Fans of Stanley Kubrick and Stephen King can now acquire the recently released limited editions of “The Shining” before they sell out on Amazon. The Amazon Global Store UK is offering “The Film Vault`s” collectible Steelbook Special Edition and Solus Steelbook Editions of the iconic 1980 horror film on 4K Blu-ray.
The standard Solus Steelbook Edition, featuring an acetate slipcover, is priced at $48.86. This edition boasts exclusive artwork by Matt Ferguson and Florey from Vice Press, depicting Jack Torrance navigating the hedge maze. The back cover features the famous bathroom door with “Redrum” written on it, while the interior showcases the hedge maze. The acetate slipcover allows the artwork to be displayed with or without text overlays.
The Steelbook Special Edition, available for $87.07, includes a wealth of exclusive extras. This highly collectible edition features a holographic sticker numbered up to 6,000 copies. Its contents include:
- Steelbook with exclusive artwork.
- Themed cigar box with new artwork (Jack Torrance silhouette, typewriter with “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” phrase). An acetate slipcover covers the cigar box, allowing for a text-free display.
- Two posters: a new design by Matt Ferguson & Florey, and a retouched version of Saul Bass`s iconic 1980 theatrical poster.
- Eight art cards, housed in an envelope replicating the “All Work and No Play” page from the film:
- Five character cards featuring memorable movie shots.
- Three behind-the-scenes cards, including one of Kubrick on set.
- Numbered holographic sticker, limited to 6,000 units.
- Both 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs of “The Shining.”
Both “The Shining” Film Vault collectible editions are UK-manufactured and include region-free 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs. Although orders are placed through Amazon`s US storefront, these editions are sold by Amazon Global Store UK and come with complimentary shipping to the US, with an estimated delivery time of approximately two weeks.
These Film Vault editions were initially exclusive to Walmart in the US, where they were sold at higher prices ($65 for the Solus Steelbook and $100 for the Special Edition) and quickly sold out. In September, Walmart even canceled numerous orders due to inventory shortages. The Special Edition never restocked there, and while the Solus Steelbook briefly returned, it also sold out again on its launch day (October 3).
“The Shining” is part of The Film Vault Wave 3, which also includes the 1982 supernatural horror film “Poltergeist.” Like “The Shining,” “Poltergeist” editions were initially Walmart exclusives in the US but are now sold out. Fortunately, Amazon is also offering the “Poltergeist” Special Edition Steelbook for $87.68 and the Solus Steelbook for $46.79. Both “Poltergeist” editions also ship from Amazon UK, include region-free 4K and 1080p Blu-ray discs, and previously cost $100 and $65 respectively at Walmart.
All four releases in The Film Vault Wave 3 were collaboratively designed by Vice Press and Warner Bros. UK (and Universal Pictures for Poltergeist). “The Shining`s” 4K Blu-ray, originally released in 2019, is still considered one of the finest film restorations of its era. It features native 4K (2160p) resolution, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ support, and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound.
Exclusive Special Features for `The Shining` Blu-ray Editions
All 4K and Blu-ray editions of “The Shining” come packed with excellent special features:
- Audio Commentary by Kubrick`s biographer John Baxter and Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown.
- “The Making of The Shining” (35 minutes)
- “View from the Overlook: Crafting The Shining” (26 minutes)
- “The Visions of Stanley Kubrick” (15 minutes)
- “Wendy Carlos, Composer” (7 minutes)
Related Works by Stephen King
For fans of Stephen King`s literary works, the original novel “The Shining” is available in paperback for $11.30 (originally $20) and hardcover for $19.80 (originally $45). Its sequel, “Doctor Sleep,” can be purchased for $10.49 in paperback (originally $20) and $13.78 in hardcover (originally $35).
Other film adaptations and related media include:
- “The Shining” (1997 TV Series) Blu-ray: $20 (originally $35). This miniseries is famously more faithful to King`s novel.
- “The Shining” (1980) 4K Blu-ray (standard edition): $18.62 (originally $42).
- “Doctor Sleep: Director`s Cut” (2019) 4K Blu-ray: $14.69 (originally $25).
For the Ultimate Kubrick Fan: The Shining Compendium
Beyond the film editions, the two-volume, 1,396-page collector`s box set, “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining Compendium,” is available for $125. Designed by M/M Paris and published by Taschen, this compendium offers an incredibly comprehensive look into the film`s production. It includes hundreds of hours of interviews, extensive research, an introduction by Steven Spielberg, and a beautiful scrapbook filled with photographs and documents.
Additionally, Stanley Kubrick enthusiasts can anticipate another 4K Blu-ray release: the director`s final film, “Eyes Wide Shut,” is set to join The Criterion Collection on November 25.