The week ahead: 'Argo,' 'Sinister,' 'Anna Karenina' and more

Ben Affleck as a CIA operative on a rescue mission, Keira Knightley as a classic Russian heroine and Ethan Hawke as a crime writer trying to solve a murder mystery are featured in three of the movies that premiere on demand from Feb. 18 to Feb. 24, 2013. (Check with your cable or satellite provider for a lineup of on-demand channels on your system.)

Here is a list of those movies and their on-demand premiere dates:

February 18, 2013: "Hunky Dory" (Before theatrical release) Rated TV-14.

In the musical "Hunky Dory" (set in 1976), Minnie Driver plays Viv, a fiery high-school drama teacher determined to fire up her hormonal, apathetic students by putting on the best end-of-the-year show the school has ever seen: a glam rock-infused musical version of Shakespeare’s "The Tempest." But as the Welsh summer begins to heat up, can she compete with the typical teenage distractions of sex and drugs with some great rock and roll?

For more info: "Hunky Dory" website

February 19, 2013: "Argo" (Same day as DVD, weeks before Netflix and Redbox releases) Rated R.

Based on true events, “Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis in 1979 — the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (played by Ben Affleck, who also directed and produced "Argo") comes up with a risky plan to get the Americans safely out of the country. "Argo" is nominated for seven Oscars (including Best Picture) and has been winning the top prizes at all the major awards shows in 2013.

For more info: "Argo" website

February 19, 2013: "Anna Karenina" (Same day as DVD, weeks before Netflix and Redbox releases) Rated R.

The epic love story "Anna Karenina" (adapted by Oscar winner Tom Stoppard from Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel) is the third collaboration of Oscar nominee Keira Knightley with director Joe Wright, following the award-winning successes “Pride & Prejudice” and “Atonement.” The story unfolds in its original late-19th-century Russia high-society setting and powerfully explores the capacity for love that surges through the human heart. Knightley plays the title role, an unhappily married woman who has an affair with a military man named Count Vronsky (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Jude Law co-stars as Anna's stern husband Karenin.

For more info: "Anna Karenina" website

February 19, 2013: "Sinister" (Same day as DVD) Rated R.

In "Sinister," Ethan Hawke plays a true crime novelist who discovers a box of mysterious, disturbing home movies that plunge his family into a nightmarish experience of supernatural horror. It's not long before he starts to put the pieces of the puzzle together about a horrific crime that occurred in the house where he and his family has relocated.

For more info: "Sinister" website

February 19, 2013: "Fun Size" (Same day as DVD) Rated PG-13.

In this comedy, Victoria Justice plays Karen "Wren" DeSantis, a teenager who reluctantly takes her younger brother Albert (played by Jackson Nicoll) trick-or-treating on Halloween, even though she would rather go to a party thrown by her crush Aaron Riley (Thomas McDonell). When she loses Albert in a haunted house, she has to find him before her mother Joy (played by Chelsea Handler) finds out what happened.

For more info: "Fun Size" website

February 19, 2013: "Ted: Special Edition With Gag Reel" (Unrated by the MPAA) Rated TV-MA.

For those who couldn't get enough raunchiness in the blockbuster comedy "Ted," now comes an "unrated" special edition with a gag reel. "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor for his first movie as writer, director and voice star of Ted, a foul-mouthed teddy bear that is the best friend of John Bennett (played by Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish and has refused to leave his side ever since.

For more info: "Ted" website

February 19, 2013: "Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike" (Same day as DVD, weeks before Netflix and Redbox releases) Rated PG-13.

This drama is the sequel to "Atlas Shrugged," which is based on Ayn Rand’s groundbreaking novel. In the movie, the global economy is on the brink of collapse. And brilliant creators, from artists to industrialists, continue to mysteriously disappear.

For more info: "Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike" website

February 19, 2013: "Red Flag" (Before theatrical release) Rated TV-MA.

In this comedy, writer/director/actor Alex Karpovsky plays an indie filmmaker named Alex Karpovsky who, dumped by a longtime girlfriend fed up with his refusal to marry, takes to the road with a reluctant old pal for a misbegotten mini tour screening his movie on college campuses and independent cinemas. Pursued by an overly ardent groupie and his own demons, he sinks deeper into a swamp of humiliations.

For more info: "Red Flag" website