As the year of 2024 winds down for physical media, the month of November was a quiet one. Lionsgate and Shout Factory were the biggest contributors to the items I purchased. Lionsgate released two versions of the 2024 release “The Crow,” just as they did with “Borderlands” last month. They also released the 2024 release “The Killer’s Game,” starring Dave Bautista, and Kevin Smith’s latest film, “The 4:30 Movie.” Shout Factory focused on their Jim Henson releases of “The Dark Crystal” and “Labyrinth,” which both had huge collector’s edition box set releases, however, I went for the exclusive Steelbooks. They also had Steelbook re-releases of “Escape From New York” and “Krampus: The Naughty Cut.”

My favorite release of the month, however, was the Toho Steelbook release of “Godzilla Minus One.” Although I’ve purchased a few versions of that film already, this is my favorite one. A close second favorite is the first United States release from the Titans Of Cult, which ended up as an Amazon Exclusive Box Set including a Steelbook of the first “John Wick” film. The art is superb and I like how Titans of Cult has experimented with different styles of releases. My favorite release of a 2024 film is the “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Steelbook which features a Glow-In-The-Dark slipcover, released by Warner Bros. They also released a phenomenal 4K Steelbook for James Cameron’s “The Terminator” and HBO’s “House of the Dragon: Season 2.” I was also proud to purchase the 4K release of Mike Flanagan’s “Hush,” previously stuck on Netflix. I hope Mike is successful in “freeing” some of his other titles from the streamer, like “Gerald’s Game” and “Midnight Mass.”

Kino Lorber had a good showing this month, with plenty of William Friedkin titles, including “Bug,” “The Hunted,” and “Rules of Engagement.” Criterion had their Barnes & Noble 50% off sale, allowing me to get “The Shape of Water” and “Seven Samurai on 4K, both releases from this month. There was a “Wizard of Oz” Box Set that came at the perfect time, with the release of “Wicked” this month, Steven Spielberg’s “The Sugarland Express” received a 4K release, and Alfred Hitchcock’s “North By Northwest” got a nicely designed Steelbook from Warner Bros. When the “Star Trek” movies started getting 4K releases, I wondered if they would eventually get Steelbooks, so I’m happy that I waited, with “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” getting a 4K Steelbook. The only title I’m slightly disappointed in this month is the Shout Factory release of Ron Howard’s “Rush,” which did not get a slipcover.

Next month will mark the close of 2024, and although it does not appear to be ending with a bang, there are some titles I’m excited to receive. “Alien: Romulus” has been one of my favorite films of the year, so I’m looking forward to owning that one and struggling not to double dip, as there’s a Steelbook with some stellar artwork of the original poster on the standard releases. The latest wave of Disney+ streaming shows will be receiving 4K Steelbooks, which I’m greatly anticipating, including “Ahsoka,” “Loki: Season 2,” “The Mandalorian: Season 3,” and “Hawkeye.” Not long ago, I put out a list of 2007 films that need 4K releases, and “No Country For Old Men” was at the top of that list, which will be getting a Criterion release. Whether I wait for another sale or purchase it at full price is still yet to be decided. “The Faculty” and “The Searchers” are both exciting titles, as is the 4K upgrade of “Immaculate,” which I will be double dipping on. And, saving some of the biggest news for last, Lionsgate will begin to sell their exclusives directly on the “Lionsgate Limited” website, starting with two Francis Ford Coppola 4Ks of “The Conversation” and “Apocalypse Now,” both of which I cannot wait to see.

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