New on DVD

“50/50”

Summit, $26.99; Blu-ray, $30.49

The title of the dramedy refers to the odds of survival faced by young public-radio producer Adam Learner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) after he’s diagnosed with cancer. Adam tries to lean on a therapist (Anna Kendrick) and his best friend (Seth Rogen) for support, but because they’re all from a generation trained to respond to situations with aloofness, timidity and/or snark, they’re unprepared for potential tragedy. Will Reiser’s script — based on his own experiences — is a little too shaggy, and director Jonathan Levine doesn’t help matters by letting his cast improvise so freely. But Gordon-Levitt and Rogen are funny together, and “50/50” ultimately feels so true that its dramatic lapses are forgivable. The DVD and Blu-ray come with deleted scenes and featurettes, and a delightful Levine-Reiser-Rogen commentary track (shared with co-producers Evan Goldberg and Ben Karlin).

“Paranormal Activity 3”

Paramount, $26.99; Blu-ray, $44.99

For the third installment of the mega-profitable series, the producers call on Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman — directors of the controversial documentary “Catfish” — to apply their nonfiction skills to the “found footage” horror genre. It’s an inspired pairing. Christopher B. Landon’s script follows the same escalating-weirdness-captured-by-surveillance-cameras plot as the previous movies, but Joost and Schulman’s staging is creepily clever, making use of oscillating fans and the open floor plans of suburban homes to control when and how the audience sees the ghosts. The DVD and Blu-ray extras are paltry, adding just a few minutes of unused scares.

“Real Steel”

Walt Disney, $29.99; Blu-ray, $39.99/$44.99

Some people hear about Hugh Jackman starring in a movie about boxing robots and think, “Pass.” And then there are the right-thinking people, who know that Jackman is one of cinema’s true natural wonders and that boxing robots are awesome. Based on a Richard Matheson short story that’s been previously adapted for an episode of “The Twilight Zone,” this doesn’t bring anything new to its story of a down-and-out robo-boxer operator who lucks into a new machine, but it’s an effective sports drama with a lively Jackman performance. Plus it has robots. That box. That’s entertainment. The DVD and Blu-ray add deleted scenes and featurettes.

“The Whistleblower”

20th Century Fox, $22.98; Blu-ray, $29.99

Based on a true story, this mystery-thriller stars Rachel Weisz as a Midwestern cop given the opportunity to make extra money working under contract in Bosnia. There, she uncovers a sex-trafficking ring that her bosses refuse to acknowledge, let alone stop. So at the risk of losing her job, the heroine tries to uncover the truth and to rescue captive girls. Director Larysa Kondracki has a tough time syncing up the sensationalistic side of this story with the deadly serious side, but Weisz provides a reason to keep watching, as her character moves from shock to outrage and then on to determined action. The DVD and Blu-ray have only one brief extra, but it’s a good one, showing the real people who inspired the film.

And…

“Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?”

Music Box, $29.95

“Restless”

Sony Blu-ray, $45.99

“Revenge of the Electric Car”

Docudrama, $29.95

“Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure”

New Video, $26.95

“Wings”

Paramount, $24.99; Blu-ray, $29.99

“The Woman”

The Collective, $19.97; Blu-ray, $29.95