Can we all agree that boutique labels are shouldering the bulk of physical media? Every month, it seems like a bigger and bigger portion of the films I buy are coming from independent labels. Arrow Video, Criterion, Kino Lorber, Shout Factory, and Vinegar Syndrome are the most notable ones. My favorite title of the month came from Arrow, in the form of the “Stranger Things: Complete Series” box set. Not only does it fulfill the desire any fan of the show has been expressing, it also gives the entire physical media community hope that more Netflix and streaming series and movies will get physical releases. On top of that, the box set is stunning, with standard-setting artwork, meticulous attention to detail, and a treasure trove of bonus features. My least favorite release of the month also came from a boutique: Shout Factory’s “Dark Shadows,” which reeks of a label that couldn’t secure the rights to put any of the actors on the cover.

July also marked the Barnes & Noble 50% off Criterion Sale, and along with filling in some blind spots in my collection, I picked up newer releases like “The Crying Game” and “Hud.” I also upgraded my copy of “The Elephant Man” to 4K and kept rounding out my Martin Scorsese collection with the 4K release of “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.” I also grabbed the Mike Mills box set, “I’ll Remind You of Everything.” Six of this month’s Vinegar Syndrome titles came home with me, the standout being Academy Award-nominated “The Voice of Hind Rajab.” Apart from the boutiques, there’s simply no matching Lionsgate; every month I find myself gushing over their output, and July was no different. With Quentin Tarantino releasing his “Kill Bill” films as “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” in theaters, Lionsgate seized the opportunity to put out an incredible box set — my runner-up for favorite release of the month. They also released two Steelbooks for the new film “Michael.”

Next month, I think the entire physical media community is looking at the Steelbook release of “Barbarian” from Walt Disney. The film has never gotten a physical release since its 2022 theatrical run, and the community has been extremely vocal, with many asking director Zach Cregger whether a physical release was ever in the works. I imagine that with all the success of “Weapons,” he had a little more sway to get it done. “Project Hail Mary” is finally getting released, but we’ll have to wait until October for the Steelbook. The same goes for “Disclosure Day,” which releases next month, with a Steelbook to follow in October. Add to that another great batch of unique titles from Lionsgate, some well-known 4K releases from Kino Lorber, and the Steelbook release of “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” from Disney, and I couldn’t be more excited about the current state of physical media.

JULY 07, 2026

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JULY 28, 2026