Welcome to the year 2026 in physical media. Not much has changed over the past year, with most releases falling into two familiar camps: new titles fresh out of theaters and boutique labels continuing to roll out upgrades and unearthed classics for a new generation of collectors.

From an artwork standpoint, my favorite January release is Lionsgate’s Amazon-exclusive 4K SteelBook of 1408. Lionsgate remains a pillar of SteelBook physical media, consistently recognizing the value of commissioning original artwork and getting creative with upgrades. It makes a movie feel new again and gives you something you’re genuinely proud to display on your shelf. 1408 may not be my favorite Stephen King adaptation, but this definitive edition is one I’m happy to own—far preferable to a basic clamshell with standard poster art that feels far less inspired.

Speaking of updated artwork, Walmart brought back its seasonal slipcover line for Valentine’s Day under the “Love Hurts” banner. As usual, it’s a familiar selection of titles with refreshed slipcovers. This year, I picked up The Shining and the It: 2-Film Collection to add to my ever-growing Stephen King shelf, along with the 2004 The Phantom of the Opera and Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks, since I didn’t already own either.

There were also some notable 2025 releases arriving this month, including Disney’s 4K SteelBook of Tron: Ares. Thankfully, it matches their previous Tron SteelBook releases, which I very much appreciate. A24 released an exclusive 4K edition of The Smashing Machine through their shop, starring Dwayne Johnson and now an Oscar nominee for Best Makeup & Hairstyling. And speaking of the Oscars, Best Picture frontrunner One Battle After Another received a 4K release as well. A 4K SteelBook is supposedly slated for later this year and is already listed as sold out, though I’m skeptical. It appeared briefly, lacks official artwork, and feels more like a placeholder than a true sellout—my guess is it’ll be widely available once officially announced.

In terms of pure excitement, Dante’s Peak was the standout for me. I’ve wanted this film on 4K since I started collecting, so seeing Kino Lorber finally release it—after several delays—feels like a personal milestone. I’m beyond excited to revisit the film and finally have it in my collection. Kino Lorber continues its strong run of 4K upgrades with Babe and Babe: Pig in the City, and also released two Jeff Bridges titles on Blu-ray: K-PAX and The Door in the Floor.

Arrow Video also had an impressive month. I initially only had my eye on Snakes on a Plane, but ultimately also went with Evil Dead Rise—despite already owning multiple copies—thanks to the artwork and the substantial slate of new bonus features. Under Siege wasn’t even on my radar at first, but after learning more about the release and seeing how stacked it was with extras, I ended up grabbing it during Barnes & Noble’s 50% off sale.

I also picked up two Vinegar Syndrome releases: the new animated film Boys Go to Jupiter from Cartuna, whose slipcover is already sold out, and Dario Argento’s The Phantom of the Opera, which I’m excited to experience for the first time. Choosing a least favorite release this month was difficult, but as it seems to signal a growing trend, Shout Factory’s release of End of Watch takes that unfortunate distinction. I love the film, but once again the artwork feels underwhelming, making it harder to stay enthusiastic about continuing to buy Shout Factory titles.

Looking ahead, February appears fairly quiet on the physical media front. I’m looking forward to finally picking up Decal’s 4K release of Keeper, which was delayed from this month. My most anticipated addition, however, is Predator: Badlands. It was one of my favorite films of 2025 and is getting a fantastic-looking 4K SteelBook—so good, in fact, that I’m debating whether to double-dip for the slipcover edition as well. Another exciting Kino Lorber release on the horizon is Mimic, one of the few Guillermo del Toro films still in need of a 4K upgrade. And Arrow Video has an impressive-looking 4K release of Michael Crichton’s Westworld on the way, which I’m confident will be joining my collection once it arrives.