The Best Boutique Blu-ray Distributors (Who Aren’t Criterion)

When one considers physical media distribution of film, the first name that comes to mind is The Criterion Collection, the clear king of the block. (They are also the first of these companies to engage in a streaming service, Filmstruck, in order to stay relevant.) Here at Paste, we already give mucho props to the great people at Criterion, with our monthly roundup of their releases, so they will be absent from this list. Here are some of the other most notable niche Blu-ray distributors.
Arrow Video
When it comes to beautifully crisp and detailed A/V transfers from loving restorations wrapped around spiffy and creative packages, Arrow is the primary distributor that’s currently giving Criterion a run for its money. Just like Criterion, they also cultivate restorations of beloved films, produce in-depth documentaries and interview videos to stuff their titles with great extras, and put great effort into new and original cover art. In many ways, Arrow can be considered the more genre-oriented brother of Criterion. The big C occasionally releases genre fare, like their upcoming restoration of Night of the Living Dead, but Arrow is one of the main spots to visit for genre hounds. For proof, check out their recent box set films George A. Romero directed between Night and Dawn of the Dead.
As a whole, Shout Factory releases a gamut of material that differs wildly in genres and target audiences, including complete seasons of classic TV shows. But they really begin to compete with Arrow and Criterion when we dig deeper into specific collections that fall under the Shout umbrella. Their Collector’s Editions of classic films come with brand-new restored transfers, as well as new artwork that usually resembles the painted Drew Struzan-style posters from the ’80s, with the nice option to flip the cover to showcase the original poster. (Arrow does this as well.) Their Scream Factory sub-label is paradise for horror fans, as they’re always on top of releasing the ultimate physical media representations of some of the best films in the genre. I can personally testify that two of my favorite horror flicks, Return of the Living Dead and The Thing both have stellar A/V presentations, attractive covers, and enticing new extras.
-
-
-
-
- Curated Home Page Articles By Test Admin October 21, 2025 | 3:10pm
-
- Curated Home Page Articles By Test Admin October 21, 2025 | 2:57pm
- Urls By Test Admin October 21, 2025 | 2:57pm
- Curated Home Page Articles By Test Admin October 21, 2025 | 2:55pm
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-