As we officially wrap up September in physical media, there were a few small shake-ups that made waves in the collecting world. First, a new offshoot of Arrow Films entered the chat: Toy Robot Video, which is taking a giant leap into some beloved past titles. The one that caught my eye was the 1987 original Masters of the Universe, starring Dolph Lundgren, which became a top seller right out of the gate. Although I have yet to dive into that release, I’m excited about the expanding world of boutique labels and the chance to see more catalog titles get a proper release.

The other major news involved a mom-and-pop shop whose controversy ended in its impending closure. The Movie Room appears to have hit a snag involving health problems, logistical issues, and a death in the family, and it was much discussed in the social media and YouTube communities. Whatever the cause, customers were left in the lurch. Unfulfilled orders, refusals to issue refunds, and an eventual closing of its virtual doors led MidLevelMedia, SteelbookObsessed, and Steelsraysand4ks to air their grievances with the company, letting it be known that, in their view, it was not on the up-and-up. Personally, I had only just heard of them at the beginning of the year and placed one order, which I did receive. I didn’t end up partaking in any of the group buys they ran with Jody over at Steelsraysand4ks.

Release-wise, we had some heavy hitters finally come out. It’s always a great month when Disney decides to upgrade its back catalog, giving us 4K releases of two Robin Williams films, Mrs. Doubtfire and Dead Poets Society. I say, “keep them coming!” Speaking of Disney, they put out my favorite release of the month in Toy Story 5, which hit theaters earlier this year. The artwork on the SteelBook is stunning, and I love getting to add it to my recently built Disney/Pixar shelf. I didn’t really have a least favorite release, but if any came close, it’d be Go from Arrow or Jesus Christ Superstar from Kino Lorber, since they contain only simplistic poster artwork. That’s what they always do, though, so it’s hard to fault them for it.

My Vinegar Syndrome purchases were slightly down this month. I bought only two partner-label titles: Elizabeth Banks’ drama Skincare and Megadoc, the documentary about Francis Ford Coppola’s latest film. I also received my first two Alliance Entertainment releases, The Borrowers and Nadine, both from their Retro VHS Collection line. Mill Creek previously handled that line, so I’m curious to see what the differences are. It doesn’t seem like they’ve added any special features to those releases, but Mill Creek never did either, so nothing has changed there. Still, I’m excited to see what kind of work Alliance is doing. Overall, I’m pleased with this month’s releases, with SteelBooks featuring cool artwork for Arrival and Annihilation, consistently great SteelBooks for lesser-known titles from Lionsgate Limited, including Made and Sorority Row, and 4K upgrades for films like Bulletproof, Interview with the Vampire, and Sweeney Todd.

October brings us into the final quarter of 2026, and hopefully the year will end with a bang. For starters, several studios will catch up on their 4K SteelBook releases, with Disclosure Day, Evil Dead Burn, Project Hail Mary, and Supergirl finally getting their delayed editions. There are also some Amazon Exclusive SteelBook Library Cases I’m excited to have in my hands, including a new Harry Potter collection and an ’80s horror collection. The Blair Witch Project from Lionsgate Limited looks like fire, and I’m excited to see what they announce for next month. I also can’t wait to see the 4K SteelBook of The Cable Guy, a film I’ve been anticipating getting an upgrade. We’re also getting the Criterion Collection’s set of Stanley Kubrick’s films, although I suspect most of us will wait for November’s Barnes & Noble 50% off Criterion sale. And some recent releases, like I Want Your Sex, the 2026 reboot of Masters of the Universe, and One Night Only, will finally hit shelves.

Whatever you’re picking up this month, happy collecting! Let me know in the comments which October release you’re most excited for.

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