While streaming services offer a lot of movies, these boutique Blu-ray labels bring film fans the hard-to-find classics.
With iconic movies constantly being moved on and off different streaming services, the availability of a favorite movie or tv show is more in jeopardy than ever. Many films are not on streaming services, and some are not available to rent on Amazon or iTunes. This makes some films impossible to see if a fan does not own a physical copy.
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With a library of impressive physical media, the anxiety of something leaving a streaming service can become a thing of the past. Enter boutique Blu-rays. Blu-rays might not have the same enthusiastic fanbase behind it as vinyl, but plenty of boutique Blu-ray companies put in the time and effort to restore and celebrate films.
Fans of Art House and World Cinema should be well acquainted with Kino Lorber. Kino has lower prices for many of its releases compared to some other distributors, allowing fans to take chances and pick up some films they might not have heard of before.
If lesser known, recently released independent cinema like Dogtooth or Test Pattern is not striking an interest, film fans can enjoy their large and growing collection of classics released in stunning 4K quality. These new 4K releases include Some Like It Hot, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Tropic Thunder.
The Criterion Collection has always been the G.O.A.T of home entertainment. The company started with LaserDisc releases in the 1980s and invented the director's commentary track. This year, Criterion Collection has tried to expand to the 4K disc format, with a new 4K editions released monthly.
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For those unaware, the Criterion Collection's mission is to release culturally significant films in the highest quality possible with loads of bonus features. Their library includes many Akira Kurosawa, Ingmar Bergman, and Wes Anderson films. Their library also includes more mainstream hits, such as Armageddon, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Do The Right Thing.
With the mission statement to preserve and restore genre film, it would be easy for someone not to recognize a single title available from Vinegar Syndrome. The catalog available from Vinegar Syndrome might be some of the more obscure cinema available, featuring faces like Linnea Quigley, Jalal Merhi, and Rudy Ray Moore.
Featured directors in Vinegar Syndrome's releases might never direct an episode of Black Mirror, but they certainly offer something unique. Many of the films released by Vinegar Syndrome last had a release on VHS, if they have ever had a release at all. If they can stomach it, fans of obscure shock value cinema should check out Vinegar Syndrome.
Their massive and consistently expanding library allows Shout Factory to stand out from the other distributors. Through its various sub-labels, Shout Factory always releases multiple unique films.
Under their Scream Factory sub-label, fans can find new restorations and releases of some of their favorite horror films. Under Shout Select, movie lovers can find influential films that might not be "important" enough to make the cut at Criterion. Shout Factory has even released many of the Studio Ghibli and other anime films on Steelbook!
For fans of cult classic cinema, Arrow Video is one of the best distributors. Arrow specializes in cult cinema, horror films, b-movies, and obscure content. The UK-based company recently expanded into the American market, and accessing Arrow Video's physical disc collection has never been easier.
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Arrow's standout releases include many of Dario Argento's films, like Deep Red and The Cat O' Nine Tails. Just announced was the second volume box set of Shaw Bros Hong Kong Action films. Arrow has a few '90s classics, like Wild Things and True Romance. The quality and library of Arrow Video's releases are something to get excited about.
Indicator releases can hurt the bank accounts of American film fans. The UK-based distribution company can be costly when it comes to importing their media to the United States, but the packaging that comes with Indicator releases is something worth saving for.
Indicator is a fantastic Blu-ray distributor for fans of Golden Age Hollywood, featuring releases from the 1930s to the 1960s. Indicator is famous for its box sets, possibly most widely known for its noir box sets. Indicator is a step above the rest if the packaging is a deciding factor for a fan.
Severin Films might be a new favorite for fans of the disturbing and shocking. Focusing on the very niche subjects of Italian gialli, cannibal films, erotic thrillers, and '80s action films, Severin is a label for the desensitized crowd who find Arrow and Vinegar Syndrome too vanilla.
The Severin Films library contains works from Jess Franco, Claudio Fragasso, and Lucio Fulci. It might not be for everyone, but if someone finished watching every fantasy show on Netflix, they might want to explore the dark fantasy side of Severin.
Warner Bros is not, and should not, be considered a boutique, but the care and commitment that Warner Archive puts into its releases is just as good as the boutique labels. Releasing high-quality Blu-rays of their Golden Age of Hollywood films, such as Gaslight, Cleopatra Jones, and the Tex Avery cartoon collections, puts Warner Archive on the map.
Warner Archive might not be anyone's favorite boutique Blu-ray company, but there is at least one release for everyone in their catalog. Their releases are safe, and their packaging is subpar, but it will not disappoint.
American Genre Film Archive, or AGFA, was founded in 2009 to preserve near-lost genre work that would otherwise be left by the wayside. It is important to note that the releases by AGFA tend to be what some would call "Outsider Art" or "Experimental Film" rather than how most think of the term "genre-film."
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AGFA has released Who Killed Captain Alex?, The McPherson Tape, and recently began releasing box sets of Doris Wishman's filmography. The catalog that AGFA presents might not be something shown at a 5 pm AMC screening, but rather something seen in a museum. If the museum was willing to show something like Bad Black, that is.
Fun City Editions is one of the newest boutique Blu-ray companies to make waves in the collecting community. Fun City Editions aims to release maverick repertory cinema, focusing on timeless films from the 1960s and 1970s.
Fun City Editions' library is currently limited, but the quality they put into their releases has greatly impressed the physical media community. With releases like Smile, Bronco Deluxe, Morvern Callar, and The Coca-Cola Kid, their small library is already incredibly impressive. As a bonus, Fun City Editions also release companion music merch in the form of vinyl or cassette tapes!
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