatest Peaks reveals the diverse landscapes, plants and animals of Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro, Uganda’s Rwenzori, South Africa’s Drakensberg and Madagascar’s Andringitra Massif.

Saturday 16 May, 9.30pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

We return to the USA of the Purge for another sequel, where the barbaric new regime has now been in place for more than two decades. Senator Charlene Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell, Outer Banks), whose family were murdered on Purge night when she was young, is running for President on a platform of ending the annual lawlessness. Despite the government’s efforts to discredit her, Roan’s popularity grows – so she’s about to find out what authoritarian rulers do when their power is threatened. Roan and her bodyguards must survive another Purge, and the tension ramps up as they experience the horrors it unleashes on society.

Sunday 17 May, 9.30pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

The prequel to the Purge movies introduces sociologist Dr May Updale (Marisa Tomei, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Amid economic collapse, she’s the bright spark who comes up with the Purge – which starts as a general invitation to spend a night without laws on New York’s Staten Island, and survivors win $5,000. But when the participants don’t turn to savagery as predicted, Dr Updale gets a nasty shock when she finds the authorities are prepared to take matters into their own hands. This prequel provides an eye-opening insight on how forceful government can turn inhumane and merciless, while still delivering brilliant action set-pieces.

Saturday 23 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Lucy (Aubrey Plaza, Parks & Recreation) has inherited a publishing house and needs a hit book to turn her company’s fortunes around. In desperation, she turns to legendarily reclusive and cantankerous author Harris Shaw (Michael Caine, Batman Begins), who is contracted to deliver one more novel. Harris reluctantly assents – but it’s when the promotional tour starts that the sparks really fly, as his brash attitude puts the whole operation at risk. Can Lucy tame the grouchy beast? There’s lots of heart in this quirky comedy, along with an uproariously irascible performance from Caine.

Sunday 24 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Jon Stewart, doyen of US TV satirists, wrote and directed this political comedy that’s roughly equal parts cynical and optimistic. Democratic Party campaigner Gary (Steve Carell, Rooster), in despair at his side’s lack of electoral success, discovers someone who could be the perfect candidate: a retired Marine colonel (Chris Cooper, The Bourne Identity) who goes viral for a town hall speech declaring support for immigrants. When Gary sets about helping to get him elected mayor, and spreading the word about how the Democrats win, his old nemesis Faith (Rose Byrne, Bridesmaids) enters the fray. Will they get so absorbed in their contest that they forget what’s really important?

If you watch on our Stream box, Virgin TV 360 or our V6 box and have an ultra HD-compatible TV, simply go to CH 175 or CH 999 to access Virgin TV Ultra HD.

If you watch TV on our TiVo® box, you will not be able to access the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel even with an ultra HD-compatible TV. But it’s super-simple to upgrade to our latest Virgin TV box by contacting us on 0345 454 1111 (or call 150 from a Virgin Media phone).